Alfalfa and Colic

Firewell

Firewell

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I may be barking up completly the wrong tree here but has alfalfa ever been linked to colic in horses?

My TB has had a bout of bad colic. She is sensitive to grass in the fact that it does give her a bloated, gassy tummy even when i strip graze. She is wormed regularly, teeth done, has poo picked field ect ect. I have no doubt that even in her bare field she has found some green shoots to stuff herself with and this may be the most prevalent contributing factor towards her colic.

However about 2 months ago I started her on Alfa A oil. Her limited grazing wasnt giving her enough energy for the work she does and despite her grass belly she was dropping off topline and looking ribby, hence I started feeding her the Alfa.

I dont know if because its green like grass it has got me irrationally thinking.. but maybe she is finding the high protein levels in the alfa a bit rich and this combined with the recent flush of grass hasnt helped... if shes sensitive to rich grass then wouldnt that mean that she might be sensitive to alfa as well?

Do you think im making sense or am i just being paranoid?
 
Your TB sounds similiar to one we had a few years ago: He was allergic to grass, and colicked if on spring grass for more than 20 mins, or at grass for more than 45 mins at other times of year. He had gastric ulcers, which I suspect may be playing a part in your problems too. We fed him on alfalfa haylage (v pricey - but he was a v successful eventer so worth it) and as a "treat" he was allowed a little meadow hay mixed in with it occasionally.

Alfalfa shouldn't cause colic as it is highly digestible and v good for weight gain. A few horses have a reaction to it, but I've only heard of the reaction being filled legs, not of a colic reaction. The oil in Alfalfa A oil was criticised by a horse nutritionist I spoke to as low quality; so I'm wondering if your horse is reacting to the oil not the alfalfa.

You don't say if you are feeding any other hard food. But if she is a TB in work on almost no grass, it sounds as if she would need more food to maintain her weight.
 
If your horse hasnt coliced before now on alfalfa then i doubt its that. A reaction would happen quicker than 2 months. If she has to have limited grass do you give her ad lib hay in the field? If not then that coulc cause colic i.e. long period of time without food
 
Have you had this horse scoped for Ulcers??

I say this with best of intentions as one of mine has had very similar symptoms to what you describe.
We found Ulcers he's not had a single bout of colic since being put on Gastrogard, expensive yes but i would rarther that than loose him through colic.
 
thanks, that makes me feel better that its not the alfa. She was also being fed a balancer and equijewel.

She is on haylage as well which shes been on for 3 years, however about a week/2 weeks before she got colic the new haylage arrived and looked very green
crazy.gif
.

I dont think its ulcers, she was living out all summer and i always make sure she has lots of fibre to eat. Also she is very sensitive to pain (even the vet said she was being a bit of a hypercondriact (sp)!) and i know if she was uncomfortable in anyway she would be moody and horrible. shes been lovely temp wise, calm and friendly and shes been working/jumping really well. Also shes been at one of the best equine hospitals in the country for nearly a week and im sure they would have said something if they thought that could be an issue?! I will def ask though, i guess you never know..

Shes coming home tomorrow and the vets have said it will take about 5 days of introducing her to the field again and then i can ride her and carry on as normal. I just really dont want it to happen again.. I want to make sure its nothing im doing if you know what i mean! Im going to give her soaked hay instead of haylage when she comes home as i think that will be less rich for her.

It is interesting about the oil.. I hadnt thought of that..
 
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