• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Start Here!
  • All Topics
    • Bit and Pieces
    • Equine Digestive System
    • Gastric Ulcers
    • Horse Care and Wellbeing
    • Hindgut Ulcers
    • Muskoskeletal Issues
    • Parasites

Abler Blog

Horse Care Tips, News & Updates by Abler

  • Gastric Ulcers
  • Hindgut Ulcers
  • Horse Care & Wellbeing

Suddenly my horse wont eat! 4 reasons a horse stops eating

Most all of us also know that there is a serious issue when old Bessy turns her nose up at dinner time…she normally cleans her plate. There are many reasons why your horse wont eat. Some are serious emergencies and others are not. Let’s talk about a few reasons why a horse wont eat.

#1 – Colic its more than a stomach ache

Colic. Just the mention of it makes a horse owners blood run cold…colic is the #1 killer of horses. One of the first signs of a colicky horse is going off the feed. Not unlike us when we have a stomach ache, the belly hurts and he doesn’t want to put anything else in there.

The problem is that the horse does not have the ability to vomit its stomach contents like we can to alleviate the problem. Horses can colic from trapped gas, having eaten something he should not have, ulcers or impaction.

A colicky horse will try to lie down, look at his flanks, sweat and have an elevated heart rate. This is an occasion that you need to call the vet immediately.

#2 – Pain of Ulcers

Gastric ulcers are being aggravated by the food he is eating, so very shortly he learns that if doesn’t eat, the pain of the ulcers is less.

A classic symptom of gastric ulcers is a horse that walks away from their meal while eating.

#3 – Dental care

Another possible cause of poor eating is the lack of dental care.

A horse’s teeth never quit growing, and if you don’t have his teeth cared for at least once a year, sharp points can form. Those points will cut into his gums every time he tries to chew his food.

Other things that can also happen are cracked or impacted teeth that get infected.

#4 – Picky Horse

Some horses just are just not good eaters. It seems that the sun, moon and stars have to be aligned for him to clean his plate. For this guy you will just have to be patient, and through trial and error find a hay and feed that he likes.  I would go back to #2 and #3 above and explore ulcers and tooth care as a culprit before you assume he is just being finicky.

Loss of appetite is a sign of gastric ulcers.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • Print
  • Pinterest

Related

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to the Abler Blog

The Abler Blog is dedicated to educating the horse community on equine ulcers. Written by lifelong horse owners and supported by Abler, specialists in equine medication.

Healthy broodmares mean healthy foals.

Explore Topics

  • Gastric Ulcers
  • Hindgut Ulcers
  • Parasites
  • Muskoskeletal Issues
  • Equine Digestive System
  • Horse Care and Wellbeing
  • Bit and Pieces

SHOP WITH ABLER

Abler Equine  Product Catalog

Abler Equine has an affordable range of omeprazole for the treatment and prevention of equine gastric ulcers as granules, tablets and paste.

Shop Now

Search

Popular Posts

Omeprazole or sucralfate?

Which is best Omeprazole or Sucralfate for Horse Ulcers?

AbGard contains equine Omeprazole.

Equine Omeprazole as paste

About ninety percent of performance horses have digestive ulcers.

AbGard: Equine Omeprazole Paste Alternative

Ivermectin is effective in targeting small strongyles.

Dewormer: Praziquantel and Ivermectin Combined

Every horse’s situation is entirely different from the other.

Horse Wormers and Equine Worming Schedule

AbPrazole Plus is an easy-to-use granule formulation for equine digestive ulcers.

AbPrazole Plus: Special Equine Omeprazole Formulation

Stress in a horse can be a sign of ulcers.

Omeprazole worked wonders for my horse

Stress is one cause of imbalance of the normal gut flora of a horse.

Are Equine probiotics Really Necessary?

Managing horse post omeprazole treatment.

AbGard: Treat Horse Ulcers Immediately Before It Gets Worse

AblerQuant is categorized as an equine dewormer.

Information on Horse Anthelmintics

Jockey silks are unique to each horse owner.

Horse racing: Famous jockey silks

Footer

The Abler Blog is dedicated to educating the horse community on equine ulcers. Written by lifelong horse owners and supported by Abler, specialists in equine medication.

shop online with Abler

Featured Posts

Equine inflammation is a vital part of the horse's immune response.

Dealing with Equine Inflammation: Bute or Banamine?

The Friesian breed is most often recognized by its black coat colour.

What is a Fresian horse?

What horse wouldn't LOVE to be spoiled with DIY horse treats?

DIY horse treats you can bake at home

Equine Colonic Ulcers are lesser known but just as common as gastric ulcers. 

What causes Equine Colonic Ulcers? Three Common Problems to Address

Popular Topics

  • Gastric Ulcers
  • Hindgut Ulcers
  • Parasites
  • Muskoskeletal Issues
  • Equine Digestive System
  • Horse Care and Wellbeing
  • Bit and Pieces

Copyright © 2021 · Abler Blog on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.