As your horse ages, they will be susceptible to different parasites. Nine poisonous plants horses should avoid, Taking on an older horse: sensible choice for younger or more novice rider, As the horse starts to age it is likely to show obvious signs of getting older by the grey hairs around the eyes, ears, forehead and muzzle, Adapting nutrition is the key factor in maintaining the health of the aged horse, pronounced localised fat pads on the shoulders, rump and above the eyes, growing a thick, coarse, curly coat which does not shed in the summer, excessive drinking, sweating, and urinating. For a first horse or pony one would be wise to choose an animal in its teens. These supplements are designed to help older horses gain weight and maintain their weight as they grow older. It is just so odd that he hasn't seem to lose his appetite or become lethargic enough to not want to move much. When determining if a horse is underweight, there are six main areas of the body to evaluate: along the neck, along the withers, the crease down the back, the tailhead, ribs, and behind the shoulder. The Horsesexperts answer your questions during a monthly live audio event. Remember to keep an eye on the fit of the saddle. Internal parasites compete with protein utilization and can also disrupt the digestive tract tissue, causing irritation, which makes it hard for a horse to maintain weight. Many horses in the prime of their lives can have dental problems that interfere with chewing. Until ~1.5 months ago was still doing light ride once/week and seemed . Varying the work too will keep him enthusiastic. I rehab senior horses, and my go-to is adding soaked hay pellets to the diet. Classic signs include, yes, an abnormal hair coat and a failure to shed, but also abnormal sweating, loss of muscle mass, and increased water intake and urination, among others. Shredded beet pulp is another form of high-quality forage that can be soaked before being fed. I've personally worked with hundreds of horses, founded an run a successful 501(c)3 and even run a program promoting adoption of wild burros in cooperation with the US Government. a much higher susceptibility to laminitis. And peppermint tea he loved. Veterinary medicine was not always her Sign up for weekly pet health tips and insights from our veterinarians. In the older horse, tooth problems can limit the horses ability to chew. The importance of a well-balanced, forage-first diet cannot be underestimated. A cataract is a cloudy opacity which forms in the lens. Lack of the right kind of exercise . Had yearly teeth floating, Oct. he had a tooth extraction due to a receded gum, not decay. Within a herd of horses, even a small herd such as we keep on our own properties, there are bullies and underdogs. Its a common fact that horses over the age of 20 often lose the ability to process and absorb enough energy to maintain a healthy weight. Addressing weight loss can be as simple as adding water to the feed is easier to digest or adding a supplement or two to improve gastro efficiency. With so more many senior horses in the country today, finding a solution for your horse is easier than you may think. Feeding 2.5% body weight for maintenance at a skinny horses' current weight will only succeed in keeping it's weight static, to increase weight and condition, you must set a goal and feed at a rate corresponding to the desired body weight. 10 Fun Facts About the American Paint Horse. This advice mentionssome of the problems older horses may develop, do not be discouraged from taking one on. Like with people, the best thing you can do for your animal is staying vigilant and be proactive to whatever issues that may arise to prevent any hurdle from becoming a full-blown problem. Its important to pay close attention to older horses especially, because changes (like weight loss) can happen rapidly. It is a problem most commonly seen in older horses, but can be present at any age. Better options for senior horse weight management include high-quality grass hay with soft stems, soaked hay cubes, or the newer chopped hays in a bag that are fortified with vitamins and minerals. The older horse may also have a hollowed appearance to the face with deep depressions above the eyes. Or your old horse might be short-changed on nutrition. In the form of a mash, beet pulp is easy for a horse to eat despite compromised dentition. Horses are traditionally described as aged from nine years onwards. Veterinary advice should be sought if the horse is showing signs of ill health, before embarking on sustained drug therapy for other conditions. Sellon, D. International Veterinary Information Service. Advancing years will affect a horses ability to chew and digest, therefore feeds that are easy to chew, highly digestible and made with top-quality ingredients should be provided. A company limited by guarantee. There are a number of places I would start. What is the actual weight of each of your horses? However this would now be viewed as the prime of the horse and a decline not really expected to set in until perhaps the mid teens. You should always have your horse checked for liver and kidney disorders before adding any higher fat foods to your horses diet. Dr. gave him a body score of 3. "Depression can often lead to . Reactions: Fransurrey, honetpot, AandK and 9 others. here is a brief history: * She is on very, very nice hay (nicest hay I have ever seen) diet with Healthy Glow (20+% fat) feed. The best way to keep your horse warm and at a healthy weight is to offer lots of good-quality hay. You can purchase chopped