Elderly horse

[Megan V1]

I have a 28 year old mare that I bred and have spent years trying to keep her weight down, now however I am struggling to keep weight on her. She is fed Veteran Vitality and has half as much again of her recommended amount and molasses free hifi spread over two or three meals a day. to this I add linseed, 150g per day and vegetable oil. She is on good grazing and has time on a lush lawn when the ground is dry. She has her teeth done regularly and to be fair they are not great and has had to have one removed recently but she has no problem eating her feeds or hay in the winter. She is thin and you can see her ribs clearly but she is full of energy and canters in for her feed and still gives the rest of the herd a hard time which she has always done. Any thing else I could be giving her? In the winter she has fast fibre feeds between her veteran vitality feeds as well as hay.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Cushing test ?

 

[Megan V1]

She was tested for it about two year ago and it was negative, may be worth retesting?

 

[claret09]

have you thought about phoning the different feed companies and asking their advice? they might be able to suggest a combination of feeds that will help with weight gain and maintenance.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I’d be tempted to drop the molasses free hifi as it’s for good doers and will bulk up her feed without really giving her much. We had an old boy in his late twenties and the most success we had was with soaked grass nuts and linseed. It was suggested to us by a friend who had three oldies and all looked amazing. We stripped his feed right back and the grassnuts and linseed worked amazingly well.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I don’t feed my 26 year old any chaff in his main feeds as it’s got no nutritional value. Quantities vary depending on the time of year but I currently feed Saracen Releve, Heygates conditioning cubes and micronised linseed. I added Equijewel last winter as in the Autumn he was looking a bit ribby and that made a big difference. It’s expensive but you don’t need to feed much. When he’s not out on grass I’m starting to feed a hay replacer currently mostly a mix of simple systems haycare and grass nuts as he’s having trouble chewing hay now. I’m not convinced the veteran specific feeds are that great. I usually have him tested yearly for Cushings.

 

[Carrottom]

I've stopped the hi-fi in my old boys feed as I found it has been very spikey this year, probably due to the weather last year. He had looked better without it. I increased his fast fibre and hi fibre nuts and he has 250 gms of micronised linseed.

 

[paddy555]

She was tested for it about two year ago and it was negative, may be worth retesting?

definitely. Preferably in the Autumn but if you have the problem now you will have to do something. My horse before diagnosis was eating a bale of hay a day and was still thin and getting thinner. A bale is around 45lbs and he was around 450kg. Plus of course he got his hard feed. After being treated he went back to normal amounts and got fat.

Copra works well to get weight on. I would add some hi fibre cubes to that. (soaked to help the teeth)

If there is any chance of cushings I would be a bit careful about too much good grazing and the lush lawn just in case of laminitis. If you have hay left you could supplement with that or a few more hi fibre cubes. (Spillers and D & H do some) .

At 28 I would have thought cushings was top of the list. If not I would go back to the teeth just in case there is something else that needs attention or in case she has started to need hay replacer nuts ie hi fibre cubes.

If she was mine whilst the vet was there pulling blood for the cushings test I would do a normal blood test just in case something shows up.

 

[Spotherisk]

Rowan Barbary Ready Mash Extra is great for condition, my 29 year old has been on it for a couple of years. Equine dentist said no chaff, it packs. This was last winter, living out, rugged if it was wet.

 

[Northern Hare]

She was tested for it about two year ago and it was negative, may be worth retesting?

I agree ref retesting. You may find that the test but is free - although obviously visit charge will be chargeable.

For info, my horse was on a Cushings veterinary trial before he had it and was tested every six months (he was in his early 20's). He was all clear with low scores and then became a bit short in his stride, so he was retested straight away as part of the trial, and sure enough he had really a high ACTH Cushing score. That was within weeks of his previous trial test which had been fine. He started on Prascend straight away, and his scores settled down again.

 

[meleeka]

Another recommendation for a cushings test. It’s usually easy controlled with medication. My vet said that eventually even if they can still eat hay they don’t process the nutrients as well so you might have to think about extra fibre. I’d probably start with grass nuts, soaked, or Aloha Beet which a friends horse has as a total hay replacer.

My big horse does better on Soothe and Gain than Veteran Vitality. Like you I was feeding more than the recommended amount but she’s gone from 4kg of VV to 2kg of Soothe and Gain to maintain her weight.

 

[Deleted member 150717]

If cushings is ruled out I would put her on soothe and gain highly recommend it has low sugar hit high calorie so it won’t send her divy. It goes down a treat with my boy he was very thin and poor when he came to me but now a year later we will probably have to take him off soon as it’s doing what’s it’s meant to but a bit too well!!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Cushings test and feed Equijewel

 

[windand rain]

Grassnuts, grass chaff, veteran vitality restricted grazing and linseed if needed
25 years old still in work and is just a bit porky just now

 

[HobleytheTB]

Another vote for cushings test! Also may be worth checking teeth if they haven't been done recently. They can lose the grinding surface when they're old and struggle to get as much grass as they used to. And obviously can start to get wobbly or broken teeth.

 

[Winters100]

It does sound to me like teeth. Problems can arise at any time, even if they have been done recently.

I feed my older girl 5 times a day with soaked food (mix of spillers hi-fi, a little muesli, oats, grass cubes and beet pulp). This seems to keep her in good condition. She has had 3 teeth out, and although she can eat hay she needs a bit more to keep the weight on.

I would also second a Cushings test.

Good luck!

 

[windand rain]

Wondering if Equidgel might help if he would drink it. Seen some really good results in both young and old using it. The fact it is so easy to feed makes me think it might be a good option for the elderly horse. Just might be something to think about

 

[Megan V1]

It does sound to me like teeth. Problems can arise at any time, even if they have been done recently.

