Interesting -- Colic and Sugar
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Interesting -- Colic and Sugar
So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....
Colic and Sugar
I hate to admit it but for thirty years as far as confirmation goes I know where the tail is and I know where the head is but I have to look at a diagram every time to tell a pastern from a cannonbone(Attention Deficit) but damnit...I always give them peppermints and carrots....old wives tale for morning sickness back in the dark ages when I was pregnant...but was told to to help digestion eat mints and carrots and papaya too but couldn't find papaya back then....maybe I'll start feeding them papaya ...30 years and touch wood no colic...touch wood again!
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Arctic Cielo
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High Blood Sugar Levels and Colic: A Sickeningly Sweet Combination
by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
November 15 2007, Article # 10825
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According to a recent study, approximately 50% of horses with acute abdominal disease also have hyperglycemia--an elevated level of blood glucose--which is associated with a poor prognosis for survival. This knowledge could lead veterinarians to use insulin to manage hyperglycemia in colic patients, possibly improving these patients' chances for survival.
"This is the first report of the actual number of horses with acute abdominal disease that present with hyperglycemia, and the first study to evaluate if an association between blood glucose levels and case outcome exists," explained Anna R. Hollis, BVetMed, MRCVS, a resident at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's New Bolton Center who co-authored this study.
Hollis and colleagues retrospectively reviewed the records of 269 horses admitted to the Royal Veterinary College Equine Referral Hospital in the United Kingdom with acute abdominal pain between October 2002 and March 2006. These researchers found that half of all horses had hyperglycemia, and nearly half had normal glucose levels. Only 0.4% of horses (1 out of 269) had hypoglycemia.
"Perhaps most interesting was the fact that one-fifth of examined horses had extreme hyperglycemia," reported Hollis. This meant their blood glucose concentrations exceeded 180 mg/deciliter (dL) or 10 millimoles (mmol)/liter (L), which was associated with death, compared to horses with blood glucose levels less than 180 mg/L (10 mmol/L).
Hyperglycemia is a strong predictor (and sometimes considered a potential cause of) increased morbidity (sickness) and mortality in critically ill human patients. Human research has shown that controlling hyperglycemia can result in a significant reduction in mortality.
"Based on the results of this study and our knowledge of hyperglycemia in human medicine, controlling hyperglycemia in horses with acute abdominal disease with insulin may be useful," suggested Hollis.
Further research is needed to fully elucidate the effect of controlling hyperglycemia in colicky horses, and it is anticipated to be a labor-intensive and financially daunting endeavor.
"Blood glucose in horses with acute abdominal disease" was published the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (volume 21, 2007). Contributing authors were Hollis; Raymond C. Boston, PhD; and Kevin T.T. Corley, BVM&S, PhD, Dipl. ECEIM, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ACVECC, MRCVS.
by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
November 15 2007, Article # 10825
ARTICLE TOOLSPrint Email
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According to a recent study, approximately 50% of horses with acute abdominal disease also have hyperglycemia--an elevated level of blood glucose--which is associated with a poor prognosis for survival. This knowledge could lead veterinarians to use insulin to manage hyperglycemia in colic patients, possibly improving these patients' chances for survival.
"This is the first report of the actual number of horses with acute abdominal disease that present with hyperglycemia, and the first study to evaluate if an association between blood glucose levels and case outcome exists," explained Anna R. Hollis, BVetMed, MRCVS, a resident at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's New Bolton Center who co-authored this study.
Hollis and colleagues retrospectively reviewed the records of 269 horses admitted to the Royal Veterinary College Equine Referral Hospital in the United Kingdom with acute abdominal pain between October 2002 and March 2006. These researchers found that half of all horses had hyperglycemia, and nearly half had normal glucose levels. Only 0.4% of horses (1 out of 269) had hypoglycemia.
"Perhaps most interesting was the fact that one-fifth of examined horses had extreme hyperglycemia," reported Hollis. This meant their blood glucose concentrations exceeded 180 mg/deciliter (dL) or 10 millimoles (mmol)/liter (L), which was associated with death, compared to horses with blood glucose levels less than 180 mg/L (10 mmol/L).
Hyperglycemia is a strong predictor (and sometimes considered a potential cause of) increased morbidity (sickness) and mortality in critically ill human patients. Human research has shown that controlling hyperglycemia can result in a significant reduction in mortality.
"Based on the results of this study and our knowledge of hyperglycemia in human medicine, controlling hyperglycemia in horses with acute abdominal disease with insulin may be useful," suggested Hollis.
