advice please, need help feeding a sick horse

[Circe]

Hello,
I am needing some advice on how best to feed and support my sick tb. He is 17yrs old, and never been sick in his life, but I had a call from the yard a couple of days ago that he wasn't eating ( very unusual for him ) and had a temp and increased respiratory rate. He'd been seen well the night before. Vet was on the property checking another horse, and saw my boy. Hes on 2 antibiotics, had bloods taken, tubed and given fluids as he was dehydrated and he had some bute to bring his fever down.. The temp and respiratory rate had increased in the 30mins time since being first seen as sick and the vet assessing him.
Bloods have shown white cells normal, increased amyloid a, red cells normal, liver tests normal, but low total protein. He doesn't have any swelling or other signs of low protein but I feel he has dropped weight and lost top line already ( in 3 days.) The vet says the low protein is due to the virus - not lack of feed or liver problems, but I think I should feed more protein/ or calories or both to stop further weight loss? support him during the acute stage.
We don't know the source of infection. Normal poos, no cough/ snot/ urine seems normal, the antibiotics finish on sunday and the vet is coming again monday to take repeat bloods.
I guess I am after ideas for anything else I should be looking for?
Any ideas for feeds to support him/ how much more protein if any should I feed?
I want to keep meals small and appetizing. He is eating now, but I don't want to overload his stomach. He can have 3 meals a day.
Currently on lucerne chaff/ hay/ low grain feeds and speedibeet.
Hay is not great quality ( not mouldy) due to the floods we have had here. We are in Australia, and have had floods locally, but his paddock wasn't under water/didn't have flood water over it, but should I think of a digestive supplement?
Sorry for the essay. Thank you for anyone that give some idea/help

 

[Barton Bounty]

I would feed coolstance copra which is quite good and fattening and also micronised linseed , this should do for starters and see how he goes. I would add electrolytes or salt into his diet too.
You can make the copra or whole feed sloppy to make sure he is getting decent water intake
Poor soul, I know the feeling of the weight loss , when mine took an allergy, he lost it all in the space of a week, he looked dreadful.

 

[ycbm]

This is very recent and right now I would not change his feed in case it causes a reaction. I would get him stabilised first and then assess whether he needs help building up again.

I recently gave my horse a brand of food used by thousands of horse owners across Europe, and made him ill enough to call a vet.

So I would advise giving it a few more days yet, and perhaps just adding more of stuff you know he can eat, maybe upping to 4 meals a day from 3.
.

 

[ycbm]

I hope he's feeling a lot better soon!
.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

This is very recent and right now I would not change his feed in case it causes a reaction. I would get him stabilised first and then assess whether he needs help building up again.

I recently gave my horse a brand of food used by thousands of horse owners across Europe, and made him ill enough to call a vet.

So I would advise giving it a few more days yet, and perhaps just adding more of stuff you know he can eat, maybe upping to 4 meals a day from 3.
.

I tend to actually agree with this I would stick with what he normally eats just feed small regular feeds throughout the day rather than a few huge ones,

I hope he improves please let us know how he is.

 

[Circe]

I would feed coolstance copra which is quite good and fattening and also micronised linseed , this should do for starters and see how he goes. I would add electrolytes or salt into his diet too.
You can make the copra or whole feed sloppy to make sure he is getting decent water intake
Poor soul, I know the feeling of the weight loss , when mine took an allergy, he lost it all in the space of a week, he looked dreadful.

Thank you. Definitely some suggestions to consider. He was very dehydrated, but I have seen him drinking well and I give him sloppy speedibeet. I can't believe how quickly the weight came off, esp as hes never been sick, so I haven't seen it before

 

[Circe]

This is very recent and right now I would not change his feed in case it causes a reaction. I would get him stabilised first and then assess whether he needs help building up again.

I recently gave my horse a brand of food used by thousands of horse owners across Europe, and made him ill enough to call a vet.

So I would advise giving it a few more days yet, and perhaps just adding more of stuff you know he can eat, maybe upping to 4 meals a day from 3.
.

I tend to actually agree with this I would stick with what he normally eats just feed small regular feeds throughout the day rather than a few huge ones,

I hope he improves please let us know how he is.

Thank you for your replies. I have decided this is probably the best action. Introducing a new feed when he is already compromised is not really a good idea. I have upped his usual ration, and he is getting extra meals during the day. When he is recovered and bloods come back clear I can re assess then.
Yesterday was the first day he has been excited about eating again and was quite annoyed that I took so long to put the feed in the bucket ! which I am thinking is a really good sign.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I think that at least he wants to eat is a really good sign I would just continue with what you are doing and try and get him out moving about bit, even just a few short walks nibbling at grass but I appreciate in Australia you probably don't have that in some areas.

Fingers crossed his turned a corner let us know how he is tomorrow ?

 

[Nicnac]

Glad he's eating up. TB's can lose weight so quickly. I remember one of mine used to get so excited about going out (ex racehorse) he could look quite different by the evening having dropped weight in a day.

Fingers crossed it's nothing serious and he's on the mend.

 

[Northern]

Hello,
I am needing some advice on how best to feed and support my sick tb. He is 17yrs old, and never been sick in his life, but I had a call from the yard a couple of days ago that he wasn't eating ( very unusual for him ) and had a temp and increased respiratory rate. He'd been seen well the night before. Vet was on the property checking another horse, and saw my boy. Hes on 2 antibiotics, had bloods taken, tubed and given fluids as he was dehydrated and he had some bute to bring his fever down.. The temp and respiratory rate had increased in the 30mins time since being first seen as sick and the vet assessing him.
Bloods have shown white cells normal, increased amyloid a, red cells normal, liver tests normal, but low total protein. He doesn't have any swelling or other signs of low protein but I feel he has dropped weight and lost top line already ( in 3 days.) The vet says the low protein is due to the virus - not lack of feed or liver problems, but I think I should feed more protein/ or calories or both to stop further weight loss? support him during the acute stage.
We don't know the source of infection. Normal poos, no cough/ snot/ urine seems normal, the antibiotics finish on sunday and the vet is coming again monday to take repeat bloods.
I guess I am after ideas for anything else I should be looking for?
Any ideas for feeds to support him/ how much more protein if any should I feed?
I want to keep meals small and appetizing. He is eating now, but I don't want to overload his stomach. He can have 3 meals a day.
Currently on lucerne chaff/ hay/ low grain feeds and speedibeet.
Hay is not great quality ( not mouldy) due to the floods we have had here. We are in Australia, and have had floods locally, but his paddock wasn't under water/didn't have flood water over it, but should I think of a digestive supplement?
Sorry for the essay. Thank you for anyone that give some idea/help

I wouldn't change his feed. Offer small, wet feeds and often. Priority is to keep the fluids up. Don't hesitate to get the vet out to tube him with electrolytes often. Get your vet to send off a sample for Salmonella and typing. We've had a few identical cases here in Aus due to the wet weather washing topsoil off cattle pastures. Differentials are Ross River and Japanese Encephalitis. They can crash and really quickly too.

My boss (equine vet) went through this with her mare earlier this year. Salmonella grew and was typed as an uncommon cattle variant. She ended up in hospital for a week but is back out competing now. Fingers crossed your boy will come good!

 

[Circe]

Thank you replies.
just a quick update. Jazz is feeling well. Very sprightly and very eager to eat. He has put a little weight back on with just an increase in rations and an extra meal during the day.
we’re coming into spring here and have been very wet, so hopefully we’ll see some good grass coming through soon, which will be great.
kx