I have a horse that has taken to chewing wood in the past few months. He is not cribbing–sucking wind. Any suggestions on how to stop this destructive habit?
Thanks.
Linda S.
Hi Linda,
At www.DrDanLibrary.com you will find a video you can watch and an audio you can listen too, that will give you lots of valuable information.
I would start with our Red Cal product, fed free-choice, all he can eat for sure.
Thanks for asking!
I am hearing that horses do not need any added iron in their supplement. The (our) Just Add Oats seems high compared to other companies products. Please explain. Also does "Hi-mag" RED CAL have iron?
If so how much. Thank You
Nancy D.
I am very cognizant of iron. There is actually a lot of iron all over the East. The further south almost the more iron, eastern NC having some of the highest. Unfortunately there is a lot of info that has just been "transposed" from human info which simply doesn't apply to horses. Horses must have iron. AND … Since THEY ARE GRASS EATERS, eating right from the ground, and the ground naturally contains alot of iron, The "good Lord" I think took that into consideration when the horse was made….For instance……The nice thing about iron is that "iron absorption is decreased as iron intake increases" (Advances in Equine Nutrition for the performance horse. RE: JD Pagan from KY.. the guru on equine diets).In other words….. the body absorbs only what it needs….
It is imperative that it be supplied and not eliminated from the diet regardless of where one lives. It actually is what oxygenates the blood through hemoglobin production. Of course some products have more than others, we have what is minimally required. Actually the NRC requirement is 500 mg / day for an average size horse. One scoop of Just Add Oats has 110 mg. Yes the RED Cal does have iron too and of course it is free choice. There is no "added" iron in Red Cal as it gets all its iron from the ground (the ancient sea bed from which it comes). As horses sweat they actually lose alot of iron too.. since a horse can sweat up to 30 liters a day they can lose up to 500 mg/day of iron just through the sweat. I hope you can see the importance of always making Red Cal available free choice and even having available in a trailer when traveling …Personally I do think PEOPLE get get way to much iron. It is NOT in our Human Vitamin mineral supplement called Vit A Veg Essentials. In fact, it is linked to Heart Attacks in people. a reason why pre-menapausal women have less heart attacks than man is that they lose it through blood every month. Men on the other hand accumulate and actually giving blood as a donor can reduce heart attacks… BUT WE WERE NOT MADE to eat right from the ground either— at least I don't think so!Iron in horses is way more of an issue if other minerals are not right. AND too much can interactive deficiencies of other minerals.. In other words I would never just add iron. The right copper, zinc, manganese, cadmium, and cobalt and even vitamins (especially the b's and folate) are critical. I do think many Hoof type supplement and Hemotenic supplements have way to much minerals in general. They are often the cause of of perhaps "any controversy" you may be reading about iron. These high levels of minerals fill "deficiencies" creating the hoof issues in the first place but after feeding such "high mineral supplements" for a while with the overall excessive amounts of minerals the deficiencies are more than filled and tip the scales of balance in excess – why the hoof problems return.. AND another reason "FREE CHOICE" RED Cal and our Hoof Check supplement are so great..They again have Mother Natures mineral mix from the ancient sea bed from which it comes – not mans!!Besides hoof supplements, Iron is a major problem with mineral blocks (added to make them red) in my opinion because the iron ties up the other trace minerals. Of course blocks in general are useless anyway too .Bottom line, is we do have adequate but not excessive in our supplements. The Red Cal being free choice and being "mother natures mix" actually "picks up the pieces" for mans lack of knowledge and probably even provides micro nutrients we haven't even yet discovered as everything that was in that ocean way back when, is still in the "mix" . It does have every mineral know to man for sure.One other note is the ratio's to others. There are some "Hoof Advisers" are saying that horses get too much iron (my thoughts are as I mentioned above.. too high minerals in general including the iron etc) BUT they also suggest a cu:to Fe (copper to iron ratio) of 1:4. Please note that is exactly what we have.Thanks for asking…. Rest assured I always keep searching and trying to learn. We are constantly testing too. I have our own test herd of over 250 horses.. all ages all uses, babies, brood mares, stallions, geldings… ALL and from pasture puppies to horses in intense training. Just so you know we have for over a decade now have tens of thousands of horses on our products with positive not negative results.Again thank you Nancy
Looking for info about dealings with the auto immune disease pemphiguis, my friend's mare been fighting it for the last 2 years but its a battle she ain't winning Any advice would be great!
Amanda A.
