Equine Therapeutic Nutrition - Incomplete Flashcards
(16 cards)
Function of each:
1. Foregut
2. Hindgut
- Enzymatic & chemical digestion of sugars, starches, proteins, & fat.
- Microbial fermentation of fiber (& excess starch)
Microbial Fermentation
1. What do microbes feed on?
2. Byproducts of it? (6)
- Primarily fiber, some NSC & protein
- Byproducts
- Heat
- Gas
- VFAs
- Lactate
- B-vitamins
- Vitamin K
Majority of a horse’s diet consists of what? What are common sources of this? (4)
Forage/Roughage
1. Pasture
- Grass, alfalfa, mix
2. Grass hay
- Orchard, timothy, blue grass
3. Legume hay
- Alfalfa, clover
4. Hay cubs, pellets, beet pulp, complete feeds
Evaluating Feed (3)
- Observe for overall quality
- Dirt, debris, dead animals
- Color, mold, fresh smell
- Maturity- seed heads, stems only - Testing
- Calorie content, protein, minerals
- National Forage Testing Association - Proper storage
- Low humidity, proper airflow around bales
- Keep hay off the ground
How much of roughage a day will horses consume? How much of the roughage is moisture?
a. 1-2.5% of their BW
b. 50% of their roughage is moisture
If changing feed, how long should this transition be?
How much should you feed them per meal?
- Over 7-14 days
- Feed no more than 0.5% BW per meal
Symptoms of dental abnormalities in equine (7)
- Dropping grain and/or hay
- Tilting head
- Reaction to bit
- Excessive salivation
- Choke
- Pain when feeling cheeks
- Rapid weight loss!!
Why do teeth need constant attention? (5)
- Wear away at a rate of 1/8” per year
- upper teeth sit to outside of lower
- Sharp points form on outside of upper
- Sharp points form on inside of lower
- Therefore, tongue and cheeks get lacerated & loss of teeth
Choke
1. What is it?
2. Symptoms (3)
3. Prevention
- Obstruction of food within the esophagus
- Symptoms
- Saliva coming from mouth & nose
- Food coming from mouth & nose
- Wretching - Feed a precooked complete mix soaked in water
T/F: Previous episodes of choke can predispose to future bouts due to stricture formation.
True
What are some features that make senior horses susceptible to colic? (4)
- Higher incidence of lipomas
- Poor teeth
- Less exercise decreases motility
- Higher incidence of impactions
Symptoms of condition loss (BCS wise) (4).
How can this be caused? (2)
- Weight loss
- showing ribs - Poor hooves
- Poor hair coat
- Loss of muscle tone
- hips & topline
Causes: - Bad teeth, poor digestion/absorption, pain, Cushings
- Poor feed quality & inadequate feed
BCS of a horse
Locations (6)
- Neck
- Withers
- Crease down back
- Tailhead
- Ribs
- Behind the shoulder
T/F: As horses age, they need less protein but overall have the same nutritional requirements as before
False!
Senior horses require more protein due to their decreased ability to digest & absorb it.
They also have different nutritional requirements as they age!
Senior horse: Hay & Forage
Senior horse:
1. Vitamins
2. Minerals
- Lower vita C levels in their blood
- Vita B deficiency causing low appetite & anemia. - Decreased absorption of phosphorus in large intestine.
- High supplementation of Senior feed is required.
