Can a horse founder on alfalfa hay?
6 min read
Asked by: Crystal Acosta
Because alfalfa hay is more nutrient dense than typical grass hay, more care needs to be taken when feeding alfalfa. Alfalfa hay can cause horses to founder and develop laminitis due to the excess nutrients provided by the high quality hay if too much is fed.
Can Laminitic horses have alfalfa?
Feeds with a combined sugar and starch content of less than 10% should be fed to horses with laminitis. If horses are underweight and need to gain condition, consider adding alfalfa-based forages as they contain more calories per pound, but are low in sugars and starches.
Can alfalfa cause a horse to tie up?
Feeding straight alfalfa to horses with RER is not advised, as this may lead to excess energy, which may manifest as nervous behavior and trigger an episode of tying-up. Reducing nonstructural carbohydrates (starch and sugar) in the diet by limiting cereal grain intake can help manage RER.
What hay is best for foundered horses?
Alfalfa hay (lucerne) can be part of the diet during the acute stages. Chaff, beet pulp, and soy hulls can provide part of the fiber intake. If weight loss is required, it is best to stabilize the horse medically before embarking on a weight-loss program with major caloric restriction.
How much alfalfa hay is it safe to feed a horse?
Horses can normally eat 1.5-2% of their body weight in hay, which equates to 18-24 lbs. of hay per day. The quality of the hay will determine how much is needed and if supplemental grain should be added. Good alfalfa can be 18-20% protein and 55% TDN or energy.
Can PSSM horses have alfalfa?
These low-starch feeds should be fed with good-quality grass hay or a maximum of 50 percent alfalfa hay. Regular turnout for as much time as possible is critical to successful management of PSSM horses.
What do you feed RER horses?
Horses struggling with RER do better on grass or oat hay. If alfalfa is fed then it should be mixed with grass or oat hay. Feeding grains and feedstuffs high in sugar or starch can lead to a spike in blood glucose that triggers excitability and nervous activity in many horses.
What hay is bad for horses?
Some hay types are particularly prone to high nitrate levels and should be avoided if there are options. These include: Sorghum, Sudan, Johnsongrass and Pearl Millet. High levels of simple carbohydrate (sugars, starch) are an issue for horses with insulin resistance and can occur in virtually any type of hay.
What happens if a horse eats too much alfalfa?
Alfalfa hay can cause diarrhea in a horse that overeats it because the hay is rich and full of nutrients. Overeating alfalfa can also cause a horse to have excess gas, develop laminitis, and founder.
How do you treat founder in horses?
Treatment of Founder (laminitis) in Horses
- Medications. The veterinarian will administer a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to relieve pain and inflammation. …
- Heel Wedge Cuffs or Foam Supports. …
- Cold Therapy. …
- Complete Stall Rest. …
- Surgery.
Can a horse founder on grass hay?
Horses can founder even though they are on a senior feed diet. A simple grass hay diet is recommended for horses at risk of foundering. Senior feeds are made with ingredients that are typically high quality and easy to eat; however, horses susceptible to founder may continue to have problems.
How can you tell if a horse has foundered?
Signs and Symptoms of Founder
- Sudden onset of lameness.
- Resistance to walking or moving.
- Feeling a pulse and heat in the foot.
- Shifting weight back and forth between legs.
- Reluctance to bend the leg.
- Standing with the legs camped out in front of the body or with all four legs under the body.
- Laying down more frequently.
Can you reverse founder?
“Treatment of a foundered horse can only be considered an attempt to allow the horse to exist comfortably with structural damage,” Moyer continues. “You can diminish pain and possibly prevent more damage, but you can’t reverse what has been done.”
How do I stop founder?
To avoid grass founder:
- Allow the horse to fill up on hay before turning out on grass for a few hours.
- Place a grazing muzzle on horses predisposed to foundering to limit their forage intake. Grazing muzzles limit grass intake but allow the horse to exercise throughout the day.
How long does it take for a horse to recover from founder?
It takes weeks to months for a horse to recover from laminitis. In one research study, 72% of animals were sound at the trot after 8 weeks and 60% were back in work.
Can a horse founder in one day?
You can founder a horse by putting them on an insulin drip for 48 hours, or simply by turning them out onto the equine version of a Snicker’s bar — a green spring pasture.
Can a horse founder on pasture?
You may have heard that fructan is the singular evil element in grass that causes horses to founder. However, more recent research has shown that pasture-induced laminitis cannot be attributed solely to fructan. There is no fructan in warm-season grasses, yet horses can still founder on them.
What is the difference between laminitis and founder?
The terms “laminitis” and “founder” are used interchangeably. However, founder usually refers to a chronic (long-term) condition associated with rotation of the coffin bone, whereas acute laminitis refers to symptoms associated with a sudden initial attack, including pain and inflammation of the laminae.
Does laminitis go away?
Laminitis is a crippling condition which can be fatal in severe cases. Once a horse has had an episode of laminitis, they are particularly susceptible to future episodes. Laminitis can be managed but not cured which is why prevention is so important.
What are the first signs of laminitis?
10 Early Warning Signs of Laminitis
- A strong/bounding digital pulse. …
- A hoof that’s hot for hours. …
- A distorted hoof shape and/or unusual rings. …
- An increased heart rate. …
- Too little—or too much—foot lifting. …
- Apparent stretched and/or bleeding laminae. …
- A shortened stride. …
- Increased insulin levels.
Can alfalfa cause laminitis?
Because alfalfa hay is more nutrient dense than typical grass hay, more care needs to be taken when feeding alfalfa. Alfalfa hay can cause horses to founder and develop laminitis due to the excess nutrients provided by the high quality hay if too much is fed.
Should you walk a horse with laminitis?
Fact: Walking a horse with laminitis will cause more damage to the hoof. Your vet will assess the pain and severity of the laminitis your horse has and may provide pain relief and sole support. Your vet may also advise box rest (movement restriction in a stable) for several months.
How long does it take a horse to get over laminitis?
Wait at least 30 days after your horse appears to be normal before resuming any sort of normal work. Laminitis can cause some permanent changes inside your horse’s hoof, and for a horse to completely recover, some significant growth and healing has to occur.
Is Bute good for laminitis?
Bute can be a powerful anti-inflammatory and helpful in the management of laminitis cases. That being said, horses can develop gastro-intestinal ulceration and inflammation, particularly right dorsal colitis. When used in compromised patients or at high doses for extended periods of time, Bute can cause kidney damage.