Others may say otherwise, but Pemphigus in my opinion, is the body attempting to discharge something through the skin, the bodies largest organ. The key is to help the body get rid of such junk, not put more back in and support the immune s…ystem.
Normally for situations like this I suggest our "Health Check" supplement, but since this has gone on so long, I suggest our Joint Check supplement, which has all that Health Check has but has the extra needed to provide the needed anti-inflammatory support. There is nothing else like our Joint Check!
But please note that the BIGGEST source of such "junk" is commercial feed with hydrogenated fats etc. I don't know what your feeding program is, but I also always suggest following our feeding program which you can learn much more about at the easy-to-remember site http://www.WhatToFeedYourH
orse.com/ and follow it to the "T". No commercial feed at all. To further support the immune system I suggest our "Aller Check" supplement (somewhat pricey but is awesome!).
Of course, vaccinate, deworm etc with chemicals and other sources of toxins as little as you feel comfortable with. We do fecals. Topically, I would only use our Grape Balm herbal would healer. It is ugly and stinks but works great.
There is an audio in my online library about Thrush and White Line (similar to Pemphigus, just as they are similar to Scratches) that you might enjoy listening to at http://www.DrDanLibrary.co
m/ Pemphigus is not easily remedied and can be a pain, but by focusing on working on it "inside-out" has helped hundreds if not thousands through the years.
Keep us posted and thanks for asking!
Hello Dr. Dan,
I have been feeding our herd of 21 equines your "What To Feed Your Horse" program since August 2010 and have been very pleased with all the results.
In addition, I also have a few "special needs" ones here who have been getting additional supplements such as Aller Check and Joint Check, also with good results. Now I am at the point of re-evaluating a few who seem to be not quite up to their health potential and would like some suggestions.
First is Rood D Tuesday a senior UK Shetland who came to us blind in one eye and recently diagnosed with Glacoma in his good eye. He is on the basic program, plus Joint Check and Aller Check and given the Marigold first aid oiltment on the weepy eye days. Is there anything else I can do to make him more comfortable?
I would probably just try using the marigold daily for a week or two to see if the increase in frequency might help
Next is Rica, a 15yr Paso Fino who has been founder/abcess prone since the age of two. Currently she is doing alright on the basic plus AllerCheck and Joint Check and Thyrol-L from the vet,but I wonder if there is something more I should be doing?
The problem with Thyroid meds is they shut the thyroid down. (called a negative feed back mechanism.. the meds essentially take over for the thyroid but the tyroid is responsible for so much more metabolism wise than what a synthetic hormone can provide.. I thus don't use! I would consider the Critical Care Thyroid/overweight formula (pricey but nothing like it) to help provide nutrients to actually trigger the thyroid to start working. Just "shutting it down" with a synthetic med can lead to many problems as the thyroid regulates the whole metabolism which includes much more then what can be achieved through a synthetic medication… just makes more sense to try to get it going again. my suggestion is wean off the med as you increase the critical care. I go by symptoms rather than blood work anyway as the tests quite frankly aren't that reliable anyway. Of course typical vets have no clue about such and only know the thyroid med route so discussing with them is pretty much useless
Next is Goliath a senior UK Shetland with Cushings Hypothyroid and appears COPD also. He is on the basic, plus Aller Check and Joint Check. I took him off the pergolide since I wasn't seeing any improvement what so ever.
Increase the Joint Check and Aller Check to a level that seems to help the most. any amount is only healthy start by doubling what now giving.
Last but not least Little Chief a senior mini who probably should be helped to the Rainbow Bridge but he seems to still have a desire to stay here IMO.Cushings and founder prone as well and very low weight. He is also on the basic with extra weight Check oil added twice daily and Aller Check and Joint Check. I think that about covers it for now.
Same as above, increase Aller Check and Joint Check amounts to what helps the most.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thank you,
Cindy B.
Thank you Cindy! Let me know how all is going after a month or so.
Thanks For Asking!
Hi Dr. Dan!
I'm wondering two things: 1. What do you recommend food and supplement-wise for dogs who have been diagnosed with PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) and have clouding of the eyes but appear to otherwise still be able to see pretty well in the daytime? 2. Do you believe there's a relationship between kidney and eye health? 3. What do you recommend for a dog with very low thyroid numbers in a blood screen? He does not exhibit any typical symptoms (lethargy, weight gain, etc.) 4. Who, exactly, would you take your dog with a skin growth to? I don't care where the doctor is, I will take our dog there. I need a specialist referral please!!!
