Dealing with an ill horse can
be a trying situation, emotionally, physically and financially.
Sometimes, there are feeding programs that can help with your
horse’s recovery or, in the case of chronic illness, increase
the horse’s comfort level. In any case of disease and illness,
you should always consult with your veterinarian to be sure of
the right approach.
Disease and illness, such as severe trauma, burns and infection
will generally increase the need for energy, protein and vitamins.
Typical common illnesses, such as influenza and colds, will normally
only require stall rest and an adequate supply of fresh water
and feed. This article will look at some of the more serious
problems that can occur and suggest what we can do to ease the
situation through the feed tub.
Problems with Foals
Most feed problems with young horses are related to three things:
epiphysitis, contracted tendons, and deficiencies. These usually
occur due to late weaning, overfeeding, underfeeding, unbalanced
diets, misuse of minerals and poor supplementation. Diarrhea
can also be a problem.
Epiphysitis generally occurs in the ankles of foals 2-6
months of age and in the knees of youngsters 5-12 months of age.
Visible signs include lameness, swelling, heat and pain. These
symptoms are caused by damage to the growth plates in bone and
occur due to mineral deficiencies or imbalances, excess vitamin
D, excess energy intake, compensatory growth, or any combination
of these. The best weapon is to feed a balanced diet designed
for growing horses. In severe cases, it is suggested to reduce
the growth rate (by reducing caloric intake) until the situation
corrects itself. Caution should be taken not to slow growth too
much, as this can impair the development of muscle and bone and
will encourage compensatory growth at a later date.
Contracted tendons usually are seen in newborns or in
foals 6-12 months of age. Possible causes include magnesium deficiencies,
and also deficiencies/imbalances of selenium, copper, manganese
and zinc. If a foal is weaned late and then fed a high energy
diet to make up for the weight loss that sometimes accompanies
weaning, contracted tendons can result because of compensatory
growth. The best program is to feed foals a creep ration designed
for growing youngsters before weaning to maintain uniform growth
throughout the weaning period. A good creep ration should be
about 16% crude protein, 0.8% calcium and 0.6% phosphorous plus
vitamins and minerals balanced for growing horses.
Deficiencies in general may not be observable except in
severe cases. What is compromised is optimal health and development.
Low levels of phosphorous can result in reduced bone development,
and a loss of strength, even though the foal appears to be normal
and healthy. A proper calcium:phosphorous ratio is necessary
to ensure the absorption of these minerals. Excessively low protein
can also result in poor muscle and bone growth, while low energy
can restrict overall growth and development. A deficiency in
vitamin A reduces the resistance to disease, but be careful,
as toxicity is possible with this vitamin. The typical foal needs
about 20,000 IU/day.
Diarrhea in foals is often due to malabsorption or maldigestion
in the small intestine. A veterinarian should be consulted to
provide the horse with extra fluids and electrolytes. If the
diarrhea lasts for more than two days, supplemental vitamin B,
energy and protein may be needed. Some preparations that are
used for calves contain glucose and protein and usually sodium,
chloride, potassium and other nutrients. Other sources of readily
available energy are dextrose, vegetable oil or milk replacers.
Do not use sucrose in foals under three months of age as they
do not have the sucrase enzymes needed to digest them.
Adult Problems
There are many, many diseases and illnesses that can affect your horse,
but here we will look at some of the more common ones.
Diarrhea in adult horses is usually a result of large bowel
disease. It can occur from a change in feed, especially the forage,
but this usually corrects itself in a day or two, and is more of a
management problem. With diarrhea, the best bet is to reduce the size
of meals and if it persists for more than two days, supplement with
vitamin B, fluids and electrolytes, under the supervision of a vet.
Feeding free-choice roughage, salt and water is recommended especially
if the diarrhea is due to grain overload or antibiotic use. Always
provide readily digestible fibre and fats and avoid high levels of
soluble carbohydrates (grains).
