Eaglestone
Well-Known Member
I have a 26 14.3h Welsh D x Hackney Cushings horse, that was diagnosed with this condition over 2 years ago and has been on Pergolide, ever since the diagnosis, and has been doing very well. In July his Pergolide was increased due to the Vet being concerned that he was now looking more like a Cushings Pony.
I have been monitoring his weight and I have seen him drop off gradually, however this last week I can see his ribs more then ever, even through his extremely hairy coat and am now at my wits end.
He has been in a 360g rug night and day throughout this cold spell and is always well rugged up.
He has never been a greedy horse and if he does not like the feed he would starve himself rather that eat, which has always been a concern.
He is turned out without grass, in his own little paddock with a Field Shelter, with his stable mate in the grass paddock next to him, for 10 hours a day, where he can nuzzle him over the fence, and has a constant supply of hay, but never eats it all up
For the first time, in the 17 years I have had him, he is on full rations of hard feed which is Spillers High Fibre Nuts and recently has started to be fussy over his High Fibre Nuts. He will only eat a little bit of Spillers Happy Hoof, which I use to mix his evening meal with supplements galore Equisup, Newmarket Joint Supplement, CopperTritian and Cush X. The only additive that I have not tried is Oil, my Vet recommended this, however, for some reason I have not got round to this, which is not like me . I think its because I know he will turn his nose up at it!
He will only eat a nut type food so a nice mix to all of us, is cr*p to him!
He is hacked out quietly in walk, with a little tiny bit of trot, at the weekend so that he gets some exercise and he is very willing to go. This is for about 1 ½ hours on both days . But I am now thinking that I should cut that out, but really want him to get a little bit of interest in his life. The problem here is that his stable mate needs exercise and normally the best solution is that they both go out together .. to keep the peace all round!
Up until last week he was on 2005 hay which is soaked for 8 12 hours and therefore all the goodness has been sucked out of it. I have now only got 2007 hay, so I am hoping that will help, but am paranoid that it will set of Laminitis. He manages to eat up to approx 16lbs, of hay day (it I am lucky!), although he is loving the 2007 hay so much that this is increasing each day ..
I know that inevitable he will drop off as most horses do with age, however at this stage I think he is just not getting enough, although saying that he is a hard boy to get any extras down, as he knows when he has had enough.
The Vet is coming to see him on Wednesday and I will ask her to take some bloods, as the last lot was taken in July and I would like to see if the Copper Supplement has made any difference and how his Insulin and Glucose levels are.
I will try and contact Spillers for their recommendations.
I have spoken with the Laminitis Trust a long time ago, and may have another chat with them.
But I would be very interested to know how you peeps out there in the thick of it cope. I am interested to know what other owners, in this position do, feed wise, turnout wise and exercise wise and any other help and advise you can get me?
Thank you for getting this far from the owner of a very much loved old boy!
I have been monitoring his weight and I have seen him drop off gradually, however this last week I can see his ribs more then ever, even through his extremely hairy coat and am now at my wits end.
He has been in a 360g rug night and day throughout this cold spell and is always well rugged up.
He has never been a greedy horse and if he does not like the feed he would starve himself rather that eat, which has always been a concern.
He is turned out without grass, in his own little paddock with a Field Shelter, with his stable mate in the grass paddock next to him, for 10 hours a day, where he can nuzzle him over the fence, and has a constant supply of hay, but never eats it all up
For the first time, in the 17 years I have had him, he is on full rations of hard feed which is Spillers High Fibre Nuts and recently has started to be fussy over his High Fibre Nuts. He will only eat a little bit of Spillers Happy Hoof, which I use to mix his evening meal with supplements galore Equisup, Newmarket Joint Supplement, CopperTritian and Cush X. The only additive that I have not tried is Oil, my Vet recommended this, however, for some reason I have not got round to this, which is not like me . I think its because I know he will turn his nose up at it!
He will only eat a nut type food so a nice mix to all of us, is cr*p to him!
He is hacked out quietly in walk, with a little tiny bit of trot, at the weekend so that he gets some exercise and he is very willing to go. This is for about 1 ½ hours on both days . But I am now thinking that I should cut that out, but really want him to get a little bit of interest in his life. The problem here is that his stable mate needs exercise and normally the best solution is that they both go out together .. to keep the peace all round!
Up until last week he was on 2005 hay which is soaked for 8 12 hours and therefore all the goodness has been sucked out of it. I have now only got 2007 hay, so I am hoping that will help, but am paranoid that it will set of Laminitis. He manages to eat up to approx 16lbs, of hay day (it I am lucky!), although he is loving the 2007 hay so much that this is increasing each day ..
I know that inevitable he will drop off as most horses do with age, however at this stage I think he is just not getting enough, although saying that he is a hard boy to get any extras down, as he knows when he has had enough.
The Vet is coming to see him on Wednesday and I will ask her to take some bloods, as the last lot was taken in July and I would like to see if the Copper Supplement has made any difference and how his Insulin and Glucose levels are.
I will try and contact Spillers for their recommendations.
I have spoken with the Laminitis Trust a long time ago, and may have another chat with them.
But I would be very interested to know how you peeps out there in the thick of it cope. I am interested to know what other owners, in this position do, feed wise, turnout wise and exercise wise and any other help and advise you can get me?
Thank you for getting this far from the owner of a very much loved old boy!
