Alfalfa is safe to feed a Cushings horse. Legume hays, such as alfalfa, tend to be higher in calories and protein compared to grass hays (i.e. timothy, bromegrass, etc.). But, good quality forage is naturally low in carbohydrates.
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Horse Feeds for those that maintain a healthy weight:
- Hi-Fi Molasses Free.
- Healthy Hooves.
- Healthy Hooves Molasses Free.
- Alfa-A Lite.
- Alfalfa Pellets.
What should I Feed my senior horse with Cushing’s disease?
What should I feed my senior horse with Cushing’s? Feeds low in soluble carbohydrates (sugar and starch or NSC) are recommended. Feeding recommendations are to provide a total diet with less than 20% NSC for most horses with Cushing’s disease. Some horses and ponies may need a dietary NSC level of less than 10% to avoid excessive complications.
What should you not feed a horse with Cushings?
Also, because horses with Cushing’s are more prone to insulin resistance and high blood sugar, feeds and forages with higher non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) should be avoided. NSC’s are what make up the starches and sugars in your horses feed and forage. What treats can I give my horse with Cushings?
Does my horse need a Cushing’s syndrome test?
Cushing’s syndrome horses require a hay or pasture source that is low in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), so you might want to have your forage tested.
What do you feed a horse with high energy requirements?
Increased energy requirements can be met by feeding alfalfa (lucerne) hay or chaff, super-fibers such as beet pulp and soy hulls, or a low- to moderate-NSC feed. Feeds that are higher in fat (greater than 6%) are preferred as they are less reliant on carbohydrates for energy.
What is the best grain to feed a horse with Cushing's?
Increased energy requirements can be met by feeding alfalfa (lucerne) hay or chaff, super-fibers such as beet pulp and soy hulls, or a low- to moderate-NSC feed. Feeds that are higher in fat (greater than 6%) are preferred as they are less reliant on carbohydrates for energy.
Is beet pulp good for horses with Cushings?
Triple Crown Senior (http://www.triplecrownfeed.com/products/feeds/senior-horse-feed- formula-seniorhorsefeed) is a beet pulp-based, textured feed recommended for Cushing's horses that have a hard time maintaining weight and need a little extra fat, without the extra carbohydrates.
Can a Cushings horse have alfalfa pellets?
Regular exercise reduces blood glucose levels, so it will help horses with Cushing's disease. Standlee Premium Western Forage offers several products that can be beneficial in the feeding program of horses with Cushing's including: Premium Alfalfa Pellets or Organic Alfalfa Pellets.
Can Cushing horses graze?
Since laminitis and founder are more common in horses with Cushing's disease, pasture grazing should be severely limited or totally avoided.
Are oats good for horses with Cushing's?
Even though oats are the grain lowest in sugar and starch, at around 45 to 50% starch they are still far too high in starch for horses on a low sugar and starch diet, eg insulin resistant horses, horses prone to laminitis, those with disorders like Cushings or PSSM etc, as well as many horses who are prone to ulcers, ...
How quickly does Prascend work?
Clinical improvement is usually expected within 6-12 weeks of starting Prascend treatment, however the length of time between initiation of treatment to being able to see a response can vary from one horse or pony to another.
How do I get my horse to eat Prascend?
Starting with the easiest...Hide it in their food. ... Put it in a piece of apple or carrot. ... Wedge it in a polo or preferably three! ... Make a sandwich! ... Mix with some apple puree or custard.If your horse doesn't have laminitis you could add a small amount of molasses or honey to a handful of feed and put the tablet in.More items...
Which is better alfalfa cubes or pellets?
There is no nutritional difference between alfalfa pellets and cubes, so the choice between the two is based on which type your horses prefer and which you prefer to feed and store. Alfalfa pellets, cubes, and hay provide the same essential nutrients per pound.
What hay is lowest in sugar?
Low sugar hay is extremely important in a horse's diet due to its health properties and the enormous benefits it can offer. While lucerne usually has lower sugar than a lot of grass hays, it more often than not tests HIGHER in sugar, starch & protein compared to our Low Sugar Hay.
How long does a horse with Cushings live?
Well-managed horses should live about five to seven years or more past diagnosis. In severely affected horses, however, laminitis and recurrent infections are time-consuming and expensive to manage and can shorten the horse's anticipated life expectancy dramatically.
How do you feed Cushcare?
Feed 400g-1kg/100kg bodyweight per day in conjunction with free access to forage....High in oil and fibre to provide calories for weight gain and condition without adding starch.Contains essential amino acids to support muscle maintenance.Added B vitamins and carnitine.More items...
Do all Cushings horses get laminitis?
Equine Cushing's cases always develop laminitis if they live long enough. They may become immunosuppressed and subject to a variety of parasitic or infectious agents such as helminthiasis or pneumonia. Many cases show muscle loss and become polydipsic and polyphagic; they may be diabetic.
