Nutritional Related Diseases

Question 1

What is developmental orthopaedic disease (DOD) the general term for?

Answer 1

growth disturbances resulting from any alteration in normal bone formation

Question 2

What predisposes a horse to DOD?

Answer 2

1. genetics - rapidly growing breeds (thoroughbreds)
2. exercise
3. nutrition

Question 3

Symptoms of DOD include?

Answer 3

• phystitis (growth plates don’t close properly –> inflammation)
• wobblers syndrome
• angular leg deformities (bones muscles, ligaments, tendons must grow in tandem AND they don’t..); very little muscle in horses legs to control joints and they’re carrying a lot of weight
• joint cartilage damage

Question 4

What are 2 clinical symptoms of DOD?

Answer 4

• epiphystitis

- joint effusion

Question 5

What are the nutritional causes of DOD?

Answer 5

1. rapid growth
   - excessive protein - delivers different kinds of energy, supports lean body mass but can result in rapid muscle growth that doesn’t match bone, tend, ligament
   - excessive energy - growing animals should be lean, never overweight
2. mineral imbalances
   - often inadequate amounts in high energy diets
   - need to support rate of growth with adequate P, Ca, Zn, Cu levels
   - Silicon has been shown to be beneficial - increases bone efficiency and decreases lameness

Question 6

Nutritional solutions for DOD

Answer 6

Calcium:Phosphorus

• adequate amounts in diet (at the right ratio)
• help with absorption & metabolism

Copper:Zinc

• Cu stabilizes bone collagen and elastin synthesis
• Zn excess interferes with Ca absorption
• not a good idea to add individual nutrients

Question 7

Nutritional recommendations for DOD

Answer 7

• provide high quality roughage free choice
• foals can be introduced slowly when they are 1-2 months of age
• monitor weight gain closely
• if necessary, supplement with properly balanced grain concentrate
• feed separately from mare
• try to avoid rapid growth
• concentrates = 14-18% protein and have added Ca, P, Cu, Zn (specifically designed for growing horses) –> maintenance + deposition
• start feeding 1% foals BW/day (have small stomach so divide meals into 2-3 feedings)

Question 8

Recommendations regarding DOD?

Answer 8

• turnout as long as possible

- no strenuous forced exercise early in life

Question 9

Weanling nutrition

Answer 9

• should be fed same type of concentrate as when they were nursing and at the same rate
• maintain steady growth and good body condition
• plain white or trace mineral say and a good clean source of water should be available free choice

Question 10

What is exertional rhabdomyolysis?

Answer 10

Dissolution of striated muscle with exercise

• inability to contract muscles
• unable for muscle to be controlled in a rhythmic manor
• tying up, monday morning sickness

Question 11

Symptoms of exertion rhabdomyolysis include?

Answer 11

• muscle stiffness
• lameness
• sweating
• poor performance

Question 12

Causes of exertion rhabdomyolysis

Answer 12

• overexertion
• heat exhaustion
• dietary imbalance (high non-structural CHOs, inadequate vitamin E/Se, electrolyte imbalance)
• recurrent –> once it happens once, horse is more prone (risk factors, genetics)

Question 13

What is equine polysaccharide storage myopathy (EPSM)

Answer 13

common to draft breeds

Symptoms include:

• lack or loss of muscle mass or conditioning (especially in the shoulder/hind quarters)
• string halts, shivers, tying up
• poor performance
• diet modifications can help

Question 14

What does EPSM stand for?

Answer 14

equine polysaccharide storage myopathy

Question 15

What puts a horse at higher risk of colic compared to other herbivores?

Answer 15

Limited bacteria in stomach, so can’t handle toxic compounds and are very sensitive to change

Question 16

Describe positional colic

Answer 16

partially attributed to diet - sudden changes cause an increase in gas production –> part of colon becomes lighter –> motility within that section changes –> torsions, displacements, nephrosplenic entrapments
- may or may not require surgery

Question 17

Colic: malfunction of motility

Answer 17

Cause: feed consistency and content, dehydration, antibiotic use –> death of microflora –> no VFA –> fermentation, biomass, pH problem

= impacts where there is a buildup of digest in usually the pelvic flexure or large colon, transverse colon and cecum
- ~40:1 are stalled:pasture = activity gets the gut moving & in the right spot!

Question 18

Dietary considerations for motility problems

Answer 18

• large concentrate meals and starch content can influence development of colic due to reduced rates of ingest
• colic can also be due to consumption of sand –> heavy part in Dt –> impaction
• lower pH due to bacterial production of lactic acid and propionic acid –> bacteria shift –> bacterial have a lower ability to ferment fiber –> horse starts eating hay again but doesn’t have bacteria to ferment it

Question 19

Recommendations for colic regarding motility

Answer 19

• increase meal frequency
• increase access to hay/pasture
• hay with high NDF (especially lignin) –> increase flow (insoluble fiber)
• told growth in hay may also increase relative lignin content as other fibres are degraded by fungas

Question 20

Colic: abnormal absorption

Answer 20

cause: generally quick switch in feed or overfeeding in a single meal –> rapid fermentation of starch in hindgut –> bacterial disruptions –> dead bacteria undergo lysis –> release endotoxins –> damage colonic mucosa –> decrease water absorption of water in particular –> colic and diarrhea

Question 21

Treatment for abnormal absorption colic?

