Hi Dr Valentine
I have 2 horses, 1 full draft (Buddy) and 1 quarter horse / Belgian cross (Rudy). We have had both on a high fat low sol carb diet for 2 years. The full draft always maintains a good body weight but the draft cross has a weight problem, he is a very easy keeper.
Rudy has a small bone chip in his lower pastern bone (LF). We just found this out last week when x-rays were taken (can e-mail if you want to look at it). He now has arthritis in that joint just above the coronary band. Per our vet the chip in the bone is not causing his lameness, its the arthritis. I have been doing online research looking for alternative treatment methods instead of just putting him on bute (as recommended by our vet). Rudy has a sensitive system. One thing that has caught my attention is Omega 3 rich fish oil which helps decrease inflammation in joints. The soy oil and cool calories we feed are high in omega 6, the ratio is 1:7 Omega 3 to Omega 6. I called the company where I will purchase the fish oil from and spoke with Dr Martinson (Wellpride) He recommended that I decrease the soy oil and feed the 1 oz of fish oil. I don’t think this is will be enough fat and wanted your opinion. Below is our current feed program for both horses. Since Buddy is getting older I am going to add the fish oil to his diet also.

Rudy: handful Compete 10, 2 scoops Cool Calories, 1 cup soy oil/alfalfa cube mixture, 1 scoop Grand Hoof w/MSM.

Buddy: ½ scoop Compete 10, 3 scoops Cool Calories, 1 cop soy oil w about 3 cups soaked alfalfa cubes, 1 scoop Grand Hoof w/MSM.

They are on a bermuda pasture w/very little fescue, we feed bermuda hay and a fescue mix during the winter. Buddy gets 1 flake if alfalfa at night. I am thinking of switching to peanut hay since I have had a hard time this year finding good alfalfa w/o beatles/dust or mold.

They have a free choice mineral block from Seminole: Grass Balancer 16:8 Horse Block
Complete Mineral for horses on grass hay or pasture
• 2-to-1 Cal:Phos Ratio
• 16% Calcium
• 8% Phosphorus

I want to make sure I am feeding them the best way I can and still afford it…the fish oil is very costly.

Thanks so much for being there, I have been reading this webpage for years and own your book. It has been a big help.

The studies trying to prove or disprove the hypothesis that fats high in omega 3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, flax, and canola, are going to help reduce inflammation in various conditions in horses and other species are still on-going. So far I have not seen any good proof that these are beneficial in horses, except for some horses with gnat bite hypersensitivity causing itchy skin lesions, mane, and tail rubbing. But, it can't hurt to try. Fish oil is fine but you can also use flax oil or even switch from soy oil to canola oil. If you use fish oil you probably won't want to feed more than 1-2 ounces per day, one because it is expensive and two because it has a rather strong taste that horses don't always take to. I wouldn't reduce the other oils by any more than the amount of fish oil you are giving, though. I'd actually go with your veterinarian's suggestion for bute to help relieve Rudy's pain and inflammation. And cut down slightly on his overall fat intake if his weight is an issue. Exercise may be more difficult with his arthritis, and carrying too much weight on that leg would also hurt more. I hope this helps, and if you try to fish oil please let us know how things go!

Hi Dr Valentine,
I spoke with my vet again and he recommended a total supplement change to Platinum Performance and we are slowly switching from Soy oil to Canola oil as Rudy does have summer itchies and hope this will help his arthritis also. The omega 3 to 6 ratio is more balanced in Canola Oil.
Since the Platinum Performance is an overall supplement we will stop using the Grandhoof w/MSM. I will let you know Rudy's progress and if we do decide to try the fish oil. It is very expensive.

Thanks again for your advice.

This sounds like a good plan. Definitely keep us updated!