is he too skinny? (pics) and also more itching advice please!

Bowen4Horses

Bowen4Horses

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here are some pics taken of Raff this morning.

as advised on here, i clipped him the other day, and gave him a really good hot clothing (with a bit of hibiscrub in the water for his sore bits)

basically, his background story is, he's my most darling horse in the world. ever. and he broke his leg nearly 5 weeks ago. vet says he has to be crosstied for 12 weeks. (sort of nearly halfway there!)

he's coping amazingly well with not being able to move. and the only problem we have is he is getting VERY itchy. he's always been an itchy horse, but it's REALLY bad. because he hasn't been out in the sun/able to roll his winter coat is hanging on and annoying him. So, i clipped him (my first EVER clip so be nice). and because he was SO scurfy/greasy (apparently box rest can cause it) i gave him a proper good hot clothing session. which he loved.

he's less itchy... but still much more itchy than he should be (bearing in mind he's trying to itch and almost tying himself in knots... which could lead to his leg snapping... :( )

he's been on ad lib soaked hay, and lost lots of weight. in the last week (because laminitis risk is lessened now he's weight bearing on all legs) i have given him an unsoaked haynet at night (huge haynet/small holes). this seems to have helped him put on a little bit.

so, i need to know. is he under weight? does anyone have any ideas of what to feed a cross tied horse? oh, and does anyone have any ideas about the itching? p.s. don't laugh at his bum, it's developed a strange peak... and don't laugh at his neck, it used to be solid and chunky... :(

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xxx
 
I think he's actually looking fantastic!

Is he getting hard feed, if so you could add some oil to help his skin. But I don't think he looks underweight in any shape or fashion.
 
I would say he's a little bit under if you were looking at him as a 'normal horse in work', BUT for a horse on box rest considering his current predicament, not in work, with a careful diet atm and very little movement, he looks in an absolutely fine stable condition providing he doesn't drop off too much more :)

For the itching....would it be possible to put a fly sheet or anything on....there's not so much amount of horse flies out atm but we have tonnes of of tiny midges munching our lot atm driving them insane itching also. It may help :o I don't know sorry :(

I'm sorry to hear about him! I feel quite bad saying I never saw the original posts about him....I hope for speedy recovery and props to you, the care and devotion for him shows hugely :) *hugs and jelly tots*
 
amymay said:
I think he's actually looking fantastic!

Is he getting hard feed, if so you could add some oil to help his skin. But I don't think he looks underweight in any shape or fashion.
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oh good. he looks a million times better now he's been clipped.

he's getting a handful of hifi lite 3 times a day, just to break his day up. i put him on that originally as he was at such risk of laminitis. but now i don't see why he can't have something a smidge more interesting. what kind of oil is best do you think? i need to keep him calm... will oil make him fizzy at all?

x
 
He really looks pretty good considering! I would expect him to loose weight, as he will be loosing muscle as well as fat. I think it's best to leave him a little slim, won't do him any harm, and you can't make up for muscle wastage with feeding more. Do you think he is getting nibbled by flys? Very midgy round us at the moment, even around the stables. If he is getting eaten then he will be a v itchy chap. Could you leave him in a fly rug or give him a spray over with some fly spray? My girl gets itchy, esp with the midges so I add some benzy benzoate to her fly spray too (only if the skin isn't broken). He might also enjoy a super good groom, at least you can get to the itchy bits he can't!
 
I think his weight is about right but he doesn't want to lose too much more. When my girl was crosstied I fed her a handful of cheapo nuts in a load of dampened chaff twice a day because her favourite thing in the world is food. I also fed unmolassed sugarbeet. I used to balance her bowl on an upside down dustbin so she could reach it.

As for the itching, keep up the grooming and brushing but be wary of using too much detergent or you'll dry his skin out and encourage it to produce more grease - vicious circle! He might enjoy a good scratch with a shedding blade.
 
What about a handful of eco cubes or similar mixed in with chaff too?

