Trouble getting an old pony to eat?

Question

At the barn that I am working at, there is an old pony who lacks interest in his food. I believe that he is around 30 years old, and he is suffering from kidney failure, so he is literally skin and bones. We let him and our other 35yr old pony wander around the farm, just because they are old and get to do whatever they want. He gets about 1/3 of a large Maxwell coffee can of grain, and water is mixed with it to make it easier to eat and digest. We tried adding Senior feed to it to make it more appealing to him, but that only seems to make him care less about his food. He will go out and graze, but he doesn't seem to like the alfalfa hay or grass hay that we offer to him. He had his teeth done about a week ago, so his teeth can't be a cause of the problem.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what we can add to his feed to maybe make it tastier or more appealing to him? We are trying to help him put even a little bit of weight on, and make his last couple of years good ones.

Answer 1

Ok, I have a 30 year old horse that loves to eat, but--he has no side teeth and neither should yours. I feed mine pellets Stablenergy, and Fast Track probiotics. He can not properly chew grain, it probably hurts his gums and won't want to eat. Hay may need to be sprinkled with waterso it is easier for him to eat too. If it is stemmy or has thistle, forget it, he won't eat it.  My horse looks great and acts great. I also have a pony -a third of a coffee can is not enough. Mine gets a half of a horse feed scoop twice a day and hay three times a day. When he is out on grass a couple hours, he is down to twice daily hay. Kidney failure shouldn't affect his appetite that much. FEED HIM more what he likes..who cares what it is,at this age keep him as fat and happy as you can.

Answer 2

If he has kidney failure, he is definitely suffering and it is time to let him go to sleep.  That is the only decent and humane thing to do.  THINK ABOUT THE HORSE.  HE IS WHAT MATTERS AND IT IS TIME TO LET HIM GO.

Answer 3

I think you should switch him to all senior feed (gradually).  It is properly balanced and full of extra stuff to put weight on old horses with trouble chewing and/or digesting regular grains.  You can also feed him more of it since it is a complete feed and will replace the hay he's not eating.  I put my 27 year old pony on it last fall, and he has made a huge comeback!

Answer 4

Try to get him on a senior formula at the first opportunity.   His old body can't digest the grain and his old teeth can't chew it up like he used to.  I would also try soaking some alfalfa cubes and offering that.  He may be just not feeling well but honestly he should have been on senior formula for the last 10 years or so.  It is so much easier for him to chew and digest.

But as other posters said, it might be time to help him across the rainbow bridge.  I say that as long as an animal is happy and eating good he should be allowed to stay but by your own words he is uninterested in food and has bad kidneys and is a rack of bones.  It might be time.

Answer 5

Kidney failure may be causing this pony to lose interest in food as well as everything else.  He may not feel good enough to eat.  I'd talk to a vet and see what he or she recommends to solve the problem.  It just may be time to let this pony go and not allow him to suffer any longer.

Answer 6

Everyone always wants to put an animal to sleep.  I would agree with this, but only if you have talked to a vet and there seems to be no other way to give the pony a happy, healthy rest of his life.  Your vet would have the best solutions.  Give him/her a call.

Answer 7

try a bunch of different feeds and what ever one he likes feed that to him if there is a mare at your barn thats foal just got weaned  and she is not going to bread again try feeding him that with his feed

Answer 8

Not to be cruel or anything but if the pony has kidney failure, why doesn't the owner put it out of it's misery? Hate to say it but it sounds like the poor old guy is almost ready to move out of this life.

Answer 9

has the horse been moved from somewhere he has been for awaile or take somthing of his is you did give it back or put him back or is the brimm around his eyes white if they are he is scared and try to make him more confortable