Ask Doc Your Equine OCD Questions

Does OCD Promote Bone Regeneration?

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Hi,
I have a 14 year old Welsh pony that belongs to my daughter. We are having surgery on her right front foot to debride the coffin bone due to an infection from an abscess. I am looking for proven supplements to help in the recovery process and to promote bone regeneration.
Thanks Tammy

Will this product benefit my horses?

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Hi I would like to know if this product would be of benefit for two of my horses. First I have a 4 year old Arabian colt who I’m riding but he still has seemingly open knees and slight calf kneed conformation. I do not want to push him but I wish he was stronger in this area. And another arabian mare 12 years old horse who has a clicking in the left rear fetlock or pastern area in collected dressage work only sometimes I have a vet do an exam on her and they couldn’t find anything wrong with her but there is a loud cracking on collected canter left lead and certain other movements and I can tell it bothers her when it’s happening. Let me know what you think.
Thank you, April

Six-month-old foal recently diagnosed with OCD

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Good morning,

I have a six-month-old foal which was recently diagnosed with OCD. He wasn’t overfed so getting condition off him wasn’t any concern. My vet told me to feed him lightly and keep him stabled. What a disaster! We had only just purchased him in the middle of November Thankfully, I found you on the internet. I hope and pray that we will have good news in a few months. I am just wondering if we should continue with the small feeds and keep him stable bound?

Regards, Josephine

What is the precise composition of your products?

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I noticed while looking at the ingredients of OCD Pellets on your website, I cannot find the precise composition of your products. In particular, I would like to know how much minerals such as Zn, Cu, Ca, and P are in your products.

Thanks,
Dr. Albert

Can foals benefit?

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Will foals get the benefit of OCD while on broodmares who are getting OCD as a daily ration? When should foals be started on OCD, when weaned or while still nursing?

Myrna Smith

Stifle Problems
1 Comment »

Atypical reaction to a routine left stifle injection

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Dear Doc,
I have a 16 yo warmblood cross hunter/jumper gelding. We have done x-rays on him every 4 months for the past year. A year ago last October. he had an atypical reaction to a routine left stifle injection which resulted in inflammation (but not infection) and 5/5 lameness followed by 2 arthroscopic surgeries to lavage and scope the area. We finally got on top of the inflammation after the second surgery and he has been rehabbing since a year ago last January. Here’s my new dilemma: we x-rayed him on his visit last Monday for IRAP (about his 5th course within the past year) and those new films are now registering subcchondral cysts, one larger on the left stifle and one more faint on the right stifle. These have never shown up on previous films. Of course, I would love to think that your OCD Pellets might help him. Is he too old to be aided by the Pellets? Would your money-back guarantee apply if we tried him on the Pellets and then x-rayed him again after a reasonable amount of time? Again, I would be overjoyed to use OCD Pellets and have them work for him.

Thanks for your timely response. I’d like to start him on the Pellets as soon as possible if you think they might help him, even in his advanced age.
Respectfully,
Jan

Peripheral superficial flexor tendon tear

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I have a 5-year-old mare than suffered a peripheral superficial flexor tendon tear in her right hind leg. We treated her and the tendon has healed but the ultrasound revealed a couple of small areas of calcification deposits. The vet said she could return to trail riding or other disciplines but preferably not to reining. Shockwave treatments were recommended to break up the calcification if I wanted to persue reining. Would OCD Pellets do the same job?
Nancy

Hock
1 Comment »

Starting Gelding on OCD Pellets soon

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Hello,
I will be starting my 8-year-old TB gelding on OCD Pellets soon. I already have him on a trace mineral supplement (Power Horse). Since the OCD Pellets contain only sulfur, copper, manganese, boron, and aluminum, should I continue feeding Power Horse or is there no need for it anymore? I don’t want to overdose or provide an incorrect ratio of nutrients to my horse.
Thanks!
Ania

All 4 ankles were swollen

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I have a weanling about 8 months old. About 6 weeks ago, I was informed that her 4 ankles were swollen and the vet said she had OCD lesions. They have taken her off pasture and stopped her grain and put her in a small pipe pen. About 3 weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go and inspect her myself. At that time, the front 2 ankles appeared to be back to normal, but the hind ankles were still swollen, the right hind especially. Can your OCD pellets help, and if so, in what way?
Your response is appreciated.
Bob