I wouldn't feed any real 'cereal' or high in protein feeds for him if he's on box rest, one for laminitis risk and just for not wanting excess energy either.
 
glosgirl said:
He really looks pretty good considering! I would expect him to loose weight, as he will be loosing muscle as well as fat. I think it's best to leave him a little slim, won't do him any harm, and you can't make up for muscle wastage with feeding more. Do you think he is getting nibbled by flys? Very midgy round us at the moment, even around the stables. If he is getting eaten then he will be a v itchy chap. Could you leave him in a fly rug or give him a spray over with some fly spray? My girl gets itchy, esp with the midges so I add some benzy benzoate to her fly spray too (only if the skin isn't broken). He might also enjoy a super good groom, at least you can get to the itchy bits he can't!
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he's getting a good groom every day, and loves it. although is starting to get a bit too 'into' it and today squashed me a bit...

the vet gave me some deosect for iggle and said i could use it on raff in case of any mites etc, and also as a fly repellent. has anyone done that before? it looks pretty potent stuff, so i'm a bit scared by it... :)
 
p.s. instead of oil, microionised linseed would give him the oil, but in a more effective form. Linseed lozenges are good (http://www.naturalhorsesupplies.co.uk/p/product/0802235098/), and you could feed them as a treat or in his meals. If you are worried about sugars in his feed, then you could change to a non molassed chaff, try badminton http://www.badmintonfeeds.co.uk/products.php?id=65&cat=31
You must have put so much work into looking after him, he really is looking well. Have been following your posts and am so glad things are progressing well!
 
what kind of oil is best do you think?
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Actually, rather than oil - why not have a look at Feedmark's website - they have a really good range of suppliments. One is called Dermitis (or similar) and that could just do the trick!
 
glosgirl said:
p.s. instead of oil, microionised linseed would give him the oil, but in a more effective form. Linseed lozenges are good (http://www.naturalhorsesupplies.co.uk/p/product/0802235098/), and you could feed them as a treat or in his meals. If you are worried about sugars in his feed, then you could change to a non molassed chaff, try badminton http://www.badmintonfeeds.co.uk/products.php?id=65&cat=31
You must have put so much work into looking after him, he really is looking well. Have been following your posts and am so glad things are progressing well!
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Glosgirl, the lozenges look great!

How many packets do you order at a time - as I wouldn't mind getting some. But guess the packets are quite small???
 
Or a balancer to just add into the chaff, top spec balancer or similar? All vits and mins in there and no fizz or major calories.
 
I am really sorry about your horse. Mine broke his leg last year, and I fed him ad lib hay, a scoop of hi-fi lite with a cup of Baileys low cal balancer. He kept just about perfect weight on, despite 6 months box rest.
 
my girls are both chubbers, so they just get a few each day as treats and to help their skin. They get more during the winter because they get a bit flaky skin when they have had their rugs on for a few months! I just order one at a time as I have a tendancy to bulk buy and stash things! A bag is just under 1kg so not much if you are adding to feed, but if you keep them for treats then they last me a few weeks.
 
Ditto amymay - he might enjoy/bennefit from a herbal supplement. Most companies will send you a free sample to see if he likes it :)

I think he looks amazingly well having not moved for 5weeks :D All that topline will come back so quick once he's back moving :)
 
Echo the others - he looks great under the circumstances (nice haircut too;))

How about some kind of hanging stable toy to distract him a bit? You can get special ones, and also ones with bars that you can thread fruit and veg onto, diet permitting of course! Might give him something more to think about?

Fly sheet sounds like a good idea, also there might be some handy info here http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horse-care-index/1370/48445.html
 
I use essetial oills which has seem to work a treat on his coat as its shineing and not much eblow action by me!! Also it can be used in hot fannel too. These's could also help with the boxrest etc calming etc. If you can find aromathepit sp??? person who could help you on getting the best out of all the different oills would be a good idea. Sorry to hear about his leg poor boy!! Mine was only crossed tied for 3 days and wasnt a happy bunny at all!!
 
glosgirl said:
my girls are both chubbers, so they just get a few each day as treats and to help their skin. They get more during the winter because they get a bit flaky skin when they have had their rugs on for a few months! I just order one at a time as I have a tendancy to bulk buy and stash things! A bag is just under 1kg so not much if you are adding to feed, but if you keep them for treats then they last me a few weeks.
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Thanks.

Going to get some.
 
Shavings fork? Isn't that what they're meant for- scratching shaved horses? I used to use yard brush on my tb mare, it was hilarious and she'd turn her head for me to do her face! Ooops, naughty....

I think he looks great considering what he's been through, why not try a balancer with his hi fi then you're sure he's getting everything he needs? Has your vet suggested anything else for the itching? Maybe an anti-histamine?
 
