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Post by laurac on Apr 11, 2013 21:22:19 GMT 1
what a lovely thread, really hope reggie is cured for good x big fella started head shaking last summer (after antibiotics), a full face mask with nose cover helped, he has been fine all winter till last sunday when it started again (may have been due to drugs vet gave him for colic saturday eve?) but i have now increased his salt suppliment after reading this so thank you x
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Post by mandal on Apr 11, 2013 22:35:00 GMT 1
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Post by mrsfields on Apr 12, 2013 15:43:21 GMT 1
thanks for that mandal, i will have a look at that group then!
thanks Laurac - i'm sorry to hear your big fella has had colic - i hope he feels better soon xx
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Post by ladyndibs on Apr 12, 2013 17:57:32 GMT 1
Sainsbury's economy table salt, just looked online, is 34p a kilo, £1.02 for 3k
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Post by LuckyRed on Apr 13, 2013 21:37:48 GMT 1
My boy has slight symptoms similar to OP's, so is sea salt the best to use or normal table salt? And as I have a Himalayan salt lick in his stable, would he not be able to help himself to sufficient salt if he felt his body needed it?
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Post by jill on Apr 13, 2013 22:20:14 GMT 1
LuckyRed the feeling now is that they can't get sufficient from a lick, their tongues aren't rough enough. I use basic food quality salt from the supermarket, either table or cooking, whichever I can get my hands on at a sensible price (I am feeding it to all my three).
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Post by mrsfields on Apr 14, 2013 13:19:25 GMT 1
My boy has slight symptoms similar to OP's, so is sea salt the best to use or normal table salt? And as I have a Himalayan salt lick in his stable, would he not be able to help himself to sufficient salt if he felt his body needed it? i agree with Jill - that's what i've been reading too - Reggie always had access to salt/mineral licks during those 3 years at full livery, but it wasn't enough... i always noticed he would get thru his salt licks much much faster than ken (who has never had a problem), but the quantities he was getting just weren't enough to balance out the potassium... re. type of salt - i would use just plain table salt if i could get hold of it here - the stuff in our supermarkets all seems to be "iodised" and we don't need extra iodine as our forage levels are already quite high... so i just use whatever non-iodised salt i can get my hands on - at the moment i've got a big bag of coarse sea salt... quick positive update from this weekend: the temperature has shot up to 18C - it's been a gorgeous spring weekend, t-shirt weather today, which means the flies are out in full force! really happy to report that Reggie still isn't headshaking - he is so relaxed - it feels so strange (in a good way) to see him like this after so long... there were so many flies landing on his nose, and he didn't react at all... and after his breakfast, they both just stood quietly snoozing on the track in the sun, Reggie lovely and still and relaxed, and even with a big droopy bottom lip - which i haven't seen him do in so long... so things are still looking good!
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Post by portiabuzz on Apr 14, 2013 17:55:31 GMT 1
thats wonderful news!! Long may it last for him and you ;D xx
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Post by Solly on Jun 1, 2013 11:11:28 GMT 1
It's now several weeks after this thread was started...
I can now report that having started trying with the salt treatment in early April, Sorrel hasn't had any of his former horrible head-shaking symptoms! Even with flies on his face! He used to be so distressed in the sunny weather with any flies around and nothing would ease his suffering. I don't think it's because we haven't had much good weather either - yesterday was a scorcher.
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clava
Novice Poster
Posts: 30
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Post by clava on Jun 1, 2013 11:38:14 GMT 1
It's now several weeks after this thread was started... I can now report that having started trying with the salt treatment in early April, Sorrel hasn't had any of his former horrible head-shaking symptoms! Even with flies on his face! He used to be so distressed in the sunny weather with any flies around and nothing would ease his suffering. I don't think it's because we haven't had much good weather either - yesterday was a scorcher. Well, so far so good for me too this year (last year wasn't so good), Belle has had no headshaking either ;D I think killing the clover, and adding the salt has really helped, I have also put a fly repellent collar on as fly masks also act as a trigger. Fingers are still firmly crossed, but the rape is in full flower and has been for a while.
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Post by mrsfields on Jun 1, 2013 15:18:27 GMT 1
that is really great news! i'm so glad others are also having results! it has really made such a difference for us - Reggie is still doing really well - he is like a different horse and i'm finally getting used to seeing him calm and still with his head in a "normal" position, instead of looking distressed and keeping his nose to the ground the whole time! we haven't been able to do much ridden work at all this spring due to all the rain we've had, but he did get a little twitchy after being ridden for 10 minutes a few weeks ago when we had a dry spell - apparently that is to be expected though as it's still early days, and the symptoms were no way near as bad as before... i'm hoping he will continue to improve when ridden, but i can put his nose net on if necessary to keep him comfortable while ridden... the main thing is he is no longer headshaking the rest of the time - he's not reacting to anything - flies, raindrops etc. and looks really relaxed and well in himself... thanks so much for your updates - it's really encouraging!
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Post by Solly on Jun 1, 2013 20:25:40 GMT 1
Mrsfields, thank you so much for passing on the sodium knowledge!
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clava
Novice Poster
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Post by clava on Jun 1, 2013 20:44:23 GMT 1
Mrsfields, thank you so much for passing on the sodium knowledge! I have to admit that I have been linking people to this thread that have asked about headshakers on other forums. giving salt is such a simple and cheap thing to do and so worth trying
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Post by Lulu on Jun 2, 2013 0:26:11 GMT 1
Vet I know tells me salt makes them sick and is bad for their kidneys Its only bad if they aren't drinking enough I guess
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Post by mrsfields on Jun 2, 2013 9:24:19 GMT 1
no problem Solly and Clava! i know how horrible and distressing headshaking can be for both horse and owner, so i'm really pleased this could be helpful to others...
Lulu, salt is a basic requirement for horses, vital for proper body function - even in Getty's book (Feed Your Horse Like a Horse) salt is described as one of the basics for feeding a horse, with forage and water, and she recommends adding 2 tbsp a day as a matter of course, which is roughly what Reggie has been getting, and which is actually less than the amount he would need in medium/high levels of exercise... and they should always have access to plenty of drinking water in any case...
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