We supplement with psyllium on a monthly basis for a week. It helps prevent sand colic as the extra dose of fiber helps to pick up and move the grit along (keeps 'em regular!). If you did it daily all the time their digestive tract would adapt and it would no longer serve it's purpose.
It isn't an issue if you have pasture, but if the horse is on dry lot and they're snuffling around in the dirt you can guarantee they are ingesting some of it. It's probably about 2/3 a cup per thousand pounds. I'd have to check to be sure, but I don't think the measure cup that comes with it is quite a full 16 oz.
New studies suggest a combination of psyllium and mineral oil is most effective, but I haven't found anything published about the amount and the fact that it was administered via nasogastric tube puts it outside of my expertise or desire to administer.
My horses and I wish we didn't have to worry about sand colic. Acres and acres of fresh green for all!
Of course horses with metabolic issues (obese, insulin resistance, PPID/Cushings) often have to be kept on dry lot for reasons other than it being the only thing available.
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It isn't an issue if you have pasture, but if the horse is on dry lot and they're snuffling around in the dirt you can guarantee they are ingesting some of it. It's probably about 2/3 a cup per thousand pounds. I'd have to check to be sure, but I don't think the measure cup that comes with it is quite a full 16 oz.
New studies suggest a combination of psyllium and mineral oil is most effective, but I haven't found anything published about the amount and the fact that it was administered via nasogastric tube puts it outside of my expertise or desire to administer.
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All the horses I hung out with were in pasture, so I'd never had to think about sand colic. Good to know.
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Of course horses with metabolic issues (obese, insulin resistance, PPID/Cushings) often have to be kept on dry lot for reasons other than it being the only thing available.
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