[Launa]

Has anyone ever had a horse diagnosed with a thyroid problem? If so what were the symptoms and treatments?

RimRock just keeps piling on the pounds. He is only on grass hay and grazes in the evening on pasture grass. But I have noticed a couple of days ago, glands under his jaw line that seem swollen. When I had first came down with Graves Disease a few years ago, my thyroid looked like a bicycle tire around my neck.

So just wondering if anyone out there has had a horse with a thyroid condition.

[JBandRio]

What else is his diet? Just the hay and pasture? What type of hay?

What else about his body is "fat"? What is his crest like? Soft and squishy, or hard? Does he have fatty deposits around his shoulders and tailhead that seem excessive for how "fat" he is? The answers to these questions might point you towards Insulin Resistance, which is a bit more common than try thyroid issues.

[LuckyAshley]

There are suppliments to mix in with grain for thyroid problems. I know a lady whos horse has that condition. The suppliement is called Thyrol-X or something like that. It has a blue & silver lable.
-Ashley

[Launa]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

What else is his diet? Just the hay and pasture? What type of hay?

What else about his body is "fat"? What is his crest like? Soft and squishy, or hard? Does he have fatty deposits around his shoulders and tailhead that seem excessive for how "fat" he is? The answers to these questions might point you towards Insulin Resistance, which is a bit more common than try thyroid issues.

The morning hay is Orchard Grass, it was cut last year. The evening grazing is Orchard and a mixture of wild grasses.

No one is getting Safe Choice at the moment. Usually supplement them with a scoop of that but I haven't in awhile.

He has fatty deposits around his shoulders (I'll look at his tailhead) You can't feel his ribs and when he walks you can see his side ripple a little.

My husband has not been able to ride him in over a month. So he doesn't get much exercise at the moment.

He doesn't get any snacks not carrots or apples. I don't know what else I can cut out of his diet.

[sheplovr]

Geesss Luna I had a dog with it a Rotty once, his coat got kinda greasy dull he was hardly eating as he was so fat I kept cutting him back till I realized something was badly wrong. Went to vet soon as I walked in with him he drew blood and said this is a thyroid problem, he was to zero, brought him up to two and three quarters, lost thirty five pounds, coat got glossy on Soloxine, forget the dose been a long time but he lived four more years and just was laying playing with an imported puppy and died of heart failure, so what helps kills also. WE have no choice in meds, they help one thing and kill another organ. He was a beauty Rotty named Kava. Never had this in all the hundreds of horses i passed with, so this must be rare in horses.????

[DesertBred]

My Arabian has Hypothyroidism. I have to give him Thyro-L everyday. He began to do what your horse is doing...piling on the pounds without a change in the diet. I feed him Strategy, about 4 lbs per day...along with a hoof supplement and a vitaming mineral supplement being as he is on so little feed. He has free turnout and gets no hay at the moment because the pasture is such good quality grass. You can have your vet to a simple blood test for about $30 to tell whether or not the T4 count is low or normal. The treatment is affordable as well, so get the test, it is worth it for your pony Hope this helps.

[Launa]

Here are some pictures I just snapped.



How much overweight do you think he is? (Cringe....Cringe)



Double click to enlarge the pictures and get a good view.

I noticed Tucker is getting a little pudgt too but not as bad. My other two horses are fine but one is a 2 year old and Buns is 21.

I could turn those two out first and then RimRock and Tucker will run the fence back and forth until I turn them out. They will get exercise then. Just kiddin! LOL! Neither Michael or I have been able to ride lately so I know that is part of it but RimRock always puts on pounds fast! Even when he is being ridden he still maintains a certain pudge!

[Launa]

Originally Posted by DesertBred

My Arabian has Hypothyroidism. I have to give him Thyro-L everyday. He began to do what your horse is doing...piling on the pounds without a change in the diet. I feed him Strategy, about 4 lbs per day...along with a hoof supplement and a vitaming mineral supplement being as he is on so little feed. He has free turnout and gets no hay at the moment because the pasture is such good quality grass. You can have your vet to a simple blood test for about $30 to tell whether or not the T4 count is low or normal. The treatment is affordable as well, so get the test, it is worth it for your pony Hope this helps.

Thank You for the input.

[DesertBred]

He doesnt look too bad really....but, the blood test is well worth it...it will assure you that it either IS or IS NOT a thyroid problem. Is your vet close? It is called a T4 Assay. Your welcome

[Sue B]

While thyroid is generally treated with a drug that repalces the thyroid hormone, it also inhibits the thyroid from functioning properly...ie the body uses the drug in place of the thryroid's natural production and thus the need for the thyroid diminishes and eventually is not needed. It is debateable what other things result from this.

However, from my experience, in many cases, the horse generally sufferes from dietary deficiencies that cause the thyroid to malfunction. Specifically, magnesium, iodine and selenium. Depending on your harea, theytype of grass/hay fed and what else the diet consists of, this could be the issue.

In general, when fed orchard grass, there is a chance of Mg deficiency. Additionally, nearly every horse sufferes from a lack of iodine in the diet....a key factor in thyroid health. Se is lacking in many, but not all locations in the US. Another nutrient used to suppor thyroid function is omega-3 fatty acids....flax seed.

Treating the issue with nutrition as opposed to drugs provides the body with the means to heal itself and return to normal function. However, not all respond to nutrition and meds are still required, but generally at a much lower level than horses not treated nutritionally.

I also agree with JB....in many cases, this is insulin resistance and not thyroid malfunction. Does he stock up easily, get a swollen sheath or swelling insde his hind legs? You also didn't mention about the crest...or did I miss it?