Hi! Last Thursday, my 13 year old Arabian exhibited signs of colic (depressed, lethargic, laying down, trying to roll). After talking to my vet, I gave her some Banamine and walked her. I was hoping the treatment would help resolve the issue, but now she is refusing to drink and eating 1/2 of what she normally would. I have forced water into her with a turkey baster, watered down her hay, and even tried a super salty water/grain/apple mix. Still she has no interest in water. I live in Michigan, so the buckets freeze quickly this time of year. I cannot give her a heated water bucket with the way the electricity in the barn is set up. (It would blow the fuse to the water heater in the trough, then none of my horses would have water). Any recommendations on getting her to drink? thanks

It would be good if you could get some electrolytes in her, either mixed in her water, mixed in her feed or just put directly in her mouth. Try different amounts of water and grain, my gelding will eat it as almost soup but some won't eat it but so wet. One trick that can help with a horse that wont drink is putting a powdered drink mix in their water, like koolaid or even better poweraid or gatorade. She's probably not drinking because of the water temp though. The place where i kept my first arab I couldn't have a heated bucket either but twice a day when i feed him i took a gallon jug of super hot water to add to his bucket so he would atleat drink twice a day. It may just be taking her a little while to get back to normal to. When in dout though call you vet and see if they have any ideas too.

Filed under: Michigan hay

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