I feed my older girl 5 times a day with soaked food (mix of spillers hi-fi, a little muesli, oats, grass cubes and beet pulp). This seems to keep her in good condition. She has had 3 teeth out, and although she can eat hay she needs a bit more to keep the weight on.

I would also second a Cushings test.

Good luck!

Thank you, her teeth were done a fortnight ago and she sees dentist every three to five months so sure it isn't teeth related other than her teeth are not great and she is old. I think you are right and more frequent feeds are going to be the way to go and I will get her retested for cushings.

 

[Megan V1]

Thank you all for your replies, I will get her retested for cushings and I have spoken to a feed company who have recommended soaked grass nuts as well as her current feed. It's also been suggested to put a slug of vegetable oli in her feeds so have added that as well as the linseed and also upped the linseed to 250g daily. I only give her the chaff as she seems to tuck into the feed better with it than without and dentist suggested molasses free. Lets hope she gains weight before winter sets in, just glad she is happy and healthy in all other ways.

 

[Winters100]

Thank you, her teeth were done a fortnight ago and she sees dentist every three to five months so sure it isn't teeth related other than her teeth are not great and she is old. I think you are right and more frequent feeds are going to be the way to go and I will get her retested for cushings.

Yes, more frequent feeds will help, but even with teeth done a couple of weeks ago don't discount it. My mare had a problem arise very shortly after they were done, although to be fair we knew they were not perfect and that it could happen at anytime. Is she quidding? If she has a problem with hay focus on high fibre foods, and don't be afraid that once you have added the water it looks like a HUGE amount! Good luck!

 

[Megan V1]

Grassnuts, grass chaff, veteran vitality restricted grazing and linseed if neededView attachment 74591
25 years old still in work and is just a bit porky just now

Looks amazing you must be really pleased, mine is 3/4 TB so never going to look like this unfortunately. I also have a cob and seeing them together just emphasises how thin she is.

 

[windand rain]

Thank you yes she looks great I used to breed and buy tbs off the track so know the problem well but they also had a similar diet just more oil based food copra/micronised linseed and rice bran + as much hay or grass as they could eat. Have not fe grain for 40 years in the conventional sense never fed oats/barley or wheat feed for at least 40 years but have fed boiled linseed originally love the smell of it cooking. Another couple of oil feeds I have seen used are chia seed and black sunflower never fed them as couldn't find out if any that germinated could cause harm but it would seem not as are still fed

 

[SEL]

Do a full blood panel alongside cushings to rule out any other issues

 

[Lipglosspukka]

I would bin off any chaff type feeds. They aren't ideal for horses with poor teeth and can get impacted in the gaps and cause issues over time.

When I need one to gain weight, I use soaked grass nuts, soaked barley rings and a decent amount of linseed.

 

[TinseLeneHorse]

My friend's 29 year old was looking very poor last autumn. She went on to linseed mash - I think it's a top spec product but am not sure. She also gets speedi beet mixed through it. Looking really good now. At the moment she is out 24/7 and gets one big feed a day. I'm hoping she copes OK with this as personally I'm not convinced she is getting much nutrition from the grass due to very worn down front teeth. I'm not sure if the linseed mash would be suitable for a horse with Cushing's though so you would need to check that out if yours tests positive.

 

[Gloi]

I was just wondering what the dentist is doing when they come. If you aren't already doing it it may be worth taking her to a specialist dental vet who can sedate , drill and clean any diastomas and pack anywhere that needs it. It made a big difference to mine.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I agree with soaked grass nuts. I stick a handful of soft chaff in just for some consistency, and micronised linseed also.
equerry conditioning mash is good too

 

[Megan V1]

Have started her on grass nuts as well as her veteran vitality, fast fibre, linseed and veg oil and she lives out 24/7 on good grazing only comes in for feeds. Tests done so wait for results. She is full of life and canters in when called for feeds and likes to show off her floaty trot with tail over her back so obviously has plenty of energy!

 

[spotty_pony]

My old girl (29) LOVES Dengie Alfa-beet! She had cushings (but luckily not the Laminitic kind) and is currently out 24/7 on good grazing and in for part of the day with ad-lib hay. She has a scoop of alfa-beet, a scoop of dengie alfa original, 1/2 scoop high fibre cubes and 2 mugs of topspec lite balancer and is looking great. She is also on one danilon per day now as per discussion with vet as she is getting stiffer and I noticed a drastic change in the amount she was eating after she started on it so it nay be worth having a bute trial with yours to see if she is uncomfortable anywhere. She has had her teeth done and everything is fine but has arthritis after a busy show jumping pony life so both myself and Vet feel it is kinder to give her the Danilon for the rest of her days.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

My old girl (29) LOVES Dengie Alfa-beet! She had cushings (but luckily not the Laminitic kind) and is currently out 24/7 on good grazing and in for part of the day with ad-lib hay. She has a scoop of alfa-beet, a scoop of dengie alfa original, 1/2 scoop high fibre cubes and 2 mugs of topspec lite balancer and is looking great. She is also on one danilon per day now as per discussion with vet as she is getting stiffer and I noticed a drastic change in the amount she was eating after she started on it so it nay be worth having a bute trial with yours to see if she is uncomfortable anywhere. She has had her teeth done and everything is fine but has arthritis after a busy show jumping pony life so both myself and Vet feel it is kinder to give her the Danilon for the rest of her days.

Just to check, you do realise that any horse with Cushings has an increased risk of developing laminitis. So, there isn’t really a “not the laminitic type of Cushings”, as it is a progressive disease. I would be monitoring yours very carefully indeed if she is out on good grazing 24/7.