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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.
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