Monthly Archives: August 2008

Alfalfa in the Hay?

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Hi Dr Dan,  Have two mares, appaloosas/thoroughbred 13 and 14 years old , Boots and Sister, whom I  moved to a new barn 3 weeks ago. They are feeding a hay with alfalfa in it. The horses who Ive owned for 7 years now, seem unusually full of energy. They are fed 2 cups of oats am & pm. Can the alfalfa in the hay, Im told it is minimal,??? make them hard to handle and speedy. Thanks and sorry to bother you but im having some difficulty. 
Dotty

Yes it can.  Also, make sure they are getting the other proper nutients.
Consider listening to the What To Feed Your Horse online audio.
(www.WhatToFeedYourHorse.com)

It will explain the supplements needed to make oats complete.
Thanks for asking Dotty!

New Testimonial Hot Lines

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I enjoy reading the product testimonials I receive via email and it is extrememly satisfying to know that I helped a situation in some small way. But I know that it is not always convenient (nor easy!) to take the time to type out the thoughts I’m thinking in an email. And if you’ve read most of what I write, I often just type as I might talk. Some might say ramble!

 

I am making available new Hotlines available for you to use to leave a short testimonial about any of our products and your situation. Simply dial any of the numbers and follow the easy-to-follow instructions. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

  • Natural Horse Product Line-
    (214) 615-6505 ext 9971#
  • Natural Pet Product Line-
    (214) 615-6505 ext 2775#
  • “People” Product Line
    (214) 615-6505 ext 8084#

 

Mare’s Hock

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Hello Dr. Dan, A friend barefoot trim’s our horses, and she normally gives the hock a squeeze as she’s picking up a rear leg. This time, the skin over the hock stuck together, as if the mare was dehydrated or something. This didn’t happen on the other hock, and she’s definately not dehydrated. She did seem tender in that area. This mare is plump, in the field 24/7, and aside from Red Cal, just gets some grass hay in the evening. They’re getting hay now because their fields are fairly dried up at this time. Any thoughts? Do you think arnica would be helpful? Thanks so much!

Arnica would never hurt in any situation BUT I would suggest the Joint Check if you think it might be injury related too. Please check out the ”what to feed your horse” info at our website at: WhatToFeedYourHorse.com – especially the audio!

They (or even us) just can’t get what they need from grass or hay (or grocery store food) in today’s environment. they must be supplemented. The Red Cal is the single most important of all BUT IT alone is still not enough. thanks for asking. I wish I could help you more on the cause but …… 

Bots?

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Hi Dr. Dan,

I just read an article about Bots.  Never really knew much about them but they sound scary.  My horse ( the one with the head-shaking that the Aller-check seems to be keeping at bay) is on your Bug Check.  Does the Bug Check help with a bots infestation as you say it helps with the fly infestation?  The article said to give a horse Ivermectin to kill the bots.  However, the manure sample I sent to you came back clear and I don’t worm with anything but your Worm check.  I wouldn’t know a Bot from a spot so am I in good shape on this? I still have two more tubes of Worm Check but he is getting 2 scoops of Bug Check a day for the mosquitos.  Advice?
Bobbi G.

We can’t say that Worm Check kills bots for sure. We would have to kill horses to definitely determine because it would be very rare to show up on a fecal exam.

Bot eggs are laid by bot flies. The horses bite the eggs off and get the bot larvae in the stomach. Bug Check will help reduce the flies originally getting onto the horse, but not necessarily keep all bot flies and there eggs off the horse. If you see the little yellow bot eggs on your horses legs then chances are he does have bots. Of course we would use a bot scrapper of some sort to help keep them off when grooming as well.

We would use the Worm Check as well and in horses with compromised immune systems or situations where they frequently have other worms when fecals are done, we would give Worm Check 3 days in a row even. We don’t use chemicals personally however regardless of the bot eggs being on the horse. Is this 100% effective…

I doubt it honestly, but feel that if the horses immune system is good as possible too (Health Check, Aller Check or Joint check, off commercial  feeds etc. ) that is still a better route than chemicals.

For a head shaker… I would be very careful with any chemical because as you know, chemicals are the most likely cause .. at least in my opinion. Sort of a catch 22 in your case… Of course, we always use Bug Check and use it year round… in late summer, we generally increase the daily amount given because of bot flies. Hope this helps

 

Colic?

