When a horse arrives at a veterinary hospital, several nutritional or feeding challenges may be encountered. Feeding programs should aim to avoid weight loss, unless it is required for a specific condition (e.g., equine metabolic syndrome). Negative energy balance can lead changed intestinal microbiota, reduced immunity, and increased incisional complications. Some horses with peracute or […]

Horses have evolved over millions of years as grazers, with specialized digestive tracts adapted to digest and utilize diets containing high levels of plant fiber.

Hindgut acidosis is a common problem in horses consuming large quantities of either grain or fructan-rich forages. This dietary regimen may lead to shifts in hindgut acidity when a portion of the grain starch is not digested in the small intestine. Passing into the cecum and colon, the starch is rapidly fermented, changing the environment […]

Every equine practitioner appreciates the delicate nature of the equine gut. Problems related to the
small intestine and large intestine are well understood and routinely treated. What may be surprising to many is how often the stomach is affected.

Pagan, J.D. 1998. Advances in Equine Nutrition. Nottingham University Press, Nottingham, UK. Advances in Equine Nutrition is a compilation of selected papers from past KER nutrition conferences. These papers cover a broad range of topics and contain a wealth of information related to equine nutrition, veterinary medicine, and exercise physiology. Included is a mixture of […]

Jackson, S.G. and Pagan, J.D. 1992 Control colic through management. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 12:6:341. Access the article.