Here he is! Very much enjoying the snow! I took his blankey off while he played outside cause it was pretty warm and I figured he'd want to roll in the snow - and boy did he!!
He was so happy!! He only got to play a bit more than an hour today before the farrier came though.
Just wanted to update everyone, Nugget is doing pretty well. He's been on hay cubes and hay all week and today the vet came. I've treated his scratches with Desitin, which seemed to just make him itchier, maybe it was locking in the moisture?
This morning my vet came, she floated all my horses' teeth including his. She put his age at about 18, which is better than what I thought (25). His teeth are pretty good. She said a betadine scrub would do his legs good and said I could start him on Ration Balancer right away. She also thinks Canola oil is my best option for weight gain, so I've started him on just a tiny amount in each hay cube serving which will gradually build to 2 cups a day. I'll also be adding MSM for his joints.
So I continued with his hoof medicine and scrubbed his legs with betadine and brew dry them to make sure they were extremely dry, then I used a baby's anti-itch powder, in hopes that will help keep him from bothering it a bit. He's definitely feeling better, much more spunk! I'm still taking him for daily walks too :)
Nugget getting his teeth done :) and my other 2 horses nice and sleepy from their tooth ordeal :P
Getting his legs blown-dry after a good scrubbing!
I had a couple more questions. What are some good exercises I could do to build up his hind end? I have no hills or poles, but have been walking him around my driveway a great deal. He gets very tired and starts dragging behind after about 15 minutes. I typically make him go a few minutes more then turn him back out. He doesn't like to stay out long, even with food, he waits at the gate and nickers whenever I go by.
Also I washed him with betadine and covered him in anti-itch baby powder last night, but in the morning his legs looked just as bad, he actually must have found something good to scratch on, he cut the outside of his leg really good, definitely rubbed it on something (not a slice or anything). A couple of other spots he scratched and cut open. Is there anything else I can do for him? He's so miserable.
I had a couple more questions. What are some good exercises I could do to build up his hind end? I have no hills or poles, but have been walking him around my driveway a great deal. He gets very tired and starts dragging behind after about 15 minutes. I typically make him go a few minutes more then turn him back out. He doesn't like to stay out long, even with food, he waits at the gate and nickers whenever I go by.
Also I washed him with betadine and covered him in anti-itch baby powder last night, but in the morning his legs looked just as bad, he actually must have found something good to scratch on, he cut the outside of his leg really good, definitely rubbed it on something (not a slice or anything). A couple of other spots he scratched and cut open. Is there anything else I can do for him? He's so miserable.
Don't worry about building hind end muscle right now.. he needs weight.. and a lot of it. Once he gets a nice hay belly, then you can start thinking of working him for muscle.
Sounds like the betadine was too dry. What about putting diaper rash cream after the betadine wash? I did that for my horse's pasterns and he didn't feel itchy afterwards and it cleared up.
Maybe consider putting him slowly on an Omega supplement which will help with dry skin. Ask your vet first of course, and do research.
I guess I probably am rushing things, I'm not so much looking for 'muscle' more just trying to help his hind end feel better, he has string halt and has trouble holding up his hind legs - but tonight after a long walk today he did much better.
Thanks! My mare is on an omega supplement I could put him on a little too. I have diaper rash cream I used it the day before betadine, but it didn't make any difference, but maybe now after it'll be better. I'll go put some on! Thanks
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