Horse not eating hay since teeth floated. How long before this is a real health risk?

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We're new horse owners on the steep learning curve. We (particularly my darling bride) are learning quickly, but we still have lots of questions. Here goes one of 'em...

Our vet came out two days ago and floated three of our horses' teeth. Two of those are eating just fine. The third is not. He tried to eat some hay not long after the procedure and gagged on it; since then he has eaten almost no hay that we know of. They're in a pasture where green grass is still available but until this he was eating his rations of hay enthusiastically. Now he's not. He is, however, still eating his sweet feed and oats just fine.

We know that this roughage is an essential part of the diet. How long can he go without eating the proper amount of hay before it can start causing real problems? And, any suggestions for getting him to start eating hay again?

Thanks...

-- Jerry Hatchett (temp@jerryhatchett.com), January 26, 2002

Answers

Call the vet, an animal should be in no pain after having thier teeth floated. If however he also had to pull some bad teeth, than just like you, he may be sore. Call the vet and ask! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 26, 2002.

Thanks, Vicki. We did call the vet this morning; he said if he wasn't eating normally in a couple of days to call him and let him know. We could just go ahead and get him back out here if it's something urgent, but I hate to keep spending the vet money if it's no big deal. If it is a big deal, no problem.

-- Jerry Hatchett (temp@jerryhatchett.com), January 26, 2002.

Jerry, if you can get some hay pellets or cubes and soak them in water till they get mushy, it will a lot easier for him to eat with his sore mouth.

It is perfectly normal for them to be tender after being floated, they often skin up their gums/tongue/roof of mouth while they are doing it. We haul ours into a Equine Dentistry School to be done every 6-8 months, and they always caution us that they might not eat well for a few days afterwards.

-- Tracy (zebella@mindspring.com), January 26, 2002.


Thanks, Tracy. We'll be checking on those tomorrow. I'm glad to hear it's sorta normal. We're much like new parents right now; we know very little and anything out of the ordinary is scary.

-- Jerry Hatchett (temp@jerryhatchett.com), January 26, 2002.

Jerry, Never heard of this being "normal". Somethings wrong. A horse that won't eat??? Conundrum. I have had Vets that float teeth and other Vets that float teeth. One never used a tranquilizer and never drew blood...the other used a tranquilizer (same horse) and had blood on the rasp. Now tell me who was doing the better job? Makes one want to learn to do it themselves or go to an equine dental specialist. I also had a Vet tell me that the wolf teeth needed to come out so he tried, failed miserably, apologized for not having the right equipment (loosened teeth, drew blood, and made money) and came back another day with the proper equipment. ARGGHHHH. Sorry, this seems to be a sore point with me (pun intended). Good luck and let us know what happens! Blessings to you and your animals!

-- Susan in Northern Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), January 26, 2002.


Thank you, Susan. I will indeed post the progress here. This vet did use a tranquilizer. He comes recommended as THE horse vet around here by every horse owner we've spoken with, and this is the only thing we've encountered with him that didn't go smoothly. I was honestly surprised that he had to tranquilize this horse. I could understand the others, but this one is SO well-behaved that I would not have thought it necessary.

Oh well...

-- Jerry Hatchett (temp@jerryhatchett.com), January 26, 2002.


Jerry, I was upset because of my past experiences. I am sure your Vet is just fine. Each animal is an individual. Maybe a warm mash would help your baby along. I hope I didn't worry you. Let us know how it's going.

-- Susan in Northern Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), January 26, 2002.

No, you didn't, Susan. Not to worry. :) Thanks again...

-- Jerry Hatchett (temp@jerryhatchett.com), January 26, 2002.

Another thing you could try to get him eating hay -- do you have a leaf shredder/chipper? You can shred hay up in high powered ones (not the string shredder types) into very fine hay and offer that. That can be eaten with little pain or difficulty (I heard about this through a person who had a geriatric with very bad teeth). There is less chance of quidding -- balling up hay that gets hung up on rough teeth edges -- and spitting it out.

I usually make them a soft warm mash with bran, pelletized beet pulp, some alfalfa pellets, and anything like Equine Senior with warm-to- hot water, let it rehydrate about a half hour and serve. If they won't eat that either, then I get a bit worried. My vet is the best one in the area for horses, and when he has to do extensive work on a horse, cutting teeth down that have gotten too high, or working on horses that have a lot of shear or wave to their bite, he often warns us that the horse will be off its feed for a few days.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), January 26, 2002.


Julie, thanks, I'm learning new stuff all the time on this forum. I haven't had enough horses to know it all -- YET -- lol. Anyway, thanks for posting as the more info we have the better. P.S.: Equine Senior was a life saver for my geriatic mare (first horse). When I got her (rescued) she was dull, sad, head down pathetic, wounded, infected, wormy, skin and bones ready for the knackers. That was in the fall. Fed her Equine Senior. I laced it with a cup of corn oil and a handful of linseed meal twice a day over the winter. When spring came and she shed out the man I boarded her with was STUNNED! Wow, she turned out to be a BEAUTIFUL PALAMINO. And a TNW to boot. Couldn't believe our eyes. I remember trying to post when I asked her to trot. LOL, I couldn't figure out why the gait wouldn't let me post! Turns out she was doing her running walk thing. Love the memories. Gave her to a rideing program for handycapped kids. She was too old for me to trail ride. I miss her very much. Her name was Cheyenne. I called her Shy. One spring day I went to see her but couldn't find her in the pasture, but there was a new bay mare out there. I didn't know this new mare...it turned out to be Cheyenne who had a good roll in the mud. She was put down a few years ago when she could no longer eat hay. She was very old. weeping.

-- Susan in Northern Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), January 26, 2002.


If the Vet did a lot of work in the horses mouth there still could be sore spots. My TB is floated at least once a year, and it takes a half hour- 45 minutes to do a good job. The first few times I had her floated she actually bled (she had four abcesses on her cheeks the first time I had her floated), and didn't eat hay well for a few days. Keep an eye on your horse, but I think she's just sore and she'll start eating soon, if she hasn't already.

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), January 26, 2002.


Thanks for all the help, folks. He started eating his hay much better this morning and we have high hopes that he'll be approaching normal by evening.

Jerry

-- Jerry Hatchett (temp@jerryhatchett.com), January 26, 2002.


Susan, XOOO. :) Leslie

-- Leslie in MW OR (leslie@webolium.com), January 27, 2002.

Thanks Leslie. Appreciated. Right back atcha!

-- Susan in Northern Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), January 27, 2002.

Update: He's eating his hay normally once more. Thanks to all for the good advice during our angst. :)

-- Jerry Hatchett (temp@jerryhatchett.com), January 28, 2002.


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