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Horse Lost A Lot Of Weight

4K views 42 replies 14 participants last post by  TAPITOTTB 
#1 · (Edited)
Hey there, :wave:
Yeah I'm new to the forum.. So I guess I should tell a bit about my self, I'm 16 and I have 3 horses. A 19 yr old AQH gelding, 9 yr old shetland mare, and my latest paint yearling colt. The shetland, Misty, was my first horse. I used to ride her when I was younger and now since I'm too big I trained her to pull a cart. I don't use her very much though, occasionally I'll give a pony ride or two but most the time she's just in the pasture getting fat. Also she is not at my house anymore since I don't work with her much she is at my grandmas. The other 2 are at my house and I work with them daily. :) The yearling is working on ground manners and hopefully my future barrel racing horse! (I have experience training horses, I trained my pony's baby to ride, then sold him.. but I also volunteer at a christian camp that has about 30 horses for the campers) Rocky - the AQH is my baby! <3 He's an old grump but I love him!! I ride him everyday and he is just amazing. He can be stubborn but most the time I can get him to do whatever I ask of him. ** Here's my concern, and the reason behind this topic. Rocky has lost a ton of weight. His teeth are fine and he doesn't have worms. I will admit that he has eaten most of the pasture but that shouldn't make a difference because he has access to hay 24/7 right? He also gets grain in the morning, along with his joint medicine.

Any suggestions on how to put weight on him? Prefferably fairly quickly because I'm supposed to trailer him to my cousins and go on a big trail ride with everyone sometime before the end of the summer but I dont want to take him if he doesn't put on at least a little more weight.

I bought beet pulp yesterday because I read it is a good "filler" good, bad? Does anyone else use it? & should I feed him grain at night too instead of just in the morning?

Aslo will I be able to still ride him while I'm trying to put weight on him? I mean that sounds like a dumb question, but like 10 minutes of light riding.. Will that burn too much calories?

Any advice is very appreciated!!
Thanks,
AdrenalineRush

EDIT: The beet pulp is in pellets and it says to soak them.. How much should I give my horse at a time and how many times a day?
 
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#3 ·
I used beet pulp to put weight on my two geldings, and soaked it for at least an hour, since one came down with colic over a year ago and I am overly cautious with him. I also try to feed wheat hay instead of bermuda or alfalfa, but a lot depends on age, location/ what is available for the area. Also, since he is getting up there in age, you may want to have his teeth floated (if not done already (not mentioned)) and start him on a senior feed, which has more protein. I have a 23 year old gelding my daughter uses for flagging and parades, and he is on hay, equine senior, and omolene 200, plus a joint supplement. If you are really unsure and he seems off personality wise, I would call out the vet.
 
#4 ·
Yes, I just took some pics.. I'll upload them in just a min. I don't think he looks terrible, like deathly ill, but you can definately tell he is very thin. & Of course this didn't happen over night. I noticed he was dropping weight over winter but I thought I would've been able to put it back on by now.

His teeth are floated and I just get regular hay off the farm. I just have regular grain nothing special and was going to try beet pulp, but not sure yet. I could go get some senior grain if needed..

- Everything seems fine he seems happy/healthy other than he looks very skinny
 
#5 ·
Here are some pics...






^ This last pic looks the worst but you can see his ribs well at that angle.. He's not underfed or denyed food so maybe I just need a more "fatty" grain? Is this really bad? :/ I mean I know its bad but is it serious?
 
#7 ·
Okay no problem, I'll call the vet tonight. & if it helps I just remembered he started loosing weight when he caught pneumonia this winter and I've just never been able to get it back since then.. I can't believe I forgot about that!! I'll have the vet come check him out but if nothing else is wrong is there any special feed you recommend?
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#9 ·
How bad are the bugs? In the close up photo I can see the welts. Stomping bugs in the heat will take weight off very quickly and hinder any weight gain.

Teeth may be floated but unless the vet used a speculum to check the back teeth, there are very likely hooks.
 
#11 ·
How bad are the bugs? In the close up photo I can see the welts. Stomping bugs in the heat will take weight off very quickly and hinder any weight gain.
Yeah the bugs have been terrible!! They really irritate him, I didn't even think of that! I have tried different bug sprays but I have yet to find one that works.. The one I have now is pretty descent but you have to spray it on often or it won't last all day. Plus I just ran out :?

The last 2 pics look terrible.. Honestly in person he doesn't look that skinny. Even my farrier said he's seen skinnier. But you can tell he is definitely slim. When he first started loosing weight I talked to the vet on the phone and he said to give him a couple months to gain it back on but still nothing. The vet also said it was a TB thing since he has TB in him and they tend to be "lean" but I think he is most certainly underweight! We'll see what the vet says..

As for the teeth I don't know much about it I just know he got it done not that long ago but he really doesn't act like his teeth bother him at all..
 