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Dr. Dan:  I own a 8yr old rocky mountain gelding that has colic twice in six months. 

I switched over to oats, just add oats, red cal and weight check after the second colic.  Both situations- the weather changed cooler at night and he did not drink as much. 
I feed free choice hay because I only have two acres and my horses are not on grass unless I hand walk them. 

Vet has suggested equine senior 2 quarts 3x a day with 60 cc of corn oil at each feeding.  Low bulk diet.  1/4th a flake of timothy hay 4x a day or chopped hay of denji.  The goal is to increase or decrease the volume being fed to maintain his weitht adequately and keep him content without resuming the volume of bulk he was used to prevously. 

Adding lite salt or electrolyte powder to his feed to encourage drinking.  My paddock area is 50 x 150 on quarry dust.  Vet suggested unlimted grazing allowed.   

Dr. Dan, I truly love this horse.  This diet the vet is suggesting is not what I think is best for him.    I agree with your diet. 

My question is that is the oats going to cause impaction in the small intestine since that is where it is digested (from your web call).  How much oats should I feed him?  I was giving one cup 2x day with free choice hay.  Was I wrong to feed him free choice hay since I lack grazing?   

Dr. Dan:  I love this horse with all my heart.  But I am unable to offer him unlimted grazing.  If he is only allowed 1/4 of flak of hay 4 x a day I think he would be bored out of his mind and am afraid I will have behavior problems and unhappy mountain horse.  I would hate to sell him to a home that has lots of land because he is the closest to bomb proof that I have ever seen in a horse.  I love him.  But I can’t have this happen again to him. 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.   He just came home from the horse clinic from colic by being treated intervenous fluids to help him pass the impaction.  I already see a change in his personlity regarding his engery level from the clinic vets diet. 

Any suggetions would be greatly appreciated. 
Thank you.
Eileen K.

P.S.  I had the pleasure of meeting your daughter at dinner with H.T. a few years ago. 

He does not need salt or other electrolytes. The oats and the diet suggested will and has prevented more colic than any I know. Oats are less likely than anything to cause impaction (though I doubt this is your horses cause for colic). Oats can cause impaction in  the esosphagus but only if there is some other problem causing partial paralysis etc.

 

But in the gut NO. Oats are actually a(ccording to the Natural Research Council for horses), better digested (hind gut) than other grains even and cause less gas.

 

SO>>> you know my opinion on commercial feed. Re read the article on “salt and minerals” found in the Magazine and in the Library (be sure RED CAL is offered Free Choice that is all the time every day every minute too).

 

I would consider offering the Hi Mag version of Red Cal perhaps . it can keep the gut a little looser … perhaps switch back and forth on the two products weekly. The Hi Mag is identical but it does have 6% added magnesium. You might also consider the Gut Check as a source of extra enzymes and probiotics for the gut to keep it even more healthy. In most cases gut check not needed because essentially all our products have some of such, but Gut Check is loaded.

 

You are doing the very best I know for your horse in my opinion and based on past results should, if anything nutritionally, help prevent more than anything else.

 

Thanks for your comments and thanks for your support!
 
P.S. I would also put a tablesoon of RED CAL on his food daily also since he drinks less.It can never hurt. (I would use the regular Red Cal for this)

 

Check out these helpful links:

 

The Natural Horse Vet Magazine:
http://www.DrDanMag.com

 

What To Feed Your Horse?
http://www.WhatToFeedYourHorse.com

 

Dr. Dan’s Library:
http://www.DrDanLibrary.com

 

The Natural Vet On The Net:
http://TheNaturalVet.net

 

All the more reason to get horses off commercial feed…

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Sweets Make Young Horses Harder To Train, Study Finds
ScienceDaily (Aug. 19, 2008)


Young horses might be easier to train if they temporarily lay off the sweets, according to a Montana State University (MSU) study that tracked behavior of 2-year-olds in training and compared it to their nutrition program.

The extra energy provided by sweet feed during the early stages of training made the horses in MSU’s study more disobedient and fearful than horses that only ate hay, said Jan Bowman, MS, PhD, an animal nutritionist at MSU.

The study involved 12 closely-related Quarter Horses that came from one Idaho ranch, Bowman said. Wade Black, instructor of the MSU Colt Starting class and one of Bowman’s graduate students, trained the horses for three weeks, five days a week at MSU’s Miller Livestock Pavilion. Half the horses ate only hay, which was a mixture of grass and alfalfa. The other horses ate five pounds of sweet grain a day in addition to the hay.

