Just need to vent about my horses.

[hunterjumper999]

ok- i just got paid for the month so I am going to have the vet come out ( or bring him to him... not sure how it works) to do the ulcer test- something i've been thinking about anyway with his off the track lifestyle and his nervousness in general ( not spooky, just nervous about anything and everything).

A few questions on the beet pulp.

I have two bags of it in my shed- HUGE bags. Because i got it and then read all these horrible stories about it abotu how it can cause colic ect...

I know to soak it overnight if possible but how do i know if the bags are still good to use? does beetpulp rot or mold? would it be obvious?

I'm pretty sure that teh weight gain in the other two is normal. They were thin to begin with but they have not lost anything at all in my care- but when we first got him he was in decent weight and it was cool. But then he got hurt and lost all the weight and then it got really hot ( 100's) at the same time... I'm wondering if it's heat related as well.

On the hay note- he's getting a quality timothy mix i think-DF buys the hay. . . however he's not really eating it. YES he will eat hay if i bring him in or if they are on the paddocks with the crappy grass but now he's on 50 acres of great grass and he takes a nibble and walks away . Then the donkey ends up using the hay pile for his personal toilet. So i dont think more hay is going to be the way to go with him... hay cubes maybe but now im freaked about the beetles!

 

[Sallyschickens]

First, smell the beet pulp. Look for mold. Then call the feed store ask them how long it can sit unused. (Talk to someone with authority about pulp.)

 

[patandchickens]

Teeth and/or ulcers are very good possibilities. One common strategy, concerning ulcers, is to simply treat presumptively as if the horse *did* have an ulcer, preferably with a reasonably-effective medication choice. (Unless things have changed recently, actually finding out whether a horse has a stomach ulcer requires specialized LONG endoscope which few vet clinics own, so vets often recommend this strategy if an ulcer is suspected). Treatment is not inexpensive but a month of treatment should tell you whether you're barking up the right tree - if he perks up and gains some weight you'd continue a while longer, if nothing changes then you quit the treatment.

Having a blood panel done might also be a good investment (see what the vet thinks), as it can tell you whether there are signs of something different or more serious going on that could be causing the not-eating and thinness.

Another thing, less obvious but not especially uncommon, is that he may simply be depressed. Some horses like being out to pasture, but others WANT a job and will actually perk up and eat better and gain weight if you work them a bit. I am not talking about hard work, just a twenty minute easy hack around the property or that sort of thing, just enough to make the horse feel he has done something. It's not going to use up many calories and would be well worth trying IME, like maybe every other day for a week and see where you stand.

Good luck,

Pat, with three horses, one of them only halfway sound and the other two not rideable at all, so you have company

 

[aurora]

hello,
Your story sounds similar to mine. I have a retired thoroughbred, that I rescued. his story was that he was injured, and an infection set in. he was dosed very heavily with antibiotics. the antibiotics killed all the good bacteria and enzymes in his digestive system. he had severe diarrhea, and lost weight very quickly. when he was given to me he was so weak that he swayed when he walked. to save him I had to thicken his stool, and put weight back on him. I tried most probiotics on the market, the 1 that seemed to work the best was "manna pro, opti-zyme" even after his stools thickened, he stayed thin. most vets and horse people that I talked to recommended senior feed, because it was "easier to digest". I tried it and it didn't help. finally, after 4 years, and, at my wits end, I started looking at nutrition lables. and found that mare and foal diets " designed to keep nursing mares from losing weight" had the highest fat and protien content. I told my DH I would try this last thing, and if it didn't work, I would put him down. "Platform" brand was what I used. (it had the highest fat and protien, among the mare and foal diets), I finally rode him for the first time last fall, after more than a year on this diet. he will probably always have to have this diet because when I try to change his feed he loses weight again, but at least I still have him.

I hope this helps. good luck

 

[jessieloveschicks]

I used to manage a straight egyptian breeding barn,and when we had someone losing weight we used land of lakes senior. We had several older stallions and a few younger ones that during breeding season would really go to heck. I never knew exactly why it worked so well,but it did. Ive used it on every horse Ive had to deal with almost since then. It sort of smells like sweet pop corn. On a side note,dont try it yourself,it really doesn't taste as good as it smells..lol

Over the years I did try several other things,after hearing big claims and always went back to the Land O Lakes Senior. Its very reasonable,and it just plain works an dthe horses LOVE it. I have used it with studs that will barely touch food for their interest in teh ladies,but will still take time to eat that..

Just what Ive had good luck with...

 

[valmom]

I love soaked beet pulp for hard keepers. That and add in fat in whatever form they will eat- corn oil, or even rice bran (expensive around here, though).

 

[dutchhollow]

After the antibiotics, I would give him a course of probiotics to build the good gut flora back up, probably just not able to digest and use what he is eating. I like beet pulp for weight gain, you don't have to soak overnight, after an hour in warmish water it will be fine. Also if you can get some alfalfa pellets try those if he is not eating hay.

 

[Akane]

Beet pulp is less likely to cause colic than 3 quarts of grain. You do not need to soak it. It will not expand in the stomach. It will not cause colic. It will not cause choke. Those are all coincidences and/or myths. Some of the best horse forums I've been on everyone advocates beet pulp for hard keepers or those that can't find much hay and large amounts of the diet can be replaced with beet pulp. Most only soak it to make it more palatable.

Black oil sunflower seeds will add more fat and energy than grain. Just cup fulls of BOSS can do more than entire scoops of grain. It may cost more but you'll get results on much less of it and again it is less likely to cause colic, founder, or other health problems than grains. You can also add oils although corn and vegetable oil is about the lowest quality oil. There are plenty of better ones. Ground flaxseed or flaxseed oil can also improve health and coat quality which can help an underfed horse even if it doesn't directly add a significant amount of weight.

If I have to feed more than 1 scoop or ~2lbs of anything besides forages such as hay and beet pulp I am not feeding the horse the right thing. Grain has been proven to not be healthy especially when you go over a pound or 2 a day. Horses are not designed to eat grain and anything you can do to avoid feeding them grain will only help their health. Beet pulp, boss, and other grain free supplements and oils will do alot more for their energy level and health than grain.

 

[hunterjumper999]

So essentially what you're saying is a scoop of grain- a cup of BOSS , some Flax Oil and Beet Pulp and he should be good to go ?


Or are you saying cut the grain.


Oh , give me my easy keeper who ate two coffee cans of 10% pellet 2x a day and 2 flakes of hay and was FAT. IN show work.


Sigh.

I'll deworm, probiotic, treat for ulcers , decrease grain, add beet pulp and research the BOSS.

And if no ones going to judge me I'll post pictures tomorrow.

 

[halo]

I second the ulcers diagnosis. I have 4 horses at the track right now and all are on daily Gastrogard. Its extremely important, especially for TBs. Nearly 80% of all thoroughbreds on the track have ulcers.

Gastrogard is very expensive; theres other gastric preparations you can use to ease his uncomfortableness and get him back on his feed. Gastrogard is the only thing that will actually cure the ulcer. Just today I was in Walmart and saw over the counter generic omeprazole; I dont know if thats a cheaper way to go. But do work on his tummy first; you know how it feels to have an upset stomach; eating is the last thing you want to do.

Good luck with him.