Suddenly wood chewing

[foggybok]

[QUOTE=Lieslot;6177482]
Isn’t woodchewing towards end of winter a sign of low in copper?
I thought that’s what’s added in many woodchewing supplements.
I don’t seem to have the problem this year, in the past I would add some copper and a couple week later they’d lose interest. Just a thought.[/QUOTE]

Mine are chewing bark and logs right now, as they do every year at this time. This year, I have been feeding them a supplement high in copper…no difference…

They are in the same pasture year round, the only thing different is they get supplemental hay in winter… I can’t help think it is a deficiency of some sort… but can’t figure out what they’d be missing…

[Ghazzu]

@caballus;6176947

Well, most of the nutrition “experts” also advocate taking horses off grass and all other ‘natural’ feeds to put them on nothing but specially formulated processed food with soaked hay.

Bah.
Another unsubstantiated assertion.

[ThisTooShallPass]

[QUOTE=LauraKY;6178847]
No one chews now except to be obnoxious when they want attention. Always right across from the window where they can see me if I’m late with dinner.QUOTE]

^ This. ^

[caballus]

[QUOTE=Ghazzu;6181120]
Bah.
Another unsubstantiated assertion.[/QUOTE]Well, not from what I understand. Do you have a different recommendation for an IR horse than take him off grass, soak hay, feed soaked beet pulp and/or no carb grain? Supplement with this or that? Thyrol, perhaps? Maybe another medication? What is your suggestion to an owner with a horse that is clinically symptomatic for IR along with the numbers to match? Or, one who is appearing to be well on its way to IR? (cresty neck, fat pads, etc.)

[Misty_Souvie]

I see this is a old post but while researching what could be making my horse chew wood came across it. I have a 19 y/o TWH who has started chewing wood. Wont eat the quitting he is a picky eater if you mess with his grain. He is on Nutrena safe choice senior, tifton 44 hay, and alfalfa pellets. Clear of any ulcers. Does have a history of choke, and a minor colic just recently after he lost his pasture buddy. However, he has been chewing wood before that all happened. He will not have anything to do with salt blocks, mineral blocks of the sort. Do put regular table salt in his feed without him picking. He has gone from actually biting the wood and chewing it to just grinding his teeth across it. We live in the woods so any sprays to the wood is out of the question. He chews on his barn, fence gate, post, trees anything he can. I thought myself there must be something lacking in his minerals or supplements. Dont know what. He doesnt do this all the time but it has been all year long not just winter. We live in florida so our winters arent like most. Thought possibly it was because of lack of fresh grass so took him to another pasture did not change the situation, So that wasnt it. Tried a change in feed, no change with wood problem. Talked to vet he dont feel its something to be to concerned about at this time. I read through this post and all of the comments and yes it did get “hijacked” off topic of what OP asked. So I am asking OP if they were able to break the wood chewing problem and if so how? Thank you

[Misty_Souvie]

[GraceLikeRain]

You mention he is clear of ulcers. How recently did you scope?