Discussion on Renal Calculi and Beet Pulp
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Beth McElroy
Member
Username: Trigster
Post Number: 8
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, Nov 12, 2002 - 2:50 pm: |   |
While researching info on how to put on a little weight on an older horse, beet pulp is frequently mentioned. However, I came across a few articles that cautioned against feeding too much as renal calculi could result. This leads me to a few questions:
1. How much is too much? I currently feed approximately 2.5 lbs per day, but would like to up it a little more.
2. Is the risk due to improper Ca/P ratio or the actual total amount of Ca.
3. If the risk can be lowered by adjusting P, what can be added to the diet? Wheat or rice bran?
The reason I ask is because he's not eating hay like he used to, so I'd like to up the beet pulp since he likes it. Teeth are ok (they are floated twice a year). He likes hay, just doesn't eat it very fast, so I've added hay cubes (tim/alf mix) as he seems to like those, but he's getting Ca in the alfalfa. He also gets 5 lbs Seminole Senior and 1 cup of corn oil, 4 oz of flaxseed (Glantzen).
His weight loss happened after his pasture buddy was euthanized, and although his appetite has come back for the most part, it's not quite like it was. He's not grossly underweight, but want to nip this in the bud before he gets too far gone to bring back. He's 26 yoa.
Since this was a renal question, I decided to post here. Hope that's ok..... |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 7290
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 13, 2002 - 8:55 am: | |
That is fine Beth. I know of no reason to suspect a relation between beet pulp and renal stones. Though it is a bit high it is not an excessive amount of calcium in beet pulp (0.7%) but you are correct, it is very low in phosphorus. Our recommendations for feeding beet pulp including correcting this imbalance are in the article on beet pulp you can access off the navigation bar at the top of this page.
DrO |