Both groups ate as much hay and drank as much water as they wanted.

Each horse wore a pedometer adjusted to its stride and attached with an Ace bandage to its left front leg above the knee. They also had a combination wristwatch-heart monitor hanging from their saddles. The watch displayed minimum, maximum, and mean heart rates detected by an electrode belt.

Black trained the animals for 30 or 40 minutes a day without knowing which animals had eaten grain and which ones hadn’t, Bowman said. She and Black also recorded heart rates and the number of steps the horses took during training. They assigned scores for behaviors displayed, including obedience, get-up-and-go, and separation anxiety.

“Results suggest that trainers under time constraints could increase their training effectiveness during the early stages of training by not feeding excess dietary energy,” Black wrote.

Bowman and Black conducted some of the experiments during the summer of 2007. Black presented their findings to the American Society of Animal Science in June this year.

He is still analyzing some of the data to see how the grain affected the horses’ adrenaline during training.
The study doesn’t mean that trainers should keep grain away from horses forever, Bowman said. They might consider withholding it just during the early weeks of training.

Bowman noted that all of the horses in MSU’s study gained weight during the study. It didn’t matter if they ate hay alone or hay with grain.

Their paper will be submitted to the Journal of Animal Science.

Fly Predators and Diatomaceous Earth

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I have recently been given an article that stated if fly predators were used to help keep the fly population down that you should not feed your horses Diatomaceous earth as it would kill the predators.  Can you comment on this?

Also, if this is true, can an internal product like Bug Check,  without the Diatomaceous become available?

We have had many (hundreds) use Bug Check with Predators. A large supplier of such was even suggesting our product at one time along with their predators. Although I haven’t seen them in quite awhile. I can only assume they don’t now because so many realized they didn’t need the predators too? Of course my opinion is that they would only help anyway. :-)

 

Mane and Tail?

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What natural vitamin or product can I use to help my horse grow a tnicker, longer and all around healthier mane and tail?

Our single most beneficial product would be the Hoof Check supplement. Also, see the information on “What To Feed Your Horse” at www.WhatToFeedYourHorse.com !

 

Gas Colic Prone Mare?

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I have a mare who has episodes of gas colic about 4 times a year.  It could be triggered by her hormonal system, and I’ve also noticed that she is prone to colic when there are drastic changes in the weather.  Do you think Gut Check could help her?  She is currently on Red Cal and Bug Check. 
Thanks for any suggestions. Sue S.

Definitely Gut Check, but also listen to the audio titled “What To Feed Your Horse”.

Commercial feed is far from the best and is often the cause in my opinion. I really suggest oats plus Just Add Oats 2x and especially in your case, the Weight Check oil supplement too.

For anything potentially hormonal you must access the fats. They must have good fats like in Weight Check. Commercial feeds have processed fats such as hydrogenated. These can really mess up the hormonal situation plus a lot more. Hence the need for what the audio and above information suggest.

I will definitely listen to the audio.  There is a woman in my barn who told me about your website and she is only feeding oats plus the “Just Add Oats” supplement, as well as a couple of your other products.  I’m sure the barn owner won’t mind if she has to feed another horse oats.  I will also tell her about the audio “What to Feed Your Horse”.

Thanks for the prompt response and the suggestions!

You’re Welcome Sue and Thanks For The Support and Thanks For Asking!

 

Cribbing?

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I have a thoroughbred that is a rescue from starvation.  Have had her since April.  She has gained her weight back but has the worst cribbing addiction.  What do you suggest besides constant turnout, low stress and a cribbing collar?  I have heard maybe too much stomach acid or ulcers might have something to do with it.  What do you suggest. I need to have her calm and to get her to quit if possible, she is ruining my fences.  Thanks. Kristen M.

Cribbing is the most frustrating habit of all and the most difficult to stop. Often it can’t be.

But … on the other hand, often something very simple stops it.

There is an article in the library section as well as an hour long audio discussion on cribbing that I did at one of the expos. You will also find a short video on chewing and cribbing there.

As for products, I would start with our RED CAL Hi Mag to make sure the minerals are right and probably, as bad as it sounds in your case, our Gut Check too. 

Be sure to listen to the audio titled “What To Feed Your Horse“.

About my horse’s fecal exams?

