Endurance riding driving or jumping on hard ground.
Can alfalfa cause laminitis.
Alfalfa might also cause some people s skin to become extra sensitive to the sun.
Free choice hay is usually the best place to start along with a vitamin mineral and protein supplement that matches your hay.
In addition alfalfa can overstimulate the pituitary gland.
She is getting no grain and she has never developed laminitis inflammation of the soft connective tissues within the foot that can result from a variety of causes including a diet too rich in nscs.
She is doing well on the grass alfalfa mix hay you are currently feeding.
Laminitis is a complex cascade of events that causes the soft tissues laminae within the hoof to swell weaken and die.
Laminitis can affect one or all feet but it is most often seen in the front feet concurrently.
It can also increase the hay s bacterial load.
It can also be caused by overenthusiastic hoof trimming.
However founder usually refers to a chronic long term condition associated with rotation of the coffin bone whereas acute laminitis refers to symptoms associated with a sudden initial.
Alfalfa is a high protein forage so it makes an excellent supplement for horses that are protein deficient or for horses that have higher protein requirements such as senior horses or pregnant or lactating mares.
A lot of horses seem to tolerate straight alfalfa diets fairly well while.
Some people though just don t want to feed alfalfa they believe it causes laminitis.
Your horse is in good body condition.
Laminitis is quite unlike any other equine disease.
I often recommend feeding it because it boosts the overall protein quality of a grass hay diet and in general enhances the horse s muscle tone immune system and overall health.
Three benefits of feeding alfalfa to horses.
Soaking can cause nutrient and even dry matter loss which is important for laminitis prone horses and or those in a weight loss program.
This can all occur before any symptoms are apparent and once the process has started it is extremely difficult to stop.
Alfalfa can be an excellent addition to most horses diets even for those that are insulin resistant ir.
The terms laminitis and founder are used interchangeably.
Severe lameness in one limb will cause a horse or pony to carry excessive weight on his other limbs which may cause laminitis.
If the horse is overweight but developed laminitis from a cause other than insulin resistance you can still use the insulin resistance diet guidelines below or implement the tips in our lean cuisine article.