#12 ·
I'm new here but just wanted to point something out.

You mentioned earlier that he was an "old grump". That could be mostly due to an ulcer or other ailment that's causing him discomfort. You also said that you "can still get him to do everything you want him to do" and that could be because he's such a well trained horse with a heart of gold, but it doesn't mean he feels good doing it.

I'm so glad you're calling the vet. It'll be interesting to see what he/she says.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Haha I didn't mean anything about him being an old grump I was just making fun of his age. ;) he really is a sweetheart and honestly I don't think he is in any pain other than his joints sometimes bother him but I got that covered. I'll let you guys know what the vet says but I don't think he'll find anything, I could be wrong and I don't know much about ulcers but I really don't think he has anything majorly wrong with him.. I just think he's having a real hard time putting weight back on. If he did have something wrong with him wouldn't he be continually loosing weight? He's look about the same since winter I really just can't seem to make him gain

And I don't think his occasional stubbornness is from pain he's been like that ever since I've got him :)
 
#16 ·
The beet pulp can be good if theres nothing else wrong with him. I'm feeding almost 3 lbs of it (increased slowly over 2 weeks) to my yearling filly who was very thin and it is doing a good job of helping fill in her ribs when normal feed and hay wasn't. Make sure you soak it well though, and you might want to try the shreds instead of the pellets just because they're easier for the old guys to chew.
 
#17 ·
Yes I'm hoping this helps! I just introduced a little bit of this to Rocky about half an hour ago.. I soaked it for about 2 and a half hours (in the house with the AC because I didn't want it to get rotten in this hot weather) and at first he wouldn't eat it but I drained most of the water so that all was left was the fluffy beet pulp. He ate it no problems. I have a 40lb bag that I just bought yesterday so he'll have to stick with the pellets for now but in the future if shreds are easier for him to eat then I'm all for it. When I bought the pellets I just figured that since they would have to be soaked either way it wouldn't matter and the pellets would be less messy but yeah I guess shreds might be easier for him.. I've read good things about the beet pulp and I'm really hoping it makes a difference!!
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#18 ·
Alfalfa and beet pulp are good for weight gain. Alfalfa was the key for my horse, but keep in mind it can give them energy. The feed that made the most difference getting weight on my old horse (now 25) was Seminole Senior Wellness. Triple Crown Senior is also a good feed to look into.
 
#19 ·
Definitely get the vet out & go from there. A few winters ago mine drastically lost weight, since he'd always been a super easy keeper, I didn't hesitate to call the vet.

All his blood levels where good, so we increased his protein intake A LOT. By that spring he had gained most of it back & since has gone back to a normal (high end of range) level of protein.

You may not get a definite answer, but you may be able to rule out many things
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#20 ·
I am very interested to hear what the vet says. So keep us imformed!

I never knew that bugs could hinder a horse when it came to their weight. My gelding has lost a few pounds since I got him, and I was getting worried (vet is coming out tomorrow), but I have noticed that the bugs here are a WHOLE lot worse than where he came from. It makes sense though!
 
#21 ·
Okay I will keep you guys updated :) vet said he can come thursday I really don't think he'll find anything though but maybe I'll be surprised ;)

& I know right? I didn't even think that the bugs would make a difference but yeah makes perfect sense!
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#23 ·
Sorry but unless the stress of the bugs are causing ulcers I find it very hard to believe that the bugs have caused that much weight loss. He is in very poor condition and honestly not sure how he was even let to get to this point. Especially since you say he never gained it back after he was sick.
 
#30 ·
Bugs can make a horse lose quite abit of weight iv seen it happen. bugs were iam are horrible if horses dont have a dark shelter to go in its bad. I mean that cant stand still for a second. Bugs are out full force by 9AM Flys that bite , horseflys, deerflys and mosquitoes.

Then night comes and the mosquitoes drive them to run to get away from the swarms. Sprays work for a short time but thats it.

If my horses didnt have their dark bug free barn to go into during the day theyd be skinny. Bugs drive them insane. Doesnt matter if they are on pasture 24/7 they still lose weight. So yeah bugs can take the weight right off and in a hurry.

Dont think thats the case with OPs horse but could be part of his problem.
 
