Flat horse

[SOS]

My horse has been a little flat for the past few weeks. By this I mean completely normal in every way but when ridden can be lethargic - varying from extreme to mild. He is sound, temp normal, lung/heart sounds normal. Eating, drinking, urinating, defecating normally. Fully clipped and fit.

It started when I took him drag hunting two weekends ago after he had two weeks off hunting as I was away. In this time he was exercised as normal. As soon as we left the meet I knew he wasn’t right as was having to kick him on and after a few fences I retired and came home.

He still wasn’t right the next day so I called the vet out and got bloods full. He was worked up and found to be completely clinically normal, not painful, as above no temp/abnormalities at all. Also flexed and trotted up and sound. Bloods were completely clear.

I was told to monitor if he gets worse but that he could just be feeling a little off and give him time. Continue with light work.

I have done just that, light work and started supplementing with propel plus alongside his normal feed. Yet he’s still not 100%. I rang the vet yesterday and they advised there was not much else they can do. I’m not very happy with this as we could scan/do further bloods etc and he is insured so will be seeking a second opinion on Monday.

But anyone got any experience of this? Horse clinically fine but just lethargic.

 

[AmyMay]

Do you routinely feed electrolytes?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Are you sure he was exercised as you wanted whilst you were away? It sounds like he tied up slightly.

 

[Nudibranch]

Not much help but my 6yo is just starting to go that way. She's n/n for pssm1 but I am seriously wondering about pssm2 now. Have started her on tri aminos, will trial vitamin e (and selenium possibly) if that doesn't help.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Are you sure he was exercised as you wanted whilst you were away? It sounds like he tied up slightly.

But then the blood tests proud have shown that ....

 

[Nudibranch]

It depends what blood tests were done.

 

[SOS]

Do you routinely feed electrolytes?

I feed a pinch of salt daily and electrolytes the day before, day of and day after hunting.

 

[SOS]

It depends what blood tests were done.

Full biochemistry and haemotology. I’m no good with horse bloods.

He is 13 and been a hunter all his life. I’ve looked after him since a 5 year old and owned for a few years.

 

[Nudibranch]

They'd need to specifically look for raised muscle enzymes if they suspected a myopathy like pssm (ie tying up)?

 

[southerncomfort]

Funnily enough I've heard several people say this about their horses over the last couple of weeks. Not lame, stiff or ill....just very, very quiet.

My hacking buddy's horse has lost his spark. The only unusual thing she's noticed is that he's producing a LOT of droppings and refusing hay. She's going to have more bloods run but we suspect that the grass is growing again as its been very mild here, and he's basically just gorged himself a bit.

Hope that turns out to be the case with your horse OP, and nothing more worrying.

 

[SOS]

They'd need to specifically look for raised muscle enzymes if they suspected a myopathy like pssm (ie tying up)?

Okay. Unfortunately I don’t know loads about PSSM but will have a research later. He does not sweat up when he is lethargic which is slightly odd too.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I feed a pinch of salt daily and electrolytes the day before, day of and day after hunting.

An average size horse needs about two tablespoons of salt a day. A lack of sodium especially after hard work where he's sweated a lot can make them really sluggish.

 

[Goldenstar]

I would have thought muscle enzymes would have been screened in this scenario .
I would see if they screened for chronic and acute inflammation markers if they did not I would do that straight away .