I'm going to be taking my HB test in a few months. I know there is a depth of knowledge sheet on the PC website, but I feel like I don't understand how in depth I need to be. Can someone explain to me how in depth my answer should be? Would an answer like this be ok:
Question: Why does a horse need carbohydrates and what are the primary sources?
Answer: There are two types of carbohydrates, soluble and non soluble carbohydrates. Soluble carbs like starches and sugars, are defined by their ability to break down into simple sugars called glucose, which are then absorbed by the small intestine and assimlitated into the blood stream. Insulin continues the proces by transferring glucose to the liver and msucles where it is stored for utilization on demand. This reserve of energy is called glycogen. Glycogen provides the power for physical activities. Starch from corn, oats, barley, and molasses are most commonly equated to soluble carbs. Horses who are intensive work require adequate soluble carbs in their diet to maintain adequate muscle glygogen levels.
Insoluble carbs are derived from cellulose, which is digested by microbes in the cecum and large intestine. Insoluble carbs are transformed into volatile fatty acids which are eventually absorbed and held by the liver as an additional energy source. Nutrients found in forages such as hay, grass, beet pulp, and soybean hulls are the main suppliers of insoluble carbs.
Problems may occur when feeding excess amounts of soluble carbs in grain. When the starches are broken down in the stomach and small intestine, they are thought to release a surplus of glucose and insulin into the blood stream. The intake of excessive amounts of starch and sugar can lead to metabolic upsets. Also, when not starches aren't broken down enough, residual starches enter the cecum and ferment, which is where colic and intestinal disorders originate.
Insoluble carbs should not be compromised in an effort to reduce starches and sugars as it is fundamental for an efficient digestive system.
So I go out to feed and groom my boys today and I normally call them up with a police whistle. I make a few short blasts and here comes Stilts prancing up to the fence like he's hot stuff but Brutus is nowhere to be seen. I throw the feed in the trough and go looking for him and he's right behind the old house just standing there. I call to him... Nothing. I "kiss" at him... Nothing. He just stands there and looks at me. Now mind you this big doofus is normally up my hind end before I can even pull into the pasture, wanting to be fed. I actually had to put my arm around his neck (because I don't leave them haltered) and pull him forward so that he'd move. He slowly but surely poked his way up to the feed trough and started eating but I don't know... He was just OFF somehow. I'm just worried because it's NOT normal for him to do that at all and today is Sunday so I can't call the vet. Should I be watching for other symptoms? Could he have colic?
P.S. He's a 15 year old grade paint geld. He does have some stifle popping and stiff joints but he's been fine since I put him on a joint supplement. I checked him to see if he was running a fever and he wasn't. I also checked his hooves and watched him walk to make sure he wasn't stone bruised/hoof split/etc.
Umm hang on... Don't you think I didn't already try to call the vet? He's OUT OF TOWN and won't be back till tomorrow.
The next closest vet that will see him today is 97 miles away and he DOES NOT do house calls. Are you suggesting I trailer my horse in the heat when I have no clue what is wrong with him? If he's sick it'd probably kill him.
Seriously people you aren't helping me by freaking out, standing on your soap box, and griping me out. I LOVE my horses and they get REGULAR care! I DO NOT NEGLECT MY ANIMALS.
Seriously, to the people who are emailing me griping me out cut it out and read the facts ^^^.
To the people who are trying to help... Thank you!
hi
my baby is six weeks old this friday and since he was born he was colic and had silent reflux,
I have tried him on infacol, dentinox, colief colic drops and gripe water and nothing seems to help for the colix, ( how long can this last) and is there anything else i can try?
also with the silent reflux the Dr gave me infant gaviscon and then a milk thickner Carobell but it doesnt seem to be helping, is there anything else we could get for him.
thanks so much x
I have noticed my foal doing some things that he doesn't usually do, i read up about colic and what he is doing are some of the symptoms of colic but i don't know if he has it?
1. His attitude has changed, he is usually very friendly, wanting to be stroked and cuddles, but now he is bitting me, ignoring me and when i stoke him or cuddle him he turns and walks away.
2. He hasdiarrhoeaa.
3. He is bitting/nibbling his flank (sides)
4. He was slowly stopping suckling, but now he is suckling more and not grazing as much. (i picked some nice long fresh grass andtried tod to feed it him but he turned his nose up, he wouldn't eat it. usually he would.)
5. This morning i found him stretched out on the floor, he was making a groany grunting kind of noise, (this is what got me worried and why i have looked up on it plus all the other symptomss.)
so i don't know if he has colic, or what's wrong with him. Is their any other way of checking he has colic?
PLease tell me what i can do, and if he has colic or if its just something else. i am extremely worried.
( he's a 4 month old percheron, if you need this info)
Thanks.
I heard about a product called gripe water that is supposed to help babies sleep better when they have colic or are teething. I am not very familiar with this product but was reading reviews on it and most seemed to be raves. Any other mommies use this product? Is it something I should keep on hand?
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