Further research is needed to fully elucidate the effect of controlling hyperglycemia in colicky horses, and it is anticipated to be a labor-intensive and financially daunting endeavor.
"Blood glucose in horses with acute abdominal disease" was published the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (volume 21, 2007). Contributing authors were Hollis; Raymond C. Boston, PhD; and Kevin T.T. Corley, BVM&S, PhD, Dipl. ECEIM, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ACVECC, MRCVS.
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nythoroughbredvz
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great article,but tells absolutely nothing other than they did blood test on 269 horses!... but 1 out of 269 tested showing higher blood sugar levels means what?..... was their feeding regument/diet's the same? how long was it kept the same? was their excercise/work level the same? their ages? all important factors........plus many more!
the sugar level in most sweet feeds is so low if you fear your horse is gonna be acolic victim or diabetic, god bless you! some horses live on a whole daily diet of fresh carrots and or beets in some areas of the world, more so equestrian competition horses.that has a much higher level than any sweet feed mix.
I'm sure horses arent much different than humans there are people that cant smell a donut without fear, and there are some that can be the donut!
although it was informative the last paragraph tells it all...
Further research is needed to fully elucidate the effect of controlling hyperglycemia in colicky horses, and it is anticipated to be a labor-intensive and financially daunting endeavor.
the sugar level in most sweet feeds is so low if you fear your horse is gonna be acolic victim or diabetic, god bless you! some horses live on a whole daily diet of fresh carrots and or beets in some areas of the world, more so equestrian competition horses.that has a much higher level than any sweet feed mix.
I'm sure horses arent much different than humans there are people that cant smell a donut without fear, and there are some that can be the donut!
although it was informative the last paragraph tells it all...
Further research is needed to fully elucidate the effect of controlling hyperglycemia in colicky horses, and it is anticipated to be a labor-intensive and financially daunting endeavor.
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nythoroughbredvz
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There are nearly as many theories about feeding horses as there are ideas on training.
Unfortunately, there is no strictly defined "right way" for either. Each horse is an individual, and their needs are dictated by breed, living conditions, build, work level, and age. So one feed does not fit all - at least not without some variation. Many factors come into play when deciding on a feeding program.
Consider that horse feed contains about ten percent molasses. This molasses, in turn, contains about 40 percent sugar. While this may appear to be high, keep in mind that one pound of dry feed thusly fortified, your horse would only ingest about one tenth of a pound of sugar containing molasses, or four percent of sugar. When compared to the food that the animal may ingest on the pasture from grass and alfalfa hay, the sugar consumption is higher, quite possibly reaching levels of five to 12 percent. As you can see, when compared to a natural diet, the sugar content is not that much higher.
Molasses is not a cause of as many problems as maybe believed, it has been common in diets for years to tempt fussy feeders. There is a tendency to think molasses is 100% sugar when it is not..not much is used in horse feeds, only enough enhance palatibility.
While it is true that hyperactivity may be caused by sugar, it is also true that most grain feeds are specifically designed for active animals that may be performance or working horses.
Feeding this kind of mix to animals that are only moderately active will provide them with calories, or energy, they cannot properly expend. It is the amount of calories the owner feeds the horse and the horse’s lack of exercise which that’s problematic.
Fat has been known to decrease the rate with which the blood glucose levels inside an organism rise, and adding fat to the horse’s diet is a good way of helping the animal’s blood sugar to remain level. Using a feed with 10% fat can often help bring blood sugar levels back to normal. Generally speaking, a feed that contains about ten percent of fat will be beneficial.
The most acurate way of controling blood sugar would be to have the levels tested on each and every individual horse seasonally as their diet changes..same as in humans. Diet and Exercise is how its controlled!
Feed Alfalfa hay? thats as high as 12% sugar = 300% higher in sugar content than most "sweet feeds"
Its sad to see horse people get a new catalog with new vitamins, extracts, herbs, miracle grow! and pute their horses through that. What happened to basic common sense there is farm owners spending thousand's of dollars per year to supplement their feed, vitamins, minerals, joint supplements, muscle & bone growth additives. thoroughbreds got to be 17 hands long before catalogs came in the mail... War Admiral was on "body builder" they just didnt have a website back then! come on.. feed them right and what worries do you have? worried about colic look at your hay, and water intake a horse has to eat a crap load of grain in one feding to cause colic.. I wasnt going to respond to this post, but the grass and hay your horses eat every day are more dangerous to them than any sweet feed mix!
Unfortunately, there is no strictly defined "right way" for either. Each horse is an individual, and their needs are dictated by breed, living conditions, build, work level, and age. So one feed does not fit all - at least not without some variation. Many factors come into play when deciding on a feeding program.
