Weight Loss -unexplained so far

horsimous said:
Ok you're going to think I'm a wacko for this suggestion but I have seen it on many occasions with TB's.

you say she put on weight and then lost it after you started riding. Your saddle has caused this. It's not weight loss but muscle spasm and tightness. Your saddle has pinched either side of her spine and at first the problem was localised but the more you put that saddle on, the more the muscle tightness has spread. You get to the point where all along the top line of the neck, back, quarters and down the hind legs is very contracted. The horse looks thin... you shovel all sorts of food in, muscle builders, top line feeds. Well shovel in as much as you like as it won't change a thing unless you get a seriously good physio in.

The worst case of this I saw lost all it's top muscle and fat and started to look like a rescue case. This was caused by a wintec pro dressage with CAIR where the CAIR had got a bit flat and was pinching. They shovelled in tons of feed with no difference. It only came to light when I asked to try their saddle on my mare. I got off after 3 mins as horsey didn't feel right and found her back and quarters in spasm. I knew it was the saddle as it was the only thing that changed. I had to wait 2 weeks for the horse physio and in that time it seemed like the top of my horse disappeared. Luckily it only took 2 visits to sort out for her.

Try it, get a really good phyio out for your horse and hopefully you'll see a difference in a few days. Keeping the rugs on helps keep the muscles warm so your horse will look better on those days and calmers also help muscle relaxation. What have you got to lose? please give it a go.

Hope it helps.
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Hi
no I dont think you are wacko! I use a Mctimeney physio and yes Holly has had muscle wastage issues because of the saddle in the past but this time it is the weight loss that caused the saddle issues. As soon as there was a prob with the saddle I stopped riding her but kept her working on a pessoa for a while. This time I dont think the physio can help but she is due to come out soon for an annual check so I will let you know what she says.
Thank you.
Ani xx
 
Box_Of_Frogs said:
Who told you that melanomas weren't malignant? Copied from reputable website:

Types of melanoma:

Melanomas are caused by a disturbance in melanin metabolism, but it is difficult to predict how a particular nodule is going to progress over time.

The vast majority of melanomas remain benign throughout the life of the horse and grow slowly over a number of years. They rarely spread, although the lump itself may increase in size and become a problem in some areas.

The less common sequence of events is that the slow-growing melanoma suddenly becomes malignant and spreads via the blood or lymph to other sites within the body such as the liver, spleen and lungs.

Very rarely, melanomas can be malignant as soon as they form and in these unfortunate cases, the condition progresses rapidly.

If it was me, I'd suspect anything until it was definitively ruled out. In the meantime, have you tried Yea Sac as it aids hind gut digestion and acts as a very very mild appetite stimulant. Commonly used when there has been liver damage but in your mare's case, it can do her no harm to try it.
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Hi
yeah I know melanomas can become malignant, she has had melanomas since she was three and they havnt caused her any problems. I mentioned them because it is a possibility that internal melanomas have formed and are affecting her digestive system or any organs for that matter. Malignant tumours usually cause a reaction in the white cell count, or so Im lead to believe. Her white cell count is within normal ranges.
She was on yeasacc and has had several other pre/pro biotics. Her appetite is more than good.
Thanks for trying to help, much appreciated.
Ani xx
 
Hi all
I suggested to the vet that there was a possibility of a low grade, chronic, liver fluke infection, he agreed it was a possibility but unlikely. He now says it is more likely to be age related deterioration and some sort of mal-absorption syndrome.
This make sense except that Holly has no symptoms of digestive distress. He wants me to try her on steroids which scares me to death.
The only cases Ive seen of horses being administered steroids resulted in the horses just becoming progressively worse.
Does anyone have any experiences of horses (especially older horses) actually improving on a course of steroids?
Many thanks to everyone who has made suggestions, it is helping me cope with the situation, though I think I am losing my best friend, soul mate and companion of the last 18 yrs or so.
Ani
 
The most common causes of weight loss are worms, teeth or not enough food. From what you've said these don't seem likely to be the problem, although check that she has been wormed for encysted cyathostomes, which can cause as much of a problem in older horses as in the young. These are only treated by Equest/Pramox/Panacur 5Day.

If these are not the problem then, having ruled out liver & kidney issues, I would be considering a malabsorbative problem. Unfortunately in older horses these are often due to lymphoma or a similar, but non-neoplastic cellular infiltration of the gut wall. Lymphoma is not reliably diagnosed using blood samples, in fact only a small proportion of cases are actually leukaemic. I would suggest that the best way forward would be a glucose absorption test to see how well the gut is absorbing nutrients, and abdominal ultrasound to check for thickening of the intestine.

If this is not an option then do not be afraid of trying steroids. There has been no proven link between laminitis and prednisolone the most commonly prescribed oral steroid and it really can have miraculous results.
 
GreedyGuts said:
The most common causes of weight loss are worms, teeth or not enough food. From what you've said these don't seem likely to be the problem, although check that she has been wormed for encysted cyathostomes, which can cause as much of a problem in older horses as in the young. These are only treated by Equest/Pramox/Panacur 5Day.

If these are not the problem then, having ruled out liver & kidney issues, I would be considering a malabsorbative problem. Unfortunately in older horses these are often due to lymphoma or a similar, but non-neoplastic cellular infiltration of the gut wall. Lymphoma is not reliably diagnosed using blood samples, in fact only a small proportion of cases are actually leukaemic. I would suggest that the best way forward would be a glucose absorption test to see how well the gut is absorbing nutrients, and abdominal ultrasound to check for thickening of the intestine.

If this is not an option then do not be afraid of trying steroids. There has been no proven link between laminitis and prednisolone the most commonly prescribed oral steroid and it really can have miraculous results.
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Hi
Thanks for all of the above information. Yes everything except non-neoplastic conditions have been ruled out.
My worry about steroids is that I have not seen a horse with lymphoma type problems actually benefit from steroid treatments. Both horses Ive seen treated with steroids because of suspected gut problems, just became progressively worse.
I have been trying to find some information on how effective they are and what sort of side effects etc they may have. I want to avoid a situation where I am putting off having my mare put to sleep just because I cant bear to make the decision. Her quality of life is more important than my emotional state.
I will ask my vet about glucose absorption tests, I dont think they have ultra sound equipment but if the glucose test is a good diagnostic tool it may be a good idea.
Once again Thank you, the information you have forwarded has helped to clarify some questions I had.
Ani
 
GreedyGuts said:
The most common causes of weight loss are worms, teeth or not enough food. From what you've said these don't seem likely to be the problem, although check that she has been wormed for encysted cyathostomes, which can cause as much of a problem in older horses as in the young. These are only treated by Equest/Pramox/Panacur 5Day.

If these are not the problem then, having ruled out liver & kidney issues, I would be considering a malabsorbative problem. Unfortunately in older horses these are often due to lymphoma or a similar, but non-neoplastic cellular infiltration of the gut wall. Lymphoma is not reliably diagnosed using blood samples, in fact only a small proportion of cases are actually leukaemic. I would suggest that the best way forward would be a glucose absorption test to see how well the gut is absorbing nutrients, and abdominal ultrasound to check for thickening of the intestine.

If this is not an option then do not be afraid of trying steroids. There has been no proven link between laminitis and prednisolone the most commonly prescribed oral steroid and it really can have miraculous results.
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I agree regarding blood tests not being a reliable test for some cancers, notably lymphoma. I lost my dog to lymphoma (internal as there were no swollen lymph glands). He had no end of blood tests and by the time they found the cancer it was too late. He had almost wasted away and was in pain. Despite £8k of chemo (which I would never put another animal through again in hind sight) he had to be PTS 10 weeks after diagnosis. He was four years old.

I know horses are not dogs, but I have also heard of people with normal blood test results having cancer. So no reason to suspect horses are any different.
 
Haven't read the whole thread, but has anyone suggested Rice Bran? I think its american, costs quite a bit, but have heard that is gives excellent results very quickly.
Maybee I am just barking, but maybe worth a mention?
 
cool mix said:
Haven't read the whole thread, but has anyone suggested Rice Bran? I think its american, costs quite a bit, but have heard that is gives excellent results very quickly.
Maybee I am just barking, but maybe worth a mention?
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Thanks...I did look for rice bran but couldnt get any from local feed merchants.
Cheers
Ani
 
Everyone has been so good, trying to help me find some sort of resolution and I really appreciate all the kind words and suggestions.
I have spoken to the vet today again and he is very sure that Liver fluke are not a concern as her liver enzyme results are within normal ranges and we have a very low incidence/prevalence of liver fluke in sheep in our area.
He is adamant that he thinks she has some sort of non-cancer related inflammatory syndrome. Mainly because the weight loss/gain has been over a relatively long period.
He has suggested steroids to reduce inflammation and enable her to put weight on. He explained this is not a cure but will give her more survival time. He also said there is a 50/50 chance of them working but that after about a week if they are working I should see a difference in her weight.
I have read a fair few articles on the pro's/con's of steroids and have decided that because of the time element and how quickly she will improve (if they work) that I will follow the vets advice.
At the same time if anyone has any suggestions (other than feeding yogurt) or ideas that may help to ensure Holly's quality of life does not deteriorate further, I would be most grateful.
The only thing Im not terribly sure about is how much 'survival time' there will be but I will be particularly vigilant about any weight loss.
I am hoping for a positive outcome but now know that in little over a week I may have to make one of the most heartbreaking but correct decisions of my life.
Many Thanks to everyone for their support, suggestions and help.
Ani xx
 
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Hi
can anyone explain why the vet thinks Holly has IBD when everything I read lists the following symptoms:
Equine inflammatory bowel disease results in a number of digestive symptoms including abdominal pain or colic, constipation, chronic diarrhea, bloating, and flatulence. Other symptoms include weight loss, recurrent episodes of colic, hypoproteinemia (abnormally low level of protein in the blood) as well generalized sin problems.

The only symptom Holly has is weight loss, interspersed with some weight gain, which has been occurring over the last 8-9 months. Her blood protein levels were slightly high, not low??
Im so confused with this diagnosis. Also if anyone can explain why steroids cannot be given as a maintenance dose I would be really grateful.
Thanks
Ani xx
 
Chronic weight loss can be a really difficult problem to deal with once the obvious has been ruled out - parasites, teeth and diet - which it sounds like has been ruled out in your case. It also sounds like major disease of other organs, such as the liver, kidneys etc. that can also cause weight loss have also been ruled out based on blood sampling.

The conditions that are left can be divided into two groups - inflammatory bowel problems and neoplastic (cancerous) bowel problems. Diagnosis can be difficult, and is often only possible by taking full thickness biopsies under general anaesthetic. Less invasive tests are possible - peritoneal fluid sampling, rectal biopsies, abdominal ultrasound and gastroscopy with duodenal pinch biopsies can all be supportive of a diagnosis. All these diagnostic techiques take time and money, and are unlikely to significantly affect our treatment choices. What they can do is give us an idea of how likely your horse is to respond to therapy. Whether to pursue an exact diagnosis or not is a personal decision.

Treatment options are limited, and corticosteroids are the mainstay. Other drugs such as azathioprine are occasionally used in addition. In the case of inflammatory conditions we can hope for cure, or long-term control. With neoplastic conditions then all we can hope for is some palliative effect in the short term.

Personally I would try the steroids, although be prepared that horses often need long courses to see any improvement, and lifelong treatment may be needed at some level. Weekly weigh taping and photographing can be helpful as an objective measure of the progress you are making. I wish you the best of luck.
 
alsiola said:
Chronic weight loss can be a really difficult problem to deal with once the obvious has been ruled out - parasites, teeth and diet - which it sounds like has been ruled out in your case. It also sounds like major disease of other organs, such as the liver, kidneys etc. that can also cause weight loss have also been ruled out based on blood sampling.

