Gelding Went Off His Hay & Grain This Morning

[Little Wolf Ranch]

First let me give you some background information on my sweetheart who has for some unknown reason went of his hay and grain.....

"PISTOL"

almost 19 y/o QH gelding who stands about 15.1hh and weighs about 950lbs.

Heathy, never sick a day in his life not even with a cold or anything - kept UTD on shots, coggins, etc.

Never stalled, has run in paddock and is blanketed at night because he doesn't grow a thick winter coat (normal for him)

Great teeth, hooves, joints and no diet issues

Is fed plenty of hay twice daily (never runs out between AM & PM meals)

Fed 4lbs 12% pelleted grain with a top dressing of 1/2 cup corn oil (helps keep his weight up) twice per day

No supplements, additives, etc.

Practically a garbage disposal - will eat anything no matter how much it is

I've owned him since he was 5 y/o and my neighbor owned him from 3-5 y/o as a youngster he was abused/neglected by a lady who was "training" (beating/electrifying/inflicting pain) him to be a bronc horse

Okay this morning I went out to feed him and he showed very very little interest in his grain - ate about 1/3 of it and left the rest alone. Ate all his hay from PM feeding last night but has only ate about half since his morning feeding.....took all his vitals and listened for gut sounds - all normal - and he had a normal bowel movement when I was out with him......called the vet and talked to him and he told me not to be too concerned and told me to go to the store and grab the following:

• alfalfa pellets
• Source Senior Supplement
• Electrolytes
• favorite horse treats
• Ivermectin dewormer
• cut corn

He told me to give him the following as his meal tonight and from here on out for AM & PM meals on top of deworming him :

• 2 pounds 12% grain
• 1 pound alfalfa pellets
• 1/2 scoop Source Senior Supplement
• 1/2 scoop electrolytes
• 1/2 pound cut corn
• 1/2 cup of his favorite treats crushed up

My concern is I have no clue as to why he went off his grain, he never refuses feed and is always SUPER eager to eat and eats everything in sight....this is bothering me immensly. He told me the cut corn and crushed treats were to stimulate his appetite and everything else was to be beneficial for him.....he is showing no signs of pain except he "grunted" a little bit once while I was out there - sounded like when he "lets his air out" after riding for a few minutes. No colic symptoms, he's drinking well (also added electrolytes to his water) and still wants attention but isn't acting like his normal self......

If you have any advice, please feel free to share - I don't like seeing my "old man" out of his normal perky demeanor.

 

[Mock2Farms]

From personal experience my first thought would be colic.. one I ended up having to put down had no signs other than going off feed and just acting "lazy". Id keep an eye on him, especially since he is a bit older. Hope his apetite picks up!

 

[HGStables]

It could be colic even gas colic. This will sound wierd but go to your local grocery store get a box of plain bran cereal. Worked great on my mare, you can also to be safe get some mineral oil in him.

 

[mydaddysjag]

I dont mean to sound like im undermining your vet, but if hes off of his grain because of colic, changing his feed around seems more likely to make it worse. The last thing I would be doing for a horse with colic is doing a major overhaul in their feed. Along with that, Im not sure how balanced that diet would be. Adding a little bit of this and a little bit of that doesnt take into consideration the vitamins/minerals in each item, and can throw things out of wack. Maybe ask your vet is you could give him some maalox. In the past when Ive had horses go off of grain but seem otherwise fine, the Maalox usually works.

 

[Jetiki]

Not a vet but have worked for several. Soaked alfalfa pellets might entice him to eat, I would probably dose with Maalox 60cc's, and watch him closely to see if vet intervention would be needed. The change in the weather that we are having right now can cause issues such as this. If he needs more weight in the winter, adding the alfalfa pellets to his diet might help him maintain better.

Karen

 

[ohmt]

Not a vet either, but I am studying equine nutrition here in college and changing his feed like that is a very bad idea, especially if he was already suffering from a little bout of colic.

Gas colic is due to rapid changes in the microbial population of a horse's hindgut. Change of feed=change of pH and nutrients available so that very large amount of microbes in the cecum die off while new microbes take over. The dying microbes release endotoxins and from there your horse is done for.

I would give electrolytes and probiotics and Maalox, but please keep the same feeding regime other than that.

ETA: Now that I am rereading what you wrote-is what the vet recommended exactly what you usually feed except for the corn? As long as everything is fed in the same proportions as before, then you're ok

Good luck and keep us updated!

 

[JMS Miniatures]

Like the others I wouldn't rule out colic just yet. He may sound ok now but then later you may not hear any gut sounds. I would take him out and just lounge him for a bit just to get things moving in there, see if that helps any. Has he been drinking good? Since it is colder and if he isn't drinking very good it can cause colic as well if they become dehydrated. Another thing could be ulcers. Going off food is also a sign of ulcers, plus along with behavoiral changes, have you noticed anything else going on with his behavior?

I had one that just all of the sudden go off his food but he never coliced, we also treated him for ulcers but after scoping him he had no ulcers. He started eating once I changed his food and has been fine since. Now I don't necessarly recommend that but all this extra feed the guy recommended to you just sends a red flag to me. I've been told many times not to give corn to horses cause it can cause them to colic, I had one colic because my dad liked giving whole corn as a treat, I put a stop to that. I just personally would not do cut corn. Electrolytes are fine to give IMO especially if he isn't drinking very well. I personally would avoid the alfalfa pellets and just give him the regular hay, giving him some of his faviorite treats isn't a bad thing it may help bring back his appetitie, and the senior supplement isn't bad either but I would personally hold off giving that to him til he starts eating. With a horse his age I would recommend a sr. food or a supplement to start him off right for his golden years, a good Sr feed is good for mature horses period. Good luck!