Skinny horse

[PNYGRL]

The barn where I keep my pasos has a hanoverian stallion. He is currently EXTREAMLY thin I would put him at a 1 to 1.5 on the scale. They offer three full scoops of food twice a day and all the hay he can eat. He is eating his hay, but shows no intrest in the grain. He picks at it some, but is maybe eating 1/2 to one scoop per feeding. Any ideas? He does not like apples, carrots, treats, etc. He is getting a feed with 8% fat. (the new strategy) Anybody know of a way to stimulate appetite in a horse?

[Linda Y]

Call the vet. He probably has an ulcer or some other underlying condition that they can't just guess at.

[Pavon3307]

I'd have his teeth checked as well while looking into anything else.

[Cindy]

Most likely ulcers if he does not eat well. But of course teeth and worms should also be considered. How old is he?

[Leather]

Ditto the ulcers.

Also, what is his living situation? Is he isolated? Is he currently being used for breeding?

Does he get any pasture time?

What kind of hay? Alfalfa is very palatable and higher in calories than grass hay.

Some people have luck with a vitamin B shot to stimulate appetite.

[DSDECKERT]

Is he a breeding stallion? Is he kept near mares in heat? Is he pacing?

I agree, call the vet out - will he eat sweet feed? is there a reason he's getting the 8% Strategy? Is that one of the new "low starch" options?

[CarolU]

I think I'd do both, check for ulcers, teeth and worms. But also, he may be lonely and needs some buddy time. I wouldn't believe this, but a friend's horse here laid down and was ready to die after loosing his pasture mate last winter. Another friend lent them a mare to stay with him, and he got up, perked up, and was perky enough to ride all four days of Memorial Day weekend!

Don't underestimate WILL to live.

[SandyMM]

Stallions especially hate to be isolated. When we first got Emi he was stalled in a 16 x 20 stall with a 'view', but not of horses... he was so pitifully depressed, we moved him soon after to the barn with all the other horses and he perked up immediately.

Has this horse been moved recently or had a horse near him moved?

Ulcers, teeth, worms....

[PNYGRL]

He is around 15yrs. He was being bred in the spring (only five mares). He was turned out with the pregnant mares for a while hoping pasture time would help, but he kept loosing weight so was brought back in. They are keeping one of the mares in the next stall for company. He gets daily wormer and has been wormed with the paste wormers (Equimax and something for strongids) several times recently. We can't get alfalfa bales easily so introduced pellets on Monday. He is eating hay normally. His teeth don't appear to be bad, but we are thrying to get a dentist out. I will mention the ulcers and try the vitamin B. Thank you!

[Leather]

They could also try a different feed, I don't think that Strategy is fixed formula so perhaps there's something in it he doesn't care for.

I've had great luck with Purina Ultium putting weight on hard keepers. It's low starch/high fat & fiber, high calorie and most horses find it pretty tasty.

Another thing to try is a "digestive conditioner" to help him utilize what he is eating. Equipride, Succeed or Diamond V yeast are good ones to try.

http://equilix.com/equipride.html

http://www.succeeddcp.com/

http://www.diamondv.com/company-products/

[Cindy]

Another thought, try some probiotics. Especially since he has been wormed so much lately.

[motorgypsy]

Try a senior feed. Triple Crown senior is 10 per cent fat and Seminole's wellness makes a good senior feed and seminole makes perfect twelve which is 12 per cent fat. We've used them all with good results. You can also add something like Nutrena Empower or Buckeye Ultimate Finish or even corn oil. To me Strategy does not put on weight that well. Too much sugar in it also. I remember now PUrina ULTIUM is their big time performance horse feed. Pricey but serious calories and not high sugar.

WE have an old mare we can't put weight on because the only thing that will put it on her is alfalfa and she won't eat unless all her friends are with her and they get morbidly obese on the stuff. We're now putting her in a "cage" with them tied outside right beside her at least twice a day and giving her extra feed and alfalfa. But it's so hot she doesn't eat a lot. But she does eat triple crown senior.

But he's not that old. I'd think ulcers too because not eating grain and eating hay is a classic sign of ulcers.