hay, alfalfa, or shredded beet pulp at most local feed stores. Once detected your vet can offer several treatments for Cushings disease which improve the horses quality of life; all treatments are lifelong. There are many feed supplements available which are widely used to aid joint repair and reduce stiffness. Measure your horses body condition score. Normally at this time of year we are able to put the horses back on spring pasture, which would likely take care of the weight issue. The range is 1 (emaciated) to 9 (obese) with the ideal being 5. A young horse should be on the lean side. Thread is now CLOSED for further comments. He liked beet pulp and alfalfa soaked pellets and normal grass hay. This provides the horse with roughage and an adequate supply of energy and vitamins. The first step to discovering the cause of the weight loss is to determine exactly how much the horse is eating. As the horse starts to age it is likely to show obvious signs of getting older by the grey hairs around the eyes, ears, forehead and muzzle. Reducing one, and eventually all of the following factors: speed of work, height of fences, the level of schooling, weight of rider, length of time ridden. You say that hes up-to-date on his deworming but if youve just been following a rotational deworming calendar and not taking into account fecal egg counts, resistance, and variations due to season and location, then he could still have a parasite issue. Determining Cause of Weight Loss in Horses - The Horse - Your Guide Ship speed applies to in stock items, pending location. Beet pulp is another excellent, safe source of fiber and calories. Eating Well But Losing Weight: Is This Horse All Right? - Kentucky Hay should be fed soaked to increase its palatability and it is best fed from a pile at ground level. Schott, H. Veterinary Information Network. My Horse is Losing Condition, Why? - Home - Exclusively Equine The best way to stay up to date with what's going on at Blue Cross is to join our mailing list. We are constantly adding new specials to our site. You might want to have your veterinarian check him over to rule out any body or mouth/dental pain, and I would certainly do that if his condition doesnt improve with increased calorie intake. This allows a horse to eat more hay, making the ration safer for intestinal health. He lives in a group pasture with free-choice access to a round bale. Intestinal parasites can cause weight loss by interfering with the horses intestinal absorption of vital nutrients. Often the underdogs are bullied away from bale feeders or the best grazing. But often he ate little acting like he had belly pain. I took a taste In general, these recommendations are nice. Many competition horses and ponies continue to enjoy a productive career with younger riders. A good equation to use to monitor your horses weight is: (Weight=(Heart girth (in) * Heart girth (in) * Length (in)). Complete details on our, Ride Along items are eligible for free shipping when shipped with your next AutoShip order or any, Dog Digestion & Digestion Aid Supplements, Free Shipping Every Day on AutoShip Supplements Over $40 & Orders Over $75, Help for Horses that Lose Weight in the Winter. External parasites can be a problem too. Many horses continue into their 20s performing well. Foals and older horses may be particularly affected. If, for example, your horse is on pasture only, you may think that it is eating enough food when in actuality, it is not. A horses dietary need is often dictated by its breed, sex, age, activity level, and other statuses. Esser, Melissa. Even though horses today will often live longer than their grandparents and sustain better health, theres still a number of tips and tricks to follow to make sure your horse continues to have a productive career and wholesome retirement. Choosing the right wormer means selecting a wormer with the correct active ingredients to, My horses eye is swollen, and Im not sure what to do. Particularly for the highly strung horse, stress may contribute to unexpected weight loss. Some type of disease may be the next thing to look for. The solution becomes simple: add more calories to the ration. Does not include personalized items like engraving, embroidery, SmartPaks, or PortionPaks. No, that's not true, I am here to promote everything equestrian and everyone enjoying horses! As horses age, some of their systems begin to function less efficiently. Degenerative joint disease causes lameness in horses affected by this condition. Older horses require regular attention to their feet to ensure that the foot remains balanced and healthy. Poor dental health, including difficulty chewing, may play a role in unexpected weight loss. Be aware of when grass is most high in dangerous sugars, and limit intake, Try to use pasture that is not designed for cattle and sheep and therefore high in ryegrasses and clover, Do not feed cereal feeds especially to the older horse; their systems become less able to deal with the high levels of starch, Instead supplement with hay or low calorie alfalfa chaff if necessary, Worm count to make sure your worming programme is effective, Be aware of the signs of Cushings disease, Make sure the horse is exercised appropriately, Keeping work regular it would be harder for an older horse to just be ridden at weekends. Born in England, she earned her undergraduate degree at Edinburgh University, in Scotland, and her masters and doctorate in nutrition at the University of California, Davis. Possible signs that a horse may be suffering from potential liver and kidney problems are general