I would suggest a product that we have for people called Redoxx. It may help support both the retina and the thyroid. I would give 1 capsule per 25 lbs body weight daily. Divided or all at once is fine even or break the capsules open onto the food. I think all parts of the body effect each other. As for a specialist I wouldn't. Holistically speaking when you have growths on the skin that you biopsy or remove generally leads o more issues anyway. The reason is that homeopaths and most holistic vets would feel that as the body is trying to "get rid of" something through the skin (the bodies largest organ often forgotten), removing such only confuses the body more and leads to deeper more serious issues.
Personally I would try to assist the body as opposed to confuse. I would suggest our Joint Check supplement for pets as a super potent antioxidant formula as well as the "joint aspect" ingredients may help the skin overall too as such tissue is all integument type any way. Our Aller Check for immune support is highly suggested too. I would also suggest our Omega Coat Check Oil supplement for the fatty acids etc.
So…. that's my opinions ..hope they help your pet as they have many. Of course having the pet checked locally regardless of if u follow conventional type treatment would always be best. Once abnormal growth has started anything can happen. It is just impossible to say much else without seeing, touching feeling etc.
Again, thanks for asking Kimmi!
Dear Dr. Dan,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful (and quick) response!
We are wondering if you're still a practicing veterinarian and if you are taking new clients.
Thank you!
Scott & Kimmi
Actually I practice everyday doing my best to help folks like yourself. As for an "actual" hospital, I sold them both back in 1991 and have gone down this more natural path ever since. Thanks so much for asking!
Dr Dan, My horse Gusto is an apprendix racebred QH barrel racing horse(streaking- six). He has been high strung/nervous since the day I bought him and I need to constantly manage this trait. Last summer I converted my horse to oats with supplements and flax/rice bran oil mix, after using TripleCrown Low starch feed, to try to imrove my feeding program and his overall health. (He doesnt keep weight on). I left him on the oats for about 4 mos. He went crazy, bouncing off walls, etc like he drank 10 cups caffeine. Do you have any recommendation to substitute oats or any recommendation at all.
I do believe it was the oats because when I removed them, he did alot better. I still want to get him off the commercial feeds. Secondly I am now supplementing him with Platinium performance.
Can you address why that may not be a good supplement.
thank you so much.
Sally W.
Yes indeed. I still suggest oats and with the RIGHT supplements you will have a new horse that is not hot!!!
So… Let's stop the rice bran, (can pull calcium out of the bones), stop the flax (not fit for man or beast in my opinion-see the article on our site library section), stop the low starch stuff full of hydrogenated fat etc (hydrogenated fats are killing us and our horses). follow the advise at www.whattofeedyourhorse.com to the "T" and you will have a new horse. Oats when properly supplemented will NOT make them hot and quite honestly I have thousands and thousands of horses on such to prove it. It actually is a low starch diet too. I would consider adding our Joint Check formula too based on the barrel racing.
Enjoy a horse new horse Sally!!
I don't really compare other supplements directly but you simply won't need anything else other than what is suggested here and at the www.whattofeedyourhorse.com. To summarize: switch from the same volume of feed now giving to same volume of oats. To the oats add the Just Add Oats supplement and Weight Check oil (your horse since he is hard keeper can get up to 4- 8 oz instead of typical 2 oz maintenance). Make Red Cal free choice a all times. (All this is on that site).
Thanks for asking Sally!
Referenced:
www.WhatToFeedYourHorse.com
www.DrDanLibrary.com
(I) have a question… In a nutshell…
Was given a horse a year and a half ago, 7 years, gelding, ssh, not broke until earlier that year, been pasture ornament all that time.
When I got him, he was overweight (a little) and had rubbed his mane and tail out.
He started dropping weight, not really getting skinny, but lost his top line. He was ridden enough not to do this, had chiropractor out (several times) he had a sore back. I kept his rubbing under control by adding apple cider vinegar to his feed, and washing his mane and tail a lot with anti fungal shampoo.
This fall, he tied up on me. might have been my own fault, since I had added some molasses to his feed because he didn't eat his alfalfa cubes.
His weight is ok now, but still has a weak top line and butt muscles.
I have detoxed him (Hilton herbs and a homeopathic detox from the Netherlands). He is on a high fat, high fiber, low (controlled) starch feed and 2 cups of flax a day.
Something isn't right with this horse. He gets sore after exercise, when we go on a long ride, he doesn't eat well. He is a great horse.
I think he has ppsm, or pssm, not sure about the difference, but I cant afford to spend the money to do a muscle biopsy. My vet didn't really recommend this anyway.
Any suggestions?
Karin
Yep. Get him off all commercial feed. Even the low-starch, high-fat are full of junk, especially even hydrogenated fats which are a big part of such issues. His body is trying to "discharge" something still or the tail and main rubbing would likely not be an issue. Stop the anti fungal stuff only suppresses the problem and makes worse.
Stop the flax! Not fit for man or beast in my opinion..see the article in our library section why.
Finally, follow the feeding advise at www.whattofeedyourhorse.com to the "T". For added detox support in addition to the above add our Health Check supplement/product. Expect a better horse as if anything will help the above will as it has for hundreds of such. The top line may or may not improve but I would be surprised if the all else doesn't
Thanks for asking Karin!
Referenced:
www.DrDanLibrary.com
www.WhatToFeedYourHorse.com
Dr. Dan – I have a 5 yr old mare with lots gas & loose stools. She is feed small amount of oats with Red Cal & Just Add Oats. I also give the Weight Check oil. I provide free choice Red Cal and hay plus plenty of fresh water. Worm check is also given monthly. She has exhibited loose stools & gas for some time. She seems healthy with no outward signs of illness. While her stool is not diarrhea it is loose and often makes a mess in her tail. My gelding, fed the same, is doing just great.
I am new to horse keeping and want to make sure I'm handling their care correctly and that is why I've chosen to use your products.
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Mary M.
Thanks for asking Mary. At least for now I would add for support the Gut Check supplement. Let me know how all is going in a month or so. She may be trying to get rid of something in the body with the loose stools too (past meds, heavy metals from vaccines etc) so u also might add the Health Check for supporting the liver in detoxing. It is an awesome blend of herbs that has many benefits besides just being a super potent antioxidant.
We have a 28 year old pony who is unable to process hay due to lack of teeth. She has been on Purina Senior for many years and is maintaining her weight (and feisty old lady attitude!) on three feedings per day, including soaked timothy/alfalfa cubes added to the late night feeding.
Her feed is soaked to 'slush' point. She also gets an herb for her cushings symptoms that really helps her.
I am always looking for an affordable natural alternative to pelleted feed for her but have yet to find something.
Your thoughts?
Colleen J.
First- Follow our feeding program at www.whattofeedyourhorse.com to the "T" but soak the oats before feeding (just add some water the oats you will be feeding next round). I would consider adding for additional support our Joint Check supplement and to help even get more "goody" out of what is eaten add our Gut Check supplement. The enzymes will help break down feed even further.
Thanks for asking!
I have a 17 yr old gelding that pushes out liquid before he poops. He has formed nuttles, but the watery stuff runs down his butt and legs. It requires washing to clean him. I feed him Legends 11 pellets with Joint Combo hoof and coat, BL pellets and Opt e Horse. I also have a 15 yr old mare that receives the same feed and supplements except the BL pellets. I feed timothy hay.
Any suggestions on what to try to straighten him out?
Tina B.
Oh yea, change his feed! Follow the info/advise at www.WhatToFeedYourHorse.com to the 'T" and add our Gut Check supplement for support. I see tons of these situations. He won't need the other supplements and you will even save money overall not to mention help the problem. also..Check out www.askdrdan.comIf anything will help the above will as it has for many!!Thanks for asking!
What would you recommend feeding a 10 month old colt? He was not properly looked after before my friend got him. I think she over wormed him etc. He coliced. The vet said his system was over stressed. Put him on an ulcer medication. She is looking for a nutrition program that will make sure he has all the vitamins/minerals etc for a growing baby. She would like to take him off the mare and foal product that has molasses, corn etc. I have two months left of my other supplements and them I want to order your feeding program. We also have a quarter horse that has terrible feet.
Any recommendations?
Thanks, Kim
My colt has a small lesion in his right hock. Right now he is on a regimen of Adequan before vet takes more X-rays. Are there any other ways to help with this other than surgery? I'd prefer an email answer…no phone calls…not home much. Colt is three. No signs of ANY issues in other joints. Just gelded. Just beginning light training to break to harness. I'd love to be able to leave his hock alone.
Christine J.
If its a loose piece then surgery is it..regardless.
I would highly suggest our Joint Check at whatever amount it takes to control. I would start with 2 scoops daily. Won't interfere with anything else and is tremendous joint support.
I would also highly suggest our feeding program and following it to the "t". www.whattofeedyourhorse.com.
