Need a replacement to hay as last resort for gastric bloat

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samski2404

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My 7 year old ISH gelding has been suffering from bloated stomach and enlarged small intestine, vets have scanned , tubed, tested, stomach tapped and had him in under obs for 5 days and not found a specific reason so last resort is to try a hay replacement as this may be the trigger, he doesn't want to work and is generally unhappy :-(. He came over from Ireland where he was hunted and turned out every summer on grass which is clearly the best thing for their gut, unfortunately we can only turn out at night, he is stabled during day and ridden for an hour under normal circumstances... really want to try everything before the dreaded surgery is mentioned again so any help is greatly received, Thanks
 
Soaked grass nuts, fast fibre or speedibeet can all replace hay to some extent, if he is ok on alfalfa possibly look at giving him Dengie Healthy tummy which is a complete feed designed for horses with ulcers so it may suit, mine love it and they will pick through slowly. Redigrass can be used but mine are not so keen on it, soaked it looks like grass cuttings and smells lovely I used it for one on box rest in winter for variety and again he just picked at it never eating it quickly like a feed, I left tubs in his box and he went from one to another as and when he felt like it, he had a tub of redigrass, one of grassnuts and one either beet or healthy tummy, not that he was spoilt!
 
Thanks, yes will ask vet although someone mentioned that they would have excess selenium poisoning from a pure diet of FF but will check...thanks again
 
If you contact Dengie they will send a sample plus a money off voucher, they were really helpful when my horse was on box rest sending several samples for me to try.
Also contact protexin I used their products and it did seem to help, again very helpful on the phone, I had more help on here and from nutritionists than from the vets who as it is not medical just seem to lack any real suggestions, my horses condition was nothing like yours but the help and ideas offered made a real difference.
 
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