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Hi Dr Dan,
I just received the results from the latest fecal test for Lilly, which says “still 3 eggs”. (strongyles). This was about 3 weeks after I gave her your Worm-Check paste. I am a little worried because she is also rubbing her rear end a lot (which is probably also, like the belly and mane rubbing, due to the fly bite dermatitis, but of course I always worry that it might also be worm related?). In fact, she itches so much now that she usually, after greeting me, immediately pushes her rear end toward me asking me to rub and groom it (yes, she is a character!). Anyway, do you think it would be advisable to apply one chemical de-wormer once and then see if we get rid of these “three eggs”?
Many thanks
Christian

Not in  my opinion. But of course I am the odd one out anyway when it comes to drugs.. Strongyles don’t really cause tail itching either.

Thanks. So, do you think this is simply a normal and acceptable amount of strongyles in a horse’s intestines, or do you think this is a typical transitional picture and that eventually she will have less once she is “weaned” off of chemical dewormers? (she hasn’t had any in about a year now)
Thanks again.

BUT I should of also said this.. in my opinion 3 eggs is hardly any..

So when I use your worm-check paste, how do I use it (I’ve only used it once so far because I was feeding DE on a daily basis, which you think doesn’t cut the cloth). On a regular basis, like chemical dewormer (every two months), or based on fecal tests, and if so, from how many eggs on should I use it then?

Basically, use Worm Check based on fecals. It would however, never hurt to use it anytime since it really works by boosting the immune system any way. If the next fecal in a month, or so, were higher .. say 5 or more, I would for sure use and then recheck again in 3 or 4 weeks. Once they are consistently negative or low, then you can check only every 6 months or so.

Young horses, under 3 years where worm complications can be more serious, I would check more often and at least quarterly .. Generally a rule of thumb would be to check as often as one was deworming chemically on a rotation basis until you are sure they are consistently negative.

 

about 10 year-old QH gelding?

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Hello Dr. Dan, 

I have a question concerning a 10 yr. old QH gelding that 5 yrs. ago got very sick.

I trucked him to a Dr. in Ohio. There were 2 horses that had the following symptoms…

99 degree temps, drinking excessive water, eating excessive amounts, shaking/trembling, (one from the withers forward the other from the midsection backwards) humped up appearance. They were tested for West Niles and it was negative. They were also not tied up. Kidney and bowel functions remainded normal.   Our guess was poison.

There were 7 horses in the barn. Only 2 were affected. The doctor treated symptoms right off the bat. Such as charcoal, IV solutions, banamine etc. Then we continued with Banamine and vitamins. We used B1. The doctor had never seen anything like this. He agreed about poison. But we still to this day do not know what, how or where it was from.   He pulled blood, it showed high liver numbers which would mean it was fighting something off. He consulted every vet at OSU (Ohio) and called many vet friends across the USA including Texas I believe A&M.

No one had ever seen or heard of these symptoms. His wife told me that we had done something she had never seen. He had sat up all night long researching the problem.   The horses got better but never back to “normal” 

I tell this story now because that was 5 yrs. ago and the QH gelding this past spring started loosing weight again and started standing in a humped up stance. His nutrition was vamped up to the best of feeds and a lot of it. GOOD quality hay at ALL times and all the water he can drink which again is A LOT.    I gave the owners/caretakers of this horse some Red-Cal to try and told them I would e-mail you for any further instructions that you might be able to give.  
Thank you for your time Dr. Dan.   Bev F.

WOW, so difficult to say the cause…  BUT regardless of such, for sure, I would detox (decrease oxidative stress through anti-oxidants.. see page 34 of the magazine) and boost the immune system. RED Cal most definitely all he can eat all the time; also the Joint Check to help detox AND helpful herbs for inflammation.

Also You probably know my opinion of commercial feed. they are all full of hydrogenated awful fats and waste grains etc. please listen to the audio on “what to feed your horse”  and check out the article as well (page 26).

I strongly suggest oats along with the Just Add Oats 2x and the Weight Check oil. On the Weight Check since he has/is losing weight I would give at least 4 oz per day.. even up to 8 if needs the extra weight. 2 oz will NOT put on weight yet provide the essential fatty acids needed for general health and well being.

Check out all the helpful links on the menu at the right of this site.

 

My Dog Limping?