poor body and coat condition and in some cases loss of appetite, which in turn leads to weight loss. If you are competing with your horse, or riding demanding trails, or hauling logs out of the bush every day, you might notice your horse lose weight and it will need a few extra meals to stay in good shape. With advancing years comes an increased risk of arthritis. Parasites can take their toll on horses at any stage of life. Horse owners that have older horses sometimes switch to using complete feeds formulated for senior horses. Maintain regular deworming practices. Our equine nutritionist suggests simple ways to increase his body condition. These supplements are designed to help older horses gain weight and maintain their weight as they grow older. Recently had a vet come and did the routine checks but didn't find anything wrong, but he believes that there may be something wrong intestinal or something else he is unable to check without a pricey thorough examination. Instead of oil (which can be messy) you might prefer to use a solid fat supplement. (source). Its also important to rule out whether he is being kept off the hay by other, more dominant horses in the pasture or whether he might be in some mild discomfort that is keeping him from making the effort to get to the hay. With luck youll find a trend that explains his weight loss. Are multiple horses underweight or just one individual? If an infectious or inflammatory disease is found to be the cause of weight loss, it will need to be treated accordingly. In cases of tapeworms and encysted small strongyle larvae, deworming may be recommended despite not detecting parasite eggs from a fecal test. Database Record Viewer | Horse Side Vet Guide She has never been a picky eater. You may be surprised to learn that changing your dog's food is one of the most common causes of weight loss. Do right by him an set him free it's not easy but we as owners have that responsibility. Not taking into account increased caloric needs. However, good management and appropriate exercise on veterinary advice, can reduce the degree to which it inhibits the horse. It should be clean and dust-free, and a mix of meadow grasses rather than seed hay may prove more palatable for the older animal or those with digestive problems. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. These two factors are linked, as the horse must be able to thoroughly chew his feed for proper digestion to proceed in the intestinal tract. Horses, like people, are enjoying longer lives and better health than their grandparents. Parasites. Moreover, keep track of how much food is actually being consumed as this could be another reason why your horse is having trouble with its weight. Hi I was wondering how much pellelted hay you feed at one feeding perhaps in pounds. Your 20-year-old stallion can quickly turn into a thin, ribby, and less robust version of itself. When feeding oil, supplement with vitamin E, which is an important anti-oxidant. See a GP just in case. They are fiber-based, often with alfalfa, but contain highly palatable, chewable and digestible materials along with energy sources of fat, and vitamins and minerals. Weight loss, by definition, is the reduction of total body mass. This is true for any age horse. I find with older TBs, after excluding physical issues, ie ulcers etc that high protein high fat works best. SmartPak Equine is the premier online provider of horse supplies and equine supplements. If your horse is not exhibiting any other signs of distress and you have been deworming them as needed, then the solution to your problem may be as simple as changing to a senior horse diet. Addressing Weight Loss in Older Horses He was always blanketed for cold. I have a B.S. When More Groceries Wont Fix It: How to Approach Weight Loss in the Horse. Do Ponies Need Grain? The heat combined with pesky biting insects can run a horse down very quickly. If this is still inadequate to prevent or reverse weight loss, a high fat supplement like rice bran, flax seed, vegetable oil, or dried granular fats can be added to the diet. Its just getting going, he's had a good run of it. How much does your animal weigh? I wouldn't be giving a rapidly losing weight horse 2 weeks, I'd get bloods done urgently for organ function. What causes weight loss in older horses? Make sure the horse is always getting at least 1.5 to 2% of their body weight in the form of fibre and a good rule of thumb is to try and stick to a roughage to grain ratio of around 70:30. It's time to put him down he's old and not fair to keep him going. A complete feed which is high in protein and fat, and low in starch works best. Another important point to consider is that a horse in pain is stressed sufficiently that weight loss might be an issue. Chronic Weight Loss in Horses - HYGAIN The first thing that you should check when your senior horse begins losing weight is its teeth. (source). In most cases, the underlying cause can be difficult to determine without further testing. These supplements often include high-fat content along with added vitamins that help older horses gain and maintain weight. One reason is the increased likelihood of the pituitary gland in the brain developing a tumour, leading to a disease known as Cushings disease. Why is My Horse Losing Weight? Horses may also require medications like Pergolide. These are the teeth that are responsible for grinding down their food. There are many forms of complementary therapy available today which can ease symptoms of age. What is the body condition score (BCS) of each of your horses?