Battling Physitis

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Hi Dr. Beebe, I have a 7 mo. old Arabian colt that I have been battling physitis with for about three or four months now. He was the most muscled, straping foal of the bunch this spring and he developed it at 3 mos of age. We started feeding him separately from mom immediately and then weaned him at 4 mos. to get a better handle on his diet. Per my vet’s advice, we cut out most of the grain and fed grass hay and supplemented him with Platinum Performance. This diet only resulted in him getting a giant hay belly, ribby over his topline and depressed… with slim improvement in his joints. Last month I started increasing the grain again because he looked so bad. I want to slow him down not stunt him… He’s currently eating 1 lb/100 wt. of 14% protein, 10% fat extruded grain nuggets with the Platinum Performance and grass hay. I have succeeded in getting the weight back over his topline while still lean over his ribs. I seem to have his overall growth slowed down a bit but still there is still little visual improvement in his fetlocks.
For turnout he spends about 6 hours/day about 5 days per week outside. I’ve gotten a lot of conflicting advice on the turnout and protein requirements and feeding in general for this little guy. He has not been noticeably lame and his legs are otherwise quite straight and good with quite a bit of bone for an Arab baby. Am I expecting too much too fast? Will the OCD Pellets help where Platinum Performance falls short? What do you recommend for these types of foals?

Thanks,
Heather

Inflammation in the left front deep digital flexor tendon

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Hello, my horse had an MRI on his left fore. He has had coffin bone injections and xrays, but he was still a bit off and the xrays didn’t really show anything, so the MRI was recommended. He was a “2” on the lameness scale when trotting in a circle to the left. MRI showed some inflammation in the left front deep digital flexor tendon. The injury is present just proximal to the navicular one and most evident in adjacent to the impar ligament and at the tendon insertion. The bone at the tendon insertion is inflamed and the tendon enlargement has closed the distal aspect of the navicular bursa. The navicular bursa is inflamed with an irregular proximal border adjacent to the deep digital flexor tendon. He will get injections of triamcinolone and shockwave and stall rest. When he gets reshod he’ll get bar shoes and pads. He’s been on OCD for about 7 months, although I recently increased his dose to 2oz since he’s been lame. Will the OCD in the increased amount help his bone to heal? Any other advice you would offer?
Thank you.

— Kathy

Bone Bruises

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Hello Dr. Beebe,
My horse is 15 years old and has been an international show jumper all his life. He has recently acquired bone bruises in both front fetlocks and degeneration in his neck in C6 & C7 and some calcification on the ligament that runs from the withers up to the head. We have done 2 bone scans and x-rays and my horse has had 5 months rest so far. Dr. Rick at Alamo Pintado Equine Clinic feels that the neck & wither issues have nothing to do with the lameness issues on his front fetlocks.
Would OCD Pellets help him with bone bruising? And would it combine ok with his current suplements, which are:
Platinum Performance Equine Wellness Formula
Steedfast Equine
Lubrysin
Succeed
B1
Quiessence
Farrier’s Formula
E3 Live for Horses

Please let me know your thoughts 🙂

Thank you ,
Christine D

Wobbler Syndrome

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My 18 month old AQHA colt has been diagnosed with Wobbler Syndrome, likely caused by a trauma while playing in the pasture. Currently, he is on stall rest, a low protein diet, 2 gm bute/daily and OCD pellets. Do you have any experience in this area? Surgery is not an option due to cost. Any thoughts?

— Krikitt

Stifle Problems
2 Comments »

OCD in both Hocks

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I have a thoroughbred filly that I bought at the Saratoga Preferred Sale and she has OCD in both hocks. My vet is going to do the surgery next week and he said she could be back in training in about 6 weeks. I pinhook for a living and I was wondering if having OCD lesions will reduce her value greatly and will she be able to become a broodmare later in life. I am very concerned as I paid quite a lot for this filly.

Thank you,

Joe

Hock
1 Comment »

Bog Spavin

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I have a 11-year-old gelding that was diagnosed with a bog spavin in his left hock. I did a pressure wrap, injections, and put him on a supplement with MSM, chondroitin, and have him on LubriSyn. He is not lame, but I am worried about the swelling in his hock. Do you think the the OCD pellets will help with the swelling? Does it help heal the cartilage around the hock?
Thanks, Kay

Hock
1 Comment »

Stifle Bruising and Lameness

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On May 28th my 14 yr old barrel horse was involved in a trailer accident where he fell under another horse and got kicked and stepped on in his stifle area. On July 12th a bone scan was done at Texas A&M University which showed heavily bruising, but nothing broken or fractured. After the bone scan was completed, He was taken back to our vet the following day for arthroscopic surgery which revealed cartilage damage in his right hind stifle.

