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Help feeding the older horse

2K views 11 replies 6 participants last post by  gjb 
#1 ·
I have a 34 year old pony with Cushings and dental issues. Teeth were floated 6 months ago, Vet said last time. He is missing teeth.
He is quidding.
Afraid of him choking so I have been feeding, beet pulp, timothy pellets, timothy cubes soaked. Also found a great chopped hay product by Green Meadows, called Equal Balance. Costly at 25.00 a bag and maybe last a week/10 days.
So I bought a leaf shredder thinking I could shred my remaining hay so he could eat that also. It is dusty so what could you recommend to cut the dust. Won't eat if wet! Thought I could try some oil. Rice Bran or Flax seed oil?
He is on Prascend, Equioxx, hoof supplements, Smart flex Senior pellets. Of course have to watch the starch.
Been maintaining his weight throughout the winter.
Suggestions?
Thank you
 

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#4 ·
I Think you might be able to damp it enough to cut the dust back without making it too wet.

Try a sprayer of some sort and keep 'mixing' the chopped hay around so its evenly damped rather than wet
Only damp as much as you're going to feed in one eating session
 
#5 ·
Even though steaming hay is to remove dust for COPD horses, steaming is something you might try:)

@Acadianartist built a slick steamer, out of household items, for one of her horses. Hopefully she will come in with a materials list:)

Steaming the dust out would be a lot less tortuous for you, this time of year, than wetting hay, or even dampening it down:)

Otherwise, you are doing everything you possibly can for the doll face — and he IS a doll face:). You have given him great care over the years:cool:

This is OT but I notice his belly straps are on the loose side. If you can adjust them a little tighter, it would be a good idea, in case he lays down, to avoid getting a hoof caught:)
 
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#6 ·
Thank you, will check straps! Old picture, did tighten this morning.
He puts a smile on my face everyday!
Keeps this 71 year old in shape, throwing bags of fed and hay.
But is becoming a financial burden on Social security.

When I get an animal it is to death do us part.
This is his buddy Leo (the boss)
 

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#7 ·
Well — isn’t Leo just another little cutie!:):). I love those ears:)

Yes, we do stay in shape, hustling all this barn work, lol. I will be 73 in a few months. My chiropractor tells me not to stop the barn work or I will lose muscle and be “a goner”, lollol

Here’s the link to our Krones & Kodgers thread:). We would love to see you in there:)

We talk about all sorts of things in there as the younger ones have no desire to hear anything we have to say, lollol.

https://www.horseforum.com/horse-talk/krones-kodgers-aka-60s-thereabouts-655873/page475/
 
#8 ·
I also have an 27 yr old with dental issues; he had a tooth pulled, and I spent 300.00 for an equine dentist, and he is still quidding. I've been soaking alfalfa cubes, and i give him a little hay at night when he is in the stall. He is also on senior feed and a joint and hoof supplement. I feel like I wasted money on the dentist, because it didn't help. I had my vet float his teeth before I had the dentist come, because that was useless, also. I feel like I threw 500 bucks out the window.
 
#9 ·
The better way to look at that spent money is to hope your horse is less miserable than he was before the dental work, — even if he does still quid. His comfort counts for something ———-
 
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#10 ·
What we don't do for them,eh?
I found a good product by Green Meadows called Equal Balance chopped up enough for him to eat. My feed store orders it for me. No dust great product. Tried Standlee's chopped product, really dusty. Thought it would save me a few bucks but ended up taking it back.
Just bought a Sun Joe leaf shredder to chop the hay to help extend the other product. Have to figure how to doctor it up, they know it is not the other product. Little Stinkers! I have to remind them how good they got it.
 
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