Weight gain for pony at risk of laminitis?? - any ideas welcome!!?

Question

I'm looking for advice from those who have had laminitic ponies in the past. I've got a shetland pony who although its never been confirmed we think he may be at risk of laminitis. I've taken all the precautions and he's out with a Best Friends muzzle on, however as this is limiting his grass intake he is dropping weight.

I've had him on Dengie Alfa oil, with Spillers Happy Hoof and Speedi-beet with an MSN supplement and NAF pink powder to try and help but have noticed again that he has dropped weight. I do usually keep him light, able to see ribs etc, but he's totally lost his top line and looks poor to the point where i'd say he's actually skinny.

Has anyone got any good suggestions of any feeds (in the UK) that may help with maintaining his weight?

I thought about Blue Chip as my other horse did very well with this last year, however i'm just concerned about how the calories are provided.

Most lami feeds are low calorie and so arent any good.

Anyone got any suggestions?

Answer 1

i heard hay was good ad they can eat lots and not get lamanitus

check with your vet first but you could also look at http://www.laminitis.org/

and for those that don't know The actual word laminitis means 'inflammation (itis) of the sensitive laminae (lamin)'. These laminae are the membranes that hold the bone of the foot (pedal bone) in place inside the foot. The laminae bond the hoof wall to the pedal bone, which supports the entire weight of the horse or pony

Answer 2

my horse is on a conditioning feed (she's a TB, and not laminitic) and when i was looking for one suitable for her i noticed alot of them were ok for laminitics and approved by the laminitis trust or whatever

so i'd recommend one of those with any supplements/chaff/hay/medication/oil you want to give him.

mine's on allen & page calm and condition, which works really well, with a bit of chaff and some oil cos she was really skinny when i got her. once they build up you can cut back on the conditioning feeds and give them just a little bit to maintain them. (: hope i helped

Answer 3

Assuming that you have had him checked by a vet to make sure there is no underlaying cause for this weight drop, I recommend putting your pony on a controlled starch diet including a feed such as "safehorse", which has limited carbohydrates, solid protein amounts, and high fiber, as well as orchard or another quality grass hay. If he is prone to laminitis, you need to watch his refined sugar intake as well as carbohydrate intake. Avoid anything with molassas and alfalfa, both very high in carbs.

Keep his diet very simple. Don't oversupplement or overfeed. If you have Spillers feed then you should have a distributor that carries their "cool calorie" feeds, also low in starch and high in calories. Check out your local feed stores and ask what type of controlled starch formulas that they carry.

HappyHoof really isn't the best choice. It is expensive and still contains a few un needed ingredients.

Good luck with your pony! He's lucky to have an owner that cares so much. =)

Edited to add:

http://www.mannapro.com/safe_perf.html

An example of the nutrition data you want to look for in your feeds for laminitic horses.

Answer 4

Your comments don't make sense.  You've never had a diagnosis for laminitis.  He's never exhibited signs of laminitis.  Why do you "think" he may be at risk?  He either has it or he doesn't.  There is no maybe, and it sounds like your "precautions" are putting your pony's life at risk.  Why do these things if he is not ill?  It doesn't make sense and you are hurting him from what you describe.  ALL horses will have some "rings" on their feet at times because horses do not have perfect lives.  The rings may be very suttle or more obvious, but you do not elaborate on your pony's situation.  You are giving him a lot of chemical junk for no real reason, out of some misguided fear-based worry that you have.  Laminitis is an obvious and painful condition. If your pony had a problem, you would know it.  Put him on normal feed, hay and turn out and stop all the changing and restrictions.  From what you say, your restrictions are not grounded and you are doing harm to your pony.  And forget asking him to work.  You didn't mention his age, but you "think" he is laminitic and you lunge him?????  Again, doesn't make sense.  Take the muzzle off.  Let him eat normally.  You never said he was ever overweight.  If he maintains on grass and hay, don't give him any grain at all.  Usually, most ponies are easy keepers and do not need grains.  As long as he is not showing symptoms, feed him and leave him alone.  That's about the best advice for what you describe.  It doesn't sound like what you are doing is working at all.  Help your pony.

