Pony has gone off her food any hints/ tips please?

[Bens_Mum]

We have a very elderly minature with cushings. She is on pergalide tablets but this doesn't seem to be helping get any weight on her anymore. She is still very bright but looks awful (weight-wise) despite large amounts of hay/ hay replaces you name it. The vet said just get her eating as much as possible and suggested hard feed and hay which is what we have done till now with little improvement.
She has decided since it is cold that she wasn't going to eat her hay so I got Allen and Page pellets which she has now decided she doesnt like so then a big bag of molichaff which she has now stopped eating too. She is very bright and will scoff carrots and apples but getting her to eat anything else is a problem. She will eat grass but we don't have much of that since the snow everywhere is boggy.
I am obviously concerned that she is wasting away to a degree but don't know whatelse to try. She seems quite confused too which im wondering if has something to do with it. I think maybe its getting to the point where PTS might be the kind option but any suggestions feedwise I am happy to try as she is still quite perky in herself. Her droppings are normal but she is also not drinking as much water as she was either despite putting juice etc in it. Thanks in advance!

 

[Shay]

Have you tried making the feed up warm? Sometimes with the oldies the cold and the effort of chewing seems to put them off, but they will pick at a warm feed.

Simple Systems do a forage replacer - Lucie bricks - which you can make up with warm water. But I don't know if it is suitable for ponies with Cushings.

You can also get something called Horse Quencher which is stuff to put in thier water to encourage them to drink. I've never tried it myself but one of the liveries on yard uses it for her fussy competition horse and says its great.

 

[amandap]

I suggest you join this Group and ask dietry advice on there. It's a Group dedicated to horses with metabolic issues like Cushings. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheMetabolicHorse

Tbh I wouldn't be feeding any chaff mixes unless they are guarranteed molasses free. Do you soak her hay? If not do this and rinse. I wouldn't give apples or carrots or put juice in her water, they all contain sugar which may well not be helping her. She may well have developed a 'sweet tooth' which may take a little breaking but if you feed something like speedibeet (un mollassed beet) and she wont eat it add a small amount juice and gradually reduce the amount she gets. Only add the juice if she wont eat unmollassed beet. Tbh all all mine love it and it's a great source of slow release carbohydrates and high in fibre.

The peeps on the group will advise on what is best to add to the beet. Good luck with her.

Mta. Pergolide is given to help but the main important thing is to get her diet right and it may mean you being strict with yourself.