Basic HTML Version
WE I GH T L O S S
Weight Loss
Veterinary Surgeon
Richard Sutcliffe
XLVets Practice
Bishopton Veterinary
Group
Richard Sutcliffe BVM&S MRCVS,
Bishopton Veterinary Group
9
EQUINE MATTERS
W
eight loss in horses presents vets with an interesting diagnostic
challenge. By adopting a logical approach to investigation, asking
probing questions, performing a targeted, careful examination and
selecting from a range of clinical tests, we can identify reasons for weight loss.
In many cases treatments or strategies to reverse the loss, or at least minimise
further loss can be put in place.
Any investigation for weight loss in a horse
begins with a thorough investigation of the
feeding regime in place. Some people are
offended at having the quality of their hay or
silage brought into question - but it is important
to have some first-hand knowledge of the
potential feed value and likely palatability of
the roughage being fed, especially when this
comprises the majority of the daily ration.
Horses will lose weight if they are wasting
much of the food put in front of them because
it smells fusty and is unappetising! Equally it is
nice to rule out poor forage as a potential
contributing factor when presented with a
lovely sweet-smelling bale of dry haylage
which has been well preserved, stored and
used quickly to avoid spoilage.
An experienced horse vet will be quickly able
to assess whether a horse or pony would be
expected to manage to preserve weight on the
ration being fed. Sometimes things are not as
straightforward as they would appear though,
and some assessment has to be made as to
whether the patient is capable of eating the
food provided. Feeding mismatches occur in
older horses with dental problems. The most
common problems are veteran ponies with very
worn incisor teeth which may be presented
with quite short grass. Longer grass in summer
is often no problem but with teeth that don't
meet, shorter grass is very difficult to bite off,
and weight loss ensues. These same ponies are
then offered supplementary hay or haylage
but their back teeth have been lost too so they
can't manage that either! What they do need
is supplementation with some easily consumed
feed such as soaked sugar beet pulp and grass
nuts as a fibre source together with a source of
energy which can be provided by the careful
addition of corn oil. Your vet will be able to
provide advice on this. Many commercially
produced diets for veteran horses and ponies
are also available and these have the
advantage of containing a suitable mix of
vitamins and minerals.
After addressing feeding issues it is sensible to
check the horse's teeth for signs of abnormal
wear, periodontal disease, loose teeth and oral
ulceration. All of these cause oral pain and
lead to ‘quidding’ (dropping food from the
mouth in small balls, after chewing, which are
often seen on the floor around hay nets.)
If after addressing the thin horse's dental health
the cause for its poor condition has still not
been explained, then a full examination
followed by selected diagnostic testing as
appropriate would be necessary (see Figure1).
Is weight loss always
a bad thing?
Weight loss frequently causes great anxiety
amongst horse owners. Perhaps this is
because we have been conditioned to
believe that allowing our horses to lose
weight is a sign of failure of adequate
care. In the wild, horses and ponies gain
and lose weight cyclically depending on
the availability of adequate forage. In the
UK of course this means that our horses
and ponies would naturally lose weight
during the winter months - when forage is
scarce and of lower feed value and the
colder climate requires use of energy to
maintain normal body temperature. We
now realise that our native ponies would
be better served by allowing them to lose
weight in a controlled and gradual manner
over winter so that, come spring, they are
in a better state to face the spring grass -
with lower risk of developing laminitis and
other conditions related to obesity.