Granola bars and lameness

schnerd0 · 01-04-2007, 06:21 AM

The barn I used to keep my horse at got a rescue mare last year. She was extremely underweight and needed two trips from the dentist to get her teeth in shape and three from the farrier for her feet. They found out she is 15 years old and at least part Arabian.
In the past year, she has put on at least 300 pounds with careful feeding and gentle exercise. While still thin, she seems to be coming along well. Until just recently, that is.
There is another boarder at the barn, who feeds her horse granola bars as a treat, thinking that the oatmeal in them would make them a healthy treat. Feeling sorry for the rescue mare she has also been giving them to her. We found out recently, she gives the mare at least three or four daily. The past couple weeks, the mare has been progressively worse in lameness to the point where she became dead lame.
A. Vet was called in, to evaluate the mare and it turns out that the mare has a Cushing's disease. The granola bars that she was being fed contain carbohydrates that she shouldn’t have has and she foundered. The lameness was most likely the laminitis that led to the founder.
There were symptoms of Cushing's that nobody noticed because of the mare being so starved- such as her not shedding her winter coat this past summer. She also does have some fat along the crest of her neck, but it's barely noticeable because she is so thin.
With regards to the mare, with her severe lameness, as well as her feeding needs and the Cushing's, the decision was made to have her put down. This was done just last night.
So, as one more thing to consider for people who feed their horses’ human food, check the carbohydrates. If you are not 100% certain that the horse does not have Cushing's or some other disease that can be adversely affected, don't do it. Stick to horse treats that are made for horses

Vix · 01-04-2007, 06:28 AM

I am so sorry to hear about the mare.

Cushings is a horrible disease, and so infrequently diagnosed or noticed in time.

Human food is definately not the best choice of treats to give to horses, sometimes neither are processed horse treats. It's always a good idea to check ingredients before feeding anything.

JBandRio · 01-04-2007, 07:32 AM

Any food should be thought about before giving to the horse, whether it's human food or not. The problem described here could just as likely occurred if the horse had been given apples or carrots, a very common horse treat that is normally quite safe.

Aside from that, nobody should be giving anything to any horse that does not belong to them without the owner's express permission, period.

schnerd0 · 01-04-2007, 08:27 AM

Yes, it is a barn rule not to feed anything to anyone else's horse. This horse was also gettng alfalfa nightly to try to get her weight up. Sh still needed at least 200-300 more pounds.

mistylover · 01-04-2007, 08:33 AM

Im sorry about your mare, Im sure the person that was feeding her the granola bars felt awfully bad, i know i would feel extremely terrible and guilty

bowfarm · 01-04-2007, 01:37 PM

Oh My, what a heartbreaking story. Sorry for your loss.

01-04-2007, 06:21 AM	#1
schnerd0 Full Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Central NY Posts: 167 Images: 34	Granola bars and lameness The barn I used to keep my horse at got a rescue mare last year. She was extremely underweight and needed two trips from the dentist to get her teeth in shape and three from the farrier for her feet. They found out she is 15 years old and at least part Arabian. In the past year, she has put on at least 300 pounds with careful feeding and gentle exercise. While still thin, she seems to be coming along well. Until just recently, that is. There is another boarder at the barn, who feeds her horse granola bars as a treat, thinking that the oatmeal in them would make them a healthy treat. Feeling sorry for the rescue mare she has also been giving them to her. We found out recently, she gives the mare at least three or four daily. The past couple weeks, the mare has been progressively worse in lameness to the point where she became dead lame. A. Vet was called in, to evaluate the mare and it turns out that the mare has a Cushing's disease. The granola bars that she was being fed contain carbohydrates that she shouldn’t have has and she foundered. The lameness was most likely the laminitis that led to the founder. There were symptoms of Cushing's that nobody noticed because of the mare being so starved- such as her not shedding her winter coat this past summer. She also does have some fat along the crest of her neck, but it's barely noticeable because she is so thin. With regards to the mare, with her severe lameness, as well as her feeding needs and the Cushing's, the decision was made to have her put down. This was done just last night. So, as one more thing to consider for people who feed their horses’ human food, check the carbohydrates. If you are not 100% certain that the horse does not have Cushing's or some other disease that can be adversely affected, don't do it. Stick to horse treats that are made for horses

01-04-2007, 06:28 AM	#2
Vix Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 2,379 Images: 344 Blog Entries: 5	I am so sorry to hear about the mare. Cushings is a horrible disease, and so infrequently diagnosed or noticed in time. Human food is definately not the best choice of treats to give to horses, sometimes neither are processed horse treats. It's always a good idea to check ingredients before feeding anything. __________________ May the horse be with you.

01-04-2007, 07:32 AM	#3
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 22,430 Images: 138 Blog Entries: 12	Any food should be thought about before giving to the horse, whether it's human food or not. The problem described here could just as likely occurred if the horse had been given apples or carrots, a very common horse treat that is normally quite safe. Aside from that, nobody should be giving anything to any horse that does not belong to them without the owner's express permission, period. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - Rio feels good - he bounced an in-and-out

01-04-2007, 08:33 AM	#5
mistylover Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Alberta ,Canada Posts: 535 Images: 41 Blog Entries: 19	Im sorry about your mare, Im sure the person that was feeding her the granola bars felt awfully bad, i know i would feel extremely terrible and guilty __________________ Horses; Will Love You Forever and can show you magic better then ANY boy Ever Will

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01-04-2007, 08:27 AM	#4
schnerd0 Full Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Central NY Posts: 167 Images: 34	Yes, it is a barn rule not to feed anything to anyone else's horse. This horse was also gettng alfalfa nightly to try to get her weight up. Sh still needed at least 200-300 more pounds.

01-04-2007, 01:37 PM	#6
bowfarm Full Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern NY Posts: 249 Images: 46	Oh My, what a heartbreaking story. Sorry for your loss.