Jessica, Ferne has offered you a hay corer:

https://ecir.groups.io/g/main/message/285970

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Kirsten and Shaku (EMS + PPID) and Snickers (EMS) - 2019
Kitimat, BC, Canada
ECIR Group Moderator
Shaku's Case History
Shaku's Photo Album

Snickers' Case History
Snickers' Photo Album

If you have a hay hook you can drive it into the cut edge to the middle of a bale to pull out a handful.  Or you can open up the bales and take a handful from the middle.  You should test 20-25% of the bales though, so you probably don't want to open that many.  Cut it up into 1" pieces with scissors and fill a large freezer bag.  Be careful to not bias the sample by selecting pieces or letting finer bits fall to the floor, it all goes in the bag.

If he's losing weight then you're going in the right direction.  Just remember he's not done until he's at a BCS of 4.5-5, regardless of the scale number.  :)

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Kirsten and Shaku (EMS + PPID) and Snickers (EMS) - 2019
Kitimat, BC, Canada
ECIR Group Moderator
Shaku's Case History
Shaku's Photo Album

Snickers' Case History
Snickers' Photo Album

Hi Dr. Kellon, 

I did have him trimmed after those xrays and we took a good bit of toe off. Since I just moved barns (for a dry lot) I'm looking for a new farrier, so he's a bit overdue for his 2 week trim. He's comfortable and happy now though, so I am pleased with that. Would you still recommend boots with pads. If so, for how long? 

Thank you! 
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Jessica J. in PA 2022
Case History: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Jessica%20and%20Augustus%20%28Gus%29 
Photos: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=281980&p=Created,,,20,2,0,0

Hi Kirsten, 

First, thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Yes. We are repeating bloodwork on Friday to make sure we are going in the right direction. 

I do plan to get my hay tested. I just moved to a different barn so different hay. Everything I've found on taking hay samples includes the use of a hay probe, which I don't have access to. Any other suggestions on collecting an accurate sample? 

His goal weight of 1000lbs was as per the recommendation of his veterinarian. I'm not sure if his tape measures differently but mine had him pegged at 1000lbs while his was at 1100. He has lost a considerable amount of weight over the last month already. He is a larger boned horse as it is. I get comments about that everywhere I go. He is NOT a refined arabian, that's for sure. He's a tank, even when not obese.

Again thanks for your time! 
--
Jessica J. in PA 2022
Case History: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Jessica%20and%20Augustus%20%28Gus%29 
Photos: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=281980&p=Created,,,20,2,0,0

Jessica,

To follow up on Dr Kellon's comments, here's the process for getting a set of free markups (trim evaluation) to guide your trimming:

https://ecir.groups.io/g/main/wiki#Photos-and-Hoof-Evaluation-Help

--
Kirsten and Shaku (EMS + PPID) and Snickers (EMS) - 2019
Kitimat, BC, Canada
ECIR Group Moderator
Shaku's Case History
Shaku's Photo Album

Snickers' Case History
Snickers' Photo Album

Radiographs:

He has sinking/distal descent; minor true rotation on the right, less on the left. We need full hoof photos to be most helpful but his toes need to be brought back considerably and he needs hoof boots with pads. Very "fixable" with DDT.
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Eleanor in PA

www.drkellon.com 
EC Owner 2001
The first step to wisdom is "I don't know."

Hi Jessica, 

Thanks for posting your Case History for Augustus!  I'll leave your radiographs questions to the experts.

Are you planning to get bloodwork done again?  I would definitely get insulin and glucose.  You'll want to know if taking him off pasture has brought insulin into a safe range, or if you need to soak his hay, too.

Also, do you have plans to get your hay tested?  It is helpful to know the ESC and starch content when deciding if you need to soak it, and we certainly recommend having it tested so you can get a mineral supplement that matches your hay.  That will help control his EMS by ensuring he gets enough of what he needs.  We recommend the 603 Trainer test at Equi-Analytical, or its equivalent elsewhere...just make sure the carb analysis is done by wet chemistry methods for best accuracy,  and not by NIR. 

If you find Augustus is not losing weight on 15 lbs/day, you can start soaking the hay (reduces calories a bit) and/or drop it by 0.5 lb increments every couple weeks until you start to see an effect.  I think your ideal weight of 1000 lbs for a 15 HH Arab is too high, unless he's really big boned.  I have a 15 HH Arab boarded at my place and he's about 850-875 lbs.  Aim for a BCS of 4.5, where ribs are easy to feel and just barely visible.

--
Kirsten and Shaku (EMS + PPID) and Snickers (EMS) - 2019
Kitimat, BC, Canada
ECIR Group Moderator
Shaku's Case History
Shaku's Photo Album

Snickers' Case History
Snickers' Photo Album

Thank you for the reply. 

What do you think of his xrays? 
--
Jessica J. in PA 2022
Case History: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Jessica%20and%20Augustus%20%28Gus%29 
Photos: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=281980&p=Created,,,20,2,0,0

He is clearly EMS. ACTH probably normal for time of year.
--
Eleanor in PA

www.drkellon.com 
EC Owner 2001
The first step to wisdom is "I don't know."

I finally posted my horse's case history and xrays. He has a follow up with bloodwork scheduled on Friday 12/2 and I wanted some baseline thoughts before his appointment. 

Thank you! 
--
Jessica J. in PA 2022
Case History: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Jessica%20and%20Augustus%20%28Gus%29 
Photos: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=281980&p=Created,,,20,2,0,0