Answer 5

I have a Thoroughbred mare that's hard to keep in shape - even though she's a broodmare and pasture pony I prefer her to be of optimum weight and condition.

I have had good luck with the following:

Purina Senior - is a highly digestible, very palatable feed - I replaced half her regular feed (Strategy) with Senior.  This helped a little but still wasn't doing it - I tried Corn Oil, Weight addition supplements - all sorts of things to get her to pick up wieght without success.  The my horse dentist suggested Kent feed's Omegatin.

Although this stuff's not cheap, it did wonders!  I have fed it as a top dress - one cup each feeding morning and night in addition to the feed she normally would get.  She's picked up weight, has a healthy coat and a much improved disposition.

The Omegatin runs about $25 for a 35# bag - but feeding a cup per feeding makes it last quite a while.  YOu may find that you can reduce your pony's regular feed intake with this stuff - it is formulated to be low starch and an all around good supplement that's healthy.  I'm sure Kent has some information on it on their website.

Also - if you are more interested in an oil supplement there's an oil called Cocsoya oil - it's made by Uckele and I have been told it's help maintain a good weight.  I buy it in 5 gallon jugs for about $50 - that jug last me 3 large horses for a few months.  It can also be purchased by a gallon for around $20.

good luck!

Answer 6

Our founder pony went on a diet of oats and plain timothy hay. We also gave him a Vit E and Selenium supplement to help his hooves. I would let him eat a little more hay if he is dropping weight, but make sure it a lighter hay (like timothy).

There are also "mare in foal" feeds that have something called Lysine in them, great for breaking down proteins, which is a big concern for laminitic ponies. Maybe try a handful of that once or twice a day? I don't know what they have in the UK, but in the states we used one called "Mare and Maintenance" by  Purina.

Answer 7

Hi, my husband and I took on 2 Laminitic Shetlands a few years ago. Hubby is a farrier who specialises with Laminitis, so was a learning curve for the apprentices as well as getting these guys fit and well again!

I had always used Spillers Happy hoof in the past, but in the part of Scotland that we were in it was nearly impossible to get hold of! I started them on a fabulous product called Ready mash. It was designed with good-doers in mind. My ponies maintained their top line, and came through their experience very well on it! I think it also had a alot to do with the fact that we had 2 of them, and when they were feeling better on their feet, they would canter around together and play! We also strip grazed them. If you need a number of the supplier I used, or more info about it, let me know, and I will put you intouch with the supplier there. He'll know where your local supply will be, and I cannot remember what the company name was! However, our supplier was a customer and really nice and will be happy to tell you more, I am sure.

Good luck.

Answer 8

If he is down in weight, why do you think he is at risk for laminitis?

It doesn't sound like he has symptoms of metabolic syndrome, which is associated with the risk for laminitis.  His condition sounds like either worm infestation, dietary mismanagement, need for dental work, other?  He doesn't need the grazing muzzle, does he?  If his teeth have been floated, he is on a regular deworming program, and he doesn't have metabolic syndrome, then he needs more to eat.  Grass is fine for him to eat with supplemental minerals if needed.  If he is still down in weight, the vet should evaluate him.

EDIT....I use a Best Friends muzzle on one of mine, so I'm familiar with it.  Now that you have explained more, I see why you are using the muzzle...at first, it sounded as if you were worried about laminitis without any real basis.

I have both an easy keeper and a hard keeper.  I feed Purina Senior to the hard keeper...it is easy to digest, and since he's been on it, his tendency to colic is a thing of the past. Anyway, they use more of what is fed because it is easy to digest.  I highly recommend it, as does my vet.  It is a complete feed, so you don't have to feed anything else...mine gets pasture and hay, though.