extreme weight loss

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walkers_dream

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My rising 4 had a poor start and was very thin with worm burden, and has been a nightmare to keep weight on since, he is a traditional cob that is very much like a TB lol.

however he is regularly wormed as i have had a long battle with worms as a result of his poor start, with different wormers, however he has dropped weight even though he is fed hard feed (dodds and horrell cool condition) i will admit he shares a field with 2 other ponies who are more active than he is, and the grass..well still hasnt recovered from the winter.

I will be ordering a 5 day wormer for him just in case, but this is getting a little fustrating, i am considering getting equimax pellets and baileys topline to try and bulk him back up as i cant work him in this condition, his top line has dissapeared and you could play a song on his ribs :(

this has happened before and it required a 5 day wormer and antibiotics so i will be on the phone with the vets today about this.

is there any thing else i can do, as i am also buying some of this years hay of my friend as sadly she has no haylage yet.

help :S
 
Not as of yet, i expect the vets will be wanting to check this, as theres something not right about this!

im very much a 1st time is a fluke 2nd time theres a problem

oh my days if its not his feet im having issues with its his weight loL! =[ x
 
If the grass is poor after the hard winter are you giving him as much hay as he will eat? Would also second the recommendation of a vet check if he has had a significant weight loss in short timeframe.
 
Half a round bale at the moment, and my friend is delivering some square bales soon (quite large ones) and just going to put them in the field and open them up there for him as they are out 24/7 atm.

if its not the grass issue causing this, what else could it be. like worse case senario (sorry im a worrier and have to prepair my self for the worst just in case lol) x
 
The worm problem could have damaged his stomach so could add ulcers to things to look at and he doesn't have to display all the signs, or tb only had weight loss and no energy as signs of ulcers.

Also look at what is in the feed you are giving him, low sugar and starch high in fibre would be best. Try Alfa beet, you have to soak it 15min hot water or two hours cold. It's help our tb with his condition as well as Alfa a molasses free and ERS Pellets. I know the pellets are made for tbs but for weight gain I think they will help.
 
slightlyconfused said:
The worm problem could have damaged his stomach so could add ulcers to things to look at and he doesn't have to display all the signs, or tb only had weight loss and no energy as signs of ulcers.

Also look at what is in the feed you are giving him, low sugar and starch high in fibre would be best. Try Alfa beet, you have to soak it 15min hot water or two hours cold. It's help our tb with his condition as well as Alfa a molasses free and ERS Pellets. I know the pellets are made for tbs but for weight gain I think they will help.
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I have a dodgy doer TB, second Alfa Beet, also, Happy tummy charcoal is on offer through H&H at £10 off with free delivery at the mo, heard very good things about that too.:)

I also feed micronised linseed, topline cubes (soaked to mush) and alfachaf. it does work. TB's seem (I am a relatively new TB convert) to be quick up quick down with weight. It seems muscle is the only stable.

Mine dropped so low after winter I gave her a month off, had her shoes off and just walked her out in hand with my daughter up and down the hills. This helps with the muscle thing as well.

Far more people on here far more qualified than me to give advice, but I do send hugs and feel for you. :o
 
My traddy was like this when I bought him, I don't think he had ever been wormed. Try him on a pre and probiotic as he may not have healthy gut bacteria, so the feed you are giving him is not being digested effectively and he is not getting the benefit. I had to have mine on these for a good few months to make sure he was fully back to health.
Hope you get it sorted! :)
 
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thanks peoples i really appreciate the help! will try all avenues, hopefully ill crack this one day! but its very upsetting seeing him go from a plump beauty to a rspca case in a couple of weeks :S
 
Have you sent off for a worm count on a stool sample, might not have worms and you will be causing a resistance and over loading the system with chemicals. Check teeth might not be chewing properly, check ulcers, check what you are feeding, more bulk is needed, less heavy stuff.
 
If he has gone from plump to RSPCA case in a fortnight then you definitely need vet ASAP. It could be something as simple as a dental problem, but a vet visit is going tobe more helpful than us guessing on a forum about a horse we can't even see!
 
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