Author Topic: greedy horse (Read 4904 times)

sonyasmallholder · « **on:** February 05, 2010, 03:07:51 pm »

our old cob broke into the feed store this morning and has eaten three quarter sack of pony nuts. i hope hes going to be ok. he seems ok in himself. needless to say he hasnt had any dinner from me today.

Roxy · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2010, 03:33:48 pm »

eek .....he should be full for a week now, but I bet he isn't, the greedy boy!!

Seriously, I am sure you will keep an eye on him, to make sure he does not have an attack of colic....I am sure he will be fine, but sensible to keep an eye out.

My friends big cob, leaned over the fence to the pheasant hoppers full of food, and scoffed a great deal. She was proper poorley, and the vet had to come out. I bet she would do it again, given the chance.

dixie · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2010, 04:18:45 pm »

Keep a close eye on him, dont give him anything to eat, not even hay and only let him drink small amounts of water! happened to a pony of ours once who got colic, luckily we loaded him into the trailer to make him poo! walked him around for half an hour and he got better, good luck!

sonyasmallholder · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2010, 06:21:02 pm »

we have not given him much to eat since he ate the pony nuts. i really hope he wont get poorly because he is a lovely boy

doganjo · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2010, 06:23:55 pm »

Goodness, you are having problems, what with him and your poor sheep. Hope they both recover well

sabrina · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2010, 08:11:44 pm »

do hope your cob will be ok

sonyasmallholder · « **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2010, 09:14:17 am »

when we woke up and went down the field our old cob dobbin was fine, we think it was also our younger cob who helped him out!

Hardfeather · « **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2010, 10:13:44 am »

Quote from: dixie on February 05, 2010, 04:18:45 pm

and only let him drink small amounts of water!

With beet pulp pellets, I'd be very careful with the water intake, but in the case of pony nuts, I think I'd be more inclined to allow the horse to drink as much as he wanted.

Beet pellets swell on contact with water, and increase their size dramatically, whereas pony nuts would swell much less, but would break down on contact with water. If the water intake is restricted, particularly with a dry product in the gut, the potential for impaction colic would be considerable. Once material becomes impacted it is very difficult to get it moving, and nothing can pass it by. Severe impaction can cause necrosis of the intestinal wall very quickly, resulting in the release of toxins into the blood which is very dangerous.

Some vets recommend oral drenching with liquid parafin as standard procedure with over-indulgence cases.