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Cushing Horse Diet

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cushings
5K views 10 replies 7 participants last post by  Yogiwick 
#1 ·
Hello everyone
So I am working with a Paso Fino, that of course has Cushings. He is also prone to Laminitis.
We are trying to figure out the best diet for him. He is on low sugar grass hay, but we are struggling with what else to feed him. Purina Wellsolve L/S is not really an option due to it not being in the area, and we would prefer not to spend that much on his grain. What else is good for these horses? I have tried to research but have been overwhelmed by everything out there...
Help me!
 
#2 ·
Hi, as I'm not in your area, to know what's available, and as more info needed, I hadn't answered previously, but since no one else has jumped in...

Why does your horse need more than just hay/grass? Is the horse a 'hard keeper', or just needs it for nutritional supplementation for eg? If he needs extra calories, beet pulp, alfalfla, copra meal etc are some good additives. If only for nutrition, a good quality low dose 'ration balancer', such as KER Gold or SmartPak may be best, or a powdered vit/min supp mixed with a handful of beet pulp or such.

Of course, everyone would 'prefer not to spend that much', but do bear in mind that you often get what you pay for. Eg. I nearly fell off my chair when I decided on KER Gold Pellets for my guys and was told it was $170 a bag!! But after calculations, seeing that I'd have to buy other supps to add to any alternatives because they weren't as well balanced, seeing that vastly less quantity was needed compared to any alternatives, it actually worked out quite economically - far better than the apparently 'cheaper' option. The guy at the feed store nearly fell off HIS chair when I went back & told him I wanted it!

And check out ecirhorse.com (or maybe .org, I always forget), as a great resource. FeedXL.com is also a really handy service/program for working out what's necessary/best for your horse.
 
#3 ·
Agree with Loosie's recommendations.

Has your horse been tested? Is he getting Prascend?

When horses get on the appropriate dose of Prascend they do much better. For my horse: her topline filled in with muscle, some of her pot bellied appearance improved, she began to sweat normally, drink less water and urinate less, her hoof health improved, and she is shedding out better.

But I also feel it is important to provide a good diet with high quality, high protein hay and balanced vitamins and minerals. Cushing's depresses the immune system, so it is important to boost it in any way we can.

My horse's diet:
Low NSC, high protein grass hay (limited to keep her body condition score about 5)
1/2 lb beet pulp
1/2 lb alfalfa pellets with flaxseed added
Smartvite Thrive Senior vitamin pellets
Total Joint Care Performance (arthritis supplement)
Free choice salt block

She's 26 and doing well so far. I suspected Cushing's for about five years, but the vet felt her signs were very subtle so we didn't start her on medication until about two years ago. No laminitis yet.
 
#5 ·
Supposedly some have issues with it, but I have never heard exactly why or what the issues are. I've even read on Cushing's sites that "they aren't sure why" so it's anecdotal. A lot of alfalfa is low NSC and high protein, so some Cushing's horses do great on it.
I believe a lot of people are afraid to feed alfalfa to Cushing's horses because of the belief that alfalfa is high in sugar, but all the alfalfa we've had tested has been low in NSC. Most alfalfa pellets or chaff can have a guaranteed NSC, so that's great.
I've known people that wouldn't feed alfalfa hay to their Cushing's horses but fed alfalfa pellets so that didn't make sense to me.

Now a lot of horses with Cushing's are also IR, so don't need the extra calories alfalfa can provide.
 
#7 ·
i'm pretty sure purina's enrich plus is what my friend uses on her cushings horse (we use it on our non-cushings horses too) but it's a ration balancer so gets you the vitamins/minerals without the added stuff in a more traditional sweet feed

if you are interested in that give purina research center or at least local rep a call
 
#11 ·
Has he been tested for Insulin Resistance?

Make sure you have the Cushings as controlled as possible.

How is his weight? He he a hard keeper? Does he need grain?

The hay sounds good just remember that you can always soak it to get rid of even more sugar/starch if need be.

Your vet is probably your best bet for a suggestion but hay and a vitamin/mineral is the best way to go. If he needs more soaked (drained and rinsed!) beet pulp is a good option. You really want to avoid any sort of grain if possible. My own horse does need more as he is a harder keeper with the Cushings so I found a feed that has a little higher NSC (starch + sugar) then I would like but that he does well on (I would do beet pulp but that's not an option where he is). But that feed may be waaayyyyy too much for a more sensitive horse. And an easy keeper should definitely stick with just a supplement. My vet wants his body condition at a 4.5 or slightly less so unless actually thin you really do want the leaner the better.

But (for the third post today!) less is more.
 
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