The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Horses, ponies, donkeys & mules => Topic started by: egglady on May 02, 2011, 10:08:53 pm
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8 yo cob gelding, very friendly boy, loves people and loves food.....now seems he loves chicken feed too :'(
anyway went down to sort everyone out this morning to find, said boy had come through electric fence AND chicken fencing and broken into growers pellets feed bucket and eaten about half a feed buckets worth.
Put him in starvation paddock with wee pony for company and kept close eye all day. Lying down lots and not really interested in much.
Took feed in for pony about 9pm and a handful for him so he'd leave pony alone. Not interested in food at all and hardly moved from spot he was rooted to.
No signs of colic, weeing normally, had very runny dung at some point judging by tail and legs but certainly not as much dung in field as I'd expect to see in a full day.
Wandered over to gate and walking like a drunk man, very unsteady. Tied up a couple of haynets, he took a teeny mouthful but not really interested.
Noticed he was trembling all over, though not cold.
Checked for pulses and heat, nothing.
Phoned vet, said he was most probably toxic but was doing all that they'd recommend at this stage.
Have checked ingredients list for growers pellets and doesnt seem to contain coccidiostats - but not sure if it would be on the ingredients list - anyone know? (D&H)
and most importantly, anyone anything else to suggest other than what I'm already doing?
thanks everyone :-\
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There was a thread on exactly this a few days ago - I'll try to find it
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Yes - I think they have to put on if it contains coccidiostat, and the majority of growers don't, but sometimes it is printed with the other ingredients on a little white paper lable which drops off when you open the bag
Sorry about your poor boy and hope he is better soon, had a little 8 hh shetland who managed to get into the feed store once. He stood around for a day or two looking very dejected, but got over it ok
Sue
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aw thanks Sue, that really does help. Hopefully he'll be a bit cheerier tomorrow....
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I've tried hard to find the thread about the pony that ate layers pellets - no luck, sorry. Perhaps Rosemary can remember where it is. I think the vet was called, and the pony was walked round about a bit.
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we had a yearling Shetland tup who did the same and had very similar symtoms for about 48 hours then thankfully was ok although he did have the runs for 5 days.
Hope all is ok with your pony.
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Keep a very careful eye on him, ALL chicken food is toxic to horses... most recover but some may have eaten too much.
I am surprised your didn't suggest liquid parafin to stop the pellets packing into a solid mass... which they will and this is what causes gut impaction often resulting in surgery.
Goats cannot tolerate chicken food either.
There are now NO coccidiostats in poultry food... not even chick crumbs. EU ruling, surprise surprise!!!!!!
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I've tried hard to find the thread about the pony that ate layers pellets - no luck, sorry.
Didn't it get rather heated and the chap who started it deleted it?
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Didn't it get rather heated and the chap who started it deleted it?
i think your right sally.
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he is certainly a bit more like himself today and was eating some hay earlier on. not back to normal by any standards but seems to be on the way..thanks goodness, this was horrible to deal wtih.
will keep you all posted
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Didn't it get rather heated and the chap who started it deleted it?
i think your right sally.
That's a pity because there was some valuable information posted.
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Please let us know how your boy gets on. I was quite shocked to read this. I had no idea chicken feed could be poisonous to horses. We have two ponies and no chickens just now but was thinking about it soon and our 5year old mare will do anything to get to something edible.
Hope he is fully recovered very soon
Fi :) :horse:
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well I'm very pleased to tell you all that the boy is definately on the mend. Not himself yet, but heading that way. Thank goodness!
Going to cost me £400 for fencer to come on Monday and put up new fencing to keep him where he's supposed to be - not safe totrust electric tape me thinks :(
still, £400 is cheaper than a dead horse.... :-\
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Phew!!!!!! good news!!
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Glad to hear this and There really is no alternative to some good fencing.
Hope all goes well ;D
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There are now NO coccidiostats in poultry food... not even chick crumbs. EU ruling, surprise surprise!!!!!!
There are in the ones I buy.
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I read (and posted on) the earlier thread and am sorry it was removed as I was away and couldn't see what happened.. ::)
Once you've past the colic risk period, the thing to watch for is laminitis which is what the other horse developed. The toxicity in the system can trigger acute laminitis and rotation of the pedal bones can occur relatively quickly if it is a severe case. Amount eaten is not always an indicator of the risk factors but a few days monitoring of the digital pulse is worthwhile and if in doubt, avoid exercise until you're sure of the all clear.
Delighted the initial period is safely past and I don't want to spoil the relief but I'm one for caution and overchecking to the verge of paranoia if need be ;) Best of luck :)
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thank everyone, and yes, i am checking him regularly and he is also on restricted rations for a few days - much to his disgust I might add.
however, sad news on my other, much loved boy, as it looks likely that I'll have to have him PTS sooner rather than later as he is really struggling with this hard ground (severe articular ringbone). Had a vet conversation today and I think that he is struggling a wee bit and I know he'll get much worse over time and definately not get better. So maybe kinder to him to just have the deed done now while he is relatively happy. So why is it that I can't stop crying today...... I've know this day is going to come for months and months
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hi
just to clarify that chick crumb & rearer food is still widely available with acs in it, however the d&h brand is only available without :)
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Oh sorry to hear about you're other boy. Making a decision like that is not easy, but you seem to be sure it's the right thing to do for him. Get used to the crying. I cried now and again for years after having my dog PTS. Don't think we'd be human if we didn't.
Take care
Fi
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So sorry it sounds like the end is coming for your other lad, please god this one recovers easily and you only have the one thing to deal with :( Let me know if you want company or anything else..
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My apologies if I have mislead anybody re coccidiostats in poultry food, but I questioned this 'officially' when I realised my brand did not have it. I was told that a prescription was needed to buy any form of medicated poultry food including chick crumbs & this was reason for exclusion as nobody was buying the extra expensive feed.
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Hi all, I know this is an old thread but I found it as I was googling chicken food being poisonous to horses. I lost my beloved girl last night after she ate layers pellets and corn. The other girl who also ate from the bucket (which was only half full - if that) is being monitored for laminitis and has been tubed twice, had anti inflammatories and abs. I had no idea chicken food was so toxic so please don't be complacent.
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So sorry to hear of your loss. :bouquet:
Hoping your other girl pulls through :fc:
Thank you for sharing, it’s an important message. :-*