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Discussion on Bananas?
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 11:38 am:
Hello all,
Evidently horses are being fed bananas to help their bellys at World Cup Competitions...
"Bananas were fed to horses from seven countries and were a big part of the diet of the lone horse from the Philippines and Australian dressage horse Crisp, as well as some Russian dressage horses. Bananas are a high energy feed and they also contain high levels of phospholipids that can assist in lining the horse's stomach and preventing acid damage to the stomach that leads to ulcers."
https://www.equinecentre.com.au/health_nutrition_olympics.shtml
Thoughts on this?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 7:28 am:
This was not a wide spread practice but the comment about the phospholipids an interesting thought. I can find no scientific work to support that banana's prevent ulcers in horses however.
DrO
June 05: An addendum to the above. I have found a small body of research on rats that indicate a ulcer protective effect from bananas. The work is a bit conflicting and the effect may be dependent of the specie, may only be in unripe bananas, and might only be seen in extract concentrations far above what might be possible with voluntary consumption. Stay tuned for more.
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Member:
Vickiann
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Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 1:09 pm:
A bad case of choke was the result when someone I know gave her horse a whole banana as a treat one day --peel and all. And it took the Vet quite some time to clear it!
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 2:22 pm:
Thanks Dr. O and Vicki,
I think I'll give it a shot...1/2 of one without the peel and cut up on his oats...if it's given to $$$ competition horses it can't be that bad to try.
And no, I do not know that he has ulcers...just had symptoms. The gastroguard did help him, since given the medication - which he's been off now for about three weeks - he's eating his grain again and seems to be more normal even through the crazy spring storms we've had....AND no more colics!!! Knocking wood furiously... 
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 7:03 am:
Careful, Aileen..."if it's given to $$$ competition horses it can't be that bad to try" is a very expensive way of thinking.
Many million dollar horses have millionaire owners. Many of these owners do not have a clue which end of the horse to feed, yet they force trainers to introduce this or that "miraculous" supplement, based on what was discussed in the VIP seats of the competition grounds.
Also, international competition is very expensive and many times it can't be supported without sponsors. So this or that horse will advertise this or that product. Does this mean that they really use it, or, even if they use it, that it contributed the least bit to the horse's success?
I seriously doubt it.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 8:14 am:
This leads to an interesting observation: the recent spate of G-1 wins in TB racing by relatively unknown trainers, some of them quite young. I have a theory. Science is slowly surplanting superstition and the information is leveling the playing field somewhat. With respect to exercise physiology, nutrition, shoeing, and exercise related diseases, what use to take decades to learn by trial and error is now, slowly, becoming known to all willing to take the time to read. Of course this all has to be complemented with a good eye for horses and maybe...bananas. But I sure can't find the science to support it.
DrO
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 10:26 am:
I hear what you're saying Dr. O and Christos, but there is something just not right with this horse. The vet's aren't listening because he is eating, drinking, having normal bms, and his eyes and coat look great, and the colics have ceased for the time being (again knocking wood furiously), so they said that he most likely does not need additional gastroguard.
His tight belly was back this morning and there is a spring storm coming in today...again. He didn't even want to go out to graze, he stayed in his stall this morning. I did find some very good quality orchard grass hay, but it's hard for me to believe that he'd rather eat this hay than graze fresh grass. SO NOT my horse.
When he gets up now from his naps, he's very, very stiff and sore and has to walk out of it and his belly is always tight for at least a few minutes.
He was fatter than he is now a couple of months ago, otherwise I'd attribute these things to him being overweight.
On another note:
The CBC came back normal in February, so hopefully this isn't his cancer rearing it's ugly head.
Should I have another CBC done or additional blood work? If so, what should I ask for? If not, is there anything else I can do besides wait?
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 4:46 pm:
I fully agree with your theory, DrO.
Plato wrote:
A child who is afraid of darkness should be excused, for the real tragedy in life is men who are afraid of light.
And light, in our days, is practically for free. (Full brightness for $29.94)
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 8:02 pm:
If I understand you correctly, you're saying that perhaps I need to ...oh, I don't know...relax or something
I guess as another wise one on this board once said, I shouldn't overthink things...
I promise I'll try to be more patient and quit worrying if I'm missing something in the health of my horse...and get some therapy
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 11:31 pm:
Get some therapy ... I thought we WERE therapy ... CHEAP therapy.
 DrO
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Monday, May 16, 2005 - 9:10 am:
Yes, Aileen, I think you can relax.
If he got some new yummy hay, it is normal to prefer it over grazing for a few days, especially if the weather is not much fun.
That pasture is not going anywhere, after all.
I also understand he has been through quite an adventure with extended periods of rest, so being a bit stiff should not come as a surprise either.
As he is now ready to slowly return to work his systems will regain full function. A horse's good health is based on movement, remember?
Come on, stop worrying, go smile to him and take him for a walk.
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Member:
Redalert
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Posted on Monday, May 16, 2005 - 9:32 am:
Helllo Aileen
Not to worry you, BUT, my horse has to be kept on a maintenance dose of Gastrogard. He has been treated twice over the past three years for ulcers with Gastrogard, got "well" and when he was stressed again with heavy work or bad weather or worming or etc., he became painful again, and back on the Gastrogard he had to go! He does quite well with this maintenance dose ... SO IF your horse becomes painful again, he may be one of those who needs to stay on Gastrogard. If you have any more problems, ask your vet about this. And maybe DrO will have knowledge about this maintenance thing! I hope all is truly well with your boy ... just wanted to chime in with my personal experiences with a gastric ulcer horse. They can really turn you into a worrier!!!!!!!!
From one worrier to another,
Nancy
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Member:
Redalert
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Posted on Monday, May 16, 2005 - 9:46 am:
P.S. Very interesting, reading the site you provided about what the horses from other countries were eating at the Olympic competition!!!!
Thanks
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Monday, May 16, 2005 - 10:28 am:
LOL Dr. O, yes you are right! The wealth of knowledge on your website, and of course the generous giving of your time every day to help those of us not willing or able to go to vet school, along with the kindness and knowledge of the members here ...this site IS therapy. Thanks for all you do Dr. O!!!
Christos, thank you... yes, I had forgotten about movement, that helps my neurosis tremendously. Patience patience ...
On a good note, he did go out in the rain to graze, until it started to really come down...then he hot footed it back to the barn. *sound, may I add*...He is much more relaxed this morning and the rain was pouring down along with some icky wind.
Hi Nancy,
Thank you..it helps to know I'm not alone , I tried to tell my vet that he might need more gastroguard, but since his symptoms have subsided, aside from his belly getting tight, the vet seems to think it would be a waste of my money. So I was looking for other ways to help his belly. Good luck to you and your boy!!
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Member:
Frances
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Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 10:48 am:
Aileen: don't know about possible therapeutic effects of bananas, but from the safety aspect I can say that I quite often give my horse a ripe banana (WITHOUT peel of course), broken into two or three pieces.
She loves them and has never suffered any ill effects. So...if there's a chance they prevent gastric ulcers as well as being an irresistible treat... why not.
Lynn
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 3:19 pm:
Thanks Lynn, good to know
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