Causes for Weight Loss??

[CL66]

Hello!

Need you to put your thinking caps on!! My IDx was a pretty poor doer last winter, but the yard wasn't feeding him enough despite my protests (i've since moved) so I thought that was the reason. His feed is now in my control, he's on:
ad lib hay
2xlarge scoops alfa oil and 3/4 large scoop speedibeet (so a lot!) 3 times a day, and on top of that gets 500mls of oil daily!

I would have thought he'd be a bit podgy on that, but he's still a bit ribby and hippy. I know that there's no massive need to worry coming into spring as he'll soon put weight on but surely he should be doing better than he is.

supplements are garlic, selenium and vit e and pink powder.

He had his teeth done in Jan and they're fine.

I have the vet coming out on monday to take blood and do egg count to check it's not worms or bacterial infection and to put my mind at rest that maybe i just do have a ridiculously poor doer. He's not in particularly hard work (riddern 5-6 days a week but only for 1hr max)

He's fine in himself, full of beans and loves being ridden. So, any ideas anything glaringly obviously i've missed??:confused:

Thanks :D

C & L

[AlexNI]

Is he not getting any hard feed like mix or nuts? Sounds like a bit of a strange diet hes on - why so much oil? What sort of work is he doing?

Edit: Sorry! didn't read properly, have seen workload now.
How much hay does he actually eat?

[Soot]

Libby can't keep on her weight without hard feed in winter.
She needs two scoops of Baileys n4 and one scoop of weight gain per day or the weight drops off like anything. Coming into spring now, she's down to one scoop of each and once the grass is up she'll be on 1/2 scoop of each (24/7 grazing) ...

[CL66]

Hi Alex
He's on a low sugar diet for EPSM. Here's a link (hope it works) if you're interested http://www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic/epsm.htm

The oil helps promote weight gain and muscle development.

He's schooled for an hour or so 4-5 times a week and then hacked out for about 1-1.5 hours once or twice a weekend. Not hard work at all.

[Denbenj]

It might be worth having a Worm count done ( if you havent already) Even if regulary wormed there may be an unkown burden or some intollerance to the wormer used so far.

I did a worm count when I first got my horse and was quite shocked at the results even tho he was meant to of been regulary wormed, the correct wormers maybe had not been used.

I have my horse on a similar diet to yours, alougth I now feed healthy hoofs rather than Alfa A oil ( alougth I had great results from it last winter)

Just a thought tho, isnt there something your meant to add as a supplement if your feeding your own Oil ontop of regulated amounts in the such like of Alfa A oil. I cant think whats its called now can anyone enlighen me!

[CL66]

Hi Denbenj

Yep, you're correct, it's Selenium and Vit E (both of which he gets) to help the liver process all the extra oil. Got vet coming out on monday for the egg count and blood test but just trying to think if there's anything else it could be.....
Hmmmmmmmmm.

[AlexNI]

Hi Alex
He's on a low sugar diet for EPSM. Here's a link (hope it works) if you're interested http://www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic/epsm.htm

The oil helps promote weight gain and muscle development.


Ooh blimey, sounds like a bit of a specialist diet then! Interesting - didn't know high fat diet was recommended. Learn something every day! His diet is obviously critical to his well-being so maybe the vet will be able to give you some pointers when he/she comes. Hope you find the answer!

[CL66]

I know, before I found out about it it never even crossed my mind to feed oil!!
Thanks, i'll keep you posted after the vet's been. Knowing my luck I just have a horse that will eat me out of house and home :rolleyes::)

Any other ideas....