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  Discussion on Dull coat/not shedding
Author Message
New Member:
Davissel

Posted on Thursday, Jul 13, 2006 - 1:44 am:

My three year old gelding still has much of his winter coat. He also appears a little bit thin, not skinny and starved looking, just a little thinner than I'd like.

My concern took him to the vet in April. The vet wasn't overly concerned, just told me to boost his diet with alfalfa and a grain supplemented with selinium (which I did).

Its July now, and I haven't seen any improvement.
Its been hot, triple digits on and off, but when I curry his coat he is shedding out like its spring time. He also stands in his pen and sweats when its 100 degrees outside.

I have been told by a trainer to start feeding him NatrualGlo rice bran, GroStrong minerals, and Cool Calories 100. I bought all that this week, but haven't started him on it yet.

I have had the horse for one year. I was ignorant to my area's worming rotation and only used Zimectrin on him until I took him to the vet in April. Then I put him on a recommended rotation for our area, and he has a combo of ivermectin and strongid every 8 weeks (every time the shoer comes). He has been wormed three times since April on the vet's recommended rotation.

Sometimes I think he looks ok, then I ride with my friends and thier horses are fat and shiney. What is wrong with mine?!

I called the vet again today and have another appointment next Monday, just to be sure. Any advice or questions you might suggest I ask?

Thanks-
Selena
Member:
Erika

Posted on Thursday, Jul 13, 2006 - 10:18 pm:

Selena, check the article on deworming. Do a search to find it. Maybe you hav something resistant.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jul 14, 2006 - 6:47 am:

Selena, often young horses have not filled out and appear a bit thin but the slow shedding is a bit odd. I would not recommend the deworming rotation you have been suggested. Instead see our overview article and schedule for deworming. Can you give us the horses condition using the scale given at Care for Horses » Management & Procedures » Weight, Condition, and Eventual Height Estimation. Also I would review our nutrition recommendations at Care for Horses » Nutrition » Equine Nutrition an Overview of Feeding Horses.
DrO
Member:
Vickiann

Posted on Friday, Jul 14, 2006 - 9:43 am:

Make sure your worming program is sufficient to take care of tapeworms, and also have the horse's teeth checked if he seems a bit under weight.
Member:
Davissel

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 25, 2006 - 6:47 pm:

UPDATE:

Pinky went to the vet on the 17th, where we drew for a selinuim test and also started a 5 day wormer. The selinuim test results came back low, in the 120's. He has an appointment on the 27th for a selinuim shot. Are these injections safe?
Thanks for your help!
Selena Davis
Member:
Sonoita

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 9:40 am:

Wow Selena,
I hope every thing works out for you and Pinkey, Please keep us up to date on his condition.
Happy Trails,
Wanda
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 11:17 am:

Without units I cannot evaluate the selenium test: could you supply the units and the labs normals?

There have been unusual reactions to E/Se injections but many are given without problems. A salt block that has been fortified with selenium is available in areas that are low in selenium. I would think this would be a better long term fix. For more on this see Care for Horses » Nutrition » Minerals and Nutrition.
DrO
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