Horses with uncontrolled PPID are at greater risk of developing insulin resistance and laminitis, so this is . If your horse is not exhibiting any other signs of distress and you have been deworming them as needed, then the solution to your problem may be as simple as changing to a senior horse diet. Your horse may be having their food stolen by other horses, so be sure to watch herd behavior at feeding time. Complete details on our, Ride Along items are eligible for free shipping when shipped with your next AutoShip order or any, Dog Digestion & Digestion Aid Supplements, Free Shipping Every Day on AutoShip Supplements Over $40 & Orders Over $75, Help for Horses that Lose Weight in the Winter. It is a natural part of the aging process. In general, these recommendations are nice. And dont forget antioxidants like Vitamin E and Vitamin C! Older feet can grow more slowly; be careful not to get caught out and let them get unbalanced. The horse is too thin, and at this point I wouldn't be exercising him until he gains weight back. Agree with @Horseluvinguy. Age can cause a horse to have issues digesting fiber which results in lowered intestinal function. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. If the pony gains weight easily in the summer, make sure it loses it over the winter. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Clair Thunes, PhD, is an equine nutritionist who owns Clarity Equine Nutrition, based in Gilbert, Arizona. Allowing your horse or especially pony to get laminitis solely through being overweight is poor management and causes much unnecessary suffering. Another Skinny Horse with a Normal Physical Exam: Now What? Although you may be using the same trusted supplier, occasionally the hay is harvested before it reaches full maturity meaning the nutrient profile of the hay is far less than expected. Equine Cushing's: Case by Case - The Horse Veterinary Information Network. Is the underweight horse at the lower end of the community hierarchy? Doesnt this grind down horses teeth? But often he ate little acting like he had belly pain. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. This evaluation will determine your horses body condition score. Choosing the right wormer means selecting a wormer with the correct active ingredients to, My horses eye is swollen, and Im not sure what to do. These come in a range of forms, including powders and extruded nuggets. Common Causes of Weight Loss in Horses - [Top 10 Reasons] | Mad Barn Rice bran is another energy-dense feed. Just because a horse is turning gray doesnt mean it requires a lot of changes. At least 1% of the daily ration should be in the form of forage, such as hay or pasture for digestive health. My 17 year old horse is rapidly losing weight and his mane is falling Some senior horses may need a little more help than complete feeds and chopped forage can offer. Do right by him an set him free it's not easy but we as owners have that responsibility. This particular problem isnt exclusive to older horses. The partially sighted horse requires careful management, being approached and handled with consideration. External parasites can be a problem too. Thanks for all the responses. The importance of a well-balanced, forage-first diet cannot be underestimated. Most older horses will gradually develop joint stiffness in the form of arthritis, this is often accelerated in a joint which has been damaged in the past. Many horses in the prime of their lives can have dental problems that interfere with chewing. SmartPak Equine is the premier online provider of horse supplies and equine supplements. With a food and supplement market designed especially for senior horses, there is no doubt that you can keep your equine friend around longer than ever before. Many competition horses and ponies continue to enjoy a productive career with younger riders. What is Colic In Horses? It is safe to offer 1-2 cups of vegetable oil a day, but start out with small amounts (1/4 cup) and slowly ease into the full amount. Beware of allowing pads of fat to build up especially on the neck. Let him leave with his dignity. Old age will manifest in horses differently depending on the breed. Copyright 2023 by SmartPak Equine LLC. If he could graze 24/7 he would but it was too cold and wet. Beet pulp pellets swell to many times their original volume when wet, so it is important to soak it in copious water for at least 6-8 hours before feeding to prevent choke (esophageal obstruction). Remember they cannot cure disease and should never be used in preference to good veterinary care. A cataract is a cloudy opacity which forms in the lens. "Be a best friend, tell the truth, and overuse I love you, Go to work, do your best, don't outsmart your common sense. Muscle supplements to provide essential amino acids for muscle support and fat supplements to provide calories are additional senior horse weight gain strategies. You might want to have your veterinarian check him over to rule out any body or mouth/dental pain, and I would certainly do that if his condition doesnt improve with increased calorie intake. Veterinary advice should be sought if the horse is showing signs of ill health, before embarking on sustained drug therapy for other conditions. I'm sorry. can cause weight and topline loss. Ask the Vet: Is Your Senior Getting Leaner. Weight loss occurs when a greater amount of energy is expended than received through the diet. In these cases, they should be fed a complete feed which contains 100% of the horses fiber needs and is fed in larger amounts than regular grain. Some ambulatory veterinarians are equipped to handle these kinds of detailed diagnostics but others may need to refer you to a clinic or veterinary school teaching hospital. There are a number of reasons why your horse may be losing weight and determining the cause on your own is often challenging. Pasture too lean. A cup of vegetable oil is equivalent to 1 pounds of corn or 1 pounds of sweet feed, making it a safe substitute for some of the concentrate supplement. You can slowly increase the amount of oil fed to a total of 1 to 2 cups per day over a seven- to 10-day period. For a first horse or pony one would be wise to choose an animal in its teens. Do Ponies Need Grain? Does not include personalized items like engraving, embroidery, SmartPaks, or PortionPaks. A complete feed includes a roughage base with added grains or other energy sources. 