help with feeding rescued colt

[littlearab]

Hello,

I have never posted on this fourm before. But do read it. If I were closer I would take in many little needy ones posted here.

If there is ever a horse minie or big who needs a place to go in ND I will take it in and find it a new home.

I was told about 5 arab stud colts who were in need of a home last week. I have taken in 2 and contacted a gal who took in 2 and she found a home for the other so all are now in good homes.Here are my little guys....

The two I took are weanlings, who were weaned every fast(2 weeks ago) and were lets just say starved.In a large drit pen with no hay or feed for the frist few days and then they put grian in but the stallion and older colts in the pen did not let them eat much.

The one colt is eating his hay & feed with great joy he is putting on wieght daily and looking better every day.He is the chestnut.He is very laied back and mellow.

But the other is not,and I'm begining to worry about him. He is the bay he is more high strung ,but not jumpy. He was also the top weanilng in age and herd order in the pen. He seems to losing wieght and now he is shedding out?

It's fall here and even my grown arab geldings and getting thier winter coats.

He eats hay all he wants, but will not eat the feed. I have been leaving it in the tub and hoping he will try it on his own, but he will not.

If I put some in his mouth he will chew it and but spits most of it out.

He does seem to be doing OK, just not blooming like the other one.

I have not wormed either yet, was told by my vet to let them get eating first and ajust to thier new life then worm ect. I planned on worming them today it's been a week here now and they seem settled in' other then the bay not eating feed.

But wonder if I should hold off worming?

They are freindly and learning fast to come when called, are halter trained now ect. But as the one is not eating feed, I wonder if he needs to be seen by the vet again, or just wait it out and see. I was told by a freind maybe be he just does not like the feed. It's a high end colt feed 25% protien ect, I really think he needs that so he can put on wieght before winter. But if he not eating it it will not help. Maybe just try plain oats?? I hate to try a diffent feed as he did colic the first night. Too many changes for him maybe.

The colts are not together, but can see each other ect. Maybe the one is stressed from being alone?? Or was beat up when he tried to eat grain when they were with the bigger ones and is afraid.. I just do not know. Or could it be a health issue..

Any help will be a God sent.... any ideas or anything??

 

[USMCshamusmom]

your vet is your best friend in this issue, he/she has the experience to tell if it is a health issue or social pressure - behavioral, I'd ask the vet about it!

Other issues could be just lack of practice, teething issues, maybe oral sores for some reason... the vet can examine his mouth and tell... Try giving him a little molasses or apple sauce in a syringe or a little in the bottom of his feed pan when in his stall each day. When he is looking forward to the taste of that once or twice a day you can give him a cupful of feed with the molasses or apple sauce on it, and he'll begin to slurp it up in no time. It is possible to feed him just really high quality hay at this age and do fine with it, and again, your vet is your best insight as to the problem. good luck!

 

[virginia]

This is just a suggestion, but maybe he would be happier in with the other colt. If he has compition for food, he'll get more interested in it. Try a sweet feed just to get him used to it then gradually change to what you are now feeding. But the best bet is to have your vet check his mouth and teeth for problems. Good luck.and thank you for rescuing these handsome little guys.

Ginny StP

 

[wdancer777]

For sure contact the vet, but Ulcers is the first thing that comes to my mind. I took a colt in last fall that would not eat his grain, He would eat hay, but no grains which he desperatly needed.he was so very thin we didn't know if he would make it through, but a schedule of antibiotics and plain yogurt for a couple weeks and he slowly started eating and hasn't stopped!

 

[kaykay]

did you get my post on the main forum about the karo syrup?

K

 

[Marty]

Just a shot in the dark here but I would have a vet check his tonuge and inside of his mouth. He could have sores, leisons, and a problem with his tonuge.