Question
I own a seven-month-old Hanoverian colt with physitis. He was weaned about a week ago and brought to my place from the broodmare farm. The physitis was first noticed about two months ago. At that time, his fetlock joints looked boxy, and the veterinarian advised his caretaker to reduce his feed intake. Fast forward to now and I am worried about him. Though he is not lame, something is not right with the joints. I understand that proper feeding is key to improving this problem. He currently gets 1.5 quarts of a high-fat, high-fiber feed providing 12% protein, 10% fat, and 17% NSC as well as an MSM supplement. I added the MSM when he arrived. I don’t think this is the appropriate feed for him but, because I didn’t have a better solution, I continue to feed it. Help, please!
Answer
Physitis is common among growing horses; fortunately, they usually grow out of it with little to no permanent damage. The fact that he is sound is a good sign. In addition to misshapen fetlocks, do you notice any unusual contouring in the growth plates above the knees? This is another usual place for physitis to appear.
The first recommendation involves a balanced diet. A primary concern of his current diet is protein quality and quantity. Foals achieve 90% of their adult height in their first year of life, which represents a tremendous amount of growth. Protein and, more specifically, certain amino acids such as lysine, are vital in supporting healthy growth. While the colt was nursing, protein in the feed or forage may not have been much of an issue but, now that he no longer has milk, he requires quality protein.
You do not mention what type of forage he is fed. Is he out on grass pasture? If so, is it lush or sparse? Just grass, or clover and grass? Does he get hay? Grass hay or any alfalfa hay? The forage will probably supply over 75% of the weanling’s nutrition, including some protein. To balance a ration, every component of the ration should be taken into consideration (forage, feed, and supplements).
The current feed is appropriate for adult horses but not properly fortified with protein, vitamins, and minerals for growing horses. Further, he is eating only 1.5 quarts daily, which is well under the recommended feeding rate for even a mature horse on that feed. If he is maintaining weight on forage and that small amount of feed and because of his need for more protein, vitamins, and minerals, the best option for him is a ration balancer (a low-intake, highly concentrated source of protein, vitamins, and minerals).
The ration balancer could be used in conjunction with the current feed, where it would boost the fortification to levels required by a growing horse, or the ration balancer could be fed alone and the other feed stopped altogether. Typically, a seven-month-old growing horse would need about 1 lb (0.45 kg) of a ration balancer per day, though that differs slightly from one brand to the next.
As for supplementation, along with the MSM, consider feeding a research-proven supplement such as Triacton, a triple-action supplement designed to improve bone density and support gastric and hindgut health in horses of all ages. Regarding skeletal health, in one research study, Triacton increased bone density in weanlings in winter when bone density typically decreases. Because weaning and introduction to new environments, including a new herd, can be rife with stress, gastric support is often warranted. Triacton increases buffering capacity when subjected to acidic conditions, like those of the stomach, potentially decreasing the risk of gastric ulcers. Moreover, Triacton has a beneficial effect on the hindgut, bolstering buffering capacity by 54%.
