Weight Loss - unexplained -so far so good

[aniford]

Hi folks,
Holly is doing quite well. She is down to 50x5mg Prednidale a day. She is now measuring approx 620kg on the tape but Im actually more relieved about the weight she seems to have put on over her hindquarters.
After trawling through the www and looking at all sorts of information I am pretty sure that Holly's age, breeding and temperament as well as the fact that she has always been a 'shivers' type horse are the reasons for her gradual weight loss/gain. Im still not 100% convinced that she has IBD.
Hopefully, I have, at least for now, got her feeding regime etc right! She is back in a field on her own because she was getting too many kick injuries and seems to have settled much better, though I am having to spend more time with her to compensate for the lack of a field companion.
In case anyone is in a similar situation this is now her diet, she is still out at grass 24/7 and being heavily rugged up (mainly because she wont settle in the stable).
Continuous access to Haylage
Continuous access to a mix of Just Grass, molassed chaff, alpha beet, with half pint veg oil and 3 tblespoons glucose, vitamin E/selenium, sumo original (100gm) mixed in. (I know the glucose may be frowned upon but its the only way I can get her to eat the oil). I put this out for her after her breakfast and she grazes on it through the day, most of it is gone by the time she has her evening feed, its all gone by morning.
Morning feed- veteran conditioning mix, just grass, sumo original (100gm), alpha beet, Vit E/selenium, 100ml veg oil, tblspoon glucose, 50 x5mg Prednidale, 1 bute (ringbone), magnesium calmer
Evening feed - as above but without the bute and Prednidale

She is eating everything.
My main concern now is the weather conditions turning cold but so far so good. Ive got everything crossed that we dont have a long cold winter but from what Ive heard the outlook is pretty bad.
Thanks to everyone who has followed the thread and supported me over the last couple of months.
Ani xx

 

[Mugsgame]

Hi Aniford, glad your lady seems to be improving! Forgive me if this has already been covered but I didnt have time to read all the replies on the previous thread - but have you had her heart checked out?

I have had a similar experience recently and we were all out of ideas... but it turns out she has heart trouble, and this combined with this year's foal have dragged her down to almost the point of no return. We weaned the foal early and really really aggressively addressed the weight issue - similar to how you have, bloods, extra worm checks, teeth, you name it. Bit still her weight dropped after being weaned. Once we found the heart issue it became just possible that she had gone into a 'catabolic state' where through the stresses of pregnancy and lactating combined with the progressing heart problem, her body was not utilising food energy properly and therefore breaking itself down no matter what we fed her. Fingers crossed we have 'shocked' her body out of this process now and she is starting to pick up, if we can get enough weight back on her before the weather turns she should be able to live a happy and healthy retirement for a good bit longer (she is 23 in spring) - with correct management. Speaking to my vets, this isn't exactly a common issue in horses - not rare but not something that automatically springs to mind when treating such cases.

I hope you continue to have success!!

 

[aniford]

Hi Aniford, glad your lady seems to be improving! Forgive me if this has already been covered but I didnt have time to read all the replies on the previous thread - but have you had her heart checked out?

I have had a similar experience recently and we were all out of ideas... but it turns out she has heart trouble, and this combined with this year's foal have dragged her down to almost the point of no return. We weaned the foal early and really really aggressively addressed the weight issue - similar to how you have, bloods, extra worm checks, teeth, you name it. Bit still her weight dropped after being weaned. Once we found the heart issue it became just possible that she had gone into a 'catabolic state' where through the stresses of pregnancy and lactating combined with the progressing heart problem, her body was not utilising food energy properly and therefore breaking itself down no matter what we fed her. Fingers crossed we have 'shocked' her body out of this process now and she is starting to pick up, if we can get enough weight back on her before the weather turns she should be able to live a happy and healthy retirement for a good bit longer (she is 23 in spring) - with correct management. Speaking to my vets, this isn't exactly a common issue in horses - not rare but not something that automatically springs to mind when treating such cases.

I hope you continue to have success!!

Hi
no its not been covered. Have you been able to treat the heart condition? I realised after the vet had been out to do bloods he hadnt actually checked her heart. Something that I think is pretty disgraceful, especially with an older horse that is known to have an existing murmur. My vet is very good but he has been adamant from the beginning that Holly has got IBD, she has no symptoms except gradual weight loss/gain, so IBD doesnt make sense to me. Especially as she is over-sensitive to the slightest tummy ache and she has the appetite of an elephant!
Fingers crossed weather wisae for you too then, sounds like you desperately need a mild winter or at least for the cold weather to hold off as long as poss!
Ani xx

 

[Mugsgame]

My mare also had a heart murmur, this has developed into congestive heart failure - and we won't be treating her for it, on the basis that (assuming we can sort the weight issue) she should be more than happy pottering about in her retirement, until she shows any signs of struggle.

You may be able to see she has a more prominent jugular when she has her neck at certain levels, or she may have slightly filled veins or odeoma under her belly - all signs that the heart isn't clearing the blood like it should. Of course, the heart is working harder so requires more energy, but it seems to have been a combination of things that have got us to this level.

I agree fingers crossed for a friendly winter - or a late one!!

 

[aniford]

My mare also had a heart murmur, this has developed into congestive heart failure - and we won't be treating her for it, on the basis that (assuming we can sort the weight issue) she should be more than happy pottering about in her retirement, until she shows any signs of struggle.

You may be able to see she has a more prominent jugular when she has her neck at certain levels, or she may have slightly filled veins or odeoma under her belly - all signs that the heart isn't clearing the blood like it should. Of course, the heart is working harder so requires more energy, but it seems to have been a combination of things that have got us to this level.

I agree fingers crossed for a friendly winter - or a late one!!

OK, Thanks for the info. How did you shock her body out of the catabolic type state?
Ani xx