Feeding a horse with Cushings

Joanna710

Joanna710

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Hello, popping in for some advice! My friend has an old thoroughbred (rising 28) who has just been diagnosed with Cushings. He is really quite underweight and she isn't sure of the best way to feed him to add condition, without feeding him the dreaded sugar/ starch that come with most high calorie feeds.

His teeth are in pretty good nick for a horse his age, so it's not a question of him struggling to chew, however he is bullied in his current field and so isn't getting as much haylage as he should. Moving fields and relocating/ adding haylage to the field isn't an option as we're on a big livery yard.

Can someone please suggest a good feed/ blend of feeds suitable for an underweight, elderly Cushings horse?

Recommendations much appreciated :) xx
 
I though fast fibre was about as low calorie as you can get? It's what I use to mix my good-doer's minerals in!

Also, would Alfabeet be an alright alternative to Speedibeet? xx
 
Alfabeet is fine.

Is the horse prone to laminitis?

Also is the horse on prascend to bring the ACTH under control.

If you are on facebook there is a group called veteran horse welfare, the owner is very helpful and happy to take phonecalls, she made some good recommendations to me.
 
ApacheWarlord said:
Alfabeet is fine.

Is the horse prone to laminitis?

Also is the horse on prascend to bring the ACTH under control.

If you are on facebook there is a group called veteran horse welfare, the owner is very helpful and happy to take phonecalls, she made some good recommendations to me.
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Not that I'm aware of, he has fantastic feet and apparently has never had lami. We are just both under the impression that horses with Cushings are more susceptible to it, hence the anti-sugar/ starch campaign.

He was literally diagnosed today, although has many of the symptoms which makes me think he's had it for quite a while. I'll let her know about the facebook group, think she's just at a bit of a loss at the mo. He's an old boy as is so it's a bit of a scary prospect, knowing that he's not quite right.

Thank you :)
 
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