Help Needed with mal-absortion disease

[StarRidgeAcres]

Below is the email I recieved. I have no advice to offer, but they are very desperate so I offered to post here and she gave me permission to do so. I will make sure she gets any/all responses or you can contact her directly at [email protected]. I believe this horse is about 22 years old if I remember correctly. Ryan is her grandson.

 

Email:

 

Dear Horse Friends: Most of you over the years have seen our gelding "Vandy Man" in the show arena with many youth and amatuers. This year he did his job performing at all the shows and then at the AMHR Nationals shown by 5 different youth and an amateur, placing Top Ten in all most every class he was in. We have been battling a "weight" issue with him since July 09 without success. Most of you have noticed his substantial weight loss. He has undergone every test imaginable. He is a member of our family, Ryan's best friend and we would do anything to help him. I took Vandy to the University of Missouri Columbia to have some more tests run today and finally found the problem. The results are not good. He has a mal-absortion disease causing his intestine walls to thicken making nutritional absortion very difficult. All the tests results are not in but the diagnosis is grim no matter what. He needs to eat the highest concentrated caloric intake possible. He does not want to eat a large quantity and seems to get more picky everyday. Although I do believe that is what we are doing, any suggestions to run by the University &/or our vet would be appreciated. I have gotten a lot of very good advise from "non" professionals over the years. At this point Vandy is feeling fine, still bright, alert and active but it will not last for long without nutrition. I have even considered shipping in special hay from Kentucky but have not done so as yet. I will thank you in advance for all your prayers for our precious Vandy Krista CallahanRoyal T Farm Training Center636-485-8044

 

[targetsmom]

Gosh, I sure hope that a solution is found. I will offer a couple of ideas from my experience with colic surgeries. My big horse has been functioning since 2001 with only half his small intestines and was given a grim prognosis after that second surgery. My vet suggested a senior feed and I have been feeding Nutrena Senior, a complete feed that is easy to digest and high in fat. I also keep Target out 24/7 so he can graze at will. He has been doing great and will turn 25 soon.

The lastest colic surgery we had was on a yearling show stallion this summer, and getting him to eat post surgery has been a challenge. I add Stomach Soother to his grain, which is supposed to help prevent ulcers and spark appetite (www.stomachsoother.com). He is now on ulcer treatment too (Gastroguard). He also is on grass, at least a few hours a day.

Good luck with him!!!

 

[Allure Ranch]

I'm not an expert on this subject but I would personally think that the treatment would vary depending on the diagnosis and it may include dietary restrictions and medications such as anti-diarrheals, antibiotics, or enzyme replacements.

Obviously, there other disorders in addition to specific intestinal abnormalities or deficiencies. A number of these other disorders can hinder the absorption. Liver disease, pancreatic disease, and bacterial overgrowth are among the numerous conditions that can hinder absorption from the small intestine.

 

Did they give you a clear diagnosis and discuss a treatment protocol?

 

[AnnaC]

May I suggest adding a really good quality balancer to his feed - the daily amount needed is small and quickly eaten/finished by a picky eater, and will at least (hopefully) provide him with the necessary vitamins and minerals. Or perhaps simply feed the balancer alone if he could be out on good grass 24/7 - good old "Doctor Green" can often be the best thing for horses with compromised digestive systems.

Also, as suggested, senior feeds can be beneficial as they are made to be easily absorbed.

Wishing them good luck with finding something to help Vandy - obviously a well loved fella.

Anna

 

[mizbeth]

I have a situation very similar here. My stallion is 28 and has no teeth to speak of. He will NOT OF COURSE eat mushy feed at all he simply turns his nose up at it, but does eat his strategy - Sr. feed is not helping. He has just started failing in the spring of this year and has been healthy looking up until then.

I would love to hear all of your responses.

Thank you,

 

[Allure Ranch]

I have a situation very similar here. My stallion is 28 and has no teeth to speak of. He will NOT OF COURSE eat mushy feed at all he simply turns his nose up at it, but does eat his strategy - Sr. feed is not helping. He has just started failing in the spring of this year and has been healthy looking up until then.

I would love to hear all of your responses.

Thank you,

Beth you might want to considered changing him over to Equine Senior and increasing his feed consumption to (5 cups) in the morning and (5 cups) in theevening. My friend Bronagh has a 28 year old son of "Buckeroo" and he began to drop weight since he literally has no teeth either after Carls last visit. (Not do to Carl though).

 

She has since changed his feed and increased his consumption and he looks like a different horse now. You'll also want to feed him by himself.....

 

[supaspot]

its an expensive option but worth considering on a short term basis .. what about intravenous feeding , it could give you time to find an alternative

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3128146

 

[copperwood farm]

You might want to try the supplement 'Fat Cat' , added to his feed should add some extra weight.

 

[little lady]

The first thing that comes to my mind would be IV's. Don't have any other ideas but would like to extend my thoughts and prayers. I was at a show this summer and saw Vandy and Ryan in action...priceless!! Wishing them the best of luck in finding something to help.

 

[mizbeth]

Hi Kimberly,

Yes, I have done all those things. Giving him nearly 8 cups two times a day of Sr. feed and feeding him by himself. It does not matter with him, nothing changes. He is just "giving out" I am certain and sad to see him waste like that. I have treated him for uclers, antibitiocs etc., thinking any of these things would help. I gave him a mare earlier in the year when he was still in good weight and since then he has dropped considerably in weight. He is hungry though and calls for his feed, just will NOT put weight on - he does eat slower than he used to. It is most likely not the disease this topic is referring to, but simply old age. My old mare (31) is also a hard keeper now too, she is thin but has been this way for several years. He could perhaps go longer, but doubt this winter will do either of them any good. Last year both were blanketed to keep them warm.

I have noticed though that when putting both out on nice pasture (not together), that neither of them will graze, they just stand around. Both are mentally alert, can get up and down with little problems, but perhaps it is near time for them?

 

[Allure Ranch]

Hi Kimberly,

Yes, I have done all those things. Giving him nearly 8 cups two times a day of Sr. feed and feeding him by himself. It does not matter with him, nothing changes. He is just "giving out" I am certain and sad to see him waste like that. I have treated him for uclers, antibitiocs etc., thinking any of these things would help. I gave him a mare earlier in the year when he was still in good weight and since then he has dropped considerably in weight. He is hungry though and calls for his feed, just will NOT put weight on - he does eat slower than he used to. It is most likely not the disease this topic is referring to, but simply old age. My old mare (31) is also a hard keeper now too, she is thin but has been this way for several years. He could perhaps go longer, but doubt this winter will do either of them any good. Last year both were blanketed to keep them warm.

I have noticed though that when putting both out on nice pasture (not together), that neither of them will graze, they just stand around. Both are mentally alert, can get up and down with little problems, but perhaps it is near time for them?

Beth,

 

I'm terribly sorry.... and know how difficult this must be for you.

 

[chandab]

I have a situation very similar here. My stallion is 28 and has no teeth to speak of. He will NOT OF COURSE eat mushy feed at all he simply turns his nose up at it, but does eat his strategy - Sr. feed is not helping. He has just started failing in the spring of this year and has been healthy looking up until then.

I would love to hear all of your responses.

Thank you,

I have you tried a different brand of senior? Or perhaps a complete feed? Something with a higher fat level? Just throwing something out there. I do know not all seniors are created equal, and some just don't do the job for hard keepers or one with special issues.

 

[Minimor]

I have no personal experience with this condition, nor with this particular product, but someone told me about this a little while back and I thought it looked interesting. I saved the link just in case:

Nourish Digestion Solution

I have no idea if it would help this horse, but perhaps it might be worth a try.