Irritable bowel disease

[DanniRenske]

My friends horse has been dianosed with irritable bowel disease. We don't really know what this means. He has got to stop having hard feed and can only eat grass and hay. We're wondering what makes a good quality hay and where to get good hay from.
Any tips would be wonderful.

 

[LadyRascasse]

it is all dependent on the horse there was a horse down my last yard with IBS but he couldn't have grass so kind of the opposite really.

you can have hay tested, can't remember which company does it. as for a supplier it depends where in the country you are

 

[dwi]

I know someone who used to grow hay specially for racing yards. That was a very high quality but not cheap. Do you have any racing yards near you that you could ask for advice?

 

[vetsbestfriend]

My boy was diagnosed with IBD middle of last year following a rectal biopsy. After a course of steroid tablets (strongish dose reducing down to a small dose) for 3 months, touch wood he seems to have settled down. I also feed a good pre/pro biotic to aid the gut flora.

I have been lucky that I can still feed normal feed, hay etc. Has your friend asked if he can be fed a high fibre based chaff so he still feels like he is getting something? He may also need some kind of vitamin/mineral supplement. As others have already said, best place for asking who supplies high quality hay will be racing yards or even local horse hospital.

There are some very good websites that give details about IBD in equines which I found useful to have a read over. Good luck to your friend and her horse.