Feeding a delicate tummy! HELP/IDEAS please

[Taboo1968]

Most of you will know that my 7 yr old ex racer has experienced quite a few bouts of colic in the past few months (have given up posting about them as they are happening all too frequently at the moment) Currently on day 4 without having had colic but for the two days previous he had it each day and then again in the previous week!)

So as most things seem to upset him at the moment, what would you suggest feeding him.....

MIXES are out! So is sugar beet.... Haylage is a big no no, as are beds done with straw! Long nice grass is also banned!

He is currently out 24/7 on a paddock that has been eaten down by two rather greedy ponies, so has minimal grazing, still having hay and is now being fed 2 scoops of alfalfa with a Bailey's Digest plus supplement in each meal.... So far so good, but I know the alfalfa is not enough to maintain him....

Any suggestions gratefully received!

 

[Taboo1968]

Forgot to add, this is only ever gassy colic.....

(And my coligone is on order too!)

 

[Maesfen]

I would be tempted to try either Bailey's Stud Cubes or Blue Chip or even both together with some damp alfalfa. They're both very gentle on the system and will provide all the minerals and vitamins he will need.

That must be a bummer of a problem; is he a born worrier or something? Pity you can't just give him milk of magnesia!

You could also give a small amount of damp bran daily, that would help line the stomach surely and he's done his growing so it won't cause a calcium problem but you could always add a spoonful of limestone.

 

[Nari]

Would something like Saracen Equijewel be ok? It's stabilized rice bran which is meant to be high calorie but easy to digest, have a look on www.saracen-horse-feeds.co.uk for more details. Or my yard owner swears by milk pellets to put weight on anything that is very poor & whose stomach can't be overloaded.

Can you add oil to his alfalfa?

Good luck finding something, you must be worried sick. (((Hugs)))

 

[Llwyncwn]

Have been wondering how your boy was doing. When my mare was poorly and with colic, I gave her 'acidophilus' capsules from the health food shop. Put a couple in his feeds which will release millions of good bacteria into the gut. Similar to giving live yoghurt, but millions more ! You can also give 'Slippery Elm' which will line his stomach.

 

[pottamus]

Sorry to hear about your horses condition, but if your current management routine seems to be working (touch wood), why change it??? Changing his feed all the time and trying new things can in itself upset the tummy enough to cause another bout...I would stick with what you are doing and if anything get your vets advice and get the problem resolved for a longer period of time before changing anything at all. Good luck, hope it sorts itself.

 

[Scarlett]

why does he get colic? is it an ulcer thing, or due to certain feed intollerances?

My exracer is sugar and barley intollerent.... took a while to find this out and after months of different feeding regimes I am using Allen and Page feeds as they have feeds that are non mollased and barley free...

might be worth calling them, they were incredibly helpful with my lad....

 

[Taboo1968]

Ah but thats the problem.... nothing has been changed re feeding or management.... The vets have said that "if" he has another one, they will give him a rectal and I have also said I want him scoped as I still have a nagging feeling that this is a gastric ulcer....

However I've had him for two years nearly and in the first 16 months, never had a problem with him.... He came to me and was introduced to the grazing gradually and then was out 24/7 and nothing reared its ugly head then.....

he is not a stress ball, in fact I have always commented that we have to check he has a pulse!!!

Obviously he just cannot stay on a diet of alfalfa! (or can he?)

 

[MagicMelon]

Why do you not think he could live on his diet of hay and alfalfa? Does he loose weight? If not, then I would stick with it. As long as you give an all round vit & min supplement as well so he's not missing out on anything he could do fine on it? I would just try and feed as much fibre as possible to keep his gut normal which I assume you're doing (but carefully).

Also, what about feeding an antacid type supplement? (or is that what Coligone is? cant remember).

I know someone who had a horse who was always getting colic (caused by windsucking though they think). She fed him a plain unmollased chaff (think it was Hi Fi Lite) along with Speedi Beet, an antacid and dried mint (which apparently helps with their digestion too).

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Maybe he can stay on a diet of hay and alfalfa. Alfalfa is quite a rich feed, has lots of vitamins and minerals in it as well as being high in protein and calcium. The hay gives him the roughage he needs. Does he look unhealthy at all? Is he loosing weight? Does he lack energy? Is his coat poor, scurfy or starrey? If yes then consider other options (adding oil is also a good suggestion). But if he's fine now then don't just assume you have to change his diet for the sake of it. How long has he been having this diet, has he had colic from it? Gas colic can be due to changes in diet (or cereal overflow but as he gets no cereals this can't be the case).

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Maybe he can stay on a diet of hay and alfalfa. Alfalfa is quite a rich feed, has lots of vitamins and minerals in it as well as being high in protein and calcium. The hay gives him the roughage he needs. Does he look unhealthy at all? Is he loosing weight? Does he lack energy? Is his coat poor, scurfy or starrey? If yes then consider other options (feeding more alfalfa may be all he needs or adding oil is also a good suggestion). But if he's fine now then don't just assume you have to change his diet for the sake of it. How long has he been having this diet, has he had colic from it? Gas colic can be due to changes in diet (or cereal overflow but as he gets no cereals this can't be the case).

 

[aran]

i used to compete my TB off ad lib hay and two feeds of alfa with oil and a vit/min supp - he was fine. If you feel that he's dropping off then you just add to it - but otherwise a totally fibre diet is fine (in fact its preferable).