Bloated horse

[AutumnDays]

He's not carry fat anywhere else, and you can see his ribs. He's a non ridden lad due to not being treated very nicely and damaged before I got him. He just has this big belly, which isn't like him... He looks like he needs deflating! His gut also makes very loud rumbling sounds. Very well in himself. He's out at grass with my other horse (long grass, more like standing hay, hadn't been grazed in a year after topping). Had a worm count done, clear for everything bar tapeworm, which was mod/high, so have treated for that with double dose pyrantel last week. Will retest in 8 weeks. Fields will be rotated and cross grazed (new set up). Yesterday gave a dose of Tribex as we have sheep, and there are lots of other sheep about we do have run off from those fields. Plus from the limited vet history I got, I can see he had been treated for fluke before as he was on a dairy farm. He'll have another dose in a fortnight. Whilst waiting for results, he was on a course of charcoal, he has a teeny handful of grass chaff for oily herbs and added fennel in case of grass build up... Any ideas?! Someone suggested cushings, which I haven't tested for yet, would a bloated belly be a symptom and come on over a couple of weeks?

 

[meleeka]

It's likely to be a combination of lack of core muscles and grass. It's still growing well here. I wouldn't worry if everything else is good.

 

[AutumnDays]

It's likely to be a combination of lack of core muscles and grass. It's still growing well here. I wouldn't worry if everything else is good.

Thank you for your reply. I am a serial over stresser!

 

[Equi]

I have a little lad sort of similar (and similar kind of history) and he’s never had any issues with it. He just looks odd and not how I would like my minis to look. He does tend to get better with vits&mins supplement but not much. I tried working him but he wasn’t 100% sound so he’s just my little jelly belly.

 

[AutumnDays]

I'll add some recent photos just to give an idea... Sorry they aren't the best, I've had to zoom in as he was lurking in the background (the mare is usually doing something comical to warrant the photo!). His belly rumbling is so loud too, I've never heard such a noisy belly! You can hear it standing a couple of paces away from him. But like I said, is happy in himself and normal behaviour/eating/drinking/toileting

 

[Pinkvboots]

Looks like hay belly and lack of muscle making it hang lower, once thet have eaten the field down a bit it will probably shrink down.

Physilium husk is good for wind and bloat.

 

[AutumnDays]

Looks like hay belly and lack of muscle making it hang lower, once thet have eaten the field down a bit it will probably shrink down.

Physilium husk is good for wind and bloat.

Brilliant, thank you