gut sounds

["Tina Hicks" <hickst@nichols.com>]

Can someone give me an education on gut sounds? How critical
are low/no gut sounds during a ride given that all other
parameters are okay and he's eating? I've had this happen
several times with Tony - his gut sounds fluctuate from a
little quiet to none back to okay throughout a ride but all
else is well so I've never had a vet do more than raise an
eyebrow - it bothers me more tho as I get ready to enter my
first 100 (AAACCCKKKK!!!! <g>). 

If a horse is still eating and pooping how dire is a quiet
gut? My limited understanding is this: a quiet gut means
that the body is not able to pull liquid as needed to
process things through - so it's as much an indication of
dehydration as anything....is that remotely correct? So, if
you can't get them to drink, do you still want them to eat -
just adding more work for an already quiet gut - under these
circumstance?

He's already on pro-biotic - I use beet pulp when I can get
him to eat it and/or wet his grain at a ride - anything else
I can do to help his gut keep moving?

Tina (whose co-workers have no idea of the things I *really*
obsess about)
hickst@nichols.com