Lecture 14: Equine Nutrition 2 (Exam 2)

Question 1

What are the predisposing factors or Cribbing

Answer 1

• Stall weaning v. pasture weaning
• Stall housing following weaning
• Feeding concentrates
• Lack of time @ posture
• Lack of straw bedding stall

Question 2

What are some ways to treat/prevent cribbing

Answer 2

Slide 18

Question 3

Who most commonly gets gastric ulcers? Where to gastric ulcers commonly occur on the stomach

Answer 3

Slide 19

Question 4

What are the risk factors of gastric factors

Answer 4

• Intense exercise
• Increased stall time
• Meal feeding
• Not having hay ava ad libitum

Question 5

What are ways to prevent/treat gastric ulcers

Answer 5

• Feeding alfalfa can be a protective measure (has protein & calcium to buffer gastric pH)
• Feeding aloe vera juice for protection & treatment
• Corn oil to increase the pH
• Can use antacids but not very effective
• Have roughage continuously ava to stimulate saliva
• Avoid large grain meals
• Reduce stress & increase turnout
• Over the counter or prescribed for treatment

Question 6

What is heaves

Answer 6

• An allergic respiratory dx of horses
• Recurrent airway obstruction

Question 7

What should be done when feeding horses w/ heaves

Answer 7

• Avoid dusty moldy hay
• Feed cubes
• Soak hay (leaches out nutrients, decreases the sugar content by 30% & potassium w/ >50% reduction)
• Avoid hay storage above horses in the barn
• Pasture the horse
• Use hay gain systems

Question 8

Describe vitamin E deficiency

Answer 8

• Can be an issue w/ poor quality hay & grain (may be devoid of vitamin)
• Can cause equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy or equine lower motor neuron dx

Question 9

What happens in equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy

Answer 9

• Can be hereditary
• Intracellular damage via oxidation
• Ataxia & spasticity of all four limbs w/ the hind limbs often most infected

Question 10

Slide 23 lower motor neuron

Question 11

Describe esophageal obstruction/choke

Answer 11

• Food is stuck in the esophagus around the thoracic inlets or behind the base of the heart
• Not uncommon if horse doesn’t chew properly
• sx: extended neck & nasal discharge
• Commonly seen w/ pelleted feed stuffs, cubs, beet pulp, older horses w/ poor dentition

Question 12

Describe Leukoencephalomalacia (moldy corne disease)

Answer 12

• Fumonisin toxicity (mycotoxin) causes neuro signs
• Liquefactive necrosis of the cerebral white matter
• Causes disruption of BV, progressive ataxia, depression, anorexia, delirium, coma, & death
• Death can occur 12 H to 1 W after onset of signs