Bran Mash

[mrsbloggett]

Can anyone tell me how to make a bran mash (laxative sort). My mare has had a mystery virus and her digestive system shut down. She didn't pass any droppings for 24 hours so my vet administered liquid paraffin to get things moving, which has thankfully worked.

The vet has now advised a weekly bran mash. I assume there's more to it than just bran & hot water? Having a look through the internet I notice epsom salts are mentioned. A recipe would be good - what quantities of what should I give a 14hh 350 kg pony?

Thanks in advance

 

[PinkieMinx]

We literally just use bran and hot water - try to give it warm and it is more palatable. Add some mint and/or garlic if the mare is not keen on it. Good luck!

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Don't think there is any more to it than bran an hot water. Another livery whos pony had a colic op. give her 14hh cob 2/3 (round stubbs) scoop of bran with a table spoon of epsom salts.

 

[Maesfen]

Yep! Bran and hot water!

For that size pony I would use a flat Stubbs' scoop of bran with a spoonful of Epsom Salts and very hot water added so that it is crumbly, not too sloppy. If it needs to be sloppy then just add more water. Soak it and don't feed until it has cooled down enough for you to put your hand in the middle without you going 'ouch'!

else it will burn her and might put her off. If you need to add anything to encourage her to eat it then a small handful of oats/mix/grated carrots, apples mixed in thoroughly should do the trick.
If you would prefer not to feed just the once a week (sudden change of diet - although it never killed or upset anything when a weekly bran mash was the norm!

) you could halve the ration and feed every day with her normal feed, just remember to always use hot water and mix the bran first before you add anything else to it. If you did that, you wouldn't have to add any Epsom Salts, normal salt would do - but not too much although to help the calcium ratio it might be an idea to feed a spoonful of Limestone Flour (very cheap from any feed store). Hope that helped.