horse gone off food will only eat straw

[abb123]

My horse is refusing to eat anything except her straw bed. Last friday she got a bad kick to top of her leg which swelled up and stopped the nerve in her leg from working and she couldn't move it. Visit from vet, cue two big injections and one miffed horse. Ate first couple of teas with bute in fine but when i put the ABs in she point blank refused to eat it. Tried everything. Leg is fine now and swelling gone but is still refusing to eat her tea (I've swapped buckets and no medications in it added molasses, grated apple etc), hay (will only eat a small bit), or have the nuts from her ball. The only thing she will eat is her straw bed! Any advice? .

 

[spaniel]

Im assuming you have finished drug therapy now in which case, if she is confined to her box, i would pick her some grass or try her with something like Pure Grass in a big tub (sprinkled with some water if you like). Other than that some good quality stemmy hay may do it.

Antibiotics and bute can make them feel quite unwell in themselves so it may take a while for her appetite to return. I wouldnt be too concerned about trying to get her to eat a bucket feed but if this goes on for more than a few days contact your vet as there may be secondary problems such as infection which are making her feel miserable.

If you still have antibiotics left to give her I have found that mixing them with cheap supermarket apple sauce and syringing them into the mouth works (you can add a drip of peppermint cordial as well if needed).

 

[vicky_sut]

My horse went of her food for a while or would just pick at it. The best thing I found was apple cider vinegar she loves it. Like spaniel said I would also pick some grass and pop some dandilion leaves and other bits in.