Dancers condition....

[Golden Girl]

Hey Heather, I was wondering if the Vet had any suggestions on preventative measures that we as miniature owners could do to avoid that type of impaction that Dancer had. I read in my Mini Medical book about it, and I am concerned about my minis welfare. I understand that Dancer is a young mare, and I am blown away that she had that problem at her age!

I am soooooo glad that she will be recovering from such an ordeal! You guys spared no expense for her benefit. I respect that, and also feel the same about my horses ;D Our wonderful animals are worth every penny that we spend on them, and lots more!

;)Thanks for any input, Laura

[Heather T]

You know Laura, it baffles me. There are some that will take this next statement badly, but we do everything that we can for our horses to keep them healthy and it still doesn't seem to be enough, while there are people who throw theirs in a pasture with just hay and water and they don't 'seem' to have a problem.

We fed twice a day up until Dancer's impaction. We had decided to go to once a day and it happened to fall at the same time, but we feed the best food, we give supplements, they get shots and farrier and wormer all on schedule and we still have these issues. We also feed physllium three times a week so that should clean out everything that's in there.

I'm just stupified. I can tell you that Dancer has never been a big drinker and that was probably her downfall. We'll have to keep an eye on that but that's hard to do with once a day feedings...so...what do you do?

Any suggestions out there will be greatly appreciated.

By the way - Dancer is running a fever now from the incision site..a slight infection has set in so she won't be coming home tomorrow as planned . Her buddy Precious is getting depressed and has been looking for her.

I'll keep ya'll posted.

[TessElaine]

Thinking of Dancer and still sending in prayers....

[Golden Girl]

Thanks Heather, I agree with your statement whole heartedly! I also do the best that I can by my horses, and when something happens that is out of my control (which in 40 years has happened several times) I do the best that I can for them. Even run up a BIG Vet bill! And with commitment & diligence, both the horse & I recover from the incident
I'll meditate for Dancer's fever to subside asap. I'm sure that the Vets have her on some great antibiotics ;D that will do the trick! Give her a big KISS & HUG for me

FYI: I read an medical article at one time that tested the affects of using physllium for sand in the gut verses feeding hay. The conclusion was that given enough hay for the horses roughage, the sand does not build up in the horses gut! Something to think about.
Also, I feed(pellets) to my minis & ponies once a day, with plenty of hay of course, and they stay in good weight. Even through the winter. But a mare with a foal on her I feed twice a day ;D

[shammy]

At the barn I worked at there was a lady who gave her gelding warm bran mash everyday and a dailly wormer with his regular grain. He had impacted on her and since she feeds this way at 24yrs he is doing great. I think the extra water in his food is really what does it becuase he to isn't a drinker. She has a heated bucket for him in the winter which helps. Horse big an small have such touchy tummy.

[Heather T]

The water issue is one of the reasons that we give the warm soaked beet pulp, which she loves. We figure that she gets water that way too.

Thanks for your suggestions guys!

[Golden Girl]

I agree, My 20 yo TB mare gets soaked beet pulp 2x day mixed in with her feed & supplements. Since I do feed a dry pellet, especially in the winter, I wet the pellets, along with the supplements alittle so the moisture required to digest the feed is not drawn away from the horses gut.
Fat & fiber, along with adequate moisture is the key to ensuring to healthy gut. ;D