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Veterinary help needed for a horse.

sesmo_k

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sesmo_k
Joined
Dec 12, 2005
Messages
196
Hiya,

I have an old pony (she's about 35) who hasn't come through the winter too well. She's looking very skinny and has lost quite a lot of muscle mass. The other horses have started to gain weight with the spring grass coming through, but she hasn't. She had her teeth done last november, and I know that she doesn't have many molars left, well she has 6 1/2. She's been de-wormed regularly, every 6-8 weeks and gets haylage (like silage specifically for horses) and hard feed everyday (coarse mix, some bran and maize). She also had a liver disease about 15 years ago from which she recovered (sorry, I can't remember the specifics, I was 15 at the time). She has a good appetite, and eats everything that she gets. She is turned out all day in a field with the other horses. She's not a nervous type either. Her behaviour hasn't changed, her coat is in good condition and she looks healthy except for the weight.

So I'm thinking that her main problem is the lack of teeth. With this in mind, what could we feed her to help with the weight gain? Is there anything we could add to her feed to help with digestion? She gets cider vinegar in her feed, which a few years ago we found helped with weight gain, but she's skinnier then she ever has been. I've had allsorts of things suggested, like corn oil, brown bread and beer! Anyone have any suggestions???

We've had her for over 20 years, she's more like a pet than a horse!
 
De-wormed 4 weeks ago, I bought the wormer on payday!
 
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By all means keep asking for ideas, but when it comes to veterinary matters the thing to do is to contact a qualified, trustworthy veterinarian ASAP.

Best wishes to your four-legged friend and to you.
 
I agree with Meffy. If you have a concern about an animal, call a vet. It very much concerns me that you'd come online to ask for medical advice, even for an animal.
 
Godmode said:
I agree with Meffy. If you have a concern about an animal, call a vet. It very much concerns me that you'd come online to ask for medical advice, even for an animal.
Click to expand...

The vets advice has been sort, two weeks ago, but sometimes other people who have had similar experiences can be a wealth of knowledge. I would never let an animal suffer without taking a vets advice. Our vet, who wasn't unduly worried by her condition suggested adding maize to her diet as it has the highest calorific value of normal horse feeds.

Point taken though, I should have made it clear in my post that the vet has already been consulted. Online help is never a substitute for professional advice.
 
The vet said "she' old, her digestion isn't as efficient, she hasn't many teeth, try maize. and I'll come back in a month." I think the vets right, I think it is because of the teeth (rather the lack of them) and the other things combined. I would like to see an improvement sooner rather than later, at the moment although the weight has remained steady, there's been no improvement.
 
In that case, I would talk to the vet about nutitional supliments to her food. Vitamins etc.
If there's no solution and she doesn't bulk up, maybe it's time to make the Decision?
She's old. Even for a horse.
 
Beg pardon if I sounded accusatory; didn't intend to. I ought to've added an "if you've not yet done so..."

Sounds to me as if you're doing all the right things. Thirty-five years is a pretty long life for a horse or pony, and I suspect she couldn't have a better owner for at least the second half of it. I hope with your help she's able to keep greeting sunrises.
 
<<Totally ignorant but well meaning response alert>>

Have you tried adding molasses to the bran mash? Some nags seem to love it and it's pretty high in calories.

I'm merely repeating something an equophile mate told me once. I'm more a dog person myself. Isn't 35 about eleventy thirteen in horse years?
 
Hi Sesmo K - I would try beat pulp. This can work really well in a case where the horse is really old. (I've got one that is pushing 40.) The other suggestions I have are rolled barley, and rice bran. I personally don't like to feed horses molasses, but that's just me.

There is a great feed out there called Triple Crown senior....... I have used this with great results. It has beat pulp in it, but you could also just get regular beat pulp. You have to soak it if it is not in a feed, so it can help with hydration too. I currently have a mini horse that I bought from a very bad situation, he was skin and bones and covered in lice and rain rot, and he is getting the Triple Crown, rice bran, rolled oats and rolled barley as well as free choice grass hay. I am happy to say he is gaining weight really well. It goes without saying that he spent a lot of time at the vet's first, to fix all the problems the neglect caused.

At some point they simply start to get old and things start shutting down. My old guy (the one who is close to 40) now has Cushings, which can happen in older horses. This is basically a tumor on the pituatary gland; it can sometimes be treated with such things as pergolide, but it can not be cured. The horse will lose weight and muscle mass. The hair sometimes will not shed out. Sometimes, the feet begin to grow VERY fast, and then you have to deal with laminitis. Eventually of course the horse will die from all this, although it is often kinder to put them down rather than let them suffer. If you think your horse may have Cushings, you can have a blood test done to find out. You might suggest Cushings to the vet next time, and see what they think.

Best of luck with your old guy. It sounds like you are doing everything possible.
 
Thanks Amapola, the vet has tested for cushings. The results came back negative. The vet thought she might have it late last year (as the pony had a long curly coat) when she was up treating another horse for a stifle injury. The other thing she mentioned was Millers Disease/syndrome, IIRC is caused by an excess of phosphorus.

I'll give the beet pulp a go. It can't hurt. We usually have more problems keeping the weight off them, so its a new situation for me!

Yes, neglect costs a lot of money. Our mini's were given to us in a disgusting condition. Both had chronic laminitis, and neither will ever really be right. Their hooves curled up like turkish slippers and they had abcesses in all four hooves. 10 years on, they both are well and healthy if not perfect, but have a nice life bossing the other horses around and generally ruling the roost. Thank god our farrier is experienced in laminitic ponies.. even though he complains about him having to bend down so far!
 
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I am not a vet, your mileage may vary, void where prohibited, etc...

I have used Purina's Equine Senior. My mare had almost no teeth left at age 42 and spent a lot of time gumming grass wads to no (nutritional) avail. When even Senior becomes difficult, adding hot water and soaking the feed helps. I managed to keep her weight up until other things finally got her.

I have had luck with beet pulp for extra calories in general, but never tried that on her. Corn and rolled oats definitely did not digest as well as she got older.

Good luck,

CriticalThanking
 
I am a vet but I don't work with horses and it has been a long time since I have. Seems to me I recall feeding alfalfa pellets soaked in water to make a slurry so they don't need to chew. However it has been too long and you should consult an equine vet. Sorry I have no more help for you.
 
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