Need advice with very, very skinny 9 mo old sick filly.

[wwminis]

Beet pulp, and beet pulp, and beet pulp!I'd also start her on ulcer medication as well, talk with your vet.

Good luck!

Do as above and put her on some good Senior Feed!

 

[Katiean]

I had a mare have a real bad reaction to teff hay. I used Beet pulp, SafeChoice, sweet feed and calf mana. It put weight on. But not too fast. You would never know she had any problem.

 

[user 3234]

I was trying to find beet pulp but the local feed stores only sell it in 50 lb bags. Right, for a 120 lb mini that should last a life time.

Is there anything anyone can recommend maybe in the way of treats or feed that may already have the beet pulp in it?

 

[Gini]

Sherry, you have some sand in their area's right? That 50 lb bag only lasts me 2 months as I feed it to all of mine once a day. I found not only it helps with the weight but I have had only 2 colics in the last 12 years (fingers crossed) and the Doctor says it could be due to my feeding the beet pulp daily. The only thing I feed is Strategy, bermuda hay and beet pulp. My guys get this year around. I sometimes throw a 1/2 flake of alfalfa in every few days as a treat. You should see the look on all their faces when they are eating that small amount of alfalfa.

 

[muffntuf]

ADM Jr Glo, Purina Jr Equine are two that have beet pulp in it already. And you are correct beet pulp comes generally in a 40# bag, 50 # if it is the pellets. And for one mini that could last several months. But since it is dried, unless it gets moisture on it - it should be fine to store. I store a pallet at a time and this lasts me about 12 weeks.

 

[HGFarm]

I agree that the bag of beet pulp will not last as long as you think, LOL I buy the shredded with no molasses added. Mine took a few days to get used to it, but LOVE it now.

How is she doing? Any better at all? Has your vet come up with any new info?

 

[Mominis]

Since sand has been mentioned as a possible issue, have you checked her for it? Just take a fecal ball and toss it in some water. When it dissolves, see if there is sand in the water. A little gross, but effective.

 

[mizbeth]

Hello

I agree, I would start her on probios and ulcer meds. I think Equine Jr., is a good idea as well. As soon as she starts feeling better, she will eat.

If she will not eat the Jr. feed, then try very wet beet pulp (shredded with molasses). She should eat that or at the very least drink the water/liquid from it. A few CC's of Kayro Syrup may help increase her appetite as well. (once a day).

Good luck to you, I hope she turns around for you. Please let us know how she does.

B

 

[muffntuf]

One other thought to help increase her appetite is a Vitamin B shot from the vet.

 

[user 3234]

When you buy beet pulp am I correct to assume it comes as pellets and you have to boil it? Not really familiar with it.

My husband also has found a name for her, S&N Ranch Desert Willow. She reminds me of two tiny willow trees we planted. One blew over thought it was dead, placed it back in the ground deeper and with time and water it came back. The second one for what ever reason started splitting at the joints and we have tied and ducted tape it back to life and it also is a fighter. Both trees are over 5 feet tall. Kind of like this little girl, she has been through so much in her young life yet coming back as a fighter and thus the name, Willow.

 

[mizbeth]

I have not heard of boiling beet pulp. But look for and get the shredded beet pulp with molasses. That should work fine and yes it is big bag, but lasts a long time. It would be worth the money to get it, in the results you will get from it. Even though Equine Jr. has beet pulp in it, a cup or two of wet beet pulp on top of her feed should help her immensley.

Yes, Willow is a nice name.

 

[Bunnylady]

When you buy beet pulp am I correct to assume it comes as pellets and you have to boil it? Not really familiar with it.

Beet pulp comes as shreds and as pellets. The pellets are very tightly compressed, and must be soaked because they expand so much when they absorb water. The shreds look sort of like small wood shavings, most people soak them but you don't have to. The shreds come with or without molasses added (the molasses makes them a bit more palatable to some horses). Pellets need to be soaked for several hours, because it takes a while to get water all the way into them. Shreds absorb water very quickly, after about twenty minutes they have absorbed about as much as they ever will. I usually mix about equal amounts of beet pulp shreds and water; you can add more if you want a soupier mix. Some people use warm water, I just use room temperature and it works just fine.