Considering the circumstances then I think he looks pretty much how I personally would expect, obviously not knowing the full history of your horse or his age, or what he's normally like on a restricted diet then I think it would be unfair for others to judge yours in comparison, after all they all cope differently and the recovery process (weight wise as well) will vary quite a lot from horse to horse.

He's using less energy therefore won't be feeling the need to eat as much...unless its something terribly tasty, which in his case eating too much of a nice thing won't do him any favours neither, I wouldn’t want my horse (if it had a broken leg) to be carrying more weight than necessary, in fact the lighter then better providing he's regular (both in and out) and receiving what he needs to help him recover and keep his spirits up.

Plus he'll loose muscle which always looks unsightly but it can't be helped.

A seaweed supplement is great for itchy flaky skin but it does take a month or two to notice any changes, other than what everyone else has suggested looks like your doing a grand job.

All the best to his recovery
 
Feedmark Equidermis is excellent for maintaining healthy skin. A good quality balancer in his chaff will also help (we use Equilibra). Otherwise you could try some ready prepared linseed. Any of those will help him put a little weight on (you don't want too much strain on his legs) and really help his skin.
 
clipcloppop said:
he's getting a good groom every day, and loves it. although is starting to get a bit too 'into' it and today squashed me a bit...

the vet gave me some deosect for iggle and said i could use it on raff in case of any mites etc, and also as a fly repellent. has anyone done that before? it looks pretty potent stuff, so i'm a bit scared by it... :)
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deosect wont keep flys off him, but as soon as they make contact with it they fade and die pretty quickly. to humns its potent.. not sure spraying it in an enclosed space every day would be good for horsie.

feed wise, equa jewel is really good (its ricebran high oil) it shouldnt be heating and is only fed in small amounts.

i cant remember what its called but the stop itch stuff (blue bottle with a horse shoe on front) the ingrediant in that, that largely stops the itching is a does of general anastetic(sp) in liquid form you can buy it off the net, if he has any spots that are always itchy you could use that.. basically it will mildly numb the area.
 
jhoward said:
deosect wont keep flys off him, but as soon as they make contact with it they fade and die pretty quickly. to humns its potent.. not sure spraying it in an enclosed space every day would be good for horsie.

feed wise, equa jewel is really good (its ricebran high oil) it shouldnt be heating and is only fed in small amounts.

i cant remember what its called but the stop itch stuff (blue bottle with a horse shoe on front) the ingrediant in that, that largely stops the itching is a does of general anastetic(sp) in liquid form you can buy it off the net, if he has any spots that are always itchy you could use that.. basically it will mildly numb the area.
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The blue bottle is just benzyle benzoate. Much cheaper from your chemist (need to dilute by about half), but if I were you I would get from an online chemist as it is used for crabs, so a bit embarrasing to ask for it over the counter!
 
jhoward said:
deosect wont keep flys off him, but as soon as they make contact with it they fade and die pretty quickly. to humns its potent.. not sure spraying it in an enclosed space every day would be good for horsie.

feed wise, equa jewel is really good (its ricebran high oil) it shouldnt be heating and is only fed in small amounts.

i cant remember what its called but the stop itch stuff (blue bottle with a horse shoe on front) the ingrediant in that, that largely stops the itching is a does of general anastetic(sp) in liquid form you can buy it off the net, if he has any spots that are always itchy you could use that.. basically it will mildly numb the area.
Click to expand...

The blue bottle is just benzyle benzoate. Much cheaper from your chemist (need to dilute by about half), but if I were you I would get from an online chemist as it is used for crabs, so a bit embarrasing to ask for it over the counter!
 
I don't have much to add here as youv'e had some much great advice already above but would just like to say a huge well done to you, it must be painstaking hard work keeping it together at such a difficult time, he is a credit to you, he looks great considering what he is going through, keep up the hard work and good luck hope he mends quickly x
 
glosgirl said:
The blue bottle is just benzyle benzoate. Much cheaper from your chemist (need to dilute by about half), but if I were you I would get from an online chemist as it is used for crabs, so a bit embarrasing to ask for it over the counter!
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this is the stuff im on about.. http://www.horse-tack-and-equestrian-clothing.com/fly-repellents-kill-itch-prod1176.html

yes it containes BB but also has a few other ingrediants in .. the one im thinking of which is the GA, i cant remember!
 
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