Shilasdair
Patting her thylacine
Herbs aren't 'homeopathy' - and plant ingredients and their derivatives can often be effective (some are even scientifically proven to work
).S
"Anorexia" in emaciated rescue hores?
- Thread starter Box_Of_Frogs
- Start date
Herbs aren't 'homeopathy' - and plant ingredients and their derivatives can often be effective (some are even scientifically proven to work
).S
RutlandH2O
Well-Known Member
If you go to theHorse.com, there are several informative articles on feeding emaciated horses. They all emphasise feeding little and often. Feeding fibre is the order of the day. Some of the terminology, re: foods, is a bit foreign (it's a US site), but you'll get the idea. One article, Feeding the Starving Horse, Parts 1 and 2, follows the story of Freeway, an emaciated rescue, and his progress.
Re: ReadiGrass, I always feed it wet and I don't have a horse that will refuse it. It can be mixed with Speedibeet, micronised linseed, Alfa A Oil, Hi Fi, or Hi Fi Lite. I have found that feeding it dry can cause coughing and/or choking. It is very light and soft and can easily be aspirated dry. (My sheep LOVE it dry, though.)
Do be careful feeding cereals early on (8 days is very early days).
Good luck and keep us apprised of his progress.
Re: ReadiGrass, I always feed it wet and I don't have a horse that will refuse it. It can be mixed with Speedibeet, micronised linseed, Alfa A Oil, Hi Fi, or Hi Fi Lite. I have found that feeding it dry can cause coughing and/or choking. It is very light and soft and can easily be aspirated dry. (My sheep LOVE it dry, though.)
Do be careful feeding cereals early on (8 days is very early days).
Good luck and keep us apprised of his progress.
Dolcé
Well-Known Member
Personally I would be looking at soaked grass nuts (very much under rated) with a little oil added, you can increase the amount of oil gradually, I can't remember the percentage they can take so check with your vet about maximum daily allowance. I would also provide a bucket of ad lib readi grass, we have always fed it dry as a hay replacer and never had an instance of choke with it (dry grass nuts and too dry speedibeet a different matter!). We have used calf milk replacer on vets advice in the past on 2 of our very emaciated newcomers, just helps to fatten them a little quicker but must be added very gradually. Is he getting his full daily requirement in the four feeds, I would be feeding 3% of ideal weight so would be looking at around 3k of feedstuff per day, I would even take it a bit higher if he was able to take it. Is he being kept warm enough, (I can't remember if you said he was rugged or not and it has just occurred to me) but not too warm. The suggestion of a companion is a good one, not only for company but also to see if he will compete for his feed, it may make him more interested especially if he has been living in a herd situation in the past. I would definitely get some pink powder into him too. Have you tried really soft, sweet meadow hay rather than haylage. Ours all prefer to eat our hay rather than haylage anyday, we just don't let them!
Our dog was weighed at the vets the other week and he weighed in at 69k, just to put into perspective the size of this poor boy.
Good luck with him and stay positive, the good grass is just around the corner so you only need to get him through the next few weeks before the spring grass comes up and Dr Green can work her magic.
Our dog was weighed at the vets the other week and he weighed in at 69k, just to put into perspective the size of this poor boy.
Good luck with him and stay positive, the good grass is just around the corner so you only need to get him through the next few weeks before the spring grass comes up and Dr Green can work her magic.
ofcourseyoucan
Well-Known Member
dont forget he is a tiny chap at 45kgs, so only needs 2% of that weight to maintain what little condition he has, and a higher % to gain weight. dont over face him with food, just little and often. readi grass is nice, i usually pour some boiling water on it and let it cool. grated apple and carrot might help.
how many poohs is he passing per day? i think in this case that may be a better way to measure his consumption of fibre.
is he at home? or on a yard? could you leave some food in a bucket, and whenever anyone passes him get them to give him a handful?
he really wont be able to fit in more than 5 to 6 kgs per day, including his hay/haylage/grass intake. but keep the fibre content high, sugar low as you dont want to shock his already shocked system. good luck. hope there is no sinister vet issue lurking.
how many poohs is he passing per day? i think in this case that may be a better way to measure his consumption of fibre.
is he at home? or on a yard? could you leave some food in a bucket, and whenever anyone passes him get them to give him a handful?
he really wont be able to fit in more than 5 to 6 kgs per day, including his hay/haylage/grass intake. but keep the fibre content high, sugar low as you dont want to shock his already shocked system. good luck. hope there is no sinister vet issue lurking.