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Issues with horses choking on pellets. Purina enrich

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Last activity 2021-03-10 4:29 PM
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FirstFirewater
Reg. Nov 2011
Posted 2021-03-09 10:31 AM
Subject: Issues with horses choking on pellets. Purina enrich



Crazy Doggy Mommy


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Location: Where Governor's make the liscense plates

We've had two horses choke on purina enrich from our lesson program in the last six months since feeding it. Had horses my entire life and never had choking issues until this hard pelleted feed. 
Our horses get beautiful alfalfa and grass hay they just need a top line ration balance feed for extra minerals and fat due to their work load. Has anyone else dealt with this? We've always given senior feed but the amount vs. cost is hard to swallow with 20 horses. Wondering if anyone else has had good luck with another ration balance feed without choking issues. 

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okkritter
Reg. Feb 2004
Posted 2021-03-09 11:47 AM
Subject: RE: Issues with horses choking on pellets. Purina enrich



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Not familiar with the Purina enrich and I've never had trouble with a horse feeding regular pellets.  But several years ago I had two senior horses so bought some Purina Senior feed.  It was the kind that was moist.  You could squish it and it would hold together.   Never had a horse choke on anything but the two horses that I was feeding the Purina Senior to both choked on it.   Was terrible to watch.   They ended up being ok.  First time I wasn't sure if it was just the feed itself but a couple days later it happened to another horse on the same feed.   Then I felt very sure it was the feed.    Year later had an equine dentist work on some horse and told him about the choking experience.   He stated it was the moist Purina Senior feed as others had had the same experience.   This is just my opinion and experience with this particular Purina senior feed.   I currently have one horse on Purina Omolene 200 and she loves it and is doing great.   Have fed other Purina products and never had any complaints or problems with them.

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cindyt
Reg. Dec 2003
Posted 2021-03-09 12:14 PM
Subject: RE: Issues with horses choking on pellets. Purina enrich



Ms Bling Bling Sleeze Kitty


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Ive never fed purina enrich but if the pellet is hard, might ad water if you are liking the results... I absolutely will not feed a cube with out soaking it first as I had one choke and as stated above, it's horrible to watch... helpless as all get out... Mine ended up ok too but it was aweful and I just won't feed them (and I do currently feed cubes) but I won't unless they are soaked... if you notice how much they swell up in water, I just air on the side of caution... 

Sorry you have had to deal with this!  it truely sucks!

 

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want2chase3
Reg. May 2009
Posted 2021-03-09 12:59 PM
Subject: RE: Issues with horses choking on pellets. Purina enrich



Warrior Mom


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In my experience,  once they choke, it's highly likely that they will do it again.  I have a choke prone horse..I have to be very careful of the texture I chose for him. He choked twice on purina ultium gastric care, choked on Triple Crown sr too. I feed him in a large old water trough so he has to chase the feed around with his head low to the ground to produce the saliva .. he seems to be ok with regular pelleted feed though. I have his teeth checked twice a year as well. He choked really bad about 3 years ago on alfalfa pellets... he required to be tubed and then got pneumonia from the tubing and had to be on antibiotics. He has this weird breathing sound now when he eats.. its awful. I hate choke .. its extremely helpess feeling when you see it. I prefer NOT to chose a feed that requires soaking because if someone else has to feed the horse and they don't do it right, that can go very badly too. (I speak from experience on that too) so far he seems ok on just plain pelleted feed ... so maybe the enrich isn't enough for these horses? What do they get, like 1lb per feeding or .5lb? Maybe they bolt the feed because there's so little? I never had much luck with ration balancers personally so that's just my opinion.  Good luck! Hope you can find something that will work

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FirstFirewater
Reg. Nov 2011
Posted 2021-03-09 1:01 PM
Subject: RE: Issues with horses choking on pellets. Purina enrich



Crazy Doggy Mommy


Posts: 1419
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Location: Where Governor's make the liscense plates

We used to feed butte a senior without any issues. But a purina dealer came out and said this is all your horses need the 1lb scoop of hard pellets and they do look just as good on it. But watching that mare choke was so dang scary. I was rubbing her neck calling the vet and friends for help. Had to tube her to push the food down. 

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FirstFirewater
Reg. Nov 2011
Posted 2021-03-09 1:06 PM
Subject: RE: Issues with horses choking on pellets. Purina enrich



Crazy Doggy Mommy


Posts: 1419
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Location: Where Governor's make the liscense plates

Yes they only get a 1lb scoop compared to 2-3lbs of senior feed. I know some of the hard keepers still get the senior feed though. It just seemed like an economically "GOOD" choice. But after watching her struggle and be in so much pain trying to swallow I don't ever want to see that again. We had to tube her and the vet just advised banamine for the next few days. He didn't mention the possibility of pneumonia. She just had her teeth done. Sounds like back to Safe senior feed... 

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L.Grace
Reg. Aug 2019
Posted 2021-03-09 2:14 PM
Subject: RE: Issues with horses choking on pellets. Purina enrich


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I'v been feeding Enrich to my horses for 5-8 years and have never had this issue. I have a 20 year old and a 3 year old that I feed it to. 1lb a day and they look amazing! 

