Dear AN,

What an interesting thesis! I certainly hope it gets published somewhere because it sounds like it will contain some very practical information. I’m not very familiar with European horse feeding systems—except to know they have some different feedstuffs than us—so I’m going to stick to what’s recommended here in America.

The number one source for feeding horses in the U.S. is the sixth edition of Nutrient Requirements for Horses authored by the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies Press and published in 2007. Here’s what their website says about the book:

Proper formulation of diets for horses depends on adequate knowledge of their nutrient requirements. These requirements depend on the breed and age of the horse and whether it is exercising, pregnant, or lactating.

A great deal of new information has been accumulated since the publication 17 years ago of the last edition of Nutrient Requirements of Horses. This new edition features a detailed review of scientific literature, summarizing all the latest information, and provides a new set of requirements based on revised data. Also included is updated information on the composition of feeds, feed additives, and other compounds routinely fed to horses. The effects of physiological factors, such as exercise, and environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, are covered, as well. Nutrient Requirements of Horses also contains information on several nutritional and metabolic diseases that horses often have.

Designed primarily as a reference, both practical and technical, Nutrient Requirements of Horses is intended to ensure that the diets of horses and other equids contain adequate amounts of nutrients and that the intakes of certain nutrients are not so excessive that they inhibit performance or impair health. This book is primarily intended for animal nutritionists, veterinarians, and other scientists; however, individual horse owners and managers will also find some of this material useful. Professors who teach graduate courses in animal nutrition will find Nutrient Requirements of Horses beneficial as a textbook.

You can also find the table of contents on the website, which lists these chapters:
1. Energy
2. Carbohydrates
3. Fats and Fatty Acids
4. Proteins and Amino Acids
5. Minerals
6. Vitamins
7. Water and Water Quality
8. Feeds and Feed Processing
9. Feed Additives
10. Feed Analysis
11. Feeding Behavior and General Considerations for Feeding Management
12. Unique Aspects of Equine Nutrition
13. Donkeys and Other Equids
14. Ration Formulation and Evaluation
15. Computer Model to Estimate Requirements
16. Tables
  a. Nutrient Requirement Tables
  b. Feed Composition Tables
  c. Composition of Mare’s Milk Tables
  d. Table of Conversions

Finally, it contains appendixes and an index. I hope this answers your question and good luck on your thesis!

What is the best and most cost effective way to sand your horses? I have heard that metamucil is good but, I would rather avoid using it. I use Fiberpsyll and that is the cheapest physillium product I have found so far. KM, Florida

I noticed a disclaimer on psyllium used for gut sand reduction stating that no scientific research has been done on its use. Why not? DG, California

Dear Sand Colic Question Writers,

DG, I’m not sure what disclaimer you’re looking at. I’ve looked at all the labels of all the psyllium products for horses I could find (whether we sold them or not) and couldn’t find one. Do you mean this statement?

Safe use in pregnant animals or animals intended for breeding has not been proven.

If so, that’s a caution that the NASC requires all of its members to put on all their supplements, unless research on every single ingredient in the product has been done in pregnant mares and breeding stallions, which is unlikely.

While there is research on the use of psyllium in horses, to be honest with you, the NASC advises its members to be careful about conducting research and sharing it. That’s because the FDA doesn’t want supplement companies using a single research project to make drug-type claims about over-the-counter products that haven’t undergone the lengthy, expensive and rigorous safety and efficacy testing they require before granting FDA approval (prescription products, dewormers, etc.) So even if a supplement company pays to have research conducted on its product and “proves” it treats a disease, the company still can’t make a drug claim or really even use the research in its marketing. That’s one of the reasons you don’t see a lot of research on supplements.

As I said though, some research has been performed on the use of psyllium for reducing sand (and therefore sand colic and sand diarrhea) in horses. These papers all show a clear benefit:

Evacuation of sand from the equine intestine with mineral oil, with and without psyllium. (2008)

Fecal sand clearance is enhanced with a product combining probiotics, prebiotics and psyllium in clinically normal horses. (2007)

Abdominal radiography in monitoring the resolution of sand accumulations from the large colon of horses treated medically. (2001)

Diarrhea associated with sand in the gastrointestinal tract of horses. (1988)

One study, performed by my alma mater the University of Illinois, did not show this benefit but researchers now suspect the study may not have been set up appropriately:

Failure of psyllium mucilloid to hasten evaluation of sand from the equine large intestine. (1998)

I encourage all of you to read my article on sand colic, as feeding psyllium is only a part of keeping your horse sand-free. Other advice includes not feeding them on the ground, only allowing grazing in pastures with solid plant growth, and feeding before turnout.

