Laminitis advice from SPILLLERS®
Clare Lockyer RNutr Nutritionist and R&D Manager
Laminitis does not only affect fat ponies; it can strike any horse or pony at any time. Don’t ignore the predisposing signs such as a cresty neck, sore feet or a change in hoof shape these are all warning signs to suggest it is time to take preventative action waiting until it happens could prove disastrous for your horse.
Grass is the natural diet of the horse whether they are a Shetland pony or a thoroughbred. But there is grass and there’s grass; horses have evolved eating a variety of grasses, plants and shrubs that are typically of low nutrient value than some of the pastures we keep horses on today. The other problem we have with grass today is how much it physically grows. With temperatures during the winter months rarely dropping below 6ºC, grass growth has been continuous. In fact recent research suggests that the nutrient value of winter grass is now very similar to spring/summer grass. This less seasonal more consistent grass growth has many implications for your horse and the way your manage him. Laminitis is one such implication and although traditionally the condition is seen more often during seasonal grass growth namely in the spring and autumn, laminitis is now a risk throughout the whole year therefore you need to manage your horse accordingly.
Below are some simple feeding dos and don’ts to follow;
DO:
- Call the vet straight away if laminitis is suspected; laminitis should always be treated as an emergency. Corrective shoeing to reduce the risk of the pedal bone moving is always more successful when done immediately.
- Feed clean, low nutritive value hay or oat straw. Alternatively soak your hay for 1 hour to leach out some of the sugars.
- In order to supply a balanced appropriate diet choose feeds that are approved by The Laminitis Trust such as SPILLERS HAPPY Hoof and SPILLERS High Fibre Cubes as these feeds will have met strict criteria making them ideal for laminitis prone horses and ponies.
- Use sheep to graze down spring and autumn grass. Alternatively, use a specially designed muzzle to prevent excessive grazing.
- Turning your horse or pony out late at night bringing him back in no later than mid morning will potentially reduce the amount of sugars and fructans he eats.
- If your horse or pony is overweight put him on an appropriate calorie controlled diet and exercise programme.
- Turn horses out onto pasture that has been exposed to low temperatures in conjunction with bright sunlight eg. sunny frosty mornings.
- Feed cereal or cereal mixes to a horse or pony susceptible to or with laminitis. These feeds are relatively high in soluble carbohydrates.
- Allow the horse or pony to become overweight. Signs of fat deposits on the crest and quarters signal a potential problem.
- Starve a horse or pony that is overweight, this may lead to a serious condition called hyperlipaemia.
For friendly advice about feeding horses and ponies prone to laminitis contact the SPILLERS Care-line on 01908 226626 or careline@spillers-feeds.com,.