Equine E req and clinical cases

Question 1

E requirements for work horses (4 levels)

Answer 1

low intensity: increase 25% (M + 25%M)
moderate: increase 50% (M + 50%M)
high intensity: increase 75% (M + 75%M)
ultra high intensity: increase 100% (M + 100%M)
M = maintenance

Question 2

what is the most E depleting state

Answer 2

lactation!!

Question 3

performance horses consume how much of body weight

add to feed

Answer 3

2-2.5%
increase grain ratio to meet E needs

add oil for compact calories and hay
can take 2-3 months to adapt to using fat as E source

Question 4

diet for performance horse

Answer 4

high grain: low roughage diet
3-4 meals/day, horses are grazers
supplement electrolytes b/c lost in sweat

Question 5

aged horses diet

Answer 5

age is not a disease!
protein, fiber and P digestion decrease with age
feed very palatable, easily digested and easily masticated - can add with water as needed
remove competition

Question 6

starved horses - should avoid what?

Answer 6

AVOID immediately starting on high quality diet –> will lead to refeeding syndrome which causes increase in blood insulin level = cardiac and respiratory failure 3-5 days after 1st meal

start low, go slow!

Question 7

!start starved horses on what diet?

Answer 7

start on low glycemic index diet - roughage only!!! no concentrates yet
introduce at 50-75% of maintenance based on current BW = small portions!!
build up over 10 days to maintenance – can increase to 125% of maintenance until get to BCS 5 and then feed maintenance

after 10-14 days, gradually introduce concentrate

starved horses not taken care of properly!

Question 8

equine metabolic syndrome

Answer 8

adults < 15 yrs old
obesity - BCS 7/9
easy keepers
intermittent laminitis is main concern
PPID negative - have to test
metabolic dysregulation
persistent hyperinsulinemia = insulin resistance
and increase BCS because not using sugars appropriately

Question 9

what in diet contributes to laminitis

Answer 9

increase in non structural carbs

Question 10

treatment for equine metabolic syndrome

Answer 10

low glycemic index diet
-late cut hay = more mature = not as concentrated
-no grass pasture until regulated (avoid pasture high in NSC, spring and fall, betwen 4 PM and 6 PM)
-exercise - exercise pool helps horses exercise with laminitis
-thyroid med to increase metabolic rate
-measure it is under control based on BCS -takes months and months to see a difference!
-limit time and amount they can graze

Question 11

equine metabolic syndrome treatment options

Answer 11

diets for EMS: low in starch and NSC
grazing muzzle, nibble nets, hay boxes (do alot more work to get the food)

Question 12

Pars pituitary intermedia dysfunction
AKA?
clinical signs

Answer 12

equine cushings disease
-pituitary adenoma
-older than 15 years
signs:
Hirsutism - abnormally long hair coat that doesnt shed properly
chronic intermittent laminitis due to interruption of negative feedback
lethargy
abnormal fat distribution
PU/PD

Question 13

Diagnosis of PPID
TX
goal of TX

Answer 13

clinical signs, endogenous ACTH, insulin, ACTH test
TX: pergolide mesylate mimics the inhibitory effects of dopamine
goal: control symptoms, control output of hormones caused by the tumor, avoid laminitis

Question 14

feeding for PPID

Answer 14

low glycemic index, primarily a forage diet, avoid high pasture in NSC, feed hay low in NSC, small frequent meals with oils

Question 15

hyperlipemia

Answer 15

life threatening condition
sudden and severe breakdown of body fat stores

Question 16

hyperlipemia
predisposing factors
precipitating factors

Answer 16

predisposing: obesity, insulin resistant, female (pregnant and lactating increase risk because under stress)
precipitating: inadequate feed intake, stress (feed change, transport), pain, disease

when abruptly removed from feed = LIPOLYSIS

Question 17

hyperlipemia clinical signs

Answer 17

anorexia, dysphagia, colic, pyrexia, depression, weakness, abortion, rapid weight loss

Question 18

hyperlipemia blood sample will look like?

Answer 18

cloudy in EDTA top

Question 19

hyperlipemia treatment

Answer 19

ID factors - figure out what caused this problem to happen
treat hypoglycemia with 50% dextrose
can tube feed

Question 20

developmental orthopedic disease (DOD)

Answer 20

factors thought to be involved: rapid growth, imbalance (hyper nutrition - excessive energy!!), genetic predisposition but none have been proven

Question 21

Physitis/epiphysitis

Answer 21

most common DOD in TB, inflammation of the physis = lead to angular limb deformities in severe cases, distal radius and distal MC III and MT III most common

TX: decrease nutritional plane - roughage only, rest, self limiting

Question 22

angular limb deformities

Answer 22

deviation of the limb in the sagittal plane, distal radium and distal MC III/MT III = most common
carpal valgus (limb deviates laterally) and fetlock varus (limb deviates medially) = most common
TX: mild cases: trimming/shoeing, stall confinement
surgery in severe cases, transphyseal bridging and screwing

Question 23

flexural limb deformities

Answer 23

fetlock in forelimb and hindlimb
congenital: born this way, external factors affecting the mare (infection)
acquired: rapidly growing foals, excessive energy intake after previous inadequate energy may trigger
treatment: depends on severity, exercise, shoeing, ABX because intermittent doses interferes with Ca2+ and relaxes tendon
surgery - cut ligament or tendon

Question 24

osteochondorsis and OCD

Answer 24

disturbances in endochondral differentiation, proliferation, maturation and ossification of fast growing animals
EX: horses, pigs, cattle, dogs, cats and rabbits
clinical signs: joint effusion and lameness
common at tibia and femur
TX: arthroscopy - SX remove fragment
prevention - maternal nutrition?

Question 25

cervical vertebral malformation

Answer 25

due to rapid growth
clin signs: ataxia due to compression of spinal cord, worsen with neck extension
TX: surgery

Question 26

orphan foal

Answer 26

normal newborn foal has high metabolic rate and low glycogen reserves = eat quickly and often
colostrum in first 12 hrs

foals <2 months need milk
ideal: nurse mare
can bottle and bucket feed

mares milk is best, goats milk is second closest
commercial mares milk replacer is option but doesnt have AB from colostrum
foals need to feed hourly for first 48 hours, then every 2 hours for 2 weeks - increase to 25% of BW
more prone to gastric ulcers because stressed

Question 27

hand rearing orphan foal vs. nurse mare

Answer 27

hand rearing: very dangerous and can lead to behavior issues down the line, dont be too nice and avoid humanization

nurse mare: wean her own foal early - leads to over production of foals, experienced personnel to get mare to accept baby, disease risk if coming from another farm
- can also medically induce lactation - no colostrum but will supply milk