Horse weight loss |Pet MD

What is weight loss in horses?

Weight loss, or frugality, is a common problem in horses. Weight loss, by definition, is a decrease in total body weight. This reduction can occur in the form of loss of fluid, fat, and/or lean body mass (composed of muscle, bone, and connective tissue).

Weight loss is the most commonly seen problem. Although this is an older horse, it can occur at any age. Some breeds, such as Arabians and Thoroughbreds, are more prone to this condition.

Weight loss in horses is often subtle and is a symptom of an underlying disease. A thorough workup by your veterinarian may be necessary to find the cause of the problem.

Signs your horse is losing weight

Horses that are underweight may have visible ribs, protruding hip bones and shoulders, or appear sunken along the top line. The fur may also become coarse and dull, and the hooves may become brittle or weak.

When determining whether your horse is too underweight, there are six main areas of the body to evaluate.

• along the neck

• along the dead tree

• wrinkles under the back

• tail head

• rib

• behind the shoulder

These areas should be covered with a moderate amount of fleshy tissue and no bony areas should be noticeable. This evaluation determines your horse’s rating. Body condition score to see if you are at the right weight.

Depending on the root cause of weight loss, you may notice other symptoms associated with weight loss in your horse, including:

• loss of appetite

• Quidding (dropping bait)

• Recurrent episodes of colic

• lameness

• decreased energy level

• diarrhea

If the horse in question is part of a herd, it is important to observe the dynamics of the herd. Horses that are underweight may be lower in the community hierarchy. Always observe herd behavior at feeding times, as your horse may be stealing food from other horses. It is also helpful to note whether one horse in the herd is suffering from weight loss, or whether multiple horses are suffering from weight loss.

Causes of weight loss in horses

Conditions that can lead to weight loss in horses include:

• Undernourishment: quality, quantity and access

• dental problems

• parasite

• Metabolic diseases such as Cushing’s disease

• Neoplasia (cancer)

• Malabsorption of nutrients by the gastrointestinal tract. It can be caused by older horses, parasites, or sand colic.

• Infectious diseases such as bacterial gastrointestinal infections, internal abscesses, equine infectious anemia, Lyme disease, and EPM.

Diagnosis of weight loss in horses

Assessing your horse for weight loss should begin with a detailed medical history and clinical examination, palpation of the rectum to look for possible internal lumps or sand, and fecal analysis.

Once common symptoms leading to weight loss have been ruled out, systematic evaluation of less common symptoms should be pursued. This will require further diagnostic tests such as:

• Complete blood and urine tests It can help determine if certain organ dysfunction is present, such as kidney or liver disease, chronic infection or inflammation.

• certain blood tests Tests can be performed to check for endocrine disorders such as Cushing’s disease and hyperthyroidism.

• advanced imaging It may be necessary to diagnose the cause of weight loss.

  
  

  • ultrasound It can be used to detect abnormal structures such as abscesses within the thoracic cavity (thoracic cavity) or abdominal cavity.

  • Endoscopy Can be used to evaluate the stomach for diseases such as cancer Check for ulcers and intestinal sac infections.

• Tissue sample (biopsy) It may be necessary for definitive diagnosis of some conditions, such as some intestinal diseases and cancer.

how to make a horse gain weight

Treatments for weight loss vary widely and are determined by the cause of the weight loss.

ensure proper nutrition

Ensuring your horse receives proper nutrition is an important first step.

Forage is an ideal source of calories and energy for horses. It is best to allow your horse access to pasture and hay as much as possible. If increasing the amount of hay is not enough to correct weight loss in a malnourished horse, use hay that is higher in calories and protein. alfalfa hay Or cubes should be added to the diet.

Adding protein and fat-rich grains to your diet can also help.

If this isn’t enough to prevent or reverse weight loss, you can add high-fat supplements to your diet, such as:

If you change your diet, always do so gradually, ideally over a period of two to three weeks, so your horse’s digestive system gets used to the change.

Beware of dental and digestive problems

Some older horses no longer have the tooth quality necessary to chew hard forage. Horses with dental problems may drop feed or not eat because of the pain.

Changes in your horse’s digestive tract can make it difficult for him to get the nutrients he needs from his feed. Signs of digestive upset include colic, loss of appetite, and changes in bowel movements.

In such cases, it is necessary to feed. complete feed It contains 100% of the fiber your horse needs and is fed in higher amounts than regular grains.

Treatment of underlying disease

Weight loss in horses with Cushing’s disease is due to the destruction of muscle tissue. This special form of weight loss requires special attention to diet (such as carbohydrate restriction) and exercise. Horses may also require medications such as: pergolide.

If an infectious or inflammatory disease is found to be the cause of weight loss, the disease should be treated accordingly.

Abscess caused by infection Corynebacterium or Streptococcus equimay require surgical removal and continued antibiotic treatment.

Some inflammatory diseases may be treated with steroids, such as: Dexamethasone or Prednisone.

monitor horse weight

It is recommended that you monitor your horse’s weight regularly. Here are three ways to monitor your horse’s weight.

1. Monitor your body condition score

2. Track your weight frequently with tape measurements

3. Weight calculation formula calculation

Whichever method you use, it is important to be consistent and perform measurements the same way each time.

A good equation to use to monitor your horse’s weight is:

(Weight = (Heart circumference (inch) * Heart circumference (inch) * Length (inch))

Length is the distance from the point of the shoulder to the point of the rump, and girth is the circumference from the base of the horse’s instep through the abdomen just behind the elbow to around the back.

Preventing weight loss in horses

Important preventive measures for weight loss include a regular parasite control program prescribed by your veterinarian and based on fecal egg counts. In some cases, eggs may not be found in the feces.

For tapeworms and small encysted nematode larvae, deworming may be recommended even if fecal examination does not detect parasite eggs.

Additionally, regular dental exams and tooth floating can help ensure that dental problems are not causing your weight loss.

Weight loss in horses is usually secondary to an underlying disease, but in some cases it can lead to other diseases, such as:

• Behavioral changes (food aggression)

• musculoskeletal problems

• Poor performance due to lack of energy

• infertility