I cannot put my finger on what is wrong with my boy.

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:blue: Something sure as hell isn't right. He is a welsh sec D whom I have owned for 6 years. He had treatment for hock spavin last year and he also had a sore back related to the spavin, this has also been addressed and he has physio every 3 months to keep him ticking over.. We thought he was back to his old self back in the summer when he went and won 3 dressage compettions on the trot (excuse the pun!) and was full of beans.

Roll forwards to the last couple of weeks and he hasn't been right, he has NO energy at all, it is hard work just to keep him going, even getting him in from the field he has to be literally dragged. We wondered if he was bored with his work and just hacked him but this made no difference. He is reasonably fit hacked and schooled 5-6 days a week including a 2 hour hack at weekends and 45mins to an hour schooling. His weight is good vet had no concerns.

He has good quality feed and hay - Allen and Page slim and healthy and simple system blue bag grass nuts - he also has a vitamin supplement and NAF Ener-G (which has done nothing!) We have also tried oats to no effect - I don't think this is feed related.

The last few days he has been puffing after schooling, he has had a clip so shouldn't be too hot. The only thing I can think of is that the lethargy has been getting worse since he had his flu jab in september, but surely he would have improved by now??

He has physio booked a few days time and if that brings nothing up (like his back being sore again) I will look into blood tests and go from there. I will also have his heart and liver function investigated.

It's just sooo frustrating as it seems that he has lost his zest for life, and is depressed, I am not asking anyone to diagnose him but I would love to hear from those who have had similar experiences and what the outcome was.

Baileys and a choccie muffin if you got this far!
 
a horse i worked with once came back from a busy week away competing similar took bloods and it was low red cell count and a few weeks on propel/iron supplement sorted her out, but she didnt seem to be AS bad as your boy sounds - vet and bloods would be my first port of call. hope he gets better soon x
 
I've heard of a lot of horses being a bit flat at this time of year so maybe it's just that?

It's frustrating though, one of mine seems a bit flat at the moment too.
 
My boy was like this a few weeks ago, I had physio and found his withers were soar as we had been doin quite a bit of competing so had that sorted, quick saddle check which was fine and then I gave him 3 weeks off just chilling in the field then a week of light hacking. He has only been broken in since jan and we've had quite a busy summer so think he was telling me he had enough and was tired. He is back to his normal self now.

Have heard horses get like this with the coat change as well so this possibly could be the cause.

If your worried tho bloods are def the way to go. Even if it's just for peace of mind
 
Quite possible it's a reaction to the flu jab.... Think of when you've had a cold, it can take a few weeks to get up to full speed again.

However bloods are a good idea!
 
Thanks for the replies....things I forgot to add - tempreture is normal, droppings are normal, he is eating well and is looking for and getting excited about his food, Believe me I know this horse, he is not sick, but he is not himself, I am having bloods done this week, but when this happened before around 18 months ago bloods showed nothing abnormal. This isn't an emergency - believe me, if I thought he was really Ill, ill, I would be with the vet now not on here!!!

Cello - I think you may be onto something, did your horse become lame when the spavin played up? My lad is sound as a pound on straight and circles....We need to eliminate his back issue first (vet and physio work together with this lad and if she isn't happy he is referred back to vet)

When I say depressed, it's hard to get across on here in words....it's something niggly that's bothering him, other than that unless you knew him well you would think there is nothing wrong.
 
definitely get bloods done. Sounds identical to my NF last year after his jabs. (although at the time I just thought coincidence!)
He came back as severely anemic & ultra low protein, he was actually very ill) He was also drinking loads.
This year two weeks on from jabs & he's drinking loads again but it's on Propell & seems to be o.k. Although keeping a very close eye as it was worse nearly a month after that it reached crisis point last year.
Next year he will be having a different jab!
 
Not to be a scaremonger but the last horse I was asked about what to do when it got really lethargic I recommended vet, and it turned out to be early stage grass sickness... I would always get the vet!!!
 
Had a similar problem with one of our geldings last year. He was still performing but with no spark. The vet came and had a look but I couldnt tell him anything specific. He did bloods in the end and nothing showed up. We just put him onto a multi vit and a few more nuts and after a short while he improved and has been fine ever since. We still have no idea other than a bit dull.
I hope you get to the bottom of it
 
He is having bloods done. He has always been really laid back and a chilled sort of horse, although he did have a paddy fit when I turned the clippers on last week, he's never impressed by that!

His drinking habits are totally normal, and he's looking totally normal, just oh, god saying it again - not quite himself.

Wouldn't be surprised if it was the vaccine as he was like this last year too and I put it down to the virus that was going around the yard, I will quiz the vet's on monday (please believe me this is not a weekend emergency!!) and get his bloods run. If it does turn out to be the vaccine I will ask for a different one next year.
 
maree t said:
Had a similar problem with one of our geldings last year. He was still performing but with no spark. The vet came and had a look but I couldnt tell him anything specific. He did bloods in the end and nothing showed up. We just put him onto a multi vit and a few more nuts and after a short while he improved and has been fine ever since. We still have no idea other than a bit dull.
I hope you get to the bottom of it
Click to expand...

That is EXACTLY it maree t - you have just said what I wanted to say. As I have said I will run bloods for peace of mind and see what comes up.
 
According to my vet and chiro, there is alot of anecdotal evidence to support this 'lack of spark' around at the moment. At racing yards and with people with performance horses, they're hearing of increasing cases where the horse is performing but seems lethargic and dull - in all other ways, the horses involved seem ostensibly 'healthy' and this lethargy might even only be something that's noticed because they're in full work and are expected to perform.
Obviously, first port of call would def be vet and blood work but things to consider might be: post viral fatigue or anaemia (poss even if horse does not manifest itself with symptoms of having had a virus). This involves usually mild anaemia and exercise intolerance. Or maybe a copper deficiency (which can contribute to anaemia) dependent on your pasture etc. Or a friend had similar situation and it transpired her horse had ESPM (chronic tying up due to starch intolerance).
These are all just examples but the only way of really finding out is getting blood work done. It's also worth noting that anaemia in horses is very rare due to iron content in forage so it's usually symtomatic of underlying problem which only vet can identify.
Hope this all helps! Will be following your thread with interest. My Connie was in exactly the same situation (I posted in vet section of forum) but with proper rest (8 weeks) after eventing season, he seems to be back to his old naughty self so fingers crossed.
 
Other thread I posted if you're interested.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...y-with-Suddenly-Noisy-Breathing-and-pale-Gums

I decided (controversially!) not to get his bloods done immediately as he is extremely needle shy and I've seen him kick stocks to bits when faced with intravenous needle. He seemed to be on the up so I left it. I have def let him lead the pace with regards exercise and have had no fast work at all, although if you'd seen him passaging and squealing up the road today, you'd never have guessed there'd been anything awry. :)
Good luck with your boy and keep us posted.
 
Thanks for the replies. An update, we had a dressage comp today and as he seemed quite happy and normal this morning we took him, he went very well and although a bit slow off the leg - which is totally normal for him - he looked and felt good.

I think we have cracked the puffing - by soaking his hay, despite the fact he was not coughing and the hay is very good quality I decided to soak it anyway when he is in overnight, bearing in mind he has been out 24/7 up until the tuesday just gone....The puffing he had on thursday is gone. He did 2 tests and barely got a sweat on so good there.

I also think he is improved simply by the fact he is in overnight now. I will have bloods done this week as it will put my mind at rest, I will post again once we have results.
 
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