Anyone heard anything about STALL DRY killing minis?

[Miniv]

We have used Sweet PDZ for years.....and Stall Dry is supposed to be a lot like it but by a different manufacturer.

Larry heard a rumor while on this last hauling trip that the STALL DRY has been attributed to at least one mini dying....????

Has anyone heard anything or is it truly a rumor????

:

MA

 

[clpclop]

I'd be interested to know also because I just started using it. Not in the whole stall area, just on pee spots and where they always poop. It's great stuff, but by girls come first!

 

[Sue_C.]

I had read about this as well. It has to do with one of the materials in it, silica or something?

 

[marion 59]

Yes, I heard it too!!!

A friend of mine e-mailed something about it to me.

Sorry,I'm a total computer dummy(I'd rather be outside playing with my horses, than bothering with this.)

I don't know how to paste it to this reply, But I'm happy to forward it to you, I just need a regular e-mail adress.

:

Maybe you can post it here, after you got it.

I think everyone should know about it.

Marion

[email protected]

 

[Shari]

Have been using that stuff for a very long time. Under the shavings,, and the stall is well ventilated.

Never once have had a problem with it.

Would want some real proof. And Proof that mini did not have a Asthma or other lung problem prier.

 

[h2t99]

Here is th email I got.

I just receive an e-mail from a friend who asked me to pass this

> information on to other horse people, and I would appreciate it if you

> guys would pass it on to others as well. I've never used this product,

> thank goodness!...and NEVER will!

> Here's part of her letter to my friend:

>

> I'm off to UW-Madison Vet hospital. My 27", 2.5 year old appy stallion

> had a horrible reaction to a product called "Stall Dry". He nearly died

> and they had to do a tracheotomy, since he went into respiratory failure.

> I did some investigating and found out the product has a human hazard

> warning on it and contains "silica". A huge respiratory hazard to any

> living creature even in small amounts. It is is the asbestos family. No

> where on their packaging is there a warning or that this product contains

> silica. Looks like I have a lot work ahead of me to get this garbage

> labeled correctly and if I can do better, off the market. I have about 20

> years of work history and education in the health and safety field and

> know how serious this is. I also know someone did not properly label the

> package as far as the human hazards, rated by OSHA and worse, the effects

> on animals with much more sensitive respiratory systems. Do NOT use the

> product. My little guy still could die.

 

[Shari]

OK,, I would want to contact the UW-Madison Vet hospital.

Second like I said before, I would want to know if that animal had asthma or breathing problems before.

Third, what kind of stall was it put in, how much was put in the stall? Did they use the powder form and just poof the whole bag in at once with the animal still in the stall? OR?

This is just an example and I know it is not the same thing per say. If I told you, everyone would die from drinking milk,, would you stop drinking it?

Wouldn't you ask, why?

My Family is truly allergic to cow dairy.

What may make us very sick and could kill us, would not bother other folks in the slightest.

Same is true with just about everything.

 

[Miniv]

Okay.....I don't want to start anything.... I just want to find out the FACTS.

It would be good to know exactly what is in STALL DRY before jumping to conclusions. It is obviously slightly different than PDZ.

We happen to have a bag of STALL DRY in our barn, but before I use it again, I want to know more.

MA

 

[woodnldy]

Any one here a chemist or knows how to read a MSDS sheet and understand what it says??? Here is the addey to a site , I think its the product you guys are talking about. It does contain silica but it says in osha aproved amounts. I don't think i would trust it tho.I use some baking soda if odor becomes a problem,tho i don't keep them stalled unles they have a problem. What about it guys??

ops addey http://www.wicp.com/stalldryplus.htm

 

[Minimor]

I got that same e-mail off one of the yahoo groups last week. It's not a product we have used, nor one we probably ever would use, but I too wondered what the full story was--if the Stall Dry had been used under some bedding material or just on its own, how well ventilated was the stall, did the horse have a pre-existing condition, or just a terrible allergy to the product--was the death caused by inhalation of the product, or did the horse try to eat it?

I know the little packets of silica that come as drying agents in various things I've bought have warnings about not ingesting the stuff.

I'd like to think that used properly for most horses the Stall Dry is actually safe, but for an especially small horse I'd be leary of anything that could contain harmful vapor or particles--a 16 hh horse standing in a stall is a long way from the ground--a 27.5" horse, even with his head up, is pretty low to the floor & if the stall isn't extremely well ventilated I can see where he'd be more prone to a problem.

 

[hhpminis]

OK Guys, slow down and breath!

This has been going around and I was concerned as well. I contacted the makers of this product as I have used similar products in the past and of course was concerned. This is what I learned. I tried to find the email that I sent out in response but can not find it so this is the best of my memory.

The product does contain silica but...it is a form of silica that is safe, not the one that is harmful. They thanked me for bringing it to their attention, they had heard all about it. They had attempted to contact the lady who owned the horse and the vet. No one would comment to them.

I was very sorry for the womans horse, who was a dwarf by the way, was so terribly ill and I expressed my sorrow for her and her little one. However, sometimes in our grieving it is a need to blame something, anything as for some odd reason this somehow makes us feel better.

If you have a question contact the company, the man that I emailed back and forth with was named Steve Gurney, he was very pleasant and informative. This is his contact

[email protected]

 

[Farmhand]

http://www.wicp.com/SiteCM/U/D/E42E10C11306EB08.pdf

 

[Ashley]

I can sorta read MSDS sheets as I have to at work.

