Hi Dr. T:
Question. I am trimming a very
skinny 30 year old QH (former polo pony). The owner neglected his care "for
quite a while". With my encouragement she did get his teeth done. One was
sticking out, into his cheek! I am no expert in the area but I knew that wasn't
right!
The vets told her to stop feeding hay as he might choke on it (although he
has never choked before) and start loading him up on chopped up alfalfa,
molasses and soaked Alfalfa cubes... free choice. Also to feed Purina
senior which is also loaded with molasses.
Just off the top, this doesn't sound like a great idea but I am no expert,
especially with these older horses. So I told her that you were our only hope
for insight into this issue.
He is turned out with his 25 year old QH mare friend in a decent sized
pasture. Our spring grass is just starting to peak through the ground. I
honestly don't know if he can graze and if he gets any nutrition from it.
Thanks in advance for everything,
D
Hi Dawn,
Even
those old horses like some fiber to chew on, even if they end up spitting it
out. There are grass-based pellets available now, so you don't have to feed all
that excess alfalfa. I'd say some alfalfa would be OK to help keep weight
up. Nature would likely have taken that horse by now, so going to some extra
attention and effort to feed processed things helps them keep going those few
extra days/years.
Like
you, I don't think all that molasses is a good idea... at all.
Dr.
TT
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