Aged pony with IR won't eat CarbSafe grain-HELP!

[spotmenow]

So, the pony we rescued is over 30 years old, has only 5 teeth left and recently has developed insulin resistance. She was getting most of her calories from Nutrena SafeChoice and Haystretcher, since she can't really chew hay (even when wetted down). I tried Poulin's Carbsafe and she HATES it. Suggestions?

[deltawave]

Do you soak the pellets? Maybe if you use something she DOES like (alfalfa pellets, maybe?) and add in the new stuff little by little?

[ThoroughbredFancy]

Blue Seal Carb Guard is another grain to consider with an NSC level of less than 11%.

You can soak hay pellets/cubes and beet pulp. Those are palatable for a horse with less teeth.

I don't know much about feeding an IR horse though.

[matryoshka]

My picky pony won't touch the Carb Guard, but yours might. I started using Rice Bran Pellets to keep her weight up. Works great. Normally I wouldn't try a high-fat supplement, but I have seen it work for other potentially IR/Cushingoid, old, toothless ponies. She's kept her weight up better despite missing teeth and cancer. I also have her on Alfalfa pellets, and I use a Timothy/Alfalfa cube well soaked in water so she gets some stemmy food. Oh yeah, she gets beet pulp, too.

So far so good. Make sure the feed is very wet to avoid choke.

[ladipus]

So, the pony we rescued is over 30 years old, has only 5 teeth left and recently has developed insulin resistance. She was getting most of her calories from Nutrena SafeChoice and Haystretcher, since she can't really chew hay (even when wetted down). I tried Poulin's Carbsafe and she HATES it. Suggestions?


Triple Crown Senior - NSC - 11.7% - very soft/easily digested/also wets down nicely into a mash

Triple Crown Low Starch - NSC- 13.5%

Triple Crown Lite - NSC - 9.3%

Triple crown safe starch forage - NSC - 9%

Triple Crown's feeds are very palatable and even the pickiest of horses seem
to really like their feeds

check out their website ... www.triplecrownfeeds.com

also Progressive Nutrition makes a ration balancer-Pro Advantage Grass diet balancer or Alfalfa diet balancer-depending on type of hay-also low NSC,and they also make a ration balancer w/ an extruded fat supplement built in if extra calories are needed called Pro Advantage Hi Fat Formula
check out www.prognutrition.com
check out

[Equilibrate]

I would second the Triple Crown low NSC feeds horses seem to like them adn they are high quality and easily digestible. Have you also had the pony tested for cushings? We are about to hit the seasonal ACTH rise and horses with cushings have a harder time in the fall due to this seasonal rise. Cushings horses have a hard time maintaining weight due to their higher cortisol levels. The only proven treatment for cushings is the drug pergolide. If the pony is cushings this treatment may go a long way in helping you to keep weight on him.

If you need help to brainstorm ideas I would be happy to help you out.

Clair

Independent Equine Nutritionist
www.equilibrateequine.com
info@equilibrateequine.com

[spotmenow]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Yes, I always wet whatever I feed her. She also hates beet pulp (discovered that a long time ago)...I have alfalfa pellets that I could wet but I know that some IR horses don't do well on those either. I guess I'll give the TC products a try...Purina's Wellsolve LS has way too much iron in it; our soil/water already is very high in iron.

[deltawave]

Iron in soil and water is not readily bioavailable . . . probably doesn't mean anything.

[BornToRide]

It is common for horses who have been used to something tastier in the past (meaning higher in NSCs) to refuse lower NSC feeds.

Like others have said, try to mix in some alfalfa pellets. You could also use some flavoring, like carrot powder, fenucreek, etc. Good luck!