The conditions that are left can be divided into two groups - inflammatory bowel problems and neoplastic (cancerous) bowel problems. Diagnosis can be difficult, and is often only possible by taking full thickness biopsies under general anaesthetic. Less invasive tests are possible - peritoneal fluid sampling, rectal biopsies, abdominal ultrasound and gastroscopy with duodenal pinch biopsies can all be supportive of a diagnosis. All these diagnostic techiques take time and money, and are unlikely to significantly affect our treatment choices. What they can do is give us an idea of how likely your horse is to respond to therapy. Whether to pursue an exact diagnosis or not is a personal decision.

Treatment options are limited, and corticosteroids are the mainstay. Other drugs such as azathioprine are occasionally used in addition. In the case of inflammatory conditions we can hope for cure, or long-term control. With neoplastic conditions then all we can hope for is some palliative effect in the short term.

Personally I would try the steroids, although be prepared that horses often need long courses to see any improvement, and lifelong treatment may be needed at some level. Weekly weigh taping and photographing can be helpful as an objective measure of the progress you are making. I wish you the best of luck.
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Hi
Thanks for the explanation. I started her on steroids yesterday. The vet has prescribed the non-licensed for horse use, Prednidale 5, which is presumably because of cost? 100, 5mg tablets daily are to be administered for 7 days and then she is to be weaned off them.
If the steroids enable her to gain weight I am prepared to pay for courses of treatment to continue, which from the above you suggest is likely. Could you tell me why has the vet advised that she should be weaned off these after a 7 day course, whether they work or not?
Yes I have been using a weigh tape weekly and photograph her monthly. Her weight has fluctuated from around 600kg - 650kg since January, she should be at least 700kg, probably more.
Your explanation is helpful though I keep hoping that rather than IBD or neoplasia that the cause is something simpler and easier to treat.
Many Thanks
Ani xx
 
Good luck with the steroids and well done to your vet for trying to keep the cost down for you. Your description of your horse reminds me of the little pony I took into my care a few years ago. In her final year she was doing fine and then gradually the weight began to come off her. I adjusted her feed accordingly (she had almost no functioning teeth so everything was soaked although she could eat still grass and gum a carrot to death) and managed to keep her weight at a level for a while but then it gradually went on the slide again until she was only about 550lbs (she was only about 13hh) compared with 700lbs the previous winter. At that point fate intervened and she was pts for another problem but clearly there was something going on inside her. She remained cheerful and happy to her final day, ate like an elephant and in all respects seemed just fine. Was her age of 44 a factor? Who knows. Whatever went wrong did it very quickly - less than 9 months.
 
havent read all the posts but......we have a 28 yr old section b on our yard. he has really struggled for the last 12-18 months - the owner had all blood tests done, teeth done (however he doesnt have many) he is wormed regulary and the owner was considering PTS. he was really thin - like rescue case thin. out of 10 a spillers rep condition scored him at a 2.5 ! he really was a skeleton with fur. - he has had laminitis so cant really have too much grass, but vet said just give it him - wont survive without weight. he had steriods everything didnt really do much

SO.....he had grass, hay (wouldnt eat it) and a combo of grass nuts/fast fibre and micronised linseed. 5 months later looks amazing - the vet is so pleased. he has put 50kg on which for a 11hh pony is fab

Grass nuts are £7.05 a bag from wynnstay (national stores) or local feed merchant can get them. Feed it soaked so they dont eat the nuts too fast - you could feed 3kg a day with size of your mare.
Micronised linseed from charnwood milling feed 200-300g a day. 20kg bag about £20 lasts ages



hope that helped and good luck
 
SO.....he had grass, hay (wouldnt eat it) and a combo of grass nuts/fast fibre and micronised linseed. 5 months later looks amazing - the vet is so pleased. he has put 50kg on which for a 11hh pony is fab

