Horse has randomly stopped drinking in winter!!

[daisy2815]

Hi everyone! so not to bore you all with a big paragraph but i want to get as much info in as possible so here we go. My boy, 16’3 ISH 14yrs Willy his name is, has always been a greedy horse and always drank plenty during his nights in the stable and in the field however he’s suddenly changed. He has suspected ulcers so we have him on protexin acid ease and he’s been on it for roughly 5 days and they have seemed to brighten him up a bit still not himself but better! BUT he’s suddenly gone from drinking 3/4 or his whole bucket full to now nothing during the night and during turnout, he’s in from 6pm till 9am and his water is completely untouched! he seems healthy and happy, pooing, peeing, eating (not as much however but we suspect maybe he was eating much more to get rid of the pain before??). I’ve tried everything i know
-apples in the bucket(got apples out and left water)
-mixed some chaff in his bucket(looks at it and then realises it’s not food and walks away)
-salt licks(no noticeable licking, if he has been though it hasn’t made him thirsty)
-warm water(nothing!!)
I’ve now just been over the past fews days (started about 4 days ago) been drowning his feed in water! like a big soup and he’s been eating/drinking that so i’m not worried that he’s getting zero fluids but i just need advice on whether to wait it out and carry on as i am or try different things. i’m a very worrisome mummy so maybe i’m overreacting! just wish the bloody horses could speak and tell us what’s wrong! any help is very appreciated) Thank you!!!!!!

 

[TPO]

You're already doing everything I would suggest with sloppy feeds, apple in bucket and adding hot water.

I'd add a tablespoon of salt to feed rather than relying on the lick.

Have you done the "pinch test"? Somwone else will describe it better (or google) but basically pinch a flap of skin on his neck and see how long it takes to go back to normal. A hydrated horse will ping back to normal and dehydrated takea longer. Same with humans pinching skin on the back of your hand.

Have a look at his gums and see if they are a healthy colour or paler than normal. Apply finger pressure to them, turning that spot white/lighter then upong removing your finger see how long it takes to return to a healthy pink. It should pretty much be instant.

Also worth taking his temp and checking respiration just in case hes picked up the start of a virus.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

As above really.

If he is turned out all day he is probably getting enough moisture from the grass with it being so wet everywhere.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would keep a close eye on him if you suspect his dehydrated as it can also cause colic, make sure his droppings are not hard and dry it's an indication of how hydrated they are, if you do suspect ulcers he really needs to see a vet as although the protexin will help it won't get rid of ulcers.

 

[daisy2815]

Just want to add that

I would keep a close eye on him if you suspect his dehydrated as it can also cause colic, make sure his droppings are not hard and dry it's an indication of how hydrated they are, if you do suspect ulcers he really needs to see a vet as although the protexin will help it won't get rid of ulcers.

we were recommended by a vet to take the home treatment route before considering the vet route to see if it could be ulcers otherwise it could be a large amount of money wasted for a scoping that may not find anything, so we are seeing how it goes currently but absolutely it is something we are considering