I have a 21-year-old Appaloosa mare who recently came down with a case of grass founder. I’m giving her 1-ounce of bute along with one-half cup of grain. Is this amount enough to relieve any pain? What do you recommend?

Hoof Nutrition Intelligence is a twice-a-month web segment that is designed to add to the education of footcare professionals when it comes to effectively feeding the hoof. The goal of this web-exclusive feature is to zero in on specific areas of hoof nutrition and avoid broad-based articles that simply look at the overall equine feeding situation.

Below you will find Part 2 of the latest question and answer installment that you can share with your footcare clients.

Q: I have a 21-year-old Appaloosa mare who recently came down with a case of grass founder. I’m giving her 1-ounce of bute along with one-half cup of grain. Is this amount enough to relieve any pain? What do you recommend? She is temporarily stall bound and being fed two flakes of grass hay per day along with water.

By Scott Gravlee, DVM

A: You are correct with feeding hay along with very little to no grain. The 1-ounce of bute per day is a good administration level. It is best to encourage your mare to lay down, as giving too much bute may take away much pain and reduce the incentive to take the weight off her feet. Follow your veterinarian’s advice regarding when to reduce or eliminate the bute therapy.

My father, Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS has co-authored a laminitis e-book that is available for free on our website at lifedatalabs.com. This 90-page book has good information that will help you manage your laminitis concerns. Be sure to also review the section of our website that describes our research program and lab, which has enabled us to formulate effective products for various conditions that horses can be afflicted with. 

One product developed from our research, Life Data Lamina Formula, would be ideal to give to your horse. This product helps maintain blood flow in the laminae of the hoof wall, reduces inflammation and helps improve sole thickness. This product does not contain added sugars and contains insignificant calories.

Designed to be given along with Farrier’s Formula Double Strength, this product will provide the nutrients to rebuild the hoof capsule and grow new hoof wall and sole. It is also very low in carbohydrates.

Dr. Scott Gravlee is a veterinarian with Life Data Labs in Cherokee, Ala.

Click here to read part 1 of the Oct. 14, 2021, installment of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence: I’m working with a mare that previously suffered from malnutrition with a previous owner. How will improved nutrition affect her hoof quality? Click here to read more installments of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence.