My horse won't eat

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horsegirl

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He just doesn't seem to have any appetite at all. He might nibble at a small amount of hay or slowly eat some chaff or a few nuts but his meals are practicaly untouched. I don't think it's his teeth as he can eat when he wants to he just sniffs the bucket and walk off. He was living out for a few weeks while I was on holiday and is now back home so I wonder if it is just the upheaval. Any suggestions to tempt him before I call the vet as he is dropping weight very quickly?
 
Is he fat? It might be that he's just stuffed and therefore not hungry. Our horse did similar when we'd been away as the person looking after her was massively overfeeding hay. Xxx
 
Oh sorry I've just seen the bit about him dropping weight. My next suggestion would be that it is his teeth and en he does eat it's because he's starving. Xx
 
I would get the dentist out as my first port of call, or failing that the vet as they can also check his teeth, i agree with FH he is probably eating when starving. Good luck x
 
I would definitely get teeth checked just in case. Is he getting a lot less turnout now? Some horses do go off their food if they are kept in a lot - I know our boy does. If that is the case, see if he can be turned out more, fed in the field, or even just taken for a bite of grass around the yard.

Is there any particular treats he likes? We found our lad loved Feedmark's Herbalicious treats and I noticed they contain fenugreek which is meant to stimulate appetite. I now soak about 4 treats for a couple of hours in just enough water to cover them in a litre jug. At feed time I boil the kettle and fill the jug and stir, to make a warm, herby mixture, then pour that over his feed and stir it well. This definitely makes him much keener to eat!
 
I am getting the dentist out ASAP but I don't think it is his teeth as he can eat perfectly well when he wants to. He just sniffs it and doesn't even take a mouthfull. He will eat grass if he finds any. I soaked some nuts in apple juice but he turned his nose up at that too.
 
horsegirl said:
I am getting the dentist out ASAP but I don't think it is his teeth as he can eat perfectly well when he wants to. He just sniffs it and doesn't even take a mouthfull. He will eat grass if he finds any. I soaked some nuts in apple juice but he turned his nose up at that too.
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to be honest I would call the vet , if he is not eating something is wrong especially as he is dropping weight which means it is not just today or yesterday!!
 
Just had an update from the yard, he was turned out with his breakfast and has eaten it all. I will monitor him for another couple of days and then call the vet.
 
Normally his food is in his stable. I wonder if it is also that the stables have been moved and he now can't see any horses when he is in his stable?
 
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