Consider that horse feed contains about ten percent molasses. This molasses, in turn, contains about 40 percent sugar. While this may appear to be high, keep in mind that one pound of dry feed thusly fortified, your horse would only ingest about one tenth of a pound of sugar containing molasses, or four percent of sugar. When compared to the food that the animal may ingest on the pasture from grass and alfalfa hay, the sugar consumption is higher, quite possibly reaching levels of five to 12 percent. As you can see, when compared to a natural diet, the sugar content is not that much higher.
Molasses is not a cause of as many problems as maybe believed, it has been common in diets for years to tempt fussy feeders. There is a tendency to think molasses is 100% sugar when it is not..not much is used in horse feeds, only enough enhance palatibility.
While it is true that hyperactivity may be caused by sugar, it is also true that most grain feeds are specifically designed for active animals that may be performance or working horses.
Feeding this kind of mix to animals that are only moderately active will provide them with calories, or energy, they cannot properly expend. It is the amount of calories the owner feeds the horse and the horse’s lack of exercise which that’s problematic.
Fat has been known to decrease the rate with which the blood glucose levels inside an organism rise, and adding fat to the horse’s diet is a good way of helping the animal’s blood sugar to remain level. Using a feed with 10% fat can often help bring blood sugar levels back to normal. Generally speaking, a feed that contains about ten percent of fat will be beneficial.
The most acurate way of controling blood sugar would be to have the levels tested on each and every individual horse seasonally as their diet changes..same as in humans. Diet and Exercise is how its controlled!
Feed Alfalfa hay? thats as high as 12% sugar = 300% higher in sugar content than most "sweet feeds"
Its sad to see horse people get a new catalog with new vitamins, extracts, herbs, miracle grow! and pute their horses through that. What happened to basic common sense there is farm owners spending thousand's of dollars per year to supplement their feed, vitamins, minerals, joint supplements, muscle & bone growth additives. thoroughbreds got to be 17 hands long before catalogs came in the mail... War Admiral was on "body builder" they just didnt have a website back then! come on.. feed them right and what worries do you have? worried about colic look at your hay, and water intake a horse has to eat a crap load of grain in one feding to cause colic.. I wasnt going to respond to this post, but the grass and hay your horses eat every day are more dangerous to them than any sweet feed mix!
Horse Illustrated this month has a good article on supplemental feed, and part of it deals with high starch/sugar contents that lead some horses (I have one ) to possibly colic. I believe there is a connection there for sure.
edited to add link:
http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-health/complete-feeds-9394.aspx
edited to add link:
http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-health/complete-feeds-9394.aspx
Last edited by spex4me on Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
trying to come up with something brillant..... this may take a while. 
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nythoroughbredvz
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i have the article. with pasture and most hay being higher in sugars than "ANY" feed I do not find relevance to it, nor does anyone I have spoken with at various veterinary hospitals, colleges etc.. look deeper in the article and they also refer to feed manufacturers plugging their products. the sell advertising and magazines. have you ever seen an article that shows the "bad feed's" the ones you shouldnt use. no! I dont hold much faith in an article that can plug a companies products in the same article. if you are going to tell consumers what feeds they feel are the safest. then list each and every one from each manufacturer. dont single out a few companies that to begin with are one and the same. I would hold more stock in the archives from Cornell, wich is available on their studies etc.. Magazines are 100% buisiness and buisiness is good..buy the "low starch, medical breakthrough,senior,anti colic,miracle feeds" watch the local feed mills close up. and be happy you are buying 25% fillers paying 3-5 dollars per 50# bag more than a you would and get legit ingriedients. Iams was the #1 superior dog food for years, feeding your dog Iams assured you that you were feeding him steak! did deep in their breakdown of ingriedients and its the same as any comercial dog food. did you notice out of all the dog food's that were recalled how many top feeds were on the list? Look at any horse products catalog and it is filled with so much crap to prevent this, help that, enhance this its such bullshit! horses were a wild animal. as far as race horses/thoroughbreds theres not "one" person that can argue horses were more durable, athletic, and superior years ago. i think this is breeding and pumping crap into their bodies. look at people sickness, disease,average weight has all changed since additives and over the counter drugs have imerged. anyone here in manufacturing, heard of "kiss" same needs to be applied to horses!
actually I got the impression from that article that grass/hay was enough and feed itself was an unnecessary evil, evolved from a time ago where the horses actually worked to earn extra feed. My one nag would colic every year like clockwork, and then I cut his grain back to plain old Reliance textured from Southern States, rather than the Omelene 200 he had been receiving. This will be the third year where he did not keel over in December sweating and groaning (knocking on wood now). I also don't feed the tiny little bit of grain they get in a bucket, it is on top of the hay so they have to mix it in esscence. I treat grain more like a treat than anything else. Helped to save $$$$$$ too! 
