Sandstone1
Well-Known Member
Approx 22 year old. Ridden 3 x weekly. Teeth been done recently. Has suddenly lost weight mainly off top line and rear end. Is fed a balancer and chaff. Any tips on getting weight back on.
Older horse suddenly losing weight
- Thread starter Sandstone1
- Start date
southerncomfort
Well-Known Member
Hi,
Has the horse been tested for cushings? This is probably the biggest cause of sudden weight loss in older horses.
Has the horse been tested for cushings? This is probably the biggest cause of sudden weight loss in older horses.
Shay
Well-Known Member
Vet first. You need to know why he has lost weight. There is no point feeding him if there is a vet problem at the heart of it. Sudden unbalanced weight loss without other obvious cause would suggest either poisoning or metabolic imbalance to me - you need to rule that out.
Then - start with more high quality forage. Grass is poor this time of year. (Or it is where we are). Good quality hay or haylage ad lib. If that isn't enough then try for a hard feed. And conditioning feed would probably work. As would speedi beet (or similar) or linseed.
But the first step is to make sure there is nothing suspicious underlying the weight loss.
Edited to add: Rule out cushings before increasing feed! You put him at risk of laminitis otherwise.
Then - start with more high quality forage. Grass is poor this time of year. (Or it is where we are). Good quality hay or haylage ad lib. If that isn't enough then try for a hard feed. And conditioning feed would probably work. As would speedi beet (or similar) or linseed.
But the first step is to make sure there is nothing suspicious underlying the weight loss.
Edited to add: Rule out cushings before increasing feed! You put him at risk of laminitis otherwise.
Sandstone1
Well-Known Member
No he hasn't. He hasn't got a particularly thick coat, it's a good point though.
Shay
Well-Known Member
Cushings isn't the only thing - just the most common. EMS, PSSM (depends on breed). Some types of poisoning. Even atrophy as a result of nerve impingement. Muscle damage from azoturia. Theres quite a list.
Vet first - and let us know how it goes.
Vet first - and let us know how it goes.
TGM
Well-Known Member
They don't always have a thick coat, so worth a Cushings test as part of a vet check up. If he has always held his weight before, is on ad lib forage and you are sure his teeth are fine, then you probably do need to have the vet to see what is at the root of the problem, otherwise you may end up feeding something that may make the situation worse.
Merlod
Well-Known Member
Get the cushings test, its should still be free (labwork) I think til end of Oct.
Personally I found the temperature has dropped recently and the grass has slowed down, mine are all fatty natives but they are looking a bit better for having lost a bit using the resources keeping warm.
If he were mine I would go for the lab tests, stick with the chaff and feed balancer, offer ad-lib hay and think about adding micronised linseed to his feed to aid condition (my lami prone can even eat it)
It may also be worth rugging him
sometimes the oldies need a little extra tlc
Personally I found the temperature has dropped recently and the grass has slowed down, mine are all fatty natives but they are looking a bit better for having lost a bit using the resources keeping warm.
If he were mine I would go for the lab tests, stick with the chaff and feed balancer, offer ad-lib hay and think about adding micronised linseed to his feed to aid condition (my lami prone can even eat it)
It may also be worth rugging him
sometimes the oldies need a little extra tlc
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
Horses ( in opposed to ponies ) often get cushings with no coat symptoms .
OP you need a vet to your horse and I would not risk your safety by riding it until you find the reason for the weight drop .
A sudden unexplained drop in weight is always a job for a vet make sure you get an experianced one .
OP you need a vet to your horse and I would not risk your safety by riding it until you find the reason for the weight drop .
A sudden unexplained drop in weight is always a job for a vet make sure you get an experianced one .
mytwofriends
Well-Known Member
My cushings oldie first presented with weight loss rather than any drastic change to his coat.
He's been on 1 x Prascend per day for 4 years now, and looks a million dollars.
Just for your peace of mind, get him tested. Then at least you'll know.
He's been on 1 x Prascend per day for 4 years now, and looks a million dollars.
Just for your peace of mind, get him tested. Then at least you'll know.
Morgan123
Well-Known Member
My 33 yr old mare does this sometimes - first call = vet and have a worm count, cushings test and teeth check.
with her it's never those things but has always turned out to be field stress (e.g. a new horse causing hassle and stressing her out). However I always rule them out first.
I increase her feed, it's a mash only (mixes are harder to digest) and I email lots of feed companies for advice, and I keep comparing ingredients and DE levels until I decide whether to change something or just add in another feed. I find linseed very useful.
I also find she is much colder when she loses weight - ridiculously so, she needs a rug on at the first hint of a drop of rain - and obviously if they're cold then they are using more calories so I usually wrap her up a bit (she is a cold horse anyway though, obv you do what's right for the horse infront of you).
with her it's never those things but has always turned out to be field stress (e.g. a new horse causing hassle and stressing her out). However I always rule them out first.
I increase her feed, it's a mash only (mixes are harder to digest) and I email lots of feed companies for advice, and I keep comparing ingredients and DE levels until I decide whether to change something or just add in another feed. I find linseed very useful.
I also find she is much colder when she loses weight - ridiculously so, she needs a rug on at the first hint of a drop of rain - and obviously if they're cold then they are using more calories so I usually wrap her up a bit (she is a cold horse anyway though, obv you do what's right for the horse infront of you).
Sandstone1
Well-Known Member
He's not my horse, he's a friend's who I help look after. I will suggest vet. Thanks all