ceej
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im back.... :)
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Post by ceej on May 26, 2008 15:14:36 GMT
As you know, Willow is prone to lami so he has been a fairly strict paddock since Feb but certainly not a grassless one- there is plenty in there. Despite this he has lost weight...not a horrendous amount but this is normally the time of year that even LOOKING at grass makes him bloat and he is not. So...elimination: 1) I have wormed him, broad spectrun (incl RW and tapeworm) 2) Tooth lady is coming out in a couple of weeks, and at his age it could be his teeth but he doesn't drop food when eating... the only other thing it may be is that he has been really late shedding his coat (gets a bit later every year and I do suspect very early stages of cushings - he is 26) but we had a really hot spell and he was a bit sweaty most of the time...(he has a Mahoosive coat being a native pony) and I wonder whether he may have lost soem due to overheating - is this common? Its slowly getting out now though... Anyhoo, I was just wondering whether there are any other obvious things I may be missing....  |
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Post by fleabitten on May 26, 2008 16:12:31 GMT
Im not sure, you seem to have covered the things i would have suggested i.e. worms and teeth. Connie's coat was coming out all summer long and Princesses coat is almost out by now. But then connie was a poor doer anyway and even when she was younger according to prev. owners.
Perhaps he doesnt eat that much out in the field? connie was out on a field full of grass and it was hardly ate down, you wouldnt have notcied there would be a pony eating the grass at all.
We would have left connie out 24/7 in summer only, she didnt do well out all the time and was miserable, she just stood there like a prick and got cold. she liked to come into her stable at night for a rest and some peace and warmth.
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Post by brigadier on May 26, 2008 17:52:56 GMT
Hi Ceej
Horses do lose condition when they sweat a lot so the coat thing may be contributing. Are you able to give him a late clip next year which will help with the coat shedding? I had a welsh A that I used to show but she needed full clipping in Jan to look decent for the early shows, at least then I could add or subtract rugs as the weather dictated (she had Cushings and lasted until she was 18). You may be right about the cushings with your horse but I suspect most horses probably have changes as they get on in years, look at old men and their prostrates!
If you are seriously worried then I would go to the expense of having bloods done- that way if anything is amiss at least youve a fighting chance of getting it sorted or treated without it springing up on you when its too late. Pain can sometimes make a horse lose weight so having bloods done will indicate muscle damage etc. Looking at the pics of him that youve posted I wouldnt have thought he was 26 so you are doing a good job. Perhaps have a chat with your vet to set your mind at ease!
Brig
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ceej
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Post by ceej on May 27, 2008 8:23:05 GMT
Thanks guys - Brigs I was thinking exactly the same thing about clipping next spring...I will save up for soem clippers methinks. Never tried clipping (except OH lol) but I guess it wont matter if the lines are straight on Willlow!! Can you get spacers for horse clipping like on human ones so I could give willow like a half length clip rather than so short? That may be a really dunb question!! Re bloods...He isnt drastic at the moment and still had energy and a glint in his eye else I really woudl be worried. I think I will do his teeth first. I have a sneaky suspicion it is a mix of overheating and needing teeth done - I have had willow back a year now and tried to book the dentist in six months months ago (the previous told me had been done but I dont believe it) but she has been really busy and then the time just goes..  so I think one or tjhe other he can cope with but both have just taken that edge off him.. Fingers crossed...(privately I am scared of bloods - god knows what THEY would show up!!) I think he may be losing the plot ever so slightely too...the other day he wandered into the hay room (he normally goes straight into his stable no lead rope) but had walked stright past it and into hay room. I found him half in there just staring, absent mindedly! I said 'Willow' and he jumped as though he had woken up, reversed out and was liek, Oh theres my box, Oh theres my tea!! uh oh! |
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ceej
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Post by ceej on Jun 11, 2008 8:21:51 GMT
eqine dentist came out last night and did both me boys teeth. They were very good and she used the electric rasp on them!!
Neither had anything too serious...harry had some sharp edges but nothing to particularly hurt and willow had one pretty sharp tooth that was a bit uncomfortable, but nothing to have contributed to weight loss.
He has put soem on now. The dentist I am sure though I was mad because he isnt skinny (more a little tucked up and old looking) I explained that I am not concerned that he is too skinny, but that he would NORMALLY be much fatter which says to me soemthing int right.
I am pretty sure it has been the hot weather and thick coat - its still not all out!! I am giving him to the end of July I think when I know any coat issue will have gone. I just worry about going into he winter if there is soemthing wrong. He looks bright and happy tho.
Defo getting some clippers for next spring!
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ceej
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Post by ceej on Jun 11, 2008 8:24:16 GMT
Perhaps he doesnt eat that much out in the field? connie was out on a field full of grass and it was hardly ate down, you wouldnt have notcied there would be a pony eating the grass at all. do you know, I recon they eat LESS when left out 24/7. I was terified of leaving willow out lest he get lami, but I recon they gorge all day when in at night - think of the sugar hit!, now he just takes it steady. |
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joandlad
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Post by joandlad on Jun 11, 2008 13:22:10 GMT
Ceej - Take a look at this. www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/PDFpubs/1010.pdfI've discovered that what one person calls fat another will call obese and what one calls slightly underweight another would be calling the RSPCA! Where do you reckon Willow scores? I know you say you're not worried so much about him being thinner than the fact that he has lost weight unexplainedly but this should help you decide if he needs worrying about. WRT his thick coat, horses are designed very well for keeping themselves warm via their fibre digesting hind guts which produce lots of heat. They are absolutely rubbish at keeping themselves cool so it could be that he's using a lot of his energy trying to cool himself down. |
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Post by maximum on Jun 11, 2008 16:23:48 GMT
totally agree with brig re clipping. I think I shall do that with max he just lost the last of his winter coat this week!! there was a lot of it but he was hanging on to it!
you cant get the spacers sorry it all comes off! now is a great time to pick up a cheap pair of clippers if you wait until autumn they will be more expensive.
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Post by brigadier on Jun 11, 2008 18:44:24 GMT
I too was hoping there might be spacers available for big clippers- then I can use them on my scruffy dog as well! if anyone does find them then let me know!!!! I might invent them if not!
brig
ps glad he's looking better!
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abi
Intermediate Sh*t Shoveller
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Post by abi on Jun 11, 2008 19:59:50 GMT
if you dont have lots of horses try and borrow a friends clippers or theres plenty of people here advertising to clip, we get our cob cliped for £20 by a stranger, but shes very good and its loads cheaper than buying your own if its only once or twice a year!
if all else is rules out, try adding a bit of allen and page calm and condition, it puts on condition without sending them nuts! x
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Post by duckles on Jun 11, 2008 22:25:46 GMT
Ceej, I started clipping a few years back and its actually quite easy - up until then I always paid to have it done and they always made such a big thing about it but its not difficult (and Cori doesn't like been clipped. He always had to be sedated until I started doing it).
I know with older horses the vets sometimes recommend a vit B12 to help with appitite and absorbation of nutriants.
I hope he'll be back to his normal self soon. Probably nothing to worry about but I know I would be worrying away. Good Luck.
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for so much hard work we thank ye!!
so I think one or tjhe other he can cope with but both have just taken that edge off him..
