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BrksAnthny
Junior Member
 United Kingdom
47 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Oct 2006 : 8:50:34 PM
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Hi, I look after a 25 year old horse, who over the last 2 weeks seems to have got grumpier and grumpier. He has gone off his feed, shakes his head and pulls faces  ( he has always done this when having his rug put on  )but pulls faces and shakes his head when you groom him ( he love's to be groomed  ) He has not lost any weight. The vet came friday and rasped his teeth. I have spoken to the vet and all he said was if he was not better wednesday to call them and they will run blood test's.
The only thing that has changed over the last 2 weeks is that they have been moved down to the bottom field to rest the top paddock for winter. He is turned out with the same horses, at the same time and brought in at the same time every evening.
Could he have a problem with his ears? or something else annoying him. I thought it was his teeth, but since having these done friday he has not finished a feed or only eaten a small amount. He is on bute for stiffness but as he is not eating his feed he is not getting it.
Any idea's before I call the vet out again.
I can't see anything in his ears or nose but would you see anything if there was anything there?
Any help would be great because he really is not a happy chappy
Thanks in advance for your ideas
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Emma |
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Nuttybabez
Gold Member
England
522 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2006 : 9:03:12 PM
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I think you are going to have to do a bit of detective work with this one.
Sounds like hes either in pain somewhere (not teeth because you have checked them) - maybe his back or legs? If he is not getting his bute, this is quite possible.
Or hes maybe not sleeping very well for some reason (too hot, too cold, too busy eating, can't relax in a new environment so quickly?)
I don't know the horse but if I was you, I would just keep an eye on him.
He may have gone off his food if the field he has gone into has more grass - hes simply not hungry? |
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BrksAnthny
Junior Member
United Kingdom
47 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2006 : 11:38:08 PM
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Hi, he had been in the field for a week and carried on eating his feed, then after that week he stopped eating all his feed or not even bothering at all, I have cut his feed right down ( the other 2 that share the field with him are still eating their feed ). He is stabled at night and is wearing a light weight rug at night and if it is wet a light weight turn out during the day.
If he had gone into the field and then stopped eating I would of put it down to extra grass, but he had been in there for a week before the feeding problem started, I am now soaking his feed, because before the vet came I was sure it was his teeth, soaking the feed worked for a few days, but he now seems worse now than before the vet did his teeth, I did get the vet to give his mouth a good once over, convinced the problem was his teeth, now I just don't know. Because of the head shaking, ears flat back and swinging his head round at you and tossing his head up and down up which is unusal ( execpt for putting on a rug!!! )I thought of a problems with his ears/nose??, I think he is in pain, something irritating him or peed off big time, but WHY????
It's a mystery, but it is really bugging me now, something is wrong but what!!!! |
Emma |
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kofihorse
Bronze Member
241 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2006 : 07:25:24 AM
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| Em, you've probably already done this but what I would do is to run my hands over him, all over him, underneath, everywhere. A little bit at a time, gently, and see if he reacts to any particular area. If you still can't find anything external like a rub from a legstrap or a small swelling or heat, then I would ask the vet to have another look. Something similar happened to me with Kofi and it turned out he had very slight colic. By touching him all over, I narrowed it down to him not wanting his flanks touched.I hope the old boy is feeling better now, though! |
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Tahir
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4572 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2006 : 10:18:12 AM
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If he's not eating his bute in the feed (most of mine won't), try mixing the bute with some natural yoghurt and give it to him in a syringe (like a wormer), you may need to add a teaspoon of water to get a good consistency. This works everytime with mine, young or old. I have even mixed bute with custard and chocolate mousse in an emergency, my horses love it and lick their lips for ages after their dose!!!
Obviously the bute will only take the pain away and not pin-point the problem, so I agree with kofihorse, you need to spend some time checking him over or even just watching. I'm sure the problem will become clear very soon. You know what Arabs are like - sensitive, but they communicate so well. Good luck with your detective work.
Carla, xx. |
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