UNDERWEIGHT HORSES
ETIOLOGY
• Horses that are losing weight during competition are not receiving enough calories, or they may be overly stressed or unsound (experiencing pain or discomfort).
• Horses with gastric ulcers tend to not want to eat due to pain.
• Treatment for ulcers should be initiated immediately upon diagnosis to support efforts toward weight gain. Refer to segment on gastric ulcers.
• Geriatric horses may be prone to muscle catabolism and therefore require higher amounts of quality protein in their diets.
• Young, growing horses have high energy requirements but care must be taken to balance nutrients (dry matter) and energy to avoid under or over growth that could impair the integrity of tissue development.
• Parasite infection can lead to weight loss and therefore under the guidance of a veterinarian horses should undergo regular fecal analyses for parasite load and be maintained on a regular deworming program accordingly.
• Reducing stress, providing dental care, providing deworming and increasing the quality and quantity or nutrients provided are the best recommendations for horses that need to gain weight and muscle mass.
• Nervous horses tend to fare better when fed feeds with controlled starch and sugar.
• Lactating broodmares have the highest energy requirements of all classes of horses and must consume approximately 3+% of their body weight daily to produce milk and maintain condition.
• Extra care should be taken to avoid starch and sugar overload in the lactating mare.
• Reducing stress and increasing calorie intake are the best ways to help an underweight horse regain weight.
• Horses that lose weight for no apparent reason should be evaluated for other possible clinical conditions.
DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS
• Increasing feeding frequency is one of the safest ways to increase feed consumption and calorie intake without increasing risk of starch and sugar overload in the hindgut.
• Never feed more than 0.5% of BW at one time.
• Feeds with added fat and soluble fibre work best for putting weight on thin horses.
• Horses that need to gain weight should be fed products that contain excellent quality protein and guaranteed amino acid levels.
• The best-quality forage should be obtained for feeding thin horses as it is most palatable and has the highest energy content.
• Pre- and probiotics, enzymes and other feed additives that enhance digestion are useful in adding weight to thin horses.
• Ideally, with the exception of maybe a young foal, never provide more feed than forage (hay).
• Make any changes over a minimum of 7–10 days.
SUGGESTED PURINA PRODUCTS
RECOMMENDATION
ALTERNATIVE
AMÉLIOR SPORT PLUS
OPTIONS
- SUPERFIBRA CLASSIC or SUPERFIBRA NATURE may be used as a hay supplement.
- If using SUPERFIBRA CLASSIC, adjust the quantity of supplements accordingly.
SUPPLEMENT
- When attempting to put on weight, a fat and protein supplement can be used to replace part of the diet (caloric source).
- PUR-ATHLETE can improve fitness while providing a concentrated source of highly digestible fat and protein.
NOTES
When controlling and treating weight loss, associated or not with an underlying equine pathology, the choice of Purina feeds should be guided by a veterinary examination and blood test results. The symptoms and problems identified may be closely linked with weight loss or difficulty maintaining a proper healthy weight. It is important that the weight gain is done gradually and that it is monitored by a veterinarian to ensure consistency. The selection of possible Purina feeds in the control and treatment of weight loss, associated or not with an underlying equine pathology, should also take into account the animal’s life stage, its activity level, its medical history, as well as the area of performance.
| Time to accomplish gain | Daily DE above maintenance (Mcal/d) | % increase in DE above maintenance | Daily additional amount of feed |
| 60 days | 5.3 to 6.7 Mcal | 32 to 41% | 1.75 to 2.25 kg |
| 90 days | 3.6 to 4.4 Mcal | 22 to 27% | 1.2 to 1.5 kg |
| 120 days | 2.7 to 3.3 Mcal | 16 to 21% | 0.9 to 1.1 kg |
| 150 days | 2.1 to 2.7 Mcal | 13 to 16% | 0.7 to 0.9 kg |
| 180 days | 1.8 to 2.2 Mcal | 11 to 14% | 0.6 to 0.75 kg |
FEED RATE PROTOCOL NOTICE
This feeding protocol described here pertains only to Cargill Limited Horse Feeds. There is not established feeding protocol that all feed companies must follow. Purina provides two feeding rates on their tag a “Minimum” and a “Purina Superior”. The “Minimum” meets the levels established by the NRC Nutrient Requirements of Horses (2007), which will prevent all classic nutritional deficiencies. The “Purina Superior” is a greater level of fortification that promotes an optimal level of performance and immunity. By no means does that imply “Minimum” is subpar, and for the non-competitive horse, that stays home year-round and has no health issues there is probably no need to exceed this level. However, if you are feeding a true equine athlete, with all the immune stresses associated with that level of competition, then the “Purina Superior” level is paramount to ensure an optimal level of performance and immunity.