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Barnyard Buddies:  insulin resistent horses ???  |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 02 2011 : 3:25:29 PM
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i was discussing my sisters horse with a new friend. tatoo is getting colic a lot and bad poops. she said sometimes when a horse is insulin resistent they cannot handle sugar in the grass. i so am wondering is this auto-immune? can it be fixed? she says they only get by if they eat hay. no grass grain or alfalfa. what are your opinions on this guy. he is old 25 or so. a egyptian arab. he is the sweetest horse. now he can not come here unless he gets well. sure could use some ideas. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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MEWolf
True Blue Farmgirl
358 Posts
Margaret
Byers
Colorado
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2011 : 3:54:57 PM
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Sherrye, We have an insulin resistant horse and they can get better (not cured) with strict diet management. They need to be on a low sugar (NSC <10%) grass hay such as Bermuda Grass. And yes NO GRAIN, NO ALFALFA!!! If they are turned out on grass, it should only be at night, and possibly with a grazing muzzle, depending on whether or not this old guy has all his teeth and can eat loads of grass. If your sister's old guy is having trouble keeping weight on, try soaked beet pulp. The problem is when they have an episode, they often develop laminitis, and eventually founder. He may have some other issues though, possibly ulcers? A Vet is the best place to start, but here are some links to give you more info on insulin resistance:
http://www.safergrass.org
http://www.balancedequinenutrition.com/IRArticle.html
http://www.harleywood.ca/Equine_Cushings.htm
Good Luck to you both, it is a relatively easy disease to manage. Getting hay tested for the level of Non-structured Carbohydrates is usually the place to start. "Safe" hay is the key.
Margaret
“Kind hearts are the gardens, kind thoughts are the roots, kind words are the flowers, kind deeds are the fruits. Take care of your garden and keep out the weeds, fill it with sunshine, kind words and kind deeds.” ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1808-1882)
Farmgirl #3020
www.grey-wolf-farm.com |
Edited by - MEWolf on Jul 02 2011 3:55:46 PM |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2011 : 4:07:42 PM
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Sherry- Margaret has given good advice. Has he been tested for Cushings? Most insuline resistant horses have cushings, but mike Margaret said- it can be managed and the horse can be healthy but the diet must be stictly monitored.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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Megan
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Megan
Hudson
South Dakota
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - Jul 03 2011 : 8:56:46 PM
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My grandma has 2 horses with insuline resitans and you could never tell. One is her top show horse. She feeds on grass hay and small portions of a special feed that is low in suger and often feed to race horses to calm them down.
www.rockriverexoticsandkennel.net |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jul 04 2011 : 06:36:06 AM
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thanks for the input. i am going to check into cushings for sure. i feel encouraged now.he is such a gentle boy. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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MEWolf
True Blue Farmgirl
358 Posts
Margaret
Byers
Colorado
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - Jul 04 2011 : 09:28:48 AM
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I am so glad you feel encouraged. It really is not too hard to manage!
Margaret
“Kind hearts are the gardens, kind thoughts are the roots, kind words are the flowers, kind deeds are the fruits. Take care of your garden and keep out the weeds, fill it with sunshine, kind words and kind deeds.” ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1808-1882)
Farmgirl #3020
www.grey-wolf-farm.com |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2011 : 10:46:24 AM
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Also, for some great ideas in new non-grass habitats, if you google "paddock paradise", you can see a lot of set ups that folks have established. We have a pasture track for our two insulin resistant horses and they get lots of healthy movement every day along with their hay rations by wandering along their track all day long.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
A Beehive is the ultimate Home Sweet Home
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MEWolf
True Blue Farmgirl
358 Posts
Margaret
Byers
Colorado
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2011 : 7:16:43 PM
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Paula,
I LOVE those exercise tracks for horse...so creative!
Margaret
“Kind hearts are the gardens, kind thoughts are the roots, kind words are the flowers, kind deeds are the fruits. Take care of your garden and keep out the weeds, fill it with sunshine, kind words and kind deeds.” ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1808-1882)
Farmgirl #3020
www.grey-wolf-farm.com |
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Barnyard Buddies: insulin resistent horses ??? |
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insulin resistent horses ???
