Horse and pony owner in warning after animals fall ill
A PONY and horse owner is urging people not to dump grass cuttings into fields after her animals suffered life-threatening pain and injuries.
Laura Grant’s pony and horse, Chewie and Billy, which she owns with her daughter, fell ill after she claims someone put garden rubbish and grass cuttings in the field in Talcarn Farm, Trimsaran, where the animals graze.
Laura took to social media pleading for people to not think it’s okay to dump grass cuttings into fields just because ponies eat grass as it is potentially lethal to them.
Laura said: “People need to be made aware of the dangers of dumping garden waste especially grass cuttings.
“Not only is it potentially lethal to horses and other animals it is actually fly-tipping. There is no excuse for it.”
Laura says grass cuttings can cause horses and ponies to develop a potentially life-threatening stomach ache known as colic further along the digestive system or a painful condition called laminitis that affects their hooves.
Horses need to have any changes to their diet made gradually over a couple of weeks and they need saliva to help break down the cellulose in grass so they are able to digest it, but with grass cuttings the horses can just gulp it down with no chewing and skip the salivary stage.
Laura added: “Sadly these two animals are very friendly and very greedy and made use of the dumped grass cuttings before we even saw them.”
After eating the cut grass. both of the animals suffered colic. Laura says
Billy had a tight fold in his colon which made matters worse and he could only get relief when laying down or with legs in the air.
Laura said: “Both had to be examined rectally, tubed, given pain meds, buscopan, rehydrated via tubing, Chewie also had to be sedated.
“Both ponies were very poorly, I really thought I was going to have to make the decision to have Billy put to sleep.
“At one point it was touch and go as to whether our vet took him into the hospital to treat him at an estimated cost of £5,000 to £10,000 but she was brilliant and did everything she could for him and after four days he is almost back to normal.
“He seems to be tired but after everything I’m not surprised.
“Chewie is definitely back to his usual cheeky self.
“Both are now on regular electrolytes.”