Miniature pony and unborn foal saved from sepsis

A vet who saved a pregnant horse from life-threatening sepsis said witnessing her recovery was "the fundamental reason" she chose a career caring for animals.

Miniature Shetland pony Flair was rushed to Rainbow Equine Hospital, in Malton, after an abdominal infection spread to her eyes, causing temporary blindness.

Lizzie Cullen, internal medicine specialist at the centre said Flair's survival had been "touch and go", and at one stage she told owner Di Johnston to prepare for the worst, before treatment helped the mare turn a corner.

"It's amazing to watch them go from being so sick and recover, and particularly in Flair's case there were two lives that were saved," Cullen said.

Before hospitalisation, seven-year-old Flair had stopped eating and showed signs of being in discomfort.

A peritoneal tap, where a sample of fluid is taken from the abdomen, revealed she was suffering from bacterial peritonitis, which then led to sepsis.

Sepsis is a potentially fatal reaction to an infection, and causes the body's immune system to attack its own tissues and organs.

Cullen said the "odds were stacked against" Flair on arrival to the equine hospital.

"She was essentially in septic shock and I think she would have died very soon if she hadn't have got to us," she said.

After 10 days of treatment and round-the-clock care, the black and white pony was discharged, and returned to her home in Leyburn.

Cullen added that while the cause of the infection was still unknown, Flair was "incredibly lucky" she did not need surgery, which her foal would not have survived.

"At the end of the hospitalisation period we were scanning the foal regularly to check that it was still alive," she said.

"There was a nice strong heartbeat at the time she was discharged, so we we're hopeful that the foal will also be okay.

"It's fantastic and it's really the fundamental reason why anybody wants to be a vet, and goes into veterinary [practice] because of that care for animals."

Owner Johnston said she had "breathed a huge sigh of relief" when she received the update that Flair was well enough to be interested in food again.

She added she could not thank staff at the hospital enough for saving her "extremely special" pony.

"It's so lovely to have Flair back home with the herd, and she's been out grazing happily and even had a buck in the field, so she seems to be feeling well," she said.

"It feels like a miracle that Flair is still here, but it will be the perfect ending if she gives birth to a healthy foal next spring."

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