Warm Days, Chilly Nights and a Cold Snap Moving In - Salt is for Winter, Too!

Just another reminder that these conditions in the Southwest can set up your horse to easily become dehydrated which can lead to an impaction.

Your first line of defense? SALT!  An adult horse needs about an ounce of plain white salt a day added to feed for maintenance - about four teaspoons or a small handful. This will ensure an adequate "thirst response" as long as fresh clean water is available.  Most horses can't get enough salt solely from a block, although a plain white block or brick should always be kept available in their feeder and/or turn out area.

Next in our line of defense is monitoring water intake. My horses consistently are drinking ten to twelve gallons each now that the weather has cooled down, and a little more when daytime highs go up into the 80's (I just love living in Arizona!)  I long ago got rid of my automatic waterers and switched to large muck buckets for water, along with a 100 gallon tank in the turn out area. If you use automatic waterers, they need to be checked every day to ensure they are working properly and not freezing up during the night; providing a bucket of water also is good insurance but not always possible if you board. You should also do a hydration check on your horse daily - squeeze a fold of skin between your index finger and thumb, it should snap back flat in less than three seconds, and check that the gums are moist, not dry or sticky.

As horses age they make less saliva when they chew; this can be aggravated if water intake is inadequate. Combined with worn or missing teeth hay can become difficult to chew into digestible lengths which will pass easily through the digestive system leading up to an impaction.

Consider using a leaf mulcher to chop hay into finer lengths and/or wetting the hay down.  Getting the older horse used to accepting concentrates as a mash, with wetter and soupier consistency as it's accepted, is a good way to get more water into these older campaigners.  Hay pellets and beet pulp shreds will hold many times their weight in water and the fineness of the grind makes them a good option.

Caution with beet pulp pellets - unless they're soaked for several hours, beet pulp pellets can retain a hard center which may cause a problem for some horses.  I've been finding much more consistency in the beet pulp shreds I purchase now (cleaner, more consistent chop) than when I first started feeding beet pulp fifeen years ago, plus they soak up water quickly, eliminating the need for a long soak.

Feeding the mash in a large muck bucket will also encourage whoever is doing the feeding to add more water than if the feed is mixed up in a small bucket. I mix the beet pulp shreds, Timothy hay pellets, supplement (AZ Copper Complete), salt and any other add-ins in easy to carry buckets out to the stalls, then dump it into the large muck buckets and soak it all with a hard spray setting with a hose to thoroughly mix, using at least a gallon of water per horse.   The muck buckets are easy to keep clean and don't tip easily - at least not until they're down to licking up every last drop!


Bottom line - plain white salt is likely the most essential supplement you can provide to your horse - along with lots of clean, fresh water and quality forage.

Stay warm and enjoy your horses!

Patti
in warm sunny Vail AZ - until the weekend (Brrrrrr)

Links:
AZ Copper Complete - http://horsetech.com/arizona-copper-complete
Leaf Mulchers - http://www.bestreviews.guide/leaf-mulchers?
Large muck buckets -http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/search/muck%20bucket

Feed Naturally to Prevent Winter Colic - and Don't Forget the Salt!

Prevent Seasonal Colic and Ulcers Holistically by Joyce Harman, DVM from HolisticHorse.com

Not something we want to see in our barn!

“It’s no secret that horses have a finicky digestive system. By design, they should move and graze for up to 20 hours a day. This natural behavior keeps the hindgut full, which leads to a properly functioning digestive tract. Most horse owners aren’t able to provide this optimum environment and alter the horse’s patterns to fit into their lifestyles. At times, that means stalling horses or keeping them in small paddocks, while feeding them large amounts of processed feed. Whether we realize it or not, altering the natural behavior puts stress on the horse’s body.”

See entire article here.

Dehydration is often a primary cause of winter impaction colic. As the weather cools down, our horses may need to be encouraged to continue drinking adequate water - this is best done by adding salt daily to their feed. Most horses won’t get the one to two ounces (four to eight teaspoons) of salt they need to provide their sodiumrequirement (it's the sodium which triggers a thirst response) from a block. If your horses aren’t used to having salt added to their feed, you can start by “salting the environment” - literally sprinkling salt around their stall, on their hay, etc. the help them get used to the smell and taste.  Then gradually add up to at least one ounce per day for an average 900-1100 pound horse. If you provide free choice salt, make sure you monitor their intake.

It’s also important to monitor your horses’ water intake during the winter which can be difficult if you use automatic waterers - especially as they can be subject to freezing.

Old Camping Trick:  In my part of Arizona, we generally have only ten nights or less of hard freeze. I’ve found the easiest way to get fresh warm water to my horses on these days is to place a clean trash bag in muck buckets, fill them at the house then tie off the top of the bags.  I can then drive them to the barn in my truck or in a cart without sloshing or losing a drop. 

Warm regards from

Patti in sunny Vail AZ
 - where Fall has finally arrived

Links:

Winter Water Needs for Our Horses

http://www.desertequinebalance.com/articles/Winter-Water

Introducing New Feeds (or “salting the environment”)

http://www.desertequinebalance.com/articles/introducing-new-feeds

Prevent Seasonal Colic and Ulcers Holistically

http://holistichorse.com/health-care/%3A-prevent-seasonal-colic-and-ulcers-holistically/

Iodine - Too Much or Not Enough?

In the latest issue of a well known equine publication, an article on thyroid dysfunction suggests that "...most equine diets of hay and pasture grass (other than in the Pacific Northwest) contain far more than the daily required level of iodine...", and, in a sidebar, cautions that supplementation of iodine could worsen a suspected thyroid issue. Also overlooked here is the small but important role selenium plays in thyroid function.

Iodine deficient soils in the United States

Let's look at some of the facts about iodine.

