Eating bedding

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janet68

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If a horse suddenly starts eating bedding is this a sign that anything is wrong or is it something that they just do? I aint had one that does it before
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What bedding is he on? Zoom likes to eat straw but only sometimes. Generally only when we are in a new place (when she stays for comps etc) so I don't know whether it is because they use a different type of straw or if it's just stress/boredom.
 
Is the bedding straw? Is the horse eating it when there isn't any hay available, or is he eating it in preference to hay?

A lot of horses will eat their straw bedding if they run out of hay and are hungry.
 
NO he has plenty of haylage up and its only in one corner of box that he is eating it from. He is also on new yard (3 weeks)and yeah it is straw
 
I would think it could be the move then (prepared to be corrected though!). Zoomy will eat the straw in a new place even with a huge pile of hay!

She is in at the moment at home and she hasn't touched the straw at all.
 
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NO he has plenty of haylage up and its only in one corner of box that he is eating it from. He is also on new yard (3 weeks)and yeah it is straw

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Probably just enjoys the taste of something different.
 
My boy's the same and will occasionally eat his straw even though he has plenty of hay- hasn't done him any harm so far. Perhaps try putting a salt lick or something in his stable to discourage from it?
 
When my straw is soft and clearly 'tasty' my boy eats his bed - i have no problem with this at all. Eating bedding does get a bad press with colic, however as long as teeth fine, straw not too 'woody' there is no difference with them eating this than straw....i was once on full livery and the YO took it in her wise wisdom to throw jeyes fluid all over the bedding...not only did my horse carry on eating it (prob not so good for him!) but he developed crusty scabs on his heels which incidently dissapeared when the jeyes fluid did!!
 
Please, please, please be careful with horses eating straw bedding.

My horse had always eaten his bedding and would prefer it to hay sometimes. I never had a problem with it as our straw was of really good quality and it had never caused any issue. He had done this for years with no issues.

However one morning he came down with terrible colic. Nothing had changed in his diet or management and the vet was of the opinion that eating his bed had caused an impaction colic. Although I can never be 100% that it was the straw that caused it I would urge everyone to be wary.

I almost lost my boy and wouldn't want anyone to go through that so please be careful.
 
Oh hek Pilid that is exactly what my worry was,he has always been on straw and never eaten it before. Dont want to bother vet if its just something they do from time to time
 
It's a difficult one, my boy had always eaten it and never had any issues.

I think he must have gorged himself more than ususal. He was in so much pain and it was horrible to see that.

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