Re: Electrolytes and dehydrated horses

["Janet Baca" <horsetrl@ctaz.com>]

Hi Karen,
Thanks for responding.

>I know some vets recommend feeding a nice sloppy bran mash two or three
>times a week during the winter.  I would recommend trying soaked beet pulp.
> I would also offer free choice salt to the horses.  I place a cup or two a
>week in the bottom of their feed bins and they (2 horses) generally go thru
>two 20 pound bags of salt per year.  I also give them the choice between
>plain white salt, and salt with minerals.

Of course you know I tried the feed stores around here and they cannot get
beet pulp and we're about 2-1/2 hours drive from Phoenix and 2 hours drive
from Vegas but they can't get it from their suppliers.  I have another feed
store working on it.  I will tell her about the salt.

She has the horses in stalls (mare motel) and each one has a half bucket (15
gal of water) which gets changed every day.  Not enough room for a stock
tank heater.

>This may sound strange, but if your friend is feeding psyllium with lots of
>bran, that could be enough to cause the horse to be upset.  My horses
>seemed to be sluggish and get soft stools when I fed bran, so now I mostly
>use beet pulp.

She had not fed psyllium until the vet recommended it after the first colic.
After that episode she stopped feeding psyllium and I guess it was in the
fall when the weather turned the mare colicked again.  She has been taken
off the psyllium again and now just as the weather has turned she was put
back on the psyllium and has not colicked this time.

>Before adding any additional supplements, or even electrolytes, it might be
>worthwhile to discuss this with your veterinarian.


Yes, this is an excellent idea as we have a new vet in town who seems to be
much more up on things like this.  Thanks for your help Karen.  I will
forward this on to my friend.

Janet Baca
-----Original Message-----
From: DreamWeaver <karen@chaton.gardnerville.nv.us>
To: horsetrl <horsetrl>
Cc: ridecamp <ridecamp>
Date: Sunday, October 25, 1998 8:02 PM
Subject: Electrolytes and dehydrated horses


>>a 6 yo grey Comet/Alladin mare that seems to colic every year with the =
>>onset of winter.  This is the classic sand colic but the thing that sets =
>>it off I guess is that she decreases her drinking when it gets colder.  =
>>She becomes dehydrated along with the colic.  My friend also has an
>
>
>Hi Janet:  It sounds as if the horse may be colicking due to the change in
>weather conditions.  This can be quite common.  I know that when we start
>having 50+ degree temperature changes between day and night that several
>horses in my area colic.  Lots of horses will colic with extreme weather
>conditions.
>
>>ok to give electrolytes in this situation (either situation) and >how long
>can you keep them on electrolytes?  I have set my friend >in
>
>As long as the horse is not already dehydrated.  You wouldn't want to
>continue electrolyting a horse that is already dehydrated.
>
>I have found that my horses drink just as much water in the winter if I use
>a stock tank heater.
>
>I know some vets recommend feeding a nice sloppy bran mash two or three
>times a week during the winter.  I would recommend trying soaked beet pulp.
> I would also offer free choice salt to the horses.  I place a cup or two a
>week in the bottom of their feed bins and they (2 horses) generally go thru
>two 20 pound bags of salt per year.  I also give them the choice between
>plain white salt, and salt with minerals.
>
>This may sound strange, but if your friend is feeding psyllium with lots of
>bran, that could be enough to cause the horse to be upset.  My horses
>seemed to be sluggish and get soft stools when I fed bran, so now I mostly
>use beet pulp.
>
>Before adding any additional supplements, or even electrolytes, it might be
>worthwhile to discuss this with your veterinarian.
>
>Happy Trails,
>
>Karen
>in Gardnerville
>& Weaver
>& Rocky :)
>
>