Feeding advice needed

[Kenzi]

I have an elderly thoroughbred who is now retired and living out. He is well rugged but has dropped a lot of weight in the last week or so (now almost a rescue case). He has managed without extra feed up until now (was looking spot on 3 weeks ago!) He now needs feeding. What would you recommend? How concerned should I be about refeeding syndrome?

 

[tallyho!]

Hay?

 

[Cortez]

What is "refeeding syndrome"?

 

[Kenzi]

He is having hay. Refeeding syndrome can be a fatal side effect of refeeding undernourished horses. However I am not sure it is a concern here as the weight dropped off so quickly and it is not a case of long term starvation.

 

[tallyho!]

If mine lost weight that quickly I would personally be calling my vet to check nothing was wrong... like some red worm have just hatched or something.