Need more condition in a ulcer and cushing horse?

[HufflyPuffly]

So my darling Doodle has had a bit of a year of it!

She's been on and off lame and been on box rest for most of this year , I can't be too cross at her we've had ten years of being almost vet free. Her lameness we're hoping is resolving (sprain to the fetlock coupled with terrible hoof inbalance has made for a very long rehab), but as she hasn't been on the grass this year her condition is terrible .

Ok well not terrible but I'm very aware that at 22 it is only going to get harder to keep her weight up... Added to her issues is that she also has cushings (no symptoms as yet really, I'm positive the weight loss is due to lack of work, box rest and lack of grass) and was also diagnosed with ulcers this year which have been treated and we're all clear now .

So I want to add something to her feed, she currently fed:
- 1 and a quarter stubs scoops of Alfa A mollases free,
- 2 mugs of micronised linseed,
- 1.5 small scoops dry weight grass nuts,
split between two feeds a day, plus ad-lib haylage, which has done her very well up until now.

I'm going to add a lunch time feed as well, but want to add something else and I'm thinking a mash of some sort (maybe slobber mash?). I'm just wondering if anyone can recommend anything that will add condition without upsetting the starch/sugar content for her cushings/ulcers?

To add we did try the Equiguard from St Hippolyte but didn't find it any better than her above feed for condition and cost a fortune to feed and was blooming hard to source!

Wispa cookies on offer!

x x x

 

[be positive]

I suggested on another thread that dengie alfalfa pellets may be a good option if they cope with alfa a then you will probably find it better as it is more compact and easily eaten, slightly higher in sugar and starch but still relatively low, you could replace some of the grass nuts which generally are higher in sugar.
Adding a third feed usually makes a real difference and is the first thing I do if anything struggles with weight loss.

 

[Micky]

Weight loss can be contributed to cushings too, have a look on the laminitis site as it tells you on there good feeds for weight gain in cushings horses...

 

[_HP_]

Is her Cushing's being treated?
If she is not Laminitis prone then I would up the grass nuts

 

[HufflyPuffly]

I suggested on another thread that dengie alfalfa pellets may be a good option if they cope with alfa a then you will probably find it better as it is more compact and easily eaten, slightly higher in sugar and starch but still relatively low, you could replace some of the grass nuts which generally are higher in sugar.
Adding a third feed usually makes a real difference and is the first thing I do if anything struggles with weight loss.

Thank you I will look into them, I'm very lucky as I can feed her pretty much anything without any adverse reactions, but it has perhaps not helped long term as I now know about the ulcers and cushings! Would the alfalfa pellets hold more feed value than the chop, as this does have some pelleted alfalfa in it too?

She is now getting lunch, so will see how she gets on.

Weight loss can be contributed to cushings too, have a look on the laminitis site as it tells you on there good feeds for weight gain in cushings horses...

Yes I know, but as she's had cushings a good while and it's the box rest that is new I'm inclined to think it is the lack of exercise and lack of grass that has caused the condition to drop. I may suggest another blood test to moiniter her levels with the vet.
Will have a look at the website thank you.

Is her Cushing's being treated?
If she is not Laminitis prone then I would up the grass nuts

Yes she's been on medication for over a year now, though it was a good spot by the vet no-one would guess she has cushings, as she's got none of the symptoms well apart from being old maybe .

Never had lami, so yes the grass nuts have been upped as she's now on a third feed.



Thanks everyone, will see how she does on the third feed before I add anything else I think.

x x