unthriftiness..

[deheresmint]

Tucker has recently recovered from a serious bout of rainrot. I'm assuming he got it from excessive sweating in the pasture because we have had no rain and very little in the way of dew.
He has been in consistent work, lot's of trail riding, up and down hills, flat work etc.. He should have developed some degree of topline by now. His belly is huge, but he looks skinny in the rump and neck. He's on a good, high fat beet pulp based feed, gets flaked hay at meal times and is turned out most of the time on pasture. He does come in on hot days and then is turned out in the evening. I do fecal's and he is wormed accordingly. We have had some intermittent hind end issues that the vet wants me to 'monitor' and see if he improves with the work. I'm wondering if there might be something else I can do to help him, or if perhaps something is NQR with him? I just started him on a multivitamin. Could his overall unthriftiness be a symptom of something else?

[BoyleHeightsKid]

Have you had any blood work done?

[Katelyn]

Power Pack might be in order.
That's what I always do first, if a horse isn't using their feed well.

blood work
back/hock pain?

[BoyleHeightsKid]

I remembered seeing a thread somewhere on COTH about Vitamin E deficiency and couldn't find it, but I did find this article. This could explain Tuckers hindend issues and his muscle atrophy.
www.horse-sense.org/archives/2001017.php

It could be many things, but bloodwork would be my first stop. Maybe this can point you in the right direction.

eta: oh and I agree on the Powerpac. It's one of the first things I do with an unthrifty horse.

[deheresmint]

What kind of bloodwork? Thanks.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

I would have them do anything that would relate to a neuro issue ie. selenium, vitamin E etc. Have you had a massage therapist or a chiro work on him? If you have, what do they think? From what you're describing from the hindend issues he's had/having and now the muscle atrophy I would think he might have some kind of neuro problem. It could be something simple that can be managed with diet/supplements or something more serious. Talk to your vet and tell him your concerns. If he doesn't want to dig deeper then I would be hauling him to a clinic for a second opinion.

Check out these links
www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=299559&highlight=selenium+deficiency
www.thoroughbredtimes.com/horse-health/2003/may/03/veterinary-topics-a-necessary-poison.aspx

[Einstein]

Are you still riding with Lee? I would ask her first. Go to someone you trust, who sees you and your horse in real life first.

A Powerpack is a great idea. Other then that, I wouldn't be throwing a lot of suppliments at him, I just have a feeling that won't don much but lighten your pocket book. The pastures around here now aren't great, I don't know where you are boarding, but I'm guessing he needs more forage. But, like I said, talk to Lee first.

[deheresmint]

Yep Einstein, Lee is very supportive and she too is baffled. All the other horse's in Tucker's pasture look good. I think getting him tested for vitamin deficiency is a good idea and also get another fecal done before worming again. He has been doing so well with the front shoes and now he seems to have regressed again. Thanks all for the input. We'll see what the vet says this time. Wouldn't it be nice if it was something as simple as a deficiency..