Could feed change bring on lami?

[kturner]

I have just changed from hifilite, and topspec antilam to Equilibrium Low Cal from Winergy/Spillers.

I did this about a week before my pony started getting footsore, which was 3 weeks ago now. I was still giving him half doses of antilam whilst I changed over but now stopped the antilam.

Equilibrium sent me emails, brochures in the post, and on the web site it says it is wonderful for laminitics, it is just that this coincides with the moving of the electric tape. I was assuming grass, but now I am wondering anyone else had experience with this feed as it is relatively new I think

[Teazle]

No experience but you could try changing back for a bit to see if the footiness goes?

[*Sez*]

Short answer is yes.
Any sudden change in feed can upset the microbial population of the gut. As the organisms die, they release a toxin which can cause colic and/or laminitus. Most manufacturers recommend that change overs of feed happens over a minimum of a ten day period, increasing one and decreasing the other which it sounds like you've done. While some horses change over with no problems, even over shorter periods, others have a hard time with it.

Perhaps give the feed manufacturer a call and see what they recommend. It may be nothing to do with the feed at all, and could be the grass as you thought, but it's worth checking it out.

[MelanieD]

Try cutting it out and see if it makes a difference, its surprising what some horses will react badly to so its always worth trying cutting out something that may be causing problems.

[kturner]

I have actually started the topspec and hi fi again, and started using the newfeed as a salt and pepper sprinkle on top for taste, it is supposed to be for laminitics, I just dont trust it.

He got lami very lightly, just starting, but he wasnt properly better in August when I tried to stop the topspec, which is why he went back on a I swore never to change again.

Got sucked into this new lami product, and now I dont know, and probably never will. If he is on less grass again and back on topspec, how will I decide which one it was. Actuallly it doesnt really matter, as long as he gets better.

I am dissapointed because it was going to cost me a lot less, and they are such a good company and it looks really lovely, he loved the free sample and puts his ears back when eating it. No grooming with that nice food in the bucket you might pinch it. lol

Never mind back on boring hifilite and antilam. I will keep to the salt and pepper until it runs out to make it a bit nicer.

Thanks all. I will watch the threads and see if any others have similar in the future. They have put so much research into it as well??

[artemis]

I once changed my brand of low sugar sugar beet & pony was footsore in a few days. (changed back immediately)

[kturner]

Artemis - thanks that is good to know that two lami products might bring it on or not depending on pony.

a little weird though, then should they be allowed to say laminitic product when it is actually up to the pony?

[puzzles]

It could oif his metabolism changed and his digestiob system was dirrupted. Was the change gradual? Regardless of the product, such changes can cause all sorts of upsets and unbalances in the horse.

The [products go through strict testing and research as well as trials tpo be classified as 'suitable for laminatics'. Of course it depends on the individual, but it cannot be claimed that this product alone soley caused the laminitis - there was only a correlation, it perhaps only made it more likely to occur rather than actually causing it.

x

[Wally]

I have seen several horses all go down with colic simply at the change of hay. They had finished hay made from one park at one time of year, and we'd opened a new lot of bales, made on the ame farm but different field at an earlier date.

Within the day 3 of them had gone down with a mild colic and squitts like you have never seen! ..............Took your life in your hands as these horses lived in stalls! walking behind them down the aisle ran te risk of a liberal pebble dashing! ;) They were fine after that, and finding an old bale and mixing it 50/50.

[kturner]

I did a two week change over, swopping 25% for 4 days, then 50 for four days and then 75 for four days.

I have not changed his hay, just the tape and grass problem.

He is not usually sensitive, but I havent tried changing him for 3 years. First three years with me he only had hay. Second three years dengie and antilam. Before that he was feral for 4 yrs and had nothing but grass.

He has had odd meals of other things, some of my mares food sprinkled on etc. never been sensitive, but maybe it was not enough to make an impact.

I am not blaming the product at all, just would like to know if he is getting more sensitive to the grass, or the food, or both.