Grass nuts are £7.05 a bag from wynnstay (national stores) or local feed merchant can get them. Feed it soaked so they dont eat the nuts too fast - you could feed 3kg a day with size of your mare.
Micronised linseed from charnwood milling feed 200-300g a day. 20kg bag about £20 lasts ages



hope that helped and good luck[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the above...I tried the grass nuts/fast fibre feeding but Holly lost more weight with that sort of diet. The most weight she has gained has been with high protein (oats, veteran mix and Sumo MB) at more frequent feeding intervals. She seems to gain, stop for a couple of weeks and then lose again.
Im just hoping the steroids work, on day three now and she seems a bit anxious, not sure why or whether its a good sign??
Cheers Ani xx
 
Day 4 of the steroids - Holly is extremely anxious and has been charging up and down her field, which is OK but will not help her gain any weight. She hasnt lost any more but she looks worse because she is tucked up/in around her flanks.
Is it a side effect of the steroids for her to be so hyper or is it because she is absorbing more nutrients and consequently has more energy???? God I am so bloody worried.
 
Hi,

I am a serial lurker but this is so similar to what i am going through it has driven me to post. My horse started a steroid treatment 2 weeks ago and is also extremely underweight. He has a high WBC count and liver trouble however so the most likely diagnosis for him is tumours, although i decided not to confirm this with a biopsy.

I just wanted to say i was worried about starting the steroids, i had a list of warnings from the vet about side effects but they do seem to be helping him to feel better. He had a ventral oedema which has gone as his blood protein levels have stabilised and he is much more full of life- trotting about the field. He was on a high dose for 10 days and is now on a reduced dose, the idea was to find the lowest dose which would help him if he were to stay on long term.

Unfortunately in his case his wbc count has not dropped and his liver is going down hill so it is not looking good, but i am glad i opted for the steroids as at least he is happy and feeling well.

Like you i am devastated he is my horse of a lifetime. I really hope you get somewhere and that your horse starts to improve. I really just wanted to say that the steroids have really given my horse a boast, apparently they do make them feel better, but they have also made him more aware of his surroundings (i guess he is feeling better so taking more notice of the world) with the only downside being he will no longer be separated from my other horse, where as when he was not feeling so good he did not seem to notice if we took him away. This has made life a little bit more difficult but as its likely he does not have long left the other one has had to turn into a field companion for a bit- anything to keep him happy!

Keep us updated and fingers crossed for you
 
Some great advice here - especially spreading feeds over more feed times. Are you able to put th ewhole bale of haylage out in the paddock so that she can eat adlib?

I would also consideer having a chiropractor check her over. Discomfort can cause long term weight loss as they stress being in pain. My TB with a neck out of alignment ate all his feed but always looked thin. He ate massive quantities of feed each week.

After the chiro finally fixed his neck he put on weight rapidly and within a couple of months looked like a broodmare about to pop.
 
almaas said:
Hi,

I am a serial lurker but this is so similar to what i am going through it has driven me to post. My horse started a steroid treatment 2 weeks ago and is also extremely underweight. He has a high WBC count and liver trouble however so the most likely diagnosis for him is tumours, although i decided not to confirm this with a biopsy.

I just wanted to say i was worried about starting the steroids, i had a list of warnings from the vet about side effects but they do seem to be helping him to feel better. He had a ventral oedema which has gone as his blood protein levels have stabilised and he is much more full of life- trotting about the field. He was on a high dose for 10 days and is now on a reduced dose, the idea was to find the lowest dose which would help him if he were to stay on long term.

Unfortunately in his case his wbc count has not dropped and his liver is going down hill so it is not looking good, but i am glad i opted for the steroids as at least he is happy and feeling well.

Like you i am devastated he is my horse of a lifetime. I really hope you get somewhere and that your horse starts to improve. I really just wanted to say that the steroids have really given my horse a boast, apparently they do make them feel better, but they have also made him more aware of his surroundings (i guess he is feeling better so taking more notice of the world) with the only downside being he will no longer be separated from my other horse, where as when he was not feeling so good he did not seem to notice if we took him away. This has made life a little bit more difficult but as its likely he does not have long left the other one has had to turn into a field companion for a bit- anything to keep him happy!

