Mishlo Pet Services

09/06/2024

08/06/2024

⚖️ 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗢𝗯𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗔𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗘𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗼 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻

🐴 Contrary to popular belief, forcing an overweight horse to go prolonged periods of time (4-5+ hours) without forage does more harm than good. Forage is the 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 thing we should restrict when trying to encourage weight loss or prevent weight gain in equines. Here is why...

🌱 Horses are physiologically designed to be ingesting and digesting roughage almost continuously. 𝘼𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 is the key word here, and it plays a huge part in managing the obese equine. An overweight horse does not need 𝙖𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙢 or 𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 access to roughage, but they need a controlled, trickle-fed amount relevant to their weight in order to keep their gastrointestinal tract operating as it should. Research suggests that horses going as little as 4-5 hours without intaking food are at significantly higher risk of developing gastric ulcers and colic.

🔧 Below is a simplified list of tools we can use to manage the weight of our curvy equine friends without unnecessarily increasing their risk of compromised digestive health:

1️⃣ Weigh the horse. This is the most important factor when managing calorie and nutrient intake. If we don't know how much they weigh, how could we possibly know how much to feed? If you do not have access to large animal scales, below is a handy calculator that will help you determine an approximate body weight for your horse based on a few simple measurements:

https://thehorse.com/tools/adult-horse-weight-calculator/

2️⃣ Weigh the feed. Guessing does not do us nor our horses any favours. A set of digital kitchen scales for weighing concentrate feeds and a set of luggage scales for weighing hay are invaluable tools that really don't cost that much to invest in.

3️⃣ For overweight horses, we need to feed 1.5% of their current body weight or 2% of their ideal body weight (whichever is more) in preferably tested low sugar and starch grass hay. Bonus points for lower calorie and protein hay too. If forage analysis is not practical or available and we suspect there may be more sugar than ideal in our hay, we can soak it for 30-60 minutes prior to feeding to remove some of the water-soluble carbohydrates (sugars).

4️⃣ If the horse is grazing on pasture 𝙖𝙣𝙙 receiving supplementary feeds of hay, we need to establish how much pasture they are intaking in order to calculate how much hay needs to be provided to achieve the 1.5-2% rule. Remember, actively growing, short, lush, or stressed grass is likely to be higher in sugar than maturer grasses, and this does not work in favour of our overweight equines. The catch 22 is that horses with access to longer pasture can generally eat more volume per day as they don’t have to work as hard for food as they do with shorter grasses. Grass sugars accumulate as the grass is exposed to sunlight during the day and then decrease again during the evening, so the 'safest' time to have a high-risk horse grazing on pasture is between around 3am and 10am, unless there has been a frost.

5️⃣ If the horse resembles a Dyson and makes grass and hay disappear in an instant, implement restrictive grazing tools such as grazing muzzles, strip-grazing, slow feeder hay nets, or if you have the luxury of feeding them several times daily, portion out their hay so they don't receive it all at once. They don't need continuous access, but they shouldn't go longer than 4-5 hours with an empty stomach either.

6️⃣ Stop feeding bulky hard feed meals out of guilt. Overweight horses do not need a premixed or pelleted feed with a daily feeding rate of anywhere from 500g - 3kg daily. If you are uncertain, have an Equine Nutritionist formulate a suitable diet based on a ration balancer or powdered supplement bound through a small portion of a carrier ingredient that includes everything the horse needs and nothing they don't. I promise, your wallet and their waistline will thank you for it.

7️⃣ Exercise the horse. We cannot expect a herd animal who evolved by grazing over vast landscapes to be locked in a small yard or paddock, with their food and water source in the one place, to maintain an ideal body condition score. Sometimes, genetics get lucky and prevent the horse from becoming overweight, but movement is so important for aspects other than weight control, such as blood circulation, hoof health, muscle conditioning, and mental stimulation. Track systems are excellent tools to implement in order to encourage foraging behaviours and movement.

🐎 If you enjoyed this article, please feel welcome to give it a share. If you’re struggling with managing the diet of an over or underweighted horse, an Equine Nutrition Consultation may put your mind at ease:

https://stableisedequine.com.au/products/remote-equine-nutrition-consultation

06/06/2024

The many businesses, retail, professionals, services & products we use and recommended.

