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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
  
Location: Canada | I need some suggestions:
I have a 15 year old gelding that when I purchased him he was underweight and severely dehydrated from the trip (shipper tried everything they could to get him to drink). He's been hard to get weight on an maintain it but we are getting there.
Problem is he doesn't drink well and my guess he probably hasn't ever (I can't ask the previous owners as they were a bit lax on telling of his current condition). At home he pretty much looks the same day to day but haul him anywhere and he becomes so dehydrated that he looks like a hollowed out crypt keeper. This can be in a two hour drive to an event. He's not stress sweating on the way.
He has access to fresh clean water 24/7 and he does drink but not what he should. It's kept at body temperature so it's not a big cold shock when it's hot out if he drinks it. I have tried heated water, cold water, flavored water, apple juice, other juices, Gatorade, Powerade, and no luck.
When he first arrived I cleaned his sheath and removed a bean about an inch in diameter and a half inch thick. I was hoping that was why he wasn't drinking well. Since then I continually check and clean his sheath and check for beans so that's not an issue.
I have had blood work done on this horse and all is normal. He's UTD on everything including his teeth and yet I can't get this horse hydrated and keep him that way.
I have resorted to drowning his hay and making soup with his concentrates just to ensure he gets fluid while travelling. We do bring water from home and "his bucket" but nothing. He will eat all of his "soup" but won't touch his water bucket.
I'm out of ideas and hoping someone else has a suggestion. I'm on the verge of having an IV hung and give him fluids via IV in hopes that it kick starts his "thirst" desire.
Anyone have suggestions --- pretty please :) |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 685
Location: Arkansas | Wow! What a stinker! Have you tried giving him electrolyte paste as incentive to drink??? I know it's super hot here and they all are more perky (including myself) with plenty if electrolytes |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
 
Location: Bandera, TX | I have had really good luck with the Formula 707 electrolyte. They drink it very well and also like it as a top dress. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | I've tried giving him an electrolyte paste a few times and it has helped a bit but not a lot. I'm in Canada so I'm limited on what is offered up here for products so haven't tried anything else.
I'm hoping someone has some home remedy that may work. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 685
Location: Arkansas | Hmm... You got me there! I'd stick with the hay soaking method for sure. I do that with alfalfa cubes in the summer when I haul to rodeos. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 618
| I'm having this same problem in Texas with our 5 yr old gelding and it's so hot here he looks white (he's a sorrel) from all the salt he's sweating. I just bought alfalfa cubes, fill the bucket about a 1/3 and the rest with water and add an ounce of straight salt to it. He didn't eat it all Friday night but did last night. He looks alot better today. |
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I Am a Snake Killer
Posts: 1927
Location: Golden Gulf Coast of Texas | Have you tried Purina hydration hay blocks? My horses love them! In the summer I give them a half block soaked in water every nite. I also have used when hauling since it is so convenient! |
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  A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | Have you added plain kosher salt to his feed? Sometimes that's all it takes.
I would add a tablespoon to each feeding. Just plain kosher salt. Not the iodized table salt. They don't need the extra iodine. The electrolytes can do more harm than good of he's alraady not drinking like you want him to. I would also make sure he always has a mineral block handy too. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Horse Quencher and a tablespoon of lyte salt if he's drinking. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| Two suggestions--- Resorb electrolytes and two tablespoons of salt in feed once a day. It took my horse several weeks to start cleaning up the salt but when I put it out free choice he would not touch it. I use stock salt. I feed it year round. I get Resorb at TrCtor Supply but you can probably order from Valley vet. It is usually fed to cattle.
Take your water with you to a barrel race. |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | I would keep a close eye on him when feeding salt and electrolytes. I have had horses still not drink when I added salt and wind up even more dehydrated. I've also had an issue with thumps from an electrolyte imbalance when feeding them with premix feeds.
One thing I have found is that if a horse doesn't drink, it's because their stomach is bothering them. It's kind of like if you get heart burn and you drink, it makes the heart burn worse. May not necessarily have ulcers but there's something going on that's enough to keep them from drinking.
I usually will start wetting their feed down several days in advance to help get them better hydrated. Then I also will feed them soupy beet pulp or cubes while we're at the show if I'm really worried about them drinking.
Something that seems to help get them drinking.g better is to offer them water while they're tied next to another horse that drinks.Let the other horse drink first and it starts a little competition over the water bucket. |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | A horse requires 2 table spoons a day add soaked beet pulp and salt to his grain. The more his salt levels increase the more water he will take on. I would also ads electrolytes to his grain also. Keep his grain simple so he gets used to the same thing everyday the more it becomes inviting. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Just to add... I always add water to my grain and add soaked alfalfa cubes or beet pulp ..make it soupy to at least get a lil more into their gut.. its not enough but every bit helps |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | Thanks everyone for the suggestions. He is getting soupy concentrates and soaked feed in addition to hay but I'll try the salt and see if that increases anything.
I'm also going to treat for ulcers and see if that helps at all. His overall condition has been challenging to improve so hoping this helps as well.
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