Why did my horse die starved when others were healthy and fed?

Poor Jim! It's certainly possible for intestinal parasites to cause weight loss, and you're correct that they can be resistant to many dewormers - so it would be a good idea for Jim to have a fecal egg count done by your vet to determine if this is the problem. It's also possible that he may need to have his teeth floated, as this is another common reason for weight loss if he can't grind his food properly. Systemic illnesses like liver or kidney disease, cancer, etc. can also cause dramatic weight loss like this. I would recommend having an equine vet come and out and examine him when you are able to - he/she can check his teeth and do a fecal exam, and may also recommend blood work or other testing if needed to help determine the problem.

I'm sorry to hear of the passing of your beautiful girl. Without a necropsy (an autopsy) it's impossible to know exactly what happened or why she passed. Dogs can have heart attacks and strokes just like humans and it's possible this is what happened to her. It's strictly a guess but it sounds as if her passing was peaceful. Try to focus on the memories you created in those 6.5 years. She will always be with you in your heart. My condolences.

With all the information you have provided, this situation sounds very suspicious of a Barber Pole Worm infection, also known as haemonchus contortus. It is a parasite that infects the digestive tract and feeds off the the sheep's blood. Sheep can become anemic and die very quickly. My recommendation is to have your veterinarian perform fecal sampling on your herd. If eggs are present in the feces for this parasite your veterinarian will need to reassess your parasite control program.

Hi there and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! My first worry with older horses is their dentition (teeth). If you have never had your horse's teeth floated, it may be time for that. Lost teeth, impactions of feed, uneven wear, etc can all affect how much and how comfortably your mare eats. Your vet can perform this, after an initial exam. Best pulp can be good to put some weight on them, if it's a simple caloric factor. Last but not least, if you haven't dewormed in a while-consider taking in a fecal sample to your veterinarian to be checked. These simple things I try to take care of first, I hope this helps you!

I am so deeply sorry for your loss, my thoughts are with you in this difficult time. It is of course difficult to know precisely what happened to Daisy without examining her, however, I would be concerned about two possible conditions. Bloat which is when the stomach becomes englarged and may rotate. This causes the blood vessels to constrict and affects blood flow to and from the heart. It is common in large barrel chested dogs. Another possibility is A foreign body obstruction, which occurs when something becomes lodged and Blocks the gastrointestinal tract, the bloackage can be complete and cause a rupture. Again it is difficult for me to know what could have caused Daisy to pass. If you need to know definitively, a local veterinarian may be able to perform an autopsy. Sending my deepest sympathies to you.

I'm so sorry about Sky! Not being vaccinated is definitely a possiblity behind her death. Parasites or other infections could have been a cause as well. She could have contracted feline leukemia or FIV too. It is very hard to say without seeing her. I'm very sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.

Hello. Your horse is severely underweight. It is important to go slow trying to put weight back on her. She should have access to pasture & a good prairie grass hay all day. If you did not worm her using ivermectin, that is what I would recommend ( Ivermectin Gold so you also get tapeworms ). I would normally recommend the Panacur Power Pack, but she may be too debilitated to use this now. Maybe in a couple of months come back with this. There is no one way to prevent colic or laminitis. Access to hay, controlling parasites, controlled access to concentrates ( grain, especially the sweet feeds ), and limited access to high energy feeds like corn & alfalfa should keep her healthy, but horses are horses & you cannot control everything. And do have a veterinarian come out & check her vitals, teeth, pull blood for a Coggins & update all necessary vaccinations. Thanks for rescuing her & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.