Sky won't drink?

[CaddoCinnamon]

Guys Sky isn't drinking right now very good? He has always been picky about his water. Do you guys know of anything that we could give him to help him drink? The other horses are drinking just fine. We put in a fresh bucket of water in his stall this morning and when I fed up this afternoon he hadn't drank anything the entire day. He is eating though really well. What could this be? I am going to call Valerie on Monday.

[vicklynn]

I crush up peppermints. Works wonders, if your horse likes them.

[CaddoCinnamon]

He definitely likes peppermints. I will have my hubby do that in the morning in his water. Thanks Vicky. he did this once before and we ended up putting a little bit of tea in his water and he drank all of it. That seemed to help motivate him to drink for 3 months. We only put it in his water twice. Just the first 2 days but I am wondering though if it is just a phase or what is going on with him about the water.

[vicklynn]

Ya never know. I use a hammer to crush my peppermints. Its easier.

[CaddoCinnamon]

Thanks for the input. He has me concerned but not overly yet. I am most definitely going to call Valerie though and get her opinion and see what we need to do for him.

[Gliderider]

Sorry to hear about Sky. Sure hope he starts drinking. I have used orange powdered Gatorade in there water before. Got my boy drinking. I kept 2 buckets of water in my boys stall. One just plain water and one with Gatorade.

[zoel_222]

Peppermints, loose salt and gatorade/electrolytes are all good for helping him to want to drink.

[Gliderider]

Oh yeah Zoel is right I forgot about loose salt. I sprinkled it right on my boys fed or hay. I even at one point put some in his mouth.

[zoel_222]

Oh yeah Zoel is right I forgot about loose salt. I sprinkled it right on my boys fed or hay. I even at one point put some in his mouth.

I prefer to just leave it out in a dish in his stall where he can have free access to it so he doesn't accidentally get too much.

[alittleoffkey]

Powdered gatorade is great, and pretty cheap (use maybe a spoonful for a bucket of water). Some horses are just picky. :)

[HeavensEast]

How is Sky doing this morning?

[WashingtonBay]

Check him for proper hydration..... first: Pull loose skin up, on the neck or shoulder, wherever you can grab some loose skin... Pull it up as much as you can stretch, and then let go. It ~should~ snap back tight quickly. If it stays tented, sinks back slowly or leaves a wrinkle that doesn't smooth out quickly, he's dehydrated, and you need to get him seen.... quickly. This can lead to impaction colic and be quite serious.

Second test for hydration, lift his lips and press your thumb on his gums for a few moments.... hard. When you lift your thumb, you should see a paler thumbprint for only a moment and then it should refill. The gums should also appear pink and moist.

If he's dehydrated, it needs to be taken seriously. If he's well hydrated and not drinking from the bucket, he must be getting it from somewhere else... even wet grass when it's really waterlogged out, mine don't drink as much.

[Gypsy Rose]

Hope Sky is drinking this morning!

[Gliderider]

I prefer to just leave it out in a dish in his stall where he can have free access to it so he doesn't accidentally get too much.

I agree to leave it free access when the horse is drinking already. My horse was like Caddo's and not drinking we needed to get him drinking an quick. The vet said to sprinkle it right on his hay being that is all he was kinda of eating at the time. Also to place some right in his mouth to see if it would get him drinking and it did thank goodness.

Now a days ever since the issues with my horse not drinking well. In the winter I add 1 tablespoon to there feed once a day if its really cold or if we get a cold snap out of the blue in the early spring and fall time. To make sure it keeps everyone drinking.

Sure hope Sky is ok this morning. I would watch him for ulcers. The not drinking well was the first sign when my boy had them.

[CaddoCinnamon]

My hubby dealt with the horses today as I had to leave for work at 6:30 this morning and I just got off about 45 minutes ago. He said that Sky drank about half a bucket of water when he checked on them. He refilled his bucket and put some tea in his bucket. Yeah he is drinking right now. I worry because he is up in a stall and will be until I can get his pasture done. We turn him out in the round pen every 2 days so he can get some exercise.

[HeavensEast]

I'm relieved to hear Sky is drinking now. Does he drink more when turned out normally?

[CaddoCinnamon]

He seems to drink better when he is out. Right now I am limited on where he can run. My mares and foals are running in the field that he normally runs in. I can't fix the side pasture till this weekend when I am off of work. My yearling Maggie is getting out so I have to do something different so that she doesn't get out again.

[HeavensEast]

He seems to drink better when he is out. Right now I am limited on where he can run. My mares and foals are running in the field that he normally runs in. I can't fix the side pasture till this weekend when I am off of work. My yearling Maggie is getting out so I have to do something different so that she doesn't get out again.
I have noticed that some horses prefer drinking out of tanks over a bucket inside. Not sure why. Hopefully you can get his turnout repaired this weekend.

[CaddoCinnamon]

That is #1 priority for my weekend fix.

[Gypsy Rose]

Glad to hear that Sky is drinking, at least!

[MyMia]

Glad to hear that Sky is drinking again! Colic would worry me.

As far as exercise goes, can you hand walk or ride him more often? It would get him out of his stall and relieve the boredom, which would probably make him feel better, and therefore drink more.

I hope you can get his pasture fixed quickly!

[CaddoCinnamon]

The last time Sky was rode was over 3 years ago. My huby has to do his training again. I don't fool with him at all. I am really scared of him. I do good just to feed him up. I know to some this doesn't sound good but the last stallion I dealt with was when I was 13 and I got trampled really and after that day I never messed with another male horse. That is the biggest reason why I had Caddo gelded. It sounds contradicting but the reason I can handle Caddo and not Sky is that I have had Caddo since day 1 of his birth and I have made it an appoint to handle him since he was my horse. If hubby gets out to walk fine but for me I don't handle or touch Sky for that matter. I handle the mares and Caddo.