Liver disease can be a difficult problem to manage. The liver
is the primary site of gluconeogenesis, and the storage of vitamins
A, D, and E. The liver also functions to detoxify the body of drugs
and metabolic byproducts. The key in feeding a horse with liver disease
is to provide energy and protein in a form that does not rely on liver
metabolism, so as not to stress it any more than needed. Vitamins
A, D, E, and K should also be supplemented, as these are usually released
by the liver into the bloodstream. Short branch-chain amino acids
(valine, isoleucine, and leucine) are easily utilized as a source
of energy and protein. Diets for horses with liver disease should
have high levels of soluble carbohydrates, and low protein, with proteins
that have maximal amounts of short branch-chain amino acids. Suggested
feeds to use are grass hay, oat hay, sorghum (milo), and corn. Avoid
legume hay (alfalfa and clover), soybeans, and oats. Feed small amounts
often. The chart below shows the levels of protein and branch-chain
amino acids (bcaa’s) in some common feeds.
Renal disease (or kidney disease) has similar requirements
to those of liver disease, low protein (but of a high quality) containing
high levels of branch-chain amino acids. A correct feeding program
won’t necessarily slow the progression of disease, but can improve
the quality of life for the horse. The kidney is the primary site
of calcium excretion. High calcium feeds, such as legume hays, result
in the excretion of high levels of calcium crystals in the urine.
In horses with renal disease, these crystals accumulate in the kidneys,
and could result in kidney stones. Avoid the use of alfalfa and bran.
Heart disease can be another problem. The biggest concerns
here are the levels of sodium and potassium in the diet, and the amount
and quality of protein and energy required to maintain a lean body
weight. Salt intake should be restricted, but not eliminated. Check
the levels of sodium if you are using a commercial feed. Your veterinarian
may be administering certain drugs, such as furosemide (a diuretic)
which can affect levels of electrolytes. She will have the right suggestions
of how to compensate for any nutrient losses.
Pituitary dysfunction is a common problem in geriatric horses.
This will reduce their tolerance for calcium, glucose and fiber, while
the requirements for protein, phosphorous, vitamin C and B vitamins
are increased. Pelleted or extruded feeds designed for older horses
should contain 12-20% crude fibre so they can be used as a complete
feed, reducing the need for hay. But remember, if an aged horse is
not failing (i.e. weight and condition loss), or if he has not been
diagnosed with a pituitary disorder, there is no need to change the
diet.
Starvation, though not a disease in itself, is obviously a
condition that can cause many problems. It can result from dental
problems, parasitic infection, reduced intestinal absorption, inappetance
or deprivation of feed. Immune function is compromised, wound healing
time is slowed, as is the metabolic rate. Long term starvation can
cause a decrease in muscle mass, including the cardiac muscle, from
protein mobilization within the body. (This is the body’s last
resort to find nutrients). When caring for a horse that has suffered
from starvation, keep in mind that feed should be reintroduced slowly.
Use high quality hay and emphasize protein, not carbohydrates. Give
grains slowly to ease the increase of the metabolic rate. High levels
of carbohydrates could cause stress to the weakened cardiac muscle.
Rectovaginal lacerations, which could occur during foaling,
require a softening of the stool and a reduction in fecal volume.
Use a complete pelleted feed, or even a liquid diet. If the lacerations
are due to a surgery, start the new diet prior to the surgery. Avoid
long stemmed hay in this situation.
Intestinal problems are probably one of the most common issues
for horsemen. Colic is a general term indicating the presence
of abdominal pain. There are many types of colic, and many can be
resolved with time and the help of your veterinarian. If the colic
is severe, surgery may be required. The first feed that should be
introduced to a horse after colic surgery is hay. This will stimulate
gut motility, which can be compromised after the operation. After
a horse is completely recovered from surgery, no special diet is required,
though it is recommended to maintain a diet high in fibre and water
content.
If a portion of the large intestine is removed, or resected, there
is a increased requirement for protein, phosphorous, and B vitamins
and a reduced capacity for fibre digestion. Use high quality alfalfa
hay or an alfalfa/grass mix. Introduce concentrates gradually, at
no more than 2 kg per meal. Fats are useful to increase caloric intake.
In a major small intestine resection, put the emphasis on the large
intestine when it comes to the diet. Avoid large amounts of grain,
as the primary site of digestion of carbohydrates is in the small
intestine. Use high quality legume hay and beet pulp. Only use fat
if the ileum is uncompromised. If the ileum has been resected, you
will need to consult your veterinarian to receive injectible vitamins
A, E, and possibly K. there will also be an increased requirement
for calcium as this is a major site of calcium absorption.
The above guidlines should be helpful, but the bottom line is to make
sure that, whatever the situation is that you are dealing with, you
check with your nutritionist and veterinarian to ensure
Other Horse Sport Articles
Archives
