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Regular
Posts: 67
| I have a 8 year old mare, who just recently just kind of started going off her feed. (grain only). I haven't changed a thing. I will add that last year around April she developed ulcers and I treated her for them for 30 days and re-scoped and they were gone. I have maintenanced the hell out of this horse for the ulcers (ulcer supps morning/night, that also reaches the hind gut, with feed, 1/2 doses of omeprazole the day before, day of, and day after a race), I completely changed her feed ration last year, no molasses, her grain is alfalfa based and doesn't contain anything that would upset her stomach, plus beet pulp and rice bran. She gets alfalfa, and Timothy hay.
I started legging her up beginning of January and went to a race and everything was fine. Then about two days before my next race she just stopped eating her grain (keep in mind this horse is a pig and devours her grain normally). But I left it in her feed bucket and it was gone the next morning, gave her grain to her again and she ate most of it but at a slower than normal pace.
She's kept in a stall but also has a 12x16 run attached to it. She's in this from about November until May. (Property sucks, too much water). So it's nothing she isn't used to.
I'm not sure what my next step should be? Blood panel? Rescope for ulcers? I checked the areas on a horse where they would be sensitive if they have ulcers and she was fine (previously when she had them she was not ok with me touching the areas). I just have no idea. She has the same 2 horse neighbors. Absolutely nothing has changed. Same feed, same routine, same everything. And she just stands at the door of her run staring outside. I would love to let her out but I physically can't. The horses would destroy my fields and I like them to have grass come spring/summer. I guess I'm just out of ideas. I don't know what could be wrong, if anything. Or if she's just bored. Any insight would be really helpful. |
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
 
| Please look up the threads on feed contamination and ionophore poisoning. |
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Regular
Posts: 67
| FLITASTIC - 2016-02-08 7:56 AM
Please look up the threads on feed contamination and ionophore poisoning.
Thanks, I just kind of looked it up, I didn't read every single thread but I feel like it doesn't really explain what Ionophore is. Could you explain? I feed 2 of my 3 horses the same exact feed and the other is totally fine. The alfalfa based grain I feed is by LMF feeds. (Popular here in the NW)
I'm not ruling something like that out, but if it was something like that I feel like it would affect both horses equally if they're getting the same hay. Maybe not though :) |
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Regular
Posts: 67
| I meant grain not hay, in my response :-) |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
 
Location: Florida.. | has a dentist been by lately. |
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Expert
Posts: 5290
| GiveYourAll - 2016-02-08 8:12 AM
FLITASTIC - 2016-02-08 7:56 AM
Please look up the threads on feed contamination and ionophore poisoning.
Thanks, I just kind of looked it up, I didn't read every single thread but I feel like it doesn't really explain what Ionophore is. Could you explain? I feed 2 of my 3 horses the same exact feed and the other is totally fine. The alfalfa based grain I feed is by LMF feeds. (Popular here in the NW )
I'm not ruling something like that out, but if it was something like that I feel like it would affect both horses equally if they're getting the same hay. Maybe not though : )
Sure, a lot of commercial feeds are produced in Mills that also produce medicated cattle feeds. These medications are FATAL to horses even in very very small amounts. What happens is a mill will run the cattle feed, then do a supposed clean out process, then run horse feed. In recent years some of this cattle medication has found its way into horse feeds. The symptoms you report are indicative of contamination. What feed were you using? Some manufacturers have " Safe mills" that only produce horse or cattle products or use separate lines. Purina and a few others are SAFE. Nutrena and some others use the same facility as I described above. Sometimes parts of the country where they are produced have safe mills. The Nutrena in TX might be fine, but CA not etc.
I would suggest the horse be switched to a different feed. Whole grains are best in my opinion. Reason being they don't have any artificial vitamins, minerals etc. But anyway, let us know the company you currently use and we can tell you if its safe. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Ionophore is a class of medication mixed into cattle feed. Horses cannot consume ionophore products as it results in death. Some horses can handle trace amounts, and some cannot. This could be why the other two are doing okay and not her.