Will this product benefit a horse with an avulsion?

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Will this product benefit a horse with an avulsion at the origin of the suspensory in the rear leg? He is already receiving Corta-Flx HA, a multi-vitamin/mineral that balances his hay ration and silica. Thank-you!

9 year old oldenburg gelding never sound on his left hind

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My 9 year old oldenburg gelding has never been 100% sound on his left hind. He seems to drag the toe slightly.. I did a very expensive workup on him including xrays of his hocks and blocks of the entire leg. The only time he went 100% sound was when both the hock and stifle were blocked together, but not one or the other alone. THe xrays showed very mild changes. The vet recommended a very pricey bone scan, as they were at a loss. He doesn have a very small scar on that stifle. What dose do you think I start him on of the ocd? How long at the dose? Thanks!
Stacy

Also, I did ocd surgery (well not me 😉 7 1/2 years ago on my now 9 year old Thoroughbred gelding, he had an ocd the size of a half dollar in his left stifle, he has never taken a lame step since.. but do you think that I should put him on the pellets as a caution? Thanks again!

Will OCD pellets help him regrow cartilage in my 7 year old thoroughbred gelding?

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Hey Doc, I have a 7 year old thoroughbred gelding that we raced up until this year. We were training him in the spring and everything was goin good. A couple weeks later we had his left ankle x-rayed and there is almost no cartilage what so ever where his bones met. The vet said to lay him off 6 to 12 months. Will OCD pellets help him regrow cartilage so we will be able to run him again?

Stifle Problems
1 Comment »

AQHA filly diagnosed with Epiphysitis at 12 months

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We have a 16 month old AQHA filly that has been diagnosed with Epiphysitis at 12 months. She had been a a balance, growth 16% formula feed from five months until both hocks swelled up like softballs.

For the last four months she has been on stall rest with orchard grass hay. The swelling has improved – her left hock is almost normal and the right is ping pong ball size. Radiographs taken at 14 months show improvement over originals taken at 12 months, Our vet has suggested that we could start the filly on a supplement. Would OCD pellets be an appropriate choice? Can you provide me with nutritional facts for your product? Do you have any other suggestions for her nutrition needs?

Epiphysitis
1 Comment »

OCD in Hocks

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Dr. Beebe,

I have a 2 year old 1/2 arab dutch cross gelding. He has been out in a large pasture since he was weaned. This April I noticed his right hock had swelling and fluid. I took him in for x-rays, and found he had OCD in the right hock and both stifles. I had the surgery done on the joints, and brought him in the barn for re-hab, stall rest then, walking only.

Dressage Gelding with OCD Cysts and Lameness

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Dr. Beebe,

I have a 5 year of dressage gelding that was diagnosed with an OCD cyst in his left hind stifle at 2 years old. He is now showing signs of lameness in his stifle. My vet is x-raying him to determine if the OCD cyst is the cause and the plan would be to inject his stifle and if that is not successful to operate. What do you think? Also, what is the best feed for this horse in the future and will the OCD supplement help a 5 year old. He is about 16 hands, a lighter frame, and is of good weight and muscle. I have heard that the low starch feed is good for OCD horses but have received conflicting views.

Diane

Stifle Problems
2 Comments »

Radial Carpus Bone Chips

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Dr. Beebe,

We raise racing Quarter horses. We are having problems with chips on radial carpus bones on 3 horses – all by the same stallion. Although it doesn’t appear conformationally that these horses are calf-kneed, the vets tell me these chips are a result of calf-kneed horses. Can OCD pellets help to increase bone in these areas in foals? Also, we have a horse that will undergo surgery for a chip in the upper carpal bone. Can OCD pellets help rebuild bone for him in the knees?

Thanks for your insight.
Linda

Stifle Problems
1 Comment »

Pony stifle issues

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Hey Doc Beebe, I just thought I would up date you on our pony stifle issues. He has been on OCD now for about 3 weeks. He is no longer getting Adaquan injections and have stopped the hormone therapy for the time being. Our home farrier checked him out about the same time he started OCD, said 3 of his 4 feet were out of balance, and his front toes were way to long, but couldn’t do anything at the time because he needed more growth, so it has now been 3 weeks and he came out yesterday and put shoes all the way around, he is still a little out of balance because he still needs more growth to fix all the imbalance, but he is keeping in close communication with us as to how he is doing, and will be back out in 6 weeks to do them again.

