He also gets bran and mineral oil every Sunday, I forgot about that part. Trying my best to give you a complete background so you can help me out. Thanks!

Where are you from? Orlando, FL

How did you locate this forum? Online

Hi Ellen,

You have a large number of factors that need some attention and because of that, I would highly recommend a personal phone visit, so I can go over the big picture and get your horse back on track.

In the meantime, a few suggestions:

First, do not feed mineral oil -- it binds B vitamins so he does not get them into his system.

Second, do not feed a bran mash once a week, because the bacteria living in the hind gut do not have a chance to become accustomed to this new feed. He will likely colic from this, so be consistent -- every day, or not at all.

Third, if he has an ulcer, it can cause loose stools and sweet feeds that are made from cereal grains cause more acid production. This is very painful and can cause cribbing. I recommend AmiQuell to help soothe his digestive tract.

And, lastly, see if you can eliminate using the cribbing collar. This is very stressful, contributing to more acid production, and the potential for colic and even laminitis. Instead, allow him to be a horse as much as possible with adequate turnout and in a situation where he can be around his buddies. Boredom, pain, and stress can all contribute to cribbing and some horses have a genetic tendency toward cribbing, so special attention has to be paid toward removing anything that stimulates this behavior.

I hope this is helpful. Please consider getting together over the phone so I can learn more about him and offer you a customized feeding plan.

All the best,

Dr. Getty

Where are you from? Bayfield, CO