Feeding Issues

Question 1

Describe feeding issues.

Answer 1

1. Feeding management
2. Roughage associated
   -alfalfa, clover, fescue
3. Grain associated (concentrate)
   -grain over load
   -ionophore toxicity
   -moldy corn poisoning

Question 2

Describe feeding management issues.

Answer 2

1. Competition
   -herd feeding issue
   -fat & skinny
   -no sep during feeding
   -trauma
   -choke
2. Vices
   -cribbing, wind sucking, wood chewing, weaving, stall walking, head shaking
3. Dental problems
   -weight loss, dropping feed, difficulty eating, quidding
   -enamel points, molar hooks, ulcerations
   -treat w floating

Question 3

Describe the feeding competition issues.

Answer 3

1. Feed in compatible groups
   -gelding/mare
   -yearlings
   -weanlings
   -mares & foals
   -stallions
2. Group feeding
   -spread out
   -feed piles or feeder for each
3. Trauma
   -fight, bite, kick
4. Esophageal obstruction
   -bolting feed

Question 4

Describe esophageal obstruction.

Answer 4

-CS: (acute)
>dysphagia, watery feed tinged nasal discharge*, gagging, repeated attempts to swallow, stretching of neck, anxious
-types of food:
>pellet, hay cubes, beet pulp
-treatment:
>sedation, NG tube +/- lavage, tx for aspiration
-management:
>repeat offenders, slow down eating, soaked feed, sep the bully

Question 5

Describe vices.

Answer 5

1. Abnormal oral
   -cribbing (only in domesticated), wind sucking (may lead to cribbing), wood chewing (destructive & splinters) = weight loss
2. Locomotor (confined environ)
   -weaving, stall walking, head shaking = weight loss
   *associated with: boarding, low roughage diet, prolonged confinement, learned behavior

Question 6

Describe cribbing concerns & treatment.

Answer 6

1. Concerns: poor performance, weight loss, incisor wear (management for neg reinforcement), flatulent colic, epiloic foramen entrapment, destruction of property, annoying
2. Treatment:
   A) surgery
   -cut strap muscles
   -LAMF
   -poor aesthetics
   B) medical
   -antidepressants
   -NMDA receptor blocker - dextromethorphan
   C) more roughage

Question 7

Describe alfalfa roughage issues.

Answer 7

-highly fermentable = weight gain
-high in Ca (avg: 3:1 - 6:1) (high is 12:1)
>inc Ca in foals = interfere w other electrolyte absorption
>inc P in foals = promote osteochondrosis
-blister beetles
>CS: dip muzzle in water, colic, anorexia, depression, GIT erosions, freq urination w/ blood, colitis
>prevention: no crimping, inspect every flake
>treatment: supportive care w fluids & NSAID
-swarms at edge of field in 50yd radius
-may - sept
-cantharidin toxicosis
>dead beetles
>cutting & crimping at same time
>stable toxin
>GIT & kidney

Question 8

Describe fescue roughage issues.

Answer 8

-commonly fed
-contamination w endophyte (acremonium cenophilum) = ergot alkaloids
-dopaminergic inhibition of prolactin from AP
>dec prolactin & progesterone
-CS: prolonged gestation, premature sep of placenta, dystopia, retained placenta, agalactia
-prevention: move late gestation mare off pasture, cut grass (fungus live in seed), domperidone (d2 receptor, dopaminergic antagonist), fungus free fescue, reseed

Question 9

Describe clover roughage issues.

Answer 9

-red clover (drool weed)
-clover inf w mold (rhizoctonia leguminicola)
-slaframine (slobber toxin)
-inc salivation
>dehydration
-remove from clover
-drive owner crazy

Question 10

Describe grain overload in concentrate issues.

Answer 10

1. Colic
   -NSC = highly digestible, rapid ferm, gas distention
   -CS: looking at flank, pawing, rolling
   -treatment: NSAID (fluixin meglumine), rectal exam, NG tube (reflux, mineral oil)
2. Colitis = inflam of LI
3. Gastric rupture
4. Laminitis
   -prevention: ice slurry (50% water & 50% ice), change q2-3h for up to 48h, 10x less chance of developing laminitis
   -treatment: NSAID (phenylbutazone, flunixin meglumine, ace), DMSO IV, vasodilator, shoeing, sole support, diet (no carbs)

Question 11

Describe ionophore toxicity.

Answer 11

-antibiotic
>coccidiostats (Protozoa inf)
>improve weight gain
-horse 200x more sensitive than poultry *
-FDA approved ionophore: monensin
-cardiotoxic: trembling, sweating, cardiac arrhythmia, death
-treatment: supportive, lavage GI (acute) = mineral oil or charcoal

Question 12

Describe moldy corn poisoning.

Answer 12

-leukoencephalomalacia
-mycotoxic equine encephalomalacia
-blind staggers
-mycotoxin
>moisture 15%, wide temp range, pink to red/brown on kernel
-liquefaction of cerebral white matter
>rapid, in coordination, depression, blind, sweat, head pressing, seizure, coma, death
-prevention: dont feed moldy corn