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Mini with a potbelly

6K views 16 replies 8 participants last post by  PluckyPony 
#1 ·
The mini I got has a potbelly. His spine sticks out and is ribby (underweight)
I have him on coastal hay ( free choice) and 12% pellet.
With a mineral block.

I cannot work this guy at all ( same mini with the leg issue, I know some of you know about)

I haven't even had him a month but I was wondering if there's anything else I could do to help get rid of the pot belly and have him gain everywhere else, or if what I'm doing now is fine. ( I know it needs more time to tell )

I haven't ever had one with a pot belly this bad. He has been wormed.

Since I've had him he's obviously feeling wayyy better, he went from mostly laying down and looking depressed to neighing at me and trying to buck when he sees me ( just happy and excited )
 
#5 ·
12% pellets as in Sweet Feed? If so, you need to get him off of that stuff yesterday. Try a feed like Nutrena Safechoice or Purina Miniature Horse and Pony, as well as maybe 1/2-1 pound of alfalfa pellets (soaked) daily. Get a fecal done too, in order to make sure he's worm free. Sometimes they can be really tricky to get out of a mini's system for some reason!
 
#12 ·
Try him on some Nutrena Safe Choice then, maybe 2 cups twice a day and a half pound of soaked alfalfa pellets. You might also try adding some daily probiotics to his diet for a while. My mare developed quite the haybelly after foaling while she was nursing her filly, even though she was getting good quality feed and hay. The probios helped her regulate her digestion and get more nutrition out of what I was feeding her, and the hay belly started to go away within two weeks. Its completely gone now.

Like I said, Purina Miniature Horse and Pony feed is pretty good as well. How old is he exactly? If you feed Purina, I'd probably go with 1.5 lbs split into two feedings, plus the alfalfa.
 
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#14 ·
Our mini came to us with a potbelly so bad that, even at about 9 months of age, we were worried that she either had been impregnated by the stallion she was turned out with (she was a rescue), or she had a severe case of worms. We wormed her every two weeks with panacur for the first two months we had her. It took almost a full year for the bloating to completely disappear, but it did.

First two months - every other week worming. Then each bimonthly worming interval included another dose two weeks later with whatever we were rotating. The vet is the one who suggested this approach and said in a horse with a severe worm load, that approach should not harm her.
 
#16 ·
I would second the getting a fecal done. Even though he has been dewormed, doesn't mean he was dewormed for the worms he actually has. You can take a fresh fecal sample to the vet, and they will be able to tell you what you are dealing with. It really sounds like it could still be a worm issue. I would also check with the vet about a diet. Minis are very easy to founder so you want to be careful if you are going to be introducing a grain into his diet. You will also need to watch when the weather gets nice about pasturing!
 
#17 ·
Most of my adult minis get 2 lbs. of 14% pellets and 4 lbs. of grass/alfalfa mix hay per day for maintenance, youngsters get more. If you have access to alfalfa pellets or alfalfa hay you might want to consider adding it to his diet. Soaked beet pulp can also add extra calories. Since he's already been wormed, the big belly is probably due to malnutrition and will go away as he puts on weight.
 
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