Cribbing- Calcium Carbonate

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HensPens

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Has anyone added calcium carbonate to their horse's feed to help with cribbing?

I can see that you can buy it in powder form and it's meant to help with the excess stomach acid that can cause cribbing.

I just wondered if I bought some I could add it to his feed? You can get it as a supplement for horses but as usual that's far more expensive than buying it for humans!

I have no idea how much to feed!
 
No idea but feeding alfalfa helps as it is naturally high in calcium.
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have used sodium bicarbonate for tying up but never heard of calcium carbonate so prob not much help......I did wonder if you actually meant sodium bicarb? its used in humans for indegestion....if so, I use 1/2 desert spoon per day....(its done wonders for her azortoria!).
 
Calcium carbonate is used for human indigestion to, it's the active ingredient in Rennie!

Sodium Bicarb... is that Andrews?
 
not as far as I know, sodium bicarb is also known as baking soda......
has been reported to be used in racehorses as a 'milkshake' to improve stamina....
 
As i understand it Calcium Bicarbonate is Calcium carbonate in an aqueous solution. I remember covering this in my equine science degree, there was quite alot of research on it.

I would be very careful if you do go for human stuff as it wont tell you how much to feed on the packet as a horse supplement should. It can be VERY bad for your horse if you feed the wrong amount but i believe it can do alot for alieviating cribbing problems.
 
Interesting...I've just done a google on calcium carbonate and it says "is a calcium supplement to increase calcium in the diet "... so I'm really quite confused now!!

Based on this, I am wondering if it is actually sodium bicarb that you need....I'm sure I've heard of it being used on cribbers before...

Obviously don't take my word for it, this was just what I found on google during a very quick search so needs more investigation!!
 
I dont know if you can get an equine calcium carbonate supplement in a tack shop or something and look at how much is fed on the back or maybe call up one of the suppliers and ask?

Isnt sodium bicarbonate used in cooking??? not that id know anything about that subject
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Ive looked at a few studies and its a bit up in the air i think, some find it helps and others dont, but if cribbing is partly caused by acid in the stomach then an ant-acid should help.

You can always give him a couple of rennies
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If it was my horse I'd start him immediately on a maintenance level of Coligone which definitively neutralises acid in the stomach and then have a long hard look at how he's managed. The usual reason for cribbing is either lack of turnout which = stress, or not having ad lib forage which is essential for a trickle feeder. So acid builds up in the stomach and gives the poor horse chronic belly ache. Cribbing is the desperate attempt to get something, anything, into the belly to stop the belly ache. It is also believed to release endorphins which further help the horse deal with his misery. They can get addicted to the endorphin release so don't be surprised if he continues to do it to a lesser degree even if he's given ad lib forage. This will sort it: Coligone and ad lib forage, soaked to within an inch of its life if the horse is a good doer.

PS - Coligone peppermint powder works out at pence per day.
 
Just to clarify, although i think you have done the right thing going for the coligone as it has a bit of everything and seems to do the job. Calcium carbonate, is Limestone (agricultural trade name), and if bought from an agriculture supply store is cheap. It has some mild antacid properties but not the best you could use. Sodium Bicarbonate is better than limestone, but still can be improved upon. Products like coligone cover all the bases and will mix, bicarb, limestone, calcified seaweed (does the best job but is expensive) along with prebiotics yeast etc to keep the gut pH stable and therefore the good bacterai happy and your horse consequently happy. Gut settlers in a nutshell hope that helps with the original query??
 
Box of Frogs, he's an ex-racer... He gets unlimted ad-lib forage but he has been stuck inside as we have limited turnout where we are, plus he's been lame. I'm due to move him at the start of next year when I can find another yard for him!

I did find a perfect yard for him but the owner won't accept cribbers
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Will look into Coligone, sounds promising!
 
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PS - Coligone peppermint powder works out at pence per day.

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According to the website the £50 tub lasts a month??!!
 
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