Answer 21

fluid replacement

Question 22

Dietary considerations for abnormal absorption

Answer 22

change feed gradually

• allows hindgut bacteria to adapt
• reduces excess gas production
• ultimately helps avoid blockage

adequate exercise
- moderate exercise stimulates blood flow and intestinal motility, minimizes gas production and/or accumulation and bloating

Question 23

Overall considerations for colic prevention

Answer 23

maintain gut microflora by:

• consistent feeding management
• do not forget about hydration (especially when transporting)
• think about proper turnout management
• consider a pro- or prep ionic after antibiotic use
• proper training management

Question 24

Complications associated with colic-

Answer 24

Laminitis: any inflammation of the laminae that interdigitate between the hood wall and phalange 3

• cause: endotoxemia = toxins secreted by bacteria or toxaemia; redirection of blood flow
• really bad at handling any type of toxin
• changes in cardiovascular function –> decreased or increased blood flow
• Arg is a precursor for NO = bad

Question 25

Laminitis treatment

Answer 25

fluid therapy, NSAIDs, drugs to increase blood flow or decrease blood viscosity

Question 26

Colic considerations

Answer 26

- parasites infect lining of cecum and colon --> inflammation and changes intestinal motility (e.g. gastric emptying, SI motility, rate of passage) - tapeworms can cause blockages - NOT what your horse eats but what interacts with the food your horse eats --> colic

Question 27

dietary considerations for heaves

Answer 27

- reduce exposure to environmental contaminants (use pasture instead of hay) - later in season --> dampness --> horses are in more --> dust/mold/less ventilation feed pellets and wet feed/hay - include fiber sources in pellets = beet pulp --> improve microflora --> improve gut immune function

Question 28

What part of the stomach is most commonly affected by ulcers?

Answer 28

proximal portions | - they are't protected by mucus

Question 29

What is the cause of ulcers?

Answer 29

Horses stomachs constantly secrete bile --> epithelial tissue become damaged - can be related to physical form of feed (horses like long stem forages) - intestinal parasites - fermentation in the stomach --> VFA --> trigger ulcerations (adds HCl)

Question 30

What are some recommendations to control acid production?

Answer 30

- keep constant movement of feed through gut - constant HCl --> want a constant supply of food - increase particle size (increased SA --> more content to different pH, enzymes, bacteria)

Question 31

2 causes and their type of ulcer?

Answer 31

1. stress/high grain feeding --> more acid production - should increase energy through fat = ulceration of non-glandular part of stomach due to increased acid production --> functional problems with glandular part of HCl secretion 2. the use of NSAIDs --> compromises mucosal synthesis --> ulceration of the glandular part of stomach due to compromised mucosal barrier

Question 32

Symptoms of ulcers

Answer 32

- colic signs - unthriftiness - decreased athletic performance - decreased athletic performance - increased heart rate, respiratory rate

Question 33

Treatment of ulcers

Answer 33

Sucralfate and H2 inhibitors Is therapeutic treatment the right solution? - long term implications in healthy model - drugs used to treat things - we don't have data about the use of therapeutic drugs in a prophylactic chronic approach - race horses: is HCl down regulated so much that when they're done racing they won't have enough?

Question 34

What are the pros to stabling?

Answer 34

- protection - avoidance of parasites - individual attention - reduction in damage caused by other horses

Question 35

What are the pros to paddock?

Answer 35

- no restriction of movement - social contact = herd animals - ability to express natural behaviour = flight

Question 36

Management considerations

Answer 36

1. body weight management - rapid growth and weight gain - highly processed feeds/early weaning --> problems - DOD 2. Feeding management - feed on the floor? feed higher? what about sand paddocks? - may have to change level of feeding depending on age - feeding on sand = reason you'd want the hay off the ground 3. Genetic management 4. dental management - oral health and bacteria is in relation to the bacteria in the rest of the body - dental manament for oral health 5. parasite and disease management

Question 37

What is Cushing's Disease

Answer 37

PPID = disease of the pars pituitary intermedia dysfunction - more in old - chronic and progressive neuroendocrine disease

Question 38

Consequences of Cushing's

Answer 38

- insulin resistance (polydipsia = drink a lot; polyuria = pee a lot) - laminitis - curly coat - metabolic --> trouble maintaining BT

Question 39

What is metabolic syndrome: insulin resistance?

Answer 39

- increases co-morbitidities = hyperlipidemia, laminitis, PPID --> more glucose --> liver --> more lipids from excess glucose --> laminitis --> PPID

Question 40

What is the cause of insulin resistance?

Answer 40

Long term consumption of high glycemic feels and dependent on lean to fat ratio, physical activity and diet - highly processed grains in discrete meals (a lot of starch all at once) - differences in lean:fat = high proportion of adipose --> inflammation --> insulin resistance - physical activity --> promotes glucose uptake from tissues (especially muscle) --> increases sensitivity More insulin to facilitate uptake of glucose from peripheral circulation --> keeps compounding --> hyper-insulin insensitive --> increase in glucose

Question 41

What is hyperlipidemia?

Answer 41

Excessive concentrations of lipid (TG) - 100-500 mg/dL normal vs. 1700 - usually from mobilization of adipose, but also hyperglycaemia - exceeds body's capacity to oxidize lipids

Question 42

Why is feed intake reduced in hyperlipidemia?

Answer 42

Blood high in fat/glucose/insulin = fed state hormone = body things it's in a fed state

Question 43

Treating hypelipidemia

Answer 43

- high fat/high fibre diet | - increases aerobic exercise