Dehydration in horses tips? According to the Merck Vet Manual, horses most often become deficient in these 12 essential minerals and vitamins. Copper: Deficiency may cause a dull coat, poor hoof, weak ligaments and tendons. Selenium: Deficiency may cause white muscle disease and rhabdomyolysis (tying up). Vitamin A: Deficiency may cause night blindness, watery eyes, bone and muscle growth defects, a dull coat, reproductive problems, and increased susceptibility to disease and infection. Vitamin E: Deficiency may cause muscle weakness, typing up, impaired immune function, reproductive failure, and neuromuscular disorders. Vitamin D: Deficiency may cause reduced bone calcification, stiff and swollen joints, stiff gait, and irritability. Thiamine: Deficiency may cause confusion, weakness, weight loss, incoordination, and gait abnormalities.
Further electrolyte supplementation is also necessary when large quantities need to be replenished. An electrolyte should be given in addition to daily salt rations and is indicated whenever a horse experiences prolonged or repeated sweating. Important: If you’re feeding an electrolyte in water, never add it to your horse’s only water supply. Always provide a separate fresh water source. Now that you know the importance of electrolytes, how do you choose a supplement that’s best for your horse? Look for these three important factors when selecting an electrolyte: High salt content. Sodium and chloride (salt) and potassium should be the main ingredients. Low sugar content. Sugar should not be the main ingredient. Electrolyte supplements shouldn’t contain more than 15% sugar. Isotonic to sweat. An isotonic supplement provides electrolytes in similar concentrations as sweat. According to this PubMed article, an isotonic sweat-like electrolyte is the best solution to rapidly restore fluid and plasma electrolyte imbalance in horses. Read more info at best garlic supplement for horses.
Generally, a bare hoof is safer in winter than a shod one. Going barefoot gives your horse more traction in snow and ice. If your horse is shoeless, keep hooves trimmed to reduce the amount of snowpack into soles and decrease the chance of slipping. If you decide to keep your horse shod, that’s all right. Just make sure shoes are fitted property, and consider adding studs to the bottom. This increases grip and helps keep your horse surefooted and safe.
Other benefits of Redmond Rock: Contains natural electrolytes that encourage horses to drink. Packed with 63 trace minerals to nourish horses. (See this table for a complete mineral analysis.) Our minerals are created by nature and come in the right balance horses need. Holds up better in wet weather than pressed blocks. In taste tests, horses prefer Redmond Rock to manmade blocks. We believe Redmond Rock is simply the best natural mineral lick available for horses. Over the last 20 years we’ve heard many horse owners express how our rock improves mineral balance, provides horses a natural trigger to drink, and combats dehydration and colic. Here is Becky Imbornoni’s story of using Redmond Rock to help a colicing horse.
What Makes A Horse Stop Drinking? Horses don’t like change. A new smell or taste, even switching from a familiar metal water container at home to a plastic bucket on the road can be off-putting to a picky drinker. Here are a few reasons horses may stop drinking water when away from home. Rein Water is simple and natural. It includes Redmond salt, Redmond clay, and essential trace minerals and electrolytes horses need to stay hydrated. It also alkalizes and masks the taste of unfamiliar water, and horses love the flavor! Decrease your worries over dehydration and keep your horse drinking at home and on the road. Click the button below to learn more about Rein Water. Read even more info on gassy colic in horses.