Update on skinny horse

[Agent XXX999]

Vet came up tonight - has taken bloods...has suggested old damage from ragwort (we dont have it in the firlds, they are picked regularly) or redworm damage....has taken bloods. His metabolism seems to be higher - he is doing lots of poo. STILL looks well, even though he is skinny....

Anyway, he is on small feeds every 2 hours and a mountain of hayledge over the night with a late night feed at 10....

 

[Llwyncwn]

What a worry. Im sure that with ragwort it would be a steady decline, not overnight (but may be wrong). When are the bloods due back? Perhaps Star can give you some ideas hun. Keep us posted.

 

[loobylu]

Whole ordeal sounds horrid and scary. hope you find otu sooner rather than later.

 

[brighteyes]

Fingers crossed. He sounds like a lovely horse with nice people looking out for him.

 

[henryhorn]

sorry just answered your other post, didn't see this oneuntil after.
Ragwort damage does cause skinniness, has he been near it or just they suspect it?
We had a youngster a long time ago who ingested some and it made him lose weight and be very quiet in general. Sadly we lost him at gelding as it also makes them haemophilliac, something your horse's owner needs to be aware of.
We have waged war on the weed ever since and this year had around 100 plants on 107 acres. Not bad considering there was fieldsof the stuff here 13 years ago.
Redworm damage tends to be violent diarhhea as well as skinniness.