Dear JM,

First, I recommend you check out the page that I wrote specifically about Thoroughpin. It defines this condition as a cosmetic blemish of the hock area that consists of swelling but no heat or pain, as you describe. However, just to be sure there’s nothing more serious going on, I recommend having a veterinarian examine your mare. Because the risk factors for Thoroughpin may also be risk factors for more serious conditions such as arthritis, tendinitis and other lamenesses, it will be helpful to have a vet’s opinion on the matter.

When it comes to treatments for Thoroughpin, less may be more. That is, because the swelling is a cosmetic blemish and not an actual cause of lameness or discomfort, you may be better off sticking with the conservative approach you’ve already taken vs more aggressive approaches such as injections or fluid drainage. These all run the risk of infection or at the very least inflammation and down-time so I say “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” One of my horses has a thoroughpin on one hind leg (probably from kicking the stall) and I notice two things improve the swelling: cold weather and MSM.

Dear DH,

Since the average length of pregnancy in the mare is 338 – 343 days or about 11 months, your mare is heading into her last trimester. Up to now, she has done just fine on the same nutritional program you would use for any horse: a complete and balanced diet fed at a rate of 1 – 2% of her body weight daily based on high-quality forage. Of course, fresh water and loose salt is always available. But during the last four months of gestation the foal grows rapidly, requiring the mare’s diet to change in three key areas: energy, protein and vitamins/minerals.

A pregnant mare’s energy requirements gradually increase after the seventh month of gestation, so you should gradually begin to supply her with more calories. Of course, if she’s already overweight, then this step may not be necessary. Aim to keep her in good flesh but not too heavy (between a 5 and a 6 on the Henneke Body Condition Scoring scale, where 1 = emaciated and 9 = obese). It may be tempting to just add an extra scoop of grain to her ration, but fat or beet pulp are safer sources of calories.

Adult horses in maintenance as well as mares in early gestation only need an 8% crude protein diet. But during the last trimester when the foal is building lots of tissue, that level will need to be upped to 10 – 12%. Instead of simply increasing the amount of grain in the diet, which can lead to problems, begin swapping out flakes of grass hay for flakes of alfalfa hay, which are higher in protein.

Feeding alfalfa hay also provides the additional calcium that mares need in late gestation. Other minerals of interest include selenium–especially if you are in a selenium-deficient area of the country–and copper, which may have a protective effect against developmental orthopedic diseases such as osteochondritis dissecans or OCD. Also, make sure your mare gets plenty of Vitamins A and E particularly if she does not have access to fresh grass. A multi-vitamin/mineral supplement  made especially for mares may be a good choice now.

One final bit of advice: during the last trimester the foal takes up quite of bit of room in the mare’s abdomen. Just when she should be eating more there’s no room for food! Try to feed smaller meals more frequently so she takes in the nutrition she needs without becoming uncomfortable. Now just work with your veterinarian to make sure your mare’s other health needs are met (deworming, vaccination, hoof and dental care) then provide careful monitoring until the Big Day!

Dear JR,

Adding fat to your horse’s diet is a great way to add calories for weight gain and essential fatty acids to improve the coat.  But you’re correct that using corn oil isn’t the right way to go about it.  In fact, you might be doing more harm than good!

That’s because all fats are not created equal.  Corn oil contains almost all Omega 6 fatty acids—generally pro-inflammatory—and very little of the anti-inflammatory Omega 3 fatty acids that have so many health benefits.  While our bodies need both types, keeping the proper balance between the two is important.  For horses, experts feel that a ratio somewhere in the range of one part Omega 6 to two parts Omega 3 (a 1:2 ratio) or even a 1:4 ratio is ideal.  However, our methods of modern horse keeping have shifted the balance by restricting access to Omega 3-rich fresh grass while providing feed high in Omega 6 fatty acids such as grain-based concentrates. 

To help you better understand where these two types of essential fatty acids come from and how the balance easily becomes skewed towards the pro-inflammatory Omega 6 side, here’s a chart of the Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratios in some common horse feeds:
 

In a perfect world, we’d all keep our horses turned out on green grass for its benefits to the body as well as the mind!  But since that’s not realistic for most people, just try to feed as little grain and grain oil as possible to avoid filling your horse with pro-inflammatory Omega 6 fatty acids—instead use a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement or ration balancer to fill any nutritional gaps from your forage.  Then if you want to add fat for extra calories or a shiny coat, use flax seed or fish oil and fill your horse with healthy, anti-inflammatory Omega 3 fatty acids!

