What supplements should I give to a horse being shipped a long distance?
The horse, which is recovering from neglect and underfeeding, will be shipped about 600 miles. Are there medications/supplements that will boost its immune system and prevent shipping fever?
The B vitamins are important to the functions of the body involved in stress responses, so you could discuss this with your vet before the trip.
The best diet to deal with stress is 24/7 access to good quality grass hay, and hopefully not something he hasn’t already adapted to for at least three weeks prior to travel. No soluble sugar feeds like cereal grains should be fed. Digestible fiber sources like beet pulp are fine, or pelleted feed like equine senior by Purina are excellent to feed along with the hay. Whatever feeds/supplements you decide to go with, be sure to allow ample time for your horse to adapt to any dietary changes prior to travel.
OMG if you even have to ask this you should not be here asking this question. Horse people should take your horse away from you. Ask your Vet or Stable Master not a bunch of know it Alls on YAHOO.
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Chill Doc W… The rescue adopting this horse out will give advice as well… it’s part of releasing a horse to a new owner.
Having said that, I might have the horse tubed with electrolytes & 5 gallons of water or so, to help prevent dehydration & impaction. I’d be sure the horse was stable (ie: established) in his current diet before he left. That doesn’t mean his diet can’t change again once he’s settled into his new home, I just wouldnt’ have made any changes to his diet for say, 2 weeks before his ship date.
Otherwise, to make yourself feel better, you can give Vitamin C, Echinacea and Accel (which is a general vitamin supplement). You can discontinue the Echinacea once he’s home, but the other two wouldnt’ be bad thing for recovering horses such as yours.
Good on you for adopting a ‘special needs’ case.
References :
The B vitamins are important to the functions of the body involved in stress responses, so you could discuss this with your vet before the trip.
The best diet to deal with stress is 24/7 access to good quality grass hay, and hopefully not something he hasn’t already adapted to for at least three weeks prior to travel. No soluble sugar feeds like cereal grains should be fed. Digestible fiber sources like beet pulp are fine, or pelleted feed like equine senior by Purina are excellent to feed along with the hay. Whatever feeds/supplements you decide to go with, be sure to allow ample time for your horse to adapt to any dietary changes prior to travel.
References :
Registered Nurse and 57 years with horses