Uniique
Well-Known Member
Hi. I own a 10 year old TB x WB who I have had for three years in May. He is in full ridden work (5/6 schooling sessions a week) and competes at least once a month. He is out during the day and in at night. He has a few scoops of nuts and some chaff once a day (in the evening) and a haybar full of haylage. Four weeks ago we where nearing the end of a bale of haylage so admittedly it was getting a little bit dusty. And he stopped eating it. He has always eaten ALL his haylage, never had a problem. Well he started eating a little, trashing some in his bed and leaving the rest in his haybar. I got rid of the old haylage and started a new bale but he still wouldnt eat. I even went out an brought two small bags or urber nice haylage but he would only eat 1/3rd max. Anyway this continued for about a week and he suddenly started eating again as quickly as he had stopped! Then over the past few weeks he hasnt been quite himself. On odd ocassions he keeps leaving his haylage or just acting odd i.e. not drinking any water over night. Anyhoo last friday I took him for a routine flu vaccine and he was really ill for 48hrs. I.e. eating nothing (not even grazing in the field) not drinking and TOTALLY lethargic. I kept a close check on him for around 48hrs and he picked up again, i put it down to a reaction to the flu vaccine. Anyway since the first episode of not eating he just isnt quite right. On odd nights he leaves his hay, or isnt drinking any water or his bed is undisturbed where normally he walks round and round. Droppings are normal and on ocassion he is arguably slightly lethargic (altho it is that time of year). I also put a hook over feed bowl on the bakc wall of his stable which is always thrown on the floor in the evenig and (as stupid as it sounds) on many nights he has left it untouched after chucking it in the bed every night for two years. He is eating hard feed totally fine. He is ok'ish weight wise but he starting to get a winter coat through and looking a bit poor in general. (again time of year?). Should I be worried about his keeping being off colour. He will be off for a few days or one night and then fine again. Any thoughts or suggestions? Sorry for the long story, wanted to explain as much as possible x x x