I have a gelding thats 1 1/2. He had diarrhea when we first got him we changed his diet from alfalfa to bermuda grass hay. It helped he's healthy just a little thin, any changes in his diet he seems to get (not diarrhea but a little loose). He's been wormed and had all his vaccinations. What can we give him besides the grass hay to help put some weight on him? Every one says something different. HELP

Where are you from? arizona

How did you locate this forum? surfing

Hello Tracy,

Alfalfa would not typically cause diarrhea and since he continues to have loose stools, it could indicate some other problem is at work here.

I would suggest that you first rule out any underlying medical condition that could be contributing to his underweight and his digestive upset. Once you have ruled that out, the best way to get him to gain weight is to feed him a high protein, high fat diet along with as much grass hay or pasture as he likes.

A yearling requires a large amount of Lysine – this is an essential amino acid that is not found in high quantities in grass and is necessary for the production of body tissues. So, I would recommend supplementing his diet with lysine.

I would also give him a complete ration that is low in grain, and high in flaxseed meal, beet pulp, and soybean meal. See what your feedstore has to offer and let me know – I’ll help you pick out a brand.

I hope this is helpful!

All the best,

Dr. Getty