Laminitic pony on diet.

[LAR14]

Our pony has mild Laminitis, caught very very early on. Walking about etc just tender. Had the vet to confirm. He's been put on a diet no turn out for at least 2wks and only 4.5 kg of soaked hay in 24hrs and a X2 feeds of chaff recommended a handful so he can take Bute.
Gave him 2 and quarter kg of hay this AM in a trickle net at 8am and first feed, went back down at 2 and it was gone. So I decided to give him is 2nd feed at 3 so he has something in tummy. Gave him his 2nd net at 5.30 this eve and won't be getting there until 8am tomorrow due to my work pattern at the moment.
I understand the need and importance of loosing the weight but I'm concerned about the amount of time he will be without anything. I know he finished the day time net in 6hrs or less so if I use that as a guide the hay he has for the night will likely be gone by 11.30pm and won't have access to anything until morning.

I'm not sure if or how I can change anything as on Vets orders and I've already gone and and bought the nets with tiny holes. Any tips or tricks and anyone who has had a similar situation.
Thanks

 

[AmyMay]

Are you sure the vet said only 4.5 kg? How big is the pony?

 

[LAR14]

Are you sure the vet said only 4.5 kg? How big is the pony?

He is 11.3, definitely 4.5 as she wrote all the info down for me.

She said the lami was likely brought by change of hay as my normal supplier had covid and stopped delivering so I had to source elsewhere but said he could do with loosing some weight.

Said to now stick to current hay just soak it and ration it.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I divide hay into half. One half is night hay.
The other half is again divided in half, for day use
Breakfast about 7 to 7.30.
9ish is quarter of hay allowance.
2 -3 pm is remainder of day hay allowance
5 -6pm tea.
9pm half of total hay allowance. (Yes, I drive back again)

Can you rope in others just over the next fortnight or so to pop feed or hay in?
I do similar regime with anything on box rest.

 

[LAR14]

I divide hay into half. One half is night hay.
The other half is again divided in half, for day use
Breakfast about 7 to 7.30.
9ish is quarter of hay allowance.
2 -3 pm is remainder of day hay allowance
5 -6pm tea.
9pm half of total hay allowance. (Yes, I drive back again)

Can you rope in others just over the next fortnight or so to pop feed or hay in?
I do similar regime with anything on box rest.

Thank you I try the half into half, meaning he would only get just over 1kg a time but I guess at least he will be going shorter stints in-between rather then hours upon hours without.

 

[brighteyes]

Hang the net so it swings about. Always feed a bit of loose hay to gobble up as they need a few mouthfuls before the greedyfeeder net frustrates them and stresses them further. I dilute my soaked and rinsed hay ration with feed-grade, chopped, oat straw.

 

[meleeka]

Are you soaking it? I’ve always fed enough in a teeny holed net to last, but soak for hours.

 

[NinjaPony]

Is there any way you can get someone to put a net in?

When mine was on laminitis box rest and diet, this was our routine:

7:30 feed
8am small doubled netted hay portion
12pm small doubled netted hay portion
2pm treat ball with small handful of approved pellets
5pm small double netted hay portion
7pm final net, making up about half of allotted hay allowance.

I feel your pain, my pony is difficult about food at the best of times and loathed the diet. He used to rear and squeal when the haynet came in! If you can get someone to help you by just sticking in haynets you’ve left ready, that will help your pony out.

 

[laura_nash]

When mine's on a strict diet I supplement his hay with trugs full of Top Chop Zero. You can check with the vet but it should be safe, it's very low calorie. Mine won't eat it unless he's properly hungry, but when he's on weighed hay he will give in and nibble it to keep his tummy happy.

 

[Prancerpoos]

Another vote for plain oat chaff. Just fill a trug with it and they have something to eat if they get desperate.

 

[Red-1]

Rigsby is a recovering laminitic. He has 10kg hay daily, well soaked plenty pf water, split over 4 nets (he is 15.1). He was always hungry though, so has barley straw in a separate small holed net.

His daily ration...

6am - turn out onto arena (nothing green within reach) with 1st net and net of barley straw.
11.45am - second soaked net, check the straw still has some in.
4pm - bring in to stable, third soaked net, refill barley straw net, bucket feed.
8pm - final soaked hay net, check barley straw net.

His bucket feed is: 1 mug of Speedy Beet, soaked. 1 scoop Top Chop Zero. Micronised Linseed measure. Salt. Western Salts (fit and minerals).

We did try free access to Top Chop Zero, but he wolfed it down and his poos got too hard. I think he thought anything in a bucket was nice. This hasn't happened with the barley straw in a net.

The diet you are using doesn't seem to contain any vitamins? Once you soak hay, you don't just dissolve the sugars, many of the goodness (vits and minerals) also leach out. To mend the feet, you do need to replace them.

His hay nets are Marts Nets. I find them just as good as slowing them down as Trickle Nets, but they are more user friendly for me!