By: Matthew M. Brendal
SPECIAL DIETS
Horses sometimes require special diets due to age, disease or other problems that are perpetuated by the wrong feed intake for that horse. Listed are some of the common special diets. For the best advice get a proper diagnosis from your veterinarian and his or her diet recommendation. It is very important to follow precisely the feeding regime prescribed in order to get the best results. A horse with no special feeding requirements is sensitive to irregular feedings but a horse with problems related to food is very sensitive to irregular feeding. An additional note, if you have someone feed your horse with the special diet when you are on vacation or other times, ensure they have good instructions and the importance of proper feeding.
Cushing’s Syndrome Type Disease Diet
It is very common to label horses that are insulin intolerant due to hypothyroidism as having “Cushing’s Syndrome”. Horse’s with hypothyroidism have non-shedding coats, slow growth, have decreased appetite, but gain weight easily. These horses may also have chronic bouts with laminitis/founder.
True Cushing’s Syndrome involves a hormonal problem stemming from a benign tumor of the pituitary gland. Symptoms of this syndrome may include a heavy, wavy coat year round that fails to shed, excessive thirst and urination, pot bellied with sway back, increased feed/forage intake but no weight gain, loss of muscle and topline, chronic laminitis and compromised immune system.
Horse affected will probably require some form of drug therapy and dietary management. Usually diet will be low starch intake, above normal fat, possibly slightly higher protein than normal and ensure the horse’s essential vitamins and mineral requirements are met.
Exertional Myopathy (Tying Up)
Better known as “Tying Up” is a term referring to a condition which the horse experiences mild muscle cramping to damaged muscle fibers. This condition commonly affects muscular performance horses. The symptoms, which may sometimes be confused with colic, are reluctance to move, very tired, rapid heart rate, dehydration and possibly total collapse. Horses diagnosed with this condition should be limited on carbohydrate intake on days not working/performing. Deficiencies of vitamin E, selenium and electrolytes may also contribute to episodes of tying up. Also ensure that this condition is not related to HYPP or EPSM.
Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (EPSM)
This condition causes excessive build up of glycogen in the muscle. EPSM affected horses store glycogen in the muscles instead of utilizing it for muscle contraction like a normal horse does. This condition’s symptoms may be confused with back or hock soreness and possibly colic too. Symptoms may be tying up, reluctance move, stiff hindquarters and sweating. The diet for this horse would change to a high fiber, high fat (about 20-25% total daily intake) and high protein with very low carbohydrates(no more than 15% total daily intake). The additional fat may be in the form of a vegetable oil.
Hyperperkalemic Periodic Paresis (HYPP)
Horses who trace their bloodlines back to the horse “Impressive” may inherit the genetic disease called Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP). The disease centers on the electrolyte potassium. Horses afflicted with this disease can not handle high levels of potassium without suffering some form of muscle dysfunction. Never add potassium to this horse’s diet, the total amount of potassium dietary intake should not exceed 1%.
Dietary protocol should include never making rapid changes to diet. Always maintain a consistent feeding schedule, access to clean fresh water and free choice salt that is potassium free.
Insulin Intolerant
This condition is often confused with “Cushing’s Syndrome”. A horse affected by this condition will show signs of laminitis or founder. They will also have hard thick fat deposits on the crest of the neck and in the area of the croup. This condition can be managed by reducing carbohydrates (sugars such as lush grass and grains) and increasing fat (vegetable oil), fiber (beet pulp, hay, etc) and possibly additional protein. This horse usually falls into the “easy keeper” category because they are usually overweight and gain weight easily.
Overweight
The overweight (obese) horse should have a veterinary exam to determine if a medical condition is causing this situation. The horse should also lose this weight slowly. If you abruptly reduce the normal intake you may cause digestive problems, behavioral problems and possibly health problems. If you are feeding a high calorie hay like alfalfa you may want to change to a grass hay so the horse may be eating as much volume as the alfalfa hay but with less calories. You also want to restrict pasture time.
Senior Horse Diet
The diet for a senior horse (20 plus years of age) can be quite complicated. This horse may have multiple medical conditions and injuries. Normally however when the senior horse diet is discussed, the concern is its teeth. As the horse gets older it may develop teeth problems, and as a natural course of age loses them if they live long enough. Often senior feeds are high in carbohydrates in an attempt to keep weight on the horse due to poor chewing/teeth quality and digestion. However if you have a horse that is sensitive to high carbohydrates these feeds won’t work because of the problems they will cause. Diets with high fat or good quality processed feeds may be one option. Because of possible medical complications involved, your veterinarian is the best source for individual senior diet information.
Senior Horse Management
Senior Horse Feed Selection
Underweight
The underweight horse should have a veterinary exam to determine if a medical condition is causing this situation. Some possible causes may be internal parasite infestation, teeth problems, other horses taking the feed if fed as a group, mineral/vitamin deficiency and behavioral problems to name a few. Just like the overweight horse, any increase in feeds such as grain should be slow to avoid problems. An increase of 10% total nutrition intake every other day may be a good start. Also if possible many small feedings (5 a day) will be better than 2 big ones. Pay very close attention to these horses depending on how underweight and sickly they were when they started the program.
Maintain at least yearly dental exam
Watch for changes in body condition score
Feed 2-3 times a day
Groom horse frequently to promote healthy skin
Inspect routinely for tumors or unusual bumps
Maintain routine veterinary checkups
Soften feed with water to mash or thick soup so that the horse can drink if it has severe dental problems
Very palatable
Easy to chew and swallow
Low dust or dust free
12-14% protein
High fiber content
Proper mineral levels/ratios, especially calcium & phosphorous
Proper vitamin levels, especially vitamin C & B-complex
Provide enough calories to maintain body condition
