Post by Shawn on Aug 27, 2015 9:46:07 GMT -5
Candy, my approx. 22 yo mare is showing signs of being uncomfortable. She has lost some weight over the summer and her ribs are showing a bit. I usually grain her in the winter, then stop during the summer and she does ok. So I recently separated the mares (they're used to this) and left Candy out on the pasture and resumed graining her about 10 days prior to this starting. I was feeding her oats and corn/soybean/molasses mix. I had her up to 1 quart of each (oats & dairy mix) TAD. I was adding 2 Tablespoons of Diamond V yeast to her feed OAD to see if that would help her overall condition.
On the 25th I noticed she seemed a bit off. She was standing back by the ponds and wouldn't come up for breakfast. (She's a real grain hog, so I knew something was wrong.) I walked back there and she followed me up. By coincidence my farrier was coming so I shut her in the corral with hay/water. While still out there she passed gas for a full 15 seconds and then walked off like she felt better. So I chalked it up to a tummy ache.
Later in the morning, the farrier couldn't figure out what was going on with her either. She commented that it didn't seem like founder, because her feet aren't hot. She's shifting her weight on her back feet slightly and picking up her back legs higher than normal. She commented her belly was distended like she was pregnant almost, but that her top looked ok for her age because she was showing just a shadow of rib. She recommended cutting out the yeast. She seemed to not be familiar with feeding that and was I think surprised that I gave her yeast. I did double check Diamond V's website and they recommend it for horses.
Through all this she is still eating and drinking.
Last night, she seemed way more uncomfortable. I started calling vets because I was concerned she was impacted. Could NOT find anybody willing to come out. One vet I talked with suggested oral generic Banamin (which I had) and since she was still eating and drinking, keep an eye on her. The girls and I tried to find her on foot then ended up in the truck. We found her laying down in the pasture. I knew this wasn't a good sign, but she wasn't sweating like colic and wasn't rolling. I gave the banamine and when we got back in the truck she got up.
I wasn't sure what I'd find this morning, but she was up and grazing near the gate. She walked up when I called her and seems less distended and a bit more comfortable. She came in and drank while waiting on me. I gave her a fraction of her normal ration.
Now what is wrong do you think? Did I mess up her guts with the yeast? Too much grain? Of course DH isn't home today to check on her, but I will have the kids check at 4 when they get home from school and get our regular vet at 5:30 if needed.
On the 25th I noticed she seemed a bit off. She was standing back by the ponds and wouldn't come up for breakfast. (She's a real grain hog, so I knew something was wrong.) I walked back there and she followed me up. By coincidence my farrier was coming so I shut her in the corral with hay/water. While still out there she passed gas for a full 15 seconds and then walked off like she felt better. So I chalked it up to a tummy ache.
Later in the morning, the farrier couldn't figure out what was going on with her either. She commented that it didn't seem like founder, because her feet aren't hot. She's shifting her weight on her back feet slightly and picking up her back legs higher than normal. She commented her belly was distended like she was pregnant almost, but that her top looked ok for her age because she was showing just a shadow of rib. She recommended cutting out the yeast. She seemed to not be familiar with feeding that and was I think surprised that I gave her yeast. I did double check Diamond V's website and they recommend it for horses.
Through all this she is still eating and drinking.
Last night, she seemed way more uncomfortable. I started calling vets because I was concerned she was impacted. Could NOT find anybody willing to come out. One vet I talked with suggested oral generic Banamin (which I had) and since she was still eating and drinking, keep an eye on her. The girls and I tried to find her on foot then ended up in the truck. We found her laying down in the pasture. I knew this wasn't a good sign, but she wasn't sweating like colic and wasn't rolling. I gave the banamine and when we got back in the truck she got up.
I wasn't sure what I'd find this morning, but she was up and grazing near the gate. She walked up when I called her and seems less distended and a bit more comfortable. She came in and drank while waiting on me. I gave her a fraction of her normal ration.
Now what is wrong do you think? Did I mess up her guts with the yeast? Too much grain? Of course DH isn't home today to check on her, but I will have the kids check at 4 when they get home from school and get our regular vet at 5:30 if needed.