Can you tell a hay belly from a worm belly??

sher327 · 06-26-2005, 06:35 PM

Casey still has a fat belly, he has a really wide barrel but he still just looks fat LOL He has lost weight in other places and muscled up more but I can't get rid of the belly! I don't see worms in the poo, what else could I look for?
He was wormed the first part of April with Ivermectin by his previous owner. What do you suggest for this round since it's that time again?

Also, Eddie was supposedly wormed as well in mid May I believe, is it safe to worm him as well to get them on the same schedule or would that hurt him because I can wait if its dangerous but I'm worried Casey may have a worm belly and I want to get him done so I need the good stuff and don't want to wait!

Dawn · 06-26-2005, 06:57 PM

Really a 'hay belly' (how most people normally think of it) is either worms or sand. A true belly caused by hay will just be an overall picture of a fat horse. Also, a lack of good quality protein in the diet can cause that same look, but that's usually not the case (and once again has nothing to do with hay or grass).

I would go ahead and deworm him with either Equimax, QuestPlus, or ComboCare this go around. He should actually have been hit with one of those in April, but since he wasn't, go ahead and get it done now.

Dawn · 06-26-2005, 06:57 PM

Oh, and it won't hurt the other to go ahead and get him on the same schedule.

sher327 · 06-26-2005, 07:11 PM

OK, thanks

I guess I should get some pics of him tomorrow and see if he still just looks like a fat horse or if it really is a swollen belly lol I think it looks swollen compared to the rest of him,maybe its just me but worming will be done this week no matter what.

Super Step · 06-26-2005, 07:17 PM

What Dawn has said is very true.

I was trying to put weight on Cutter since the day I bought him. We had hes terrible teeth fixed and he got better, but had the big gut.
I mentioned this to Dawn and she suggested treating him for sand. I did and he has become a different horse. This was around Christmas of this year. Poor guy sandblasted his hind end.
I was rotating wormers, adding supliments, anything I thought he might need. I had never treated a horse for sand in my life.
I was looking at him today and decided her needed another round. Now that his rectum has healed

Poor guy. But is pulled the belly right off.

Dawn also knows her stuff on the wormers.
I am so lazy now that I just ask her what I need to worm with next

sher327 · 06-26-2005, 07:24 PM

LOL thanks Tim. I admitedly am ignorant when it comes to wormers and how/when to switch them etc.
Dumb question but how common is sand gut on a horse and would he need to have been kept in say a sandy lot to get it or could any horse? How do you treat sand gut?

I will definitely be picking up one of the wormers she suggested and getting to it. Tonight I took a look at him running up to the gate and it just looked off.His neck looks 10 X's better and so does his back and he now actually has an indent in his flank area but the gut is huge and he is out on a very low pasture thats almost mowed to dirt so I know hes not overeating!

Dawn · 06-26-2005, 07:27 PM

It's very possible that he has sand. For one, he's probably never been treated for it. Two, he's on basically a dirt lot.

You can buy an equine specific product (I suggest getting one that's pelleted). Or you can get off brand Metamucil (sugar free) and it's a lot cheaper. Feed about 1 cup/day for 7 days once a month.

sher327 · 06-26-2005, 07:33 PM

ya he was completely on a drylot for half of the last 2 months and on one with last owner for 6 months prior to that.
Can you reccommend a specific equine pellet for it? If I used the generic metamucil how do you feed that? He is only on pasture and now some hay at bedtime since the pasture has dried up and been eaten.

Expressa · 06-26-2005, 07:38 PM

Also, many times horses w/ a belly from worms will have a dull coat. So that is another sign you could look for to see which it is.

sher327 · 06-26-2005, 07:41 PM

thanks I'll have to be more critical of him tomorrow when I examine him

06-26-2005, 06:35 PM	#1
sher327 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: illinois Posts: 7,132 Images: 615	Can you tell a hay belly from a worm belly?? Casey still has a fat belly, he has a really wide barrel but he still just looks fat LOL He has lost weight in other places and muscled up more but I can't get rid of the belly! I don't see worms in the poo, what else could I look for? He was wormed the first part of April with Ivermectin by his previous owner. What do you suggest for this round since it's that time again? Also, Eddie was supposedly wormed as well in mid May I believe, is it safe to worm him as well to get them on the same schedule or would that hurt him because I can wait if its dangerous but I'm worried Casey may have a worm belly and I want to get him done so I need the good stuff and don't want to wait! __________________

06-26-2005, 07:11 PM	#4
sher327 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: illinois Posts: 7,132 Images: 615	OK, thanks I guess I should get some pics of him tomorrow and see if he still just looks like a fat horse or if it really is a swollen belly lol I think it looks swollen compared to the rest of him,maybe its just me but worming will be done this week no matter what. __________________

06-26-2005, 07:17 PM	#5
Super Step Senior Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 11,093 Images: 227 Blog Entries: 51	What Dawn has said is very true. I was trying to put weight on Cutter since the day I bought him. We had hes terrible teeth fixed and he got better, but had the big gut. I mentioned this to Dawn and she suggested treating him for sand. I did and he has become a different horse. This was around Christmas of this year. Poor guy sandblasted his hind end. I was rotating wormers, adding supliments, anything I thought he might need. I had never treated a horse for sand in my life. I was looking at him today and decided her needed another round. Now that his rectum has healed Poor guy. But is pulled the belly right off. Dawn also knows her stuff on the wormers. I am so lazy now that I just ask her what I need to worm with next __________________ I have never had a horse lie to me.

06-26-2005, 07:24 PM	#6
sher327 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: illinois Posts: 7,132 Images: 615	LOL thanks Tim. I admitedly am ignorant when it comes to wormers and how/when to switch them etc. Dumb question but how common is sand gut on a horse and would he need to have been kept in say a sandy lot to get it or could any horse? How do you treat sand gut? I will definitely be picking up one of the wormers she suggested and getting to it. Tonight I took a look at him running up to the gate and it just looked off.His neck looks 10 X's better and so does his back and he now actually has an indent in his flank area but the gut is huge and he is out on a very low pasture thats almost mowed to dirt so I know hes not overeating! __________________

06-26-2005, 07:33 PM	#8
sher327 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: illinois Posts: 7,132 Images: 615	ya he was completely on a drylot for half of the last 2 months and on one with last owner for 6 months prior to that. Can you reccommend a specific equine pellet for it? If I used the generic metamucil how do you feed that? He is only on pasture and now some hay at bedtime since the pasture has dried up and been eaten. __________________

06-26-2005, 06:57 PM	#2
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 30,218 Images: 1328	Really a 'hay belly' (how most people normally think of it) is either worms or sand. A true belly caused by hay will just be an overall picture of a fat horse. Also, a lack of good quality protein in the diet can cause that same look, but that's usually not the case (and once again has nothing to do with hay or grass). I would go ahead and deworm him with either Equimax, QuestPlus, or ComboCare this go around. He should actually have been hit with one of those in April, but since he wasn't, go ahead and get it done now.

06-26-2005, 07:27 PM	#7
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 30,218 Images: 1328	It's very possible that he has sand. For one, he's probably never been treated for it. Two, he's on basically a dirt lot. You can buy an equine specific product (I suggest getting one that's pelleted). Or you can get off brand Metamucil (sugar free) and it's a lot cheaper. Feed about 1 cup/day for 7 days once a month.

06-26-2005, 07:38 PM	#9
Expressa Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tx Posts: 2,297 Images: 142	Also, many times horses w/ a belly from worms will have a dull coat. So that is another sign you could look for to see which it is. __________________ "Horses can't talk but they can speak if you listen." Expressa (5/9/87-7/28/06) Dash (4/6/93-9/29/04) "The love of horses knows not it's own depth till the hour of separation."

06-26-2005, 07:41 PM	#10
sher327 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: illinois Posts: 7,132 Images: 615	thanks I'll have to be more critical of him tomorrow when I examine him __________________

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