You would need to call the brand of feed you buy and see if they are ionophore free.
In my experience when my horses start going off of their feed it is either two things or a combination. The beginning of ulcers, most horses will slow eating down or stop all together as they relate the eating their grain with a belly ache. The other is depression. |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | you cant let them out for a hour or so..? she may be depressed.. i still would check teeth.. |
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Regular
Posts: 67
| I feed LMF grain (gentle balance) - and have for about 5 years. Www.lmffeeds.com - maybe I'll call them and see. It's a horse feed only but I guess that might not mean anything.
She's up to date on teeth. My fields are a lake. I live in western WA, we get rain almost 8 months out of the year. Hence why we built runs so they werent stuck inside 24/7. It's not something she isn't used to, like I said. We have to do it every year. Doesn't mean that she isn't depressed but I feel like there's a more underlying problem.
It has crossed my mind that her ulcers could be coming back but i feel like I maintenance well enough they shouldn't. That being said, it doesn't mean I don't think they couldn't come back at all.
Thanks for all the insight.
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | oh ok.. even those its a horse feed doesnt mean they dont make cattle feed and if made in same facility.. there is a long thread on here about it.. |
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Regular
Posts: 67
| I'll look into it a bit more. Thank you :) |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| GiveYourAll - 2016-02-08 10:45 AM
I feed LMF grain (gentle balance) - and have for about 5 years. Www.lmffeeds.com - maybe I'll call them and see. It's a horse feed only but I guess that might not mean anything.
She's up to date on teeth. My fields are a lake. I live in western WA, we get rain almost 8 months out of the year. Hence why we built runs so they werent stuck inside 24/7. It's not something she isn't used to, like I said. We have to do it every year. Doesn't mean that she isn't depressed but I feel like there's a more underlying problem.
It has crossed my mind that her ulcers could be coming back but i feel like I maintenance well enough they shouldn't. That being said, it doesn't mean I don't think they couldn't come back at all.
Thanks for all the insight.
The products you use, may not be working for her, or quit working for her.
Also the products could be causing vitamin and mineral deficiencies as omeprazole should not be given long term. Even natural herbs have side effects.
For ulcers, I try to reduce the issues, and only medicate as needed. |
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Regular
Posts: 67
| cheryl makofka - 2016-02-08 9:30 AM
GiveYourAll - 2016-02-08 10:45 AM
I feed LMF grain (gentle balance) - and have for about 5 years. Www.lmffeeds.com - maybe I'll call them and see. It's a horse feed only but I guess that might not mean anything.
She's up to date on teeth. My fields are a lake. I live in western WA, we get rain almost 8 months out of the year. Hence why we built runs so they werent stuck inside 24/7. It's not something she isn't used to, like I said. We have to do it every year. Doesn't mean that she isn't depressed but I feel like there's a more underlying problem.
It has crossed my mind that her ulcers could be coming back but i feel like I maintenance well enough they shouldn't. That being said, it doesn't mean I don't think they couldn't come back at all.
Thanks for all the insight.
The products you use, may not be working for her, or quit working for her.
Also the products could be causing vitamin and mineral deficiencies as omeprazole should not be given long term. Even natural herbs have side effects.
For ulcers, I try to reduce the issues, and only medicate as needed.
she does not get omeprazole every day, only "as needed". Her last race was in November aside from two weekends ago - so she had a 2 month break from receiving any omeprazole. She continued on gut health Xtra which is an aloe based ulcer supplement that also gets into the hind gut.
Like I said I treated and cured the ulcers almost a full year ago. She doesn't look bad, like she's developing them again. She has a shiny coat, healthy feet, a great weight.
What is a recommended feed/supplement that you use for your ulcer prone horses?
