Help please - Hanoverian weight loss and erratic behaviour

[FlickandSerg]

I have had my horse for coming up to two years now and in the time I have had him it has been a constant uphill struggle to keep any amount of weight on him.
He is a 17.1 Hanoverian. I have had blood tests and worm counts done as well as having his teeth done regularly. The blood tsts came back clear as did the worm count.
In the time I have had him I would say he has never got above looking lean regardless of the great pasture he is on and his hard feed, hay and haylage.
As well as this he behaviors fairly erraticly. He's very sensitive to change, but even when settled somewhere its not unlike him to leap around his stable for no reason bucking, rearing etc. He's got nappy out hacking and feels fairly stuffy. When being lunged he goes beautifully and then loses the plot, acts like he's been stung by somethnig, really odd.
Obiously I do have a vet involved as it is getting worse but I would appriciate peoples comments if they have ever experienced anything similar or know people that have. He's so special to me but I am at a loss.

Thanks x

 

[be positive]

Low grade pain can cause them to be poor doers, as well as unpredictable behaviour, it is finding the root cause that will be hard but ulcers could be something to look into if he has not already been scoped.

 

[YasandCrystal]

Have you thought of going to a holistic vet? I don't know where you are in the country but I used Donna Blinman at Higham. My horse had been treated for ulcers and he had chronic sacro illiac dysfunction. Donna not only treated this through osteopathy and acupuncture, but also addressed a hindgut flora imbalance which she could recognise through his stressed behaviour. My horse's personality changed dramatically following treatment. Good luck op.

http://www.donnablinman.co.uk/

 

[maggiesmum]

I'd be looking at ulcers if he was mine.

 

[Buddy'sMum]

I'd be looking at ulcers if he was mine.

My first thought too.

 

[Tiffany]

I would also be scoping for ulcers unless you have already. Is there any sensitivity when grooming, girthing up etc?

 

[Booboos]

Ulcers and if not try exclusion diets, e.g. no cereals, oil and sugars only, or no sugars, etc. until something makes a difference. Pink Powder helps mine put on weight when there is no grass.

 

[flintfootfilly]

Ask for a copy of the full blood report from whatever blood test/s were done. Just say it's for your own records and for future reference. Then check each value against the reference range which will be alongside your horse's results. Then see whether anything is even marginally high or low. Sometimes things don't have to be far out of the normal range to have an effect.

Also, it'll mean you know exactly what's been tested for. Bloods may come back "clear" but they may not have tested for things that are worth testing for.

For example, I'd definitely want to include liver enzymes such as GGT and GLDH (liver disease can be associated with aggressive/manic behaviour or at the very least, behavioural changes). And I'd also want to include muscle enzymes, particularly CK, but probably also AST and LDH both of which can indicate liver and/or muscle damage.

I'd also echo considering ulcers, and I think I'd opt to have his stomach scoped to check for those.

Sarah

 

[FlickandSerg]

Thanks all. He's booked in for scoping - will post when I get the results.
Fingers crossed...