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  Discussion on Tried Beet Pulp
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Member:
theresab

Posted on Sunday, Sep 4, 2011 - 10:19 pm:

I tried Beet Pulp as a hay extender the past three days. And it seems to work for 2 out of the 3 horses just fine. I tried soaking it the first two days and the older mare refused to eat it. I tried it straight tonight and sure enough she choked. It took about 40 minutes to get it to pass. I called the vet after 20 minutes but since a Sunday night, I had to leave a message. Then about 20 minutes after that she seemed to be fine. We keep checking on her and she seems to be her old self. Lesson learned, no beet pulp for her.

Dr. O, the older mare is has Laryngeal Hemiplegia, does that make her more prone to choke than the other two?
Member:
babychop

Posted on Sunday, Sep 4, 2011 - 11:51 pm:

From what I understand you have to soak it before you feed it as it expands with moisture. Sorry to hear about your bad luck. Hope your mare is okay.
Here's a true story about the properties of beet pulp that should both entertain and educate you:

https://www.shady-acres.com/susan/squirrel.shtml
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 6, 2011 - 11:03 am:

Hello TheresB,
I am uncertain how PH might increase the incidence of choke (esophageal obstruction) but it certainly increases the incidence of tracheal obstruction or what we would call choke in a human. Consider some of the complete feeds for your horse. They are often largely beet pulp but processed.

Andrea, it has not been our experience with dozens of horses that unsoaked beet pulp is a problem with horses. Some horses are prone to choke with some foods. There is not anything I have not seen a horse choke on including fresh grass when presented with it precut. How big a bite taken and how well the the horse masticates the substance seem to be the main controllers. Gluttons, horses with poor dentition, or horses with esophageal abnormalities are particularly prone.
DrO
Member:
theresab

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 6, 2011 - 1:20 pm:

Thanks for the info. I'll try switching her to a complete feed and keep the other two on the beet pulp mixture. If hay wasn't so blasted expensive right not I wouldn't worry about it ($25 for 100 pound bale of grass hay).

I'm not sure what kind of obstruction she had. She was DrOoling alot, head down, and every once in awhile she would contract her head towards her feet with her nose on the ground. At some point she went down in the pasture but we got her back up and massaged her throat a bit which seemed to help. She takes big bites so I think that was the problem. Scariest 40 minutes for me in recent memory.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Sep 8, 2011 - 7:40 am:

That sounds like a esophageal obstruction.
DrO
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