She gets quite a bit of food (grain & hay) to keep up with her metabolism. She's a big 15.3h athletic built horse. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2258
| GiveYourAll - 2016-02-08 10:45 AM
I feed LMF grain (gentle balance) - and have for about 5 years. Www.lmffeeds.com - maybe I'll call them and see. It's a horse feed only but I guess that might not mean anything.
She's up to date on teeth. My fields are a lake. I live in western WA, we get rain almost 8 months out of the year. Hence why we built runs so they werent stuck inside 24/7. It's not something she isn't used to, like I said. We have to do it every year. Doesn't mean that she isn't depressed but I feel like there's a more underlying problem.
It has crossed my mind that her ulcers could be coming back but i feel like I maintenance well enough they shouldn't. That being said, it doesn't mean I don't think they couldn't come back at all.
Thanks for all the insight.
I was told LMF is a clean mill . They do not process any medicated feeds. I switched to it again after having an issue with TC.
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Regular
Posts: 67
| cutnrunqhmt - 2016-02-08 11:51 AM
GiveYourAll - 2016-02-08 10:45 AM
I feed LMF grain (gentle balance) - and have for about 5 years. Www.lmffeeds.com - maybe I'll call them and see. It's a horse feed only but I guess that might not mean anything.
She's up to date on teeth. My fields are a lake. I live in western WA, we get rain almost 8 months out of the year. Hence why we built runs so they werent stuck inside 24/7. It's not something she isn't used to, like I said. We have to do it every year. Doesn't mean that she isn't depressed but I feel like there's a more underlying problem.
It has crossed my mind that her ulcers could be coming back but i feel like I maintenance well enough they shouldn't. That being said, it doesn't mean I don't think they couldn't come back at all.
Thanks for all the insight.
I was told LMF is a clean mill . They do not process any medicated feeds. I switched to it again after having an issue with TC.
Good to know, thank you! |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Take her off grain, alfalfa and a concentrated product like Progressive or Renew Gold-with both you only feed 1cup am and pm. They don't need grain to get their nutrition and calories. |
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Regular
Posts: 67
| rodeomom3 - 2016-02-08 11:56 AM
Take her off grain, alfalfa and a concentrated product like Progressive or Renew Gold-with both you only feed 1cup am and pm. They don't need grain to get their nutrition and calories.
Thanks I'll look into it. Just to clarify, take her off grain and alfalfa or just the grain and feed alfalfa and a concentrated feed? Thanks :) |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | GiveYourAll - 2016-02-08 1:02 PM rodeomom3 - 2016-02-08 11:56 AM Take her off grain, alfalfa and a concentrated product like Progressive or Renew Gold-with both you only feed 1cup am and pm. They don't need grain to get their nutrition and calories. Thanks I'll look into it. Just to clarify, take her off grain and alfalfa or just the grain and feed alfalfa and a concentrated feed? Thanks : )
alfalfa can be good for ulcers I thought. Something about the calcium content. |
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Regular
Posts: 67
| wyoming barrel racer - 2016-02-08 12:06 PM
GiveYourAll - 2016-02-08 1:02 PM rodeomom3 - 2016-02-08 11:56 AM Take her off grain, alfalfa and a concentrated product like Progressive or Renew Gold-with both you only feed 1cup am and pm. They don't need grain to get their nutrition and calories. Thanks I'll look into it. Just to clarify, take her off grain and alfalfa or just the grain and feed alfalfa and a concentrated feed? Thanks : )
That's also what I heard which is why I've been feeding it |
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boon
Posts: 3
| How do you treat for depression? My mare also is prone to ulcers. I treated her in December and again in January. I don't think January was necessary as she was rated a 1 at the time of her scope but the vet said depending on how sensitive she is the 1 can still bother her. She got a little better with her feed after the 2nd treatment but has since resorted back to slow eating, sometimes eating everything and sometimes not. We're going back to the vet tomorrow for teeth but I don't think its that. I think its depression. So I was wondering how you deal with it? |
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