#24 ·
@poppy1356
I don't think you're following this right. I never said bugs caused the weight loss. He lost it during winter and hasn't been able to gain it back. Your post kind of confused me. & it seems like you're blaming me when in reality I've done nothing wrong, I'm not starving my horse so I don't see the need to come off kind of rude.. :/ sorry that's just how I took it

I'm here because I don't know what I can do to help my horse because obviously what I'm doing isn't working and I've learned things - like the bug thing but no I never said that was the cause of the weight loss I just thought that was neat and it made sense
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#25 ·
@poppy1356
I don't think you're following this right. I never said bugs caused the weight loss. He lost it during winter and hasn't been able to gain it back. Your post kind of confused me. & it seems like you're blaming me when in reality I've done nothing wrong, I'm not starving my horse so I don't see the need to come off kind of rude.. :/ sorry that's just how I took it

I'm here because I don't know what I can do to help my horse because obviously what I'm doing isn't working and I've learned things - like the bug thing but no I never said that was the cause of the weight loss I just thought that was neat and it made sense
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Not at you, just pointing out that bugs alone wouldn't cause this much weight loss unless they caused a secondary problem. Just seemed like others thought stomping from bugs alone could do this. I never said you were starving your horse. You are feeding free choice feed so there has to be something inside your horse causing this weight loss. Nothing that you will be able to see from the outside without a vet. You might be able to guess and try a few things but the vet would probably be faster, provided it is a good knowledgeable vet.

Make sure the vet looks at the possibility of ulcers, IR/cushings as well as a full cbc to make sure organs are functioning correctly. Even if your hay wasn't good quality I wouldn't expect this much weight loss. He is very underweight. See how the topline makes almost a shelf looking area from it being so sunk in? That is the last to go on a horse and the last to fill in.
 
#27 ·
The very first picture. You can see the dip behind the withers but that dip extends through the whole top line making a shelf like appearance. Anyways that part is the last to be lost when a horse is losing weight.

The white part around his eyes, is that part white or does it have a yellow tinge to it?
 
#28 ·
I think I kinda see it.. Still don't quite understand how it looks like a shelf - maybe I'm just stupid :P

He doesn't have white around his eyes maybe its just the sunlight? I can take a picture of his face if you want..
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#29 ·
You might have to lift his eye lid a bit but the part that is supposed to be white, like in the corners and around the colored part. That should be white. If it has a yellow tinge that is jaundice and can mean issues with the liver that can be caused by many things.
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#33 ·
My horse is covered in welts from mosquitos but she's still fat as ever. I can see it causing weight loss from the stress it might cause but not just from the stomping/moving as long as they still have feed. Fly sheets help with that too. The bugs are absolutely horrible by us but even the horses that came out of winter skinny are nice and plump on the pasture.

Now I would say that the bugs could stress the horse so bad they could get ulcers and that is where the drastic weight loss could occur. The horse does look miserable, so I wouldn't rule that out.
 
#36 ·
Bugs CAN considerably shorten eating time, and not all horses are stoic enough to ignore them and keep eating. My mare runs, literally in the shed, leaving her alfalfa, when the mosquitoes show up. So when it's bad with the bugs, I feed her inside.
He could have a stomach- or intestinal problem from all the medications he certainly had to take when sick.
Hay could be low in nutrients, so can be pasture. Sometimes, even if it looks lush and yummy to us, it could be plants horses don't like.
Adding some alfalfa should help, especially if he has tummy issues.

I'd have the vet check him over for sure, and go from there.
And bug spray . Ultrashield lasts a few hours, at least, Mosquito Halt all day, and wiping it on instead of spraying gives better coverage, IME, and saves spray, too. I use a spot- on repellent AND spray, when it's really bad. It's all about making him comfy, to help him use his groceries effectively.
 
#37 ·
He probly was miserable in the pics it was hot, flies were awful, and he didn't want to stand there to get his picture taken.. Haha poor guy! But as far as being miserable from pain I really dont think so.

Bugs CAN considerably shorten eating time, and not all horses are stoic enough to ignore them and keep eating. My mare runs, literally in the shed, leaving her alfalfa, when the mosquitoes show up. So when it's bad with the bugs, I feed her inside.
Yeah I noticed he stays in the shed too I just thought it was because it was cooler in there but makes sense that the bugs were bothering him. I put his hay in the shed today so hopefully that helps a little.

He could have a stomach- or intestinal problem from all the medications he certainly had to take when sick.
The only thing he was given was penicillin, my dad gives the cows shots since we have a dairy farm and the vet said it would be safe to give to him. & thank God it worked! But in that time he was sick he didn't touch his food for about 2 days.

Hay could be low in nutrients, so can be pasture. Sometimes, even if it looks lush and yummy to us, it could be plants horses don't like.
I personally don't think the hay is low in nutrients we have local horse people around here buy hay from us with no problems but his pasture is pretty bare now.

Adding some alfalfa should help, especially if he has tummy issues.
Can totally do that

I'd have the vet check him over for sure, and go from there.

And bug spray . Ultrashield lasts a few hours, at least, Mosquito Halt all day, and wiping it on instead of spraying gives better coverage, IME, and saves spray, too. I use a spot- on repellent AND spray, when it's really bad. It's all about making him comfy, to help him use his groceries effectively.
Thanks so much!! & yeah would want him to be uncomfortable!
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