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Discussion on It is time...I think...
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 10:35 am:
We had an *amazing* lightening/thunder storm Monday night. It was crazy, lit up the property 6 or 7 times, the thunder didn't seem to stop at all for at least 25 minutes. I have never seen a show like this over my head!
Brave lost weight that night - he is incredibly sensitive to weather changes and they always seem to trigger his ulcers.
I put my hand on his side Tuesday morning and his ribs almost poked out. Eating/bms/drinking were/are fine, he gained the weight back within two days...i.e. ribs not so prominent.
As of yesterday morning, he is very tucked up and has been practically bowling me over looking for his papaya.
I have gastroguard, just in case...I'm wondering if I should start it now or see if he comes out of this by the end of the weekend. My gut is telling me to start it tomorrow and that I should have started it Tuesday.
Would free feeding him be out of the question since I'm still trying to get weight off him?
Thoughts?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 1, 2005 - 9:56 am:
Comes out of what Aileen? You do not describe any problems. Since you have been trying to loose weight tucked up sounds like what you have been trying to achieve.
DrO
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 1, 2005 - 10:05 am:
I didn't realize that a tucked up horse is one that is losing weight. I attributed it...well at least in my horse...to belly issues.
His feed wasn't increased in those two days that he gained the weight back, so it didn't make sense to me that he would lose it in one night, then gain it right back then be tucked up too.
Thanks Dr. O!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 1, 2005 - 6:46 pm:
Symptoms of a belly problem is usually going to be decreased appetite, colic, or diarrhea.
You should judge condition using the recommendations in the article on judging condition but did I misunderstand your first post it sounds like you were withholding forage.
The horse had lost water weight (became dehydrated) the night of the storm, possible from running around. The tucked up belly in the face of a good appetite I thought from your first post might represent decreased roughage consumption but would be exacerbated by the dehydration. Assuming you have been decreasing forage exposure to loose weight. The biggest concern following such an event would be an impaction secondary to the dehydration.
DrO
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 2, 2005 - 10:20 am:
Thanks Dr. O, that makes a lot of sense.
No I did not decrease the feed, on nasty weather nights like we had that night, I actually give him extra forage...not much, about 1 pound and an extra 3 cups of pellets in his pasture pal (half pound). So that would make a little over 10 pounds a day for that one night. I do it to keep him eating a bit longer, if this is not wise, please let me know.
I don't know if you remember, he would colic like clockwork for a few years in a row right after a big weather event. Last year I tried the gastroguard, after two mild colics, and he didn't colic the rest of the season - which was a lot of weather for us - hence my question.
Too much anticipating on my part, Thank you Dr. O!!!
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Monday, Oct 3, 2005 - 4:34 pm:
Could it be that you have a horse who is very sensitive to weather changes. Knows about the event before you do...kind of thing and reacts with the tail and tummy tucked in. In short, the poor guy doesn't know what to do with himself when mother nature is putting out her worst.
What you end up treating is the after effects; colic, ulcers or both. Do his stools seem a little looser or harder after such a storm?
Myself, being outside for 2 or 3 days of incessant wind, I will have a big headache, earache or both. My little tiny dog can't find comfort either during a thunderstorm and goes from room to room looking for comfort.
I guess if you are going to offer Brave something to eat while the storm is going on, it should be watery and easy to digest. Prozac for horses'..not sure about that.
Susan B.
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 4, 2005 - 11:17 am:
Thanks Susan 
What he does ... he gets so very worried and tenses his entire body. Once the storm is over, he finds it very difficult to relax...I really need to strengthen my hands and arms and learn to massage the poor boy.
His stools are just a tad harder in the morning, but they loosen up nicely by the evening. It is starting to get cold at night, so he's not drinking as much at night, but he drinks plenty during the day.
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