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 Very Important Person
Posts: 5682
   
Location: South MS | I got an 18yr old broodmare that's obviously seen better days. I can't get her interested in feed and she will only nibble at alfalfa. I feel no sharp points on her teeth. Just wormed a couple days ago. Out on pasture but our grass is not high nutrition. Vet won't be out for another week. Any thoughts / ideas on getting her to eat?
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Location: South Dakota | My older gelding was not eating real well either, and also lying down more than normal, so I treated him with Gastrogard, thinking it might be an ulcer, and it made a huge difference. He is back to eating and feeling good. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 333
| highonsugar - 2017-01-09 8:44 PM
I got an 18yr old broodmare that's obviously seen better days. I can't get her interested in feed and she will only nibble at alfalfa. I feel no sharp points on her teeth. Just wormed a couple days ago. Out on pasture but our grass is not high nutrition. Vet won't be out for another week. Any thoughts / ideas on getting her to eat?
I wormed my broodmare last year around Christmas. Noticed she seemed a little off interest in eating as well. One day she went in stood in the corner of our barn..not like her at all. Although she never rolled, she was colicing. Took a day of fluids to bring her back. I'd watch her. I think the wormer gave her a tummy ache and she wasn't drinking what she should have been.
Edited by powerstroke power 2017-01-09 9:41 PM
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 Scooters Savior
Location: "Si Fi" Ville | I second the gastroguard, and soaked beet pulp works really well! |
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Veteran
Posts: 103
| My old mare stopped wanting to eat hay (she would graze on pasture). I had her teeth checked, etc. and all of that was fine. Figured out that although she could chew fine she was having a little trouble swallowing the dry hay. Now instead of feeding hay I soak alfalfa/timothy hay pellets for her in hot water and make a mash morning and night and let her eat pasture during the day.
Worked wonders! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I would dose her with some ulcer meds and see if there's an improvement. If no improvement I'd take her to the vet. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | I have seen this reaction with horses after worming before. A type of mild colic, I guess. I have also seen older horses with arthritis not wanting to eat well too. Could be sickness from the weather changes as well. |
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 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | Try Jump Start Paste. When ever I have one acting iffy I shove it down them. |
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 Maine-iac
Posts: 3334
Location: Got Lobsta? | I just posted this on another thread - did you see that another horse is having the same problems?
This is what I wrote:
I just about fell out of my chair when I read this. One of my horses stopped eating his grain 2 weeks ago. Than I noticed he was turning away from his hay. Gave him some alfalfa, wouldn't touch. This horse NEVER turned away from feed, give him a chance he'd eat his bucket. Nothing has changed, same feed, same hay, same everything. He is retired and I've owned him for 22 years - he is 27 and only been sick once when he was 5. Had the vet out, no temp, full cbc - came back good, fecal clean, so she sent out a test for lyme and Cushings. I've started him on UlcerGard as she said ulcers can just pop up even if a horse basically sits around and does nothing. Its been 4 days on UlcerGuard no real change. He drinks plenty, I too am at witts end. My friend's horse did this about a month ago and got better after 3 weeks. The Vet said she just had another horse she saw that is going through this and has no idea what it can be. |
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Very Important Person
Posts: 5682
Location: South MS | She is on the poor side already. I hate that! I'm glad we live where nobody can see her.......
I'm going to try some suggestions and thank you all so much for your input. Maineracer, isn't that odd?! Of course, here we have one day 70 degrees and the next is 35.....
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Maine-iac
Posts: 3334
Location: Got Lobsta? | highonsugar - 2017-01-10 2:00 PM She is on the poor side already. I hate that! I'm glad we live where nobody can see her.......
I'm going to try some suggestions and thank you all so much for your input. Maineracer, isn't that odd?! Of course, here we have one day 70 degrees and the next is 35.....
I think its very odd! I mean this horse's diet and enviroment has not changed since I got him 22 years ago. Yes the weather has been funky - (I wish for 70 degrees)! - It was -19 this morning and its 8 now and a warm up coming - meaning 45 but he's used to that. The other horses are fine. Anxious to see what the texts come back as. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | All of you please keep us updated. |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | Did you just get her? Is she open or bred? Here did she come from(state) what did she eat before you got her? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 926
| we have a mare in her early 20's, she was doing the same thing. A bit of ranitidine and she was good. It's a PPI and for short term use, much cheaper than gastroguard or neighlox.
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