Horse is losing weight

Tanka

Just born
Joined
May 31, 2014
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Points
4
My 14 year old quarter horse is losing weight and I'm not sure why. I need some suggestions. He had is yearly shots in April, about 2 months ago and the vet said he was at a good weight and made it through the winter great. Now that his summer coat is coming in I can see his ribs. I've never had a problem with his weight. He will eat anything. When he came to me about 2 years ago he was actually a bit overweight. I have him on sweet feed 12%, a scoop in the am and pm (probably about 3/4 of a lb per scoop) and 2 flakes of hay. He has always been fed this way since I've had him and hes done just fine. But hes losing weight. I notcied that him and my other horse has a bit of diareha and I'm not sure why. Could it be the change of seasons? Nothing in their diet has changed. I wormed him about a month ago with invermiticn. I also noticed that he's rubbing is butt. I havent seen him do it but the top of his tail is a little messed up. And with the weather getting nicer he is getting ridden more often, maybe 3-5 times a week for 30 min to an hour and a half. Sorry for being so long, but I'm trying to cover all the bases! So, what do you all think?
 

norseofcourse

Herd Master
Joined
Mar 26, 2013
Messages
2,653
Reaction score
2,162
Points
313
Location
NE Ohio
I'd get a fecal done for a parasite check (both horses) - Ivermectin isn't the 'kill-everything' it used to be, parasite resistance is a growing problem. Make sure it's a fecal check that will give you numbers (eggs per gram) of what types of worms.

Also have his teeth checked, and a blood panel might be an idea especially if the fecal doesn't show a worm load.
 

veritastar

Chillin' with the herd
Joined
Aug 18, 2017
Messages
15
Reaction score
7
Points
28
Location
New South Wales, Australia
I agree with the last two posts. If he was my horse I'd reworm him with equest/quest and get his teeth done. Also two biscuits of hay is not enough unless he is also on pasture. Perhaps you had more grass in previous years? Ideally you want him to have unlimited access to pasture, grass hay or cereal hay (such as oaten). If you can't do that then you should try to feed 2% of his bodyweight in hay. So if he's about 500kgs, he should have about 10kg a day (approx. half a small bale).
 

Mini Horses

Herd Master
Joined
Sep 4, 2015
Messages
9,214
Reaction score
28,964
Points
728
Location
S coastal VA
Tail rubbing generally a sign of needing dewormed. You don't say where you live but, if a sandy area, also consider that you may need to give them a round of sand rid.

Agree with other posts, also. Plus, when deworming be sure you give correct amounts, to be effective. You want to kill worms, not just traumatize them.
 
Top