This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Diarrhea in Horses » Discussions on Diarrhea in Horses not covered by the above »
  Discussion on Long hair on a chronically ill horse??
Author Message
Member:
winifred

Posted on Sunday, Mar 16, 2008 - 2:12 pm:

Hi, I've asked you for help before about my paint gelding, with his consistent diarrhea. This is his second year with it. He has liquid stools I don't know how many times a day. I've had fecal and blood samples done, antibiotics, probiotics for the last month, Sand Clear at my vet's recommendation. Nothing changes.

Last week a friend glanced at him in the pasture and said "long hair. that doesn't look good." She wouldn't elaborate, but today I was brushing him and noticed that he does indeed have long hairs, like three to four inches long, all over his coat. Not like the "keep you warm" kind of winter coat, just long thin hairs.

He's very thin, of course, ribs and hips showing, but still loves to be brushed. They suggested yesterday at the feed store that I just keep him out all the time, and make him forage and eat hay and "be a horse." No feed. Just hay, which he won't eat. "You have nothing to lose at this point," is what they said.

What do you think?




To cut to the chase, does the long hair mean that he is dying? I don't want him to die a slow and miserable way. He is my only horse, and is such a good one.
Member:
ekaufman

Posted on Sunday, Mar 16, 2008 - 3:14 pm:

Whoa now. Long hair means they're dying just like hooves and a tail mean they're dying! As far as I know, long hair isn't a symptom of impending death, and I have several that get those every winter.

Your horse sounds extremely unthrifty, and the guard hairs often go with that. What is his entire regimen these days-- feeding and de-worming? Can you post a photo? Have you ruled out Cushings?
Member:
zarr

Posted on Sunday, Mar 16, 2008 - 8:47 pm:

I would check the IQ of the feed store people and then NEVER do what they suggested!!! Dr. O has very good guidelines on feeding older horses and yours needs feed he can process correctly. Older horses need thought and proper care not to be tossed to the elements.
In your earlier post did you not have the halflinger and another mare besides this paint? Hope they are all well. Cindy
Member:
paul303

Posted on Monday, Mar 17, 2008 - 1:00 am:

It'd be nice to see the results of the fecal and blood test/sample. If he has some age on him, you should probably read Dr.O's article on Cushings. I've had lots of over 30 horses, and maintaining weight was a concern with many. A lot of them had marked improvement on Senior feeds, and the addition of oil to their concentrates was messy, but helped quite a bit. How old is your horse?

I remember your posts about loose stools. You might ask your vet about Imodium. Diarrhea can be self perpetuating.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Mar 17, 2008 - 7:08 am:

Hello Winifried,
By themselves the hair length does not mean much but the very thin condition is important. This post is like the earlier one where a very general problem is presented for discussion with almost no background and so specific help is very hit or miss.

If you would like to address the weight loss problem checkout Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Weight Loss in Horses » Overview of Chronic Weight Loss but the prognosis may depend on the cause of the diarrhea.

Do you know why your horse eschews hay?
DrO
Member:
winifred

Posted on Monday, Mar 17, 2008 - 8:15 am:

My paint is only 12. Yes, in my earlier post I did have the new Haflinger, but this paint is my only other horse. I've had him for four years, two of which he's had pretty constant diarrhea.

I don't know why he won't eat hay. It's not his teeth, they've recently been floated. I've heard that on a chronically irritated gut, that hay can be painful to digest, so I removed all hay for a whle, just gave him feed. Did this for a month or so, with probiotics, but if anything, things got worse.

He'll starve if I don't bring him and feed him, that's already clear, so I'm back to twice daily feeding again, Triple Crown Senior Feed, and he's quite happy about that. I don't know about those feed store peole.

I'll call my vet today, and ask about Immodium.
Member:
huf5

Posted on Thursday, Dec 11, 2008 - 3:02 pm:

Hi, sorry to barch in, how is your horse doing today?
Miriam
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Thursday, Dec 11, 2008 - 9:06 pm:

Winifred, You have not posted anything about your worming program, but that has been a major key with my own paint horse who had diarrhea for many years, and also with friend's horses of various ages who had become "unthrifty."

Following Dr. O's worming program helped my horse.

Some of my friends horses have had encysted strongyles or perhaps had built up an immunity to wormers. Some required the extensive "Power Pack" type of worming. With my paint horse, giving the extra amount of wormer for margin of error, and also, my Quest year, seemed to be a turning point.

You are using a great feed with the Triple Crown Senior. I put about 100 pounds safely onto another debilitated horse this way.

It is of concern that your horse is "off his hay" but I certainly would NOT follow the advice to not give him feed. It sounds to me that he needs the feed desperately. Why one would withdraw this benefit and let a horse "sink or swim" is beyond my comprehension.

Good luck -- keep us informed, please. I hope that you will find ways to improve your horse's condition. There is an answer to this mystery, and I hope that you find it. All best wishes.
Member:
winifred

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2008 - 11:27 am:

Thank you so much for your continued interest. It's with unspeakable sadness that I tell you that I no longer have Buck. He died in September. I say "he died" because I literally almost can't admit that I put him down, but I did.

