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Discussion on Winter Weight Loss in Older Horse
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Member:
Beckettj
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 2, 2005 - 4:24 pm:
Dr. O:
My 24 year old SWB/TB cross gelding is in great shape - my vet thought he was 12 the first time he saw him - but he seems to always lose weight in the winter due to less turn out and consequently less grass intake. Once spring comes, and the horses are turned out again on good grass, he gains back the weight pretty quickly. The problem is that I'm still working him regularly in dressage through the winter.
Our boarding stable feeds an orchard grass/timothy mix hay that tends to be dry without much color by the end of winter storage. He doesn't finish his hay ration most of the time. He also gets 6 pounds of Equine Senior feed daily. I supplement that with Platinum Performance vitamins, Masters Hoof Blend, Corta-Flex, MSM, and Hylamotion, and he gets a Legend shot once a month. He is wormed every other month, and I have his teeth done every 6 months. Oh, and he also gets a massage once every three weeks along with regular chiropractic and accupuncture. In all other respects besides his weight, he is in excellent health.
I have the opportunity to switch his hay to an alfalfa mix, which I am tempted to do. Is there anything else I can do to put some more weight on him - maybe just 100 pounds - before spring comes? Friends have suggested beet pulp or corn oil, but I haven't tried either of these things before and need some guidance here. Thanks!
Janice
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 3, 2005 - 7:31 am:
Hello Janice,
You could try adding oil but the Equine Senior is already a high fat feed and you may run into a palatability problem. I like the idea of the alfalfa because, beside the extra energy, it provides a wide range of nutrients and usually horses will clean it up. The oil can be done immediately but it will take time to move over to an alfalfa mix: do both and you can always cut back on the oil if he becomes chubby.
DrO
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Member:
Beckettj
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 8, 2005 - 4:08 pm:
Thanks Dr. O. I will try that.
Janice
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New Member:
Golden
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Posted on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 10:44 am:
Is the oil just conola oil from your grocery store?and how much do you give and with what?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 7:26 am:
It could be Lisa, but other oils or fats can be used and the amount depends on your objectives Lisa, for guidance see first the article in the nutritions sections on Overview of Nutrition and then follow it us with the article of Fats and Oils in the Diet.
DrO
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