EPSM...anybody got a horse with this Condition

tamatha

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If anybody has a horse with this condition, I would be very greatful of any advice about feed stuffs they are using???

Does anybody use Simple System and if so, which products?

Any other feed products they could recommend?
 
I have a pony with Cushings (diagnosed positive 2 and a half years ago). I had another little pony who my vet suspected had EPSM, although the tests were inconclusive. In both cases I have found this forum to be really informative
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/TheMetabolicHorse/
especially about diet. There are some interesting anecdotal information about feeding alfalfa (which is the basis of a lot of Simple System feeds) as well as a list of recommended feeds. Hope this helps.
 
Our loan pony had Cushings and he was on very restricted crazing and hi-fi lite and in the winter Speedy Beet.
The best thing is to contact Laminitis Trust or Dengie Feed whose feed has been approved by Laminitis trust
 
my friends horse suffers with epsm, she is fed a very high oil content feed, best bet would be to ring feed companies which my friend did, think she spoke to dobson & horale (sp) who were able to advise. Her horse is absolutely fine as long as she is on a high oil diet. Hope this helpss.
 
thank you I will try speaking to the feed manufacturers... she is already on ERS pellets but not only having normal amounts of oil in the feed.... how much oil did your friend feed per day?????

She does not have Cushings or laminitis..she has an inability to properly metabolise polysachharides (sugars/carbs etc) so is not able to eat grains.

She loses weight very quickly, cannot build up muscles esp in the hind quarters and has a strange gait action behind, similar to that seen in a stringhalt or shiverer.
 
We have.
Go on this website
http://www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic/epsm.htm
Contact Beth Valentine - her email is on the website, she can give you all the help and advice you could wish for.
I tried the ers pellets but found he went downhill. Beth did an article for us and we went through all the british feeds. Horses on the diet do put weight on and need grass management and ;ots of exercise.
Good luck.
 
Could you advise me which feed stuffs you recommend as she is rather lacking in energy and is eating as much of this as I can put into her....I would welcome your advise

Thank you.. she is 17.1hh and only 550kg... when I bought her she was only 460kg so although we have made progress she should weigh at least 600kg for her breed etc
 
I found alfa oil was the best to use when i had my EPSM horse, i still added oil as well due to him needing the high oil diet but it meant he wasnt having to eat slimy horrible feeds which he hated!
 
I have an EPSM mare who is on a high oil diet although I feed pure vegetable oil as opposed to the high oil feeds in order to get enough into her. Initially she was built up to 600 mls of oil a day split between two feeds but I found that her condition stabilised and she is now on 300 mls per day but in the event of another crisis with her I will up it again. Other than the oil she is on laminitic feeds to avoid sugars and gets through loads of Hi-Fi Lite.

She ate the oil fine to start with but them seemed to go off it and stopped eating her feed so I now cunningly soak my Speedibeet in her oil and water as she finds it more palatable that way.
 
thank you little tinker and horsey mum for that advise... do your horses compete/ work ok on these diets.. do they have enough energy etc etc??
 
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thank you little tinker and horsey mum for that advise... do your horses compete/ work ok on these diets.. do they have enough energy etc etc??

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You're welcome. My mare is basically retired nowadays but when she was in work she was fine. You have to remember that oil is a high-energy feed in its own right and that the oil is being used to replace energy giving feed containing sugars/carbs. Forgot to say before that if you are feeding a lot of vegetable oil you need to supplement Vitamin E and Selenium (Equimins do an economical supplement). Good luck.
 
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