I need some help. UPDATE!

windyr · Postby **windyr** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:58 pm

I have a 3 yr old El Corredor colt. He was a May foal so I did not race him at 2. At 3 he won his first race very impressively. Two weeks after that race, he started dropping his feed, sometimes leaving back most of it. We checked his mouth and put him on Gastro Guard but this has not helped. I tried different exercise lads on him and none felt that he was feeling any pain. Any ideas?

fort_falcon · Postby **fort_falcon** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 1:41 am

It's quite possible he's feeling stressed, how long has he been on GG? and alos have there been any changes in the feed itself? You could try him on a different feed?
Maybe try backing off him for a little while, he sounds like he's got a lot of talent and backing off him may allow him to mature a little more.

You could also take a blood just to make sure there's nno virus of anything affecting him...sometimes a horses work pattern wont change, but they'll just be a little "off" if you get my meaning.

I'll think more on this and reply tonight, we've had quite a few similar cases in the yard, but i can't think of them off hand....

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:41 am

I have a couple of suggestions. You might look at his teeth again. They are shedding a lot of them at three. Look for an abscess or a bone or tooth fragment in his jaw. You could run a blood panel and see if there is anything up there.

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:35 am

I had a horse who exhibited similar behavior. He had EPM.

fort_falcon · Postby **fort_falcon** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:48 am

I have another question...how long has he been leaving off his feed for?

I also agree with madelyn, definately have his teeth and mouth checked again.

larrygene · Postby **larrygene** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:02 am

The teeth and mouth certainly are worth investigating further but I think zinn may be on to something with the EPM. That is also worth looking into further. JMO

Larrygene

windyr · Postby **windyr** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:24 am

He raced on Jan 26th., winning by 11 lengths. Up to this point he was eating very well and even went into the race a bit heavy. He came out of the race fine and started eating normally. Around ten days ago, he started dropping his feed. He is otherwise fine, jumping around as he usually does, when taken out of the stable.

I will have his mouth checked again and ask the vet about EPM. He had been on the Gastro Guard around one week.

larrygene · Postby **larrygene** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:33 am

windy, when you say dropping his feed, do you mean when he is eating feed falls from his mouth? Otherwise is he cleaning up his feed eventually? Does he drool when he is eating? Has his stool changed consistency, i.e., hard, runny? I know this is something that will drive you crazy and keep you up at night. He sounds like a very nice horse with good potential. Please keep us informed when you figure his problem out.

Larrygene

windyr · Postby **windyr** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:12 am

Sry about the confusion. When I say he is "dropping his feed" what I mean is that he is not eating the normal amount. On ocassions, he has eaten less than half what he is accustomed to eating.

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 1:03 pm

I take my EPM post back after the "dropping" clarification.

cewright · Postby **cewright** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:18 pm

We have had good luck in enhancing appetite with Aloe Vera juice from Wal-Mart. About $7-8 per gallon. 2-4 ounces per feeding has turned several picky eaters into equine Hoovers.

Chuck

Jessi P · Postby **Jessi P** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:00 am

Ditto on the aloe in the gallon size at Walmart. Cant beat it with a stick. [/img]

Postby **Roguelet** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:28 am

What, exactly, is Aloe Vera juice? Do you find it in the pharmacy section or the juice isle? Or the plant section? :lol:

larrygene · Postby **larrygene** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:45 am

Rogue, aloe vera juice comes from an aloe vera plant that grows primarily in tropical and subtropical climates. Some people swear the it will cure just about anything. I personally have never used it. I believe you will find it in the pharmacy section of Wal mart. Also, any health food store I'm sure carries it.

Good Luck,
Larrygene

fort_falcon · Postby **fort_falcon** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:13 am

I use Aloevera on EVERYTHING...it helps that I have several Aloes growing in my garden...however never heard of it as an appetite enhancer, supposedly caffiene is VERY good, but it does also have a withdrawl on it, according to SA racing laws anyways....

We use some stuff called Super appetite that we buy from Orchid Equestrian in Ireland and it works REALLY well, we've used it on several fillies who are picky eaters.

Another thing you could try is changing his feed...sometimes a change can do the world of good. In the yard i work in we feed our horses according to what they like, another thing you could try is cutting back on his feed? Sometimes horses will leave if they're being given too much, so maybe give him 4 small meals rather than 2 big ones .... I don't know how the feeding regime works in your yard, but I've always been told to rather feed little and often because of the way the horses digestion works...just a thought?