Equine feeding issues

Question 1

feeding management issues (3)

Answer 1

competition, vices and dental problems

Question 2

competition

Answer 2

herd feeding issue, fat vs. skinny, no separation during feeding

feed in compatible groups, spread out piles, can cause trauma from fighting over food, esophogeal obstruction - “choke” bolting feed to eat quick to go get more food

Question 3

esophageal obstruction:
clinical signs
most at risk type of food
TX and management

Answer 3

acute onset: watery feed tinged nasal discharge, gagging, repeated attempts to swallow, stretching of the neck, anxious

pelleted feed, hay cubes, beet pulp

TX: sedation, nasogastric tube – lavage to dissolve obstruction - watch out for aspiration
-once it happens once, most likely will happen to same horse again, slow down eating, separate the “bully” and soak feed

Question 4

Vices
abnormal oral vs. locomotor
all lead to what?

Answer 4

abnormal oral: cribbing, wind sucking, wood chewing
locomotor: weaving, stall walking, head shaking

all lead to weight loss
associated with being bored, low roughage diet, prolonged confinement

Question 5

cribbing

-what is it
-concerns

Answer 5

put upper incisors on something, only observed in domesticated or captive horses
GIVE MORE FIBER (ROUGHAGE)

concerns: poor performance, weight loss, incisor wear, colic, more prone to epiploic foramen entrapment, destruction of property, annoying
cribbing collars to prevent
surgery of cutting muscles, laser method, antidepressants

TO FIX: FEED MORE ROUGHAGE

Question 6

wind sucking

Answer 6

start with this and then lead to cribbing
confused with cribbing

Question 7

wood chewing

Answer 7

just chewing, no air sucking
destructive, at risk of splinters/FB

need to feed more hay, bored because they are not grazing

Question 8

stall walking
weaving

Answer 8

bored and have excess energy

Question 9

dental issues
clinical signs
enamel points
molar hooks

Answer 9

clinical signs: weight loss, dropping feed, difficulty eating, quidding (cant grind up enough food, store in cheek to keep chewing and then spit it out)
enamel points: leads to ulceration of cheek, buccal surface on maxilla, lingual surface on mandible
molar hooks also lead to ulceration
TX: dental float - file down sharp points

Question 10

roughage issues (3 types of roughage)

Answer 10

alfalfa, clover and fescue

Question 11

alfalfa good for ?
problem?
clinical signs with problem?

Answer 11

E dense, highly fermentable
problem: blister beetles are attracted by the flower, come in swarms and toxic to horses even if the beetle is dead
swarm of beetles is the problem, if horse eats one thats okay, not in big numbers
Clinical signs: colic, anorexia, depression, frequent urination (hematuria), colitis, oral ulcerations
management: inspect every flake! no specific TX, supportive care

Question 12

fescue
-problem and effect?
-what group of horses are we concerned about?
CS?

Answer 12

fescue contaminated with endophyte –> dopaminergic inhibition of prolactin from ant. pit. = decrease prolactin and progesterone (because of fungus on hay)
-concerned about pregnant mares

CS: prolonged gestation, premature separation of placenta, dystocia, retained placenta

Question 13

fescue
-problem and effect?
-what group of horses are we concerned about?
CS?

Fescue toxicosis: prevention

Answer 13

fescue contaminated with endophyte –> dopaminergic inhibition of prolactin from ant. pit. = decrease prolactin and progesterone (because of fungus on hay)
-concerned about pregnant mares

CS: prolonged gestation, premature separation of placenta, dystocia, retained placenta

toxicosis: due to fungus that grows on plant when plant has gone to seed = mature
PREVENT: cut grass or move mare, dopamine antagonist, fungus free fescue (not as hardy), re seed (alot of $$)

Question 14

clover
-problem?
-CS?
-fix

Answer 14

clover infected with mold aka slobber toxin
-increased salivation, no significant problem
-dehydration in severe cases, but very unlikely
-remove horse from clover and will fix overnight
-more worry about owners

Question 15

3 concentrate issues

Answer 15

grain overload, ionophore toxicity, moldy corn poisoning

Question 16

grain overload

Answer 16

colic, colitis (inflammation of LI), gastric rupture, laminitis

Question 17

colic
CS
TX

Answer 17

due to increase in NSC
-rapid fermentation in the hind gut = gas distention
CS: looking at flank, pawing, rolling
NSAIDs, rectal exam, NG intubation (reflux, mineral oil - binds endo toxins to feces and prevents from being absorbed)

Question 18

laminitis
sequence
prevention
TX

Answer 18

NSC –> rapid fermentation in LI –> increase endotoxins –> endotox absorption –> laminitis
-affects front limbs first because 60% of weight is in front limbs
prevent: ice slurry - 50% ice, 50% water, change every 2-3 hours for up to 48 hours, iced horses 10x less chance of developing laminitis
TX: NSAIDs, shoeing, sole support, diet (NO CARBS)

Question 19

ionophore toxicity
CS
TX

Answer 19

ionophore ABX added in coccidiostats to improve weight gain in ruminants, swine and poultry
-horses are 200x more sensitive to it
-most common: monensin

CS: cardiotoxic - trembling, sweating, cardiac arrhythmias, death

TX: support, lavage GI if acute, mineral oil, activated charcoal - once see clinical signs = too late

Question 20

moldy corn poisoning causes ?
CS
prevention

Answer 20

leukoencephalomalacia - melts white matter
any feed containing corn is at risk
-mycotoxin growth with a wide temperate range, pink to red/brown on kernels
-when moisture is greater than 15%
CS: rapid progression- incoordination, depression, blindness, sweating, head pressing, seizures, coma, death
prevent: dont feed moldy corn!!