Missy's Bucket Case Study: Charlie

Name: Charlie
Age: 17
Colour: Bay
Supplement: Missy's Bucket

Charlie has had some unfortunate health struggles in the last couple of years. He contracted the Ross River Virus (RRV), several years ago, and has been working towards a full recovery ever since. 

RRV is a mosquito-borne virus which can cause a number of nervous, muscular, behavioural and respiratory problems in horses. RRV was first identified in 1928, with cases reported throughout most of Australia, Papua New Guinea and many islands in the South Pacific. As well as affecting horses, infection can also occur in humans, dogs, cats, marsupials and rodents. The natural carriers of RRV are kangaroos and wallabies, which are not affected by the virus. RRV is spread between susceptible host species by several types of mosquitoes, which vary with seasonal and environmental conditions.

In Charlie's case, the symptoms he suffered from included stiffness in joints, difficulty walking, very dark urine, lethargy, weight loss and a dull coat. It took several months to get a precise diagnosis as, initially, the vet thought it might be tetanus. 

It took around 18 months for Charlie to recover. During this time he suffered intermittent lameness, muscular soreness and swollen legs, sudden loss of weight, cracked hooves, more prone to colic, poor coat, and signs of arthritis. It has also been very challenging to keep his weight on and maintain his top-line.

Charlie has been treated with a range of feeds and supplements to help assist with his recovery, but it has not been until the addition of Missy's Bucket and a prebiotic to his diet this September that a marked improvement has been noticed. 

Now, after three months of feeding Missy's Bucket, Charlie is looking and feeling fantastic.

Charlie's paddock mate is a 21-year-old, chestnut gelding named Wizard. Wizard was diagnosed with Cushing's earlier this year. His health issues were managed through diet management and Missy's Bucket was added to ensure that he is receiving all the vitamins and minerals required, even though he has had to spend some time locked up and muzzled whilst grazing. Wizard's Cushing's is being managed, and his owners have also noticed a marked improvement in the condition of his coat and skin.