Hoof Nutrition Intelligence Hoof Nutrition Intelligence is a twice-a-month web segment that is designed to add to the education of footcare professionals when it comes to effectively feeding the hoof. The goal of this web-exclusive feature is to zero in on specific areas of hoof nutrition and avoid broad-based articles that simply look at the overall equine feeding situation.

Below you will find Part 2 of the latest question and answer installment that you can share with your footcare clients.

Q: What Role do Fatty Acids Provide in Developing High Quality Hooves?

By J. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS, and Scott Gravlee, DVM, CNS, Life Data Labs

A: Essential fatty acids are necessary for a healthy, shiny coat, along with a “waterproofing” and pliability of the healthy hoof. These fatty acids are obtained from grains, unprocessed grains, oils, cooked whole soybeans or lecithin that is provided in the horse’s diet or through supplementation.

Frank Gravlee and Scott Gravlee are veterinarians and equine nutrition consultants at Life Data Labs, Inc. in Cherokee, Ala.

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Click here to read part 1 of the May 15, 2020 installment of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence: How Can I Reduce the Risks of Springtime Laminitis?

Click here to read more installments of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence.