What to feed !!!!!!!

[ChelseaGostomska]

I have a 6yr warmblood gelding who has recently been diagnosed grade 3/4 ulcers.

He has lost a fair amount of top line since I bought him and I’m now at a loss at what to feed.

He has been seen by vet and physio and he is not lame, he has had slight thickening of the colon but very minimal.

I am currently feeding Gain Opticare balancer, chaff, sunflower oil, spirulina and linseed.

Should I be feeding him anything else? He has put on a bit of weight but not loads in probably the last month or two. I’ve barely ridden but feel like he could do with more.

 

[JenJ]

What treatment is he having for the ulcers?

 

[ChelseaGostomska]

What treatment is he having for the ulcers?

He’s had omeprazole injections, Misoprostol, alongside sucralfate.
He’s now on Gastroguard paste and sucralfate

 

[Barton Bounty]

Keep an eye on that thickening of the colon, my horse did not have ulcers at all but after two colics the latter being fatal. He had thickening of the colon suggesting colitis. Per the post mortem

 

[MinnieP]

Try and keep the feeding simple. Look for high Omega 3 content as that is anti-inflammatory so suggest micronised linseed (a mugfull per day). Stay away from cooking oils as they don’t have the correct balance of Omega 3, 6 & 9.

Try not to feed anything with soya, wheat feed etc.

So a basic soft chaff (try Thunderbrooks Herbal chaff) with Speedibeet. If you want protein, suggest Thunderbrooks organic meadow nuts (only 2% sugar - sugar is also inflammatory).

Add some milk thistle (for the liver) and Boswelia to aid digestion.

Fructo-oligosaccharides and yeasacc are also good - try Science Supplements GastroKind.

Horse herbs also do a digestion relief mix of herbs or you could try oily herbs to help the gut biome too.

Slippery elm is another - you just need to do lots of research I’m afraid!

 

[Trot_on]

I haven't read all the replies, but I don't think Gain Opticare has biotin in it, so I'd maybe look to adding that.

 

[ChelseaGostomska]

Try and keep the feeding simple. Look for high Omega 3 content as that is anti-inflammatory so suggest micronised linseed (a mugfull per day). Stay away from cooking oils as they don’t have the correct balance of Omega 3, 6 & 9.

Try not to feed anything with soya, wheat feed etc.

So a basic soft chaff (try Thunderbrooks Herbal chaff) with Speedibeet. If you want protein, suggest Thunderbrooks organic meadow nuts (only 2% sugar - sugar is also inflammatory).

Add some milk thistle (for the liver) and Boswelia to aid digestion.

Fructo-oligosaccharides and yeasacc are also good - try Science Supplements GastroKind.

Horse herbs also do a digestion relief mix of herbs or you could try oily herbs to help the gut biome too.

Slippery elm is another - you just need to do lots of research I’m afraid!

thanks for your reply, my vet advised me to feed Sunflower oil, he also advised against adding loads of things intones diet and to keep it simple. I have emailed asking about what I should be feeding as I am concerned Gain is basically pure Soy, I am struggling to find anything that does not contain soy?
x

 

[MinnieP]

thanks for your reply, my vet advised me to feed Sunflower oil, he also advised against adding loads of things intones diet and to keep it simple. I have emailed asking about what I should be feeding as I am concerned Gain is basically pure Soy, I am struggling to find anything that does not contain soy?
x

None of my recommendations contain soya.

Vets are not nutrition specialists so you’ll need to do your own research like I’ve had to do!

 

[ChelseaGostomska]

Try and keep the feeding simple. Look for high Omega 3 content as that is anti-inflammatory so suggest micronised linseed (a mugfull per day). Stay away from cooking oils as they don’t have the correct balance of Omega 3, 6 & 9.

Try not to feed anything with soya, wheat feed etc.

So a basic soft chaff (try Thunderbrooks Herbal chaff) with Speedibeet. If you want protein, suggest Thunderbrooks organic meadow nuts (only 2% sugar - sugar is also inflammatory).

Add some milk thistle (for the liver) and Boswelia to aid digestion.

Fructo-oligosaccharides and yeasacc are also good - try Science Supplements GastroKind.

Horse herbs also do a digestion relief mix of herbs or you could try oily herbs to help the gut biome too.

Slippery elm is another - you just need to do lots of research I’m afraid!

He is already on the thunderbrooks chaff, I’ve just had a look and the nuts don’t contain very much protein tbh? x

 

[Barton Bounty]

I had a horse that was allergic to soya and alfalfa.
His diet was micronised linseed, coolstance copra, soy free nuts and honeychop light and healthy, he was a tb and was in tiptop condition all year round

 

[JenJ]

He is already on the thunderbrooks chaff, I’ve just had a look and the nuts don’t contain very much protein tbh? x

What is your concern about protein in particular? Given his ulcers and his behaviour (possibly due to the ulcers) I would be focused on clearing the ulcers up. Once he's well again, I would get him back into work and then start thinking about any protein needs.