5 reasons your horse is losing weight - Your Source for Agriculture Do Ponies Need Grain? Next, make sure his teeth are in good shape by hiring a competent veterinarian or dentist to examine his oral cavity with a full-mouth speculum, remove sharp points and correct imbalances. Causes of Weight Loss Weight loss typically occurs for one of six reasons: Lack of access to appropriate food; Lack of ingestion of available nutrients; Abnormal digestion, absorption, or. Its not unusual for horses in the summer months to lose weight. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Hay or grass may not provide the energy and nutrition it needs. Why Horses Lose Weight - The Spruce Pets - Make a Happy Home for Your Pets It is just so odd that he hasn't seem to lose his appetite or become lethargic enough to not want to move much. It's not just picture angle as we can see spinous processes over the withers, the point of sternum, the neck is very thin, the hip points protrude, ribs show all the way back to the flank, no fat at all behind the shoulder, etc. If not, then specific testing may need to be done to pinpoint the problem. There are several potential causes of chronic weight loss in horses such as poor quality or limited feed supply, health problems and disease as well as social interaction and competition between horses. If you havent had a veterinarian out to look at him yet, schedule a visit right away. Your veterinarian can also assess your horses diet. Feeding fat is certainly a great way to add more calories to the diet, and if the result is a higher total daily calorie intake, you should see some weight gain. Better options for senior horse weight management include high-quality grass hay with soft stems, soaked hay cubes, or the newer chopped hays in a bag that are fortified with vitamins and minerals. Cartilage that protects the bones of the joint is gradually worn away over time and can affect any joint. One horse may be well into its 20s showing no sign of decline while others show different complications in their teens. Well-fortified feeds made especially for seniors are also suggested, as they often contain energy sources that are easily fermented in the hindgut. Some cancers are known to produce inflammatory hormones which may affect digestion, in turn, decreasing your horses appetite and leading to weight loss. Should I switch him to senior feed that would also provide more fat? Depending on where the ulcer was it could be a bad tooth so he isn't eating his feed right, it could be arthritis, the diarrhea could be a bug or something (Have you checked for a temp? You should always have your horse checked for liver and kidney disorders before adding any higher fat foods to your horses diet. Weight loss in horses with Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction, commonly referred to as Cushings disease, is due to a breakdown of muscle tissue. We've worked hard to build tools to maintain your privacy. Depending on the root cause of the weight loss, you may notice other symptoms that accompany ill-thrift, such as a poor appetite, quidding (dropping feed), recurrent episodes of colic, lameness, or diarrhea. With luck youll find a trend that explains his weight loss. Loss of body condition is a common cause of complaint from owners of older horses, particularly of the less hardy breeds, such as thoroughbreds. I also recommend that you keep a journal of this horses BCS, weight, diet, preventive care and medical work to help you get to the bottom of this alarming issue. 20 August 2019 #4 . Our 11 year old stock horse has been losing weight rapidly and is lathargic. Most of these supplements are designed to be extra palatable for senior horses to help them chew and digest them easier. If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. If this is still inadequate to prevent or reverse weight loss, a high fat supplement like rice bran, flax seed, vegetable oil, or dried granular fats can be added to the diet. Managing a laminitic is hard work and is for the life of the pony. www.horseforum.com/horse-health/hoof-lameness-info-horse-owners-89836/, https://www.horseforum.com/members/4160/album/chestnut-5339/pictures-128437.jpg, Training, Performance, discussion, problem queries, Horse Tack, blankets and Equipment Queries. Older horses may be stiffer in the limbs and care should be taken not to try to lift the legs too high when picking out the feet. Make sure the horse is always getting at least 1.5 to 2% of their body weight in the form of fibre and a good rule of thumb is to try and stick to a roughage to grain ratio of around 70:30. Measure your horses body condition score. From there is was a slow, slide downward. Older horses can experience a decline in their ability to digest foods properly. Ask the Vet: Senior Feeding Strategies Weight Loss - Simon Constable's Equine Vets - High Standards in Horse Care Winter Weight Loss Pt 1: Why Horses Lose Weight In Winter - SUCCEED Equine