Can you feed too much beet pulp?
Due to beet pulp's relatively high calcium and low phosphorus levels, feeding too much could imbalance the calcium to phosphorus ratio in the diet, which could interfere with normal bone development in young horses.
Does beet pulp make horses gain weight?
Beet pulp can be used to help underweight horses gain weight, as it provides approximately 1,000 kcals per pound (one quart of dry beet pulp shreds weighs approximately 0.5-0.6 pounds).
Is beet pulp good for Laminitic horses?
A supplement containing protein, vitamins, and minerals will help the horse heal damaged tissues. For thin laminitic horses, consider providing calories from beet pulp (without molasses), alfalfa hay or cubes, soy hulls, or vegetable oil.
Is beet pulp safe for horses?
It is an excellent food source for horses that have difficulty putting and keeping weight on without supplementing their diet with traditional concentrates. Beet pulp is also good for horses that can't chew their food properly or need to avoid dusty feeds because they have a respiratory issues.
How to help a horse with PPID?
NSC of hay or other forage should be 12% or less. This plan is intended to also improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of laminitis. A forage or fiber-based diet is ideal for obese horses with PPID to provide gut fill and supply energy in the form of volatile fatty acids. A low-intake balancer pellet is recommended to supply amino acids, minerals, and vitamins that may be missing from forage.
Can you feed alfalfa to laminitis?
Increased energy requirements can be met by feeding alfalfa (lucerne) hay or chaff, super-fibers such as beet pulp and soy hulls, or a low- to moderate-NSC feed.
Can horses have insulin resistance?
Feeding horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), also called Cushing’s disease, can sometimes be difficult because these horses are often older, overweight or underweight, and may have insulin resistance, with or without recurrent laminitis.
Can you feed a horse with Cushing's disease?
Feeding Horses with Cushing’s Disease. Feeding horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), also called Cushing’s disease, can sometimes be difficult because these horses are often older, overweight or underweight, and may have insulin resistance, with or without recurrent laminitis.
Can horses eat pellets?
If extra energy is needed, feeds with moderate carbohydrate content, fed in small meals, are acceptable. Some horses may do well on just a balancer pellet rather than a traditional feed. Obese horses with PPID should be managed ...
What should horses with PPID eat?
Regardless of the answers to these questions, horses with PPID should be fed a primarily forage diet that will maintain (or regain) ideal body condition and to avoid obesity, which will worsen insulin resistance.
What to feed a senior horse with PPID?
Senior-type feeds, sweet feed, or oats with hay can be fed if additional dietary energy is needed. Obese horses with PPID should be fed similar to horses with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) to encourage weight loss, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce the risk of laminitis.
Why is pasture grass high in NSC?
Owners should be advised to be aware during times of the year when pasture grasses can be high in NSC because PPID can worsen insulin insensitivity in susceptible horses and result in laminitis. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) concentrations have been shown to have seasonal variation and be highest in September.
When is the highest ACTH concentration in horses?
Mean ACTH concentration was highest from August through October. Insulin concentration differed over time in horses affected with PPID. Glucose and insulin concentrations peaked in September, which combined with the seasonal peak in ACTH concentration, may contribute to an increased risk of pasture-associated laminitis risk in the fall.
Can you feed a horse with Cushing's disease?
Feeding horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), also known as equine Cushing's disease, can sometimes be difficult because horses affected with PPID are often older, underweight, and may have insulin resistance with or without recurrent laminitis.
Should horses with PPID be allowed to work?
Whenever possible, horses with PPID should be allowed turnout time, as exercise improves insulin sensitivity. Forced exercise or work should be reserved for horses that do not have active laminitis and are free of musculoskeletal disorders. ADVERTISEMENT. ico_unmute.
Can horses with PPID be fed sweet feed?
Whenever possible, horses with PPID should be allowed turnout time, as exercise improves insulin sensitivity. Forced exercise or work should be reserved for horses that do not have active laminitis and are free of musculoskeletal disorders.
What is the purpose of Cushing's feed?
The goal in feeding a horse with Cushing’s, is to limit the intake of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) feeds , such as the sugars and starches found in grains. In many cases, feeds that are labeled as “senior” feeds are also high in NSC content and should be avoided when feeding a horse with Cushing’s disease.
What does a cushing horse look like?
This horse has the typical Cushing’s appearance of a shaggy, unevenly shed out coat and muscle wasting.
What percentage of energy should a senior horse eat?
The objective is to feed a diet that has less than 10 to 20 percent of total digestible energy (the combination of sugars and starch, or NSCs). High-fiber components, such as these found in hay, hay cubes, pasture, and beet pulp, should constitute the main portion of a senior horse’s diet. Most horses will eat between 1½ to 2 percent ...
How much hay should a horse eat?
