Need help with weight loss!

[amybyersx]

Hello,

I have an 21 year old mare who usually keeps her weight easily. She is terrible for the dentist so I try to keep as much time as possible between dentist visits as she needs sedated which gets her stressed. I would never leave her too long between visits for obvious reasons. She is due a dentist visit but over the past month I have noticed her dramatically lose weight! She is in at night with haylage, out on grass(limited due to mud) from 7-4/5 and has a hard feed which is mollichaff and cubes. What is the best feed for weight gain? I am going to get her teeth done asap obviously to rule out that being the issue. We also had a horse recently who passed away and she used to share a field with him as well as four other horses. I know that could also be a contribution. I just need some advice on the best thing to give her to gain her weight back please.

 

[be positive]

Any dramatic unexplained weight loss really requires some investigation by a vet as there could be many causes and if treated quickly may be easily resolved, I would get a basic check up, some bloods taken and do a worm count when the vet comes to do the teeth, ideally asap just in case there is an underlying issue, a cushings test would also be worth doing as weight loss is a symptom.

Other than that plenty of forage and a fibre based diet that is low in sugar and starch with some oil or linseed to add calories, unless you find the reason it may be a waste of feed piling it in if she cannot benefit from what she gets.

 

[amybyersx]

We are on a worming program at my yard and she has come back fine on her latest worm count. I am getting an equine dentist out and I will need a vet to sedate her, so while she is sedated, I will get the vet to give her a once over. Hopefully all should be fine.

 

[Micky]

A lot of horses lose weight in this last month of winter/early spring...if it's dramatic, then as above, vet check, but how are her teeth? Is she coping eating haylage and chop? Maybe add ready mash to her feed, great for the ageing equines!

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

You can soak grass nuts, and add oil in as an interim.

Definitely seek advice from vet - my old mare dropped dramatically and it was due to cushings and was only noticed through bloods as she had no other symptoms as such.