Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Dr. Getty
Okay...Before I read your post I had down graded his feed to 4lbs twice per day instead of 5lb. 5lbs looked just like waaay to much
I will try the joint supplements and everything you have suggested. Also..I was wondering what the difference is between a PRObiotic and a PREbiotic? Everyone had suggested a Probiotic so that was why I had mentioned it...i had no idea of a Prebiotic..and I was just wondering what the difference is and why one would be better than the other? (I'm not questioning you..I just don't know. I'm not used to taking care of senior horses.
) Also I was wondering what you thought of bran in a horses diet? I feed the regular 4lbs of Senior Feed and just a handful of rolled oats with 1 cup of Vegetable oil. (vet suggested it..
I guess for weight and his coat) In the evening I feed 1lb of bran with his senior feed and NO oats or oil. Is this going to harm him? I also feed the bran to my 7 yr old horse as well daily but also only in the evening. Is this okay for my old guy or 7yr old as long as it's daily? or is this a no go for both? They both LOVE it and a few other people feed it too (they have had horses for 40+ years) and had suggested it. Thanks for the help and I will definately keep you posted.
Hi Ashley,
A prebiotic is different than a probiotic because a prebiotic does not contain any live microbes. Instead, it contains fermentation products that feed the existing bacteria in the hind gut, making them healthy, in larger numbers, and better capable of digesting forage and producing B vitamins.
Probiotics (live microbes) are useful in situations when the number of microbes in the hind gut are diminishing. This can occur when a horse is taking antibiotics, for example.
So, to keep the hind gut healthy, I would go with a prebiotic such as Ration Plus.
Regarding bran -- if you are feeding a bran product that does not have added calcium, you may be providing too much phosphorus in the diet. It is very important that there be more calcium than phosphorus in the diet and since you are not feeding alfalfa, this could be a concern. I would be happy to crunch some numbers if you think you'd find that service helpful.
Also, if you are going to feed bran, make sure it's on a daily basis, not once in a while or every few days. Consistency is the key toward keeping the bacterial flora in the hind gut healthy. Some horseowners like to give a bran mash every few days, but this can be dangerous and lead to colic.
Thanks for writing!
Dr. Getty
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO