Weight Loss in a Horse

Although many horses suffer from being overweight, sudden or unexplained weight loss in a horse is often a sign of a deeper underlying medical condition. It’s often harder to put weight on a horse than to take it off. Any horse that suffers from weight loss needs to be seen by a vet. This is especially important if the horse is a still growing foal or a pregnant mare.

  1. Significance

    • The reason the horse is losing weight is because the horse’s body is not getting the nutrition it needs nor is it getting the calories it needs to get through the day. This is assuming the horse is still at the same level of activity, because more activity means more burning of calories. Even after tapping fat layers and with the horse eating normally or even more than usual, a horse that is losing weight has something interfering with its ability to absorb nutrition from its food.

    Identification

    • Horses experiencing weight loss will have visible ribs. The withers, the highest point of the shoulder, will become bony and more triangular instead of rounded. The neck will get thinner and lose any crest. Eventually, as weight loss increases, the horse’s spine becomes prominent and sunken hollow spaces will appear over the eyes.

    Causes

    • There are many medical causes for unexplained weight loss in a horse. This could be a previously undetected injury; an infestation of intestinal parasites; beginnings of teeth problems which can make it painful to eat; or a potentially deadly illness such as cancer. Horses that were once ravenously hungry and thirsty and then lose weight and appetite may have diabetes. Pregnant horses still given the same amount of food may become bony even after they begin to show signs of being pregnant. Horses with breathing problems cannot eat as much hay or grass as usual because the dust in the food interferes with their breathing.

    Behavior

    • Horses that become nervous or constantly sexually excited, especially in stallions, will use up a lot of energy by becoming too restless, pawing the ground, tossing the head, pacing back and forth, calling to other horses, avoiding horses that may be bossing them about and not getting the rest they need. This nervousness or excitement can act like added exercise and burn up weight.

    Treatment

    • Treatment varies depending upon what the cause of the horse’s weight loss is. If the cause is a physical ailment, then the medical condition has to be treated before the horse can be expected to put weight back on. If the cause is behavioral, then the horse may need more turn out time or a companion to help him relax. Breeding stallions and mares need to be given more grain throughout breeding, gestation and lactation. Always increase a horse’s food rations gradually under the guidance of a veterinarian. Suddenly giving the horse too much rich food may cause the horse to colic.