ridecamp@endurance.net: RE [endurance] Low Protein Puzzle (9:35PM EST)

RE [endurance] Low Protein Puzzle (9:35PM EST)

Serge Cote (scote@laurentides.mtl.net)
Wed, 14 Feb 1996 22:37:08 -0500

Hi Diane,
Here are some possibilities I'd check before putting Trenton through
peretoneal tap.
1) Could Trenton be getting too much oat? Especially if he is herd boss he
may be getting quite more than his share. This has happened to one of our
horses a few years ago and it caused her edema. As soon as we decreased the
oat portions, the edema dissapeared. Could he have been given an unusual
amount of oat by someone or simply have found the oat container and "had an
orgy". This could also explain why he gaunts over his hindquarter: he might
have developped grain founder and is trying to take weight off his front legs.
Could it also be that he is a belcher and noone knows about it? One of our
mares used to belch only at night and never in front of human beings so it
took us a long time to find out. (To belch can exhaust a horse to the point
of getting him really thin) During that time we were feeding more oat to
keep her weight up and this "overload" of oat also caused her edema.
2) How are his teeth and have they been tended to regularly? Does he crush
his oat well? If not, this would reduce a lot the absorbtion of protein,
therefore he'd have to eat more, and this could cause edema.
3) I assume that he is a guilding; tell Patty to check if his sheath is
clean or has been cleaned regularly. An infection there or anywhere in the
body would cause the protein level to drop.
These are only a few points that have come to my mind and might help your
friend. Please keep me/us informed as I'd like to know how all this developpes.
Good luck,

Anne, from Quebec
scote@laurentides.mtl.net

--
Serge Cote
scote@laurentides.mtl.net
URL http://laurentides.mtl.net