This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Routine Horse Care » Particular Situations & Procedure topics not covered by above »
  Discussion on Appetite loss/listlessness
Author Message
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Friday, Mar 19, 2004 - 12:02 pm:

10 yrs. of horse ownership I have never had a sickness. Yesterday morn. my 9mo. old colt picked at his grain and laid down. he has been laying down more than usual, but not rolling. He dosent seem really bad, but he just isnt himself. Watched him last night, saw him pee once, dosent want to drink that i can tell he puts his nose in the water but dosent seem to drink and is only picking at grass and hay. He just stands around most of the time like he isnt feeling well. I believe he has pooped, but not 100% sure. Dont have a themometer so not sure if he has a temp, but acts as tho he might have mild fever. No cough, no mucus, runny nose, no swelling anywhere, no injury. His eyes, mouth all look fine. He has been seperated from mom for 2 1/2 week, but with a buddy. I have been changing his grain from 11% to 16% mare and foal and he may have eaten too much alfafa cubes wed night. I think he may have gotten the other colts alfalfa. (Wed night he was fine). I have reviewed articles on colic, etc. but nothing seems to fit exactly and I have never seen anything sickness except shipping fever first hand. I thought Id put this to everyone at HA before I call the vet this afternoon. I dont know if he is just not feeling good or if I am missing something and it may be more serious. I tend to be a worry wort.
Any imput appreciated.
Colleen
Member:
Sunny66

Posted on Friday, Mar 19, 2004 - 12:09 pm:

Are his gut sounds ok?

Will he eat green grass -- not just nose it?

Call the vet...ask about banamine...
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Friday, Mar 19, 2004 - 1:27 pm:

I havent listened to the gut. Im not real sure as what to listen for. Gurgleing sounds. He is eating grass but not grazing like the other horses. Just taking small bits and chewing for longer than normal. Have you had one with similar symptoms? Thanks
Colleen
Member:
Goodie

Posted on Friday, Mar 19, 2004 - 1:47 pm:

I had an 8 month old that did the same thing, turned out to be colic due to Blood worms. They ran a fecal test and found them in his manure and ran a few more tests to make sure of where they were. He was double dosed with Ivermectin and again 3 weeks later. If I hadn't caught it, I would never have known how off our worming program was. I worm every other month and rotate wormers but because babies (and horses) like to play with manure, the manure was just old enough to carry the eggs that weren't killed by the current worming rotation. The previous manager didn't stick to the schedule and this is what can happen. The colt spent 1/2 a day in the hospital. Please call your vet to double check him.
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Friday, Mar 19, 2004 - 1:55 pm:

Taara
Was yours with any other young ones. Mine is always with his buddy and the other colts is fine. I worm every 3 months. I have the 4, 2 mares and 2 colts on 20 acres. I will mention this to my vet also. Thanks
Colleen
Member:
Christos

Posted on Friday, Mar 19, 2004 - 2:11 pm:

Coleen,
You have to listen carefully for gurgling sounds with your ear against his belly, more towards his flanks. Any sound is good, don't expect anything real loud without a stethoscope.
If you can't hear a thing, I'd give him a spasmolytic (Buscopan) and monitor closely until he passes manure.
I think Banamine is not a good first step, if the horse is not in obvious pain. Especially so with a youngster whose behaviour you are not really familiar with, as it may mask signs of the condition getting worse.
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Friday, Mar 19, 2004 - 2:40 pm:

Christos
Im not familar with buscopan would it be like peto. Is it for animals and would you have to get it from the vet. I am awaiting a return call from my vet to see what he thinks. I appriciate all the advice here. It seems as everyone thinks it might be colic. I am anxious to get back to check on him. I had to leave him this morning to go to work. He was no worse than he was yesterday evening, maybe a pinch better. He had a bit more attitude this morning.
Member:
Alden

Posted on Friday, Mar 19, 2004 - 3:39 pm:

Coleen,

You really need a thermometer. My two yro was exactly like you describe and became that way in about six hours. He wasn't sweaty, and didn't feel hot to me. I stuck a thermometer in him and it read 105! Bute brought it down and my vet gave me penicillin. His temp was normal by day three with no bute, by day four he was back to normal and eating like a two yro horse.

I was surprised by how fast the symptoms came on. He was fine in the morning and eating fine, didn't eat at noon and he was at 105 that evening; not eating and very listless.

Good day
Alden
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Friday, Mar 19, 2004 - 4:02 pm:

I definately do need a thermometer. Dont you have to get Bute from the vet? I am still awaiting to hear from my vet. I have penicillin, but dont know if I should give him any. Im just unsure on exactly what to do for him right now. It has calmed me down some knowing others have had one with same the same symptoms and everything was ok. I tend to get paniky and overreact. Thanks for your reply.
Colleen
Member:
Rose1

Posted on Friday, Mar 19, 2004 - 4:02 pm:

Colleen,
I too am a worry wort but I think you should contact your vet right away.
I hope it's nothing.
Regards,
Rose
Member:
Rose1

Posted on Friday, Mar 19, 2004 - 4:15 pm:

Colleen,
The first time my Vet came out to see my horses he gave/sold me a bottle of bute to keep on hand. From time to time when things have come up he tells me how much to give and for how long.
Please let us know how you make out this afternoon.
Regards,
Rose
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Friday, Mar 19, 2004 - 4:15 pm:

I just heard back from my vet. He is suspose to come out and look him over tomorrow. He did not tell me to do anything specific for him right now and did not seemed overly concerned but said if he was not better tomorrow to call and he would come out and check him out. He said it might be nothing, but could be serious and did not want me to let it go unchecked.
Thank all of you and I will update you on Monday.
Colleen
Member:
Christos

Posted on Friday, Mar 19, 2004 - 4:44 pm:

Buscopan is a common, colic-specific spasmolytic for humans. I have seen a vet version around, it is called Buscopan Compositum, but it contains NSAIDs, which I prefer administering as needed, so I stick with the "pure" one for humans.
The active ingredient is hyoscine-N-butylbromide, 20mg/ml. For 1100 lbs, I use 2 IV injections, 10ml each, 30 min apart. A third one can be given, but I've never used it.



Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Mar 20, 2004 - 8:25 am:

When he gets there let us know what he finds Colleen. The folks who posted above make a good point about taking temperatures: When a horse is depressed and inappetant, 90% of the time he has either a fever or colic. This is important to know for proper first aid and while a fever is not usually an emergency, colic can be. As usual we have a article on this see, Equine Diseases » First Aid » Taking Temperature, Pulse, and Respiration.
DrO
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Saturday, Mar 20, 2004 - 10:19 am:

I did read the article and am on my way to purchase a thermometer. I have just spent the last 2 hours with the colt. He seems improved. He ate yet still slower than usual. He drank. He is perkier, not standing with a lowered head, he did not lay down and he is grazing, not just picking at the grass. He is acting almost normal. I have still not witnessed a poop. He does have girggling gut sounds. I am going to take his temp and watch a little longer before calling the vet for emergency farm visit. If he continues improvement I will wait and schedule a visit for Monday.
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Sunday, Mar 21, 2004 - 8:36 pm:

Took his temp Sat. and was 103. I watched him and he still seemed some improved, but decieded to call the vet again. A different vet in the group responded. He did not seem very concerned with the temp. nor with the colts behavior. He said give him pepto and did i have banamine. Well no i dont, and told me to see if I could find some. And watch for a poop. I have to say i was a bit irritated that he didnt offer to get me some banamine. I dont know where else he thought I could get some. Anyway. Sunday he pooped,quite loose but not runny, he is eating better, more active. I didnt get to take a temp today as I couldnt get any help and was unable to do it by myself but he was acting more normal, but this evening he looked like he didnt feel to good but he ate his grain. I will take his temp tomorrow morn. when my son gets here. I am going to call and have them come out anyway if his temp is not down.
I am afraid I may be missing something. But he is eating, drinking, grazing, no cough, no runny nose, gums look good, no swelling, good gut sounds and he was wormed 3 weeks ago. I worm every 3 months. I will be glad when this is resolved, as I have not had piece of mind since Thrusday.
Alden
I wish you would have mentioned that a regular people themo. would do. I DrOve 20 miles to the Tractor supply to find only regular themometers. I was expecting a "special" one to go up the butt of a large animal. With a very confused look, I asked the girl about it and she assured me, having horses herself, that a people digital one would do just fine. I did have a bit of trouble keeping the string attatched to it. LOL.

Thanks everyone
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Mar 22, 2004 - 6:13 am:

There are large animal thermometers Coleen that are recommended, they are longer than a human thermometer and have a ring on the end to attach a string to. I have had problems with digital thermometers Colleen so don't recommend their use, I think they do not stand up to the rigors of outdoor life very well. However a regular human mercury thermometer is fine though to get it in far enough you have to get periously close to "losing it" so prefer the large animal type. In out article on stocking a first aid box we do suggest you have a thermometer on hand, perhaps reviewing it might keep you from having such problems in the future.

Worming foals every 3 months may not be frequent enough to prevent worm related diseases in foals, for more on this see the articles on deworming.
DrO
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004 - 10:50 am:

Dr. O
I have read the worming articles but will review them again for a better worming schedule for my colts. My vet had not suggested changing from the 3 month schedule, he seemed to think that was sufficient. I am also looking for a more practicle themometer. Im sure I will have to order one. I have looked at Valley Vet and they dont have what you described. On a good note, My colt is fine today. I did not have the vet come out, but consulted with them by phone as he kept improving. So his short illness is still a mystery. Thank you and everyone else that posted here for all the help.
Colleen
Member:
Finogirl

Posted on Friday, Jul 30, 2004 - 10:10 am:

I know this is a few months late, but how is your colt today??? It sounds like he may have tape worms. They can be hard to detect, and you have to use different wormers to kill them. The transient colic symptoms are typical of early tape wrom infestations.
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Friday, Jul 30, 2004 - 2:09 pm:

Deborah
Thanks for your concern. He was all better after a week. The vet never did come out but I pestered the heck out of him calling all the time. Im still am not sure what it was. I have started using the wormers that contain ingredients for tape worms as well. I never did see the tapeworms pass, but being out in pasture it is difficult to check his stool. It very well could have been tapeworms. I have not had any problems with either colts since. Thank goodness.
Member:
Finogirl

Posted on Friday, Jul 30, 2004 - 5:53 pm:

Great. The tapeworms are difficult to see. I have a horse who was actually hospitalized twice with the same sort of colic, only more severe, but it passed just like your colt's problem. It turned out to be tapeworms. I could have saved a lot of money and not endangered my horse if I had been more informed. If they gather where the large and small intestine join they create a blockage which sometimes passes and sometimes requires surgery to clear. The daily wormer Strongid C2X is what I have been using ever since.
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC