Many people ask “what is a safe feed for horses with laminitis?” As a starting point it is important to think about why we feed, and this varies according to the type of laminitis prone horse we are feeding. When it comes to laminitis in horses, feeding needn’t be complicated. Simple sugars increase the level of insulin, which in some horses triggers laminitis. Feed only grass hay until advised by your veterinarian. You should NEVER feed a feed to a laminitic horse if it has any of the following ingredients: Oats, corn, wheat, rice or barley; Millrun, millmix, bran (rice or wheat), pollard; Any form of steam flaked, micronized or extruded grain; So read all labels and lists of ingredients carefully before buying a feed and remember.It is buyer beware. This is a common problem in overweight broodmares and stallions. If your laminitic horse needs to gain weight, increase the amount of low sugar forage you feed them. Laminitis is quite unlike any other equine disease. Avoid all cereal-based feeds as donkeys can be maintained and encouraged to gain weight on fibre-based products without the need for inappropriate cereal feeds, Do not allow the donkey access to grazing while suffering an acute laminitic episode, For chronic cases always restrict grazing by area rather than time at grass as donkeys can eat the same amount in 8 hours of turnout as they can in 24 hours, Do not starve the donkey as this may put it at risk of life threatening, Do not allow the donkey to graze a frosty pasture on a sunny morning as the level of fructans in the grass may be very high at this time, Do not feed senior or conditioning feeds even if the donkey is underweight as these feeds are too high in proteins, fats, starch and sugars, Remember there is no safe time to graze a laminitic donkey - fructan levels in grass can spike at any time of day or year with the right weather conditions. Feeding cereal-based concentrates is generally not recommended due to the risk of health problems (unless specifically recommended by a veterinarian). A securely supported bucket or a self-filling trough should be constantly available and should be cleaned out daily after the stable has been mucked out to avoid a build up of dust or dirt in the water. To characterise objectively the radiological anatomy of normal donkey feet and define the nature and extent of anatomical change associated with laminitis. Diagnosing and treating the primary problem (laminitis is often due to a systemic or general problem elsewhere in the horse's body). This damage is irreversible and difficult to manage, plus these horses are more inclined to suffer subsequent episodes of laminitis in the future. There will be no waste as the remainder can be used for bedding. There are links between obesity, laminitis and other health problems. Always feed according to the donkey’s age, weight and temperament. Norma became a bit portly and then … suffered laminitis. Managing weight is also just as important as feeding a low non-structural carbohydrate diet. Feed forages with a low starch and sugar content, preferably under 10% sugar and starch, Have ‘farm produced’ forage tested to check the energy and sugar content, Commercially produced high fibre ‘laminitic safe’ haylage can be a good option, Very low energy short chop products may be useful, Check feed and bedding straw for retained grain, Feed little and often to ensure donkeys are trickle feeding as they would in the wild, Encourage ad-lib feeding - straw is particularly useful for those with good teeth and should be freely available, A non-pasture run out area such as a dirt paddock, sand school or bark chipped area will allow the donkey precious exercise time without access to grazing once veterinary advice allows periods of exercise, Use an appropriate feed balancer to supplement vitamins/minerals if feeding a straw only diet. Select a chaff product for animals susceptible to laminitis as a good product for your donkey that has trouble eating straw or hay. Laminitis is a complex cascade of events that causes the soft tissues (laminae) within the hoof to swell, weaken and die. Most recommendations involve buying expensive supplements for your horse, that have a million ingredients and heavily processed. Encourage feeding of safe treats such as high fibre nuts, fresh mint leaves and small quantities of fruit. Here’s what you should be feeding: Grass or pasture hay – preferably older hay (low sugar – no clover or rye) that is not mouldy Wheaten chaff (small amount of Lucerne chaff or oaten... Read more » Ideally the daily ration should be divided into frequent small meals so that the time Lolly is without feed is kept as short as possible. Donkeys require a diet high in fibre and low in protein, sugars, starch/carbohydrates and calories. If possible, position the feeder so that the donkey’s feet are not on the bedding while they are eating, so they have a chance to dry out. Your vet will probably prescribe painkillers such as phenylbutazone, commonly known as bute, a very common pain killer. An overweight donkey is not a healthy donkey. Donkeys frequently accumulate fat on their necks and are at high risk of insulin resistance and laminitis. My farm in May 2015 was covered in weeds despite me mowing constantly. Any change in the feeding regime must always be carried out gradually over a couple of weeks. I was told to use a chaff that doesn’t have anything it it so he has the correct amount of bits and mins and no extra of anything. Types of suitable hay include: Meadow hay or seed hay (from Rye or Timothy grass). Do not be tempted to let them gorge on less grass or start feeding them high sugar or high calorie hard feeds. Laminitis affects structures called sensitive lamellae that are located inside the horse’s hoof. Too many horse owners have reported their horses foundering right after pastures were fertilized. Dietary restrictions; stop feeding all grain-based feeds and pasture. Donkeys should always have access to a clean water supply and they may be quite fussy about what they drink. Read this before you feed epsom salt to horses with laminitis.There are a range of feeding techniques to avoid/eliminate laminitis in horses. Hay nets are not recommended as it is better for donkeys to eat from the floor and empty hay nets can be a hazard. Continually assess your donkey’s body condition and make changes to the diet accordingly. This can all occur before any symptoms are apparent and once the process has started it is extremely difficult to stop. Norma became Sonja’s favorite (of course!). Practical feeding Strategies Donkeys and mules that are not doing any work should be able to meet all of their nutrient requirements from good grass hay fed at a rate of 1.5% of BW and a low intake ration balancer pellet such as LMF Super Supplement G. Remember there is no safe time to graze a laminitic donkey - fructan levels in grass can spike at any time of day or year with the right weather conditions. Expert opinions and modern research … Perhaps the nitrogen in the fertilizer triggers the laminitis. The best scenario is that correct diet and general management of your donkey means you never see laminitis. Limit cereal (grain) based diets. It is recommended to allow ‘paddock’ time to exercise and for environmental enrichment. April 7, 2020 at 9:37 pm. Please look out for ragwort in hay as this is highly poisonous for donkeys. Feed little and often as donkeys are ‘trickle feeders’. A high fibre, low sugar diet, limited access to grass and rigorous weight management will go a long way to preventing this disease. It is important to take care in determining when and how much to feed a donkey. These donkeys will require veterinary attention to address the dental issues and special dietary attention to ensure they receive adequate nutrition. Nothing, plus a bit of hay is a common diet. during the winter months). Do not attempt to manage a laminitic donkey alone. Laminitis is an extremely painful condition affecting 1 in 10 horses/ponies every year and can cause permanent damage to the hooves. Follow our essential advice to help your donkey maintain a healthy weight. It was at that precise laminitis moment that I returned to Grass Valley. What to feed a horse with laminitis – mash feed ok? short-chop high fibre products to reduce the need to chew. Various factors can cause laminitis, with overfeeding of nonstructural carbohydrates being one of the most common. This can be achieved by feeding mature Lucerne hay that is typically lower in fructans and higher in protein than other hays. My mare came down with laminitis on Friday. Donkeys with laminitis need specialist feeding, which often requires major changes to feeding and other aspects of daily care. They are able metabolize their feed very efficiently and can be overfed very easily. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-should-i-feed-my-donkey/, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, Common health problems associated with an inappropriate diet. She was brought into a lovely stall at dusk and received the full 4-Star treatment with special love, affection and a bucket of apples/carrots/donkey treats nightly. Horses with equine metabolic syndrome or Cushing’s disease are at an increased risk for developing laminitis. Signs of dental disease include drooling, dropping feed, slow or reluctant to feed and bad breath leading to weight loss. I’m after some advice please if anyone could help that would be fantastic. She’s on box rest and she’s struggling with the soaked hay. If you suspect your donkey has laminitis, ensure it has access to a deep bed of shavings, easy access to food and water, then call your vet immediately. Laminitis is a complex health issue and successful management of such a painful, serious and long-term condition is dependent upon many factors. Obesity. It can occur occasionally, for example if a horse or pony breaks into the feed room. Avoid feeding sugary treats. Getting your horse or pony’s diet right with a case of laminitis is an essential part of their care and recovery. As with many diseases, prompt treatment can make all the difference. Laminitis can affect any horse, pony, donkey or their hybrid at any time of the year and not just in spring – there is no ‘safe season’. The donkey diet should consist of mainly good quality barley straw or oat straw (barley straw is best) and carefully. Obesity is a major concern in modern domesticated donkeys and mules. All of our UK sanctuaries are temporarily closed until further notice. My pony has top spec zero chaff and a good vits and mins (calm healthy horses) and salt. What to feed horses with laminitis? The donkey diet should consist of mainly good quality barley straw or oat straw (barley straw is best) and carefully restricted access to grass. Please consult your vet should you have any questions or concerns. Please see the following site for more detailed information about diet including poisonous and toxic plants to avoid: www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk. But I was willing to apply weed killer. April 8, 2020 at 9:11 pm. You should always ensure feed is … Encourage feeding of safe treats such as high fibre nuts, fresh mint leaves and small quantities of fruit. The sensitive lamellae act like Velcro to form a strong bond to hold the pedal bone in place within the hoof. Dental disease and/or other health problems may mean that older donkeys have trouble chewing long strands of straw/hay and therefore they may require supplementary feeding to provide an alternative fibre source. Feed at least 1.5% of the horse's bodyweight unless under veterinary supervision. Donkeys have evolved over thousands of years to live in semi-arid environments where the nutritional quality of the food available is very poor. Never starve a horse with laminitis - this can cause hyperlipaemia (which has a high fatality rate) particularly in pony, donkey and miniature horse breeds. Is it better to feed her grass hay higher in nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) or alfalfa lower in NSCs but higher in calories? A laminitis diagnosis can be a life-changing event for both a horse and an owner. Please note that, while donkeys are a member of the Equidae or horse family, they are a different species to horses and therefore have different needs. ‘L’ Mix is a chaff based feed that is suitable for those prone to laminitis, with a combined starch and sugar level of only 5.25%. The anatomy of the forefoot was quantified from lateromedial radiographs of 83 normal and 74 … Laminitis is a severe, painful inflammation of the laminae, which are interlayered tissues that connect the soft and solid structures within the horse’s hoof. Hay – The base of a laminitis diet Base the diet on forage feeds that are low in sugars and fructans (collectively called Water Soluble Carbohydrates or WSC). Methods. Foods that fit this description are mature grasses and hay made from mature flowering grasses. Important note: Some donkeys, even young donkeys may have difficulty eating straw, hay and grass due to poor dentition. She isn't overweight or underweight. Yes, and no. 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