The National Research Council (NRC), based on the best evidence availablle, suggests a dietary requirement of iodine for horses as a range and recommends using the average of that range as a minimum target.

Suggested range 0.1-0.6 mg Iodine per kilogram of drymatter (DM)
Average of range (0.1-0.6 mg I/kg DM) 0.35 mg I/kg DM

This can also be expressed as a weight-based requirement, presuming the horse has a daily feed intake at 2% of its body weight (BW), which works out similar to the above average.

Maintenance requirement 0.007 mg/kg BW
For a 1000 lb horse,  455 kg x 0.007 = 3.18 mg Iodine/day

For a 1000 lb (455 kg) horse taking in 2% of BW (9.1 kg DM) using the "range" above

low   0.10 * 9.1 = 0.91 mg Iodine (NRC questions if this concentration is sufficient)
avg  0.35 * 9.1 = 3.185 mg Iodine
high  0.60 * 9.1 = 5.46 mg Iodine

(Pregnant or lactaing broodmares have a higher recommended requirement of 0.4 mg I/kg DM.)

The maximum tolerable level for iodine has been set at 5 mg I/kg DM, or 45.5 mg for a 1,000 lb (455 kg) horse.  In a few instances (AZ horses on CAP water, high nitrates in hay, which I now always check in Southwestern hays and other grass hays with high protein levels) I will double the NRC recommendation but otherwise stick with the mid to high range.

From NRC - "Iodine toxicity [seen as goiter] usually results only when iodine is oversupplemented or when animals are receiving feeds containing unusually high amounts of iodine such as some types of seaweed." but toxicity in mares receiving as little as 40 mg a day has been reported.

Iodine concentrations in most common feedstuffs range from 0 to 2 mg/kg DM (equivalent to 0 to 18 mg in 20 lbs or 9.1 kg of hay) depending on the iodine concentration in the soil in which they are grown.  As with other minerals, many conditions can affect forage uptake of iodine from the soil and different farming practices may deplete or concentrate available levels.

Depending on free-choice intake of iodized salt to supply iodine requirements has been shown to result in iodine deficiency in pregnant mares resulting in leg abnormalities in foals, and even when iodized salt is directly added to the feed, the amount may not meed NRC requirements.

Without going overboard, ensuring an Iodine intake level equal to the standard NRC recommendation of 0.35 ppm up to the "high" range of 0.6 ppm might also provide insurance against uptake of the [very] low levels of I-131 detected by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitoring and other environmental "insults".

It is unlikely that using even the higher suggested range would tip your horse over the maximum tolerable level even if your forage contains a fairly high level of iodine. But we should also keep in mind that there is little direct equine research on iodine; without this it's difficult to consider levels higher than those which have been documented to cause goiter in studied horses - 5 mg I/kg DM, or 45.5 mg for a 1,000 lb (455 kg) horse.

Iodine testing for hay and forage is not readily available at most forage labs in the US; when it is the cost may be prohibitive.  For example, at Cumberland Valley Analytical Lab, the price for their Iodine test is $75. On the other hand, if your horse is experiencing issues you feel may be related to excessive iodine intake, the cost may be a worthwhile investment.

Iodine serum level testing (Iodine Total and Iodine Inorganic) is offered at the Michigan State Diagnostic Center. From their Iodine Testing document :

Total serum iodine and particularly serum inorganic iodine reflect the current dietary iodine consumption. Serum inorganic iodine is a good short-term measure of iodine consumption and will reflect excessive iodine supplementation, when present.

Often overlooked when considering possible thyroid dysfunction is selenium deficiency - selenium is necessary for conversion of the inactive hormone T4 to the active thyroid hormone T3 and selenium deficiency together with high iodine intake may result in low T4 levels and other thyroid issues.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9187638  Selenium level testing in whole blood in horses is readily available and also easily included in forage testing (generally under $40).

In summary, iodine is but one element of an overall mineral balanced equine diet. As with any other mineral or supplement, targeting just one nutrient without taking into account how all nutrients interact with one another is not likely to produce the desired results.

Don't throw away the iodized salt or iodine supplement but do make sure that protein, calories, major minerals and other trace minerals are balanced and appropriate for the horse's age, weight, work and reproductive status.  Check that any kelp or seaweed products you use contain guaranteed levels of iodine. "Sea salt", despite the reassuring name, often contains only minute traces of iodine and can't be relied on as an iodine source.

The next time your vet draws blood consider having her check a selenium level - especially if it's been suggested to add a "thyroid" supplement. It makes little sense to use a drug to correct a basic trace mineral deficiency - adding the NRC recommended levels of iodine and selenium may help normalize thyroid function test results.

Warm regards,

Patti in monsoon flooded Vail Az
Don't forget the salt!


Links
Nutrient Requirements of Horses, Sixth Revised Edition  (NRC 2007) Pages 91-92.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11653

My previous post about iodine - not much has changed
http://desertequinebalance.blogspot.com/2006/10/iodine-requirement-in-equine-rations.html
and thyroid (including links to Dr. Eleanor Kellon's "Understanding Thyroid" article in Holistic Horse)
http://desertequinebalance.blogspot.com/2013/02/understanding-thyroid.html

Cumberland Valley Analytical Services
http://www.foragelab.com/Lab-Services/Forage-and-Feed/Price-List

Iodine Deficient Soils Map
http://www.goatworld.com/articles/nutrition/iodine.shtml

Michigan State Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health
http://www.animalhealth.msu.edu/Bin/Catalog.exe?Action=Test&PAGE=12&Id=2236
http://www.animalhealth.msu.edu/Bin/Catalog.exe?Action=Test&PAGE=12&Id=2920
http://www.animalhealth.msu.edu/Sections/Nutrition/WEBCD.Nutr.REF.003.pdf

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