Cause - Anemia may be the result of parasite infestation or a lack of essential nutrients. A deficiency in B6, B12, copper, folic acid or iron may be contributing factors to the development of anemia. One often overlooked factor may be damage to the bone marrow. Every drop of blood is produced by bone marrow. Therefore, damage to the bone marrow will prevent the body from producing healthy blood cells. Horses may become anemic due to the MEDICATIONS or chemicals which can cause damage to bone marrow, rob the body of necessary vitamins and minerals, or cause inflammation of the intestinal lining. Since nutrients are absorbed through the intestinal wall, inflammation prevents vitamins and minerals from being absorbed properly.

Recommendation - To aid in the prevention of anemia, feed Performance Plus Daily™ daily. For best results, feed the maximum amount listed on the table.

Cause - Excessive physical stress combined with nutrient imbalances are considered to be the most common factors in the development of arthritis. Other contributing factors may include: infections caused by a virus or bacteria, immune system malfunction and poor circulation which interferes with the transport of nutrients to the joint.

Recommendation - for healthy horses that have no signs of arthritis, feed TLC's Performance Plus Daily™. This comprehensive blend will provide all of the vitamins, minerals, enzymes and electrolytes that are needed on a daily basis.
For horses that are already showing signs of arthritis, it is helpful if you know the type of arthritis that you are dealing with, because arthritis can be an all encompassing term for several underlying ailments. A horse may have rheumatoid arthritis or inflammation in the joints, for this MSM has proven very useful. Another form of arthritis that is quite common in horses is cartilage degeneration and for this type we use a nutrient called Glucosamine. Glucosamine is used by the body to build cartilage and is excellent for any form of cartilage degeneration. Glucosamine is commonly used in commercial "flex" products and can provide great relief for many horses. The Glucosamine used by TLC has 28,000 mg per oz and is the strongest available on the market. CALCIUM DEPOSITS in the joints are often referred to as arthritis and include ringbone as well as spurs that form in the joint. This type of arthritis is very specific in that commonly used "flex products" do little to comfort the animal. To provide nutritional support for this situation we use DBG Mineral with Performance Plus Daily™ and often add Niacin, to improve the circulation (however, if the horse is already on medication for circulation then continue with that, but also feed DBG Mineral and Performance Plus Daily™ so that the bloodstream is saturated with the building materials it requires). DBG Mineral stands for Dense Bone Growth Mineral. This nutrient specific blend is rich in minerals that are designed to provide nutritional support for horses with any form of CALCIUM DEPOSITS, including ringbone, as well as spurs. Feed DBG Mineral along with TLC's Performance Plus Daily™ until the horse is COMPLETELY SOUND FOR THREE MONTHS (or until three months past the time when radiographs confirm that the problem has been resolved), then continue with Performance Plus Daily™ for maintenance.

If you are unsure of the type of arthritis that you are dealing with, then you may choose to make an educated guess. If you use Glucosamine and/or MSM and get some improvement, then you can assume that at least part of the problem is coming from cartilage damage and/or inflammation. Sometimes horses have more than one problem, and will be more comfortable to a point but then not get any better. This type of horse may also have a spur or another form of arthritis. In this situation you will need to start with several different products to address the imbalance but once the horse is COMPLETELY SOUND FOR THREE MONTHS (or until three months past the time when radiographs confirm the resolution of the problem), then you continue with just Performance Plus Daily™ for maintenance.

Bone degeneration or Fracture is often the cause of lameness in horses. Again a mineral imbalance or deficiency in the system creates the need for the body to generate nutrients. In essence what happens is the body is using Peter to pay Paul. Stealing nutrients from one area (often the bone) to supply them to another via the blood stream. This lack of stability will compromise the bone integrity. The way we address this is by supplying the body with enough building materials in the right ratio to prevent the borrowing thus allowing the body to heal and repair the deficient areas. This situation also calls for Performance Plus Daily™ and DBG Mineral. Performance Plus Daily™ will provide all of the daily vitamins, minerals, enzymes and electrolytes that are needed on a regular basis. It is given to all horses all the time, and is the one product all of the other products are based on. The other products are given for the first several months (more or less) depending on the situation. DBG Mineral stands for Dense Bone Growth Mineral. This specific blend is rich in bone building minerals and is designed to work with Performance Plus Daily™ to provide nutritional support for horses with CALCIUM DEPOSITS or bone degeneration and is often given along with Performance Plus Daily™ to horses with fractures.

