[beauxdatious]

Hey everyone.

This isnt my horse I am about to talk about, it is my b/f. This is a horse that he recently rescued. Anyways, back to the questions.

The horse has some really bad bow-bows from being beat up from a stallion, that the owner put him out with They are everywhere, bite and kick marks. One is on his hip bone, and my my was talking about a bone infection? Anyone have more information on that? And whats a good medicane that you can put on raw skin, that isnt in a spray bottle (he is horrably afraid of them) that will help with healing it, putting hair back on it, and him not getting an infection all at the same time?

Ok, this horse is really skinny, they tested him for worms, nothing. but wormed him anyways. He is disgustingly skinny. Every bone in his body is showing, because they were all out in a pasture, with no grass, and where getting no feed. When he was being boarded at the vets ( vet check, worming, teeth floated, feet done, shots, and coggins, the works) they were giving him sweetfeed, They recently moved him to MY barn, and he is in the process of being switched over to oats. Anyways, what is some good supplements we can start him on? If any? Any suggestions to feeding?

Also, the horse has horrable feet. The farrier did the best he could do in trimming them, but he has some of the worse thrush I have EVER seen (this coming from someone whos horse was also a "rescue" and had to deal with a horse, with almost no frog, and a completley mushy black foot ) anyways, he ISNT lame, god knows why?, but his feet are just disgusting, She has him soaking in warm eposin salt once a day right now, but any other suggestions. Should she put coppertox on it now, when its this gross?

The horse's ears are incredably sensitive. He wont let you touch them, or ANYWHERE around them. Suggestions for that? I cant clip them, to see whats in them, because they are so sensitive. he wont perk them forward either. Does that have ANYTHING to do with it?

Ok, thanks for reading all of that. Help would be appreciated. I will try and get pics. soon

[HorsieGal4132]

I'm not an expert on anything but definately give the horse extra special attention and gain his trust. At least that might help with your trying to touch his ears and around there. If he let's you groom him, then definitely do some of that to help form a bond and get him to trust people more. That's about all I have since I haven't had much experience in that area.

[Dawn]

It sounds like she has her work cut out for her.

Lots and lots of hay and pasture for the feeding portion. Oats are not something that I would recommend in this situation. How much is he getting? He needs something with a high level of balanced nutrition right now. That's not something that oats fall under.

It's difficult to advise about the feet without knowing 'how' bad they are. I would venture a guess that epsom salt soaks aren't going to cut it, some type of topical does need to be applied. Personally, I prefer to do an initial treatment with iodine (diluted to a safe strength), and then follow up with a commerical treatment. CleanTrax might be something you need to look into for him.

What did the vet say about his ears? Is he just head/ear shy? Or does he actually have a phsyical issue going on?

[mamaalwaysrides]

we rescued a gelding that was a stud colt at the time two years ago, sounds like the same situation you are in right now. He was so skinny every bone and rib was showing. he was kept in a small pen with 3 other stud colts, and he was the smallest. he had never had his feet done, but that wasn't hard because he was so weak.

Look at some websites that will help. but what helped him was starting off slow with a complete feed and hay , but more complete feed because he had diarrea so bad. just start with small amounts. then I added some gain and gleam and that helped alot.

the old owner of him said he was one and he really was two just so small. after two years he is 15 and a half hands. and trained to ride.

look up uc davis here in california, on their equine website, they have suggestions what to feed. It takes a long time to bring them back.

as for the feet maybe a really small amount of bleach with lots of water poured over the frog and bottom of the foot good luck

[Xiphias]

I would just go to the drug store and get some neosporin for the cuts, put that on them every day, till they heal up....Koppertox or thrush buster are both good for bad thrush....I agree with Dawn, oats are not the best thing to feed.... a complete pelleted feed, with a high fat content would be best...maybe even try seinor feed....as for the ears, give him a chance to learn to trust you guys, he may have ear mites, did the vet check him for those? I would not worry about clipping the hair out of them, there is no reason to clip the ears if you are not showing....good luck...take a few pictures, and keep us posted on his progress...

Cathy

[Equine747]

Free choice of good quality hay is needed! and for the supplement part I would put him on some type of Ration Balancer for this / I am sure that imacowgirl2 could help you find a good one to use You can also look at the Sticky: Ration Balancer Reference Thread I use Triple Crown 30% for all my horses but for a skinny horse like this you may need to use something with more fat in it. I would also feed Apple Cider Vinegar up to 1/2 cup mixed with 1/2 cup of water in its feed ever day - Here is a website to take a look at about the Health Benefits your horse will get out of it http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benef...e-care.html#ha

As for the thrush I would also use Apple cider Vinegar for that. Here is some info off that Site I gave you:

Horse Care – Horse Hoof CareThrush and other foot fungus infections can be greatly reduced by a regular spray or soak application of apple cider vinegar to the soul and frog of your horse's feet. By making the hoof area more acidic, fungus is no longer able to grow well there.

A general horse hoof soaking solution can be prepared by adding 1/4 cup (60 ml) of apple cider vinegar to one gallon (3.8 liters) of water.

The vinegar application will, at the same time, speed up the healing of any other foot infections or bruises your horse might have.
An interesting article on horse hoof abscesses that stresses the beneficial role apple cider vinegar can play in their treatment can be found here.


Note that you may need to use something with this since your horse already has thrush

As for the ears he may just be ear shy or he may in fact have something bothering him I would just work on gaining his trust and when he finally allows you to mess with them take a cloth and dampen it with a mixture of half apple cider vinegar and half water and gently clean his ears out with it. If he has ear mites this will get rid of them and clean his ears out at the same time

Also, Many people like to feed veg. oil or Corn oil to fatten up there horses (I used to be one of them) I would not do this. everything that this kind of oil coats makes it much harder to digest for the horses - resulting in undigested food or wasted food. instead try to use flax seed oil - Flax seed oil will not interfere with the digestion process and at the same time help your horse gain the weight it needs

Hope that this has helped you,
-Danielle-

[Equine747]

Originally Posted by xiphias21034

I would just go to the drug store and get some neosporin for the cuts, put that on them every day, till they heal up....Cathy

If you use this be sure that it is not the neosporin plus pain reliever the pain reliever they use is not good for any animal!

[Dawn]

Originally Posted by Equine747

If you use this be sure that it is not the neosporin plus pain reliever the pain reliever they use is not good for any animal!

Why not?

(message too short)

[Equine747]

That is what my Boss told me when I used to work for the Vet clinic / I will try to find some info on it

[Dawn]

Please do if you can. I've never heard anything about it.