SUPER fat stallion (pics added pg. 3)

[MindyLee]

Ok here's what I have been dealing with for 3 yrs in a row now...

 

1st of all, I have had 2 different vets opinions on this and both are stumped and now are only guessing, otherwise suggesting to take him to MSU in Lansing.

Blood tests done: all ok,

poo tests done : clean

has gut sound

eating drinking peeing and pooing normally

 

He is 30.5 inchs tall and super super fat. In the fall each yr he blows up and gets super fat and his belly feels like a water bed. The only thing that I can only guess on is that he eats the leaves that fall from the tree's and some how effects him that way. Well the last 2 yrs, once the snow hits he goes back to his normal chubby body weight. But this yr he seems to still be super fat. His diet is 1 cup of Stratagy every morning and 1.5-2 flakes of 2nd cutting grass/timothy hay twice a day. My vet said he looks like a mare that's about to give birth to twins LOL and even had him mistaken for a prego mare once by the other vet. I figured that now its cold and snowy and he has'nt lost this weight yet, I would ask here to see if anyone could give me any ideals on what they think could be causing him to be so fat. Otherwise he's totally healthy and acting normal and being his study self just super fat. This is not like over weight fat either, only in his belly area.

 

Thanks and if want to see how fat he is, email for pic as I cant post them.

 

 

[ohmt]

Sounds like he needs a lot more protein, if he's only fat in the belly area. The minis seem to need more protein than big horses which throws vets off-how tall and what's his weight?

 

[ohmt]

Ha, saw that you already answered my questions in your original post, I apologize! I would increase his strategy...build up to giving him a cup at night too. See what kind of changes you see and go from there. Is the hay pretty good quality? Could you post a picture? Sometimes that helps!

 

[MindyLee]

Sounds like he needs a lot more protein, if he's only fat in the belly area. The minis seem to need more protein than big horses which throws vets off-how tall and what's his weight?

30.5" about 300lbs (he's a draft type mini)

 

I have done protien buckets in the past but he has'nt had one in a while.

I get the 24% ones... I'll get him one on Sunday when TSC opens. Thanks!

 

Also he has 2 different types of salt blocks too.

a trace mineral with selenium and a natural salt lick (looks like a rock) for horses.

His hay is really nice looking and a nice deep green color. It's orchard grass/timothy mix with small amount of alfalfa.

 

[shorthorsemom]

I was given a draft type mini this fall. He looked huge in the belly but was actually light over the topline. As advised by the forum members I increased his protein and he has been steadily losing belly ever since. he is also on an exercise program as he drives as well..

I use 30% triple crown supplement. good luck. All belly may not be fat.

Adair

 

[HGFarm]

You said blood work was done... for what? Did they check his thyroid? Was he checked for being insulin resistant?

I too agree that he needs more protein on a regular basis, but if he is grossly obese, this is not the only problem.

I would find out what kind of blood tests they did..... and the previous post was right, not enough protein will make a big fat hay belly, but fat all over sounds like possible thyroid or insulin problem.

 

[MindyLee]

Thanks for the replys! OOPS! He's not fat all over just his belly.

 

If I remember correctly, he was checked for his thyroid, suger levels, how his internals where working properly, if he was anemic, and the vet joked if he was prego (lol) and some thing else but cant remember. I do remember the bill was huge. Then the 2nd vet checked his poo and also checked for the same few things. That bill to was pretty huge. Everything came back ok with both vets. Thats when it was suggested to take him to state. But I cant afford that bill. He's doing just fine except that fat belly and with it 3 yrs in a row, Im going to give it a go with the protien bucket as that just might be it (i hope)

and up his grain to x2 a day also.

Could someone help me post a pic???

 

[rabbitsfizz]

You can send me the pictures and I will put them up, and run you through posting them if you want?

 

[goatkisses]

Sounds like you are going about finding the problem in all the right ways.

My 34" gelding had a similar belly and I found it was from him scarfing up ANYTHING he could nibble on in the paddock and pasture area. He was eating coltsfoot weeds, and other weeds that not even the goats were eating.

In his case, changing my hay supplier worked a treat. It's not that he's eating any more - in fact - he's probably eating less bulk - but it's quality hay.

I do agree with the other posters to clarify with the vet as to what was tested during the blood tests.

Good luck.

 

[supaspot]

I see you use second cut hay , Ive always been told the first cut has more goodness to it , if he looks worse in the winter I would also suggest its lack of protein

 

[HGFarm]

I agree, sounds like you've had the right things done then and GOOD that all appears normal.

I feed alfalfa hay and have never had a problem with no meat on the topline and fat bellies. Their weight stays evenly distributed. The myths of alfalfa being 'too hot' is just that- a myth. Spring pasture grass has WAY more proteins and sugars than alfalfa does. I keep two or three different kinds of salt out also so they can take what kind they want/need.

Sounds like you are on the right path and will find the right combo for your little guy.

 

[ruffian]

Hmm - 4 leaves of hay per day? Is that full leaves? Is he cleaning it all up? Might be just too much hay. My guys only get 1 leaf twice a day. Just a thought. Sounds like you are getting lots of great advice!

