BHD - 40% Flashcards
1
Q
Big Head Disease
A
Nutritional 2nd Hyperparathyroidism
2
Q
BHD - causes
A
horse’s feed has an improper calcium to phosphorus ratio causing high phosphorus levels in the horse’s blood.
3
Q
BHD - pathophysiology
A
As calcium is absorbed from the bone, it is replaced by fibrous tissue that exceeds the amount of bone resorbed. Since the bones of the skull are affected, the head enlarges and causes the big head appearance.
4
Q
BDH treatment
A
changing the feed to one with a correct calcium to phosphorus ratio. Alfalfa is a good choice as it has a high calcium level. You can also add limestone to the alfalfa to increase the amount of calcium. It will usually take up to a year for these horses to improve, if they survive.
