Why Hay Alone Doesn't Provide Sufficient Horse Nutrition.
Laminitis occurs most frequently when a horse's digestive tract experiences a carbohydrate overload, which means a sudden or excessive increase in grain, high sugar grass or other high sugar/starch content horse feeds. This leads to a rapid change in bacteria levels, affecting the horse's PH and allowing toxins to be released into the horse's blood, where they can dramatically interfere with hoof circulation. Given the significant detriment to horse health that laminitis can create, while it may be treatable, laminitis is best dealt with through rigorous prevention.
Now, while the majority of laminitis is caused by improper horse nutrition, there are other causes. Barbaro, the celebrated 2006 Kentucky Derby winner who shattered his leg at the Preakness, fell ill to laminitis brought on by both the severity of his injuries, and his subsequent attempts to shift much of his weight onto his front legs. An extended period of lameness in one leg almost always guarantees laminitis. This is because horses are designed to spend most of their time standing, ready to run from potential predators. Because they simply can't lie down for extended periods of time, they end up throwing too much of their great weight onto their remaining healthy legs. Since their front legs already bear the brunt of supporting more of their weight than the back legs, the additional stress tends to lead to a inflammation of the laminae in the hoof, which is known as laminitis. When a horse has extreme laminitis, we say that the horse has founder. By minimizing equine feed problems, you can decrease the likely-hood that your horse will ever be plagued with this issue.
First, avoid excessive feeding or pasturing on rich grasses. This means the high sugar grasses (grasses with high soluble carbohydrates) that grow in the Spring and Autumn. Make sure your horses cannot access feed bins or tack rooms where grains, specialty feeds and horse treats are stored, under absolutely any circumstances.
Given the opportunity, there are very few horses that won't stuff themselves on tasty, sweet feeds. And, it takes only one episode of a horse finding its way into the grain room for disaster to strike. Also, big on the list of things to regulate, is your horse's water. Never let your horse's water get too hot or too cold. Horses will avoid extreme temperatures for as long as possible and then, compelled by extreme thirst; suddenly gulp down gallons of excessively hot or cold water. Both equine colic and laminitis can be caused by this, so, eliminating the risk should be top priority. With horse weight, the line between looking good and being a butterball can be pretty fine. But, in the war on laminitis, it's important that your horse never become obese. Should your horse start looking chubby, consult with your veterinarian about the best combination of horse supplements, horse grain and hay to get your horse's weight down. Create a plan based on the horse products your vet recommends and stay on-track. Diarrhea in horses, metritis (a condition where the uterine lining becomes inflamed,) and peritonitis (where the thin tissue lining the abdominal walls becomes irritated or inflamed,) can stimulate the release of toxins into a horse's bloodstream, setting the stage for laminitis. Get your vet on the phone ASAP should any of these conditions, surface. Cart & driving horses are especially susceptible to laminitis brought on by excessive surface shock. If you have to take your horse on hard trails or pavement, don't go faster than the walk and discuss specialty pads with your shoer. And, never let your horse's feet grow overly long. Long hooves can trigger laminitis, due to the increased angle and pressure. Last, but not least, stress can be a precursor to equine laminitis. Never tolerate a barn where the grooms or trainers are unkind or unnecessarily macho with your horse. Horses are sensitive beings. If you have your horse hauled, you may want to do a special review of your hauler's trailer. Is the floor cushioned? How much racket does the trailer make when you jump up and down, inside? (Make sure there are no horses around, or on-board, when you do this.) This is what your horses are hearing as they're being hauled. Check out other trailer manufacturers and see if there are brands better cushioned and reinforced to keep travel noise at a minimum. Horses can suffer tremendous stress when trailers are improperly cushioned or reinforced against noise. Painkillers and equine ulcer suppression medicines can dramatically impair a horse's production of digestion enzymes, potentially triggering weaker guts and elevated blood toxin levels. This can trigger decreased blood flow, setting the stage for a potential bout of laminitis. Understanding How Equine Nutrition And Laminitis Affect One Another.
Ever wondered why some people seem to starve their horses that are suffering from laminitis? It's a common misconception that this is the proper way to handle the problem. However, not only isn't this right, but it can actually make the problem worse. Understanding how to feed for horses once they've been diagnosed with serious hoof issues isn't that complicated, but, you'll have to faithfully monitor the levels of high forage feeds, vitamins and minerals your horse gets. Calcium levels can be stabilized by adding Alfalfa Hay or Straw Chaff to the mix. Bottom line, all horses should be kept on low carbohydrate, high-fiber diets, enhanced with equine supplements. Most older horses should probably be fed senior horse feeds. To best determine the nutritional supplements necessary for your horse's specific needs, be sure to consult with your vet. He'll tell you that feeding horses for the best results doesn't necessarily come down to what sounds the best. Ask your vet about every horse product you're considering, right down to the horse treats and supplements for horses you're considering. |