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My 5 yr old blue heeler mix has been limping in her front right shoulder for about 3 mths.  She is very healthy, still runs and jumps without signs of pain.  We were walking as much as 3-4 miles a day but have reduced to about a mile a day in recent weeks.  I have even rested her for 2 weeks at a time with very little activity in case she had a soft tissue injury.  Our VET can not find anything abnormal on exam or x-ray and her joint fluid is normal. I have been giving her Cosequin DS since 7-16-08. She was on Deramaxx 25mg for 10 days with no change, she was just started on prednisone 20 mg daily for 3 days, then 1 every other day.  I have not noticed any pattern to her limping, at times she may be a little worst or a little better.  Doesn’t seem to be related to resting, movement or exercise.

Thank you for your thoughts.

If your vet can’t find it I sure can’t, but thanks for the confidence of asking…

That being said, personally I would take her to the closest vet school  diagnostics. BUT do consider our Joint Check for pets and our Omega Oil as well. Both could help regardless of cause. Our Comfort Caps for people would also be suggested (I would personally give my dog 1 (small dog) or 2 (large dog) capsules twice daily). These contain Frankincense (Carteri and Serrata), a very great gift about 2,000 years ago for a very good reason.. it helps just about everything. These capsules also contain Acai (Brazillian Blueberries), Antrochrocyanins from Dark cherries, Cinnamon, Rutin and Curcumin.

Please let me know what the vet school finds.

 

Osteoarthritis- revisited…

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Hi Dr. Dan 

Yesterday, my 5 year old gelding, Lefty, was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in his left hoof. Yesterday, the vet brought out the xrays to show and talk with me and my friend Anja, who recommended that I go on your website.

He has been lame intermittently without any outward sign of a problem physically. What I hadn’t noticed over time was this bump at the coronet band in front . . . on the xray, it look like a bone spur growing upward and then there’s an opposing closing between two of the joints toward the back of the foot. In any event, it looks like it’s causing him more and more pain . . . of course, the vet wants to get aggressive with shots of steroids . . . and that’s not where I want to go . . .  Lefty is happy and eating well right now . . . the first day of shock is over . . . Tears come up now and then . . . it all just makes me love my horses even more and makes me realize how special they are to me. I think the tears are more about feeling the loss of the dream with Lefty . . . however, it may not be as restrictive as I perceived the vet’s message yesterday.

Fortunately Anja was right there listening to all of it while we looked at the xrays of his hooves . . . Anja heard something slightly different than I did. I’m glad she stayed over again last night. She seemed to have a calm, reasoning perspective. I’ve had my friend, Jun, a homeopathist come and review what the situation is and to take symptoms. One Monday she hopes to have a remedy to start with. Hopefully the inflammation that’s led to the osteoarthritis will drop off and lessen the pressure to build bone where it’s been hurting him . . . that’s how I’m seeing it in my mind’s eye. The vet said there wasn’t a chance it would reverse, but I’m not so sure about that either . . . we’ll know how the homeopathy works by how Lefty is walking in the round pen . . . and then eventually re xray his front two hooves. hmmm . . . It really is a good thing that I have two horses . . . this isn’t what I planned for, but then maybe something else will open up or change if I’m paying attention . . .  

Anja recommended that I get Joint Check and Just Add Oats from you . . . but she also said to call you and talk with you . . . and especially that I see you are a homeopathic large animal vet! I have some reading on your website to catch up on …   Can you help me? 
Thank you  Sandie W.

Your friend is correct. Just Add Oats- Double Strength formula AND our Joint Check.
 
 I would also suggest Weight Check Oil and at least for now, the Critical Care Laminitis formula. (this one will not probably be needed forever .. and thank goodness because it is a bit pricey.. but there is nothing like it.. I wish I could produce for less) 
 
Our Free Choice RED Cal too … all he can eat all the time ( I would get the Hi Mag version instead of the regular too).
 
Listen to our audio called “What To Feed Your Horse”…
You have just got tho get this horse off commercial feed as well and onto oats with the above supplements. Hang in there and thanks for asking!

Would you look at Lefty’s xrays in relation to the dosages of the supplements that are due to arrive tomorrow?
Sandie W.

I would for sure, regardless of the xrays,  suggest starting at the higher amounts for Joint Check and Critical Care.  Weight Check oil, probably 2 oz per day is plenty and Just Add Oats 1 scoop per day (provided). Always free choice on the Red Cal.

I’m not clear what you mean by free choice . . . I have had salt blocks just hanging on the wall of their places. Is it a block or a powder? I guess I’ll see tomorrow what it is when it gets here! Yippee . . . thanks for calling me today. It helps to know there’s someone there  to ask!

Get rid of the blocks.. read the article on page 21 of our magazine, watch the videos in our Website/Library etc. (Links are on the right side of this site)
 
As for the RED CAL- just get an extra feed bucket. put about 2 INCHES of Red Cal in the bottom and hang it up near the water, (stall or outside) Rain will not even hurt it and in fact makes it better!

Just pour the water off the top after a rain and add a little fresh. You never even have to wash the bucket or waste a drop. The rain even makes it like a clay in the bottom that won’t tip out if the horse plays with the bucket.

 

Alternative to Regumate?

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Is there a supplement or herb that could be used as an alternative to Regumate. My mares cycles are tough on her when she is not on Regumate but I’m not crazy about keeping her on it. If she is off it she is very uncomfortable and wrings her tail and bucks with urine flying everywhere. She is on Just Add Oats, & H2oil. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Mary P.

No replacement ..thank Goodness!   

I would increase the H2oil (perhaps another oz daily over the typical maintenance amount… the essential fatty acids are critical for hormone production) and add our RED CAL Hi Mag version as well.  The herbs in Heath Check may be beneficial too and sure worth the try.

Mare’s cycle?

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Hi there, a friend suggested I contact you with a question on how to help my mare through her cycles.

She seems to get more sensitive before her cycle, and the geldings’ normally serene lives get thrown in an uproar. Is there anything that will lengthen the time in between cycles, and/or lessen the “event” itself?
Thanks very much, Rose W.  

P.S: I’m a long-time user of Bug Check. Thanks for a great product!

Getting the vitamins, minerals and fats right are the keys to healthy cycles. Unfortunately commercial feed, salt blocks, minerals blocks do not provide such. Please see the article and the listen to the audio about What To Feed Your Horse. I especially would at least start with the Weight Check oil which is a great source of essential fatty acids- these are critical for hormone production. Thanks for the support!

 

Cat with FLUTD?

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I have an 8 year old neutered indoor male cat who last year was diagnosed with FLUTD. 

He was straining and peeing blood at the time.  he had surgery to remove stones (which were not in his bladder after they opened him up) and went through a variety of meds during recovery.  This change in his health coincided with me taking him off of the raw meat diet I had him on, but I only noticed that in retrospect.  It also happens that we had a baby that year which has come to be a huge part of the problem.   After his FLUTD symptoms got better, he began spraying in the house.  He had never done that before. 

Over the course of the past year, we have tried Feliway, giving him more attention, homeopathy, Bach Flower Essences, more litter boxes, etc.  His spraying has gotten worse and his attitude is very sad and reclusive.  It is clearly my son who upsets him and he won’t even accept love and affection from me anymore, because he associates me with my son.  We have tried to find him a new home but cannot find someone to take a cat like him.  We would like to try again to help him feel healthier.  I am going to return to the raw diet.  Do you have any other suggestions for him?  Also, we spoke with a few animal behaviorists who said nothing will likely work for him except putting him on Prozac.  I have never been much of a drug fan but our house is getting destroyed and no one else will take a cat that sprays, who is 8 years old. 

What else can we do and if we end up putting him on Prozac what can we do to support his health? 
THank you very much, Kim C.

Wow what a situation! I admire your tenacity and thank you!

I would get back on the diet you were on before. Cat Boxes all over the house may help, especially those places he has sprayed but the key is plenty. I would also suggest our Omega Coat Check oil at 1/4 teaspoon daily. anytime  I have nerves/brain etc involved it is important to get extra Good fatty acids. It is the best I have been able to come up with.

I would also consider our Aller check for pets to help boost the immune system. Our Human supplement called REDOXX may help detox as well as help mentally. (many humans report really feeding better and actually many getting off drugs etc. One was on anti-depressants for over 12 years).

 

Osteoarthritis?

Posted on by

Hi Dr. Dan 

Yesterday, my 5 year old gelding, Lefty, was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in his left hoof. Yesterday, the vet brought out the xrays to show and talk with me and my friend Anja, who recommended that I go on your website.

