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Digging and licking dirt!

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Last activity 2015-07-05 4:25 PM
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FLITASTIC
Reg. Jun 2012
Posted 2015-07-05 9:52 AM
Subject: Digging and licking dirt!



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My horses get 24/7 25.00 a bale alfalfa orchard grass hay, vitamin and mineral supplement, safe choice senior feed. They have bloom and shine and look great and are competing well! They BOTH will periodically dig a hole and lick the dirt at the bottom of the hole. They have Redmond salt blocks and fresh clean water at all times. From what i have read it says boredom. Lol some nutritionists say it's normal and to let them do it and not fill the holes in cause dirt is normal part of the diet and filling them in will make them gorge on it ? Anyone else ever deal with this? I just went and started them on psyllium for their one week out of every month. They have also been Getting electrolytes due to heat here.
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classicpotatochip
Reg. Mar 2011
Posted 2015-07-05 9:56 AM
Subject: RE: Digging and licking dirt!



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7 days of 1/2 tube ProBios Equine paste twice a day should fix this.
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Delta Cowgirl
Reg. Apr 2005
Posted 2015-07-05 10:05 AM
Subject: RE: Digging and licking dirt!



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Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo.
Provide loose white salt....
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kwanatha
Reg. Dec 2003
Posted 2015-07-05 10:16 AM
Subject: RE: Digging and licking dirt!


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if probiotics don't work, then you could try equisure at least as a test. It is not something you give forever but 3-4 weeks couldn't hurt. You don't mention how much feed they are getting. i have seen a couple horses do this when they had hind gut ulcers. One horse had done this for years and went to many vets and finally the lady called me and i sent her home with a sample the horse quit immediately.
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Crowned Image
Reg. Jan 2011
Posted 2015-07-05 11:11 AM
Subject: RE: Digging and licking dirt!



I Chore in Chucks


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This is an odd read! I agree with loose salt
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FLITASTIC
Reg. Jun 2012
Posted 2015-07-05 11:18 AM
Subject: RE: Digging and licking dirt!



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Crowned Image - 2015-07-05 9:11 AM

This is an odd read! I agree with loose salt

I do have some forerunner equine probiotic paste. I can try that first!
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FLITASTIC
Reg. Jun 2012
Posted 2015-07-05 11:26 AM
Subject: RE: Digging and licking dirt!



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kwanatha - 2015-07-05 8:16 AM

if probiotics don't work, then you could try equisure at least as a test. It is not something you give forever but 3-4 weeks couldn't hurt. You don't mention how much feed they are getting. i have seen a couple horses do this when they had hind gut ulcers. One horse had done this for years and went to many vets and finally the lady called me and i sent her home with a sample the horse quit immediately.

I just switched over to nutrena senior from ultium. But that shouldn't make a difference I wouldn't think. They kind of did it before this Is not something new.
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classicpotatochip
Reg. Mar 2011
Posted 2015-07-05 11:42 AM
Subject: RE: Digging and licking dirt!



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Mine were doing this when I dropped Ultium. Probiotic paste fixed them right up and helped them get kick started again. They're just looking for bugs, just like why a foal will eat his mom's feces to get his gut going.
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FLITASTIC
Reg. Jun 2012
Posted 2015-07-05 11:47 AM
Subject: RE: Digging and licking dirt!



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kwanatha - 2015-07-05 8:16 AM

if probiotics don't work, then you could try equisure at least as a test. It is not something you give forever but 3-4 weeks couldn't hurt. You don't mention how much feed they are getting. i have seen a couple horses do this when they had hind gut ulcers. One horse had done this for years and went to many vets and finally the lady called me and i sent her home with a sample the horse quit immediately.

Equisure is mostly corn oil. Isn't that a big no no?
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FLITASTIC
Reg. Jun 2012
Posted 2015-07-05 11:49 AM
Subject: RE: Digging and licking dirt!



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classicpotatochip - 2015-07-05 9:42 AM

Mine were doing this when I dropped Ultium. Probiotic paste fixed them right up and helped them get kick started again. They're just looking for bugs, just like why a foal will eat his mom's feces to get his gut going.

Perfect thanks. Does the probios have to be the equine variety ?
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classicpotatochip
Reg. Mar 2011
Posted 2015-07-05 11:52 AM
Subject: RE: Digging and licking dirt!



Owner of a ratting catting machine


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FLITASTIC - 2015-07-05 11:49 AM

classicpotatochip - 2015-07-05 9:42 AM

Mine were doing this when I dropped Ultium. Probiotic paste fixed them right up and helped them get kick started again. They're just looking for bugs, just like why a foal will eat his mom's feces to get his gut going.

Perfect thanks. Does the probios have to be the equine variety ?

I've been in a pinch and used the regular, but I prefer the ProBios Equine Gel, you can get a whole big box from ValleyVet for not much. I-Response by OrthoEquine is my most favorite for one that's coming back from ulcers or something. The Equine Gel had mine off the dirt in just a day.
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FLITASTIC
Reg. Jun 2012
Posted 2015-07-05 12:01 PM
Subject: RE: Digging and licking dirt!



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Got it. I have some forerunner equine specific probiotic paste. It's relatively new so many haven't heard of it but it's awesome stuff.
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kwanatha
Reg. Dec 2003
Posted 2015-07-05 12:12 PM
Subject: RE: Digging and licking dirt!


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FLITASTIC - 2015-07-05 9:47 AM
kwanatha - 2015-07-05 8:16 AM if probiotics don't work, then you could try equisure at least as a test. It is not something you give forever but 3-4 weeks couldn't hurt. You don't mention how much feed they are getting. i have seen a couple horses do this when they had hind gut ulcers. One horse had done this for years and went to many vets and finally the lady called me and i sent her home with a sample the horse quit immediately.
Equisure is mostly corn oil. Isn't that a big no no?

no it is encapsulated sodium bicarb. it will balance out the ph in the hind gut and this will also help keep the proper flora alive. I have found that timothy hay has a more consistant low nsc compared to orchard grass. orchard can be low but sometimes it is quite high depends on how it is put up.
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mcdaniel14
Reg. Jan 2012
Posted 2015-07-05 4:13 PM
Subject: RE: Digging and licking dirt!


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salt or mineral.
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FLITASTIC
Reg. Jun 2012
Posted 2015-07-05 4:25 PM
Subject: RE: Digging and licking dirt!



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kwanatha - 2015-07-05 10:12 AM

FLITASTIC - 2015-07-05 9:47 AM
kwanatha - 2015-07-05 8:16 AM if probiotics don't work, then you could try equisure at least as a test. It is not something you give forever but 3-4 weeks couldn't hurt. You don't mention how much feed they are getting. i have seen a couple horses do this when they had hind gut ulcers. One horse had done this for years and went to many vets and finally the lady called me and i sent her home with a sample the horse quit immediately.
Equisure is mostly corn oil. Isn't that a big no no?

no it is encapsulated sodium bicarb. it will balance out the ph in the hind gut and this will also help keep the proper flora alive. I have found that timothy hay has a more consistant low nsc compared to orchard grass. orchard can be low but sometimes it is quite high depends on how it is put up.

Thanks. Timothy here is 30 plus dollars a bale. I did get one bale once and they wouldn't touch it. Lol. Mine is a 50/50 blend of alfalfa and orchard. I gave them my equine specific probiotic this morning and so far no more digging and licking.
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