7 month old Arabian Filly diagnosed with OCD

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I have a 7 month old Arabian filly who was just diagnosed with OCD in both stifles. The lesions are small, no chips or fragments were seen on the x-rays, and they are on a non-weight bearing area of her stiffles. Surgery is not really an option for me at this time since I was laid off from my job last month.

Equine OCD FAQs, Stifle Problems
1 Comment »

Coffin Bone Fracture

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I have a 6 year old gelding that broke his coffin bone 4 months ago. I have been giving him Acti-Flex. Will this product you are selling help him heal faster and get him back racing sooner? He is a harness horse. I had him x-rayed about two weeks ago, and the Vet said it seemed to be coming along. He is walking around fine, but I know if I put him back in training too soon, he may go lame again.

Coffin Bone Fractures
1 Comment »

Diagnosed with OCD’s in the Fetlock & Stiffle

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I have a 6 year old appaloosa that was diagnosed with OCD of the fetlock and stiffle joints. He isn’t a performance horse, and rarely gets ridden hard, if at all, but is always injuring himself upon turnout. (He gets out at least every other day). My question is, what % of Hyaluronic Acid do the pellets contain? He is already taking Trifecta for joints, which has a high percentage of H.A. in it. Are your pellets going to help rebuild his cartilage and bone? How does your product work to rebuild and maintain?

Thanks for your time,

Kathryn

Equine OCD FAQs
2 Comments »

Quarter Horse Mare with Sore Feet

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QUESTION: I have a 6yr AQHA mare that I bought as a weanling… When I brought her home, I continued her on a steady alfalfa/grass hay diet, supplemented with 1 gal of Nutreana’s Youth Design & 1/2 gal of Empower, with a daily exercise regimine of trotting behind a 4-wheeler up and around our dry farm – the exact same exercise & diet as my stud colt received (same age).

Quarter Horse With Unusual Knots

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Dr. Beebe,

I have a Quarter Horse broodmare who came up with a knot that looks like she may have been kicked. Our vet seems to think it is arthritis. We just got her pregnant, too. Is it okay to feed OCD Pellets to her, or should we wait till later? We have a three week old Quarter Horse foal that has just started eating grain. Would it be alright to feed it to her? It says it is for pregnant mares and then it talks about feeding the mare the second trimester. So I need to know if it is okay to feed it to her now with no complications. Thank you for your time, I do appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Virginia

Equine OCD FAQs, Stifle Problems
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Bone Chips In 8 Year Old Mare

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Dr. Beebe,

I picked up an 8 year old mare that has been pretty hard used. She was used on a cow/calf operation when she was three, and the guy used her hard. Then she was sold to a younger girl who used her for roping and some barrel racing. The mare has some old rope scars on her hind legs. The girl was chasing a bull and ran the mare through a bog and the mare came up sore after that.

After we bought her at the sale, we brought her home and I noticed she has a raised bump on her backbone in the lower lumbar area. She was also very short strided in her hind end and very stiff on her right side.

I had a vet/chiropractor look her over, who thought she might have some scar tissue in her back. She said her stifles were clean from what she could tell. She was able to adjust her neck but the mare wouldn’t let her get close to her back.

I have been massaging and trying to stretch this mare every day, and it has helped her some. I also gave her adequan and use a photonic torch light on her. The bump on her back has gone down a lot since she has been able to roll when she needs to. She is still short strided but is getting a little better.

I was wondering if your OCD pellets might help in a case like this? I have always used Legend and Adequan and hock injections on my competition horses, but I’m trying to find something that is more cost effective. I have one of my mares on daily 72 minerals supplement. Would OCD work with this?

I would appreciate any information you could give me.

Thank you,
Shannon

6 Month Old With Epiphysitis

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Dr. Beebe,

My 6 month old APHA colt came up 3-legged lame after jumping a small ditch outside our barn on Sat. The vet came yesterday and did a large variety of tests and x-rays. Her findings indicated epiphysitis on his right rear pastern and an OCD lesion, which she felt was large. This is possibly the nicest colt I’ve gotten from his dam and possibly her last foal as she is getting some age on her. This colt is large and very muscular, and I’ve not been feeding him an extreme amount of protien as he’d been out on pasture with his momma until he was weaned about a month ago. The current treatment consists of stall rest and bute. I feel like this will not be enough. Do you think your product would help him?

Epiphysitis, Equine OCD FAQs
1 Comment »

Will OCD Pellets Help My 8yo With Subcondylar Cyst

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Dr. Beebe,

I have some questions – I have two weanlings and a yearling that so far have no soundness issues, but I don’t want to wait until I do. Is it OK to feed them the OCD pellets as a prevention and if so, for how long? I also have an 8 yr old with a subcondylar cyst in her P2 rear leg – the University tried drilling to release pressure, but it’s still there. Will this help her?

