Alfa A and Uveitis

Luci07

Luci07

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Horse has ERU. A friend recently read an article which seemed to suggest Alfa A oil was not good for a horse with this condition. Now this is normally my base feed. Googling hasn't helped so I posted on a specific FB page and one of the group suggested that feeding too much Omega 6 would be unhelpful.

Moved my horse down to alfa a only while he was on box rest with his last flare as he was getting too fat. Therefore I don't have access to the ingredients and it is not listed on the website.

So.. anyone have any experiences? or a bag at home they could check the Omega oils on for me?

Horse does really well on it in the winter (drops condition really easily) so I would prefer him to have it but will research alternatives if it looks like this could be contributing to his flares.
 
Do they mean alfalfa as opposed to the particular feed Alfa A Oil?

Seems rather strange to single out one feed in particular that has ingredients found in other brands too
 
It was the alfa a oil - friend can't find the article again sadly but honestly, having had to deal with another flare which we have just got through, I need to research every option. Could be more related to the oil rather than the alfa (I think)

A flare gets jumped on immediately but to begin with sees me having to go up every 4 hours for the first 3 days with 5 lots of treatment at 10 minute intervals. Can't say how horrendous you feel on the 4 am shift as you never get a good nights sleep and he has now gone over his insurance limit. So.. all advice is welcome.
 
Luci07 said:
It was the alfa a oil - friend can't find the article again sadly but honestly, having had to deal with another flare which we have just got through, I need to research every option. Could be more related to the oil rather than the alfa (I think)

A flare gets jumped on immediately but to begin with sees me having to go up every 4 hours for the first 3 days with 5 lots of treatment at 10 minute intervals. Can't say how horrendous you feel on the 4 am shift as you never get a good nights sleep and he has now gone over his insurance limit. So.. all advice is welcome.
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Totally understand where your coming from. Battled this awful disease for years.
Maybe contact Dengie themselves? Feed company helplines are often really helpful and may be able to tell you exactly what's included which may give more of a base to research from?
 
poiuytrewq said:
Totally understand where your coming from. Battled this awful disease for years.
Maybe contact Dengie themselves? Feed company helplines are often really helpful and may be able to tell you exactly what's included which may give more of a base to research from?
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Good idea. Any shared experiences are also much appreciated.
 
Can't say as I ever noticed feed making a difference to be honest. He was however a really good doer and a very hot excitable little chap so would never have fed him anything like Alfa a oil as he'd have been the size of a small house!
I used to give pred forte drops daily as a preventative measure which really seemed to help lessen flare ups. Umm, and keeping it covered but you probably do that anyway! Equilibrium masks I found good as the filter a high level of UV out.
I also found wind to be a trigger.
 
Uveitis is an auto-immune issue (I have it myself). Cause is frequently unknown and the only treatment that works is Predforte or similar steroid drops / oral steroids. I really don't believe that any feed could make any difference to this painful condition. Personally I have had good result suppressing the auto-immune response with rosehip tea & high dose vit D - but that said, I can't ever give up the steroid drops. So, poor horse, poor owner.
 
I'm sure there's a nutritionists warning on the side of Alfa A packets saying not to feed above a certain amount to geldings or any at all to certain geldings but I can't think what the reason was. Remember being surprised by it but didn't have a gelding so didn't worry about it! Best bet would be to ring them up and check as I can't find that on the website.
 
TTK I really don't envy you at all. What an evil disease it is.
I'd not realised people got it until shortly after loosing our boy I spoke to a lady who suffered with it. It was really interesting to hear about it from someone who could speak!
Let's hope one day they find some miracle cure X
 
TTK said:
Uveitis is an auto-immune issue (I have it myself). Cause is frequently unknown and the only treatment that works is Predforte or similar steroid drops / oral steroids. I really don't believe that any feed could make any difference to this painful condition. Personally I have had good result suppressing the auto-immune response with rosehip tea & high dose vit D - but that said, I can't ever give up the steroid drops. So, poor horse, poor owner.
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The thought was that a high dose of omega 6 would aggrevate the auto immune system. The feedback was to keep my boy on pred for a month after the flare has finished and not permanently? He is always in a guardian mask now (95% UV reduction) and in a barn during the day. I am so sorry to hear you have this condition. I can now get a feeling before my horse comes down with it as he starts to give of slightly miserable "vibes" and this is before his eyelashes start to droop.
 
wish upon a star said:
I'm sure there's a nutritionists warning on the side of Alfa A packets saying not to feed above a certain amount to geldings or any at all to certain geldings but I can't think what the reason was. Remember being surprised by it but didn't have a gelding so didn't worry about it! Best bet would be to ring them up and check as I can't find that on the website.
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Apparently too much alfalfa can result in excessive urination, particularly a problem in elderly geldings for some reason - is that what you are thinking of?
 
TGM said:
Apparently too much alfalfa can result in excessive urination, particularly a problem in elderly geldings for some reason - is that what you are thinking of?
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Could well be, thank you. No help then as got the wrong end of the stick but just thought I'd mention it. Was just a warning on the bag if the OP wants to check that's what it was.
 
My horses Uveitis has really settled down, with only one attack in the last year. I put it down to getting her a UV mask, and she wears it every day, summer and winter.

I bought her a mask from the USA which has a 99.5% UV block on it. It was expensive, there no doubt, but worth every penny. Maybe would help as well http://www.equinesunvisor.com/
 
I got the guardian mask as you can compete in it...though not totally sure as my horses peripheral vision is affected ..
 
I think the issue is the omega 6 ... Omega 6 is inflammatory .. will be counter productive if there are any conditions that are inflammations.. Laminitis and Uveitis are both inflammatory.

Omega 3 however is Anti-inflammatory.

Linseed (either micronised or cold pressed oil) replicates what is probably the ideal Omega 3 to 6 ratio of cool season grasses.
 
Have switched from alfalfa based products - honestly never knew how much trouble it causes until you don't feed it!
 
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