i have a horse that has some joint problems, and has recently tore the lateral cartilage in his stifle. he’s really sore and depressed right now, and i have been giving him bran mashes about once to twice a week to perk him up and make him feel special. he tends to eat anything that i put in there, so i was wondering if there are any additives that i can put in to help with his pain.
i’m currently using:
half of his usual gran ration and that much bran
molasses and honey drizzled over the top
a tiny bit of peppermint extract
table salt to keep him drinking
powdered electrolytes
sliced carrots and apples
a few horse cookies on top =]

he is currently on MSM and glucosamine supplements, and on pain medication.

So me questions are:
-what kind of ingredients do you use in your mashes that may have different flavors for variety?
-are there any NATURAL ingredients that i can add to help with his pain?

wendy-
if my horse was otherwise healthy, i would be concerned with diabetes. but its only a matter of time now until we have to put him down. he has so many problems that there is no chance for recovery. we’re just concentrating on keeping him as pain-free and happy as possible until i can bear to let him go. he was the only horse that i’ve ever had a great connection with, so i am sure you can understand how hard this is. so please no attacks on me for being selfish. he is on the supplement daily. the vet has said that we should try anything possible to help him, and the reason that i want to go natural with this is so it wont interfere with his other meds. what i was actually looking for was an oil or something that was a natural pain releiver. ex. lavender oil for calming.
please no nasty comments; i cant really handle them right now.

I feed based on the 1/3 ratio of cooked fresh meat and cartilage, veggies and starches.

I feed whole grains i.e. brown rice, teff and tubers like potato (with skin) and carrots. They are cooked prior to eating usually by steaming.

He eats fresh and cooked veggies and fruits with a handful of nuts.

He chews on beef bones and gets liver or other cooked meats for treats. He also takes a canine multi-vit and glucosamine supplement.

I know he is meeting his caloric requirements which can be hard because they change based on his work load. He is trim without fat, well muscled, bright eyes and shiny coat.

He used to drink 3- 5 bowls of water a day eating dry kibble and now he is only drinking 1- 1.5 bowls. Is this a normal decrease in water needs based on water already in the food?
Yes, feeding human food has the consequence of the dog gaining weight if you continue to feed dog food. Timber hasn’t seen dog food in 8 months. I travel and camp a lot and sometimes to places where I won’t be able to get dog food at all much less his brand.

I don’t have children and I do cook for my dog everyday. I eat meals that are very close to what he eats. So it is simpler. For instance in the mornings I cook potatoes and eggs for us and then I change the portion (he eats more then me) and add an apple/ berries/ etc for each of us plus something green and bob’s your uncle.

I already know he is healthy and his vet has assessed his menu and said it is great for him. My own doctor and nutritionist have cleared it for me.

I was just surprised the only time he wants water is when he is working hard or at the park. I fill the water bowl at home in the morning and keep emptying it and replacing the water but it is barely touched.