What I would look out for is the feeds that are specifically formulated for horses to avoid founder. They are labelled as such. You could look through the horse magazines to find these feeds advertised. One such feed is Blue Chip Lami-light. Anything that specifies on the pack that it is for horses prone to laminitis would be fine if you wanna play on the safe side. There are also websites devoted to laminitis. I am sure Kentucky Equine Research would have some great advice, too. There is also a product called Founderguard, which helps horses to avoid founder. If you wait for more replies I am sure someone can suggest a low cost natural diet, which you could make up from raw ingredients. I would mention exactly what you have told us if you get advice from KER, etc, as the weight loss is an issue and the age and lack of teeth. I am hoping, too the weight loss is just due to this and nothing else, but they can have trouble keeping
weight as they get on anyhow. Rice Bran is superb for keeping weight on. BUT I am not sure how it agrees with a horse like yours.
And remember that lucerne chaff (green chaff) is nothing more than chopped up hay, which he should eat fine without teeth. Same with oaten chaff. Dampening the feed always helps when they have no teeth.
Good on you for caring so wonderfully for such a find old fellow, who deserves the best. I wish I could recommend a recipe, but I have none that I know of that is nutritionally complete and formulated for such a case.
Kim
________________________________
From: Connie Hendrix <bluemoon28@hughes.net>
To: askavet@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 20 September, 2009 11:40:10 AM
Subject: [AskAVet] Foundered Horse
I have a 25+ horse that I was given a few years ago - he had been severely foundered a couple of years before that. I have been closely monitoring his sugar and starch intake, plus trimming him on a regular basis so that his feet have returned to a 'normal' appearance. He had 14 degrees rotation at one point. My problem now is that he is losing teeth and is not able to chew hay or even eat grass occasionally. He is losing weight and I need to change his diet once again - but am not sure what is the best to give him. I have always withheld grain from him because of his founder. Does anyone have any recommendations as to what I can give him to eat?
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