Need "poor doer" suggestions!

[TB Dreamin']

First of all, you'll never see a rib on my horses, I pride myself on having them in top condition. I am now at my wit's end and need any/all suggestions.

We have a 4 y.o., TB, filly that is small, but was in good body condition in Dec. '06 when we got her. She was turned out for the winter(but grained twice per day) and then began work (she's green broke) this March. The work is at the farm, riding in pasture, moving on, getting used to flags/cows, etc., and lead changes, etc. She can get quite worked up over certain things, like cows, and really lathers up. She was only ridden every other day for 20 min-1/2 hour. We've since stopped her training as her body condition was deteriorating so much and we found she was interfering w/herself, in front, and was a little sore.

So, since March, she has been on 3 meals per day of McCauley's 14% protein pellets, rice bran oil, weight builder by Farnam (twice per day) and has regular, alternating wormings. She is on pasture all other times, supplemented now w/hay, as it is so dry here. That did not help her, so we started mixing Woodford Performance 13 sweet feed w/the pellets. Nothing, so we started her on lixotonic after the weight builder was finished. Still nothing. Now we've tried the Panacur 5 day double dose, stopped riding her for over a month, had her teeth done, and as a last resort, I started her on Neigh Lox yesterday, in case it's ulcers. Someone suggested Fast Track, another suggested Fat Cat, and another suggested High Speed (but we can't find the last one)-

does anyone have any suggestions? My vet knows about all this and wanted the Panacur, then the teeth floating, and I even wanted blood drawn, but he said all that would show was something inconclusive, which I can't remember right now.

Can you all suggest something??? I'm worried she has a stone or anemia or something awful. The other thing is that she randomly coughs-only once or twice, but everyday since we got her.(and not when she's ridden!) Sometimes chewed, wet hay or grain comes flying out. What the heck could she have? No fever, no snots, I'm just at my wit's end....

Help!!!!

[madelyn]

It might be "just her". You might check her thyroid level, which could actually be over active.

[habitat]

i think it is stress. as long as she is eating and her manure is firm and consistent then just keep feeding and let her figure things out on her own time (unless you and your vet discover something different).

What about her herd behavior? Does she fit in yet? Does she have a friend? Other than the cows what other things give her anxiety?

[madelyn]

Is there even a very low grade fever? Guttural pouch infection?

[Gallop58]

I believe most of the trackers would have reached for the Winstrol or Equipoise by this point. Generally speaking I am not in favour of the needle as solution, but from what you describe, I suppose a consult with your vet about the subject might be in order. If you really are at wits end, it might be a good choice to try. Not that one would really understand why it works (if it did) but I've heard enough success stories that it is a tool for the toolbox.
Also, I had one that looked like a poor doer too. He was generally pretty skinny, but didn't really lose weight until he went into his 2YO training. He also started to stumble and misstep. I suspected EPDM, had everything short of the spinal tap done (we put him on the cheaper meds), etc. We ended up not going forward with him, essentially giving up. The vet school thoughts were that it was definitely something neurological. He was not washy or super high strung though, rather just uncomfortable as the stress level went up.

[CA Michael]

Could be ulcers. All sorts of diabolical symptoms can occur with this condition. Treatment with Gastrogard is expensive--you can try a new product which has come VERY highly recommended to me--PRO-BIO K--which is much cheaper an supposedly as effective.

www.probiok.com

[TB Dreamin']

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, I have them all noted and will try things one at a time. So far she seems to be putting on some weight, according to my husband, who says I should stop looking at her every minute, and he's probably right!

She doesn't even have a low grade fever and I don't think it's a gutteral pouch, but I'll definately keep that in mind.

I'm sure our hot, dry severe drought in KY isn't really helping anything, anyway.

But, thanks to all who responded and I will keep you posted. I think I should/will be a spokesperson for most horse supplements when all is said and done, at least I'll certainly have my favorites!!!

Amy

[emmad]

something else you could try is www.rationplus.com

We use it on young racehorses and poor eaters. Works wonders.

[amanda1]

Hi TB Dreamin'

Any updates on how she's doing???

[larrygene]

You might try Diamond V yeast cultures. Takes about 3 weeks to see results but is fairly economical and it works. Is not dosage critical. Feed a good handful once a day. Some places yeast cultures are hard to find. Go to your local feed store, they should have it or know where to get it. Good Luck!!

Larrygene

[halfpint23]

Try cutting back on all the concentrated feeds, give her a small feeding twice daily of high-fiber, low sugar feed - if you can do it, adding in the same amount of SOAKED beet pulp is the feed, and a double dose of ProBios stirred in, along with all the good quality hay she will consume. Being out on good graze 24-7 would probably be ideal - this sounds like a horse with stomach and probably hindgut irritation to me.

Speaking from hardwon experience.... if she's bad enough you are having to cut back on the training regimen (which could be just more than she can mentally handle right now) then laying her off to heal up is not a down side.

[TB Dreamin']

It is w/much happiness that I can report that my filly looks wonderful! All of a sudden her "brindle" hair coat has fallen out, she is shiney, and has dapples!!!!! Yes, beautiful dapples.

I seriously tried every product out there and the turn around seemed to stem from Neigh Lox. I know you can never be sure, but that's really what seemed to turn things around.

I have another mare I just got off the track that's thin, so I will try it on her, as a test, and if she does as I well, I will report back.

Just thought I'd report in, as I was staring at her today and BAM, it hit me, she looks 100 times better!!!

Thanks for all the advice!!!

[geowarrior]

And Neigh Lox is the product that is designed for ulcers?

[TB Dreamin']

Hi Geowarrior,

Yes, basically, it "contains coating agents that quickly neutralize excess gastric secretions and protects the non-glandular portion of the stomach, and promotes a normal gastric environment." It's pelleted and highly palatable and I just use it like a supplement w/my a.m. and p.m. feeding times.

I had read a few articles in TB Times/BloodHorse about scientific studies, where horses were split in 2 groups. One group was trailered to a different site for training (consisting of walker and lunging, I believe)/they were placed in stalls and the other group was kept at the same farm and on pasture, but also in work. They were checked for pre-ulcer and ulcer formation before, during, and after and it turned out that just from that type of exercise (which I considered much easier than what we do (polo) or race training) the horses that were trailered and kept in stalls had pre-ulcer formation and some already had ulcers!!! Just from the stress of the move, trailering, and stall confinement.

Anywho, when I read that, I thought I'd give this Neigh Lox a try and of all the things I tried (I only added one at a time until it was gone, so I could have some idea of which thing worked!) The Neigh Lox made her turn the corner after one 3 1/2 lb. container was used. (and she turned dappled, to boot, in the middle of this scorching/drought ridden summer!)

I just returned from the store w/2 more containers to use on my OTTB that got shipping fever after she arrived (w/a temp of 105!!!!) and is looking so poor. She has a great appetite, but given all she's been thru, my guess is she probably has raging ulcers. I'll keep you posted on how she does...

Oh, google Kentucky Performance Products and click on Neigh Lox and you can get all the details. At $27/3 1/2 lbs., I wouldn't say it's cheap, but definately worth a try!

Amy

[Salsawattiez]

How's she doing?

Glad your youngster turned the corner. She sounds lovely & you sound very proud of her.

Good luck with what ever you deciede to do.