Hi Dr Getty'
Please could you advise if feeding root vegetables is a safe alternative to carrots or apples. I have read on various equine sites that turnips, swedes and potatoes can be fed to give more choice/variety in the stable.Can you please give me your view on this topic?

Txs Julie

Where are you from? South Africa

How did you locate this forum? web search

Hello Julie,

Potatoes are mostly starch, and therefore are not a good replacement for carrots or apples. Starch is digested down to glucose (sugar). Turnips are lower in starch, and therefore, lower in sugar. Swedes (sugar beets) are similar to carrots in sugar content.

But, all of these are fine in small quantities, as long as your horse is not overweight or prone to laminitis or Cushings syndrome. If you do have a horse with these conditions, I recommend offering alfalfa cubes as a treat.

If you do offer potatoes, make certain that any green discoloration beneath the skin has been removed. This contains aflatoxins, which you’ll want to avoid feeding to your horse.

Thank you for writing.

All the best,

Dr. Getty

I read your advise about treats for lamanitic horses. You advised giving alfalfa cubes instead of apples or carrots. I thought alfalfa was bad for these horses. If I want to exclude as much sugar/glucose from the diet, would apples be better for my horse than carrots?
thanks
Shelley

Where are you from? Massachusetts

How did you locate this forum? search

Hi Shelley,

Alfalfa is very nutritious and provides essential amino acids (building blocks of protein) to help the laminitic horse heal and build healthy tissue. The non-structural carbohydrate level is relatively low. Carrots and apples are high in sugar and significantly raise blood insulin levels (which is something you want to reduce with laminitis). So, I do not recommend feeding them as treats in this case. The peels of apples, however, are better, since they are mostly fiber.

All the best,

Dr. Getty

Where are you from? Bayfield, CO