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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: apithisitis and cribbing

Hello Judy,

The key change in treating epiphysitis is to avoid anything starchy. Starchy diets have been shown to be problematic in growing horses. So no sweet feed, oats, or other cereal grains (corn, barley, etc.). Orchardgrass plus alfalfa is good to do since orchardgrass is often too low in calcium and alfalfa fills in this gap.

The added minerals -- calcium, copper, and sulfur, are also very helpful, so continue feeding them according to your vet's directions.

Cribbing is often a stress response that appears to have a genetic component, though that is not always the case. Early weaning can lead to this behavior, and other stressors.

Consider adding magnesium and a probiotic to his diet to assist with behavior and keeping his hindgut microflora in good condition. Quiessence for magnesium is a good choice since it doesn't add any other minerals that could overlap with what you're currently feeding. Daily Start is an excellent probiotic that maintains immune function (which is often depressed by stress).

I prefer free-choice feeding, as you know and especially in the case where the horse is exhibiting other behaviors that exhibit stress (cribbing). Yes, you want to make sure that he doesn't grow too rapidly. So, you can totally eliminate any concentrates, and just add his supplements to a small amount of alfalfa pellets (moistened) or beet pulp (also soaked). If possible, have your grass hay tested to see how the calcium and phosphorus are in balance, as well as how digestible it is. A lower digestibility (shown as a high NDF - neutral detergent fiber) is a good choice in his case, since it will provide fewer calories. And go easy on the alfalfa -- 10 to 20% of the total hay ration (which will depend on your grass hay analysis).

Keep me posted.

All the best,

Dr. Getty
Author of Feed Your Horse Like A Horse



judy
Hi Dr Getty, i have two things going on with my two yr old colt,the vet told me he has apithisitis in his r knee and to stop free feeding him so he can lose weight to help him from being to sore also he has become a wind sucker or cribber on my pipe corrals,i was told to give him some dolomite,copper sulphate and sulfur in his diet to stop this do u see anything wrong with this, also to add some seaweed. how do i give it,he is on orchard grass and a small amount of alfalfa and i feed him 4-5 times a day so he isnt going to long with out food,vet said no more then 15 pnds a day . Hope u can help.

Where are you from? Bayfield

How did you locate this forum? CO

Re: epithisitis and cribbing

Thank you Dr Getty,i havent started my colt on any supplements yet because i wasnt sure what to give him,like i said he is on orchard grass and a sm amount of alfalfa,i have had his hay tested and the calcium is at .29 as fed and 2.6DM, the phosphorus is at .16 as fed and .17DM.The esc is 8.5 and starch is 2.4.magnesium is .20 as fed.Iam not sure what else you would need to help me with picking the rite minerals and vitamins for him , i will feed him all the orchard grass he wants to help him with his cribbing,i dnt know how to get him the calcium,copper and sulfur he needs do you now of a good supplement i can get maybe from the feed stores that has this in it,also a probiotic with magnesium in it,do u know if the brand probio has any with magnesium in it.I listened to your 70 min lecture on line on how to feed a horse and thought it was great,i want to do whats best for my equine family,thank you so much for your time.

Where are you from? calif

Re: epithisitis and cribbing

Dr Getty, i found on my hay analysis that the WSC is 10.5 as fed and 11.5 DM which of these do i go by,also the starch is 2.4 as fed and 2.6 DM.I see that they are both just slightly over 12%,is this ok for me to still free feed?Thanks again.

Where are you from? calif

Re: epithisitis and cribbing

Hi Judy,

Yes, this hay is fine at 12.9% NSC. Your calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium are in the proper proportion. But, more magnesium is needed. I suggest Quiessence -- 1 scoop per 500 lbs of body weight.

A comprehensive vitamin/mineral supplement is worth considering. The one I like best in your situation is Glanzen Complete. This can be fed in addition to Quiessence since Quiessence provides magnesium that is not found in the Glanzen supplement. It is a custom product made by Horsetech, so it won't be in your feedstores, but shipping is free. Horsetech also makes a nice supplement that may be in your feedstore (and soon to be on my website) called High Point.

I'm glad you enjoyed the recorded TeleClass. For folks who are not familiar with this, I have a few live recorded events available for free on my website -- go to www.GettyEquineNutrition.com and click on Listen to Dr. Getty.

All the best,

Dr. Getty
Author of Feed Your Horse Like A Horse

judy
Dr Getty, i found on my hay analysis that the WSC is 10.5 as fed and 11.5 DM which of these do i go by,also the starch is 2.4 as fed and 2.6 DM.I see that they are both just slightly over 12%,is this ok for me to still free feed?Thanks again.

Where are you from? Bayfield, CO