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Delta Cowgirl
Reg. Apr 2005
Posted 2021-03-09 4:49 PM
Subject: RE: Issues with horses choking on pellets. Purina enrich



The Vaccinator


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My 18 year-old mare who is an extremely easy-keeper is on Purina Enrich. It's been great; however, she began having choke issues. She only gets a 1/2 pound morning and evening -- she would totally gulp it down.  I began mixing the feed with a bit of water and that helped. It stopped her choke issue but she hated it.  Would leave a bit of it.  THEN.... I discovered this ground feeder.  I feed her dry again and she has had NO choke issues since she began using this feeder.  It slows her way down.  She creates lots of salavia licking the feed from the holes.  I highly recommend this feeder.  I was amazed it completely ended her choking issues. She has been eating from it for over three months. 

About ten years ago I lost a senior gelding to choke, so I was hyper-anxious when my old mare choked.  I bought a second of these feeders and use it for my 8 YO gelding -- he has never choked and eats Strategy, but it is always better for horses to eat from ground level and I figured why not just feed him 'right', too. 

Grad-Dual Feeder (smartpakequine.com)

p.s. I showed this feeder to my veterinarian last week -- did a demo with my mare eating. He loved the feeder -- the fact it slowed her down and that she was salavating so much!  He said he was going to recommend the feeder to a couple of his other clients.

 



Edited by Delta Cowgirl 2021-03-09 5:25 PM
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dakota88
Reg. Jun 2006
Posted 2021-03-10 3:13 PM
Subject: RE: Issues with horses choking on pellets. Purina enrich



Expert


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My in-laws had several that would choke on pellets.  One required surgery, I won't feed pellets at all. 

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CanCan
Reg. May 2004
Posted 2021-03-10 3:18 PM
Subject: RE: Issues with horses choking on pellets. Purina enrich


Military family

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I've only had an issue with choke and beer pulp. Even soaked, it causes problems.

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Silly Filly
Reg. Feb 2004
Posted 2021-03-10 4:11 PM
Subject: RE: Issues with horses choking on pellets. Purina enrich


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Delta Cowgirl - 2021-03-09 3:49 PM


My 18 year-old mare who is an extremely easy-keeper is on Purina Enrich. It's been great; however, she began having choke issues. She only gets a 1/2 pound morning and evening -- she would totally gulp it down.  I began mixing the feed with a bit of water and that helped. It stopped her choke issue but she hated it.  Would leave a bit of it.  THEN.... I discovered this ground feeder.  I feed her dry again and she has had NO choke issues since she began using this feeder.  It slows her way down.  She creates lots of salavia licking the feed from the holes.  I highly recommend this feeder.  I was amazed it completely ended her choking issues. She has been eating from it for over three months. 


About ten years ago I lost a senior gelding to choke, so I was hyper-anxious when my old mare choked.  I bought a second of these feeders and use it for my 8 YO gelding -- he has never choked and eats Strategy, but it is always better for horses to eat from ground level and I figured why not just feed him 'right', too. 


Grad-Dual Feeder (smartpakequine.com)


p.s. I showed this feeder to my veterinarian last week -- did a demo with my mare eating. He loved the feeder -- the fact it slowed her down and that she was salavating so much!  He said he was going to recommend the feeder to a couple of his other clients.


 


I could see my horses flipping this over and just dumping their feed.  They are obnoxious.

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Delta Cowgirl
Reg. Apr 2005
Posted 2021-03-10 4:29 PM
Subject: RE: Issues with horses choking on pellets. Purina enrich



The Vaccinator


Posts: 3810
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Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo.

Silly Filly - 2021-03-10 4:11 PM

Delta Cowgirl - 2021-03-09 3:49 PM

My 18 year-old mare who is an extremely easy-keeper is on Purina Enrich. It's been great; however, she began having choke issues. She only gets a 1/2 pound morning and evening -- she would totally gulp it down.  I began mixing the feed with a bit of water and that helped. It stopped her choke issue but she hated it.  Would leave a bit of it.  THEN.... I discovered this ground feeder.  I feed her dry again and she has had NO choke issues since she began using this feeder.  It slows her way down.  She creates lots of salavia licking the feed from the holes.  I highly recommend this feeder.  I was amazed it completely ended her choking issues. She has been eating from it for over three months. 

About ten years ago I lost a senior gelding to choke, so I was hyper-anxious when my old mare choked.  I bought a second of these feeders and use it for my 8 YO gelding -- he has never choked and eats Strategy, but it is always better for horses to eat from ground level and I figured why not just feed him 'right', too. 

Grad-Dual Feeder (smartpakequine.com)

p.s. I showed this feeder to my veterinarian last week -- did a demo with my mare eating. He loved the feeder -- the fact it slowed her down and that she was salavating so much!  He said he was going to recommend the feeder to a couple of his other clients.

 

I could see my horses flipping this over and just dumping their feed.  They are obnoxious.

My mare did paw it and drag it around quite a bit the first week or so. She was quite rough on, but it never flipped. She was not happy about it. She even started pinning her ears at it....   I fed her on mats and told her to 'buck up Buttercup!'.  Since that awful tantrum week she has left it alone.  It sits peachfully in a corner of her stall. 



Edited by Delta Cowgirl 2021-03-10 4:30 PM
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