Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
Welcome to my forum.
Here you will find more than 6 years of questions and my answers. It is searchable and offers a great deal of information.
Currently, I am discontinuing new questions. This may change in the future, but in the meantime, please know that It has been a true pleasure serving you.
Take a look at my Nutrition Library and Tips of the Month for a variety of answers on selected topics. Be sure to sign up for my monthly e-newsletter, Forage for Thought.
I also have a growing number of recordings on "Teleseminars on Nutrition Topics that Concern You" as well as the new, Spotlight on Equine Nutrition Series -- printed versions of favorite teleseminars.
And finally, look for my articles in a variety of local publications and online newsletters, as well as the Horse Journal, where I am the Contributing Nutrition Editor.
All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hi, I am new to your Forum and I am trying desperately to find some help for one of my mares who in the last 2 years has developed a skin problem in the summer. She has rubbed most of her mane and tail off and has lots of itching on her face and back. My Vet has given her several shots, I've tried mineral blocks, I've bathed her in Iodine/water mix, I've used MTG, which seems to work for a while but the other problem I have is I'm a flight attendent and I am not here to doctor her every day. She is misserable and I just need some relief for her.
Where are you from? Rogers,Tx
How did you locate this forum? Yahoo Search
Hi Vicky and Sherry,
I'll answer both of your questions here.
First, Vicky... An older horse does well on 10,000 to 15,000 mg of Vitamin C per day. If the horse has access to fresh pasture, then the lower end of the dosage is fine (there's vitamin C in fresh grass). If on hay, they supplement more. One scoop of Pure C has approximately 8,000 mg of vitamin C. The important thing to remember with supplementing vitamin C is that once you start, you should not abruptly stop. This is because the horse becomes accustomed to a higher intake of vitamin C and will develop deficiency symptoms if it is no longer provided. Vitamin C is very important for older horses because they no longer produce enough, so a daily supply is important to their health.
Sherry... I understand how hard it must be to watch your horse suffer like this. I have two recommendations... First, give her Flaxseed Meal -- plenty of it -- to provide omega 3 fatty acids. If she's not already getting a complete vitamin/mineral supplement, consider Glanzen Complete to meet this need and give her 3 full scoops per day. If she is already getting a vitamin/mineral supplement and it's a good one, then simply provide Nutra Flax.
The second thing is Spirulina. This blue-green algae is an excellent food that is highly effective against any allergens in the environment. It has typically been difficult to feed since it generally comes in a powdered form. I now offer Spirulina Wafers on my website. I am delighted to finally have found a palatable way to give spirulina to horses. Feed 10 wafers per day.
I hope this is helpful. Please keep me posted.
All the best,
Dr. Getty 
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO