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Discussion on No Gall Bladder, No Benefit from Fat
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Member:
Louwhite
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Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 4:50 pm:
Hi Dr. O,
I feed my skinny arab Cocosoy from Uckele. However, I have had two people in the last week inform me that because horses don't have gall bladders, feeding them oils is pointless and, in fact, may be detrimental as it could take out other important nutrients with it.
Would love your opinion on this.
Thanks,
Lou
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 5:15 pm:
Lou, until DrO responds, my answer to these two people is   
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 6:28 pm:
Sarah, I was told this, also, by a woman who came to my barn . . . but I have clearly seen the benefit in some of the horses for whom I've cared. I, too, am interested in hearing the doctor's response to this charge.
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 7:30 pm:
Sarah, you might want to consider his age, and what his basic diet is. (Enough or not  ).
I would have no objections to feeding a horse oil in his diet. Some horses that have muscle disorders (EPSM) depend on the addition of oil to their diets for their quality of life. It might not be a bad thing to add to a dry and skanty diet, but do it slowly.
Hope this helps.
Susan B.
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Member:
Louwhite
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Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 7:48 pm:
Hi Susan,
I already feed Cocosoy (coconut and soya oil)...just wanted Dr. O's opinion about the gall bladder thing.
Cheers.
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 9:26 pm:
Hi Sarah,
Got it now, and I understand   . The answer will be interesting.
Susan B.
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 9:59 pm:
I think I know what the good dr. will say! Have you read all the articles on feeding fats to horses?
btw-I don't have a gallbladder either, but still eat fats/oils in my diet (sm. amounts) and have no problem digesting them, so assume I reap their benefits, as would a horse, imo.
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Member:
Mboyd
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 12:24 am:
I have a draft cross that has EPSM. Adding two cups of corn oil per day not only saved his life but also turned him into a totally different horse. He is more alert and active and much more forward under saddle. If you want the expert's advice on this issue, go to RuralHeritage.com and see what Dr. BethValentine has to say.
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 3:03 am:
Many a competitor would have never made it without oil in the diet, especially in endurance.
Oils are clean energy (too clean, unfortunately, as they usually contain nothing else but calories). As far as I know they produce less lactic acid and less heat than all other feeds.
A disadvantage is that they do not serve as a water reservoir in the horse's gut like hay does.
They're far from pointless and if the horse's other nutritional demands are met, far from detrimental.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 7:21 am:
As already stated, the idea that you cannot feed oil (fats) because horses don't have gall bladders is horse poo-poo. Bile, the secretion made by the liver and stored in gall bladders by other species, is secreted somewhat continuously in horses. Besides other functions it helps digest fats and oils by emulsifying them.
It is an observed and measured fact that that horses digest and absorb fats efficiently. It is true that oils do not have other important nutrients so should be considered a form of supplemental energy after other essential nutreints have bee met. For more on all this see the article on Fats in the Horses Diet.
DrO
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Member:
Paul303
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Posted on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 1:28 am:
And may I add that Cocosoya has changed my life? No longer must I endure the "Clash of the Titans" at meal/supplement/medication time. Old miss "finicky", "I-don't-even-SMELL-contaminated-food", who has Cushings, Navicular, arthritis and old age, thinks that Cocasoya is THE "Nectar of the Gods" and will eat ANYTHING doused with it. Yep, I'd have to put it right at the forefront of modern medical miracles, since without it, I couldn't get the miracle medications WITHIN her.
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