My horse has gotten Equine Lymphangitis three times. I am doing research on what would help build his immune system so he will be able to fight these infections on his own in the future and hopefully get his lymphatic system functioning properly. He is stabled/boarded in Maryland so he is out on what grass we have because of the drought during the day and eating grass/timothy hay at night. He gets 2 scoops of 10% protein pellets per day as well as 1 scoop of Equine Senior a day. Both products are manufactured by Purina. VS, Maryland

Dear TV, MS and VS,

Lymphangitis, or inflammation and blockage of the lymphatic system, can be a frustrating condition to manage, as the three of you know from personal experience. Unless you’re dealing with the more severe form of the condition, ulcerative lymphangitis (not uncommon in a dry western state such as Arizona), caused by the bacteria Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, you may never know what caused the original limb swelling in your horses. And unfortunately, many horses that develop “big leg” or “fat leg” are predisposed to limb swelling again and again.

Because some experts believe this impairment of normal lymph drainage is due to too much of an immune response rather than too little, I’m going to suggest some supplements that support a healthy immune system and reduce inflammation naturally. No boosting or building. So here’s my list:

• Omega 3 fatty acids—research shows restoring the balance of the anti-inflammatory omega 3s vs. the pro-inflammatory omega 6s may improve certain medical conditions

• MSM—a naturally occurring compound that helps fight inflammation

• Devil’s Claw, Boswellia, Bromelain, Yucca—all potent inflammation-fighters

• Adaptogenic herbs—plants with substances that dial the body back to normal, they strengthen systems compromised by stress and protect against a wide variety of stressful influences

I’m sure you’re already providing excellent supportive nursing care, including hot and/or cold therapy, careful bandaging when appropriate, poulticing to draw out fluid, and non-steroidals such as “bute” to relieve pain and swelling. And as soon as your horses are able, light exercise to stimulate circulation. Antibiotics are controversial and should only be given on the advice of your veterinarians. The only other suggestion I can give you all is to keep your horses and their surroundings as clean and dry as possible, because some cases appear to be associated with a contaminated environment and equipment.

Dear JR,

What a fun question! I spoke with my husband about this, since he’s also a veterinarian, and here’s the list we came up with together:

1. Money—I know this is not what you wanted to hear, but most vet students are coming out of school with more than $100,000 in debt and spend their entire careers working just to pay this off. Maybe a Visa gift card?

2. Food—We ate a lot of Ramen noodles in vet school, so your cousin would probably appreciate a gift card to the local grocery store. Better yet, purchase or make a gift basket full of goodies such as cheese, chocolate, crackers, chocolate, pasta, chocolate . . . you get my drift.

3. Gas—Another boring suggestion, but next year she’ll be involved in externships at other schools or private practices and will need to get around.

Okay, now for some more specific suggestions:

4. Books—veterinary textbooks are expensive, so I’m sure she would appreciate help purchasing reference materials that she can use now and once she graduates. I love my collection of Veterinary Clinics of North America published by Elsevier. They come in equine, small animal, exotic and food animal. A one-year subscription (you get three small hardback books) is $111 if she lets you use her student discount. Otherwise is $222

5. Clothing—Who says you can’t be fashionable while attending vet school? www.veterinaryapparel.com has the latest in scrubs, jackets and even footwear for the most discerning doctor-to-be.

6. Pet gifts—Finally, every vet student I know has a menagerie of dogs, cats, pocket pets (or in my case, horses). Why not ease the financial burden of caring for these creatures by giving her a gift certificate to her favorite pet store? Might I suggest SmartPak?

Have fun with these ideas and Happy Holidays!

• Slow Down Hay Eating (9/30/09 in Weight Management)—because my own horse gorges and I literally spent HOURS researching this topic

• How Do I Become a Veterinarian (8/12/09 in Misc. Topics)—who doesn’t love to talk about their career?

• How Much Pasture Do Horses Eat? (7/30/09 in Nutrition and Seasonal Horse Care)—I was shocked at how much research there is on grazing behavior in horses. Some of what I learned I put to immediate use at my own barn and some I just stored away to impress people with at cocktail parties.

• Headshaking (12/31/2008 in Behavior)—again, any topic that helps my own horse I’m happy to look into for someone else’s horse!

• Is Flax Seed Safe to Use in Horses? (9/10/98 in Misc. Topics)—this topic generated the most comments because I quoted a study that has since disappeared off the face of the earth (it’s with the keeper from my side reins, my white sock with the pink toe, and my Collective Soul CD). Also, I love dispelling the myth that flax seed poses a danger because of the cyanide precursor it contains.

• How Much Sun Do Horses Need? (4/21/08 in Misc. Topics)—another topic I had to research extensively to answer. I love a challenge!

• Trimming Chestnuts on Horse Legs (2/26/08 in Barn Skills)—love these kinds of basic questions that you might feel, well, stupid asking your trainer, veterinarian, farrier or even another boarder but you can submit to the Ask the Vet forum because it’s a “safe” location.

