Please Help

[Pandora299]

I have 4 horses, 2 in which I have had for 10 years, 1 I got 2 years ago and 1 I got last winter.  The 2 that I had had for 10 years have been easy keepers, the one I got 2 years ago is at the point of obesity and the one I recently got is skinny, skinny... Which is my point, I have had horses for 30 years, I am at a complete loss... Brought this little filly home and all my horses are thin and sickly... I have tried everything... They have had round bales, alfalfa hay, bermuda hay, beat pulp, rice bran, corn oil, pellets, sweet feed... they are all current on vaccines and I have wormed them all in 6 week rotation since March (ivermectin)... because the filly was infested, not to mention she has rain rot.  My older horses (11 and 12) look pitiful, vet checks their teeth annually but hasn't floated... they have no problems.  I have even got the molassas block (250#) as extra calories.  Among the weightloss they have all had periodic loose stool, I thought that it may have been trees in the pasture so I cut all limbs anywhere that they could reach, does anyone have any suggestions!

[welshcoblady1]

Hi it may be worth having some blood work done this will detect high white cell count from any infection in and out and and may find any viruses and bacteria  or blood troubles,Gasses ect.
It maybe an idea to try a probiotic if they have gut flora problems and their teeth looked by a equine dentist, check they dont have lice or ticks which can pull a horse down .
Check your worming program for wormer immunity or rotate program.

[MrsSmith78]

OK, it sounds like this little filly brought something unwelcome to your farm. It is possible that all your horses are being plagued by different things and coincidentaly they are all having health issues at the same time,but unlikely. 1st thing I would do is have a fecal sample analized. It sounds like you're a competent horse owner w/ a regular deworming schedule. Before I through money into more dewormer I would find out FOR SURE if this was the problem. If thats not it I'd have blood drawn and make sure everything is good there. Also I know its apain and you may not have the skill to do all of this but you may want to start a chart on all your horses for awhile say 2 weeks. Do an exam am and pm and chart your findings. Clear eyes? nasal discharge? Mouth sores?Pulse,resperation and temp along w/ any abnormal things you may observe.(Horse A leaves feed in AM only on Tue and Wed) This might help you find whatever your cronic problem is. Also this info should be helpful to your vet. If I had plenty of money(ha ha) I would bring whoever is worse( probably filly) to an equine hospital and have a full workup done$$$
When you say your vet hasn't floated but has checked your horses teeth do you mean this year he didn't float or has never floated? If he has never floated you may want to get a second opinion. I've known some vets who really where not very good dentists. Good overall vet but hey nobodies perfect.
I know you must be frustrated but it really doesn't sound like a feed thing to me. If it all started w/ the filly its probably the filly. I hope some of my suggestions help. Please keep us posted I'd like to know what you find out.Good luckGod bless

[lindasp62]

I have been told by my vet that recommended worming schedules depend on the location of where the horses live, what condition (boarding facility, private farm, etc).  Even what time of year certain parasites are more prone or not. I would highly recommend asking your vet about this, but it would probably be a good idea to have him out to see your horses to maybe shed some light as to what is going on.

[Soon_to_be_DVM]

The only thing I can suggest is to rotate the type of dewormer you are using. My vet's have always recommended to using different ones in case they are becoming resistant. For my deworming schedule I go every other month so Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov. and then start back. I rotate the type of dewormer I use, sometimes pyrantel, then praziquantel, ivermectin, and so on. It's just a suggestion.