 

[Marty]

Some of mine blow up in the late fall. I contribute it to them grabbing the leaves that fall off the trees and that dang stupid NUTS that could kill them..... those lousy acorns that they sneak into their system before I realized it and get out there and put the temporary fence up to keep them out of that area. I go through this every stinking fall. Now, the ones that got into the leaves and nuts are pretty much back to where they need to be but man oh man you should have seen them blow up, very scary.

 

[MindyLee]

Hay Dana, yep 2 flakes a day only cause their super tiny flakes which make up a normal size flake. Guess I should have stated that. I did notice that he is cutting through the snow and eating old leaves and wondering if that's why he's still fat. I dont recall him doing that in the past. Normally when it snows he hangs out on one side of his pasture only. But this yr he's hanging on the back side where all the trees line his pasture. So Im also going to switch pastures with him and my other stud Sentra cause Sentra dont eat leaves and also Sentra's pasture dont have leaves in it.

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[Michelle@wescofarms]

Could you post a pic of your stallion?

Sometimes it's just his conformation. My first stallion was very drafty in build and always had a belly. It was his conformation more than anything. He was fat, but even fit he just had a belly, his son (one of our pet geldings is the same way).

Sugar Creek Houdini in 2000

His son Ray

 

[disneyhorse]

Hmm - 4 leaves of hay per day? Is that full leaves? Is he cleaning it all up? Might be just too much hay. My guys only get 1 leaf twice a day. Just a thought. Sounds like you are getting lots of great advice!

Actually weighing the feed (both concentrates and hay) is usually the best way to go when trying to control a horse's diet. "Leaves" or "flakes" of hay are particularly difficult to judge because the bales differ so greatly. And our bales here are 100+ pound three-strand bales, so a "flake" of hay weighs about seven pounds... the average full size horse eats two to three of them daily.

I have a scale that I use regularly to weigh food... I am pretty darn accurate to the pound when weighing flakes of hay! Just be sure to never cut down their forage less than 1% of the horse's total body weight per day... and be sure you get an accurate weight of the actual horse, too because so many people mis-judge the weights of their horses! If you ever go to the vets or the truck scales, take advantage of the scales.

Good luck,

Andrea

 

[MindyLee]

Actually weighing the feed (both concentrates and hay) is usually the best way to go when trying to control a horse's diet. "Leaves" or "flakes" of hay are particularly difficult to judge because the bales differ so greatly. And our bales here are 100+ pound three-strand bales, so a "flake" of hay weighs about seven pounds... the average full size horse eats two to three of them daily.

I have a scale that I use regularly to weigh food... I am pretty darn accurate to the pound when weighing flakes of hay! Just be sure to never cut down their forage less than 1% of the horse's total body weight per day... and be sure you get an accurate weight of the actual horse, too because so many people mis-judge the weights of their horses! If you ever go to the vets or the truck scales, take advantage of the scales.

Hi Andrea! What kind of scale can be used to weigh hay? Could a ditgial bathroom scale work?

I've never ever had a issue with horses weight since I got into minis in 2004 till this year and it's driving me nutz!!! LOL 1st it was the skinny yrling which had hook worms, then it was my 14 yr old mare who got into some poisonous plants who lost about 1/2 her body weight which is back to her fat sassy self. And now my little Bob who has this big belly. ARGGGGG!!!

I'm also starting to wonder that something with changing my hay guy could be part of this as well. I am almost out of the new stuff and will be calling my old guy next paycheck to get the hay I used to get as I never had a issue with his stuff even though this new stuff looks simular.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Minimor]

Just curious--what is his body condition otherwise--your topic title says he is super fat (making me picture a horse that is just plain obese, fat all over) but then you say only his belly is fat...what exactly is his topline like? Is it well rounded, very well rounded with a crease down his back, not so well rounded, maybe a little thin? With his belly being big, is that with his ribs well covered with fat, or can you feel ribs easily? Is the belly fat actually fat, as in soft/flabby or is it just a big round belly, kind of bloated and hard rather than soft with fat?

Does he clean up all his hay between feeds? if so, how quickly does he have it eaten up? Is it gone within the first hour, or is there some left until about an hour before the next feed?

Just wondering, because there is a big difference between fat and a big belly; if his feed is gone very quickly he may just have a high metabolism and needs more feed in comparison to what the others eat--mine go out and dig around in the snow for buried hay if they run out of hay (doesn't happen most days) and they get hungry, otherwise they don't bother. I would be inclined to increase his hay--or buy some other that is higher in protein so that he gets more from less--or increase his grain ration, perhaps giving him something that has high protein and higher fat.

There are some kitchen scales that are good for weighing feed. I actually have an old fishing tool here that I use--it is a hanging scale with a hook at the bottom. I just put my grain in a plastic bag & hang it on the hook. With hay I just tie the bundle up with a couple of twines & hang it on the scale--it's not as handy as a kitchen scale but it's no big chore to do it this way & it gives me an accurate weight on my feed.

 

[attwoode]

Sounds like you might want to double check the amount of food he is getting. He's not very tall and may be getting more calories than he needs.

 

[HGFarm]

Minimor has some good questions and it is hard to give advice when we can't see what he looks like. Also, some of his belly may be just winter hair.

If it is due to lack of protein, cutting his feed back will certainly not do him any good. Maybe he is eating leaves from the trees because he is not getting enough of what he needs and is looking for it somewhere?