I had given him the "Power Pack" several times, Vicki, and had him on Strongid daily dewormer for months. He continued to get worse, and I just couldn't face another winter for both of us, washing a tail and backside in such cold weather. He was so chapped, and was looking exhausted.
It was the hardest single thing I've ever done in my life.
Again, thank you all for all your help. I'll never know, nor will any of my vets, what was wrong with him, but it was something bad. My last vet said it was the worst case she had ever seen.
So. Rough business. Please don't judge me. I did everything I possible could, and that's the truth.
winifred
Member:
leslie1

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2008 - 11:42 am:

No one judges here.

One of the most loving and hard things we can do is help our friends over the rainbow bridge.
Many blessings and comfort to you
Leslie
Member:
cheryl

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2008 - 12:48 pm:

Winifred - I try really hard to not judge people - but if I were to judge you - that judgement would be that you cared enough about Buck to throw out all concern for your own feeling and pain to focus solely on what was best for him. A totally selfless act. You should feel no guilt - none - but rather be content in the knowledge that you did not let your horse down when he needed you most.
- but it's the ultimate price for all the pleasure we gain for being owned by a horse. You're not alone - many of us have paid that price and we totally understand your grief.
Cheryl
Member:
klowe

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2008 - 2:33 pm:

Winifred, I am sorry you & Buck finally lost the battle. I have read your posts...being inexperienced, I never had any good suggestions. But, as others are saying, part of being a truly responsible animal caretaker is to do your utmost but also to recognize when their quality of life is not good enough. It's our job not to let them suffer unnecessarily. I think you did a great job, and I know how hard it is to make that decision.

Kathy
Member:
lilo

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2008 - 4:02 pm:

Winifred - so sorry to hear that you had to make that hard, final decision. You did what was best for your horse. If there is no quality of life, we need to make those hard decisions.
My condolences,
Lilo
Member:
mrose

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2008 - 4:21 pm:

Winifred, none of us have seen Buck or his condition. You and your vet were there and only you two knew what you were dealing with and how difficult it was for both you and Buck. None of us has the right to judge, instead we have to trust your judgement and that of your vet. Knowing when to put a horse, or any other animalm down is difficult and it depends on so many things. When it's "easy" (a relative term) the animal is that instant suffering and in pain; when they are in and out of pain, have off and on problems, the decission is much more difficult. You did the best that you could for him and made your best decission with the knowledge you had and with the support of your vet. Don't second guess yourself, or worry about what other people think. Many of us, including me, have had to make similar decissions. It is right to miss your friend, but you shouldn't feel guilty; no one can ask that you do more than you did.
Member:
paardex

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2008 - 5:46 pm:

You did the best you could and made the decision to the best of your ability, that is all that can be asked of you. Don't judge yourself, we certainly don't!
Jos
Member:
winifred

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2008 - 6:41 pm:

Hi, thank you all, very much.

He sure was nice, and so are you.

He was REALLY nice, actually, as kind and sweet as a horse could be, even with my nutty bareback riding, that I never really even knew how to do.

He did, though, and taught me how to stay on. He was a very good little horse, and I will miss him forever.

Thanks so much for your kind words, I can't tell you how much they meant to me.

Winifred
Member:
erika

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2008 - 8:02 pm:

Oh Winifred, I followed your threads too, and I am so sorry you had to make that sad decision. It certainly sounds like it was the kind thing to do, but it is so sad anyway, isn't it?

I hope someday another new soul mate arrives in your life to remind you of the fun and love you had with your Buck.
Erika
Member:
jowidner

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2008 - 11:26 pm:

Winifred, I'm so sorry to read of your sad news. Its a very hard decision, but it is one that we must sometimes make. Healing thoughts for your heart and blessings to Buck as he frolics in greener pastures.

Jo Ann
Member:
paul303

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2008 - 11:48 pm:

Don't ever look back on Buck with sadness. The gift you must grant yourself is to hold fast to the best times and allow yourself to reject any sorrow. The end of many a wonderful relationship is tainted by sorrow - if you allow that sorrow to remain a part of your memories - those memories can never bring you the total joy and peace they are meant to. What was Buck about...magic, the magic of having a horse. It's the magic that none of us can explain to those in our lives that live "outside" this part of our world. Beautiful memories are "gifts" that our animal friends leave us with. Don't allow anything upsetting to affect what Buck left for you....it isn't fair.

You affirm your love for your animals by allowing yourself to remember them in happiness - for in their lifetime, they never meant to cause you pain. You did a wonderful job, now relax and find peace in joyful memories.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Saturday, Dec 13, 2008 - 2:43 pm:

Winifred,

You and Buck were blessed to have shared so much that was good and I have no doubt that you did your best for him. It is so difficult and frustrating when resolutions cannot be found for problems.

Perhaps his system was damaged for some unknown reason and simply could not heal.

I am sorry for your loss and that you had to make what was a painful decision, but am sure that you did what was right and responsible.
Member:
canter

Posted on Saturday, Dec 13, 2008 - 4:43 pm:

Very sorry to hear of your loss, Winifred.
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