Rounds With Doc T
This is a live meeting with Doc T, during which members can ask questions about horses. Doc T... View more
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Rounds with Doc T August 1st, 2024 [[Replay]]
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Rounds with Doc T August 1st, 2024 [[Replay]]
This Rounds With Doc T focuses on fructose metabolism and the adverse effects of chronic fructose availability. But fructose doesn’t just come from food—all animals can make it!
There are also various questions (see below timestamps).
0:04:41 – A question about hoof abscesses and their association with summer heat and dry weather.
0:09:30 – The structure of glucose versus fructose.
0:12:31 – Which is better: glucose or fructose? I discuss what fructose does that makes it the perfect food to prepare animals for the upcoming winter, but then I tell you what happens when fructose is made available every day of the year.
But it’s not just eating foods with fructose. There is a biochemical pathway called the Polyol Pathway (or the Sorbitol Pathway), where animals can convert glucose into fructose. This is a big discovery, and it is why all animals with access to high-glucose foods every day of the year become metabolically sick.
0:50:00 – This is the end of the presentation on fructose.
0:53:15 – A question about swollen glands in the throat area that a body worker said was from low thyroid and was placed on a supplement for the gland.
1:03:09 – A discussion on horse behavior that may not be the horse but may be a reflection of the owner’s frustration.
1:05:03 – I suggest rose hips as a source of vitamin C, which will counter uric acid.
1:07:13 – “When it comes to excess, what is too much food for you? My horse is big—17.3 big body weighs just shy of 1500lbs. He gets ¾ quart SBM twice a day with ½ quart of Timothy pellets. He is offered 2 flakes of second cut Timothy three times a day, which he does not usually finish. Do you think he is overfed?”
This breaks down how I feed horses, with several small tidbits of information.
1:16:21 – a small discussion of sand colic.
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4 Replies
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I know you would like for us to soak our horses hay but what is the best way to get them to eat it? With the price of hay now it’s to throw out uneaten hay. Do you play mean mom and keep offering up that same plate of uneaten “liver” and tell him that’s all he is going to get until that plate is cleaned up young man or……?
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@serena It’s hard to change the hay (in this case, from dry to soaked) when pasture is available. While I don’t know your exact situation, the approach you elude to of being a “tough mom” may be the only thing to do. The trick is to soak what hay you know they should eat or a bit less. It’s easier to add some hay, and if most of it is soaked, then most of the sugar has been removed. Be patient.
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Thanks for answering back. The sad part is I don’t have any pasture. My other problem comes down to a long distance to my barn and a barn owner who will not “add” any extra hay if he eats it all.
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@serena The simple solution would be to find another barn. Unfortunately, other barns are often unavailable or too expensive. If your horse needs soaked hay because of metabolic issues, you must consider moving him to a barn willing to help your horse. Moving to another barn may be inconvenient, but consider that this could be temporary as you develop plans to change your home location to one with a barn and pasture. Your commute to work may be longer, but whether you find a better barn or a home with pasture, your horse will be cared for how you want, and you’ll have time to listen to my podcasts!
I feel your pain because I often hear from horse owners about being trapped by restrictive or insufficient boarding barns. I hope you find a solution. In the meantime, be patient and do what you can to help your horse thrive in a human world, including becoming a “tough Mom!”
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