I like the name "Willow" too!

 

[wildoak]

I'd agree with all of the above

. I wouldn't hesitate to get some probiotics into her. Probios is readily available at most feed stores, and Fastrack is a little harder to find but a great product. I am feeding it daily to all of mine now, and feel that it's making a difference in them. Ulcer meds also may make a big difference in getting her appetite back.

Beet pulp doesn't need to be boiled but it's usually fed soaked, and it absorbs faster with warm/hot water. Also makes a nice sloppy warm mash for them in cooler weather.

The Platinum Performance product mentioned can be found and ordered from their website, www.platinumperformance.com

I don't know which product was referenced but their basic equine Platinum Performance product is a great place to start.

Good luck with Willow, sounds like she is in good hands now.

Jan

 

[HGFarm]

I bought the pellets once and they were a pain to soak.... they are hard as rocks and then my horses would not touch them... They were scarfing the shreds though within a couple of days and like that, and it's much easier to prepare them, in my opinion.

 

[user 3234]

Well I was hoping to get some feedback from the lab. My vet says we should know tomorrow what Willow has. It has taken a week. The vet has had her on one shot a day of Naxcel antibiotic for five days. Along with Robatussim DM for the cough. Her "snots" have cleared up quite a bit, but she still has that dry cough.

How many grams of probiotic paste can I give a 120" mini and how often. The directions on the side on not real clear. It states 10 grams for a foal at birth and on day 4. I thought for her weight maybe 5 grams, but how often with her on antibiotic can I give it?

 

[chandab]

Well I was hoping to get some feedback from the lab. My vet says we should know tomorrow what Willow has. It has taken a week. The vet has had her on one shot a day of Naxcel antibiotic for five days. Along with Robatussim DM for the cough. Her "snots" have cleared up quite a bit, but she still has that dry cough.
How many grams of probiotic paste can I give a 120" mini and how often. The directions on the side on not real clear. It states 10 grams for a foal at birth and on day 4. I thought for her weight maybe 5 grams, but how often with her on antibiotic can I give it?

I've used ProBios paste on my minis, and I usually give 10 grams to the minis (I figure mine are about 1/3 full size, so I give them 1/3 dose). I've not used it for an extended period, but under stressful situations it can be used daily. [i am currently feeding a probiotice daily to a senior gelding, and it does seem to be helping him digest his feed better, but its not ProBios brand.] I do use the ProBios treats after deworming, they are easy to use and my horses like them. [i tried the dispersable powder, but most of my horses wouldn't touch their food with it mixed in, so I'll stick with the paste or treats.]

Here's a link to their website: http://www.probios.com/ Perhaps you can find more information there. Here's their page on how to use the products for horses: http://www.probios.com/equinePrograms.html Hope it helps.

 

[user 3234]

Thank you all for your prayers for Willow. Well the results came back on Willow's culture. She has Staphylococcus Aureus. The vet now has her on Uniprim (Trimethoprim/Sulfadiazine) which can be given orally. She hardly has any muscle on her so all the Naxcel shots being administered were being given in her bottom. That is one sore bottom. The vet also gave her ulcergard (did not have gastrogard) to be administered after her cold is over. The pribiotics have helped.

Thank you for all your prayers. This little girl can use it. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being bottom and 10 tops she is maybe a 1 1/2. You just can not tell looking at her because she has a North Dakota fur coat on. Compared to my AZ minis her coat is twice the density.

She will be in isolation for a full 3 weeks to a month from my others minis. She can see them, but can not touch and they do not have access to her pen. She talks to them constantly.

 

[muffntuf]

Well you have a goal to work towards and she has friends across the way. She will be good to go soon! Just have patience.