The fatty acids and other ingredients (unsaponifiables) from our Weight Check (a component of the feeding program) would be of great benefit as well.
Thanks for asking!
I have to re-seed my pastures and hay fields, what combination of forages would you recommend. I am in South Central PA raising RMHs with goat and sheep.
Lynda H.
Lynda, I always like timothy and orchard grass at 50 50 but as for the goats and sheep u may want o check with the extension agent locally.
Thanks for asking!
I want to help as many as I can and this program has been a tremendous benefit to those that have plugged in to the program. Below is a recent reply to just one of many requests that we receive. Keep in mind that this has worked not only for rescues but for clubs, organizations etc. If you know someone this will benefit I hope you will share this with them as well.
Hello _______,
I appreciate the work you folks are doing and while I wish I could directly contribute to every
request I receive, we have chosen to use our "rescue" affiliate program to be able to help as many as possible.Since we went online with this back in 2005 we have paid into the tens of thousands of dollars to help other groups and missions. The details are online at www.DrDansRescue.com . I see that you already have a website that has other affiliate type links but I know you'll find ours very appealing becuase of the low minimum amount needed before actual payout. People love our products as well as our own mission of providing natural solutions for common problems facing people, pets and horses!
Be sure to check us out on facebook (links are at above link) including our newly launched product fan page.
I appreciate you contacting me and do hope for the best for your rescue and all rescues in 2011and beyond!
Stay in touch.
Dan
What do I do if my horse is shaking her head everywhere and looks like she has a little bit of a rash or fungus?
MaryElaine
I have never seen one shake their head from a rash or fungus so may not be related at all. I would suggest having the horse checked locally. Understand that holistically speaking rashes and skin issues are the body trying to "discharge" something of course burns, irritations, etc are potential too. So be looking for what might have gotten into if anything. Medication, chemicals taken internally and even heavy metals exposure can "come out" through the skin. Of course a typical vet would just give u a fungal type shampoo for most anything on the skin. Just be aware there are other things that cause skin problems is my point
Topically I would consider our Grape Balm herbal ointment. As a supplement I would suggest our Health Check to the body "get rid of the junk" whatever it may be. (Super potent antioxidant formula). For any skin issue I highly suggest our Weight Check oil for all the great fatty acids so important for skin issues and the entire body for that matter.
Finally I suggest our Feed program at www.whattofeedyourhorse.com so as to not put more "junk" back in. (Commercial feed is full of hydrogenated fats etc that are killing us and our horses).
Thanks for asking
1300 mg/lb equals 81.25 mg/oz. Each scoop is 1.33 oz so 81.25 x 1.33 equals 108 mg per scoopHoof Check actually has less but the high methionine, lysine and other hoof benefits potentiate etc. It is 400 mg per lb or 25 mg per oz, 25 mg/oz x 1.6 oz per scoop equals 40 mg per scoop.
You can't get too much!
Most products just have "window dressing" amounts as biotin is an expensive ingredient. As you can see ours don't!
Hope this helps
Thanks for asking!
I was wondering if you knew if the bug check product would be safe to administer to alpacas, and if so, if the dosages would be the same as prescribed to equines. I would assume that this product would be safe and effective for miniature donkeys as well. Is this the case? If you would please get back to me with more information, I would appreciate it.
Thanks!
Randy G.
Alpacas generally take about the same as a horse so I would start with a scoop and based on results either increase or decrease. Any amount is only healthy though with all the goodness that Bug Check includes especially now with the Lacto-Sacc probiotics we've added from ALLTECH!
Thanks for asking!
Dr Dan
Hi Dr. Dan ~ Missed you at the MA Equine Affaire this year! I have an 18 hand Hanoverian gelding who is 12 years old. He is on the "What To Feed My Horse" regimen and loves the oats, etc. Two years ago he had a respiratory infection which wasn't picked up by the barn manager until it was full blown. He was treated and it was resolved. However, when he is in work, he sounds like a freight train going around the arena! It appears as if he is struggling to breathe and his neck veins stick out and he sweats a lot.
I have been giving him AllerCheck the whole time but this doesn't seem to be getting any better.
Any suggestions?
Lyn S.
Brookside Equestrian Center
Hi Lyn, sorry we missed!
I would add the Joint Check at two scoops daily for at least two months to see if it helps. The ingredients often help lungs And the Health Check ingredients included in the Joint Check may help detox past meds etc. from system.
Thanks for asking and hope to see you next time!
