Diet Associated With GIT diseases of horses

Question 1

What are the 5 diseases associated with diet that affect horses

Answer 1

1. EGUS
2. Diarrhoea
3. Impactions
4. Sand impactions and Dx
5. Dysbiosis

Question 2

EGUS general background

Answer 2

Squamous more so than glandular- there is no obvious connection so should examine for both
Primary due to management and nutrition
Secondary due to delayed gastric emptying

Question 3

Causes of EGUS

Answer 3

Concentrates (high starch)
High FFA’s
Low fibre (fiber, protein and minerals (Ca) act as buffers)
Low saliva

Question 4

Clinical signs of EGUS

Answer 4

Decr appetite/ picky 
Recumbent 
Colicky after feeding 
Weight loss
Poor performance 
Sterotype- aggressive, nervous

Question 5

Management of EGUs

Answer 5

No pasture
Training
Reduce stress
Larger amounts of feed less frequently

Question 6

EGUS diet

Answer 6

PPI’s!!
Pasture/ roughages for the first 16 hrs
Feed 4-6x a day
1) Hay: give earlier than granulates
2) Ca and Protein (buffers)- alfalfa and clover in the form of hay/ chaff (need to be good quality so does not irritate)/. Pellet and straw (low calcium and irritative) are not advised
3)LIMIT Grain/ concentrate: oat or chaffed alfalfa/hay
4) corn oil

Question 7

EGUS hay

Answer 7

1.5 kg/100kg

Question 8

EGUS calcium and CP

Answer 8

6-14mg/d DM

CP: 17-20%

Question 9

EGUS grain/ concentrate

Answer 9

MAX 1-2 kg at 6 hr intervals
Starch less that 2kg/bw daily (1g per kgbw per meal)
Oat: is 40% starch, 2.5kg/500kg

Question 10

EGUS corn oil

Answer 10

Max 100ml/100kg
Omega 6: Omega 3 should be 3:1
(for flaxseed oil should be 0.26:1)

Question 11

What causes Dx?

Answer 11

Carb overload

Question 12

Where do impactions occur

Answer 12

Gastric
Ileal
Caecal
Large colon

Question 13

Causes of impactions

Answer 13

Dental issues
Fiber size and quality
Lack of water
Ravenous eater

Question 14

What causes dysbiosis?

Answer 14

Xs grain or high starch