He has been lame intermittently without any outward sign of a problem physically. What I hadn’t noticed over time was this bump at the coronet band in front . . . on the xray, it look like a bone spur growing upward and then there’s an opposing closing between two of the joints toward the back of the foot. In any event, it looks like it’s causing him more and more pain . . . of course, the vet wants to get aggressive with shots of steroids . . . and that’s not where I want to go . . .  Lefty is happy and eating well right now . . . the first day of shock is over . . . Tears come up now and then . . . it all just makes me love my horses even more and makes me realize how special they are to me. I think the tears are more about feeling the loss of the dream with Lefty . . . however, it may not be as restrictive as I perceived the vet’s message yesterday.

Fortunately Anja was right there listening to all of it while we looked at the xrays of his hooves . . . Anja heard something slightly different than I did. I’m glad she stayed over again last night. She seemed to have a calm, reasoning perspective. I’ve had my friend, Jun, a homeopathist come and review what the situation is and to take symptoms. One Monday she hopes to have a remedy to start with. Hopefully the inflammation that’s led to the osteoarthritis will drop off and lessen the pressure to build bone where it’s been hurting him . . . that’s how I’m seeing it in my mind’s eye. The vet said there wasn’t a chance it would reverse, but I’m not so sure about that either . . . we’ll know how the homeopathy works by how Lefty is walking in the round pen . . . and then eventually re xray his front two hooves. hmmm . . . It really is a good thing that I have two horses . . . this isn’t what I planned for, but then maybe something else will open up or change if I’m paying attention . . .  

Anja recommended that I get Joint Check and Just Add Oats from you . . . but she also said to call you and talk with you . . . and especially that I see you are a homeopathic large animal vet! I have some reading on your website to catch up on …   Can you help me? 
Thank you  Sandie W.

Your friend is correct. Just Add Oats- Double Strength formula AND our Joint Check.
 
 I would also suggest Weight Check Oil and at least for now, the Critical Care Laminitis formula. (this one will not probably be needed forever .. and thank goodness because it is a bit pricey.. but there is nothing like it.. I wish I could produce for less) 
 
Our Free Choice RED Cal too … all he can eat all the time ( I would get the Hi Mag version instead of the regular too).
 
Listen to our audio called “What To Feed Your Horse”…
You have just got tho get this horse off commercial feed as well and onto oats with the above supplements. Hang in there and thanks for asking!

A testimonial…

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Hello Dr. Moore,  I’m not sure if this is where I need to send a testimonial, but it was the only place I could find, so here it is. 
I ordered 30 lbs of your Bug Check very later last winter/early spring so that I would have it on hand when it was time to start giving it this fly season.    I followed the directions of 1 full scoop for each horse who weighed about 1000 lbs for 3 to 4 weeks and then backed off to 1/2 half a scoop.  Well, as the spring progressed, the flies seamed to really be bothering my two boys and I was wondering why the bug check wasn’t really working.  They were getting fly bites on their chest and it was clear they were being bothered by the flies. 

Well I decided to go back up to the full scoop to see what would happen.  With in about two weeks, my two horses seamed much happier and I noticed the flies (which we did not have that many of) were not bothering them like before.    So, we have been going along on 1 full scoop per day per horse now for about 2 1/2 months.  Just the other day we added a new horse to our small group who has not been on bug check and I was able to see first had the difference between a horse who has not been on your bug check and one or two that have!  WOW!!  What a difference!    Our new horse was a magnet for the flies we did have.  I did have some fly spray on hand and had to go get it.  He was miserable, poor thing.  I haven’t had to use the fly spray in over two months on the two horses that I have.  I don’t like using chemicals so I only use something like that as a last resort.  Our new horse is a draft so he is on 2 scoops right now and I am using fly spray as needed until the bug check kicks in.  Hopefully it will be soon! 

I am sold on Bug Check, this stuff really works.  I wish I had known about it last year when I had my first horse boarded.  The flies at the boarding stable were really really bad and my horse was miserable!!  I just want to thank you for such a great product and will be trying some of you other products in the future. 
Kimberly W.

A testimonial…

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Hi Dr. Dan, I just wanted to share a testimony with you about our 2 year old Airedale Terrier Abbey.  We adopted Abbey at 2 1/2 months old.  This past spring, she started to bite at her back until the hair would fall out.  I started her on Aller Check and within a week, her biting has stopped and her coat has improved tremendously.  I now give Aller Check to our other Airedale Piper.  Both dogs also get Bug Check daily and amazingly we have not found any ticks on them.
What great natural products!
Marie C.

