Concerned about my yearling

[imafluffybunny]

My yearling lost weight about a month ago which i put down to a growth spurt, she looked like the usual growing youngster, ribby and poor over the quarters and neck. She has now lost even more weight and her hind fetlocks have become swollen.
She is not getting much new gress because I am waiting for my fields to recover after the winter but she gets haylage and a good feed every day (1 scoop alph a, 1 scoop high fibre cubes and baileys stud balancer) the amount of feed is no different to what she got over the winter, she held her weight great over the winter, if anything she is getting more.
She dosen't look like a neglect case but she is a lot thinner than I am comfortable with, plus wth the swollen fetlocks I am getting concerned.
She is turned out 24/7 so she is not standing in for her legs to fill, could this be related to the weight loss or just coincidence?

I dont want to over feed her but could I be giving her anything else to help her weight?

I have the vet coming tomorrow anyway so will run it past her but if anyone has any advise it would be gratefully received.

sorry this is so long!!

 

[sallyf]

I would definately get the vet to check him/her out even if it is to look at the swollen fetlocks which is certainly not normal

 

[tikino]

maybe get the vet to run some bloods to see all is well esp with the weight loss and swollen fetlocks. if nothing else it will give you peace of mind. good luck

 

[henryhorn]

I think this is a problem only your vet can advise on, sorry.

 

[JanetGeorge]

Agree with henryhorn. I had a two year old lost weight badly in early spring. The others in the same group were all great - there was NO reason I could fathom.

Vet did her teeth, we wormed her again (although she was not overdue.) He took bloods - which showed indicators of an 'inflamatory condition'. She had antibiotics, multi-vits etc., not much improvement. Took more bloods and these were normal in the areas that had indicated inflammation, but albumin was high. So we got wee sample to see if she was losing protein in her urine - she wasn't! So we adopted a 'wait and watch' policy and she IS now improving, so probably a virus, but .....

The puffy fetlocks might indicate she is standing around a lot in the field and not eating - but doesn't tell you why. A thorough examination and bloods are the place to start.

 

[Touchwood]

Ditto all the others. The swollen fetlocks concern me most of all TBH, as like you say, its not that unusual for them to drop off a bit when they have a growth spurt.
Swollen fetlocks definately not normal though, and very much a vet job.

 

[Gingernags]

Mine is not quite a year (10 months) and he has dropped off a lot but still on same feeding regime, everyone has said he's just having a growth spurt (his front end has finally caught up with his back end - there was a 2" difference!!!)

He's not on summer grass either as due to his gelding complications and surgery, he's still in on a night and on restricted turnout during the day - ad lib haylage in the paddock and stable though.

He is ribby now, but some grass will help with that and I've put him on outshine on top of his suregrow as someone on the yard has it and her horses are looking fantastic on it.

So that itself wouldn't concern me, but ditto what the others have said - the swellings would.

I prefer to over-react and get help earlier with him, as being younger they can go down so fast - so would definately play safe and get the vet to check.

I'd much rather waste a call out fee and be on the safe side, than leave things too late and think "if only"

 

[CBFan]

I have to agree with the others

I hate to alarm you but puffy fetlocks were the first sign of my filly's growth problems. No swelling is normal, especially in a youngster, whether it has been standing still a lot (which in itself is not normal) or not. Get the vet out. Although to reasure you a little... the growth plates at the fetlocks should almost be closed at a year so any problem now should be minimal...

 

[whitewood]

It's the hocks that worry me too.

My stallion bought as a youngster used to go all ribby, putting all his energies into growing upwards, then he would put on condition, then repeat the process over the next couple of years. That I think is normal enough, but the vet is the right person to talk to