what to do next please help

I had a similar experience with my mare. She started quidding about 1 year after I bought her as a 4/5 year old. Only on hay - hard feed and grass ok. Dentist and vet checked her and said there was nothing wrong with her teeth. However, I took her to Newmarket vets and, under general anesthetic, they were able to see that she had inter dental gaps causing food to lodge there and cause pain in the gums and teeth. This was caused, they think, through not having correct dental care as a baby and caps being left on teeth.

They suggested cleaning out her teeth with a hose, if possible, and some how we managed for many years with her getting some hay down, short feeds, living out etc. Sadly, she died of choke, many years later but still too early for my liking.

This isn't really that helpful I realise, except that you may need to take yr horse to a referral vet if yr vet has no answers.
 
thanks ,
i have only had him about 10 weeks and he had caps left on as vet had to take them off when vetted horse came from ireland and had never had his teeth done before.

thanks again and sorry for your loss
 
camilla4 said:
Figgy, it's a long shot but could he be lacking in saliva? Grass has a much higher water content than hay and this would make it easier to eat in this situation. How is he with other drier foodstuffs?
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could be repeating what someone else said since I haven't read any other posts yet, but how about putting him on fast fibre, especially while the snow is on the ground, my friends old mare had virtually no teeth and thrived for years on the stuff. (don't forget to soak it)
 
figgy said:
I have tryed things like this and he dont like them,

thanks anyway
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Hi figgy, A&P fast fibre was the product that I suggested too, my mare wolfs it down but my youngster isn't as keen, so I add a bit of chaff to it to give it a bit of a bite and he will eat it fine that way. Also can you get a cutter and put your haylage or hay through it, that way you can make it more like a chaff for him to graze on ad lib.
 
figgy said:
little update

I called the vet today and he just said that he didnt have a sore throat ( dont no how he can say that over the phone ) and he said just put horse on pain killers and he will phone me in morning to see how he is and come out if needed , really cant see any point with vet coming out had him out twice in one week about 4 weeks ago for this problem.

its really getting me down. anymore advice please x
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O...kay..
Try the painkiller thing, trust me if it is a sore throat it will alleviate most of the pain relatively quickly (sort of like strepsils) and the hay will get eaten..that is always supposing said dipstick vet left you some!
Bryndu
 
I'm sorry but there is very little doubt that your horse has a major dental problem and is in pain. Please find a vet that has a clue. If there is genuinely nothing obvious to the vet (did they use a full oral speculum and check all aspects of every single tooth?) then the horse should probably be xrayed.

I had two fully qualified EDT and three vets look at my horse over a period of 2 years when she first ate less hay and then down to none before she was finally diagnosed with severe diastema impaction and subsequent periodontitis. This vet reckoned that it had been undiagnosed for at least the two years and had probably been longer than that. So please be aware that not all vets and EDT are actually any use for non standard dental problems.
 
cm2581 said:
I'm sorry but there is very little doubt that your horse has a major dental problem and is in pain. Please find a vet that has a clue. If there is genuinely nothing obvious to the vet (did they use a full oral speculum and check all aspects of every single tooth?) then the horse should probably be xrayed.
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Agree 100%! His age would suggest retained caps and almost certainly diastema, probably with a nasty bit of gum infection as a result. OR - if he's overshot - possibly some massive hooks right at the back that stop him chewing properly!

A LOT of vets are totally useless at teeth - as are a lot of so-called 'dentists' - and even a few qualified EDTs! I've lost count of the horses with behavioural problems who have come to me for schooling - having had their teeth 'done' in the past 12 months - which actually had mouth problems CAUSING their behavioural issues.

If you can't ghet enough fibre into him, he will almost certainly get colic - and coule easily die! So if your vet can't come up with a cause - and treatment - fast, then ask for a referral to a specialist equine practice. And ASAP!
 
Sorry, not read all replies, but if you want weight on and have a fussy eater, try Equijewel (Saracens).

I'd also be getting the vet to x-ray the horse's head, just to make sure there's nothing going on in there.
 
another update ,

went out to give horse his lunch yesterday and he had a touch of colic from not eating , so as sad as i am i was making big holes in the field so he could eat the grass that made him feel better , gave him a pain killer last night and all hay and haylage had gone with no quidding (great) i have just spoken to the vet again this morning and told him that when the snow is gone i will bring him up so we can have more tests done to fined out what the problem is , for now he will say on pain killers to help him.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR ADVICE XX
 
Glad you managed to get him to eat finally. Hope he realises's what a lucky boy he is to have such a caring mummy who will dig holes in the snow for him, good luck with the Xray's
 
I haven't read the other responses but I think you need to get a different vet out. It sounds like the horse needs an endoscopy to find out what's really going on in his throat because there is definitely something there which is stopping him from eating/swallowing.
 
Rueysmum said:
I haven't read the other responses but I think you need to get a different vet out. It sounds like the horse needs an endoscopy to find out what's really going on in his throat because there is definitely something there which is stopping him from eating/swallowing.
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I have had two different people look at the horse and both said all is ok , i am taking him to the vets when the snow has gone for more tests. thanks
 
Hope you are able to find out soon what is causing the problems, it must be very worring for you. Keep us updated and hope he is sorted soon.
 
figgy said:
I have had two different people look at the horse and both said all is ok , i am taking him to the vets when the snow has gone for more tests. thanks
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I think you said you are in Essex?

I would recommend Paton and Lee as a very good vets who are prepared to listen and work with owners.

Some vets in this area are appalling IME.
 
figgy said:
another update ,

went out to give horse his lunch yesterday and he had a touch of colic from not eating , so as sad as i am i was making big holes in the field so he could eat the grass that made him feel better , gave him a pain killer last night and all hay and haylage had gone with no quidding (great) i have just spoken to the vet again this morning and told him that when the snow is gone i will bring him up so we can have more tests done to fined out what the problem is , for now he will say on pain killers to help him.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR ADVICE XX
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Hi Figgy
GREAT news:) Hopefully it has turned out to be a sore thoat and not some of the nasties suggested. Twist your vet's arm to give the little man some trimediazine to help with the throat infection, syrynge it in to his mouth rather than put it in his feed, although this will affect blood test results, so you may have to wait a while for that.
Best of luck
Bryndu
 
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