This Month's Issue of THM

Processing Feed Ingredients - the lead article in the July issue of Dr. Eleanor Kellon's The Horse's Mouth can give you some insight on reasons to include - or not include - processed feeds for your horse.  I've long been a fan of using "straights" or "hard feed" - grain with as little handling and processing as possible but there are many circumstances where your horse might benefit from the improved energy availability of a processed grain. 

                                           

An eye opener in Electrolyte Replacement is that low potassium may actually reflect inadequate sodium (salt) intake.  Most "pleasure" horses don't need commercial electrolytes but would benefit from making sure their daily requirements for salt are being met - which they won't get from a salt block.  In the Southwest, where the dry air can cause a horse's sweat to dry up before it's noticed that the horse is sweating, an average size horse should be getting two to three ounces of plain white salt a day.

Veterinarian Lisa Lancaster of Lancaster Veterinary Services in Denver, CO explores the effectiveness of acupuncture in Equine Acupuncture, especially as an adjunct to treating pain and inflammation.  As we see more veterinarians learning and practicing alternative modalities themselves or referring their clients to  Integrative Medicine practitioners, it's important that we have some understanding of these modalities so we know what to look for and what to expect.

If you haven't looked into subscribing to The Horse's Mouth, you'll find it's a bargain.  Your monthly downloaded pdf issue will become a resource that you'll return to over and over again.  A subscription will give you access to past issues plus the opportunity to "Ask the Vet" - pose questions directly to Dr. Kellon in an international discussion forum.

Links:
Dr. Kellon's website www.drkellon.com
Subscribe to The Horse's Mouth here and check out the Equine Nutrition course offerings.
The Horse's Mouth discussion group http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Thehorsemouth/

Lisa Lancaster, MSc, PhD, DVM  www.lisavet.com
More information about the alternative modalities Dr. Lancaster practices.


Salt Deprivation: more common than you think  www.shotgunranch.me
by Claire Cox-Wilson, RN, BA  originally published in Bridle and Bit July 2011


Introducing New Feeds and Supplements (or "salting the environment") www.desertequinebalance.com  Introducing salt (and other new stuff) to your horse's diet