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Veteran
Posts: 165
 
Location: TN | I have 2 subjects that I have questions on...
My 24 yr. old mare isn't interested in eating her feed or hay. I was feeding Omelene 200, she would pick at it all day then changed to Purina Sr. Feed(pellets) and she does the same with that. It may take her all day or night to finish her feed. She's not losing any weight, just have never had a horse not interested in eating.
Also, anyone have any experience with a horse with Cushings Disease? My other mare, she's 20, has all the signs, I took her to the vet today and he's doing a 2 part blood test to confirm. |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
 
Location: Willows, CA | letswin - 2017-05-23 10:18 PM
I have 2 subjects that I have questions on...
My 24 yr. old mare isn't interested in eating her feed or hay. I was feeding Omelene 200, she would pick at it all day then changed to Purina Sr. Feed(pellets) and she does the same with that. It may take her all day or night to finish her feed. She's not losing any weight, just have never had a horse not interested in eating.
Also, anyone have any experience with a horse with Cushings Disease? My other mare, she's 20, has all the signs, I took her to the vet today and he's doing a 2 part blood test to confirm.
A slow eater is a good thing if there is no physical problem. They handle concentrates much better is small amounts. You don't say how much O-200 you are feeding.
Don't feed that to the cushings horse.
Edited by winwillows 2017-05-25 5:15 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399
| letswin - 2017-05-23 10:18 PM
I have 2 subjects that I have questions on...
My 24 yr. old mare isn't interested in eating her feed or hay. I was feeding Omelene 200, she would pick at it all day then changed to Purina Sr. Feed(pellets) and she does the same with that. It may take her all day or night to finish her feed. She's not losing any weight, just have never had a horse not interested in eating.
Also, anyone have any experience with a horse with Cushings Disease? My other mare, she's 20, has all the signs, I took her to the vet today and he's doing a 2 part blood test to confirm.
Is she on Pergolide? If so, the Pergolide can make a horse inapetent. I would mention this to your vet and it's possible you might have to lower the dose if she is on it. |
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Veteran
Posts: 165
Location: TN | The 20 yr old mare with possible Cushings-vet is doing bloodwork to confirm then if it's positive I will put her on the required medicine. I've already changed her to Purina senior feed.
The 24 yr old mare who isn't interested in eating much I gave also changed to Senior Feed, shes eating that a little better but have stopped all added supplements because she won't eat with them added. She's not losing any weight, guess she's a slow eater. |
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| Try putting some gatorade out with her regular water. Electrolytes may be off... I use the clearest gatorade I can find. |
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Veteran
Posts: 165
Location: TN | Since my original post, my mare was diagnosed with Cushings disease, question is, what will happen if not treated. She's looking a little better, feeding Senior feed plus Chaffe hay. The vet wants to run the test again in November then make decision on putting her on the medicine. Can this be controlled by diet?
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 Duct Tape Can't Fix Stupid
Posts: 2749
Location: Warsaw,NY | My pony has cushings, has had it for several years. If he does not get his meds he looks like **** and u can tll he feels like ****. He will drink a ton and pee so much his stall is like a pond. he is like 27 and lost alot of weight this past winter. not sure he will fare another winter so well |
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Veteran
Posts: 165
Location: TN | The vet doesn't act concerned right now about putting her on the medicine. She may have had this since last year, shes always drank a lot and her stall is horrible too. She can go in and out when she wants. Just now losing winter hair, looking somewhat better. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | letswin - 2017-06-06 10:08 PM
Since my original post, my mare was diagnosed with Cushings disease, question is, what will happen if not treated. She's looking a little better, feeding Senior feed plus Chaffe hay. The vet wants to run the test again in November then make decision on putting her on the medicine. Can this be controlled by diet?
Cushings cannot be controlled by diet. It's a tumor on the pituitary gland that causes the adrenals to pump out more cortisol than what is necessary for their metabolism. On one hand its not an emergency where she needs medications right now or else... But on the other hand horses with cushings are at greater risk for founder and have trouble fighting infections. If your vet is OK with waiting on medications then I would trust their decision. |
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You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | For your 24 YO horse who is eating slower... have you checked her teeth lately? She may be losing some due to her age and may be due for a float. |
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Veteran
Posts: 165
Location: TN | I'm going to go with my vet's recommendation, he knows more about than I do so we will wait until the fall to run second test. |
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Veteran
Posts: 165
Location: TN | Her teeth have been checked, I started mixing Chaffe hay with her feed and shes eating really good now. |
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