Trimming is important with laminitis but so is diet. She needs a low-starch, low-sugar, low-calorie, high-nutrition diet. Diet is also important for pregnant mares.
Full Answer
How do you treat laminitis in mares?
“Mares with a history of laminitis need to be managed carefully year-round to avoid flare-ups during gestation. Routine farriery, proper nutrition, and a hoof supplement such as Bio-Bloom PS ( Bio-Bloom HF in Australia) will all help keep a broodmare’s hooves healthy so she can produce a healthy foal,” advised Crandell.
Should you avoid laminitis in pregnant horses?
“Avoiding laminitis is always the best policy, and in many cases mares can be better managed prior to pregnancy and in early pregnancy to avoid bouts of laminitis late in gestation,” advised Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research (KER).
What causes laminitis in a pregnant broodmare?
Laminitis in Pregnant Broodmares. Unnecessary weight on her hooves, in addition to hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, puts a broodmare at a higher risk of developing laminitis than nonpregnant mares. “Mares with a history of laminitis need to be managed carefully year-round to avoid flare-ups during gestation.
Is it possible to treat a pregnant mare?
Little information on the topic is available, so treating pregnant mares presents great challenges and frustrations.
How do you treat a pregnant mare with laminitis?
Providing soft footing such as sand yards and medical treatment such as Phenylbutazone (“Bute”) for pain relief can improve the mare's comfort level. Shoes and farriery techniques are used to help support the laminitic hoof.
What is the best feed for a pregnant mare?
Dry mares in early gestation can basically be fed like any other mature, idle horse. Good quality pasture or hay along with a supplement such as Purina® Free Balance 12:12 vitamin/mineral supplement or Enrich Plus® Ration Balancing horse feed may be all that is necessary to meet these mares' nutritional requirements.
Can I give bute to a pregnant mare?
NSAIDs such as Banamine, Bute or Equioxx are generally used in a one-time dosage as chronic use may harm the fetus or cause kidney problems. Buscopan, which is an anti-spasmodic used in gas colic, should not be used more than once on pregnant mares for fear it will relax the cervix.
Is alfalfa good for pregnant mares?
The short answer is yes, it is perfectly acceptable to feed your mares alfalfa hay. If the hay is moderate quality or better, your mares will likely have no trouble maintaining their weight.
What should pregnant horses not eat?
Salt, water, and fescue. One type of hay or pasture to avoid is fescue, which is often infected with an endophyte that causes problems in pregnant mares, including prolonged gestation, difficult delivery, and lack of milk.
Is beet pulp good for pregnant mares?
Nonetheless, mares late in pregnancy are frequently offered additional energy in the form of concentrated feeds, such as those containing oats, soybean, barley, corn, beet pulp, stabilized rice bran, and other feedstuffs.
Is Dormosedan safe for pregnant mares?
Can I use DORMOSEDAN GEL in pregnant mares? DORMOSEDAN GEL has not been evaluated for use in breeding, pregnant or lactating horses.
Is Equioxx safe for pregnant mare?
Equioxx must not be used in breeding, pregnant or lactating horses. Equioxx must not be used at the same time as corticosteroid medicines or other NSAIDs.
Can pregnant mares get dexamethasone?
Conclusions: Dexamethasone stimulates precocious fetal maturation and delivery in healthy late pregnant mares. However, fetal HPA activity may be suppressed. Potential relevance: Dexamethasone treatment could be used to improve foal viability in mares at risk of preterm delivery.
How much alfalfa should a pregnant mare have?
Alfalfa should never be fed exclusively (due to potential mineral imbalances). Instead, strive for a 60:40 ratio of grass hay to alfalfa hay. The fetus gains one pound per day during the final three gestational months. Hay alone will not meet all the mare's caloric needs.
Is Timothy hay good for pregnant horses?
If the forage (pasture or hay) is of high quality, very little grain is generally needed until just before foaling. Hay should be a grass or grass mix, with not more than about 10% alfalfa, and ideally should provide around 10% to 12% protein. Orchard grass, bluegrass, Timothy and Bermuda are excellent hay choices.
How much alfalfa should I feed my pregnant horse?
If allowed to self-regulate her intake, she will likely consume 2.5 to 3.5 percent of her body weight as forage. Alfalfa hay should also be included to balance her protein needs. Alfalfa should never be fed exclusively (due to potential mineral imbalances). Strive for a 60:40 ratio of grass hay to alfalfa hay.
Does pregnancy put a mare at increased risk of laminitis?
Some broodmares are assigned to that role at least in part because they have already have lameness issues. Those issues may make a mare more susceptible to laminitis.
Christy West
Christy West is a freelance writer and the Web site editor for The Horse. She is also a former editor of American Farriers Journal.
