Feed changes URGENT

[Soot]

Just saw my friend's 17yo mare off to the horsepital with suspected torsion :(.

Turns out she had a major and very sudden feed change about 7-10 days ago. So textbook cause unfortunately. The feed change was from pasture mix + chaff to Winergy low energy. They literally finished a bag of old feed and then opened a bag of new feed :(.

Anyway my reason to worry is that my oldies are on Senior conditioning mix + chaff. Two weeks ago, there was no senior conditioning mix to be had and I went to the shop three days running and then I was all out of feed. So I bought the Wynergy senior to tide them through. They only had that two days before the senior mix stock arrived so they went back on that but using the rest of the Wynergy + Readigrass instead of chaff since both have trouble chewing the chaff ... Having seen this mare deteriorate soooo quickly I am now absolutely terrified, esp since Rambo had colic about a month ago.

They're both pooing ok, and are also on pink powder which helps regulate gut flora a bit, but can I have

1. reassurance
2. signs to look out for!!

What a rubbish day :( My car breaks gave out on the way home too. :(

[Kim and Jodie]

Oh dear, it doesn't sound like you're having a good day. I doubt anyone will reply saying that there's no problem with swapping feed suddenly because we've all heard the horror stories, but by way of reassurance I've done similar things in the past with my veteran and (touch wood) there's never been a problem. Just keep an eye out for the usual stuff - fewer poos, tucked up appearance, lying down and not getting up, no appetite etc.

[puzzles]

Keep an eye out for any poo changes as well as discomfort (i.e. colic symptoms and internal discomfort, however minor) but it's great that you feed a digestive enhancer as this encourages the bacteria to adapt more quickly and easily to the new ingredients.

:-) They should be fine if they are still healthy and happy, though!

[Soot]

Vet attended Rambo's eye ulcer today and I had a looooong talk with her ... I was wibbling and wibbling about colic and then of course Rambo did a big healthy poo in front of her ... so I made her pick through it to see if he was digesting his long fibres properly ... and then I made her take some for the worm count recommended in another thread. I just hate this feeling of edgyness ... we still have no idea whether my friend's mare will make it.