Feeding Starving Horses

Why it’s not as simple as you think

Melinda N. Faubel

June 2014

Do Feed…

D. 1-3: 6 lbs in 6 evenly spaced feedings

D. 4-10: Gradually by day 6 feeding 13 lbs q 8 hours

D. 10: Feed alfalfa ad lib 2x daily.

*Average flake = 6 pounds

Alfalfa

Do NOT feed…Grain

Treats like carrots, apples

Supplements

Oil or other fats

Oat hay

Carbohydrates

Why not carbs?High carb

meal

Why not carbs?Insulin release

High carb meal

6

Why not carbs?Insulin release

(this is a cell)

P

Mg

High carb meal

Serum

PGlu

6

Why not carbs?Insulin release

(this is a cell)

P

Mg

High carb meal

Serum

PGlu

6

Why not carbs?Insulin release

(this is a cell)

P

Mg

High carb meal

Serum

PGlu

ADH, Aldosterone

6

Why not carbs?Insulin release

(this is a cell)

P

Mg

High carb meal

Respiratory, kidney, respiratory failure

Serum

PGlu

Acute volume expansion

ADH, Aldosterone

6

Why not carbs?Insulin release

(this is a cell)

P

Mg

High carb meal

Respiratory, kidney, heart failure

Serum

“Refeeding Syndrome”

PGlu

Acute volume expansion

ADH, Aldosterone

Depletion of K, thiamine

Clinical ManifestationsIncreased VCO2

respiratory failure

Temporary paralysis

Circulatory collapse

Healthy but thin = not safe

Study: emaciated but healthy horses re-fed.

decreased serum Ca, Mg, P

One horse died, showing neurologic signs on 6th day of refeeding

Why not oat hay?

Bulky, diarrhea

Low in magnesium, phosphorus and other “essential nutrients”

What about oil?

Adds calories, which decreases the amount of alfalfa

Does not contain elytes

Result: will see cumulative decrease in elytes

Alfalfa - The right stuff

Low carb

High elyte content

Other Options

Parenteral nutrition?

Enteral nutrition if GI is working

Data in other species

Little is known about the horse

Prognosis & ProgressLoss of >50% of body weight is an extremely poor prognosis

Energy changes: ~2 weeks

Some weight gain: 1 month

Significant weight gain: 3-5 months

References

AAEP

UC Davis (CEH)

Dunkel, B. and Wilkins, P. “Nutrition and the critically ill horse”. Vet Clin Equine. 20. 2004. 107-126.