Starving Horse

[srjames9]

Hi Everyone,

I am looking to get feedabck on how to treat pasos that are rescued due to starvation, etc.?

To be more precise here is the condition of an animal that a friend has just adopted and I going to help but I have no idea how to treat a severe case such as this.

1. The hooves are long and hasn't had a trim in quite a long time
2. Hasn't been wormed in about two to three years
3. Last round of vaccinations unknown
4. Horse is pregnant
5. Horse is just skin and bone.

Thanks very much for all your help in advance.

Cheers,
James

[Heidi]

Trims I think you want to do small increments of hoof removal, but frequent visits, like every few weeks.

As to feeding...start slow. You can kill with kindness in this area by feeding too much, too soon. Good quality hay, probably don't worm until after she has been able to gain a little bit. Slowly start on a Complete Feed that is easily digestible and work your way up in amounts.

I really don't know much about this, probably the best bet would be to speak to your veterinarian and see what they suggest. Good luck with the girl and her little bun in the oven!
Pictures of progress? Before, during and after?
Heidi

[GeorgeGuns]

Trims - get the hoof down to live sole level asap!!! Merely remove chalky or easy to remove sole, and trim walls to meet it, leave about 1/8 inch wall past the sole at the heel. Believe me, it won't hurt her, it will make her feel much better.

Wormers - get a fecal count done, and go by your vet's recmmendations. Not all wormers are safe for pregy mares, and the other consideration is that if she has a big parasite load, killing them all off all at once could cause a colic. Strongid is usually safe to start off with, Ivermectin in 2 weeks, and so forth.

Diet - start slow, but nutritious. Small frequent amounts of good clean hay. Add grains after the worm load is dealt with, and her teeth floated. if she is in her last trimester, start adding alfalfa AFTER your vet runs some bloodwork to verify that her kidneys are okay. Also if she is in her last trimester, pray hard, she needs it, its the hardest time to put weight on a mare.

Don't forget exercise - hand walk her every day for at least 20 minutes. She'll let you know when she feels spunky enough to fo a little more than walk. Do toning stuff like having her reach around her side for a carrot or treat, reaching between her legs. Do some gentle range of motion stuff with her legs - pick them up and gently makes circles, don't stress it, just keep it easy for her. Having her walk in small circles will help her too. Just keep the sessions short, and at least daily.

Vaccines - get her worming started first, vaccinate a few weeks after the first or second wormer so her system has a chance to actually be strong enough use the vaccine.

Get a foaling kit ready that includes some things for emergencies: long exam gloves, milk bottle and nipple, blankets and towels, heat lamp, thermometer, Fleets enema, suction bulb for getting the 'snot' out of foals nose, cell phone and vets phone number! Be prepared to face an early delivery, starvers can go early as their body decides to survive. Have in hand some frozen colostrum - this mare is high risk and may not have good colostrum. Also have milk replacer on hand, just in case...

Good luck and do keep us posted!

[Wendy]

Thank you so much for helping this poor mare. I have done quite a few rescue and 3 last trimester mares. First off, talk to your vet. I have had good luck with Equine Senior-it is a beet pulp based feed that is easily digestable. Due start slow with maybe a cup of feed 4 or 5 times a day and then start increasing the amount after about a week. Good grass hay to start with keep the gut moving. Then add alfafa hay after she has started to recover some. There is a big debate with in the rescue groups about deworming programs...some say take slow with mild dewormer while others recommend Ivermectrin. I have done both and haven't had any ill effects. I would do what you vet recommends. I usually wait at least a month to vaccinate and try not to use a 7 way. The experts usually recommend using a 4 way to start with and then adding more later so you don't shock the system too much. There is alot of information on the internet or if I can help please let me know.

[srjames9]

Thank you everyone for all your advice.

I will keep you posted on her progress.

James

[Terry Wallace]

One thing no one has mentioned is probiotics. On the starved horses we have rehabed here, we are using Ration Plus. This will help return the gut to a good condition, so the horse can utilize its feed much better.

Ration Plus has been worth every penny I ever spent on it... it will save you feed costs in the long run, as the horse will get more out of every meal.

[srjames9]

Terry,

When did you start your animal on Ration Plus? Did you wait awhile before starting thme on it, etc.

Thanks for your help.

James

[Pasogirlz]

I have used Ration Plus in the past and LOVED it. I highly reccommend it.

Used it on Princess when she was skinny and had no appeitite. I saw a big change in her feeding habits and she began to fill out finally.

[srjames9]

Lori,

Why did you use Ration Plus and for how long?

lease share.

Thanks,
James

[Pasogirlz]

I used it b/c when I bought Princess (many moons ago) she was very underweight and her appetite wasn't very good. This was back when Ration Plus was a new product and I saw it advertised for older horses, and horses who need to put weight on, or young horses you were trying to fill out. So I tried it since I'd tried everything else to put weight on that horse. There was a 30 guarantee to see results...and I did. I then started my 2 yr old gangly TB colt on it and he shot up and out. :shock:

At that time, I was also helping out a Paint farm and the owner had a very old horse in her 30's who looked frail, so I suggested we try it. We started her on it and she didn't like get huge fat, but she looked much better, and she'd come galloping in for breakfast w/the youngsters after that.

I haven't used it in years, but it's good stuff. I don't see it advertised around much anymore tho. It comes in liquid form and you use 3 squirts of it on the feed once a day (or you can split it up). It smells kinda funky, but after Princess (the pickiest eater ever) got used to it, she goobled it up. It is suppose to stimulate the appetite

[srjames9]

Thanks Lori,

I will do some reading up on the product. My only concern is what effect it will have on a starving horse. Given the sensitivity of the digestive system of the horse, I want to make sure not to introduce anything that might cause a colic or founder.

These are great ideas and advice.

Cheers,
James

[Mellifluous]

I wonder if this would be good stuff to use on my gelding. He is 2 years old and ribby as all get out. He dropped some more weight after I had him gelded. He still looks immature for his age and has never had his ribs covered. I have power packed him along with keeping him on a rotational worming schedule and added more beet pulp based, highfat grain to his diet. He already gets free choice hay.

Anyone who knows me and my horses know that I don't have skinny horses! Spirit is my little wierdo.

Here is a pic of him with his dam. She is a very substantial mare, especially for an arab. I have problems keeping her from being too heavy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/legado/b51e1396.jpg

[Pasogirlz]

Mel it's worth a shot. Maybe Terry can get us the contact info off the bottle. Many feed stores don't carry it until you ask.

[Terry Wallace]

I use it immediately... I don't ever wait as starving horses already have a compromised gut.
I will find the info if you still need it....

[Cam]

my recent rescue (not a mare in foal though) responded well to worming (vet recommendations after a fecal count showed tape worm and encrusted strongyles) with equimax followed by daily strongid and probiotics, high fat feed (I used vintage victory by blue seal) and plenty of grass and hay.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a163/Camigo/teddy002.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a163/Camigo/teddygingeramigo013.jpg

[Terry Wallace]

If you go to www.valleyvet.com and then enter Ration Plus in the search box, you can find some info there...it is not ALL the info, but it comes with a flyer when you buy it that explains a lot more about it.

[Mellifluous]

my recent rescue (not a mare in foal though) responded well to worming (vet recommendations after a fecal count showed tape worm and encrusted strongyles) with equimax followed by daily strongid and probiotics, high fat feed (I used vintage victory by blue seal) and plenty of grass and hay.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a163/Camigo/teddy002.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a163/Camigo/teddygingeramigo013.jpg

Nice job on that horse cam! Looks awesome!