Havnt been on for a while! My mare exhibits weird behaviours. She does this thing where she rubs the back of her mouth with her tongue. First I thought it was her teeth as she was due, but I had them done and it's gotten worse since. Then I thought It was just a weird boredom habit, but lately she has started doing it along with dropping her head far down to the ground and coughing sometimes. Could there be something irritating her in her throat? But she also has other weird behaviours. In the 5 weeks I've owned her she has always been a gem for the rug, but lately she's extra sensitive and will stomp, paw and kick out. She also does this (without kicking) when in the cross ties, being patted, almost all the time, it's always like she is on edge! She is usually very very relaxed! And even when there are no insects, no bees, no flys, no ants, no stick caught on her leg etc she will stop, swish her tail, kick her stomach a few times, stomp, move around and then move on. She always eats her food with no fuss, drinks no fuss etc. just really want to see if anyone knows what this is! I'm thinking of getting a vet to come out and do a general check over. Worried mum right here!
Rewards
Subscribe to Equus Online University and become a part of Monty's worldwide mission to leave the world a better place for horses and for people too.
Students automatically gain access to special rewards, such as exclusive discounts at the Monty Roberts Online Shop. Visit Monty Roberts Online Shop.
Poor girl! That is really strange but it does sound like there is something internal going on as she is so sensitive about her belly and her behaviour has changed so much. I'd definitely get the vet out for a check and at least then if it's not that, a medical reason will be excluded. Good luck!
Yes i know! I'm worried as many other horses at the agistment have come down with colic and/or had to be put down! :( will see how she goes :/
Yes i know! I'm worried as many other horses at the agistment have come down with colic and/or had to be put down! :( will see how she goes :/
Yes i know! I'm worried as many other horses at the agistment have come down with colic and/or had to be put down! :( will see how she goes :/
Yes i know! I'm worried as many other horses at the agistment have come down with colic and/or had to be put down! :( will see how she goes :/
Wow okay I think I pressed post too many times haha
You need to get the vet in as fast as possible - how many other horses have been put down and over what period?
Hi Help,
Has she been eating sand lately? Could be the cause of some serious trouble.
Do get your vet to check her out asap!
Miriam
Definitely get the vet ASAP. Numerous horses here in Melbourne have showed similar signs and have been diagnosed with a stomach virus which if not caught quickly and treated turns to colic. As well as appearing irritated they soon deteriorate to being very listless, off their food and have a temperature.
sounds very nasty!!! VET ASAP
Yeah I'll have to get the vet out :/ the other horses all had colic, about 3 weeks ago one was PTS, and then not long after 2 other horses came down with colic and now mine has started acting strange :/ she likes to tip her food out into the dirt and eat off the ground, we have started taking her feed out onto the grass until we get a hanging food bucket or something similar that she can't tip over :)
Hi Help,
until this is cleared, you could find an old tyre and put the bucket in the centre.
Eating from ground level is very important for horses, their anatomy works that way.
If you have her eating from a hanging bucket she might even get worse problems.
Good health and keep us posted!
Miriam
Sound advice from Miriam Lani, feed from the ground - make sure its a good size heavy tyre that she can't flip up with her feet and end up with it round her neck and panic, it does happen!!
Yes was going to take a tyre but keep forgetting! Hahaha
If they get sand into their system, try feeding them psyllium!
I'll quote an article here:
"Psyllium comes in two forms, a powder or flavored pellets. The pelleted form is more palatable (tasty) to most horses and easier to feed. The powder form tends to blow away more easily, is less palatable, and can’t be mixed with water (or will turn into an undesirable gel mass). The recommended “colic” dose of psyllium for a symptomatic horse is a double dose per day for 2 weeks on, then 2 weeks off until the sand accumulation is resolved. This could take 1-3 months. New studies have shown that mixing psyllium with a probiotic (ie. Probios) improves sand clearance. A new psyllium product, Assure, now has probiotics mixed in with the psyllium. Or, you can buy a probiotic and mix them together yourself. After the initial high dose therapy, a maintenance dose of psyllium of 1 scoop per day for 1 week a month is recommended to prevent sand build-up. Sometimes when a horse with a lot of sand accumulation starts on psyllium, the horse may act colicky due to irritation and resulting inflammation of the sand passing through the gut. "
.
Read more at http://www.durangoequine.com/articles/sand-colic/
Hi all,
Please search under "Sand colic in horses" at the Q&A section of this site, you'll find two articles of Monty from 2012 about this issue, very worthwhile!
Miriam
Hi Help, hope you got it sorted. I thought as she'd been eating her feed off of the ground she would have been eating mud too, so it may even be that she has picked up thrush germs from other horses that have been in the area and it has gone to her throat. ??
what did the vet say?
Hi Help, We've been having issues with a couple of horses lately. There is a really horrid grass that grows near the river up here in the Swan Valley that has caused a couple of horses to start "Tying Up" where their tummy is really uncomfortable and they can't process feed properly. Check your grass and make sure there is nothing nasty in there. I would also suggest adding a cup of oil to her feed to help push the sand through. Everyone says parrafin but I've been using vegetable oil for decades without an issue. Only ever had 1 case of colic and that was a rescue case and was only minor discomfort more than proper colic (and first illness for a young recently gelded standardbred (who are such babies about injuries/illnesses anyway :P ))
Let us know what the vet said. I would definitely suggest the tyre too. If you can't find a heavy one fill it with sand. That should help reduce her tipping it over.
we have moved her to a different better and less sandy paddick where she eats on the grass :) she seems much better now hich is a big relief :)
Thats good to know Lani :-)
I gather you didn't get the vet so you have been very lucky. So pleased she is now better.