Update on horse that was not drinking.

B

be positive

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 July 2011
Messages
19,396
Visit site
Well he still isn't drinking as such, he has not drunk any plain water for at least a week, he is drinking a little sugar beet water each day but not touching the bucket without sugar beet in.:(

He is getting a lot of feed all soaked, speedibeet, sugarbeet, fast fibre are all helping him get fluids, he also has a bucket of soaked redigrass each day complete with the water it has soaked in which he slurps up over 24 hours.

I have tried all the ideas suggested previously, what I am using now are the only things that have worked, just as well he is not a fat laminitic as the sugar would be a risk.

Vet and Dentist coming tomorrow for a proper look in his mouth as I know feel it could be physical and need to either find or rule out a physical reason.
 
It's such a worry isn't it? But at least he is drinking the sugar beat water.

Let us know how you get on with the vet.

Out of interest, have you tried warm water??
 
Thanks amymay, yes it is a constant worry, I have spent hours googling to find any info but there does not seem to be anything other than helping rehydrate and the horse then drinking normally.

I tried warm water but he wasn't interested, the temperature does not seem to be part of it as he was happily licking snow over the weekend when offered it in a bucket:confused:
 
Have you moved yards recently? I only ask as my horse wouldn't drink much of the water at my last yard. It was ok because he was out most of the time and would drink from the field drinkers and puddles. He had soaked hay, fast fibre etc like yours, but it was a huge problem when he had box rest. I bought those Horse Quenchers from the feed shop - they are just flavourings to add to water to get them to drink, but it cost a fair amount of money.
Then we changed yards 10 miles down the road, he loves the tap water there and drinks his whole bucket! Strange!
Or have you given him a new bucket? moved his water? Changed anything that might add a strange taste?
 
I saw this horse on Sunday and it was really odd how he was slurping water (can't think of a better way to describe it) and not actually taking a drink.

He has a variety of buckets with different things in them to tempt him and at different heights, impressive!

Good luck in finding a positive outcome tomorrow with vet and dentist.
 
Hi be positive, I am so sorry to hear your horse is not drinking much.

I have a vested interest in your post as I am the lady behind one of the available products which gets horses drinking when and where you want them to but I won't say which one (to avoid the advertising rules; suffice to say someone kindly mentioned it above).

On the website, you can buy 4 sachets for £10 and then the pouches of 25-servings are much more economical than the sachets, working out at about a £1 a go. The product is not designed as a daily regime but simply as a way of getting your horse to drink in situations where you find it difficult. The implications of dehydration on horse health, not just colic but a whole host of other ailments, as you are probably aware are extremely expensive and by comparison my product is a drop in the ocean.

I am confident the product can help you get your horse to drink and if there is anything I can do, or you need any help or advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
 
Last edited:
Janah said:
I saw this horse on Sunday and it was really odd how he was slurping water (can't think of a better way to describe it) and not actually taking a drink.

He has a variety of buckets with different things in them to tempt him and at different heights, impressive!

Good luck in finding a positive outcome tomorrow with vet and dentist.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jane:) he is still slurping, if anything more than he was, it may be becoming a bit of a game but he seems to be more rinsing his mouth between mouthfuls of hay rather than actually swallowing any:confused:

Will update after they have been:)
 
Lucinda said:
Hi be positive, I am so sorry to hear your horse is not drinking much.

I have a vested interest in your post as I am the lady behind one of the available products which gets horses drinking when and where you want them to but I won't say which one (to avoid the advertising rules; suffice to say someone kindly mentioned it above).

On the website, you can buy 4 sachets for £10 and then the pouches of 25-servings are much more economical than the sachets, working out at about a £1 a go. The product is not designed as a daily regime but simply as a way of getting your horse to drink in situations where you find it difficult. The implications of dehydration on horse health, not just colic but a whole host of other ailments, as you are probably aware are extremely expensive and by comparison my product is a drop in the ocean.

I am confident the product can help you get your horse to drink and if there is anything I can do, or you need any help or advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Click to expand...


Thanks Lucinda, we did have a chat the other day, you were really helpful:)

Sadly he did not like your products, tried all flavours with no interest even when his neighbour was taking it, I think it is possibly a physical issue, will know more once vet and dentist have been, or possibly he has become so well hydrated now with the feeds he is just not thirsty, although my gut feeling is that is unlikely.:(
 
noblesteed said:
Have you moved yards recently? I only ask as my horse wouldn't drink much of the water at my last yard. It was ok because he was out most of the time and would drink from the field drinkers and puddles. He had soaked hay, fast fibre etc like yours, but it was a huge problem when he had box rest. I bought those Horse Quenchers from the feed shop - they are just flavourings to add to water to get them to drink, but it cost a fair amount of money.
Then we changed yards 10 miles down the road, he loves the tap water there and drinks his whole bucket! Strange!
Or have you given him a new bucket? moved his water? Changed anything that might add a strange taste?
Click to expand...

