Why is my horse reluctant to eat and acting grumpy in his stable?

If she's not eating, she's eating painful, colicky, or both. Take a heart rate if you know how to do this--normal is 20-40 beats/minute. If it's higher than this, she's painful and needs to see a veterinarian. If she is rolling, looking at her sides, or not passing manure, she needs to see a vet as these are signs of colic. If you really think she's resting her hocks, then they are sore, and she needs xrays to see what kind of arthritis is going on and what steps you need to take to make her more comfortable. Hope that helps!

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm not an equine or large animal veterinarian but many many things could be wrong with your horse. Dental issues come to mind but many other things need to be evaluated by your large animal veterinarian. I would advise calling your veterinarian and let them handle this case. This could be something easily remedied or more complicated. A good physical exam, history, and possible tests would provide light on what is going on. I'm sorry I can't be more specific but a hands-on exam is definitely a place to start. Thanks for using Pet Coach!

Please do keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't start to colic again. The stress of travel may have upset his digestion. If you can keep to the same feed and hay and have plenty of fresh water. Walking him in the pasture and grooming will help him relax and settle in. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

It may not be that Beau is lazy, it could be that he is sick or injured keeping him from moving faster than a trot as well as causing a decrease in appetite. I would give his equine vet a call to come and see him in the next day or two. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Sounds like he is colicking. I suggest you get a vet out there to check him out. Glad he drank some water and had some electrolytes but the fact that he keeps laying down is not good. He may need some Bute or Banamine (anti-inflammatory) - he may have muscle inflammation from being down/tangled.

Hi there. First it’s important to make sure that your saddle fits properly-you aren’t pinching when you tighten your girth or tightening too quickly-both of which can cause discomfort in your mare. It really is best to have her scoped by a vet to check for ulcers, as well as an oral exam to make sure there is no pain in the mouth-sometimes they just associate pain with riding and it doesn’t matter the source of the pain (saddle, bit, etc) they just know it hurts them. Gastrogard is usually what I try first for ulcers. It is commercially available in many stores as well as online. If you suspect ulcers, you may also want to reevaluate how much grain you are feeding. If you have further questions, please feel free to ask. Hope this helps.

Poor Molly! It sounds like she's very sick. Mucus dripping from her nose could be caused by a severe respiratory infection, a problem called choke which is caused by food blocking the esophagus, or some other type of illness. Her lack of appetite and weight loss may be related to this, or could be due to a separate problem. Regardless, if she hasn't eaten in several days, this is an extremely serious problem - she may die without prompt veterinary care, so I would recommend calling an equine vet out to come and see her immediately. He/she can do a complete exam and some diagnostic testing if needed to help determine what's wrong and get her started on appropriate treatment. The foal should start to become used to you the more you are around - feeding and handling Molly, etc. Over time, he will become less afraid and you can begin gently handling him as well. Go slowly and take your time to earn his trust.