bran with epsom salts - would you ?

[Poppys Nannan]

Hello there,

My local tack store are proposing to sell bran and epsom salts mixed with suggestions of giving this feed once a week to cleanse the gut and prevent colic !!!! -

would you use it, have you heard of it, any experiences of it???

Cheers

 

[4x4]

We always used to give it once a week, normally hot as a mash after hunting, however, I stopped feeding bran several years ago as there was a lot of adverse publicity of how it depletes the system of (I think if I'm wrong someone will correct me) calcium so then you would need to feed a supplement, we used to give limestone flour so this would have done the job (btw I am not a chemist)! I would like to know why they think they should bring it back in as a feed supplement now?

 

[forestfantasy]

I haven't bought it already mixed neither have i heard of it, but i have fed bran mashes with Epsom salts but only to mares after foaling, never had a need to feed it otherwise so it won't be something i'd use.

 

[PapaFrita]

Not something I would do regularly, no.

 

[flyingfeet]

That's like giving your horse a massive dose of laxities

Now I know a few people do stand by the binging on Ex-lax principal (well mentioned in an eminem song,...), but I would strongly suggest unless your horse has a constipation problem, that you don't routinely upset their system!!

 

[Maesfen]

Talk about a marketing ploy!

Bran and Epsom Salts with a handful of oats were always given the night before a day off to ease the digestion for them to stop the dreaded tying up which sometimes happened if they were kept on full rations. Very old remedy and very good when bran was the proper stuff and not the shavings dust it is today.

 

[Oberon]

Unless it's an emergency treatment prescribed by a vet....a healthy diet of forage, a supplement to balance minerals and staying away from inappropriate feeds would do much more to promote good gut health imo.

Micronised linseed provides gut muculage, joint health and a lovely coat.
Yeast promotes the bacteria in the gut.
Psylium cleanses the gut if required....

 

[Puppy]

No, it's not something I would consider feeding, for all the reasons given above.

 

[Poppys Nannan]

Thanks

I thought these may be the response i would get, but didn't know if was a tried and tested old wives remedy that might be beneficial.

Leaving well alone x x x

thank you x x x

 

[thatsmygirl]

No way, again as stated above

 

[ISHmad]

No way, again as stated above

Ditto

 

[criso]

I have fed it with my vet's approval in certain circumstances but wouldn't as a weekly thing.