Electrolytes for an EMS horse?

[MuddyMonster]

My native has/had EMS and is medium levels of work at the moment. He doesn't seem to be struggling at all - he's still jolly to handle and ride and not lacking energy at all.

He refuses feed with added salt in (and refuses water with salt in) so have been wondering if adding electrolytes would be a good idea.

Are electrolytes generally safe for EMS/metabolically challenged prone horses?

It's the first time I've considered using them so a bit (well, a lot, clueless) about it all & would kick myself if I triggered a laminitic episode as he's been so well for so long.

Any advice gratefully received

 

[bouncing_ball]

You could try Science Supplements - Safe Salt which is just normal salt encapsulated so they dont taste the salt / it doesnt impact the stomach wall, but it is digested as normal salt.

Another approach would be to start with tiny tiny pinch of salt in feed, and build up very slowly over a month to 25ml.

 

[HelenBack]

I'm about to try the Safe Salt for my Cushing's horse who also turns his nose up at any feed with plain salt added. He's sweating just standing in his stable at the moment though so I figured it's worth a go. Not too expensive and I can't see anything too risky in terms of ingredients in it.

 

[Nicnac]

Electrolytes usually contain sugar to make them more palatable. Does he have a himalayan salt lick - I use them for all mine in the stables as well as in the field and they go to it when they need salt.

This one is sugar free so worth a try https://www.supplementsolutions.co.uk/nourish-electrolyte-0-9kg-equine or the Pure feed one is also good but more expensive.

 

[SpeedyPony]

I echo the salt lick advice- I don't supplement in the feed, just offer free access to either a himalayan salt lick or a good old rockie and let them decide how much they need- obviously no good if he won't touch a lick though!
I seem to remember rockies making a flavoured lick- but not sure how palatable they are, or if they're still made, ours are quite happy with the red or yellow ones.

 

[Bonnie Allie]

Definitely not. I gave one of ours a lami attack (mild) by doing this. what a complete idiot I was. As others have said - get a salt lick and let him self regulate.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I was reading about salt yesterday. Apparently because the horses tongue is smooth it cannot get the amount of salt it requires. To do that it would need to crunch on the salt lick. So if your horse does need salt, as most will in this weather, it needs to be added to the feed or a separate water bucket.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Thanks all

He already has two himalayas salt picks in his stable, both of which seem to remain unused judging by the dust on them!

He's not particularly sweaty (he's just sweating during work at the moment if worked hard but is fine in the stable/field etc) it has to be said, but he's in a fair amount of work so feel I should be doing something!

Sorry to hear about the re-lapse Bobnie Allen. Hooe they are ok now it's! it's what aim worried about accidentally triggering although there's nothing to suggest he's actively metabolic as he's now always in the low end of the normal range & he's a good weight and other than two fat pads thst don't fully dissappear he looks 'normal' but I'm aware that's partly because has limited sugar!

I'll give the Nourish or Science Supplements Safe Salt a go