Katelouise
Member
Hi all
I've got a 6 year old Irish cob. I've had him since a 4 Year old and we've experienced a number of health issues but it's no impacting him under saddle
His bloods initially showed elevated liver enzymes and he was treated with liver tonic and steroids. His levels weren't improving and given his obsession with food and constant hunger we tested for Ems which came back positive. We are treating for Ems and the liver went back to normal (steroids made the EMS worse which then impacted the liver and round and round we went)
He is on restricted turnout, soaked weighed hay (soaked nin 4 hours and 1.5% of body weight when dry). Low cal balancer, Dengie meadow grass lite just for anti choak (very low cal/sugar etc), salt and diabetes tablets (steglatro and then one other). All feeds wet. His weight is coming off (609 down to 572 so far) and going in right direction but his obsession with food is getting worse. Will eat his breakfast/hay and then drag me to other horses nets etc.
Worked 5-6 days a week, mix of schooling, hacking, lunging. His ridden works was coming on really well but the past couple of weeks he has started planting suddenly. It's not a lazy, stubborn stop but more like he's in pain as he just refuses to move from the spot. He'll be trotting well and then slam on the brakes and won't take a single step and backs up if I put any leg on or even squeeze slightly, you can feel him tense up like a ball underneath you. Out hacking the other day with other horses, he did the same and let the others go ahead and out of sight and couldn't move from the spot. My instructor has also noticed he is not right.
I've had his saddle checked twice in 4 months and it's fine (had three different saddlers and recent one is by far the best, Ive had a bit lady out (loose ring turtle top snaffle), dentist (good teeth and bit suits his mouth shape), bloods are all good, liver and kidneys also checked and his EMS meds made him wee lots to get rid of excess insulin. Have had him scoped (clear so not ulcers), have had physio and they're not concerned. Vet is also doing a full bodywork on Monday.
He just seems so off and it's so unlike him. I am running out of ideas and what else it could be.
He had impaction colic last month as taps froze so had dry hay and didnr drink enough as so cold. Since adding warm water to his bucket and add salt to his feeds to prompt the thirst response.
Has anyone else had similar? I'm wondering if there's Ems tablets could maybe be causing some symptoms with maybe his urinary tract if weeing so much (take whole of the middle of his bed out daily) or maybe his hind gut. Ive put him on protexin gut balancer in case anything with his tummy but as above, scope was clear.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Thanks all x
I've got a 6 year old Irish cob. I've had him since a 4 Year old and we've experienced a number of health issues but it's no impacting him under saddle
His bloods initially showed elevated liver enzymes and he was treated with liver tonic and steroids. His levels weren't improving and given his obsession with food and constant hunger we tested for Ems which came back positive. We are treating for Ems and the liver went back to normal (steroids made the EMS worse which then impacted the liver and round and round we went)
He is on restricted turnout, soaked weighed hay (soaked nin 4 hours and 1.5% of body weight when dry). Low cal balancer, Dengie meadow grass lite just for anti choak (very low cal/sugar etc), salt and diabetes tablets (steglatro and then one other). All feeds wet. His weight is coming off (609 down to 572 so far) and going in right direction but his obsession with food is getting worse. Will eat his breakfast/hay and then drag me to other horses nets etc.
Worked 5-6 days a week, mix of schooling, hacking, lunging. His ridden works was coming on really well but the past couple of weeks he has started planting suddenly. It's not a lazy, stubborn stop but more like he's in pain as he just refuses to move from the spot. He'll be trotting well and then slam on the brakes and won't take a single step and backs up if I put any leg on or even squeeze slightly, you can feel him tense up like a ball underneath you. Out hacking the other day with other horses, he did the same and let the others go ahead and out of sight and couldn't move from the spot. My instructor has also noticed he is not right.
I've had his saddle checked twice in 4 months and it's fine (had three different saddlers and recent one is by far the best, Ive had a bit lady out (loose ring turtle top snaffle), dentist (good teeth and bit suits his mouth shape), bloods are all good, liver and kidneys also checked and his EMS meds made him wee lots to get rid of excess insulin. Have had him scoped (clear so not ulcers), have had physio and they're not concerned. Vet is also doing a full bodywork on Monday.
He just seems so off and it's so unlike him. I am running out of ideas and what else it could be.
He had impaction colic last month as taps froze so had dry hay and didnr drink enough as so cold. Since adding warm water to his bucket and add salt to his feeds to prompt the thirst response.
Has anyone else had similar? I'm wondering if there's Ems tablets could maybe be causing some symptoms with maybe his urinary tract if weeing so much (take whole of the middle of his bed out daily) or maybe his hind gut. Ive put him on protexin gut balancer in case anything with his tummy but as above, scope was clear.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Thanks all x
been managing Floofs metabolism since 2017 so know the struggles!