Feeding straw to a grass sickness survivor?

[forever broke]

My pony had grass sickness 3 years ago, which he very luckily survived and is now mostly fine. He has a very sensitive gut and can be prone to colic but apart from this there are no major problems. He's fed 3 scoops of Healthy Tummy and 2 of speedi beet a day, split into 2 feeds, and has 3 or 4 slices of small bale hay overnight depending on how thick the slices are. I've made him a box slow-feeder thingy so he's eating from the ground as he finds this easier. His weight is spot on so I don't think he needs more hay, but I'm worried it's not lasting him long enough and wondered about bulking it out with straw. I know people do this with 'normal' horses but wondered if anyone has any opinions about feeding to an awkward so-and-so like mine? Or any other ideas to try and keep his tummy full for longer? Another thought was feeding his tea in a treat ball to make it last longer, but he's not a very patient type and when I've tried him with the ball before he couldn't be bothered to work it out.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

My veteran hasnt had GS but is colic prone and one episode was initially thought to be possible GS but was colic combined with choke so I have to be very careful.

That history led me to avoid straw like the plague but over time I've realised that his colics are caused by him stopping eating rather than anything he is eating. Hence if straw is what he wants, that's fine with me.

I mention this as I think the important thing is to keep the delicate types eating and with a good appetite so they dont get into a vicious cycle. so I wouldn't rule it out.

Btw I didn't mean there to be a thumbs down on this post, not sure what happened there

I use oat straw (you could buy it in bags ready chopped if you don't want to risk it whole). I wouldn't risk the other types of straw as they aren't as soft and palatable and barley can have irritating whiskers. Halleys sell it mail order and honey chop do a plain oat straw chaff. Can be used up to 50% of forage ration, mineral supplement important as straw lacks it.

 

[Ali2]

I feed barley or oat straw to my two good doers (one who has had ulcers - but remained a good doer!) to ensure they always have something to eat - as per poster above I'd rather they had something (of low nutritional value) than be spending hours without. just my opinion - I have no experience of grass sickness - but I'd go with the straw rather than nothing

 

[forever broke]

Yes that's exactly my thinking, it must be worse for him to go without anything in his stomach than the small risk from the straw. I'm also worried about ulcers, he was on gastrogard for about 6 months during the GS as the vet was worried about the risk of ulcers with his stomach being almost constantly empty and only eating bucket feeds. To be fair, he used to be bedded on straw up until a year or so ago, I changed it as I realised he was eating a fair amount of it. Never did him any harm and that was wheat straw, would definitely be trying to source oat straw if I go for it. Will try to get my vet's opinion, but his usual vet, who treated his GS and knows him very well, has left and he's only seen another once, so they may not understand my concerns

 

[SuperH]

I bed mine on wheat straw and they can eat as much of it as they like after they finish their hay. I like them to have to option to put something in their system rather than be empty, plus we have 'cow grass' and I have to be careful with turnout time, I like them to be turned out already full of straw, rather than have polished the hay off hours beforehand and then going out and grazing like mad. No experience of grass sickness but what you say would sound logical to me.