Pulling my hair out Vegetable oil

[tullulahjay]

Hi Gang,

I have been trying to do some research as my boys back legs have puffed up big time. Long story he had gastric ulcers and I got the all clear and vet recommended veg oil.

So gradually introduced it. But he seems to be a tad upset yesterday and off his feed :-(

Does anyone know or had a horse that has a protein intolerance. I am pulling my hair out.

Oh and I have taken him off the oil but wanted to know of anyone elses experience. He on adlib hay, 7 hours turnout and ridden 6 days a week. He isnt lame nor is this mud fever although I have hosed

3 feeds a day.

He is on readigrass, allen and page fast fibre and power and performance.

I have also been thinking that he may be lacking in salt some where?

 

[maccachic]

I managed to resolve ulcers with a switch to lucerne chaff, oats, multivit yeast and salt plus hay change was very dramatic.

Have you worked out what quanities you are currently providing in regards to protein, vits, mins energy? Prob the first place to start.

Is he standing around for long periods (ie stabled) legs can fill if they aren't moving around much.

 

[tullulahjay]

I asked the Allen and Page rep to help me and she said that if anything I can give him more p&p if I needed more ompf in his dressage. But I have decided just to keep it simple.

Alfa A chaff
Simple feed/ Fibre fibre
Spearmint

Ad lib hay

To be honest I did weigh up the mineral etc. But I thought I was getting advice from best people. But obviously It appears his body is rejecting the oil :-(. They are going down slowly but they are actually puffy on all four legs

 

[tullulahjay]

I forgot to say.

I am down the yard 5am every morning. He get put in our coral to eat feed and have a wonder round. Then I tack up once I have mucked out.

He gets ridden 6 days a week 5/4 being schooling other days hack. He goes out from 7am- 1pm turnout.

He is then brought in for lunch and kept in This is to avoid bordom of the turnout despite lots of grass available. (he is a well known escape artist) He also gets ad lib hay.

Then at 5.30 he then get put in the coral for a wonder and stretch before being put to bed in his big night stable. He isnt really standing around much. I do think anyway

 

[missyclare]

I would map just how much protein he is getting/day with all his current feeds added up. It might just be a reaction to one particular feed, or some other ingredient that is not protein related at all. I suspect it is. Measure the protein in grams and check all the labels of all the different bagged feeds. Call the rep back and ask him the amounts of iron/sugar/and starch in that feed, if its not on the label. You have a right to know. Hay testing would be really good, as hay should be 3/4's of his diet, so it matters. Usually, when a horse is getting too much protein, or isn't getting enough lysine to metabolize that protein, either way, it gets wasted and goes thru the system, causing increased urination with a high urea smell. This is the only symptom that I'm aware of from excess protein.
As for intolerance, some horses cannot tolerate alfalfa. It usually has good protein, but high calcium, which spreads the balance between calcium from phosphorus and magnesium, making them deficient. Iron is another bad one. If you don't have zinc and copper to compete, iron wins and goes running through the blood like rust. It's ALL gotta be balanced to work properly.

At any rate, before doing anything, I would nail down the diet and get it balanced. It is the first, most crucial step.

Fat is just fat. It doesn't supply more protein, its just fat. It has no nutrients whatsoever. All fat is contributing to is a different method of metabolism for energy instead of glucose. Out of 100% amount of fat fed, 95% of it is stored as fat, the other 5% is used for energy. If you have a horse that doesn't burn the fat he's being fed, you may as well inject it under his skin and give him the fatty pads that are going to be. What you don't see, is the fat that accumulates around the heart,liver and other organs. It is also limited in its ability to provide energy as well. Once you go 3 months of high fat feeding, the horse's system changes over to be more dependent on fat for energy. The glucose system goes redundant. If the horse's needs go over what energy fat can provide, then there is no glucose system operating to fall back on to keep going. Mother Nature intended for a horse's energy to be glucose-derived. The horse has absolutely no requirement for fat whatsoever. Fat also only provides "slow" energy and you won't win any barrel races on it, or any other sport that requires explosive-type energy.
What he does need is fatty acids. That's the omega's. Flax has the perfect balance of omega 3 to 6, which fights inflammation body-wide and also gives a beautiful gloss to the coat. I buy a bag of whole flax and grind 4oz. in a $10 coffee grinder just before feeding. Linseed oil, is actually de-fatted flax.

What is possible, is that he has a glucose sensitivity and is going IR. In which case, you should definitely get a nutritionist to look at things and get the diet balanced. Its the first crucial move here too. Balance is key to so many different symptoms. Investigate first. High fat is not the answer for IR either.
What a nutritionist will do is to make sure that he's not getting too much sugar/starch/iron and enough major and trace minerals to be effective. You'll get the right amount of energy for his weight and work load. Customized, balanced and spot on..
I also think he could be getting more movement. I suspect he's stocking up. If he's getting worked and then put in a stall, not the best, should keep moving freely at least until dinnertime. Is there someone you could put in there with him or beside him that would help him settle? Another good one is to hang slow feeder nets around the circumference of the enclosure. It's a challenge that will keep him busy, make his hay last longer, eliminate waste and keep him moving for the swelling. If he's working hard, maybe a cold hosing and brace on the legs after exercise would help as well. I might even consider bandaging those legs until dinnertime. I think of that kind of swelling as edema fluid pooling at the bottom of the leg due to gravity. What's not happening to alleviate it, as well as circulation. is lack of enough movement. (stall time) A horse has 5 hearts and 4 of them are in his feet. If the ones in his feet aren't working, you can be sure the one in his chest is working harder to compensate. The horse was born to move forward.
Yes, feed salt. 1tbn. at maintenance/day and on up to 3+tbns. for hard work/weather and sweat losses. Salt drives thirst and water makes the world go round. Iodized salt from the house will also add in some iodine as well. Avoid the trendy rock salt items...too many possible impurities.
Get his diet squared away and his symptoms will probably go away as well.
See a nutritionist. The vet meant well, but I think he missed the boat on this one.
Hope this helps.....