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charlotteelizabeth38

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Hi, my 6 year old gelding has been going out over 85cm plus courses jumping ect this summer and he has quite suddenly deteriorated in health over the past month. He's been drinking a lot more water than normal but urinating less. He's refusing to jump, being ridiculously lazy and constantly feels unhappy when being ridden. He's become so good mannered on the ground which is very unusual as he is a bolshy cob and just doesn't seem himself. We're loose end, we've had the vet out twice now and they can't see anything but I was wondering if anyone recognized these symptoms or has any idea of what might be up ? :/ he's been on the same diet for nearly a year, he's kept on a mixture of living both in and out and is ridden almost everyday normally. Any comments would be greatly appreciated as we are all stumped x
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Has vet run full bloods inc muscle enzymes?
Did that show anything up?

My horse did go lethargic, easy 2 do, unwilling to work (cudn't get him 2 trot) & his bloods showed he was anaemic
 
My friends horse had very similar symptoms to yours but over a longer period of time, turned out to be cancer of the bladder and had spread into her gut. Sadly there was nothing they could do.

It more likely to be an infection or virus, I'd get a another vet out myself
 
I'm not medical in any way but it's worth looking around for anything that poisonous in the hedges, if he has access to any. Nightshade, ragwort of course, that sort of thing. If you have old flaky paint with lead in, he might lick that. Drinking more sounds like a liver or kidney thing which could involve poisonous plants. Could be a virus of course. Has the vet run bloods etc?
 
Maybe just give him some time off. Turn him out and let him chill.

Have you had his teeth checked? My boy seemed to be drinking a lot and was actually rinsing his mouth out to alleviate a gum problem.
 
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Has he lost any field mates? Sounds like my gelding after he list his mate of 11 years.
It took about 18 months for him to get back to his old self.
He was just very flat :(
 
My mare has had episodes like this and it has always been a virus. Had bloods taken the first time and it showed raised white cells we give her a course of antibiotics and that sorts it out we have had 3 episodes in 4 years now. I think her immune system is not what it could be so feeding Echinacea and hoping she grows out of it as only 7. Her episodes always showed a very high temperature though. If I were you I would be doing blood tests to check for infection, muscle and liver function and also a urine test to check kidney function. If you've already done this and still I would see if your vet can refer you to a specialist as this sounds worrying.
 
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Millie-Rose said:
My mare has had episodes like this and it has always been a virus. Had bloods taken the first time and it showed raised white cells we give her a course of antibiotics and that sorts it out we have had 3 episodes in 4 years now. I think her immune system is not what it could be so feeding Echinacea and hoping she grows out of it as only 7. Her episodes always showed a very high temperature though. If I were you I would be doing blood tests to check for infection, muscle and liver function and also a urine test to check kidney function. If you've already done this and still I would see if your vet can refer you to a specialist as this sounds worrying.
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This. (also Millie my chap had similar recurring virus with raised white cell count at 12 and the episodes did gradually get milder and milder and he's 20 now and hasn't had one for years. His seemed to be triggered by flu jab and worming v close together so never do that close together, he no longer has the flu jab on RVC advice,)
 
How is he weight wise, he looks a bit lean in the quarters but cant see properly for your legs. If he doing so much work and not adequately fed they can start to use their muscle mass for energy if there is no fat which would be the same as someone with bulimia trying to run a marathon. Do check bloods, give him a rest and check your feed has the correct requirements for his work load. How do you know he is not urinating enough is he stabled all the time.
 
Definitely get the bloods done and ask them to test for Lymes Disease, getting more common now, my mare became incredibly lethargic and the vets took 2 years to diagnose her. Good luck, hope he comes right.
 
milo'n'molly said:
Forget asking people you don't know and call the vet
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OP has had the vet out twice - says so in the original post.

There is no harm in asking for public help. That is what a forum is for - the chance to ask questions and air ideas. No vet knows everything. I still hear people saying their vet says there is no treatment for epilepsy. Funny that considering my girl was managed successfully for 15 years. The drugs didn't pickle her liver in the first 6 months either, another "fact" stated by a vet.
 
A friend had a horse with a similar history and vet said Liver Fluke and dosed horse accordingly it improved and is fine now, haven't come across it myself.
 
He looks lovely. Agree that it does sound like a virus - sorry to repeat what others have said, but if the vet hasn't taken any blood tests then it may be worth asking for them just to rule anything like that out. Let us know how you get on x
 
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