While also caring for our own fur family & keeping us & our small buissiness going strong. 🐾

( In no particular order)

Torquay and Surfcoast Veterinary Clinics
Wyndham Veterinary Clinic

MGA Insurance Brokers Horsham
Petstock
Barwon Equine Hospital
Stable-Ised Equine
VALA Equestrian
RB Sellars
Lyka Pet Food
Bunnings Warehouse Australia
Telstra
Horseland Geelong
EQ Saddlery - Geelong
Riverbend Equine Veterinary Dental Services
LifeWise
Benchmark Horse Feeds
Ford Motor Company
Geelong Farm & Pet
thepetfoodshop
Rothwell Run
iiNet
Pets Corner Store
Cherished Pets
MCG Signs
HelloFresh
Petcover Australia
Shells Cleaning Fairys
Bates Saddles
Ian Leighton Horsemanship

06/06/2024

We love our regulars and appreciate the lovely review

We love caring for your girl 💓

06/06/2024

04/06/2024

Stay Overs: Stay over pet sitting in your home.

2 days - 1 month + options - Contact us to discuss

Feeding as per your requirements
Check and supply fresh water 2x daily.
Clean up manure & litter trays / pens
Lots of pats, cuddles, and monitor overnight.
Brush / groom.
Water plants
Collect mail.
Check / change rugs for 🐴
Check fences for livestock.
Bins out.

$80 per day

Add on options:
Dog walking $5 per walk
Administration of any medication
Equine paddock cleaning from $50 per hr
Assist for vet / Farrier $50
Daily stable cleaning - $40

Contact us to book in & discuss your requirements.

* Pricing also includes travel, a small daily public holiday surcharge is now applied on public holidays to all bookings.

🌐www.mishlopetservices.com.au
📧[email protected]
☎️0499 167 209

04/06/2024

Pop in Visits

$35 per visit / $70 per day

Minimum 2 days - 2 months + depending on your requirements.

Most people book 2 visits per day.

Our pop in services include:
For 🐕 & 🐈 🐇 & Small Pets
Feeding.
Fresh water.
Clean up manure & litter trays or pens
Lots of pats, cuddles, and monitor.
$35 per visit / 70 per day

Add on:

Dog walking $5 per walk
Administration of medication - $10 per visit.
Nail trims ( Dogs) $15

​

For Livestock 🐄🐴 🐑 🐐
Large animal pop in/ pop out; horses, cows, alpacas, goats & sheep.
Feed.
Check water.
Check fences.
Check / change rugs (horses)

Add on:

Equine paddock cleaning from $50 per hr

Equine Day yard cleaning $10 per day

Assist for vet / Farrier $50 per hr

Daily stable maintenance - $40 per day

Contact us to discuss your requirements

* Pricing also includes travel, a small daily public holiday surcharge is now applied on public holidays to all bookings.

🌐 www.mishlopetservices.com.au
📧 [email protected]
☎️ 0499 167 209

Current clients can book online via the Mishlo Pet Services portal.

04/06/2024

🐾 July availability 🐾

Dates we have available are highlighted in pink

31/05/2024

We'd love to thank all our regulars and ongoing clients for booking with us

🐾

26/05/2024

Stay overs are fully booked until June 2024.

Taking bookings now for both stay overs & pop in's between june - December 2024.

* 50% non refundable deposit is required to secure any booking.

* 19th Dec -4th Jan 2025 is pop in's only due to high demand .

Stay Overs: Stay over pet sitting in your home.

2 days - 1 month + options - Contact us to discuss

Feeding as per your requirements
Check and supply fresh water 2x daily.
Clean up manure & litter trays / pens
Lots of pats, cuddles, and monitor overnight.
Brush / groom.
Water plants
Collect mail.
Check / change rugs for 🐴
Check fences for livestock.
Bins out.

$80 per day

Add on options:
Dog walking $5 per walk
Administration of any medication $10 per day.
Equine paddock cleaning from $50 per hr
Equine day yards cleaning $10 per day
Assist for vet / Farrier $50
Daily stable cleaning - $40
Dog nail trims $15 (With other services)

Contact us to book in & discuss your requirements.

* Pricing also includes travel, time and care. A small daily public holiday surcharge is now applied on public holidays to all bookings.

🌐www.mishlopetservices.com.au
📧[email protected]
☎️0499 167 209

26/05/2024

Minimum 2 days - 2months + depending on your requirements.

