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nn
Gold Member
England
659 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 10:09:58 AM
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Well Mr McGinty has started to eat his own poo:(
He has only started to do it since Amy got Oscar and he has lost his position as "top lot"
We have tried to make sure that he is fussed, he goes out all day if the weather is OK.
He is exercised every day and Amy says good morning to him first in a morning before she goes to school.When she comes home he is first to get a cuddle.
We have asked the vet and he has no medical or nutritional reason to do it.
We skip him out four times a day and if anyone is passing they check and get in there before he does
Any ideas on how to stop him?
Not a problem i have ever had before.
I'm sure its not good for him even if it means less to muck out LOL
Nicky
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Libby Frost
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4711 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 10:11:47 AM
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| I think sometimes this is a sign that their lacking in certain vitamins and minerals? try putting some licks up, to see if he stops doing it? |
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nn
Gold Member
England
659 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 10:18:47 AM
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Hi Libby
Done all that
He has a salt lick and mineral bucket in his box all the time.
That was the first thing we thought.
The nutritionist has seen him as well as the vet and they cant find a reason for it
Nicky |
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 10:37:13 AM
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| I think some horses just do it, I have known a few in the past that do it but not all the time, maybe they get a taste for it yuk |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 11:41:51 AM
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| This is very common if foals and is thought to give them some immunity to infection while they are on mum , but this should stop at few weeks old , any other behaviour like this is often stress related , try pouring some disinfectant on it or creosote, anything noxious and leaving it in the stable a a few days . |
   
www.dreamfield-arabians.com |
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Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 11:51:42 AM
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You say he goes out all day if the weather is OK but I'd put him out all day whether the weather is nice or not. If you are skipping him out four times a day and checking when anyone is passing this suggests to me he is standing in his stable during the day, so I would say it is stress/boredom related. Your weather can't be worse than my Scottish weather, and no horse could be more of a wimp than my purebred , but mine go out all day every day in the winter, well rugged, whether it is raining, blowing a gale or deep snow on the ground. |
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arabianrio
Gold Member
England
1300 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 12:15:30 PM
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| I had a problem with my horse a few years ago - well he was 6 1/2years not a foal. It seemed to occur during the late autumn when the goodness had gone out of the grass but I gave him a general mix of a well known brand of natural herbs with his feed and it solved the problem. |
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ella
Gold Member
United Kingdom
786 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 1:08:28 PM
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| In the horse I know that does this it's definitely a substitute grazing behaviour. |
   
"If an 'alternative treatment' has reliable effect it becomes classified simply as MEDICINE" D.B. |
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Mrs Vlacq
Platinum Member
Wales
3776 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 1:35:52 PM
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| is he on a lot of oil? they will eat droppings if they are on high oil diet. Or maybe he just feels he needs to top up his gut flora. Is he on shavings? you could offer him straw to eat too |
    
- V Khazad - V Calacirya & V Sulime - Quarida(L) - V Boogie Knights - V Hamra Tofiq |
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T42
Bronze Member
England
215 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 2:07:12 PM
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| Perhaps the stress has upset the gut flora balance. Try a good broad spectrum probiotic with prebiotics, probiotics & yea-sacc. They will sometimes eat muck as a way of restoring the balance. |
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templars
Platinum Member
England
1852 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2010 : 12:23:01 PM
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| We had a spate of it and found it was the horse feed that we were using. Some manufacturers add more herbs/garlic as the seasons change and that caused it for us - apparently the droppings smell more appetising if there's a higher herbal content. |
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nn
Gold Member
England
659 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2010 : 1:45:04 PM
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Some interesting ideas
Will try to cut out the oil in his diet and see if that helps.
If not it might be time to change feed.
He wont go out if the weather is dodgy as he has turned into a prima donna :)
Thanks everyone, will let you know how we get on.
Nicky
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poo munching :(