He went away to hospital 2 weeks ago and went through a lot of stress, trauma to his mouth, not going into more details at the moment, he came back dehydrated, reluctant to eat or drink, eating really well now just drinking the issue:(

Thanks for your comments:)
 
Is he still dehydrated? It sounds like he is actually getting quite a lot of water through feeds etc. I know my mare used to drink gallons (1 1/2 large tub trugs full) when on dry hay but now drinks less than one overnight with soaked hay.
 
Sorry to hear he's still not drinking :(. I haven't anything helpful to add, as it sounds like you've got all bases covered! Fingers crossed the vet or dentist can find a cause - it does sound like a physical problem, but can't think what it could be :confused:.
 
amandap said:
Is he still dehydrated? It sounds like he is actually getting quite a lot of water through feeds etc. I know my mare used to drink gallons (1 1/2 large tub trugs full) when on dry hay but now drinks less than one overnight with soaked hay.
Click to expand...

He is no longer dehydrated and is taking plenty with his feeds, at times he does seem thirsty but reluctant to actually drink when he puts his nose into the water, he just rinses and lets the water run out:confused:
 
TwoStroke said:
Sorry to hear he's still not drinking :(. I haven't anything helpful to add, as it sounds like you've got all bases covered! Fingers crossed the vet or dentist can find a cause - it does sound like a physical problem, but can't think what it could be :confused:.
Click to expand...


Thanks, will update tomorrow hopefully there will be a reason that can be found and resolved.
 
be positive said:
He is no longer dehydrated and is taking plenty with his feeds, at times he does seem thirsty but reluctant to actually drink when he puts his nose into the water, he just rinses and lets the water run out:confused:
Click to expand...
I wouldn't worry too much if he is not dehydrated. Getting the vet to check will put your mind at rest. I often see my lot taking a small amount of water, holding it in their mouths and then sort of chewing as if rinsing their mouths. I think that is normal behaviour but perhaps mine are odd bods. lol
 
Glad to be of help on the phone the other day "be positive"!

I am pleased that the product went down well with the other horse but sorry we haven’t as yet been able to crack it with your boy. Sometimes we do have horses that don’t immediately take to the product, this can be anything from flavour, suspicion, or all sorts of psychological/physical reasons why he is over-suspicious perhaps and this may well change with time and perseverance. I can relay an experience of another lady where she had no luck to start with but continued with the product and after 10 attempts finally eureka the horse finally got the message and now she says she only has to bring the bucket out and her horse goes mad with excitement!

I do try and encourage people with your experience to persevere if possible. I have found in the past that some horses (because of their suspicious natures) take a few days of being given the product daily to take to new tastes and I am sure with perseverance you will get there, especially if you continue to involve the other horse so that your horse catches the habit and realises mum isn’t trying to poison him!

If you are interested in exploring the product further, I would be delighted to send you some more free sachets to see if I can help. In the meantime if there is anything else I can do, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Good luck too with the dental and veterinary visit. I am sure you will get there in the end.
 
I had this last year when my horses were at a friend's field. I ended up putting a dollop of mollasses in their water which encouraged them to drink. Wouldn't want to make a habit of it though.
 
The vet and dentist managed to get through the weather and arrived within 10mins of each other, so that was a good start, they sedated him and both had a thorough look in and around his mouth. All seems to be healing well but the cut to his bar is still slightly open, much smaller than when I first saw it, there is still some bruising but this should all be gone within a few more days.

The injury to his mouth happened 16 days ago so at the time would have been extensive to still be evident today, we all know how quickly mouths heal and he has been on antibiotics and danilon continually for this period of time, which would have relieved some of the pain, surprisingly he has eaten well which has enabled me to keep him hydrated.
All this due to having a chifney used on him, while I know there is a need for safety this horse hates metal bits and if I had known that he was going to have a lameness workup, he went in with a known fracture, I would have been able to leave a bridle or stay to handle him myself, he was only supposed to have an MRI then an op, not a workup:(

I just hope he will start drinking normally again soon and get over the trauma he has suffered , for now it will be continuing with soaked feeds and the sugarbeet water that he is taking. He is having a soothing massage in the morning:)
 
This reminds me of sometimes when people have a stroke, they can't swallow water because of their throat muscles being paralysed (i think) and you have to mix the water into a gel like wall paper paste and spoon feed it to them in order for them to take in water. Just a thought as you say he is taking in water via food, so maybe there is some reason why he can't swallow water in liquid form, either because he can't hold it in his mouth or something beyond... Just thinking a horse would be drinking from a lowered head position and be swallowing 'upwards' although I am sure you have experimented with heights!

