red cell supplement

[Ally2803]

hi I have a 23 year old welshie, who has gone abit 'flat' this started end of august time she just seems to have lost interest and not her normal joggy sparky spooky self. I have been advised to change her food to baileys lo cal balancer with a red cell supplement, has anybody tried this please

 

[SaraB]

hi I have a 23 year old welshie, who has gone abit 'flat' this started end of august time she just seems to have lost interest and not her normal joggy sparky spooky self. I have been advised to change her food to baileys lo cal balancer with a red cell supplement, has anybody tried this please

Hello, have you tested her for PPID (Cushings)? PPID horses don't have to show outward signs such as coat changes (which is a late sign). Could account for her being 'flat' or more apathetic, one of the signs of PPID. This time of the year PPID horses get a seasonal surge of hormone output (ACTH) which might account for the change you are seeing.
Further, it might be an idea to get her forage analysed and then balance her diet. Red Cell contains quite a high dose of iron, which sounds great, but might interfere with other mineral absorption and is probably not necessary considering the usually good to high amounts of iron already present in most forages. The majority of horses do not need extra iron, and anaemia due to iron deficiency is really very rare. Changing her to the Bailey's Balancer should be sufficient. Personally I think the first thing to do is the PPID check, it's good time of the year to do this now.
In any case, I hope you get to the bottom of the problem!

 

[JillA]

I'll second the ACTH blood test, Liphook are still doing the testing free until the end of the month. You'll just have to pay your vet to take the sample and send it off.

 

[twiggy2]

don't play with feed until you have ruled out illness and viral causes