Return to Website

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
This Forum is Locked
Author
Comment
View Entire Thread
Re: Hay Belly and Contracted Tendons On Yearling

Hi Brittany,

I am delighted to hear that she is doing better! Once horses get the message that there is always something to graze on, they will stop gorging themselves. I've seen many a case of colic simply because horses eat so quickly because they've gone for hours without anything. They are suffering and need to chew.

You have seen the benefits first hand and I am very pleased to hear this good news. About exact amounts to feed, I would recommend that down the road you consider setting up a phone consultation so I can go over everything about your mare in detail.

All the best,

Dr. Getty
Author of Feed Your Horse Like A Horse

Brittany
Hi Dr. Getty,

Just another update. Seems she almost alays has food now and she is no longer gorging her meals. Seems to have done wonders for her as her legs have show such drastic improvement and she is a much happier horse now. It seems that she can even eat some fresh grass as well without having a set back. Yeah. This makes me so happy to see her getting better this quickly. Thank you again for all your help. I will also be starting her on the TC omega max today. Sure hope this helps as well. For a horse with these issues how much omega max would you recommend giving her? She is a very stout shorter filly. She is almost 14hh and weighs around 800lbs. I know it sounds like a lot of weight but you can easily feel her ribs and she does not have any fat pockets. She is just very large structured and lots of muscle. Her dam is around 1300lbs and I beleive the sire is around 1100 to 1200lbs. Thank you for your help.

Where are you from? Waverly, Ohio

Re: Hay Belly and Contracted Tendons On Yearling

Hi Dr. Getty,

We just found out that my filly also has severe physitis in all 4 legs. She is very lame on the front left and her front legs have started to bow out. We have been working with UC Davis and now she needs corrective shoeing as well. Since this happened I am really concerned that it is the tiple crown 30% supplement that is causing all these problems. My filly has grown only 3 inches in the last 6 months and has not had any growth spurt since the end of April. We are all stunned as to why this is happening and the fact that she has been on grass hay. I am ready to try anything at this point. Is there a really good vitamin and mineral supplement I can give her that the calcium and phos ration are correct and also has a good amount of vitamin E as we found out by blood work she is vitmin e deficient? I am afraid that the 30% supplement I have been giving her caused all this as the calcium is a bit higher than the phos. Please let me know if you have any suggestions. She is also on a probiotic and MSM. Both of these supplements she has been on since she was 4 months old. Oh I also have her on OCD pellets and she has been feeling a lot better since we started that supplement. Thank you for any help.

Brittany

Re: Hay Belly and Contracted Tendons On Yearling

Hi Brittany,

I would remove her from the high protein supplement and choose one that has additional vitamin E and no added calcium. She gets plenty of calcium from her forage. Glanzen Complete is a good choice.

You would not need to add more vitamin E beyond this supplement since three scoops contains 2500 IU of vitamin E.

Remove all sources of starch -- so no feeds that contain oats, corn, barley, etc.

Her protein quality may not be adequate so be sure to give her some alfalfa.

These are some recommendations. Please consider setting up a phone visit so I can delve into her situation in more detail.

All the best,

Dr. Getty
Author of Feed Your Horse Like A Horse

Brittany
Hi Dr. Getty,

We just found out that my filly also has severe physitis in all 4 legs. She is very lame on the front left and her front legs have started to bow out. We have been working with UC Davis and now she needs corrective shoeing as well. Since this happened I am really concerned that it is the tiple crown 30% supplement that is causing all these problems. My filly has grown only 3 inches in the last 6 months and has not had any growth spurt since the end of April. We are all stunned as to why this is happening and the fact that she has been on grass hay. I am ready to try anything at this point. Is there a really good vitamin and mineral supplement I can give her that the calcium and phos ration are correct and also has a good amount of vitamin E as we found out by blood work she is vitmin e deficient? I am afraid that the 30% supplement I have been giving her caused all this as the calcium is a bit higher than the phos. Please let me know if you have any suggestions. She is also on a probiotic and MSM. Both of these supplements she has been on since she was 4 months old. Oh I also have her on OCD pellets and she has been feeling a lot better since we started that supplement. Thank you for any help.

Brittany

Where are you from? Waverly, Ohio

Re: Hay Belly and Contracted Tendons On Yearling

Hi Dr.Getty,

Overall that looks like a really good supplement. I will have to look into getting some. I have been wondering about the ration balancer I have been giving her. Thinking too much calcium in it. Right now she is getting approx 4 cups of the triple crown junior feed plus 1 cup of the 30% supplement which I will most likely stop. Is the triple crown junior feed suitable for her plus the supplement you recommend?

Also I have just started giving her some alfalfa hay. How much do you recommend feeding her?

Thank You,
Brittany

Re: Hay Belly and Contracted Tendons On Yearling

Hi Brittany,

I believe you're referring to Triple Crown Growth, since I don't see a "Junior". Yes, you can give the Glanzen Complete with this feed, since you are only feeding a small amount (approximately 1 1/2 lbs).

I would give her approximately 30% of her hay ration as alfalfa. So for every two flakes of grass hay, give her 1 flake of alfalfa.

All the best,

Dr. Getty
Author of Feed Your Horse Like A Horse

Brittany
Hi Dr.Getty,

Overall that looks like a really good supplement. I will have to look into getting some. I have been wondering about the ration balancer I have been giving her. Thinking too much calcium in it. Right now she is getting approx 4 cups of the triple crown junior feed plus 1 cup of the 30% supplement which I will most likely stop. Is the triple crown junior feed suitable for her plus the supplement you recommend?

Also I have just started giving her some alfalfa hay. How much do you recommend feeding her?

Thank You,
Brittany

Where are you from? Waverly, Ohio

Re: Hay Belly and Contracted Tendons On Yearling

Hi Dr. Getty,

It as been a while so I decided to give you an update. My filly is doing so well now that she has been getting alfalfa hay. Everyting has seemed to self correct including her pigeon toes, physitis, her head is becoming normal shaped again, her bowed legs on her front legs are almost normal again, and no more contracted tendons. Yeah. I wanted to thank you so much for all your help in getting her diet corrected. Thank you for all your help. It is greatly appreciated.

Re: Hay Belly and Contracted Tendons On Yearling

Hi Brittany,

Wonderful! I am beyond delighted to hear such great news!

Thank you for doing what is best for her. Keep up the very fine work.

All the best,

Dr. Getty
Author of Feed Your Horse Like A Horse

Brittany
Hi Dr. Getty,

It as been a while so I decided to give you an update. My filly is doing so well now that she has been getting alfalfa hay. Everyting has seemed to self correct including her pigeon toes, physitis, her head is becoming normal shaped again, her bowed legs on her front legs are almost normal again, and no more contracted tendons. Yeah. I wanted to thank you so much for all your help in getting her diet corrected. Thank you for all your help. It is greatly appreciated.

Where are you from? Waverly, Ohio