Question
I have a 27-year-old gelding that has lost 60-70 lb (27-32 kg) in the last four months. He is fed 2 lb (0.9 kg) of a low-calorie senior feed and has access to both coastal Bermudagrass and orchardgrass hay. In addition, he’s fed flax and a coconut-soybean oil. His ribs are visible, so I’d put his body condition at a score of 4 (1-9 scale). His teeth have been routinely floated for the last 10 years and he is dewormed routinely. He is now rejecting the coastal Bermudagrass hay, which is worrying to me. Should I try to add stabilized rice bran?
Answer
As you alluded to, weight gain requires a positive caloric balance, which can be achieved with further fat supplementation, including the use of stabilized rice bran. Prior to introducing stabilized rice bran, however, I suggest increasing the amount of senior feed. The current intake is below the minimum feeding rate outlined in the feeding directions, which means your gelding may be missing several important vitamins and minerals lacking in forage. Gradually increasing the amount of feed will increase his caloric intake and provide the nutrients needed for optimal health.
Once he hits the upper limit of the feeding range provided by the manufacturer, you can consider adding stabilized rice bran to further increase caloric intake. An alternative would be to transition him to a higher calorie feed or a feed designed to be fed at a higher rate. While you are increasing the amount of feed, you can continue to offer the oil.
It sounds like his forage intake has decreased due to his distaste for coastal Bermudagrass. Providing free-choice hay that he consumes readily would also help improve body condition. If offering another type of hay is not possible, hay alternatives like cubes or pellets may be appropriate for increasing his forage intake.
Supporting hindgut health of senior horses struggling with body condition can help them get the fullest benefit from the diet by bolstering fiber digestion. The hindgut, which consists of the cecum and colon, is the main site of fiber digestion. The hindgut contains a large microbial population that is extremely sensitive to changes in the diet. Providing the hindgut buffer EquiShure will help to stabilize hindgut pH for optimal microbial function and fiber fermentation. EquiShure is designed to be fed twice daily for consistent buffering.
