horse is suddenly acting weird, need help....

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axe1312

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i have an ish who is 14, he is a gelding. i have only owned him 2 weeks, and i know it isnt long, but he has acting the same the whole time until sunday. he is very calm horse, not bothered by much, eats soaked hay, eats dengie and spillers food. he has swollen cheekbones, is very jumpy at nothing, his back legs sometimes tremble, he circles in his stable, he bites the walls, he yawns alot, is sticking his tongue out alot, paws at the ground, taking off in the arena, not eating from my hands anymore, turns away from me, stares at nothing.
he is eating, drinking, and pooping fine.
no feed changes, routine has been pretty similar since he moved in with us 2 weeks ago, farrier jabs and teeth up to date, turned out in the day, has friends around him, nothing major has happened. i did fall off him when trotting bareback but once i got back on he didnt show any signs of discomfort, this was a day before all his symptoms. it was in a menage, he didnt bumb into anything, i didnt land on him.
im really worried about him, if you guys have any ideas, advice, questions, problems, anything, id appreciate it alot. thank you so much
 
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axe1312 said:
i have an ish who is 14, he is a gelding. i have only owned him 2 weeks, and i know it isnt long, but he has acting the same the whole time until sunday. he is very calm horse, not bothered by much, eats soaked hay, eats dengie and spillers food. he has swollen cheekbones, is very jumpy at nothing, his back legs sometimes tremble, he circles in his stable, he bites the walls, he yawns alot, is sticking his tongue out alot, paws at the ground, taking off in the arena, not eating from my hands anymore, turns away from me, stares at nothing.
he is eating, drinking, and pooping fine.
no feed changes, routine has been pretty similar since he moved in with us 2 weeks ago, farrier jabs and teeth up to date, turned out in the day, has friends around him, nothing major has happened. i did fall off him when trotting bareback but once i got back on he didnt show any signs of discomfort, this was a day before all his symptoms. it was in a menage, he didnt bumb into anything, i didnt land on him.
im really worried about him, if you guys have any ideas, advice, questions, problems, anything, id appreciate it alot. thank you so much
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A vet perhaps ?
 
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I’d be getting the vet out asap, given the time it’s been since he started acting differently. Hope you can get to the bottom of it asap.
 
OrangeAndLemon

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When you say he moved in with you, do you keep him at home or on a livery yard?

Is he turned out with company?

How was he kept before he moved to yours? Was it a similar set up and routine?

How many times did you get to meet him before buying? Did you have him vetted?

I'd expect the vet will ask similar questions.
 
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OrangeAndLemon said:
When you say he moved in with you, do you keep him at home or on a livery yard?

Is he turned out with company?

How was he kept before he moved to yours? Was it a similar set up and routine?

How many times did you get to meet him before buying? Did you have him vetted?

I'd expect the vet will ask similar questions.
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he is on a friends yard, who has 3 other people there. he was turned out on his own, but in the last 7 days hes had a little colt out with him, and others on fields next to him. he was used to sleeping in his field all the time, we give him as much turnout as possible, but he sleeps inside, his owner said he stayed at a livery yard stabled and was fine. i met him twice and he seemed fine, he had a 5 stage vetting and passed. my mum called the vet up, and she said that the swollen cheekbone isnt an issue, and that if he continues to be jumpy then to call her again. my mum told me to wait until thursday, if theres nothing wrong its going to be stress for him, and money, and time. if it is all stress then having the vet out will make it worse. i was just wondering what came to peoples minds, so i can keep an eye on a certain thing. he is my first owned horse, ive loaned, hacking, lessons, cared etc. but no one teaches you the hard parts if you know what i mean. if he gets any worse the vet will be called, if he stays the same the vet will be called on thursday, if he gets better we will leave him alone
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Melody Grey

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Definitely get the vet. In the meantime, is he warm enough? The temperature here has really dropped here in the last couple of days- might be completely unrelated, but (no offence intended) you sound a little inexperienced and might not have thought of warmth/ know what his usual rugging requirements are if he’s new.

That is not aside from getting the vet though- you should definitely do that!
 
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Melody Grey said:
Definitely get the vet. In the meantime, is he warm enough? The temperature here has really dropped here in the last couple of days- might be completely unrelated, but (no offence intended) you sound a little inexperienced and might not have thought of warmth/ know what his usual rugging requirements are if he’s new.

