Fell Pony syndrome in a pony in North America.

The study examines a case of Fell Pony Syndrome (FPS) in a 5-week-old colt in North America, who presented symptoms of fever, lethargy, anemia and subsequently watery diarrhea. FPS is an inherited disease that primarily affects the breed, leading to severe anemia and other complications.

Background

• Fell Pony Syndrome (FPS) is an inherited illness that primarily impacts Fell Ponies, a type of horse bred in Northern England. The disease is often fatal and has symptoms such as lethargy, fever, and severe anemia.
• In this study, a case of a 5-week-old Fell Pony colt with the disease is presented. The case reportedly occurred in North America, which makes it a unique observation, given the Fell Pony breed’s geographical origins.

Clinical Examination

• The young colt turned lethargic a week before examination and was found with a high temperature of 104°F (40°C). Despite its condition, the colt continued to nurse.
• The pony was administered ceftiofur, an antibiotic used in horses, at a dose of 5 mg/kg twice daily. Ceftiofur was likely provided to manage potential bacterial infections given the pony’s fever.
• Approximately 36 hours before the examination, the colt developed watery diarrhea, a symptom not generally associated with FPS, suggesting potential complications or secondary infections.

Diagnostic Tests

• A referring veterinarian performed blood work on the day of admission and found severe levels of anemia in the colt as its packed cell volume (PCV) was only at 10%. PCV measures the percentage of red blood cells in the blood and a low PCV indicates anemia.
• Severe anemia is a typical symptom of FPS, and alongside the other symptoms presented and the colt’s breed, this significantly suggested the likelihood of FPS.