What could it be ?

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kim1978

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Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has experienced,what i am going through...

I have a two year old welsh sec c gelding, whom has struggled to maintain weight over the winter,despite feeding and hay...however, our grass has been near none existance. We have now moved him over to the summer field where there is plenty of grass and he is still being fed and having hay,but he doesnt seem to be putting any weight on, sometimes he looks almost lifeless and depressed and just wants cuddles. I dont think his teeth are a problem, as he eats his food/hay very well,is not at all messy and will take treats and eat them fine. He has been wormed reguarly from birth and i cant see any worms in his poo. I had the vet out last week for his jabs and said to her at the time about his weight and she said that yes he was thin, but he lives out, has been on poor grazing,that we've had a very harsh winter and not to worry, he'll pick up... I spoke to them again today and they have recommeneded a worm count and a blood test... It has also been suggested to me, that the jabs may have caused a side affect that is making him listless/depressed...I have never had this before in a horse though, following their jabs ? He's such a lovely boy... any ideas ?
 
Hopefully not the same with your boy but a few years ago I had a lovely WB filly who started to drop weight and look poor in her cost. Vets were investigating but unfortunately it turned out she had a large abdominal tumour which caused her death.
 
Depending what you have wormed him with it could be encysted redworm. No matter how many times you worm him, if its not the right stuff they will still be there... And they won't be seen in the poo or come up in a worm count. I bought a foal with a bad infestation a few years ago, it took a while for me to realise what the problem was
 
My horse had very similar symptoms after having worming and jabs. Blood tests revealed abnormal white cell count and he had a recurring virus which kept coming back in episodes, less bad each time but he did eventually get over it. Now minimise worming using worm count and blood test for tapeworm, only regular one is for encysted redworm, and on RVC advice (they were our vets) he no longer has the flu jab (which is ok as he is retired and doesn't go out and about and my other horse is jabbed), he always has tetanus still tho.

I would strongly recommend you get the blood tests done, they can be very useful and diagnostic and aren't too expensive compared with trying lots of things.

Also recommend an iron and vitamin tonic, a blood tonic - you can buy them online, and pink powder. My chap seems to perk up with that.

Good luck and update on the results of the tests will be interested to see what they say.
 
Sisters tb has just gotten over ulcers and a tapeworm infection, tape worm only comes up on blood test not worm counts.

Would ask vet if they can do tape worm blood test.
 
How does his topline look? I've just posted about managing cushings because one of my boys has lost weight/condition over the winter and when the vet saw him this week she said his frame is now looking a lot like it does when cushings starts. His back is a little dipped either side of his spine, he had slight hollows in the muscles of his quarters and 'grass belly' type look to his tum. He's also become a bit more steady and is having cuddles whereas before he just wasn't bothered.
Perhaps it might be worth a question to your vet?

I know your boy is still very young, but I have heard of a 5 year old with cushing so it's not just an oldies disease.
 
Last edited:
minimilton said:
Depending what you have wormed him with it could be encysted redworm. No matter how many times you worm him, if its not the right stuff they will still be there... And they won't be seen in the poo or come up in a worm count. I bought a foal with a bad infestation a few years ago, it took a while for me to realise what the problem was
Click to expand...

Hi Minimilton...can i ask what you used to treat the encysted redworm...My boy is wormed reguarly with Equest,Equest parmox and five day panacur...should i use something else. He's on two feeds a day adlib haylage, out 24/7...is now very bright in himself and has put a minimal amount of weight on, but he is still underweight !
Thanks
 
The five day panacur worked for me, it should have done the trick so I guess there must be something else going on. Did you get the blood results back?

It might be no harm to get the teeth done, just to rule it out properly
 
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