Most horses will eat between 1½ to 2 percent of their body weight per day in forage. (For example, a 1000-pound horse should be fed 15 to 20 pounds of hay per day.) It is important to recognize that some hays may contain high levels of NSC, depending on the species of grass and when and how it was harvested.
Can you feed molasses to horses?
In general, you’ll want to avoid all grain and/or feed with molasses, this includes eliminating treats, horse cookies and candies since they are high in sugars.
Does pergolide help with cushings?
A Cushing’s horse also benefits from the effects of medication like pergolide, which can reduce the clinical signs and secondary effects of the pituitary malfunction. This medication facilitates the horse’s best use of a Cushing’s “diet.”. Read more on Cushing’s Disease >>.
What is a cushings horse?
What is Cushings? Cushing’s Disease, or Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), is a relatively common, progressive condition that affects older horses (generally 18-plus years). Symptoms of Cushing’s include a longer and often curly hair coat that doesn’t shed as easily in the summer, and increased water consumption and urination.
What is the cause of Cushing's disease?
Cushing’s Disease is the result of a tumour in the pituitary gland , which is located within the lower region of the brain. The tumour causes the pituitary to secrete large amounts of the hormone adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH in turn causes the adrenal glands to secrete another hormone in excess: cortisol.
What is the best score for a Henneke horse?
Alternatively, some Cushing’s horses are overweight, and that puts them at extra risk of laminitis. A Henneke body condition score of 5 would be ideal.
Can horses lose weight with Cushing's disease?
Losing gluco se, and therefore calories, through the urine can also make it challenging to keep weight on a horse with Cushing’s Disease. These horses may also develop insulin resistance as a result of increased glucose and insulin in their system.
Is dexamethasone a good test for horses?
Veterinary care for these horses is particularly important and includes a careful diagnosis. The dexamethasone suppression test is considered the “gold standard;” this synthetic hormone should suppress normal cortisol secretion in healthy horses, but wouldn’t in Cushing’s-affected horses. This test can be risky, however, ...
What is Equine Cushing's Disease?
Equine Cushing's Disease, now better defined as Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), is one of the most common endocrine abnormalities of horses and one of the most common diseases in horses older than 15 years of age.
How much fat should a horse have?
We recommend taking your horses fat score and weighing them using our scientifically validated weigh tape every fortnight. Ideally, you should aim for a fat score of 2.5-3 on a scale of 0-5.
Why do horses need amino acids?
Essential amino acids are very important for muscle growth and remodelling and ensuring you have the right source and amount is essential.
Do horses need electrolytes?
In some cases, a specific electrolyte supplement might be needed to maintain the electrolyte balance within the body.
Can horses eat starch?
Avoid feeds that are high in starch or sugar: Horses and ponies with PPID struggle to maintain normal blood concentrations of glucose and insulin. Feeding high levels of sugar and starch will make this worse as it will lead to a rapid increase in blood glucose, and hence insulin levels. This increases the risk of insulin resistance ...
What to feed a senior horse with Cushing's syndrome?
If your horse is not maintaining weight, you may need to increase the feeding rate of the senior feed or add a low starch, rice bran based high fat supplement. Most senior horses with Cushing’s Syndrome do very well on a senior feed and appropriate medication.
What do Cushing's horses need?
Cushing’s syndrome horses require a hay or pasture source that is low in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), so you might want to have your forage tested. They do well on senior feeds that are fortified with lysine, methionine, biotin, vitamin E and organic trace minerals (copper, zinc, manganese and selenium) to help maintain muscle mass, ...
How much NSC should a horse eat?
Research which established some of the current recommendations of 10-13% NSC in the diet for Cushing’s Syndrome or Equine Metabolic Syndrome horses is based on total diet intake.
Can you give horses pergolide?
As the number of horses known to have Cushing’s Syndrome increases, questions on how to feed horses with this condition also increase. As a starting management practice, your veterinarian may recommend pergolide as an added medication for your horse. This is available from a number of pharmaceutical sources by prescription.
How to manage a horse with Cushing's disease?
12 ways to manage the diet of a horse with Cushing’s disease. 1. Try to keep your horse’s waistline in check. Aim to keep a body condition score of around 5 out of 9. 2. Avoid feeds that are high in cereals. This is especially true for horses and ponies in light work, those prone to laminitis or overweight animals. 3.
What is the most common equine hormonal disorder?
Cushing’s disease (which is also known as PPID, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction) is the most common equine hormonal disorder and is most often caused by an enlargement of the pituitary gland or a tumour affecting the pituitary gland.
Can Cushing's disease be cured?
There is no cure for Cushing’s but with careful management, appropriate nutrition and veterinary treatment, horses can have comfortable active lives for several years with the condition. It’s helpful to remember that the best way to manage the diet of a horse or pony with Cushing’s is in a similar way as you would for a laminitic.
