Sentinel® Veterinarian Hub Helping Your Patients Live Healthier Lives. Sentinel® Veterinarian Hub Helping Your Patients Live Healthier Lives. PRODUCTS Sentinel Extruded Sentinel XT Sentinel Care gutWise Technology Ask Our NutritionistsFeeding GuidesArticlesStories Submit Your Question Submit Your Question Laying the foundation of equine care in nutrition. Our expert team is here to help you and your practice make dietary recommendations, educate clients and provide your patients with quality nutrition for happy, fulfilling lives. see how Meet our nutrition team Our equine specialists at your service. Dr. Randel Raub, PhD Director of Research and Nutrition Dr. Randy Raub, PhD, started with Kent Nutrition Group in 2020 as Director, Research and Nutrition and he leads the nutrition team… Meet Randy Jeanne van der Veen Equine and Specialty Nutritionist Jeanne van der Veen joined Kent Nutrition Group in 1988 as a ruminant, equine and formulation nutritionist. Over the years, Jeanne has held multiple positions ... Meet Jeanne Kristyn Sturken Equine Product Manager Kristyn Sturken started with Kent Nutrition Group in 1995 as a Territory Sales Manager and worked with retail dealers and animal owners across the eastern United States ... Meet Kristyn Get the nutrition advice your patients need. Our expert nutrition team is passionate about answering your dietary questions, from feed options for foals and pregnant mares to the right nutrition for horses prone to digestive upsets and metabolic issues. Do you offer a feed that would be good for a horse with Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM)? Yes, we have several products, including supplements and feeds, depending on the horse’s needs. In general, our Sentinel Performance LS and Sentinel Senior extruded feed products have both worked well for horses with PSSM. We also have Sentinel Care Carb Guard and other Sentinel Care supplements that may be more appropriate, depending on the individual horse. (Jeanne van der Veen) What do you recommend for an older horse whose back teeth are deteriorating and who has lost some top line and could put on some weight? I would recommend Sentinel Performance LS extruded horse feed. An extruded feed is easily broken down by horses with poor dentition, and it can also be easily made into a mash. This feed also contains 12% fat for efficient weight gain and high fiber content for naturally safe feeding. In addition, Sentinel Performance LS contains multiple ingredients to support an aging horse’s digestive system. (Jeanne van der Veen) What is the best feeding approach for broodmares, including before, during and after pregnancy? The mare may need additional vitamins and minerals in the last two to three months of gestation to support foal growth, along with energy to maintain body condition. The horse may need a protein, mineral and vitamin supplement, like Sentinel Care Equine Choice Topline 30. During the last two to three weeks before foaling, it’s recommended to switch to a feed designed for lactation and foaling, like Sentinel Safe Start or Sentinel XT Grow. (Kristyn Sturken) Is Sentinel Senior a good choice for a senior horse with Cushing’s and insulin resistance, or would it be better to try a forage only diet like hay or hay pellets? Every horse is different, and sometimes the best choice may, unfortunately, require trial and error. Sentinel Senior is a great choice, and we’d recommend it in this situation. There are varying degrees of Cushing’s and insulin resistance, and these conditions can change over time. If your horse is doing well, stick with this program. If you see changes or the condition progresses, different nutritional approaches can be considered. (Kristyn Sturken) See More Questions Have a question for our nutritionists? Submit Your Question Health Management Equine feeding goals based on health concern. These expert recommendations are designed to help you make informed decisions on your patients’ nutritional health. Colic Maintain consistent feed intake; type and amount Feed multiple meals; smaller amounts, more often Feed a low starch and low sugar diet Feed a high fat diet if additional calories are needed Provide adequate hay/fiber, avoiding poor-quality stemmy, coarse hay Feed a balanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio diet Practice good parasite control Feeding prebiotics and probiotics may be beneficial Maintain consistent time-of-day feeding Make grain and hay changes gradually Choke Reduce rate of feed intake by: Feeding an extruded feed Placing a large smooth stone in feed bucket Placing a salt block in feed bucket Utilizing a custom feeder Separating horses to minimize feeding competition Maintaining a consistent time-of-day feeding Soak feed to create a mash Place feed and/or hay below chest height or on ground Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Wet hay and/or grain to minimize dust Reduce dusty hay feeding by feeding a high-fiber (>15%) feed OR substitute hay with hay pellets or cubes Turn horse out on pasture as often as possible Feed to promote immune system function: Balanced mineral and vitamin supplementation (antioxidants) Poor Dentition Soak feeds to make a mash for ease of chewing Substitute long-stem hay with chopped forage, cubes and/or hay pellets Feeding an extruded feed product may be beneficial Developmental Orthopedic Disease (DOD) Ensure pregnant mare receives proper vitamin and mineral supplementation during last trimester Keep foal in lean body condition (BCS 4-5) by maintaining a higher protein-to-energy ratio Don’t overfeed Feed foals a low starch and low sugar diet Feed foals to promote proper bone growth and development: Adequate protein plus vitamin and mineral balance Easy Keeper (Overweight) Reduce caloric intake by: Reducing grain ration or feeding lower calorie grain ration Feeding a nutrient-dense supplement in place of grain ration Reducing hay feeding and using grazing muzzle on pasture Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) Keep feed and barn protected from opossums, other rodents and birds Feed to maximize immune system function: Balanced mineral and vitamin supplementation (antioxidants) High levels of Vitamin E Feed to reduce digestive stress by: Feeding a high-quality, palatable forage Feeding a high fiber, low starch/sugar grain ration Feeding fat as needed to meet caloric requirements Feed high-quality protein to help rebuild tissues Supplement folic acid especially if on medication for