Hmmm, it actually sounds like excess Oxalate intake results in calcium deficiency! So if excess calcium is the culprit in these crystals, then that makes no sense.
Horse is just on regular pasture grass in Northern Virginia, definitely nothing fancy.
Interesting, thanks ā and yes, Iām hoping that this will fix the problem going forward.
Thatās not going to happen, finances and so forth.
Sheāll cancel the appointment with the other vet on Friday, this bill alone was almost $700 and she still has shell shock. Remember, first horse! She only has him insured for colic and catastrophic injury ā her insurance coverage is pretty limited. I told her she should up it next year.
Is insurance actually cost effective for issues like this? Itās not cheap either and IME they just exclude whatever they pay for in the next year, without dropping the premium. Itās not like human health insurance where itās regulated to cover comprehensive health care.
Iāve got a friend that has a horse and also works for a pet insurance company; from my understanding no, itā not cost effective for issues like this.
I have colic/injury on my guy for anything major; I pay $25/month for that and find it worth it. Otherwise, I just have a separate savings account that I chuck money into for everything else. I have still paid my fair share of in vet bills in full for diagnostics/meds/exams etc. Once you use it, on something big or small, then you have to deal with premium increases and future coverage/preexisting conditions.
Iād rather pay $700 out of pocket and hold off on the insurance to use if a $7,000 bill comes along.
Yes, I personally agree with this because thatās what I do.
OTOH, It wouldāve been helpful for her when he was very ulcery to have been able to get a scope and treatment paid for by insurance.
If calcium needs to be limited, then she might want to stop giving Outlast. Switch to omeprazole if using Bute, but donāt give them at the same time. Tylenol does seem like a better option, though.
Outlast is alfalfa based.
Yes, I checked the ingredient list.
Not sure whether there is āenoughā calcium (compared to straight alfalfa) to consider it off limits?
She does need to keep this horse on some kind of gastric support is the thing, and the Outlast seems to be working; heās been on it for about 3-4 months.
I think itās the affordability thing.
I suggested she just keep him on Nexium - but the vet said no - Outlast was better 
Well, Outlast is a calcium supplement.
Yes ā what would you suggest for her as daily gastric support that doesnāt contain calcium, but wonāt break the bank?
Aloe Vera pellets or juice?
Maybe ā though they wouldnāt feed the juice so it would have to be the pellets. Might not be quite enough support for him, though?
I really wish she couldāve just had him scoped, but she couldnāt afford it ā so treated until symptoms subsided.
What did she treat with? Just the Outlast?
Ulcerguard, then Nexium.
Maybe he doesnāt need a daily supplement if the ulcers healed? At least not if itās going to contribute to a complication like bladder crystals.
Calcium oxalate stones? Not struvite? Since struvite are typically associated with UTIās, probiotics can help, but I donāt know if that applies for calcium oxalate stones. She may need to keep a check on the urine pH daily (just pH test strips) for a while as she adjusts his diet.
The horse is forming crystals/sediment now? Regardless of the type of stone, encouraging water intake is a good idea to dilute the urine and keep the bladder flushed. Maybe add some apple juice or other flavoring to his water bucket to increase water intake. And think about warmed water/heated water buckets in cold weather for the same reason.
My gelding had exactly the same issue some years ago, treated with (human) supplements and increasing water intake he was fine in a few days and the problem never came back. I hope itās the same for your friendās horse!
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