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RE: [RC] QUESTION FOR SUSAN - Susan E. Garlinghouse, D.V.M. I'm afraid he'll get an impaction, as there are days when he doesn't
drink
a gallon of water in the 12 hours he is stalled, but eats all of his hay.
I would very much appreciate any suggestions. Someone suggested to
me to
add plain white loose salt to his food, but I hesitate to do this.
Thanks,
Charlene
It's kindof alarming to see horses in pasture that never go near the water
trough, but since pasture grass averages around 70-80% water, they get
plenty from grazing.
If he's not drinking while in the stall, and leaving him outside isn't
feasible, then I'd make him play bobbing for apples while inside. Fill a
big tub with water and plop his hay in there. Since hay is just dried
grass, all you're really doing is reconstituting the hay back into
semi-grass again. Not exactly the same as the original, but at least he's
getting in enough water to prevent an impaction.
Or, you could feed him soaked beet pulp at night, and add some hay
cubes/pellets into the mash to soak down as well.
Or, try adding some molasses to the water to make it tastier for him.
Or, just don't worry about it. He's probably getting plenty of water during
the day, and as long as he has access to clean, fresh, tasty water, he'll
drink what he needs. Just make sure there's nothing about his water source
that he might be avoiding -- stale taste, ugly floaty things, a float valve
that squirts him in the face, stray electrical voltage, a rattlesnake under
the bucket...<g>
Good luck,
Susan Garlinghouse, DVM, MS
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