Our pop in services include:
For 🐕 & 🐈 🐇 & Small Pets
Feeding.
Fresh water.
Clean up manure & litter trays or pens
Lots of pats, cuddles, and monitor.
$35 per visit / 70 per day

Add on:

Dog walking $5 per walk
Administration of medication - $10 per visit.

​

For Livestock 🐄🐴 🐑 🐐
Large animal pop in/ pop out; horses, cows, alpacas, goats & sheep.
Feed.
Check water.
Check fences.
Check / change rugs (horses)

Add on:

Equine paddock cleaning from $50 per hr

Assist for vet / Farrier $50 per hr

Daily stable cleaning - $40 per day

Contact us to discuss your requirements

* Pricing also includes travel, a small daily public holiday surcharge is now applied on public holidays to all bookings.

🌐 www.mishlopetservices.com.au
📧 [email protected]
☎️ 0499 167 209

Current clients can book online via the Mishlo Pet Services portal.

25/05/2024

Shout out to our newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! David Patti, Vincenzo Fiorillo, Clay Dickins, Sandul Dayaranjith

18/05/2024

We have the following dates coming up available.

Also, we are taking bookings for the remainder of 2024 & currently full availability for 2025.

*50% non refundable deposit is required to secure any booking dates.

11/05/2024

Big shout out to my newest top fans! 💎 Melissa Ellis, Kerrie Harrisson

10/05/2024

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Mary-Ellen Williams, Peter Jones, Rayman Robertson, Peter Wardy, Ian Willey

10/05/2024

Shout out to our newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Mary-Ellen Williams, Peter Jones, Rayman Robertson, Peter Wardy, Ian Willey

09/05/2024

Happy follow-versary & client connection to our awesome folower and regular client . Thanks for all your onging support! Melissa Ellis

04/05/2024

Our last booking spot over this weekend for pop in's and walks.

Booking re commence may 18th

We have full day availability the week of 20th May 2024

Book and pay your deposit to have your booking secured beforehand

02/05/2024

Small business awareness week 🙏

I have a HUGE but small favour to ask whoever is willing to

Go to my business page: Mishlo Pet Services

- Press the 3 dots… on the side of the page
-Hit invite friends
-Select “invite all”
-Done

You just successfully supported my business for $0.00 and less than 30 seconds of your time. 🙏🏻

Thank you for supporting small and local businesses.

Something as easy as this can play a massive part of local family run businesses in our community

✅️Copied but wanted to share as this is an amazing way to help us, small business owners for free.

Thank you 🤙

26/04/2024

Our dog walks are popular. 🐾🐶🐾

We do 30-45 minute walks depending on the dogs fitness, abilities or any medical conditions or restrictions.

Manure is picked up & bagged at all walks.

Own household dogs can be walked together.

Owners are to supply safe, secure and non damaged collars, leads or harnesses.

We use & prefer slip leads or quality leather leads and collar's.

If equipment isn't maintained then we will use our own to ensure that your pet is safe for themselves and others while on the walk.

Please note

** Due to insurance purposes dog's are NOT let off lead.

**Also in accordance with our heat/ weather policy

Individual walks booked on their own $40 each ( depending on location)

When booked with a pop in or stay over $10.00

26/04/2024

Meet the team:

Frank

Frank is Mel's other half. Frank has years of experience with trades and services.

Frank is a toolmaker & fitter & turner by trade.

A love of cars, motorbikes, and anything with mechanical parts.

When Frank met Mel 9 years ago, he was welcomed quickly by both Mishka & Arlo.

Frank has a calm energy towards animals.

Frank then began attending and showing dogs with Mel.

​

He successfully took Arlo to Tracking Championship 🏆 and often gets in and helps with the horses and animals of all sizes.

Frank was also the grounds manager for some time at the local dog club a few years ago.

Often, Frank can be found fixing or maintenance on Gazebo's, dog crates & even horse floats.

Attention to detail and quality service and finish is a must for Frank.

Frank supports Mel on their venture for the pet services business.

You may see Frank from time to time assisting with pop in feeds and walking.

We hope to span out in the future to provide maintenance and restoration of horse floats or other pet services.

In his spare time Frank enjoys seeing his children, family, going to car shows or music events.