A testimonial…

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I am sure you hear this all the time but I will say it once more you were right.

I have an 11 year old mustang/arab that has been overweight most of his life. He had a huge cresty neck and stayed fat regardless of what commercial feed I was using or how much of it I fed. I live in Florida and have been using bug check since I stopped vaccinating my horses 3 years ago. Finally after reading your brochure that came with my monthly supply of bug check I decided to try your other products and switch the feed to oats. My horse lost all of his excessive weight including the cresty neck within the first month. All my horses look and feel great!
Thank you, Jodi M.

Product Comparison?

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Hi Dr. Dan, I have been on the past couple of calls and have posted your fine magazine on Craig’s List in Denver. I have been asked to compare “Just Add Oats”2x to Platinum Performance. Could you elaborate? I noticed that Platinum contains Cane Molasses and some of the minerals are in Chelate form as opposed to Sulfate form like your product. Another thing theirs does not have is probiotics..and they are very expensive. Would appreciate a further breakdown from you.
Thanks and keep up the excellent work. Mona K.

There are many good products and many that are not so good, as well. I have never really compared and honestly would probably not do so.  I just, with the help of other professionals when needed, formulate the very best product that can be formulated. Price is the very last thing I look at, BUT generally our products come out at least comparable and in most cases less costly.
 
Quality ingredients and combinations are keys and the right forms for the right species etc. For instance, which form to use such as, chelated, proteinated, sulfated, oxides etc. are all dependant upon which mineral one would be talking about and which species . Take Magnesium, when you need a lot, generally the oxide form in horses is preferred simply because using the sulfate is much more likely to cause diarrhea. Chromium is another example. We use a proteinated form in our horse formula but in people we may  use a niacin bound, proteinated AND chelated. (Chelated is very similar to proteinated by the way structurally.
 
It does sound like you have a good handle on what you are comparing and I appreciate the question. As you noted, we do not use molasses and we do generally always have direct fed microbials (probiotics) in most all of our products. If they are not digested they sure can be benefit!
 
Also undersatnd that the vitamin/mineral/enzymes are just the beginning. The fatty acids like those in Weight Check (gradually replacing our H2OIl) are crucial as opposed to processed fats found in most. The audio on “What to Feed Your Horse” explains a lot as does the article in the magazine on the same.
 
Getting rid of salt and mineral blocks and offering our RED CAL free choice is probably the most important thing overall. (listen to the audio called Uncivilized Health as it refers to our Human product called REDOXX too)

 

Feed Change?

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I purchased the “Just add oats” along with the Weight Check for my 1100 lb., 15.3 Missouri Fox Trotter….he is a big guy, built more like a quarter horse…a bit on the stout side.  He is an easy keeper, very food motivated and I just want to make sure that I am giving him the proper amount of oats.  When on sweet feed he was given a handful to a quarter scoop…I’m not sure if I should keep to the same amount with the oats….please advise. He is on pasture approx. 12-14 hours…evenings and gets 1 flake of hay with morning grain.
Thanks, Deb L.

Same amount is correct, then after a few weeks you can increase or decrease as needed based on his look, attitude, etc. I would also suggest the RED CAL Hi Mag and the Weight Check Oil .. do see, if not already, the audio and article, “What To Feed Your Horse” on the website.

 

Skin Rash?

Posted on by

Hi Dr. Dan! I have a 13 yo, mare who breaks out occasionally in large whelts all over her body. My vet always recommends benadryl.  Obviously she is having a type of allergic reation.  I would prefer to treat her with natural products. she is currently on bug check, oats and H2oil. The benadryl does help.   I have just ordered allercheck and plan to start her on it as soon as it comes.  Is there anything else you recommend?
Laura H.

I would highly suggest our RED CAL free choice … be sure to throw away all salt and mineral blocks.

Also, to help get rid of the “allergens” … that which is in the system that she might be allergic too & then consider the Health Check (or Joint Check if  the extra joint ingredients are needed). Either product will help reduce oxidative stress, (GREAT antioxidant benefits). These antioxidants are likewise needed to help get rid of the negative effects of the drug that has really only suppressed the symptoms….. that is made them go away only temporarily leaving the real problem still there and perhaps even worse.

Also be sure she is not getting any commercial feeds as well. See the article on allergies in the magazine too. (Link to magazine at right of this page)