That said, even thou it is OSHA regulated I would NOT trust it. Where I work we have alot of different chemicals and what not around the plant. All regulated, but alot of them have caused alot of health issues with people. Especially on the paint lines, where you are outside where the painting is actually happening but you still get all the fumes. The alarms are often going off down there, yet the people are still being made to work anyway.

To me it seems odd on the MSDS sheet that there are so many issues related to breathing the stuff, but if you eat it, it wont hurt you?

 

[woodnldy]

Thats the way I read it to Ashley, Thanks.When it comes to "shouldn't be breathed" then Personally

it shouldn't be in a horses stall,big or little. My opinion only now! My little characters like to paw and pick at stuff to much. I would really be worried about them breathing it that way more than any other.

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

I heard this a while back and in my opinion for what it is worth think the dwarf had other breathing issues which are common to dwarfs where the soft palate (not a cleft palate) grows at a different rate then the rest of the head and basically covers the trachea and they sort of suffocate themselves. I know Sadie died from this as did a few other dwarves here.

I of course am not saying what the horse died of how could I but these are all things I would want checked out before I thought this product was unsafe.

 

[Ashley]

I heard this a while back and in my opinion for what it is worth think the dwarf had other breathing issues which are common to dwarfs where the soft palate (not a cleft palate) grows at a different rate then the rest of the head and basically covers the trachea and they sort of suffocate themselves. I know Sadie died from this as did a few other dwarves here.

I of course am not saying what the horse died of how could I but these are all things I would want checked out before I thought this product was unsafe.

it doesnt say in the email that horse was a dwarf and I dont beleive it was either.

 

[hhpminis]

You are right Ashley, the original email did not say it was a dwarf. Followup communication with those close to the situation is how I know it was a dwarf.

 

[Ashley]

27" seems kind of big for a dwarf.

Even so, like I said the MSDS even states the problems with breathing it in. Well most minis are short and there noses are alot of times sniffing around the floor. Not something I would even consider useing in my stalls.

 

[hhpminis]

Here is the email correspondence I had with the Stall Dry comapny. Like I stated I am not taking sides, I just wanted to find out the facts.

Dear friends

I dont know how many of you have gotten the email about "Stall Dry" products

stating that it poses health risks but I did and I went to the horses mouth

so to speak and contacted the company. I have forwarded their response to

my question on to my horse friends.

I myself have used this and similar products in the past so naturally I was

concerned about using it in the future without some investigation. I want

any of you that have horses at my facility to know I take great concern in

the well being of all horses in my custody.

I am not doubting that there was something terribly wrong with the

originators poor colt, and I only hope that he is recovering and doing well.

Sometimes when these things happen we want something to blame as that

makes us feel better somehow. Again, my heart goes out to her at this time.

I am not taking one side or the other, I just believe it is good to hear

both sides on things and draw our own conclusions on matters of this degree.

Annette Helgeson

HHP Miniature Shetlands & Training Center

>From: [email protected]

>To: Annette Helgeson

>Subject: Re: Stall Dry

>Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 07:58:30 -0800

>

>Dear Annette

>

>The person you received the message from is confusing Crystalline Silica

>(quartz) with Amorphous Silica. Stall Dry does contain Amorphous Silica

>which is NOT considered harmful. She is not qualified to make the

>assumption that a horse would have a reaction such as the one she is

>claiming. Her knowledge on Silica and its different types and effects is

>very limited.

>

>We have tried to investigate this persons claims but have not been able to

>receive any credible information from the person or the animals Vet. We

>have offered to discuss this with the Vet but to no avail.

>

>I suspect there is more to this claim than you have heard and we will need

>to pursue this on

>another level.

>

>Stall Dry has been used (without problems) for 15 years. We sell 1,000's of

>tons per month of this product to the Equine, Cattle, Poultry and smaller

>animal

>industries.

>

>We conform to all government regulations and requirements. We would not be

>selling a product into the Equine Industry that would have any chance of

>hurting an animal or person.

>

>Please feel free to contact us any time if you need more info or would

>like to discuss this matter further. Please forward this to your friends

>and colleagues if you

>wish.

>

>Thank You

>

>Steve Gurney

>Sales Manager

>

>On 17 Jan 2006 at 18:40, Annette Helgeson wrote:

>

>Thank you, I was not sure if the email went or not as you cannot see the

>whole of what you are typing.

>What I was trying to get to you was a forwarded email that I received

>concerning your product. I do not know the validity of the email but it is

>being forwarded fast and we both know how fast these things grow.

>I am concerned if it is true as I have used your product and similar

>products in the past and really like them but if the statements are true

>then I feel you need to be made aware of the health risk your product is

>posing for horses. Especially if foals

>are in this as they spend so much time laying down.

>I have a training facility for miniature horses and Shetlands and cannot

>risk this happening at my farm and will discontinue use of such product

>until I am satisfied this is not a real concern.

>Here is the email I received.

>Thank you for your quick response

>Annette Helgeson

>HHP Miniature Shetlands and Training Center

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

27" seems kind of big for a dwarf.

Totally off subject but it is very possible for a horse to have enough dwarf characteristics for many to consider it a dwarf and still be 27 in , 30 in or even taller.