• Is Water Softener Salt OK for Horses? (12/14/07 in Seasonal Horse Care)—never thought about doing this, but it is a real head-scratcher

• Sleep Deprivation in Horses (10/10/07 in Misc. Topics)—I had just come back from a veterinary conference where this was discussed so I felt really pleased that I could offer these folks some real, scientific explanations and advice.

And the winner is (selected randomly from my top ten):

Finding a Horse’s Heart Rate (2/29/08 in Barn Skills)—I do wish I got more of these Barn Skills-type questions, as I think it’s really important for horse owners to know how to check vitals and to know what’s normal in their horse. The first month I owned my trakehner the poor thing got his temperature taken every day because he was consistently 101, which is high. Now I know he just runs high and that it’s nothing to worry about. A 101 temperature in my thoroughbred though, might indicate a low-grade fever and I would be more concerned.

LW from Illinois, be checking your email for a gift certificate soon!

Then it was Friday, and time for the Equine Neurology Wet Lab at a local mixed practice clinic. A “wet lab” is a hands-on teaching experience where veterinarians work in small groups with real patients, receiving one-on-one instruction by the facilitator to improve their clinical skills. We were thrilled to be able to bring in world-renowned Dr. Stephen Reed as the instructor.

I arrived back to the convention center just in time for the Welcome Address, Keynote Speaker, a few awards, and an opening reception in the Exhibit Hall. My favorite exhibit this year was Chesire Partners, who brought a remote control bird on a tricycle and startled attendees!

Illinois puts on an incredible state veterinary convention, so in addition to sitting in on a few of Dr. Reed’s equine neurology talks (herpesvirus, EPM, Wobblers), I also went to presentations on supplements in the Complementary and Alternative Medicine track and communication in the Business Practices track. But that still left a second Business Practices track, Exotics, three Small Animal tracks, three small animal wetlabs and a Vet Tech program. There’s just no way to get to them all!

For me, though, the highlight of Saturday (and in fact, the whole convention) was the ISVMA Annual Meeting, where the current president, Dr. Shelly Rubin, gave an address and turned over leadership of the organization to the new president (me!) What made this year’s installment particularly poignant was that Oprah (yes, Oprah Winfrey) heard about her personal veterinarian’s retirement and sent a taped message about how much she appreciated Dr. Rubin over the years.

During my president’s address, I thanked my husband, who had kindly informed me beforehand that his new title is the “First Gentleman.” As only the second female president of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association in its 127-year history, I am actually the first married female president (and youngest, but we don’t have to discuss age).

So the next year will be a busy one for me–attending regional meetings as well as national meetings on behalf of ISVMA, presiding at board meetings, reviewing the budget of the Association, developing a strategic plan, naming volunteers to committees, and so on–but it will be a fun one. Don’t worry though, I’ll keep writing blog answers as long as you keep sending in those questions!

Dr. Gray Installed as President of ISVMA

Dear KB,

If you’re keeping your horse in a heated barn this winter, I’m going to make the assumption that you’ve bodyclipped her. That means whenever she goes outside she’ll need a blanket because she no longer has her natural winter coat to protect her from cold, especially when it’s windy and rainy. So I can tell you she’ll probably need a blanket whenever she’s hauled, but without knowing a few of the details, it’s hard to give you concrete advice. Feeling her when she comes off the trailer will be your best indicator of how much clothing she needs to keep her comfortable. But here are the factors I would consider when making this decision for my own horse:

First, if you have a small two horse trailer with solid walls and another horse alongside her, she’ll only need a sheet or light blanket because these two horses will give off a lot of heat that won’t be lost in the wind. Be sure and crack open some of the windows (especially in the ceiling) so they get plenty of fresh air. On the other hand, if she’ll be traveling alone in a stock trailer with open sides she’ll need a fairly heavy blanket.

Second, even if it’s January and the ground is frozen, if it’s a warm day (like in the 50s or 60s) she’ll only need a sheet, even if she’s in an open trailer. Remember that the “thermoneutral zone” for horses—where there neither too hot nor too cold—is said to be between 20 and 60 degrees, cooler than for us. However, if it’s below this, I recommend a full blanket, or perhaps layering a couple of light ones.

Third, how far and how fast will you be going? A quick 10 mile trip down backroads won’t warrant as much protection against the cold as four hours on the interstate. So take your route into consideration when you’re deciding how to dress her.

Last but not least, make sure she’s completely dry before you trailer her back home. If you’re in a hurry, speed up this process by handwalking her in a cooler designed to wick away moisture. Then put your dry horse under a dry sheet or blanket for the return trip and she should be in great shape! Oh, and if she’s sweating a lot, consider adding a loose electrolyte salt to her meals this winter, at least around days you’ll be traveling and competing. It’s easy and inexpensive insurance against dehydration and the ills that can come from it, such as colic.