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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 

 



Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Re: Diet for horse with thin walls

Oh, one more thing, I was reading up on seaweed/kelp...what are your thought on that? Thanks so much!!!!

Where are you from? California

How did you locate this forum? googled equine nutritionist

Re: Diet for horse with thin walls

Hello LJ,

I prefer BioFlax Ultra to Farrier's Formula and whole flaxseeds for a couple of reasons. BioFlax Ultra contains 30 mgs of Biotin, compared to 20 mg in the Farrier's Formula. Also Farrier's formula has too high a level of omega 6 fatty acids compared to omega 3s. Adding your own flaxseeds, unless you grind them every day, does not benefit your horse since they are not adequately chewed. They will end up in your horse's manure. They need to be ground, but since they go rancid in a matter of hours, it is best to have a stabilized product. Also, there is too much phosphorus in flax, compared to calcium, so Nutra Flax has added calcium to correct this imbalance.

Glanzen contains the ingredients found in BioFlax Ultra along with extra B vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and Nutra Flax. I highly recommend it to fill in nutritional gaps for a horse that is receiving pasture. If your horse is on hay most of the day, consider Glanzen Complete.

Regarding hay, it is best to limit alfalfa to no more than 1/2 the hay ration, and preferably less than that. Too much protein and too high a mineral content can lead to problems including intestinal enteroliths.

Thank you for writing.

All the best,

Dr. Getty

Where are you from? Bayfield, CO

Re: Diet for horse with thin walls

Hi LJ,

Kelp is too high in iodine. It interacts with selenium and can induce a selenium deficiency. Go with plain, white, table salt. If you are feeding Glanzen, get the iodized version. If you are feeding Glanzen Complete, get the non-iodized version of table salt. You can feed it free choice or add 2 tablespoons per day (divided between meals). Or a simple white salt block is fine, as long as your horse goes through a 5 lb block within 30 to 40 days.

All the best,

Dr. Getty



LJ
Oh, one more thing, I was reading up on seaweed/kelp...what are your thought on that? Thanks so much!!!!

Where are you from? Bayfield, CO