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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
  
Location: In the wrong place at the wrong time | My almost 5 year old gelding has always been a picky eater but he has eaten very little grain over the last 3 days but can't wait to get to his hay. He is scheduled for his annual dental in 2 weeks but he is in significant work and needs the energy. I haven't changed anything so I'm stumped.
He feels good, great attitude, all vitals normal.
Ulcers????????
Edited to add, he is turned out 24/7 with access to shelter at will, grass is just starting to come in as I am on the east coast.
Edited by Cisco6340 2018-04-08 9:14 AM
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
 
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | It sure could be ulcers, but having those teeth looked at is a really good idea. It seems mine sometimes get a wave going at 5 yrs old. 3 and 5 is when my horses seem to change the most when I take them in yearly. If it is ulcers, send me a pm. THE GastroPLUS is a great supplement to help those ulcers, gastric and hind gut and it's affordable. Might have to syringe it though if the poor fella won't eat his grain since it is a top dress powder. |
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 The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | Ulcers or teeth would be my guess. My mare kept eating hay but went on and off her grain and would just take a couple bites of it and walk away. Took her to vet to have her teeth floated, but they were really fine. Vet said it was likely ulcers. Treated her with Abgard (generic Omeprazole paste from Abler.com) and she perked right back up and got back on her feed after a few days. I followed that up with THE GastroPLUS, which made my mare look amazing. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: In the wrong place at the wrong time | Thanks, I already had his dental scheduled. I don't feel any edges and like I said, he's always been a picky eater about his grain.
I may just go ahead and treat him. Thanks again. |
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| Definitely sounds like ulcers. Hay absorbs excess stomach acid which would help with the pain of ulcers. Grain, on the other hand, stimulates the production of acid; which is why pasture time or hay should be given immediately before grain. Never feed a horse grain that’s been in a stall a long time without hay. At least, that is my understanding of feeding and ulcer treatment and prevention.
Maybe your horse is eating what he’s learned feels good to his stomach and staying away from what makes it hurt. Makes sense.
Edited by runs4fun 2018-04-08 1:07 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: In the wrong place at the wrong time | That's what I'm thinking too.
He is never in a stall 24/7 turnout. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| What do you feed for grain and did you just open a new bag recently?
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: In the wrong place at the wrong time | OhMax - 2018-04-08 7:08 PM
What do you feed for grain and did you just open a new bag recently?
I feed a local 10 10 feed mill sweet feed mixed with alfalfa Timothy mix and free choice orchard grass hay.
It wasn't a new bag. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| runs4fun - 2018-04-08 1:04 PM Definitely sounds like ulcers. Hay absorbs excess stomach acid which would help with the pain of ulcers. Grain, on the other hand, stimulates the production of acid; which is why pasture time or hay should be given immediately before grain. Never feed a horse grain that’s been in a stall a long time without hay. At least, that is my understanding of feeding and ulcer treatment and prevention.
Maybe your horse is eating what he’s learned feels good to his stomach and staying away from what makes it hurt. Makes sense.
This^^. Mine went off grain because of ulcers. I treated him and quit feeding grain. I thought why continue to feed a product that irritates his stomach and is the first thing that he refuses to eat if his stomach is bothering him. I feed baled alfalfa and pellets to put vitamins and minerals in and one of mine gets Renew gold. The other is an extremely easy keeper and all he gets is stride 101 by Bluebonnet it’s about half a cup a day, provides all the minerals and vitamins they need, he’s on turn out 24 seven except for weather. |
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| An older horsemen friend of mine says one of the worst things the horse world did is start graining horses. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: In the wrong place at the wrong time | Thanks again everyone. I'm going to treat him for ulcers and rethink his feeding program.
I know for the old timers it was oats and hay only to supplement grass. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | Sweet feed is the worst thing for a horses stomach. Id put money on it being ulcers. Find a better grain IF you have to feed a grain and get get them ulcers healed then stick him on a preventative. My best friends horse just went off her grain last week, would hardly pick hay for 3 days. No fever, pooping normal, drinking, acting herself. Gave her the ulcer guard and the next day she cleaned up every single bit of food that was left in her stall. |
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