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  Discussion on Horse will not eat hay substitutes
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Posted on Monday, Dec 18, 2000 - 2:55 pm:

I have had my 24-year-old Morgan gelding for 20 years and he has developed heaves in the barn he's been at for 2 1/2 years. He has just had a complete lung function workup, along with x-rays, and he has terribly inflamed lungs. I know I have to take him off hay and will have to move him as soon as possible to a hay-free environment. I've tried Dengie and alfalfa/timothy hay cubes, but he won't eat either one, he's depressed, and is losing weight. Have any of you had a similar experience? What can I feed this guy?

Posted on Monday, Dec 18, 2000 - 5:49 pm:

Are you located anyplace where there is pasture this time of year? If not, have you tried wetting the dengie and cubes? Here in California, there's a product called "A & M", which is chopped alfalfa mixed with molasses. (Sold in 50 lb. bags.) Horses seem to love it & it definitely puts weight on almost any horse. How about beet pulp? It has to be soaked, but some horses like it.

Good luck. Oh, one more thing. How are his teeth? And another one more thing: try alfalfa pellets, soaked enough to make them soft. You can add anything good to them.

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 19, 2000 - 2:13 am:

There are pelleted complete feeds. Most of the big companies have one in their line. We use a product called Kwick at our place for an old boy in his thirties who can no longer chew hay. His feeding consists of mainly Kwick and some sweet feed thrown in to sweeten the pot. My QH mare was switched to this to help keep her weight down. We also add a lot of water - to everyone's feed. It would, of course be better to have your horse get some hay, but you need to weigh his gut function against his lung function. Breathing always wins - hands down.

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 19, 2000 - 3:44 am:

Hello Jennifer,
It is unusual for a heavy horse to be depressed and inappetant. Are they sure there is not also an infection (?) and if not what are yall treating his with?
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Dec 21, 2000 - 11:34 am:

Sorry I haven't responded; I've been running around looking for a new barn and new food for "Dandy." I tried beet pulp (soaked overnight), which he will eat if it's loaded with molasses. He'll eat some soaked hay cubes, but only if he's locked inside overnight (not a good option if it's something in the barn he's allergic to! His teeth are due to be checked, but were okay a year ago at this time. His bronchoalveolar lavage culture turned up a whopping 80% neutrophils, as well as mastocytosis (5%). The vet seems to think these numbers are a result of inflammation and not infection, so he has not been put on antibiotics. He's moving to a barn/pasture where he'll be by himself and I'm starting on inhaled Flovent and Albuterol and oral prednisone next week (after he's been off Azium for a week). But I really need to get him to eat! Thanks for all your help.

Posted on Friday, Dec 22, 2000 - 8:13 am:

Considering the prescense of mast cells there are some further treatments you can pursue, see, Equine Diseases: Respiratory System: Chronic Lower Airway Disease for details.
DrO
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