Help! tb project has dropped off and is v.quiet after colicking last week :(

R2R

R2R

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My horse came to me very poor condition. He is a 9 year old ex racer.

Two weeks ago he dropped off and looked dull, then colicked. He gained a lot of condition in the summer but then went dull and, as I said, dropped off.
He has gained condition in the past 2 weeks interms of his coat being shiny etc but not an awful lot of weight. I consulted my vet who told me to up his calorie intake by introducing a cup of corn oil into his diet and putting him on Alfa-a with oil. He also said I could consider a supplement such as pink powder which may kick start his metabolism.

He is ultra quiet at the moment and not himself :( I would describe him as 'dull' - he is quiet anyway but not this quiet and I am a bit worried. As I said coat is shiny and teeth and gums are pink but he is not himself :(

I changed his feed at the weekend to the following (after consulting with my vet)

Am/pm
1 scoop build up mix
1 heaped scoop alfa a with oil
1 scoop sugar beet
2 scoops pink powder
1 scoop black salt
1 cup corn oil

Lunch
Half of the above less additives

He is also in, he goes out for a couple of hours a day, he has lots of rugs on (not too hot mind you) and ad lib hay/hayledge. The vet said to give him some ready grass but he doesn’t eat it (fussy tb, he eats all his concentrate)

The vet also said he is OK to be quietly ridden in walk and trot. He goes out wearing an exercise blanket about 4 or five times a week.

Basically I am trying to not let him burn a calorie he doesnt have to burn :(

So my question is do I stop riding him and call the vet because of how quiet he is, or do I let the increase in feed etc kick in for a month and if he is stil ***** then call the vet and get bloods done etc? I think my vet is happy that I know what I am doing but the girls at my yard have created a bit of a frenzy and now every time I talk to one of them I get a lecture on how ill my horse is which is making me worry even more.
 
Have you worm counted him?

Taken his temperature?

Considered turning him out for longer?

Reducing rugs to one good warm one?
 
amymay said:
Have you worm counted him?

Taken his temperature?

Considered turning him out for longer?

Reducing rugs to one good warm one?
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Worm count - no, but he had pramox or what ever he had when he first came and has just had an equest (green one)

His temp is fine

He was out all day but vet seems to think keeping him in as part of a calorie controlled diet is better, as he came to me in a poor state as a result of being out and doesnt really enjoy it

Will think about rugs :)
 
I would be tempted to get bloods done now. My friend had bloods done on her TB last year as she went really quiet and lethargic and it came back that she was anaemic, she is now on an iron supplement and full of energy!
 
chameleon said:
I would be tempted to get bloods done now. My friend had bloods done on her TB last year as she went really quiet and lethargic and it came back that she was anaemic, she is now on an iron supplement and full of energy!
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Ditto this. We had one behave very similarily and he also came back anaemic.

Also, it what way does the horse not want to be in? Could it be that such a change in routine i.e. being in all the time is resulting in him being fed up and almost depressed? Unless he spends all day by the gate I would be tempted to turn him out, with a friend. He can still come in for his feeds etc.
 
I also ditto the bloods.

And providing the horse is warm enough and has some good grazing would have him out. Put hay out as well if necessary. But fresh air and dr green is so much more healthier for them.
 
amymay said:
I also ditto the bloods.

And providing the horse is warm enough and has some good grazing would have him out. Put hay out as well if necessary. But fresh air and dr green is so much more healthier for them.
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Ditto, also do you know whay he colicked, has he been checked or treated for Ulcers?
 
Allover said:
Ditto, also do you know whay he colicked, has he been checked or treated for Ulcers?
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No, to be honest, that is what I thought it was and discussed it with my vet. He has said do what we are doing for a month then see about them..
 
MMM... sounds all too familiar.

I would pop him on a vit B/ blood suppliment and see how he goes, before getting bloods done. If he is low from a colic bout he may have picked up a mild virus. The suppliment may all that you need to perk him back up.
 
To be honest it could be 100 and one things. This time of year horses tend to be going through a coat change and drop condition as not much left in the grass so it could be associated with that. He could have a virus, in which case it will more than likely sort itself out. He could have ulcers, he could be anaemic. The only real way of finding out or ruling out certain things is to get his blood checked to be honest.

Are you feeding him plenty of roughage though as well (ie good quality hay NOT haylage)?

Get some bloods done then you can at least find out if he has a virus or is lacking in anything in particular. My horse was anaemic many years back (only mildly) but he was very lethargic, we put him on kossolian blood salts and that seemed to work well.
 
tikino said:
i was also thinking ulcers as my boy went very quite etc and he has gastric ulcers
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I have just spoken to my vet about a bit of a plan. He said to put him on redcell as well as everything else for a month - as someone said he might just feel cr ap after the colic.

He also told me to keep riding etc and just to carry on with increased calories, then asses in a month...given his history (he came to me looking like this)

38546_457553216351_556386351_6728114_4648260_n.jpg


he now has more topline, just hasnt blossomed, and the colic hasnt helped.

As for causes - vet is inclined to think that it is tb drama as he was colicking but no increase of heart rate etc - he had knocked himeslf on the same day as he got it so we think the two are related.
 
Horses don't simply colic for no reason.

I would still get bloods taken this week. Cost pennies and then you'll more than likely know exactly what your dealing with.

If vet says no - use another one.
 
amymay said:
Horses don't simply colic for no reason.

I would still get bloods taken this week. Cost pennies and then you'll more than likely know exactly what your dealing with.

If vet says no - use another one.
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I agree with this

Colic could indicate worm burden/use of wormer or and Ulcers.
 
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