Obesity in Horses Flashcards
1
Q
Definition of Obesity
A
- excess body fat has accumulated to where it has a negative effect on health
- risk of getting associated diseases
- people utilize BMI
- Intra abdominal fat in a person has the worst effect: don’t want to be an apple shape
2
Q
Recognising Fatness in Horses
A
- BMI doesnt work for horses
3
Q
BCS
(1-5)
A
There are 2 different body condition scoring systems!
you are allowed half scores in this 5.0 scale
the systems are essentially the same
4
Q
Areas Emphasised in Condition Scoring
A
- The other BCS scale is on a 9.0 scale
- can’t use half points
- vets tend to use the 9 scale
- need to clarify!
- There are 6 areas where you subjectably decide where they are at
- need to actualy palpate these areas and get proper idea
5
Q
BCS condition Chart
(Neck, Withers, Back/Loin, Ribs, Hind Quarters)
A
- Descriptors of what it would feel like in each area
- Go by the 6 different areas
- You add up all the different numbers and take an average
6
Q
Equine Body Score Diagram
A
7
Q
Neck, Middle, Rear: condition score
A
- Trouble is, people have now got an altered view on what is normal in a horse
- similar to dogs
- the norm has changed and what we see is normal is actually a bit overweight
- dont want a crease (WAY too much fat) or see pelvis (too thin)
8
Q
Cresty Neck Scoring
A
- averaging the areas may shadow the fact that they have regional adiposity
- might be really fat in certain areas
- can use cresty neck scoring for regional adiposity
- rarely will you have a fat neck without a fat rump
- 5 is so fat that it is drooping over to one side (more common in donkeys)
9
Q
Epidemiology of Equine Obesity in UK
A
- why do we need to score them?
- obesity in horses in developed world is just as bad as cats and dogs epidemic
- riding establishments: where they just keep their ponies at schools
10
Q
Equine Obesity in Breeds
A
- animals that are described as “living on fresh air” - ponies are designed to live on nothing
- even during a really dry summer where grass isnt going
- You will never see a really fat thoroughbred
- Owners will likely not recongize this in their ponies
11
Q
Pathogenesis of Equine Obesity
A
- Issue of domestication and the way we keep in
- not designed to live on lush pastures in england where we keep cows
- normally are meanth to get fat in summer and thin in winter (yo-yo diet)
- BUT, we don’t do that
12
Q
Obesity and Husbandry Practices
A
- We are changing their metabolic needs
- they don’t expend calories
- similar to us sitting at a desk, they are still going to eat
- they will eat their whole calorie intake at pasture in just 3 hours
13
Q
Equine Conditions Associated with Obesity
(3)
A
- diseases associated with fat and the effect of fat on the hormones and tissues
- intolerance: has to lug around weight of fat
- repro: narrows pelvic canal, increased dystocia risk (echo)
- intestine gets wrapped around stalk?
- These are conditions just associated with presence of fat tissue
14
Q
Conditions Associated with Obesity and ID
(4)
A
Fat tissue produces hormones! - normally need to function, but if in surplus it can have negative effects
- one of the main effects is the opposing action against insulin - type II diabetes results from pancreatic exhaustion from producing too much insulin
- Some wont have the exhaustion but the suplus insulin can have bad effects on the body
- Hyperlipaemia: condition in the horse if where they are stress or they have increased E req. for any reasons, it mobilizes its fat tissues as TRIGLYCERIDES–> too much fat in blood and it deposits in organs of the body
- DOD: developmental orthopedic disease–> if foals are overfed? (echo)
15
Q
Obesity and Laminitis
A
- studies show that laminitis risk is increased in obese animals
- they will lean back on heals to relieve pressure on pain
- can see recurring episodes by looking at rings around hooves
- Consequences that have the biggest effect on its horse and welfare is the laminitis (serious consequences)
16
Q
Epigenetic Implications of Diet
(Maternal Diet)
A
- Like your own, the foals mother, her diet, will have an effect on that foal
- overweight mare will have more negative effects on the foal later in its life
- Epigenetic: is what happens IN UTERO. so this is solely the effect that mothers diet has during pregnancy
17
Q
Obese Mothers and Glucose/NEFAs
A
- maintain higher concentrations
- leptin controls appetitie, body weight, and insulin production
- Having an overweight mother makes the foal more likely to be overweight
19
Q
High fat diet in Utero
A
- HMS (human metabolic syndrome) –> equivalent EMS
- more prone to diabetes later in life
- these genes affect insulin signaling, appetite, etc.
20
Q
Sub- optimum Nutrition in Utero
A
- Lower intake actually increases the risk of obesity in the foal as well!
- Less insulin will be produced and there is then an increased likelyhood of type II diabetes in the foal later in life
- research shows that overweight mares will have foals with insulin issues
21
Q
Weight Loss
(2)
A
- Need diet and exercise!
- easier said than done (same issues with our own diets)
*
22
Q
Weight Loss: Control Calorie Intake
A
- DMI= Dry matter intake
- this must be maintained
- whole digestive system is meant to be swallowing, chewing, and digesting food 16 hrs a day
- can lead to wind sucking bc they are bored
- gastric ulcers
- horse is meant to be continually chewing, will get dental issues by changing diet in the wrong way
- may start to chew wood!
23
Q
Horses fed on low forage diets
A
- dont put them on a diet ad then put on straw bedding- they will eat it
- but they may start eating wood shavings as well!
- If they are in the field: be careful, they will start eating EVERYTHING.
- Try and provide the right thing for them to eat all day
- need to maintain DMI
24
Q
Weight loss and Grass
A
- How do we keep the calorie intake right?
- if they are walking around grazing that is good, but you need to restrict the intake
- strip feeding, grazing muzzles (controversial to owners), time restriction
- muzzles can be good though as they are a way for them to work for food and walk around
- you need to gradually change diet and make sure there is sufficient fiber in their diet! (need to give them what they are designed to eat and change the other aspects)
- balancers can be necessary but be careful that there isnt added protein, etc. in them
25
Q
Weight Loss and Feeding Hay if Grass Control isnt feasible
A
- can much more easily control calorie intake if you are feeding them non -grass related products
- this way, the horse only eats what you give it
- start off by gving 1.5% of its current BW and then you can start to do different things to lower CONSUMPTION: it should be eating over 16hrs, but you need to try and limit how fast they are getting through the nets then
- holes in nets, put it in middle like punch bag (harder to get out), can soak the hay (can lower the carb intake and calorie), but you still need to control the amount!
26
Q
Weight Loss and Feeding Concentrates
A
- Some owners will insist that they are fed 3 times a day
- feed it high fiber meals
- subsitute hay with fiber
- beet pulp?
27
Q
Exercise (increase Expenditure)
A
- The more exercise the horses do the more their appetite will be reduced
- owners should be exercising their horses 5 or 7 days a week
- take off the blankets and rugs! - need to use up calories to keep warm
- or you can clip them and put on the rug
- Can have hay on other end of field from the water, that way they have to move to go back and forth at some point
- try and build rapor with the owners to get them to do these methods!
28
Q
Dynamic Feeder
A
- system where food was in the middle and then there were gates
- forcing the horse to walk and move to get food
- they were shown to lose some more weight than if they just stand there
- get them to move at least a bit!
29
Q
Monitoring Weight Loss
A
- Need to show owner that the diet is working
- one a month (weigh, girth measurement (heart girth and belly girth))
- BCS is not enough because a lot needs to change in order to change a score (owner needs results)
