Founderguard is a safe, low dose & palatable pellet which protects horses from feed-induced laminitis. It helps to prevent founder from occuring in horses fed high grain diets or lush pasture. It will also help to prevent recurrences in horses which have suffered from laminitis or founder in the past, and may aid in the treatment of seedy toe, white line separation and poor quality hooves due to low grade laminitis. Founderguard will not protect against non-dietary forms of laminitis and founder, such as those due to stress, severe infections or concussion.
Founder is the end result of a series of events triggered by the overeating of feed containing high levels of "soluble carbohydrates". The problem feeds are usually grains and lush pastures which are rich in starches and sugars. These feeds can cause digestive upset, with a buildup of excess acid in the large intestine. The gut acidity in turn may lead to the release of toxic substances from the gut into the bloodstream. It is these substances which disrupt the blood supply to the feet, triggering laminitis and the internal hoof changes of founder. In severe cases, permanent lameness can result.
The active ingredient in Founderguard (virginiamycin) selectively controls the growth of intestinal bacteria which ferment starches and sugars, and produce lactic acid as a byproduct. Founderguard thus avoids the digestive upsets caused by an overgrowth of the lactic acid producing bacteria. This allows diets rich in soluble carbodhyrates to be consumed with lower risk of feed-induced founder.
Most horses can recognise an acute attack of laminitis with lameness and severe discomfort. However it is now known that many performance horses fed high grain diets, may develop a low grade "subclinical" form of laminitis. This low-grade founder can impair competition or racing performance, without producing obvious signs of lameness other than a slightly "scratchy" gait or mild foot soreness. It is important to remember that all horses consuming diets high in soluble carbohydrates are at risk of feed-induced laminitis and founder.
Directions for Use:
The effect of Founderguard has not been assessed in breeding horses and therefore should not be given to pregnant mares or stallions used for breeding.
Founderguard can be fed alone or mixed with feed. Commence dosing at least 3 days before increasing grain in the diet, and maintain daily doses during the entire period of grain feeding.
Dose Rate:
5g per 100kg bodyweight daily, in single or divided doses. (Eg one 25g scoop for a 500kg horse).
A 1kg bucket will last approx 40 days a the 25g dose.
A 5kg bucket will last approx 200 days at the 25g dose.
