ScrappyGirl
Member
I got my PRE Stallion 2 years ago on LWVB and quickly saw that he windsucked and was girthy. I assumed ulcers and started the long and expensive journey of trying to find a solution (knowing that it could be caused by other pain/stress). He is the most gentle and genuine horse I have ever met and I needed to do my best for him.
In the end the best treatment was moving from haylage to hay, ERS Pellets and Equishure. This got rid of his noisy, gassy belly and he windsucked less.
Forward to this year and the horses were slowly introduced back to the paddock after winter and after a few weeks I noticed his shoulder twitching like he had a fly on it. I just assumed a trapped nerve and massaged him - he still seemed ok when ridden. A week later I rode him and he was fine for an hour and a half hack and then the last 10 minutes home he started twitching on his sides and was walking swaying left and right. After 10 minutes at home he seemed ok again. I gave him some electrolytes. But then next day the twitching was more by his shoulders and flanks, his joints were clicking and he was withdrawn and not eating and I noticed he had lost weight and muscle. (he is a poor doer but I thought the grass would help put weight on!). The vet came out and said his heart rate was double and he had a fever. Bloods were taken and showed inflammation. He had 2 courses of anti-biotics and bute. He started eating and stopped twitching as much.
I googled his symptoms and thought the worst but then started putting 2 and 2 together. He probably has Hindgut Acidosis. My husband has been out of work for a while and I couldn't afford the Equishure and he hadn't been on it for about 6 weeks and then he was put out onto the spring grass (albeit slowly). I'm guessing the sugars in the grass dropped the PH levels and caused the inflammation and build up of lactic acid in his muscles and joints.
I have changed his diet so he is on Rowen and Barbary Solution mash (2 scoops a day) and scoop of Honeychop Lite and Healthy, 1 measure of Equishure and pre/probiotics 3 times a day. He still goes out on the very short grass paddock 2-3 hours a day and has hay in a haynet the rest of the time. He is back to himself and feeling good, apart from the weight - he is still very ribby and no muscle on his bum. It has been about 4 weeks, am I expecting too much too soon? Any other ideas?
In the end the best treatment was moving from haylage to hay, ERS Pellets and Equishure. This got rid of his noisy, gassy belly and he windsucked less.
Forward to this year and the horses were slowly introduced back to the paddock after winter and after a few weeks I noticed his shoulder twitching like he had a fly on it. I just assumed a trapped nerve and massaged him - he still seemed ok when ridden. A week later I rode him and he was fine for an hour and a half hack and then the last 10 minutes home he started twitching on his sides and was walking swaying left and right. After 10 minutes at home he seemed ok again. I gave him some electrolytes. But then next day the twitching was more by his shoulders and flanks, his joints were clicking and he was withdrawn and not eating and I noticed he had lost weight and muscle. (he is a poor doer but I thought the grass would help put weight on!). The vet came out and said his heart rate was double and he had a fever. Bloods were taken and showed inflammation. He had 2 courses of anti-biotics and bute. He started eating and stopped twitching as much.
I googled his symptoms and thought the worst but then started putting 2 and 2 together. He probably has Hindgut Acidosis. My husband has been out of work for a while and I couldn't afford the Equishure and he hadn't been on it for about 6 weeks and then he was put out onto the spring grass (albeit slowly). I'm guessing the sugars in the grass dropped the PH levels and caused the inflammation and build up of lactic acid in his muscles and joints.
I have changed his diet so he is on Rowen and Barbary Solution mash (2 scoops a day) and scoop of Honeychop Lite and Healthy, 1 measure of Equishure and pre/probiotics 3 times a day. He still goes out on the very short grass paddock 2-3 hours a day and has hay in a haynet the rest of the time. He is back to himself and feeling good, apart from the weight - he is still very ribby and no muscle on his bum. It has been about 4 weeks, am I expecting too much too soon? Any other ideas?
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