Excessive drinking/not eating hay

[Roc87]

My 23 yr old welsh cob gelding has recently decided that he doesn't want to eat his hay, he is stabled at night and out during the day, up until this week its been all normal, eating his hay in stable and the hay I put out (when frosty). I came to him on Monday morning and he had not touched his haynet at all, complete shock as he's never done this. He had eaten his hard feed at night time and he ate his breakfast but unusually had a drink after this before I turned out. I have had to change to haylege, which he is eating, however he is drinking a full tub of water each night and weeing a lot. I have had him since he was 5 and he has never caused an issue, apart from this he is completely healthy, looks and acts like a 5 year old still Have rang vet, they advised to monitor, a lot of people are saying cushions disease, but surely the on set of this is slow rather than sudden like this? Any advice?

 

[Casey76]

Hmm... strange one.

firstly: Is he eating hay now? If he is eating haylage without any problems then I would follow the vets advice and just monitor the situation, making sure he is eating plenty of forage over the course of the day.

Secondly: Have you seen him stale? What colour is his urine? Is it any smellier than usual? Excessive drinking (with the resultant excessive urination) can be the result of a few things, cushings (or PPID) being one of them. But he may also have a kidney or urinary tract infection. I would keep a close eye on that tbh, and keep the vet informed of any changes, or if the situation doesn't resolve fairly quickly.

 

[Roc87]

Hi, no he is not eating hay but eating haylege, urine doesn't smell any different, I did check his temp last night and it was normal (37.1) vet said needs to be between 37-38

 

[C1airey]

Are any other horses eating that hay? Mine (also welsh, coincidentally) can be a fussy sod and if left with a haynet which he doesn't like, will stand and starve rather than give in and eat.

I don't know where you are OP, but it has been a lot warmer here at night lately, so the drinking might just be overheating. Is he clipped/rugged? We've gone from a MW to out naked in less than a week.

 

[Horsewithsocks]

Are any other horses eating that hay? Mine (also welsh, coincidentally) can be a fussy sod and if left with a haynet which he doesn't like, will stand and starve rather than give in and eat.

I don't know where you are OP, but it has been a lot warmer here at night lately, so the drinking might just be overheating. Is he clipped/rugged? We've gone from a MW to out naked in less than a week.

Mine got cushings quite quickly, you probably need to get him blood tested, he is the right sort of age when this happens

 

[splashgirl45]

not all horses with cushings show lots of symptoms, but one of the signs is excessive drinking and they can change their eating habits. he may have had cushings for years but his levels may have gone up this winter and causing symptoms. i would suggest that you get him tested for cushings so you can be sure what you are dealing with. when i asked my vet to check my horse for cushings she didnt think she looked like she had it, her level came back at 172 which is quite high so i was, unfortunately right....

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

As soon as I read excessive drinking, I thought Cushing's. My mare started on. Prascend just over a month ago, she has cut her water consumption by about half and her bed is much drier. Do ask your vet to do a blood test

 

[Roc87]

Thanks for the advice all, in response to the bale of hay I but mine in and its a round bale which he's been eating up until now. He has been fully clipped in November but has already started growing back.

 

[splashgirl45]

Thanks for the advice all, in response to the bale of hay I but mine in and its a round bale which he's been eating up until now. He has been fully clipped in November but has already started growing back.

another sign that he may have cushings is that the coat grows more than usual...