Metamucil

[Polly Aulton]

I'm trying the search option but I'll probably never find the thread. Just in case can someone answer the following:
How much and how often do you give your horses Metamucil to help prevent sand colic?
A friend of mine's horse coliced yesterday due to sand so she needs all the prevention help she can get.
Thanks!
Polly

[DSDECKERT]

Polly - I use Fibersyll by Select - a 20 lb tub lasts me 6 months for 2 Pasos. I've never had a sand colic issue.

[Terri]

I am no expert, but I read that soaked beet pulp forms pectin inside a horse which acts as a natural sand clear if fed regularly.

[Mellifluous]

Hmmm, never heard that about beet pulp before. Sounds interesting. I feed a beet pulp based feed. All of mine eat in little rubber containers that are on the ground. One of mine insists on dumping his out on the dirt. I have wondered if I should put him on some sort of sand colic preventative.

[CarolU]

You can buy the WalMart version instead of Metamucil (save some $$) You need at least a cup/day for 3-4 days in a row once a month.

You can also eleminate sand with a good ruffage diet...grass hay. Lots of water.

[Polly Aulton]

Thanks everyone. I'm afraid the mare did not make it but giving her this information will ensure she does not suffer this sort of thing again.
I also promise I will try to remember it as well.
Polly

[Pasogirlz]

Too bad about the mare. Give our condolences to your friend. :(

[motorgypsy]

First of all if you live in sand country you need to do a fecal float regularly. You put several horse apples in a bucket of water, crush them up, stir them up really well, crush some more, pour the water off, add more water and repeat until the water is clear. The sand will stay in the bottom. If there's more than a tablespoon of sand you need to add psyllium to the diet and plenty of good grass hay to keep it moving.

Get the cheapest psyllium you can find - generic metamucil from sams or walmart, sandclear (not sandblast), equiaid makes a pellet.

Our vet says you have to give a pint of the stuff for it to help. We feed it dry with enough grain to get them to eat it, then chase with grain mixed with water. Some just won't eat the metamucil so you have to get the horse psylium. You can wet hay also to help increase the water intake if you need to if they aren't on pasture. You can do it for a week out a month and this is supposed to prevent sand colic.

In Florida we fed hay on tarps and grain in buckets. Never feed on the ground. Right now we're feeding hay in big water tubs although they do dump some out. I need to do a fecal float myself even though we're not in sand country because you never know. Some horses will eat anything. As was evidence by our two colts eating a trot line of string and stainless wire leaders. :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Ginger]

You know, you can bake metamucil into banana nut bread, and it will clear out a whole church picnic!

[Barbwire]

Poni, your depravity is awe inspiring! You are my false idol. I would bow down to you, but I wouldn't be able to get up. (sigh)