Pony Update and Diary (kidney disease)

[Peggy Sue]

Did you ask the vet about how to balance the Ca:P ratio???

[WashingtonBay]

Why does it always feel like you're quizzing me PeggySue?


No... we didn't talk about that, this time. We talked about it once before, when testing the grass and hay was on the table, in terms of overall balance, but since we're not going to do that now, it seems to me like we're trying to balance something that is an unknown. I mean... I guess I could supplement with phosphorous, if there's no harm in that (I don't know), but I wouldn't know where to start with how to do that and how much???

[Peggy Sue]

with the Ca testing HIGH and the P low ... and you ahve already lowered the Ca as far as you can you need to find a way to raise P ... it is a balance not elimanating one or the other....

I will do some digging now that my internet is back up and see what I can find about adding it for you ... won't be tonight .

I wasn't quizzing you just wondering what his plan was on fixing that part of the problem..

[Peggy Sue]

HA , will she eat rice bran??
It is low Ca high P which is what you need
So try to find a NON fortified rice bran which will help to flip that ratio

[WashingtonBay]

I just felt like I was under harsh lights with a cop

There's so many variables to try to control, I'm just doing the best I can here to keep track of the ones I can do something about.

Pony's looking good today though.

I've given up trying to feed her vitamins. It just makes her picky about the whole meal, which defeats the purpose of the meal! So she gets her dinner just like she likes it, and then she gets the vitamin powders with a syringe when she's done.

[WashingtonBay]

Originally Posted by Peggy Sue

HA , will she eat rice bran??
It is low Ca high P which is what you need
So try to find a NON fortified rice bran which will help to flip that ratio

Well, I don't know... I've never fed it.

Initial searching seems to think it might be a positive thing, at least for people with kidney stones, but I thought there was some other reason early on it was discouraged?

[WashingtonBay]

There's this.... that may be why it was scratched off the list.

The Horse: AAEP 2002: Feeding the Geriatric Horse

An older horse should have a body condition score between four and six, according to Pugh. (For more on body condition scoring, see Quick Find Article #2861.) If the horse has a low body condition score, results of a physical exam are normal, and the horse does not have renal or hepatic disease, then Pugh recommended adding vegetable oil or rice bran in order to increase energy intake. However, when adding rice bran, the calcium-phosphorus ratio (Ca:P) must be corrected since rice bran is high in phosphorus and has an inappropriate Ca:P ratio.

[snip]

Renal and Hepatic Problems

Pugh cited a study that found an increase in renal calculi (calcifications, or “stones”) in aged mares and geldings fed alfalfa hay. For horses with renal disease, Pugh recommended avoiding beet pulp, legume hay, and high-protein diets. He recommended grass hay with a protein content of 8-10%, hay cubes, or pellets. Vegetable oil can be added if necessary to maintain weight, and supplemental B-vitamins (such as Brewers yeast) can also help digestion.

In the case of hepatic disease, Pugh told the audience to avoid high-fat, high-protein diets, and, again, adding Brewers yeast might be helpful. He recommended a relatively high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. Some of his preferred feedstuffs for horses with hepatic disease include grass hay, moistened pellets, chopped hay, hay cubes, beet pulp, rolled corn, and barley.

[Gypsy Rose]

Looks like it's getting to the point of frustration! Every time one of us comes up with an idea that sounds promising, there's something wrong with it!

Hopefully, Pony just continues to improve, and we're all fussing over nothing. Trouble is, how do we know for sure?

[WashingtonBay]

I know, and I'm sorry... I don't mean to be a wet blanket to ideas.... it's just changes all seem to have unintended consequences! It's frustrating for me too.

And you know... it could be there just isn't anything that's going to 'fix' her. We just need to manage her as best we can for as long as we can.

[Miracle Whip]

We do need to keep things in perspective. She is a fun pony but its not like she's got a kid that would be heartbroken to lose her..she is mostly just an entertaining pasture ornament. I could see putting more resources into Bay, a proven trail horse, than a pony that is too small for either of you to even ride. Keeping her comfortable is the main thing in my opinion.