That is not aside from getting the vet though- you should definitely do that!
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he is my first horse, so yes i am inexprienced in the aspect of vets, and medical care. i know riding best, and have done basic horse care before i got him. he is in a 200g rug at the moment, and when its warm he goes un rugged, but at the moment he is always in his stable rug 200g of an evening, and a 200g turnout rug in the day. weve called the vet (we being me and my mum) and my yard owner said the worrys are mainly his tongue, his cheekbone, his flinching and jumping. so we spoke to the vet and she said the cheekbone isnt a concern, and that his flinching may go down on its own, she said the change in behaviour could be him settling in. but i just believe its more than that, i can feel that something isnt right, and everyone is telling me im overexaggerating. does the vet know best over the phone, or do i know my new horse best. i dont know, but something doesnt feel right
 
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Melody Grey said:
Hoping you took bloods if (hopefully) he was vetted? You may need them.
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bloods were taken and he was tested for strangles, came back negative. the vet didnt seem bothered about his main symptoms, didnt list all of them as they have been appearing and disappearing over the 3 days. i can feel something is off, people just think im dramatic.
 
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Amymay said:
Change vets, if they’re refusing to come out.

Swollen cheeks could be grass glands - not serious. Or strangles- serious.
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not strangles, hes been tested. they said they will come out of over £200, but they said they dont believe there is a problem, and theres nothing they can do apart of look at him. if he is still the same on thursday will call vet and pay them to come out asap
 
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nagblagger said:
He's not a happy horse, that's more than 'stress' , yawning can be a sign of pain, distress eg ulcers or liver problems so blood test needed asap
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i know, i can tell hes unhappy, and possible in alot of pain. i thought ulcers, but my yard owner said stop googling, hes fine. but she hasnt seen all of it.
 
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axe1312 said:
bloods were taken and he was tested for strangles, came back negative. the vet didnt seem bothered about his main symptoms, didnt list all of them as they have been appearing and disappearing over the 3 days. i can feel something is off, people just think im dramatic.
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The one thing I’ve always learnt about horses, is to trust your gut, you’ve only had him a short time but for such a dramatic change, go with your instincts, i Would be asking for a different vet to come out asap.
 
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axe1312 said:
not strangles, hes been tested. they said they will come out of over £200, but they said they dont believe there is a problem, and theres nothing they can do apart of look at him. if he is still the same on thursday will call vet and pay them to come out asap
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Their call out fee is £200?
 
sassandbells

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Why on Thursday? Some of the behaviours could be pointing to something rather serious and if ignored could be very detrimental. I would be getting a vet & a full blood panel done ASAP. When I had bloods done for strangles they didn’t check anything else so might be worth finding out from your vet what exactly was tested for and if only strangles then running some more.

What were the main symptoms you told your vet?
 
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nagblagger said:
Today is tuesday, if you were 'really worried about him' the vet should have already been out either sunday or monday.
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on sunday he was just off, so we thought maybe its just off day, or hes missing his old home, or just boredom as he doesnt have a saddle to be worked like he needs. on monday he was quite bad, so called vet, and they said to see how he is today. he looked fine in the morning, sad but didnt look in pain like the night before. so we told the vet he isnt jumpy, but still down and circling etc. they said he should be fine. but then he got worse again tonight. some people are telling me its behaviour, but i can tell something isnt right. if he gets any worse the vet will be coming out, if he stays the same, the vet will come out on thursday or friday.
 
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sassandbells said:
Why on Thursday? Some of the behaviours could be pointing to something rather serious and if ignored could be very detrimental. I would be getting a vet & a full blood panel done ASAP. When I had bloods done for strangles they didn’t check anything else so might be worth finding out from your vet what exactly was tested for and if only strangles then running some more.

What were the main symptoms you told your vet?
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thats what my mum said is best, and same with my yard owner. his flinching and jumping, but only in the afternoon/evening, acting very sad all day, swollen cheekbone
 
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Maxidoodle said:
Where are you OP, if you can give a rough area, someone on here might be able to suggest a vet that can come out. I’m not in the UK but pretty sure a £150 call out fee isn’t the norm?
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its not the norm, but they are the best in my area. im based in norfolk, kings lynn
 
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Maxidoodle said:
The one thing I’ve always learnt about horses, is to trust your gut, you’ve only had him a short time but for such a dramatic change, go with your instincts, i Would be asking for a different vet to come out asap.
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im happy for that vet, but she said that theres no need, but she will come if we really want, she just said that she wouldnt do much anyway
 
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