any ideas on whats bother my old lad...

[warkswandering]

I'm new to this forum thing so please bear with me, I am having a few issues with my old IDX and was wondering if any one had any ideas....

He is 25 and looking really well, no loss of appetite, drinks well and is all in all normal, apart from he is squatting down a lot, gets right on his tip toes (for want of a better description) and sometimes gets unbalanced.

He was bothered by the flies but they seem to of abated recently but the problem hasn't. i have cleaned his sheath, no bean, no swelling etc

He has done the squat thing for a few summers now but i put that down to being itchy because of the flies....this is the first time he has become unbalanced behind with it.

He is sound (as sound as a 25 yr old can be!) and we hack out regularly to keep him ticking over.

Any helps/ideas much appreciated

 

[DD]

sounds just like the flies bothering him. I'd just observe him and monitor him. If you are worried call your vet.

 

[Equi]

See what happens over the next week or so now it is cooler. If he is still doing it take a few hours to sit and watch and see how he urinates. If he is straining he could have some organ failure at his age.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

I think a vet check would be wise, we are coming in to winter, so a small feed to maintain condition, and rasp the teeth, use a good vet or an EDT.
Do you mean when he has a pee he is stretched out front and behind and his hind hooves are on tiptoes? [Am thinking arthritis]

 

[warkswandering]

He had his teeth done about a month ago and all is well in that department.

He isn't stretching out in front and it's not like straining for a pee, his hind legs tuck underneath him, his hind quarters crouch down but he is on tip toes behind.

He has been peeing fine out in the field (he is out 24/7 in the summer) but I have him in tonight to monitor water intake and peeing more closely than when he is out

Will see what the morning brings!

Thanks for your responses, much appreciated! I'm on a yard on my own so difficult to ask others opinions