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Post by mandal on Jan 10, 2011 12:35:31 GMT 1
Worm count is a great and sensible idea. Westgate will also advice on worming.
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Post by Mellymoo on Jan 10, 2011 18:47:52 GMT 1
I haven't fed any grains this year, as he was really fat after last winter - I have tried really hard to get him slimmer going into spring, just that belly left :-(. He has had Yeasacc for 3 days now, and there is a little shrinkage of the gut (only small!) so that is something. I'll order a worm count kit now. I had a look at IR info this morning, and he doesn't have any of the symptoms of it - never had lammi or been footy, no long coat or weird sweating, but should I have him tested just in case?
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Post by Hannah on Jan 10, 2011 21:15:00 GMT 1
Mellymoo try not to worry too much just yet! Keep going with the Yea-sac and send off the sample for his worm egg count. Can you do some pictures of the whole of him? Side on and one from behind would also be useful for condition scoring.
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Post by anastasia55555 on Jan 10, 2011 22:04:17 GMT 1
Do the worm count first and then see, worm if needed, then see lol! Dont panic and freak out just yet, and tbh there isnt a need to freak out about the other things that have been mentioned either Breathe!!
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Post by Mellymoo on Jan 10, 2011 23:07:45 GMT 1
;D sorry, and breathe! From the side he looks ok, it's just from the front or back that he has a heinous issue!! Bless him, I look better front on than from the side, so between us we have one working body :-)
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Post by anastasia55555 on Jan 10, 2011 23:20:47 GMT 1
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maislow
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 1,815
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Post by maislow on Jan 10, 2011 23:24:48 GMT 1
he looks wormy to me too. Hope you get him sorted
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Post by jen1 on Jan 11, 2011 0:33:57 GMT 1
I haven't fed any grains this year, as he was really fat after last winter - I have tried really hard to get him slimmer going into spring, just that belly left :-(. He has had Yeasacc for 3 days now, and there is a little shrinkage of the gut (only small!) so that is something. I'll order a worm count kit now. I had a look at IR info this morning, and he doesn't have any of the symptoms of it - never had lammi or been footy, no long coat or weird sweating, but should I have him tested just in case? id contact finn before you do, font of good sense when it comes to things like this, im 90% sure she told me that to get true tests you have to starve for 24 hours, and the vets level of normal range still doesnt give indication if being low grade or at risk of developing it, really finn is the one id turn to for this kind of info,
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Post by mags on Jan 11, 2011 9:48:34 GMT 1
I wouldn't panic about IR/Cushings. While horses with IR can get very ribby, they often still maintain the typical fat pads, not so much a big gut. I agree that double checking the worm burden is a good idea. Do you see signs of an upset gut (loose droppings, lots of gas)? You shouldn't feed less than 1.5% of current bodyweight in hay, or 2% of the ideal bodyweight, whichever is greater. Do you know how much forage you are feeding? Haylage will weight more than hay due to the higher moisture content. How much time does your horse spend eating it? If he's not getting enough fibre, or there are long gaps between meals, this could upset the fibre digestion in the hind gut. If this is an issue, you could try swapping your haylage for a lower-calorie option (soaked hay) so you can feed more of it, and try to prolong feeding time with small hole haynets or similar. How much protein is he getting? Unless you test your forage, you can't really know how much protein is in it. If protein is very low, it may contribute to the loss of top line. Have any of the other horses getting the same haylage also lost topline? A proximate analysis from D&H is only £7.50 and would tell you the energy and protein content of your haylage. Have you tried feeding hay instead of haylage? Could it be that the current batch of haylage disagrees with him? Some horses seem to struggle more with haylage than others.
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Post by mrsfields on Jan 11, 2011 18:46:22 GMT 1
hi mellymoo!
i would wonder about worms as well... i wouldn't want to be cutting back his feed if he is losing topline and condition...
my fjord cross boy has lost a bit of weight this winter, he has an apron clip, is in a medium weight rug, and is exercised about 4/5 times a week... at the start of winter he was on 2 cups of Baileys Lo-Cal a day with two handfuls of chaff, same as always, but then he started dropping weight quite quickly when it got really cold, so after talking to Baileys, i added an extra half kilo of their everyday high fibre cubes, and have since switched to Alfa-A as well... so at the moment he is getting his hay, plus 450 g Lo-Cal and 500 g high fibre cubes and two handfuls of Alfa-A a day, split into 2 feeds, and so far he is keeping his condition nicely, fairly lean, but well muscled...
hope you get to the bottom of it... xxx
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Post by Mellymoo on Jan 11, 2011 20:49:18 GMT 1
Thanks everyone. The yeasacc seems to be doing something - he is less triangular and more rounded now. mrsfields, I like your feeding plan - may use this once I have a definitive worm count. We have started fittening work too.
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