Hope they are able to get to the bottom of it and glad he is taking some in through food.
 
mandwhy said:
This reminds me of sometimes when people have a stroke, they can't swallow water because of their throat muscles being paralysed (i think) and you have to mix the water into a gel like wall paper paste and spoon feed it to them in order for them to take in water. Just a thought as you say he is taking in water via food, so maybe there is some reason why he can't swallow water in liquid form, either because he can't hold it in his mouth or something beyond... Just thinking a horse would be drinking from a lowered head position and be swallowing 'upwards' although I am sure you have experimented with heights!

Hope they are able to get to the bottom of it and glad he is taking some in through food.
Click to expand...

The vet has ruled it out but I am still not totally happy, he does slurp it at times almost just rinsing his mouth then dribbling, heights are covered, 1 on the ground, 2 on an upturned bin and 3 an over the door manger, they all have different flavours , the popular ones are 1&3 the lowest and highest but they are also the nicest tasting;) I might swap round tomorrow and see what happens:D
 
Sorry to hear that he's still not drinking properly . . . at least he's not dehydrated but still a worry. So hope you get to the bottom of this as it must be so frustrating trying to work out what's causing the problem and how to solve it so he can/will drink.

Thinking of you.

P
 
Really sorry to hear your horse suffered trauma at vets.
We recently had a horse at livery yard with a mysterious illness, who showed similar reluctance to drink or eat, but did slurping and mouth washing. Different cause but similar behaviour. Never really found cause, horse eventually recovered. It started with diarrhoea then almost no droppi when stopped eating. Not colicky. We guess that horse swallowed or inhaled something which irritated it's throat etc.
 
be positive said:
The vet and dentist managed to get through the weather and arrived within 10mins of each other, so that was a good start, they sedated him and both had a thorough look in and around his mouth. All seems to be healing well but the cut to his bar is still slightly open, much smaller than when I first saw it, there is still some bruising but this should all be gone within a few more days.

The injury to his mouth happened 16 days ago so at the time would have been extensive to still be evident today, we all know how quickly mouths heal and he has been on antibiotics and danilon continually for this period of time, which would have relieved some of the pain, surprisingly he has eaten well which has enabled me to keep him hydrated.
All this due to having a chifney used on him, while I know there is a need for safety this horse hates metal bits and if I had known that he was going to have a lameness workup, he went in with a known fracture, I would have been able to leave a bridle or stay to handle him myself, he was only supposed to have an MRI then an op, not a workup:(

I just hope he will start drinking normally again soon and get over the trauma he has suffered , for now it will be continuing with soaked feeds and the sugarbeet water that he is taking. He is having a soothing massage in the morning:)
Click to expand...

That is utterly horrendous. What else might have happened to the poor sod if they could do that with a chifney. I hope you are taking it further.
 
hi i dont know if it would be of any use or if it would be relevant at all ,but i remember a thread a short while ago by kerilli about horses being pulled by the head and particularly the tongue and that it can do a tremendous amount of damage to the hyoid bone which can affect eating and( therefor surely drinking?) if you already know the horse has been pulled about hard enough to damage the bars and mouth (and tongue?) then would it follow he possibly could have done damage elswhere thats causing him discomfort that you are having trouble finding? any way just a thought i really dont know if it would be relevent to your horse ,hope you do get to the bottom of it all:)
 
archiepoo said:
hi i dont know if it would be of any use or if it would be relevant at all ,but i remember a thread a short while ago by kerilli about horses being pulled by the head and particularly the tongue and that it can do a tremendous amount of damage to the hyoid bone which can affect eating and( therefor surely drinking?) if you already know the horse has been pulled about hard enough to damage the bars and mouth (and tongue?) then would it follow he possibly could have done damage elswhere thats causing him discomfort that you are having trouble finding? any way just a thought i really dont know if it would be relevent to your horse ,hope you do get to the bottom of it all:)
Click to expand...

I looked into this but it seemed that any damage to the hyoid bone would affect eating and he is generally eating like a horse;), I just hope now that time will heal him mentally as well as physically, the original injury is doing well so that's a positive anyway.
 
PolarSkye said:
Hang on, this was caused by inappropriate use of a chiffney by a vet? That's disgraceful :mad:

P
Click to expand...

In my view yes, they may state otherwise, he was very fresh, had been on box rest for over 6 weeks, had been xrayed at home which found the displaced fracture, went in for an MRI and op but had a full workup without informed consent, to say I am furious is an understatement, I am looking at taking things further so do not want to put too much on here but will be asking for opinions by pm at some point once insurance is sorted as don't want to cause any issues there.
 
I wonder if his tongue is sore. Eating and mouth rinsing might feel like we'd feel drinking out of a glass or cup, whereas the way horses sort of purse their lips and suck up water is probably more like us drinking through a straw. Could be the sucking part is the painful bit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top