What do you feed your Veteran Cushings Horses, please?

My 32year old New Forest has had Cushing's for 3 years,starting with a bad bout of laminitis.He is also severely dentally challenged with a loss of four molars and incisors that are little more than stubs so all his feed comes in mush form!He is currently on 3kg fast fibre,2kg safe and sound or happy hoof depending on availability and 1.5kg speedibeet.This is soaked in 40litres of water to create a paste which he can eat easily.I can only feed him twice a day but he has learned to pace himself finally and eat it in stages.He also has a small amount of steamed hay twice a day year round but it has to go through a garden shredder first to help him eat it!I don't count grass or hay in his forage ration as he manages so little of it but do get comments along the lines of "dont you feed your laminitic a lot",sigh,
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I dont have any Cushings horses ATM (x'ing fingers for the forseable future) But I did have one in my care for a short time. It was too late for me to do a great deal for her as she was too far advanced when I go her. However I did get involved with a Cushings forum on Google so that I could be better prepared if I do end up with one in the future (and try to avoid future problems with my other horses - prevention and cure and all that) My old boy is 26 and realistically "systemic problems" are a big chance, if you get my meaning (full of cold and head hurting ATM)

They advocate a special diet for Cushings horses (medically researched - Dr Kellon is the main honcho) They also advocate staying away from mollassed products and cereals. It may be worth checking out the forum for any hints / tips / ideas.

With that in mind (avoiding sugar spikes, natural diets etc) I have mine on A&P Fast Fibre and Grow Well Fibregest. That ranges from the 26yr old (approaching denture time) to the 3yr old.

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Thank you CF
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and I know what you mean about [ QUOTE ]
"systemic problems"

[/ QUOTE ] so you are ahead of the game there
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It looks like another vote for Fast Fibre then .... still in the process of 'digesting' (excuse the pun!) everyones pointers and help, which has been absolutely brilliant
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Fingers and everything else crossed that your old boy avoids this complicate condition
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Hi. I have a 30 year old PBA with mild cushings.

His teeth are still pretty good so he still manages his haylage well. He is fed Allen & Page Fast Fibre and Speedibeet. For vit & mineral requirements he gets seaweed, brewers yeast and linseed,, plus mint for yumminess, he also gets dandelion for kidney/liver function. I have changed him on to this diet this winter (previously he had hi-fi and veteran mix) He lives out 24/7 and is thriving, doing far better than he has in previous years.

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Thanks Kibob and yet another Fast Fibre vote
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I feed the same as you: Happy Hoof and Fibre Nuts to my 22yr old Cushings (recovering Laminitic).... BUT I also feed Formula 4 Feet (as a vit & min supplement & to help his feet recover) and Equine Gold (to make sure he has the best environment in his tummy).

I only feed half scoop Happy Hoof and quarter scoop high fibre cubes in each feed as he is not greedy and just won't eat more than this, so in winter (like now), he also has a cup (dry) of Alfa Beet split between his feeds - I do the quick soak method in boiling water, which then makes his feed lovely and warm when he eats it! And he loves it and is a perfect weight!

To be honest, I would be wary of coming off a Laminitis Trust approved feed unless you have the time and expertise to fully analyze the other feeds and work-out which are suitable.

If he's having trouble eating, you could always pour boiling water over his feed to make it more into a mash, let it cool and feed it to him warm.... you could also steam his hay which will make it nice and warm and softer/easier to chew.

I have a Happy Horse Steamer, but you can just put his haynet in a dustbin, pour a few kettle of boiling water over the top, put the lid on and leave until the steam has gone and it's cooler - probably 30mins to an hour?

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Thanks Pasha ... I have always soaked his hay, but for the last 2 weeks, with the snow, then it has been impossible .... so that got me thinking about alternatives, especially as he struggles with it soaked. But, as you say, I think steaming it will soften it up much more and help.

I have been adding more and more water (and warm during the snow) to ensure his feed is as soft as possible.

Cheers
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PS I am off to look at the Happy Horse Steamer .... more expense me thinks lol
 
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My cushings pony hasn’t had the L word and is underweight and fussy so I have to keep changing him onto different feeds. He is currently on happy hoof and maybe alfa-a lite, high fibre nuts, high fibre mix, speedibeet or fibrebeet and micronised linseed. Have also recently had him on alfa-a oil (not too keen on that anymore), hi-fi lite, fast fibre and equijewel which is good but he was wasting feeds with it in and it is just to expensive to waste so have switched to linseed instead to see what that’s like.

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Thanks PP and I am so glad that your pony has not had the 'L' word, as that really is the worse thing ....

However it sounds like you are ahead of the game and ensuring the balance is right, so fingers crossed you will never have to deal with it.
 
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My 32year old New Forest has had Cushing's for 3 years,starting with a bad bout of laminitis.He is also severely dentally challenged with a loss of four molars and incisors that are little more than stubs so all his feed comes in mush form!He is currently on 3kg fast fibre,2kg safe and sound or happy hoof depending on availability and 1.5kg speedibeet.This is soaked in 40litres of water to create a paste which he can eat easily.I can only feed him twice a day but he has learned to pace himself finally and eat it in stages.He also has a small amount of steamed hay twice a day year round but it has to go through a garden shredder first to help him eat it!I don't count grass or hay in his forage ration as he manages so little of it but do get comments along the lines of "dont you feed your laminitic a lot",sigh,
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Thanks Mad_dog ..... Motor's Cushings started with a bad bout of Laminitis as well
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He has only got one broken tooth so far (a slab fracture was removed
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) and then the Vet has said they are just very worn, so it does still seem a bit odd that he struggles so much .... I think another look in his mouth is imminent, however he will not let me do it, that's for sure
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The garden shredder seems a bit drastic, but what an innovative idea
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.... Mots will eat the hay if I manage to find a lovely fine one, but I cannot open every bale to find one
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I must admit, that when I look at the feed Mots is getting, I hope no one sees it has I too think people may start to comment. However we know we are doing right and they really are only commenting, but somehow one thinks they are being judgemental (well I do, so it is really my problem then lol)
 
I cannot thank everyone enough for all their feeding advice and suggestions.

I am so amazed how many oldens, who are suffering from Cushings, are out there and are members of this forum.

Everyone is doing so well and we must all love these ponies so much .... I know I do
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So a very BIG THANK YOU to you all and long may your ponies thrive
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