Foul smell

Hormonal Filly

Hormonal Filly

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A horse at the yard stuck its head over the door this week, I stroked him and then noticed this awful smell. Then realised it is coming from his mouth..

Horse is in his mid 20s, ex racer that struggles to gain weight and is very thin. Would put money on definitely having ulcers, he is an ulcer type to the book but owner not interested.

I then smelt my own and several others, non have any smell.

Could a foul smell be teeth, or stomach related? As awful to say it almost smelt like death or something rotten.
 
Amymay said:
I’d speak to the YO about ensuring the horse starts receiving adequate veterinary care.
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YO doesn’t get involved in the horses welfare at all. I could mention it but don’t think he would do anything. I don’t think I can approach the owner without a s**t storm.
 
Teeth , or possibly kidneys? Anyway, definitely not normal and needs to be seen by a vet.

Sorry but I have to disagree with those who say that it's not up to you to get involved. You noticed it and are worried , so you are involved already. Doing nothing is a decision. Easy for me to say from here obviously, but if the horse is 'very thin' & if you are certain that owner and YO would take no notice, you would be justified in alerting a welfare charity. You can do it anonymously.
 
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It could well be teeth. The smell of my own mare’s breath after her two infected incisor extractions earlier this year was absolutely rank - it was the infection continuing to drain out 😳. This went on for 2 or 3 weeks post extraction. She healed up fine.

The horse is probably in considerable discomfort, so doing nothing is not an option. It needs to be treated or to be PTS. If you really felt unable to comment about this to the owner or the yard owner, then contact an equine charity, and do it now (today).
 
Hormonal Filly said:
A horse at the yard stuck its head over the door this week, I stroked him and then noticed this awful smell. Then realised it is coming from his mouth..

Horse is in his mid 20s, ex racer that struggles to gain weight and is very thin. Would put money on definitely having ulcers, he is an ulcer type to the book but owner not interested.

I then smelt my own and several others, non have any smell.

Could a foul smell be teeth, or stomach related? As awful to say it almost smelt like death or something rotten.
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My girl had a mouth ulcer, we think there may have been a slight connection with long term bute use as it can cause mouth ulcers, it was the only side effect she ever had from it and never suffered anything else to do with the bute. But it came about literally overnight and the smell was dreadful.

I opened her mouth and nearly passed out so called the vet. The vet debrided it as it was a nasty pus filled infection which the vet had to debride under local anaethetic and she was on antibiotics for a while. I had to buy Chlorohexadine mouth wash and brush her teeth with this once the ulcer was cleared up. She didn't mind as it was minty as was preferable to using the Chlorohexadine in the hibbiscrub which the vet recommended. I got the dentist out to recheck her mouth and he felt it was possibly going to cause the tooth nearest it to come loose but fortunatley it never did.

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Poor horse. It’s a dilemma. I know of some neglect near me and and agonising currently over how best to help the ponies. Teeth problems do smell terrible. I was thinking world horse welfare too.
 
Goldie's mum said:
Teeth , or possibly kidneys? Anyway, definitely not normal and needs to be seen by a vet.

Sorry but I have to disagree with those who say that it's not up to you to get involved. You noticed it and are worried , so you are involved already. Doing nothing is a decision. Easy for me to say from here obviously, but if the horse is 'very thin' & if you are certain that owner and YO would take no notice, you would be justified in alerting a welfare charity. You can do it anonymously.
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I would report anonymously to WHW or other appropriate body if YO won't do/say anything but it is not a good idea for OP to get directly involved.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I would report anonymously to WHW or other appropriate body if YO won't do/say anything but it is not a good idea for OP to get directly involved.
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If it report anonymously to WHW, what do I write. Thin and foul smell coming from mouth? It’s a private yard and the field is away from any footpath. It would be obvious it’s a livery.. I think I will speak to YO about it.

You’d only notice it if you got close enough to his face (he rubbed his head on my chest when I stroked him was how I originally smelt it) I doubt the owner or anyone else has noticed.
 
My horse often has quite foul smelling breath. He has a large growth in his nasal cavity, diagnosed by ct scan after dentist couldn't find any tooth related cause. Vet advised against surgery due to high risks and it doesn't seem to cause him discomfort. I think the smell is caused by nasal discharge failing to drain normally due to the growth. He is better living out (the diagnosis was a large part of reason why I moved to live out livery) as when stabled he would get a bit snotty and smell worse/ more frequently. The smell also seems worse in autumn/ spring for some reason, sometimes I think its worse when it's been raining, no idea why. I do worry about him and whether it could get worse or cause complications if he gets an infection.

It might be that the owner is aware, and might well already seeking diagnosis/treatment, wasn't sure if you meant they're not interested in ulcer investigation or not interested in the foul smell? Have you spoken to the owner about it? If the horse is on full livery or retirement livery they might not know unless someone tells them. That said you also mention horse is very thin, so if owner is dismissive or uninterested then yes I would contact a welfare organisation.
 
Hormonal Filly said:
If it report anonymously to WHW, what do I write. Thin and foul smell coming from mouth? It’s a private yard and the field is away from any footpath. It would be obvious it’s a livery.. I think I will speak to YO about it.

You’d only notice it if you got close enough to his face (he rubbed his head on my chest when I stroked him was how I originally smelt it) I doubt the owner or anyone else has noticed.
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Ring WHW, speak to a person, explain your concerns
 
Instead of going to the authorities and reporting it, (a bit dramatic in my opinion in the first instance) could you not mention it to the owner, you could also say in conversation that when they are getting him checked to let you know as you might need your horse doing? It's the way you say things...i noticed that X had smelly breath have you noticed it, could it be what your feeding him ...or his teeth..
Your YO may not be very happy if they found out you had reported it and hadn't gone to them first.

I might not be the most approachable person but i would respect someone talking to me direct if they thought one of mine was suffering not just reporting me.
 
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