ulcers, cribbing and feeding

[smiggy]

Have just picked up a pony on short trial rior to buying. Its 14.1 ish and it crib bites.
Guy has just told me it has three scops a day of endurance mix, every day, all year round.
I know cribbing is associated with ulcers and I know ulcers are associated with high grain acidic diets.
Obviously am not changing anything while pony not ours but if we keep it, any ideas of similar energy diets but of a higher fibre nature?
would like to think I have a plan in place to provide similar energy diet without potentially causing problems.
Has plenty of turn out, just come from 24/7 and will be at least 12 hrs a day out with us if not more.

 

[amy_b]

I would put him/her on protexin prebiotic and limestone flour.

Limestone flour as ulcers are also related to low levels of calcium and has had fantastic results with my boy (not diagnosed with ulcers but has enough symptoms!)

Protexin has worked wonders for every horse I have put on it, all various heights, breeds and symptoms. My boy atm really benefits from a month or two of it but dont keep them on it long term as they stop producing what they need naturally.

 

[ItsJem]

Amy, how much limestone flour do you feed? I feed it for the same reason but have never been entirely sure how much to feed!

 

[be positive]

A horse at livery with me has just been scoped, he was clear of ulcers but had a lot of symptoms, not cribbing though, he was on comp mix but I decided to change his diet as although clear it seemed to be worth treating him as if he did have them.
He is on calm and condition and Alfalfa pellets with a small amount of linseed, the difference is amazing, he is no longer girthy, eats up every scrap, has a better coat and is so much more forward in his jumping, he had 2 months on NAF gastri aid and has now stopped that.

His energy levels are better, probably as he was not getting the full use of the mix, he would not eat more than about 2 scoops a day but also would not eat various other feeds I had tried to top up with but he just loves the c&c, I am hoping that it is because he actually feels better by having it, when he was fed tea in the field previously you had to take it to him, now he rushes over for it.

 

[TwoStroke]

Limestone flour as ulcers are also related to low levels of calcium and has had fantastic results with my boy (not diagnosed with ulcers but has enough symptoms!)

I haven't heard this before, would you mind posting a link to the relevant info?

Ta

 

[smiggy]

thanks all
be positive-that sounds like a really workable diet plan

 

[be positive]

It's working well for now, I fully expected to have to add more to enable him to event but the c&c certainly is not proving to be either calming or too conditioning, just a nice bright horse that is happy to work.

 

[amy_b]

Amy, how much limestone flour do you feed? I feed it for the same reason but have never been entirely sure how much to feed!

I feed NAF Limestone flour, They recommend a scoop a day...so I feed half! Only because I thought I would try a little bit first and it worked so quickly that I didnt feel the need to feed the recommended dose.

I haven't heard this before, would you mind posting a link to the relevant info?

Ta

Cant remember where I read it!

A few things I have googled just now -
http://www.conklin.com/site/sandmarc/Ulcers.cfm
'A research study compared a high-protein, high-calcium diet of alfalfa and grain to a lowprotein, low-calcium brome grass and grain diet for ulcer incidence. Horses fed the alfalfa and grain diet had a higher stomach pH, resulting in fewer and less severe gastric ulcers compared to the horses receiving the brome grass and grain diet'

http://www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk/whatproduct/supplements/lime.htm

ETA: another -
http://www.holistichorse.com/Health...ports-for-ulcers-cribbing-a-wind-sucking.html
'Stabled horses and those without adequate hay intake throughout the day are more prone to ulcers. Feed high-fiber feeds, allow plenty of pasture time and feed at the same time daily. Alter the diet by soaking hay and/or pellets to soften before feeding. Consult your veterinarian to diagnose gastric ulcers using an endoscope to view the stomach interior. An acupuncturist can check for soreness at various acupuncture points. Many veterinarians suggest coating the horse?s stomach lining 5 minutes before feeding with milk of magnesia for about 30 days. To reduce stomach discomfort brought on by excess acid, include salts of magnesium and calcium such as calcium carbonate from limestone (2 tbsp per meal) and magnesium oxide or sulfate. There is no concern for overdose due to their solubility and release via sweat or urination'

 

[TwoStroke]

Thanks for the info .

I would think it's important to include the magnesium with the calcium, then? I was thinking about the calcium:magnesium ratio - feeding just limestone flour would unbalance it, no?

 

[amy_b]

Im not the person to ask really, I havent noticed any adverse effects in my horse, he gets limestone flour, table salt and at the moment protexin alongside Alfa A oil, conditioning nuts and sugar beet.
As far as I undestand (and could very easily be wrong!!!) the magnesium/calcium is for optimal results and with reference to the study, I would imagine feeding one or the other doesnt do any harm, but doesnt get the optimum results possibly?! But like I said, Im not an expert!

 

[belle31]

Havens slobbermash and yea sac supplement