Question
My 34-year-old Arabian mare has only a few molars left and is underweight. She eats 3 lb (1.4 kg) of complete senior feed two times a day and now consumes little forage. While she has had no problems with founder for over 12 years, she had a flare-up when she was given steroids for allergies. How can I improve her body condition given this double whammy of missing teeth and founder?
Answer
I have reviewed the label of the complete senior feed your mare is currently being fed. The minimum feeding rate is far greater than the 6 lb (2.7 kg) per day you’re offering her when the feed is intended to serve as a forage replacer.
If it were not for the laminitis, I would suggest gradually increasing the amount of feed by adding a third meal each day. This would boost fiber intake, provide additional calories for weight gain, and promote gastrointestinal health. I am hesitant to increase the feed portion of her diet given the recent laminitis diagnosis. Although the laminitis appears to be related to steroid use, it would be safest to maintain a diet low in nonstructural carbohydrates. Splitting the total amount of senior feed into three meals a day and augmenting each meal with an alternative forage source might be best.
Mixing a forage source with the feed will help replace the other forage that she can no longer consume because of the condition of her teeth. She will most likely require a hay alternative from this point on. Alfalfa pellets are an excellent option for her, as they would supply calories and fiber with appropriate levels of nonstructural carbohydrates. Adding 1-2 lb (0.5-0.9 kg) of alfalfa pellets to 2 lb (0.9 kg) of senior feed three times a day would be a good place to start.
Because she is missing so many teeth, it would be best to create a mash by moistening the pellets with water. While most horses accept mashes, others will be more hesitant. If this is the case, you may have to experiment with how much water to use, adjusting it until she seems pleased with the consistency of the mash.
You may consider adding fat to her diet with the gradual introduction of canola oil. Although canola oil will add calories to improve body condition, it does not contribute a balanced source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
To offset this, consider supplementing with a rich source of DHA and EPA, which are beneficial omega-3 fatty acids found in marine-derived oils, like EO-3. Research has shown that EO-3 decreases the production of pro-inflammatory precursors. Because of these anti-inflammatory properties, EO-3 is recommended for horses with laminitis, arthritis, allergies, and other inflammatory conditions.
Supporting hindgut health of senior horses struggling with body condition can help them get the fullest benefit from the diet by bolstering fiber digestion. The hindgut, which consists of the cecum and colon, is the main site of fiber digestion. The hindgut contains a large microbial population that is extremely sensitive to changes in the diet. Providing EquiShure will help stabilize hindgut pH for optimal microbial function and fiber fermentation. This product is also recommended for horses during diet changes and after medication use to help support microbial health. EquiShure is designed to be fed twice daily for all-day buffering.
