ridecamp@endurance.net: Alfalfa and enteroliths

Alfalfa and enteroliths

Trish Dowling (dowling@skyway.usask.ca)
Sat, 18 Oct 1997 13:52:30 -0700 (PDT)

Susan wrote:
If you're thinking this sounds like a recipe
on How to Grow Really Big Rocks in Your Horse's Gut, you're right, it
sure is. Here in So Cal, the majority of horses are still being fed
straight California alfalfa, the greener and leafier, the better. It
also just so happens that enteroliths are more common here than anywhere
else in the country, wonder why?

While I won't argue with the incidence of enteroliths in horses in California, it can't be soley due to the alfalfa.
Here in the Great White North, many if not most horses are fed straight alfalfa or at least 50%. Hey, it's
$2.50 a bale! However, here at the Western College, enteroliths are NOT a common diagnosis. I don't recall
seeing or hearing of a single case in the 4 years that I've been here. I saw many more at Auburn University,
where alfalfa is unattainable and everyone feeds coastal bermuda. Perhaps it is the magnesium
accumulation in California that's different. Also, my horses do eat a >50% alfalfa hay all winter. But in the
summer, while I'm competing, they are on a lush grass pasture. So they only see my nice alfalfa hay at the
rides. Seems to take care of the problem with parathryoid stimulation.

Cheers,
Trisha

Trisha Dowling, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM & ACVCP
Associate Professor, Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4
306-966-7359/FAX 306-966-7376

Home Events Groups Rider Directory Market RideCamp Stuff