Is speedy mash really OK for laminitics

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

Just that really - it smells so delicious, and fussy pony gobbles it up so happily, that I can't quite believe it's really OK!

https://www.spillers-feeds.com/speedy-mash-fibre

Full story: I've got one elderly pony who's recently dropped a bit of weight. Worm counted at less than 50, but wormed anyway on vet's advice. Teeth checked and nothing obviously wrong but I'm sure she's struggling a bit with hay. So it seems very sensible to supplement her with a bit of mash.

BUT in the mornings I don't have time to carefully separate the ponies and wait for them to finish their own respective feeds like I do in the evenings (ponies live out 24/7 on hardstanding and an almost grass free track, well, it's pure mud this week!) So my choice is a) only give skinny pony one feed a day, or b) also give not skinny, laminitis prone pony a feed of mash in the morning as well.

 

[meleeka]

If it were mine I’d feed good doer mostly chaff (Honeychop Lite and Healthy has half the sugar of Speedi mash) with a bit of mash added to moisten. It’s mostly sugar beet and straw which is fine for a laminitic, but I do find beet can be a bit conditioning, despite what the bag says.

Adding micronised linseed to the oldies feed will also help with condition. Do have a cushings test if you haven’t already as that can affect weight hugely.

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

Thanks for your reply. She's already on prascend. Neither pony will eat plain chaff, but I could defo try mixing some mash and chaff together to up the tastiness but lower the sugar- good idea! She already gets a glug of linseed in her evening feed (with a bit of mash, a handful of lami lite balancer, the prascend, and half a bute for arthritis)

 

[Shilasdair]

I probably would feed a different version of sugar beet - Kwik beet is only 6% starch and sugar, compared to that SpeedyMash which seems to be 10% combined - the guidelines are laminitic ponies should have <10% sugar/starch combined.

 

[easteregg]

I had one vet who recommended it for my pony with laminitis and another shortly after who advised against and to stick to regular Speedi-beet with lower starch/sugar content. Pony was not impressed with this suggestion however and would not eat the regular one so I gave up on the mash. Second vet did say probably ok to feed Speedy mash in winter when their energy requirements are higher. It does smell delicious!

 

[Shilasdair]

I had one vet who recommended it for my pony with laminitis and another shortly after who advised against and to stick to regular Speedi-beet with lower starch/sugar content. Pony was not impressed with this suggestion however and would not eat the regular one so I gave up on the mash. Second vet did say probably ok to feed Speedy mash in winter when their energy requirements are higher. It does smell delicious!

Weirdly my two like Kwik Beet, but won't eat Speedibeet despite them being apparently the same nutrient analysis and ingredients.

 

[easteregg]

Weirdly my two like Kwik Beet, but won't eat Speedibeet despite them being apparently the same nutrient analysis and ingredients.

That's useful to know - I'll try them with that.

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

Thanks as always for the expertise- I'd never even heard of kwik beet!