pony wont eat

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susanB

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WE are desperate. our pony will not eat his feed and is losing weight. Vet can't find anything wrong despite all blood tests, teeth worm counts etc. He tries a feed for a day or two & then decides he doesn't want it . We are at our witts end . Anyone out there with this experience or any help please .

Susan B
 
I recently had this issue, have you tried soaking feed so its liquid. How old is the pony? How long have you had him? Is his fur long I had to clip as he was too hot to eat. Is he eating his hay or does he live out.?

Good luck
 
I had the same thing with my old pony. She refused to eat everything. I bought her everything I could think of but she refused to eat it. I ended up kicking her 24/7 to see if that made any differece. She was happy to eat grass but still wouldnt eat feed/haylage but at least she was eating something. Found it was stress that affected her, however I have just found a feed that she cant not eat as she loves it - Simple System Red bag grass nuts. I soak them over night (just enough for them to be damp- think if you get some in your hand and squeeze it together, it just sticks together and no water comes out) and feed them to her. This is how she likes it and she doesnt lift her head out of the bucket. Theyve also put her weight back on her that she lost.
 
Many thanks for reply. Your pony sounds just like ours. He's 23yrs- a Riding Pony breed-on pergalide and can't be fed anything which isn't laminitis approved feed stuff ie very low in starch. We've now turned him out 24/7 . We did wonder if he was jealous of 2 other ponies we have as he's a real softie so perhaps as you said he might be stressed. How did you find that out? Which company sells the feed you found to work? So glad you found something to help yours. It's so depressing to struggle with this problem every day.
What's happened to your finger?
 
Ours is 23, now out 24/7 and on pergalide and laminitis approved feeds. We've clipped himout too and notice that he doesn't eat grass as much when hot. We've tried soaking feed & every feed stuff we can get here as wellas help from the feed nutritionists. I think the problem is in his head--maybe stress, jealousy--all I know is it's driving us to distraction, but thanks for replying. It's a help to know we're not alone.
 
What foods have you tried? If you need to feed Laminitis Trust approved feeds have you tried Happy Hoof? Most ponies find it very palatable. Another alternative is Alfa Beet which mine seem to gobble up, is conditioning but still Laminitis Trust approved.

You don't say how long you have had the pony, but if he has only just arrived then give him a chance to settle in. My daughter's pony wouldn't eat Alfa A when we first got her, but now loves it!
 
How long has he been on the Pergolide for? I'm sure I've read somewhere that they can lose their appetite when they first start the treatment - so may be something to consider if he has only just started on the medication.
 
Haven't heard that re Pergalide but its interesting as he's now on 4 per day not 3. Has been on perg.for 3yrs now. have just got some bran to try a bran mash and see if this works
 
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