Posted 2007-03-15 6:24 PM (#57124) Subject: Helping me make a 5 yearold happy
Member
Posts: 12
Location: Newnan , Georgia
I have a horse (Gracie) that is 5 and she was bitten on the back several months ago. Well an infection set in and after several hundred dollars and vet visits she healed.(even though the vet recommended her be put down and I probably would have but she is my 5 yearold sons) The problem we are facing now is because of the infection she dropped serious weight.(like hips and ribs exposed) She is fed twice a day sweet 10, alfa pellets, weight-gainer, and 20-30lbs hay. She has been wormed and checked . Any ideas would be appreciated.
Posted 2007-03-15 7:03 PM (#57125 - in reply to #57124) Subject: RE: Helping me make a 5 yearold happy
Veteran
Posts: 209 Location: pensacola, fl
ben0570,
Good for you for not putting her down!! Hopefully all your hard work and money spent will pay off in the long run. This horse will not forget what you did for her.
Anytime I am having a weight issue with a horse a always put them on a senior feed, even though she is a young horse, the senior feeds have what it takes to put weight back on your mare. I also use beet pulp, I usually wet the feed/beet pulp mixture before I feed it to them. At first she may look at it like "you expect me to eat that???" but once she trys it she will sound like a pig eating slop!!
I have a friend that has a mare that was bitten when she was young, she still has issues with anyone heavy (adult size) riding her, but she is perfect for the kids.
Good Luck!!
Posted 2007-03-15 9:27 PM (#57130 - in reply to #57124) Subject: RE: Helping me make a 5 yearold happy
Member
Posts: 44 Location: Montana
Try adding some Oil to her diet. About a cup will work. I have a horse with sever weght losse and we added Olive Oil to his diet and he put on weight so fast without getting extra hot. Corn oil worked very well also and is alot cheeper. You will also notice her with a very shiney lush coat.
P.S. For anyone who read my question about what to feet a thin horse I am happy to report that the Olive Oil seamed to be what he neaded. He is up 235lb and gaining. I also think with spring around the corner he is coming out of his winter blues.
Posted 2007-03-15 10:42 PM (#57133 - in reply to #57124) Subject: RE: Helping me make a 5 yearold happy
Location: KY
She may need yogurt (live cultures) or the pro-biotic paste; I just prefer yogurt; to balance her gut flora after the antibiotics. It won't matter what she eats if it's not being digested fully. I also agree with Monsterhorse about the senior feeds, and some of them have pro-biotics, but given your mare's history, she may need more than is in the senior feed to get her really digesting fully again. Anitbiotics are wonderful but they do mess with the innards.
Posted 2007-03-16 12:17 AM (#57137 - in reply to #57124) Subject: RE: Helping me make a 5 yearold happy
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: washington
I have always had good results with feeding soaked beet pulp mixed with a cup of oil (vegetable, corn or olive) , whole oats and senior feed. He also eats about 12 lbs of alafalfa mix hay twice a day. I maintain his weight with this soaked grain mix every night. When it's really cold I feed the mixture morning and night. By the way, he's always been up to date on shots, worming...
I use a 1 lb coffee can and measure one can of beet pulp, one of whole oats and one of senior feed, add one cup of oil and then about a gallon of water. I letr it soak over night and it makes a nice oatmeal mash. He loves it. When I first started this combination, I only fed half those amounts for the first week, then gradually increased over the next week until I had a full can of each. Good luck with your horse.
Posted 2007-03-16 9:10 AM (#57149 - in reply to #57124) Subject: RE: Helping me make a 5 yearold happy
Member
Posts: 12
Location: Newnan , Georgia
Thank you so much for the input I have been fighting an up hill battle with her. I will keep you posted as to the results but is it a good idea to make all the changes at once or do 1 and slowly work into another? Once again thanks for the advice.
Posted 2007-03-16 10:19 AM (#57160 - in reply to #57124) Subject: RE: Helping me make a 5 yearold happy
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 544 Location: Claxton, Ga.
It's best to make a slow change over a week period. I would do one at a time. You will notice stress lines in the hoof or hooves if done to fast over a period of time. Hooves are the best place to notice what a horse has been through in the past few months. The lines do eventually grow out though. Go slow, she'll be O.K. it will just take time.
Posted 2007-03-16 7:58 PM (#57203 - in reply to #57124) Subject: RE: Helping me make a 5 yearold happy
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
A horse will lose weight alot faster than putting it back on. It will take time. Give her free choice access to good hay, added fat ( oils like soybean) and if your vet says she is otherwise healthy, you are just going to have sit back and wait it out.
Posted 2007-03-17 5:28 AM (#57214 - in reply to #57124) Subject: RE: Helping me make a 5 yearold happy
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378 Location: Nebraska
In many cases with trauma and sepsis the horses metabolic rate rises and their requirements for protien, energy, vitamins,and minerals almost double what maintenance requirements are. These horses need a high protien 14-18%, high fat 6-10%, and maybe supplement with vitamins B,C, and maybe E in thier diet. If the horse is stalled I would not feed grain, my opinion. I would stay with the hay, alf. pellets, and added fat and vitamins
Helping me make a 5 yearold happy
