Nutritional supplements to prevent laminitis?

[brigantia]

A friend recommended this supplement as an alternative to a grazing muzzle, but I am skeptical. Can a supplement really prevent laminitis if a horse or pony is out at grass? Does anyone have any experience with this?

http://www.founderguard.uk.com/laminitisquestions.html

 

[Damnation]

My friends horse is on Founder guard, he has metabolic syndrome. He has been on it for years and from what she has told me he has never gotten laminitus on it.
IMO the suppliment can only do so much (if it works). The best preventative is monitoring food intake and exercise!

 

[intouch]

I was just reading this article earlier -
http://www.holistichorse.com/Farm/Ranch-Keeping/perfect-pastures-access-to-needed-nutrients.html
It would indicate that supplying nutrients deficient in the available grass might well prevent problems.

 

[ThePony]

It seems that the active ingredient in that supplement is something called Virginiamycin, turns out it is an antibiotic to accelerate growth and treat infections http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginiamycin

I don't think I would feel comfortable feeding antibiotics as a supplement, esp given the problem of overuse of antibiotics we are currently experiencing in human medicine.
I'm also not convinced that feeding a drug or supplement (unless the horse has a vet tested condition such as cushings) is a sensible alternative to healthy feeding and exercise.

I would reach for the grazing muzzle myself. If you would like to feed something to keep your horse in good health then I would consider adding some yeasacc to the (low sugar and starch!) food. http://www.naturalhorsesupplies.co.uk/?p=product&key=0901227913 Lami can be attributed to an acidic hind gut so keeping his stomach working well should help a little. Also supplementing minerals that are deficient in your grazing (magnesium is one that is commonly low, hence the popularity of magnesium calmers, the above website has it much cheaper than the posh branded stuff!) Nothing will stop a lamanitic response in an overweight horse on lush grazing though so that should be your main concern though.

 

[bensababy]

A friend recommended this supplement as an alternative to a grazing muzzle, but I am skeptical. Can a supplement really prevent laminitis if a horse or pony is out at grass? Does anyone have any experience with this?

http://www.founderguard.uk.com/laminitisquestions.html

The best prevention is a muzzle. I would honestly not risk or trust any supplements on my Laminitic - one mistake and its back. Muzzle up.

 

[ozpoz]

I'd only rely on a supplement used in conjunction with whatever method of restricting fructans works for you.
I have a little 12 hh Houdini - He has jumped 4 ft over electric fencing, wriggled under it (after timing the clicks!) and I now don't trust ANY muzzle on him.
He is out from afternoon to night time ATM, and trotted up on hard ground daily to spot the first signs of footiness - in which case he is stabled.

I must post the "Escape from Starvation Paddock" video sometime!

 

[Sparky86]

I did alot of research into this at uni and I think this supplement can be quite effective. As far as I can remember the antibiotic destroys bacteria in the gut that is responsible for producing toxins that can bring about laminitis. These bacteria increase in number in the gut when grass & grains are eaten as the PH balance changes and the toxins can be released into the blood stream. It was a few years ago since I looked at this so I could be wrong! I can try and dig out the research when I get home if it's helpful.

 

[frozzy]

I would suggest you phone The Laminitis Clinic and speak to Robert Eustace or Sue his second in command.
There is NO supplement that prevents laminitis. Founderguard (which you will only get through your vet and as I remember it was imported from Australia and isnt licenced over here) will only work in certain cases as it is a low grade antibiotic.
My pony was with Robert for six weeks in the clinic a few years ago and as he is the world expert on laminitis I listen to what he says. There is nothing that will prevent laminitis caused by over indulgance of forage/grass/hard feed and lack of exercise.
Take the advice of people on here and take control of your ponies diet and excercise. Use a grazing muzzle, limit the feed and excercise effictively and your pony will not take laminitis.
It would be easy if we could just add a handfull of something to the diet and hey presto - safe grazing!

 

[brigantia]

There is nothing that will prevent laminitis caused by over indulgance of forage/grass/hard feed and lack of exercise.

Thanks, Frozzy!

This is what I suspected. Thanks for your excellent feedback, everyone.

FYI, my mare isn't laminitic but she's a native out on grass, so I need to be vigilant about her intake and exercise to prevent laminitis from occuring. Grazing muzzle, it is.

Ozpoz, I would love to see the videos of Houdini Pony trying to escape the evil starvation paddock!

 

[bathmat]

A friend recommended this supplement as an alternative to a grazing muzzle, but I am skeptical. Can a supplement really prevent laminitis if a horse or pony is out at grass?

NO! If a horse has sufficient starch or sugar in its diet to cause metabolic upset or it has sufficient concussion then it will get laminitis. No supplement under the sun can prevent it. Good management prevents laminitis, not supplements. Although supplements can be a part of the management.

 

[ozpoz]

brigantia - I'll try It may take awhile as I haven't successfully posted a pic yet!