Keep us updated and fingers crossed for you
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Thank you for posting. Im so sorry to hear you are losing the battle but its good that your horse is feeling so much better, at least for a little while.
Ani
 
Evelyn said:
Some great advice here - especially spreading feeds over more feed times. Are you able to put th ewhole bale of haylage out in the paddock so that she can eat adlib?

I would also consideer having a chiropractor check her over. Discomfort can cause long term weight loss as they stress being in pain. My TB with a neck out of alignment ate all his feed but always looked thin. He ate massive quantities of feed each week.

After the chiro finally fixed his neck he put on weight rapidly and within a couple of months looked like a broodmare about to pop.
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Hi,
thats been suggested before, thanks, my therapist is due to come out in the next couple of weeks. I can only hope that it is that sort of prob. will let everyone know.
Once again thank you all for the positive suggestions and support, it really is helping me cope.
Ani
 
Just to second the idea of getting the chiro out, we had a TB mare who was obviously unhappy, losing weight despite increasing feed. She turned out to have severe back pain that she was just tolerating and you could not tell whilst being ridden or groomed. Shes a different horse now. I hope you find a solution.
 
After a week or so on corticosteroids Holly hasn't had any significant gain in weight. The manic/hyperactive behaviour only lasted until day 5.
I really want the vet to check her heart rate and temperature as this wasn't done when he came out to take blood from her. Though no doubt I will be charged for an 'examination' when my bill comes.
I'm still not convinced that Holly has IBD.
The steroids seem to have made her dehydrated, not sure if that's a normal side effect? Any ideas on how I can rectify it, please?
Have booked a call from the vet for this evening.
Thanks
Ani xx
 
Hi, new to forum. I have a 34year old mare who has just been put onto an anabolic steriod, Nandrolene by my vet. I have been very lucky to have had my mare since she was 3, we have done everything together, she is truly the one in a million. I only retired her in 2009. She is sound in wind and limb. I have been fighting to keep weight on her for the last year or so. Everyone says she looks good for her age but i like to see a bit more weight on her. I have tried every feed/supplement that there is without much joy. She had a few incidences of being unable to get up. Each time my husband and I managed to give her a hand and she was able to get up and was fine. She was down in her stable a month or so ago and we couldn't get her up! Called out our vet, several injections later still no joy! Called out a farmer friend with his tractor with forks and we managed to pull her out of the stable, sitting up on her side on a bed of straw. Then raised her up onto her feet using straps behind her front legs and in front of her hind legs. After about 30mins of being supported she was then able to walk away. Sound as a pound. Not even lame the following day. We have had to change the way she is kept. She is now out at night with my new 6 year old mare. They are in during the day and share her very large stable as a shelter both day and night. They sleep standing together in the stable and lay down together out in the field. She has been ok getting up so far. I asked the vet about steriods to help her put on a bit more muscle and she agreed for us to give it a try as my mare is happy and fine in everyother way. It has only been about 3 weeks since her first injection and I have had to alter her cross straps on her rug. I know she has put on a little weight already. Maybe this drug may help for you. I send all my good wishes to you and say that if your horse is happy then it's got to be worth a try.
 