Cause - Calcium deposits usually indicate a mineral deficiency or imbalance. When there is damage or an injury to the bone, the body sends out signals for building materials. If the minerals are not in their proper ratio, the calcium is not in its proper liquid form. Therefore it cannot be used for healing or repair of bone so it sits there on top of the bone and the body sends out signals for more starting the whole process over again.

Recommendation - For healthy horses that have no signs of calcium deposits, feed TLC's Performance Plus Daily™. This comprehensive blend will provide all of the vitamins, minerals, enzymes and electrolytes that are needed on a daily basis.

For horses with existing calcium deposits, give DBG Mineral and Performance Plus Daily™. DBG Mineral stands for Dense Bone Growth Mineral. This nutrient specific blend is rich in minerals that are designed to provide nutritional support for horses with any form of calcium deposit or bone degeneration. If the deposit is actually in the hoof or low on the leg add Niacin, to improve the circulation. However, if the horse is already on medication for circulation then continue with that but also feed DBG Mineral and Performance Plus Daily™ so that the bloodstream is saturated with the nutrients it requires. Feed DBG Mineral until the horse is COMPLETELY SOUND FOR THREE MONTHS (or until three months past the time when radiographs confirm the resolution of the problem), then continue with Performance Plus Daily™ for maintenance.

We suggest that you feed a straight grain and not a commercial feed. The reason for this is that there are vitamins and minerals added to commercial feeds, and if you are giving vitamins from several different sources you start loosing control over where the balance is. Commercial feeds also contain VITAMIN D see the section on VITAMIN D for information on how overfeeding this nutrient can actually cause calcium deposits to form. Refer to the section on FEEDING for suggestions on how you can mix your own feed and save money doing it. To help with mineral absorption, add one ounce of apple cider vinegar to the feed twice daily.

An imbalance in the calcium-phosphorus ratio typically causes a horse to become what some consider a "picky eater." They usually alternate between hay and grain or will take frequent "breaks" while eating grain. This behavior is due to soreness within the jawbone from the imbalance. If the imbalance is allowed to continue over a period of time, these horses tend to become thin in the rump. This condition is due to a loss of muscle tissue. Muscle tissue is high in phosphorus. It is a natural response for the body to manufacture enzymes that break down muscle tissue in an attempt to correct the imbalance.

Recommendation - To aid in preventing a calcium-phosphorus imbalance, feed Performance Plus Daily™ daily. Feed a grass hay or an alfalfa blend rather than straight alfalfa. See also FEEDING.

For horses already showing signs of the imbalance, Feed Performance Plus Daily™ and call our office. We will send you a formula to increase the amount of available phosphorus in the system. Add one ounce of apple cider vinegar to the feed. Discontinue alfalfa hay. See also FEEDING.

Cause - There are several causes and varying degrees of colic. In many cases it is almost impossible to know the cause. Listed below are the most common types of colic. Gas or Impaction - Are fairly common and usually resolves relatively easily.

Spasmodic - Abdominal spasms cause the intestines to contract abnormally and cause pain. This type of colic usually responds fairly well.

Enteritis or Colitis - Inflammation of the small or large intestine. This form of colic can be rather severe. The reactions of the animal are usually rather violent.

Displacement - Also known as "twisted gut." In this type of colic, a portion of the intestine has moved to an abnormal position. Displacement is considered very severe because it can cause total blockage and require surgery to correct.

Distention or Rupture - Caused by overeating, especially on a product that expands when dampened (such as beet pulp.) This form of colic is also considered extremely severe. If you suspect your horse is suffering from distention or rupture, call the vet immediately. If the stomach is allowed to rupture, death is inevitable.

Recommendation - Feed Performance Plus Daily™ daily. Maintain a regular FEEDING schedule and provide a constant supply of clean water.

• Avoid moldy hay and grain
• Feed hay and water before grain
• Provide hay much of the day (especially when grazing is limited)
• Avoid giving water before the horse has had a chance to cool down after a workout
• Control intestinal parasites
• Avoid chemicals that may cause inflammation to the intestinal lining

For horses that are in distress due to colic, feed Ultimate Rescue . If you suspect impaction, give one quart of prune juice. In less extreme cases, take a few minutes to observe the horse's behavior. If you are unsure, if the actions of the horse are extremely violent or if you suspect the horse has eaten an excessive amount of grain, call the vet immediately.

At some point, all horse owners will experience a bout with colic. Keep Ultimate Rescue on hand for emergencies.

Suggested Feeding:

Any of the following feeding suggestions may be given to performance horses as well as broodmares, pleasure horses, etc. These suggestions are to be used as a "recipe" for blending the feed. The amount you actually give per feeding will depend on how much grain the horse is used to getting. For example: if you normally feed four quarts of grain per feeding, you would give four quarts.

Suggestion #1 Suggestion #2 Suggestion #3 Cracked Corn - 6 cups Crimped Oats - 6 cups Soybean Meal - 1 cup Linseed Meal - 1 cup Performance Plus Daily™ Crimped Oats - 12 cups Soybean Meal - 1 cup Linseed Meal - 1 cup Performance Plus Daily™ Crimped Oats - 12 cups Soybean Meal - 2 cups Performance Plus Daily™

Performance Plus Daily™ is a daily supplement for all horses. Adding one ounce of apple cider vinegar to the feed twice daily may improve nutrient absorption. One cup of wheat bran may also be added to the feed as desired. Finally, add a little water at feeding time to get the grain to stay together (water is preferred over molasses, especially for performance horses). We do suggest making a free choice white salt block available.

A good quality grass hay should be made readily available, especially if pasture is limited. Timothy hay or a good quality grass hay will provide an excellent source of vitamins and minerals as well as roughage. Legume hay such as alfalfa may be too rich in calcium and/or protein for some horses and should be offered in limited amounts. Pasture will provide the most natural roughage and should be made available whenever possible.

The absorption rate of vitamins and minerals varies greatly depending on the source. Generally organic (plant) sources are more readily absorbed than inorganic (artificial) sources. Chelating is a process that involves binding a mineral to an amino acid, can improve the mineral effectiveness dramatically. Also, feeding crimped oats and cracked corn can increase digestibility by as much as 9%. To ensure you are getting the maximum effectiveness from your feed, avoid overfeeding nutrients and synthetics (which may alter how well other nutrients are used).

For more information on the dangers of overfeeding nutrients see VITAMIN D.

Cause - May be any of the following...

• Overeating - This may be a sudden change in feed or grazing on lush grass when not accustomed to it
• Drinking cold water after exercise when not allowed to cool down properly
• Trauma, also known as "road founder"
• Drugs
• May occur to a mare when fetal membranes are not expelled after birth

Recommendation - To aid in the prevention of founder...

• Introduce lush pasture gradually
• Limit water intake after exercise until horse has cooled down
• Keep hooves well maintained. Care of the hooves is especially critical for avoiding trauma induced founder in road horses

For horses that are already showing signs of founder, feed Founder Free™. Give once or twice an hour for the first four hours. Continue several times daily, until recovery is noted. Feed no more than one handful of grain to a foundered horse. Feed a grass or timothy hay only. For older cases, recovery takes much longer. Despite your best efforts, chances are at some point you will have a case of founder. Keep Founder Free™ on hand for emergencies.

Cause - Trauma to the bone. The underlying cause of a fracture is often a mineral imbalance or deficiency. A lack of calcium or an imbalance between calcium-phosphorus, magnesium or VITAMIN D will leave the bone mineral deficient and brittle and more likely to fracture or chip.

Recommendation - To help maintain the integrity of the bone on a healthy horse, give TLC's Performance Plus Daily™, this comprehensive blend will provide all of the vitamins, minerals, enzymes and electrolytes that are needed on a daily basis.

There is the threat of a calcium deposit forming on the fractured area, see the section on CALCIUM DEPOSITS also see MEDICATIONS and VITAMIN D for related information.

We suggest that you feed a straight grain, see the section on FEEDING for suggestions on how you can mix your own feed and save money doing it.