Alfa A Oil for weight gain in a laminitic?

Orchardbeck

Orchardbeck

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Would anyone recommend this for putting on condition in a horse that is laminitic? She on restricted grazing via a muzzle, but I'm worried about her condition.

She's also getting speedibeet and Baileys Performance balancer and the odd nibble of grass, but when she has had grass I can feel her digital pulses getting stronger so I am wary of doing this. I've been adding veg oil, but wonder if Alfa A oil might be a better way to add more fibre. Any experience?
 
Personaly I wouldn't feed Alfalfa to a Laminitic any way, it can be too high in calcium and make some footy. Instead I would feed Fast Fibre with a good mugfull of linseed, you can feed quite a lot of it and it has unmolassed beet in already
 
With a laminitic I wouldn't risk it, tbh. Many people have reported their horses becoming footy on alfalfa; particularly the dengie chops with mould inhibitors in them. Have you tried micronised linseed? Excellent for putting weight on without adding sugar and starch, and contains the omega oils in a similar ratio to that of grass.
 
Thanks for the advice, glad I asked! Linseed seems to be the answer. How do you feed it - does it need soaking, or just as it comes?
 
HI
I contacted the Laminitis Trust last week with a similar query about my old horse that has been diagnosed with cushings but needs more condition. They suggested the Dengie Alfa-A Molasses Free for my horse. I was told that Alfalfa is a really good way to get extra calories but because it is so low in sugar and starch it would be ideal even though laminitis is a concern maybe you could add the linseed to this?
 
Nope! Definately not - A lot of sensitive types get footsore with Alfa-alfa.

As said, MICRONISED Linseed is perfect for weightgain. I feed my 17hh boy a heaped mugfull a day but he is a good doer and he holds is weight well on this. maybe start with less with a smaller horse but I understand it is safe to feed more. You feed it as it comes - no need for soaking or boiling.

Fast fibre is also a good alternative to Speedibeet - less sugar. Needs soaking for 1 minute in 2 parts water.
 
My boy is laminitic but lost a lot of condition last year with liver problems (unrelated). I've had him on Alfa -A Molasses Free as Clarence09 says with a cup of Baileys light balancer and a dollop of speedi-beet. Dont use any oils but the Alfa-A has soya oil in it, just a joint supplement as he's 16 and milk thistle for his liver. He looks fantastic now :)
 
We were told by an equine nutritionist not to feed it to one of our laminitics. She suggested instead that he be on a diet of fast fibre and linseed oil plus as much hay as he could eat.

It worked really well for him :)
 
Clarence09 said:
HI
I contacted the Laminitis Trust last week with a similar query about my old horse that has been diagnosed with cushings but needs more condition. They suggested the Dengie Alfa-A Molasses Free for my horse. I was told that Alfalfa is a really good way to get extra calories but because it is so low in sugar and starch it would be ideal even though laminitis is a concern maybe you could add the linseed to this?
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Interesting that that is their advice. Years ago I was also told that laminitics should never be given sugar beet, but the trust say it is fine provided it is molasses free.

I follow their feed advice.
 
I know that Fast Fibre is really safe but I know a few people with horses that struggle to keep weight on that have dropped even more on it. Speedibeet has DE of 12, fast fibre of 8 so I'm not sure I'd swap a horse onto it that was struggling to hold condition.The plus side it's worked really well for horses that needed to lose weight or people who want to feed a token feed to carry supplements.

I would look to adding oil as suggested Linseed a good source, get the charnwood micronised stuff and add a mugful.

The other option is feeding Timothy Horsehage, as it's not ryegrass it's a better profile for a laminitics but it's fibre.
 
Thanks for this. I've ordered a small amount of micronised linseed (3kg), if it goes down well I'll get the charnwood 20kg bag.

I've also made a corral that is half soft sand/gravel (the base for my stables that will be built in a few weeks and half bare grass, so she can get a nibble but that is all, and i'm bringing her in there for a few hours during the day to give her hay and time with her muzzle off.

Once the stables are built i'll just do the same but bring her in to the stable for hay, keeping her out the rest of the time in a muzzle. I'm picking my saddle up tomorrow so she'll be back in walk work which should hopefully help her flabby bottom!
 
looks like you have got your answer.... linseed is the way to go.

Jus wanted to add that this is what my vet also said.

Linseed adds calories without any of the bad stuff for your laminitic plus has ots of other useful benefits
 
Trying to keep weight on my ir laminitic old boy too .However think i'm more worried than my vet who says his weight is fine . Alpha a oil was suggested to me aswell but did a wee bit if research as trying to get the lowest sugar diet possible. We use the fast fibre, molasses free hi-fi and add magnesuim and micronised linseed to the feed. seems to be working fine.
 
I feed linseed with fast fibre, Amount off linseed goes up/down depending on condition.
Funny enough alfa a oil IS classed as safe for a laminitic who needs to put weight on safely and dengie will reconmend it for such. I won't use it as mine is bare foot so wouldn't risk the footyness but plenty use it with great results, it's very low sugar and stach with high oil making it safe.
I think maybe times are changing as people are becoming more aware of the barefoot horses needs do u think? But if the horse was shod doubt the owner would think in the same way as some of us
 
mine is getting alfa a molasses free, it is approved by the laminitic trust and denie rep also said its good for laminitics in work
 
odd1 said:
mine is getting alfa a molasses free, it is approved by the laminitic trust and denie rep also said its good for laminitics in work
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Many of us have found that feeds recommended/approved by the laminitic trust are not actually that brilliant. I have actually found one of their approved products made a horse laminitic so am very wary.

Likewise I am always cautious of any feed recommendations from a feed company. Especially when it is a company that largely sells alfalfa and they are recommending alfalfa.. had a large number of horses made footy by alfalfa so tend to avoid this too.

If a horse has been diagnosed IR or if IR is suspected be very cautious about feeding large quantities of extra oil as there is some suggestion that this can reduce insulin sensitivity.

Small quantities of micronised linseed can be very useful and not just for weight gain.
 
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