mosamac123 said:
Hi, new to forum. I have a 34year old mare who has just been put onto an anabolic steriod, Nandrolene by my vet. I have been very lucky to have had my mare since she was 3, we have done everything together, she is truly the one in a million. I only retired her in 2009. She is sound in wind and limb. I have been fighting to keep weight on her for the last year or so. Everyone says she looks good for her age but i like to see a bit more weight on her. I have tried every feed/supplement that there is without much joy. She had a few incidences of being unable to get up. Each time my husband and I managed to give her a hand and she was able to get up and was fine. She was down in her stable a month or so ago and we couldn't get her up! Called out our vet, several injections later still no joy! Called out a farmer friend with his tractor with forks and we managed to pull her out of the stable, sitting up on her side on a bed of straw. Then raised her up onto her feet using straps behind her front legs and in front of her hind legs. After about 30mins of being supported she was then able to walk away. Sound as a pound. Not even lame the following day. We have had to change the way she is kept. She is now out at night with my new 6 year old mare. They are in during the day and share her very large stable as a shelter both day and night. They sleep standing together in the stable and lay down together out in the field. She has been ok getting up so far. I asked the vet about steriods to help her put on a bit more muscle and she agreed for us to give it a try as my mare is happy and fine in everyother way. It has only been about 3 weeks since her first injection and I have had to alter her cross straps on her rug. I know she has put on a little weight already. Maybe this drug may help for you. I send all my good wishes to you and say that if your horse is happy then it's got to be worth a try.
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Hiya
Im new to the forum as well. I joined because I was at my wits end with Holly and just needed some ideas from other people. Everyone has been amazing, so many people have tried to help with positive suggestions.
34! OMG! thats amazing. You know exactly how I feel about Holly, she has been my 'one in a lifetime', Ive worked and been around horses since a child and its true what they say about you only finding one that you truly bond with.
Holly is on the corticosteroids. I didnt know that horses could be given anabolic steroids. I will have a look on the net and see what I can find out. Im not convinced the vet is correctly diagnosing IBD but as owners we tend to have to go with what they tell us. I have emailed/text him about the possibility of a thyroid problem because Holly has melanomas in the throat latch area and her symptoms are much more in line with hyperthyroidism than IBD. My vet is not really responding very quickly to my suggestions and Im getting more and more frustrated and stressed.
Holly is fine in herself, to the point I rode her out on a very short, quiet hack yesterday, she perks up even more when she has done a little bit of work.
Thank you so much for posting, you have given me hope and a bit more of a will to keep trying, though I think the vet has written Holly off and is expecting her to be PTS by mid October.
Ani xx
 
My old horse lost weight one year for no reason the vet could find. I put him on Hi Fibre nuts and 16 plus after trying everything and he did put weight back on. He also did well on fast fibre and good haylage.
 
Sam100 said:
My old horse lost weight one year for no reason the vet could find. I put him on Hi Fibre nuts and 16 plus after trying everything and he did put weight back on. He also did well on fast fibre and good haylage.
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Hi Sam
thanks for posting. When Holly originally started losing condition in the winter I looked at nutrition information for older horses. Most of the info I found said that the older horses needed more good quality fibre in their diets. I tried the Hi-fibre, fast fibre, 16+ type diet and she had as much haylage as she could eat, more than she wanted to eat and I ended up throwing lots away. Holly actually continued to lose weight until I put her back onto a very high quality protein based diet but still with as much hay/haylage as I can get her to eat. She was then very hyperactive, to the point of almost being dangerous so I had to cut some of the protein down again.
After the vet prescribed corticosteroids and said she should be able to absorb more nutrients I have upped her protein content. She is behaving pretty much normally at the min and has put approx 10kg back on. But this is what happens, she puts a little on and stabilises for a while and then drops weight again suddenly. Her behaviour swings from quiet and lethargic to normal to hyperactive/anxious every 8 weeks or so.
Once again, Thanks for posting!
Ani xx
 
Hi all, had to say farewell to my beautiful mare yesterday. Life is not very good at the moment. I know that I made the right decision but it doesn't feel like it in the middle of the night. She left me with her head in my arms and my kisses on her face. She was with me for 31 of her 34 years and I wouldn't have missed a moment of it. I thank her for letting me share those years. Wow we had such fun! I swear that if she could she would have put her tack on herself! I am sure that the steriods gave her extra strength to enjoy her last weeks with me, she did put on weight within three weeks of having the jab. I hope that you are able to help Holly and send you all my best wishes. RIP my darling Mosa, I know I will see you again. xx
 
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