Puddock
Well-Known Member
Oh, and he also has dental issues.
I posted a couple of weeks ago about my horse: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=584527&highlight=Puddock
and received lots of helpful advice. I upped his fast fibre, but obviously that wasn't too long ago, so wouldn't expect to see a difference yet.
We went to the vet hospital earlier this week for his dental check-up, and I also spoke to a nutritionist, but now I'm more confused about diet than ever.
The night before we went, something clicked and I started researching Cushing's online. He has some of the typical symptoms but not others. E.g. if he had a long coat it wouldn't be obvious as he was fully clipped in Nov. I haven't noticed him beginning to sweat up randomly, but then he hasn't done much work recently due to lethargy! He is drinking slightly more than usual, but then so are all the horses on our yard. He doesn't urinate frequently, but I did have the vet out earlier in the year as he would frequently get into the "staling" pose when ridden and then not go. He was tested and scanned for bladder stones and nothing found. Instructor was of the opinion this is a new form of napping (he's lazy and very clever, think 16.3 tank with the brains of your average riding school pony) and to work through it. I had been doing that till the general lethargy got in the way of doing any real work at all. He has also lost all top line and is very ribby with a pot-bellied look. I don't think this is likely to be worm related as he is on a good programme as are all other horses on the yard. Will get a count done, though.
So, while at the vets, I asked about possibility of Cushing's and they said they would be more surprised if he didn't have it. He is to be tested in a month as they want to see if the diet advice given perks him up and gives him more energy (they are of opinion weight loss may he more related to dental issues, although they also said his teeth were in good shape following his last treatment and didn't need much done. Basically, he's had two teeth taken out of occlusion and doesn't get the use of them, so he can eat with no trouble and isn't in pain, but can't chew as effectively as he could previously).
But, it's the dietary advice that's confusing me. Currently he is on ad lib haylage overnight, out 8am-3.30pm with very little grass/no haylage overnight. He gets 2kg fast fibre, 200g microionised linseed, a new yeast supplement called Lifeforce, kindly recommended by a member on here and some biotin.
The nutritionist at the hospital has recommended changing to Alfa-a oil and sugarbeet, continuing with the linseed and adding a balancer. She was aware he is potential Cushing's. It's only since I got home and did some more research that I realised alfalfa may not be the best for him. Is he likely to become footy on it, or worse still full-blown lami? He's never had it in the past, but then before this he always had the tendency to be such a fatty that I watched his weight like a hawk!
Should I swap my fast fibre for Speedibeet as suggested, or simply up the amount again and maybe add some other kind of oil instead of the Alfa-a? What about something like copra meal? I really am so confused. Thanks for reading, sorry for any typos, I'm on my phone.
I posted a couple of weeks ago about my horse: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=584527&highlight=Puddock
and received lots of helpful advice. I upped his fast fibre, but obviously that wasn't too long ago, so wouldn't expect to see a difference yet.
We went to the vet hospital earlier this week for his dental check-up, and I also spoke to a nutritionist, but now I'm more confused about diet than ever.
The night before we went, something clicked and I started researching Cushing's online. He has some of the typical symptoms but not others. E.g. if he had a long coat it wouldn't be obvious as he was fully clipped in Nov. I haven't noticed him beginning to sweat up randomly, but then he hasn't done much work recently due to lethargy! He is drinking slightly more than usual, but then so are all the horses on our yard. He doesn't urinate frequently, but I did have the vet out earlier in the year as he would frequently get into the "staling" pose when ridden and then not go. He was tested and scanned for bladder stones and nothing found. Instructor was of the opinion this is a new form of napping (he's lazy and very clever, think 16.3 tank with the brains of your average riding school pony) and to work through it. I had been doing that till the general lethargy got in the way of doing any real work at all. He has also lost all top line and is very ribby with a pot-bellied look. I don't think this is likely to be worm related as he is on a good programme as are all other horses on the yard. Will get a count done, though.
So, while at the vets, I asked about possibility of Cushing's and they said they would be more surprised if he didn't have it. He is to be tested in a month as they want to see if the diet advice given perks him up and gives him more energy (they are of opinion weight loss may he more related to dental issues, although they also said his teeth were in good shape following his last treatment and didn't need much done. Basically, he's had two teeth taken out of occlusion and doesn't get the use of them, so he can eat with no trouble and isn't in pain, but can't chew as effectively as he could previously).
But, it's the dietary advice that's confusing me. Currently he is on ad lib haylage overnight, out 8am-3.30pm with very little grass/no haylage overnight. He gets 2kg fast fibre, 200g microionised linseed, a new yeast supplement called Lifeforce, kindly recommended by a member on here and some biotin.
The nutritionist at the hospital has recommended changing to Alfa-a oil and sugarbeet, continuing with the linseed and adding a balancer. She was aware he is potential Cushing's. It's only since I got home and did some more research that I realised alfalfa may not be the best for him. Is he likely to become footy on it, or worse still full-blown lami? He's never had it in the past, but then before this he always had the tendency to be such a fatty that I watched his weight like a hawk!
Should I swap my fast fibre for Speedibeet as suggested, or simply up the amount again and maybe add some other kind of oil instead of the Alfa-a? What about something like copra meal? I really am so confused. Thanks for reading, sorry for any typos, I'm on my phone.
