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Discussion on Possible ingestion of small rocks
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Member:
vera
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 1, 2009 - 10:49 am:
I have this old concrete trough in my pasture that I put some hay in so it wouldn't blow away in the strong winds we are having today. After a few minutes I noticed that my gelding, Charlie, was nibbling at the bottom of the trough at these little seeds that fall off of the seed heads in the hay. Well, my concern is the small rocks that are at the bottom of this trough. I'm scared that he might have ingested some. I've moved the hay to another location, but I'm still worried to death. I hate myself for not thinking about this before I put the hay in there. Is there anything that I can do?
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 1, 2009 - 11:21 am:
Angela I wouldn't be too concerned, horses are very good at eating around small things...Have you ever fed a supplement or bute in your grain and the little buggers can eat every piece of grain and not TOUCH the bute or supplement .
Yesterday I had the old mare out grazing in the yard and wasn't paying attention, she had her nose right in the grass eating where there was rock spread all over from plowing...once I noticed I marveled at how she could eat that grass and not touch the little rocks.
Hope that eases your mind a bit...from one OCD person.
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Member:
vera
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 1, 2009 - 2:01 pm:
Thanks Diane, I appreciate your words. They definitely calm my OCD Oh yeah, I had my husband go out with the shop vac and suck up all the little rocks. Well at least those that weren't frozen to the bottom. I'm so terrible;)
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 1, 2009 - 7:26 pm:
Though in general I agree with Diane's statement and the history you give is assuring, the first horse I ever sent to surgery was a horse that had consumed 15 lbs of medium small gravel. They had just laid in a new path to the barn through the pasture and this horse felt a need for a lot more mineral in his diet...
DrO
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Member:
vera
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 1, 2009 - 10:03 pm:
So, this all happened over a span of maybe 5 minutes before I moved the hay. Do you think that he could have consumed enough to be concerned about a surgical colic? There were only about a handful of small rocks in the area where the hay was. What should I watch for? Is there something I can do?
It's interesting that you bring up the example of the rocks for the walk way b/c I was just about to purchase about 3 tons of meramac rock (~1/2" diameter) to put around the barn. Should I reconsider?
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 1, 2009 - 10:54 pm:
Angela, there was a notorious barn in my area that put pea gravel where the horses were kept. They ground their feet to bloody stubs, and (I think I have this right) 9 of 15 consumed enough gravel foraging to require surgery (they were put down). For sure it can be hard on their feet if they have to walk across it much.
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Member:
vera
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 1, 2009 - 11:09 pm:
Holy Cow! I'm glad that I asked. How much is enough to consume for surgery? I'm sure that he didn't consume 15 lbs., but what is the minimum? Is a few small rocks accidentally ingested a real concern?
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 1, 2009 - 11:18 pm:
Hi Angela,
My comment was more towards the plan of graveling around the barn. In your shoes, I wouldn't worry about a few small rocks, but DrO will have the more authoritative view.
- elk
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Member:
stek
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Posted on Monday, Mar 2, 2009 - 2:19 pm:
elk were the horses you mention fed on the pea gravel exclusively or was that just from incidental consumption?
How odd .. I have heard pea gravel highly recommended as footing for paddocks as it supposedly helps develop sole calluses and drains so well. I was thinking of adding some to our runs, but it's almost impossible to push a wheelbarrow through.
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Monday, Mar 2, 2009 - 4:02 pm:
Hi Shannon,
I believe their hay fell onto the pea gravel, though DrO's story suggests they could also just have found it crunchy and delicious.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 3, 2009 - 7:48 am:
Angela, I have no idea what the minimum amount of ingested gravel that would cause problems would be. But I do know almost every horse in the world has access to rocks and pebbles everyday and yet manage to not consume an amount that causes illness. So it is likely with your horse.
DrO
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Member:
vera
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 3, 2009 - 12:27 pm:
Oh Thanks DrO.
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