What could be wrong...?

S

Sarah1

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 February 2006
Messages
2,273
Visit site
Hi Guys

We have a young ex-racer, he's 5 now and has been with us 18 months ish. He's had his back, teeth, saddle checked along with having the vet out who whilst hasn't scoped for ulcers was convinced they are not present as he's not showing signs, other than cribbing.

His worming programme is up to date & he's fed a high oil, high fibre, low sugar, low starch diet with adlib hay & we've tried most suitable feeds on the market in an attempt to find something that works!

He's lost weight AGAIN and all of the hard work put into him over summer getting his weight on has been for nought, he's looking a bit like a hat rack albeit a very shiny one! He's not clipped but has been well rugged and his coat is looking very good it's just that he has no fat coverage!

Over summer he was working well in his schooling and really seemed to be starting to come together, since the dark nights he's only been hacked at the weekends (ears pricked the whole way just enjoying the scenery!) due to lack of facilities.

He's the most laid back boy ever - nothing phases him which is great but he has no ooooomph either & it just doesn't seem right to me - he really ought to be bouncing off the walls with the amount of feed he gets coupled with the fact that he's only being ridden weekends.

He's out all day & in the stable overnight with all of his field mates and is the least stressed animal on the planet.

Wondering if we should have the vet back but other than his lack of ooooomph & the weight (which the vet could easily attribute to the cribbing) there really are no signs that there's anything wrong with him.

Could he just be super relaxed by nature? Would explain why he didn't cut the mustard racing!

Sorry it's long, any advice is greatly appreciated

ETA - he has crib-stop on the walls & door of his stable but we think we may have to resort to trying a collar in the daytime to try to break the habit though this is something we'd rather avoid. I'm certain that whilst it could have started as management issue previously I'm 100% confident it's not a management issue now - he is under no pressure at all and really doesn't want for anything - I'm certain he's happy with his life currently!
 
How frustrating. It could be ulcers - the cribbing is a sign. Would it not be worth you getting bloods run for worms (tapeworm specifically) ? I would chat to your vet. A friend bought a horse whom she wormed and looked well and he has had a really high worm count so is obviously quite resistent to the wormer.

Have you had a worm count done? they are so inexpensive and definately worth doing rather than just trusting the wormer has rid your horse of any burden.
 
YasandCrystal said:
How frustrating. It could be ulcers - the cribbing is a sign. Would it not be worth you getting bloods run for worms (tapeworm specifically) ? I would chat to your vet. A friend bought a horse whom she wormed and looked well and he has had a really high worm count so is obviously quite resistent to the wormer.

Have you had a worm count done? they are so inexpensive and definately worth doing rather than just trusting the wormer has rid your horse of any burden.
Click to expand...

No we haven't to be honest but I will order a kit today - he's on the same programme as the other 5 & they're all fine but I suppose he could have a resistance.
 
amymay said:
Has your vet run bloods?
Click to expand...

No. The vet came out as we were concerned about ulcers - she looked at him, took temperature, checked his mouth, eyes etc and said no signs of ulcers and as he looks happy & well in himself so advised that the weight loss was due to the fact that he's worn his teeth down & so can not eat the shorter stems of grass. We moved him to a paddock with lush grass in the summer & his weight did improve a bit though he's the type who will always be 'lean' anyway. Vet said to monitor which we have been & there's been no change - he still looks well (shiny coat, bright eyes etc) but is just super steady and difficult to bulk up!

He's a lovely boy but just too steady for what we want so as terrible as it sounds I'm really hoping there's something (curable) wrong with him and it's not just him as it would be such a shame to part with him.
 
I think a good plan could be to do a worm count - although do these show tapeworms as I was under the impression that they don't & as I said his worming plan is up to date? And failing that showing anything conclusive get the vet to take some bloods?

Does this sound like a good idea going forwards?
 
amymay said:
Do both.:)
Click to expand...

I'll get the kit today from the tack shop & depending on the results have the vet take bloods when they give boosters to a couple of the others this month.

Thanks all for the replies - please keep your fingers crossed there's something wrong with him :eek:;)
 
amymay said:
The thing is that one result may have no bearing on another - so don't discount bloods if the worm count come back ok.
Click to expand...

If the worm count comes back ok I will def be getting bloods done but as I say the vet is due anyway this month so worth having the sample taken & analysed while they're out, if only for them to say there's nothing wrong & he's almost clinically dead rather than being a hyper TB as we had imagined he might be originally!
 
Our ex racer (4 rising 5) is the same - you could be describing her! She has had to be stabled 24/7 for past few weeks due to recently being diagnosed with UV Photosynthesis so has dropped off more than I'd like since being in and there is only so much haylage she will eat. I will be asking the vet later on this afternoon what she says about feeding as I don't want to stuff her with giant feeds and cause digestive issues but she is also very laid back and lacking energy like yours.

She is on Calm and Condition and HiFi at the moment (cool mix sends her a bit the other way) but I want to know what to add in such as oil and any supplements that will aid her immune system re the UV Photosynthesis and also help with growth generally as she is a little weedy and bum high. It may be due to the UV issues and subsequent steroids etc that she is lacking in oomph too but she is just a very laid back girl anyway and as we've only had her a few months it's so difficult to gauge (although she came to us via a friend who also knew her to be ultra calm which is why we bought her).

If the vet has any helpful advice I shall post back.
 
Ulcers can only be detected by scoping! Cribbing is a classic stress sign so I would be having him scoped. Putting him in a collar is nowadays generally considered counterproductive and rather cruel as it leaves him unable to relieve his stress and could make any ulcers worse (if he has them).

Some tbs are incredibly laid back and no amount of food seems able to give them oomph, but I'm sure a lot of people would give their right arm to have one like yours (as long as there is nothing sinister going on).

Test for worms/tapeworms and bloods taken seems to be a good starting point.
 
I had a TB from racing in early seventies and still love the breed feeding horses back then was easy as there was less choice I fed her three times a day as this seems to work better than two large feeds some thing to do with passing through stomach slower so more nutrients taken from it all I really fed was spillers horse and pony cubes and a hand full of bran though nowadays we would replace that with some kind of chop a good vitamin supplement I think that is important I also cooked linseed twice a week the horses love it and its quite cheap and it makes a big difference to condition Only other thing is weigh feed as that way you can be sure you get it right Oh forgot to say mine cribbed all her life and was always in good condition You are very lucky to have such a nice a horse Good luck
 
I had very skinny ex racer tb 6 yrs ago who looked fantastic on top spec balancer and hi fi plus oil .My tbx mare ho never added weight looked great with hi fi plus oil and fast fibre plus calm and condition I fed her 3 times a day if possible.Both horses weight improved after age of 6 .
As your exploring other options it could be case of maturity and settling after hard life racing.:D
 
Vet said to stick with Calm and Condition and HiFi but to just give more quantity of it and also add some veggy oil in gradually upping the quantity up to a cupful a day.

That is interesting what you say Cellie about yours both gaining weight after age 6. Ours defo has some filling out to do generally. Vet also said it's that time of year where they all look their worst and the fact that ours has had 3 or 4 weeks of minimal riding because of sore legs and been in 24/7 her muscle has dropped off a bit.
 
I do not understand what your vet has said. Your horse has two key symptoms of ulcers - windsucking and failure to thrive.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top