posted 04-21-2003 10:11 PM           

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My 20-year old gelding has been losing weight over the past month and I'm not sure why. My neighbors just bought a horse and put up a pasture adjacent to mine. I feed my horse on the side of the pasture closest to my house and away from the neighbors and he seems to like being closer to my neighbors horse. He always has plenty of hay left untouched. Could it be that he just wants to be closer to the other horse and thats why he isn't eating? I'm going to try feeding him on the same side of the pasture as the neighbors to see if he'll start eating better again. Also, the weather has been pretty unusual lately. One day it is 80 degrees the next its back down to 40. Could that be a possible explanation? Thanks

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From:DURHAM, MO USA
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 04-23-2003 03:38 PM            

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We had a older horse who all of the sudden started losing weight. Come to find out he had a problem with his teeth and it hurt his mouth to eat. We took him to the vet and he needed his teeth floated. He has his teeth floated once a year now and is fat as he can be.

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posted 04-25-2003 07:54 AM           

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I just got more hay and have started feeding that to him instead of the older stuff and he is eating better now. I'm actually feeding him more and he is eating all of it. So we'll see if he begins to gain his weight back. If not, I am going to call my vet to have her check his teeth. Thank you.

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From:Upton, MA, US
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 04-25-2003 02:13 PM         

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Glad to hear your horse is doing better, but just wanted to add that my neighbor had similar problems with her 29 year old arab who had teeth problems. She started him on Beet Pulp, which is easier to eat (soaked in water) and also a great source of fiber. On another note with Beet Pulp, it is good for colic prone horses.

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