Will OCD Help Other Areas Besides Leg Bones?

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Dr. Beebe,

I am inquiring to know if your product OCD would have any beneficial effect on an 18 year old TB show jumper. The reason I consider using it is that he has had a bone cyst on his right lower jaw that stayed infected for about a year, and we are sure of some bone loss due to the infection and slight necrotic tissue. The vet has debrided it and we are treating the infection, but would OCD have any effect in helping new bone rebuild itself in that part of the body even if it’s not a leg?

Equine OCD FAQs, Hock
1 Comment »

What About Dry Hock Joints?

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Dr. Beebe

What about dry hock joints?

Protein Content of OCD Pellets

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Dr. Beebe,

What is the protein content of this supplement? Can you feed it with a feed like “Safe Choice” for weanlings along with their hay, or would you feed this only with oats or beet pulp and hay? How do I get the protein content high enough for the weanling? The mare is pregnant again, so could I just add this to her food as well? She too is on free choice hay/pasture paddock and Safe Choice. both are on 24/7 turnout. I have asked questions before but want to be sure I am not over-supplementing.

Recommended Age To Start OCD Pellets

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Dr. Beebe,

At what age do you recommend starting OCD pellets? What would be the proper dose for a two month old warmblood colt?

Connemara with Bone Lesions and Cysts In Both Stiffles

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Dr. Beebe,

I have a seven year old Connemara that has been diagnosed with bone lesions and bone cysts in both stifles. I have taken her to NC State Vet Hospital in Raleigh, NC. The option was surgery.

Low/Slung Heel Assistance

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Dr. Beebe,

I have emailed before, but have another question. I already feed Platinum Performance (flax based); could I finish this out while on OCD Pellets? Also how much biotin is in the pellets? I have a mare (hopefully)Pg TB/dutchwbld that has low slung heels, and I want to help her grow better feet if possible. Would the pellets be enough?

Recommended Diet For Recovery With OCD Pellets

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Dr. Beebe,

We have used OCD with great success in the past. We have just learned our very promising 2 year old colt in training has suffered a fracture to the left knee. It appears the fracture is not displaced and the vet is suggesting stall rest and not surgery. We immediately started him on OCD. My question is: do you have a recommended diet in conjunctionwith the regimen of OCD?

Will OCD Pellets Pass Drug Testing?

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Do you know if this product is legal for use in competing dressage horses with the United States Equestrian Federation and the United States Dressage Federation? These horses are frequently blood and urine tested at competitions for illegal substances that would enhance performance.

Equine OCD FAQs
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Will OCD Pellets Help My Young Foal?

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Dr. Beebe,

I have a foal that was sent to Auburn Vet Hospital at one week of age with a diagnosis of joint ill. She has been treated for two weeks with aggressive flushing of the elbow joint and has progressed very well. I will be bringing her home Monday, June 23….she will be on oral antibiotics another 30 days. The elbow joint shows a bone lesion from the infection and my question is: will the OCD supplement help in such a young foal… she’s not eating grain at this point….but I plan to set up a creep feeder for her when she gets home and want to provide every nutrient available to help her recovery.

Helping An Arthritic Draft Mare

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I have a 5yo Draft (Ardenne) mare, 15.2 hands, 1900lbs. She has had 2 stifle surgeries. The first at 10 months old and the second at 2 years old. She is still stiff in the joint and still ‘Pops’ when she moves. I was told both times she would be 100% sound. Currently she has a foal at her side and is bred for next year

Requirements for this horse would be riding and driving for pleasure and occasionally pulling a wagon — with a team mate, in the mountains 1 week, twice a year.

She is also a very finicky eater. As far as introducing new products to her, I have thrown some very expensive supplements away.

Equine OCD FAQs
No Comments »

Two Month Old Dutch-Fresian-Thoroughbred Mix Colt

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Dr. Beebe,

I have a Dutch/TB mare that was bred to a Freisan and my colt is now 2 months old. She eats SafeChoice and free choice home grown hay and a small amount of grass in pasture/paddock. He nibbles these things as well. They are outside 24/7 at this point and in the winter will be in a large 20 acre pasture. She has been on Platinum Performance which is an Omega 3 supplement with trace minerals and glucosamine. Would this be instead of that or in addition? Do you recommend a specific feed to go with your OCD Pellets for weanling?