And I doubt they really care.
And I doubt they really care.trying to come up with something brillant..... this may take a while.
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nythoroughbredvz
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true they dont need grain, most hard keepers that people grain to keep weight on have a underlying issue. need dental or teeth work, filing etc.. or something else going on with them. the only reason a horse "should" need grain is to replace what it is burning off due to work and excercise. and feeding their garin on top of their hay is excellent. i buy bagged timothy and give each a 5# coffee can "fluffed"..with their grain on top but i do mix it a lil. slows them down eating, gives them more fiber to digest the grain effectivelly and helps build saliva as they eat. it also seems to make them drink more water.. i think horses and wallets would be better off if people threw away their catalogs, and didnt read comercial feed adds. and go back to basics... ok whats healthier? oatmeal or a granola bar? wich has additives? wich is better for the heart? comercial feeds are good if you have 1 horse. think they pute it in 50# bags to be nice so you dont have to lift 100# bags? per pound they can sell it for more. if you walked into a feed mill and saw their brand feed, 100# bags for $13.00 . and comercial feed 50# bags for $8.00 but they have literature, nice adds,pictures, sparkle! you will buy the 50# bags...fact is "its the law" that every bag of feed have a tag providing the same info per bag..take a bunch of them along with you local feed mills tag's. start writing things down see what is so different? not a whole lot...you are buying a colorfull bag, and piece of mind that says i feed my horse xxxxx but in reality you have no clue what he is eating. unless you find out what their "bi-products" are specifically! you have no idia. there are quality bi-products and bi-products that you might just as well feed your horses sawdust. most feed mills will make you what you want in a feed, do research and make sure your not feeding 20-25% fillers. thats a lot of money per pound over a years time that you wasted no matter how you add it up! horses love the thought of getting grain, and it can be used as a disciplinary tool also instead of a treat. even if its a cup or two each feeding. mine cant eat till they line up at their feeding spots it they mess around il cary it away and try again later. after a while when i go out they go to their place and wait.
I feed mainly oats. My broodmares get a broodmare/foal mix that is made by my local feed mill and does not contain molasses. It is an all-grain mix with added minerals for pregnant or lactacing mares and foals. My cost is around $7 per 50# oats and $8 per 50# broodmare mix. I have a number of older mares, and they all look just wonderful.
My broodmares live out in a herd and they DO need their grain. But I have all Thoroughbreds. There are other breeds that just do not need grain at all.
My broodmares live out in a herd and they DO need their grain. But I have all Thoroughbreds. There are other breeds that just do not need grain at all.
So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....
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LKR
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Interesting -- Colic and Sugar
Madelyn, could you pm me what the mixture is of your broodmare mix and what you feed otherwise. I have to figure out a ration for the first time in 20 years as my local feed supplier who makes the most economical pelleted feed in the world has had to shut down for the winter due to health. We have a grain growers place about 45 miles away that will custom mix. I just need to know what and how much. I am not sure if they bag it at 50lbs or 100 lbs, I will find that out tomorrow. Thanks for any help you can give me. We have older broodmares, in their 20s, plus the young stock. Basket Weave is 26 so he needs to be grained to keep him in the marvelous condition he is in.
Kathie King
Little King Ranch
Home Of Top Account
Basket Weave
And The Buzz Horses
Little King Ranch
Home Of Top Account
Basket Weave
And The Buzz Horses
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TBLADY
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I hate to say it...but I know its true as I used to do a lot of work for a major commercial feed mill yrs ago. Pelleted feeds as much if not more SUGAR/Flavor enhancers then conventional sweet feeds. The tag may not say sugar, or Molassess...theres other sugar additived for feed other then those 2 products.
Flavor enhancers and sugars/frutose/sucrose/ dextose/ etc...are all SUGARS or sweeteners. Even plant and fruit extracts are used to help make the pellets more palletable. So if you think your pelletted feed has no sugars in it....guess again. 90% have as mush if not more then sweet feeds. Unless of course you ahve a custome mix....then thats a different story
Flavor enhancers and sugars/frutose/sucrose/ dextose/ etc...are all SUGARS or sweeteners. Even plant and fruit extracts are used to help make the pellets more palletable. So if you think your pelletted feed has no sugars in it....guess again. 90% have as mush if not more then sweet feeds. Unless of course you ahve a custome mix....then thats a different story
Fins to the Left....