EPM Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) Maintain consistent feed intake; type and amount Feed multiple meals; smaller amounts, more often Feed a low starch and sugar diet Feed a high-fat diet if additional calories are needed Provide adequate hay/fiber Feed a supplement containing alfalfa, bio-available calcium and other gastric additives Medications/antacids may be necessary Hard Keeper (Underweight) Increase caloric intake by: Feeding a better quality, higher calorie hay or fiber source Gradually increasing grain ration Feeding a high-fat grain ration or supplement Feeding prebiotics and probiotics may be beneficial Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP) Lower potassium intake to <1.5% of total diet (including forages) Reduce high-potassium hay feeding by utilizing a high-fiber (>15%) feed Reduce potassium load into horse's digestive system by: Feeding multiple meals; smaller amounts, more often Keeping horses out on pasture Equine Metabolic Syndrome/Insulin Resistance (EMS) Restrict caloric intake of overweight horses by: Reducing grain ration or feeding lower calorie grain ration Feeding a nutrient-dense supplement in place of grain ration Reducing hay amount fed (min. 1% body weight) Using grazing muzzle on pasture Feed a very low starch and sugar diet including hay/forage Manage grazing for when pasture is lower in NSC Utilize high-fat diets only if needing additional calories Feed multiple meals; smaller amounts, more often Feed to promote immune system function: Balanced mineral and vitamin supplementation (antioxidants) Laminitis Maintain consistent feed intake; type and amount Feed multiple meals; smaller amounts, more often Feed a low starch and sugar diet, including hay Manage pasture grazing for when pasture is lower in starch and sugar Feed a high-fat diet if additional calories are needed Feed to promote hoof wall growth and repair by: Adequate protein, minerals and vitamins Digestive Disease (Leaky Gut Syndrome) Maintain a high-quality, high-fiber diet with hay and/or forage Feed a highly digestible (extruded) low starch and sugar diet Maintain consistent feed intake and time-of-day feeding Feed a gastric support supplement with Bacillus subtilis probiotics, yeast extract prebiotics, butyric acid and zinc Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID or Equine Cushing’s Disease) Feed a low starch and low sugar diet Feed a high-fat diet if additional calories are needed Feed to promote immune system function: Balanced mineral and vitamin supplementation (antioxidants) Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM or EPSM) Feed a VERY low starch and sugar diet including hay/forage (hay ≤ 12%) Restrict caloric intake of overweight horses by: Feeding a nutrient-dense supplement in place of grain ration Reducing hay amount fed (min. 1% body weight) Using grazing muzzle on pasture and avoiding times of higher NSC Utilize high fat/oil supplement to meet caloric requirements Feed multiple meals; smaller amounts, more often Feed to promote immune system function Balanced mineral and vitamin supplementation (antioxidants) Hepatic Disease Limit level of protein, supplementing with amino acids to meet requirements: Feed grass hays, avoid alfalfa and clover Limit level of fat, avoiding high fat diets Limit levels of calcium and phosphorus, meet minimum requirements Feed a high fiber diet to meet primary caloric needs Feed easily digestible (soluble) carbohydrates (starch) as needed for additional calories Control salt intake Feed multiple meals; smaller amounts, more often Supplement with B vitamins and vitamin C Renal Disease Control level of protein and reduce calcium: Feed grass hays, avoid alfalfa and clover Feed a balanced energy diet to keep horses in good body condition: Fermentable fiber, controlled carbohydrates, fat are needed Feed multiple meals; smaller amounts, more often Ensure unlimited supply of fresh water at optimal drinking temperature Limited Pasture Provide long-stem fiber by: Feeding additional hay, hay cubes and/or chopped forage Provide supplemental fiber by: Feeding a high fiber (>12%) feed See All Concerns Expert nutrition notes Is Feed Low in Starch and Sugar Right for All Horses? Having shared the 101 of low starch, low sugar feeds, Jeanne van der Veen, equine nutritionist for Sentinel Horse Feeds and Kristyn Sturken, equine product manager for Sentinel Horse Feeds, are […] Continue Reading Horse feed forms and benefits Horse Feed Forms and Benefits When going to the local feed store or researching what kind of nutrition you should be feeding your horse, it is evident that there are many […] Continue Reading The benefits of extruded feeds for horses Benefits of Extruded Feeds for Horses There are many specialized and newly developed feeds and concentrates available for your horse, thanks to extensive research and testing done in the equine nutrition […] Continue Reading Soybean Meal and Protein in the Horse Diet Learn about the importance of protein in you horses’ diet and gain a better understanding of what factors determine the quality of the protein, such as amino acids, digestibility, and processing. Continue Reading View All Nutrition Notes Get the latest resources from our nutrition team. Sign Up Real experiences from equine veterinarians “I think the nutritional value that Sentinel extruded feeds provide to our horses is excellent. It’s easier to chew and digest than pelleted feeds. The calories are higher, and the starches are predigested by the cooking process, allowing for better nutrient availability compared to pelleted feed.” – Deme Erickson, DVM founder of TNT Equine “We rely on the experts in nutrition. It’s so innately important to equine health and to the general wellbeing of the horse from the beginning to the end. The Sentinel products have been extremely helpful in providing good nutritional basis for our horses.” – Mike Davis, DVM, MS New England Equine Medical & Surgical Center “I grew up feeding my horses Sentinel. It’s a product that’s tried and true. It’s been around a long time. The research behind the product is great. The company itself is fantastic, and the support staff is like no other.” – Lauri Fudge, Practice Manager TNT Equine Purposely formulated feeds for every equine need. No two patients are the same, and that’s why we offer a wide range of equine feeds and supplements for all horses. When you recommend Sentinel, you can be confident you’re recommending quality nutrition for a healthy, fulfilling life. Discover Sentinel Feeds
