my mare

Question
My mare is not eating her grain at all after we recently switched. She stopped eating her hay somewhat and I gave her some that was a little better quality and she ate it just fine.  Then over the last day she is not eating either hay nor grain.  She has been drinking a lot of water though.  She is a stalled show horse, so she is not in the elements at all.  She is a little finicky sometimes and I was thinking that was the problem, but now I am getting worried.  It is time to deworm her again this month, do you think that would help?  I am just scared that it is colic, but her drinking water is a good thing.  I am having trouble getting a hold of my vet, but I really think it is just from switching her feed.  After feeding her the better hay Saturday night, her stool was looser....so that seems to tell me there is no impaction....

Answer
Hi Brandi -

You didn't mention how old your mare is but one of the many reasons horses go off feed is due to tooth issues.  This could include young horses who are losing baby teeth and having permanent teeth pushing through or horses of any age dealing with other dental problems or infections.  

Signs of colic can include going off feed but watch for her to act uncomfortable as well - looking and/or kicking at her sides, standing in a stretched out stance as if to urinate, rolling, laying down, groaning.

There are many other issues that can cause this but I'd be surprised if it was because of the switch in feed.  Was the switch gradual?  How long ago did you make the change?

Have you taken her temperature (should be around 101), checked her heart rate (36 - 42 beats per minute is about normal) or respiration (normal is around 12 breathes per minute)?  These would help give you more information to share with your vet so they can begin to determine what might be going on.  If you are unsure of how to do these very simple vital checks, try to find someone at your barn who can help you.  It's a good idea to check these every so often so you are familiar with what your mare's "normals" are.  

Anyway, this is just a start ... I hope your vet returns your call quickly.  Let me know how it goes okay?

Thanks Brandi!