What could be stopping our mare putting weight on?

SNORKEY

SNORKEY

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Hi, my mum has a Tb mare whos anout 24yrs old, and retired due to lymphangitis and an old tendon injury.
if I'm honest she looks awful :(
She's got so thin and just isn't getting better. She looks like she's sucking herself in.
She was on Allen and page weight gain but after learning this has massive starch levels we put her on winergy seniour and Alfa-a oil, she gets two big feeds a day, hay at night and good grass all day. She's wormed regularly and her teeth have been checked. She's also got a few patches of hair that have fallen out on her belly and bum, we've checked for any lice but there's nothing.
Has anyone got any idea why she's just not putting any weight on?
 
Have you had her blood tested?

Is she always kept warm enough?

How is she in herself?

Could she do with hay in the field?

Can you split two big feeds in to 4 smaller ones?

Is she sound?
 
She is sound and seems well enough in her self, she's still telling our youngster off! Mum always makes sure she's rugged up well if needed. We havn't had blood tests done yet, mums worried about getting a vet out incase they just tell her to put her down, but I think blood tests will be our only option.
 
SNORKEY said:
She is sound and seems well enough in her self, she's still telling our youngster off! Mum always makes sure she's rugged up well if needed. We havn't had blood tests done yet, mums worried about getting a vet out incase they just tell her to put her down, but I think blood tests will be our only option.
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I think you should get the vet to have a little look.

But if there isn't an underlying problem then I would seriously look at how you are feeding her. Most of two big feeds a day will go straight through her.....
 
I have thought that myself, I think we could manage to get there 3 times a day but not 4 to feed her. We're renting our own yard so we don't have anyone else up there to help. The vets due out for jabs soon so we'l get her a blood test done.
 
We have lots of grass coming through, so not now. We were putting hay out in the day, but she really needs hers soaked as well. Thanks.
 
my 16yo TB mare lost alot of weight over winter, much more than normal. had a small colic episode too. i had her scoped to check for ulcers but she didnt have them. her loan owner then had her back checked and there was various areas she was sore in. back was sorted and shes putting on weight now. we are now thinking she wasnt putting on weight as she was sore and stressed about it.
 
Have her blood tested for Cushings. Not putting weight on is a major sign. Sometimes they can develop bald patches too due to the coat not growing/shedding normally. My dog who had Cushings developed a huge bald patch over her rump for two years before it gradually grew back.
 
hi
I never post on these things, however i would highly recommend NAF pink powder to help your mums horse gain weight!! I have a 7yr old ex flat racehorse who was very neglected you could see every bone in her body and her coat was really poor! I put her on pink powder and within a few weeks you could see an improvement! Nearly 12mths on she is unrecognizable!! Hope this helps!! x
 
When were her teeth last done.

My oldie was only checked 6 months ago, but he managed to get a loose tooth which has caused him to loose weight this winter. It was found after he had colic.

I have now asked the dentist to have a quick look at him every time he comes to the yard.
 
I would get her teeth checked again unless you are positive there is nothing wrong, often oldies have a loose tooth which makes eating painful.
Delouse her even if you can't see any, if her hair has fallen out she is likely to have lice.
Have you wormed her for tapeworm? If not a blood test will ascertain if she needs doing.
The feed sounds fine, perhaps haylage would be even better than hay, but if she is showing no other symptoms such as loose droppings then I'd suspect one of the above reasons.
They lose weight horribly with cancer but they have other usually obvious symptoms too.
I'll put my money on lice and you just haven't found them. Try looking under her forelock under her mane and use a magnifying glass...
 
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