Why Do Horses Lose Weight?

Horses can lose weight for a variety of reasons, some of them medical and some of them man-made. Different things may affect the animal's appetite such as illness, the different seasons, age, stress and even the amount of exercise the horse gets. Fortunately there are many ways you can determine the cause of weight loss in your horse and there are also several treatment options.

  1. Food

    • Sometimes your horse may be losing weight due to the quality and amount of the food it consumes on a daily basis. Veterinarians and the labels on most grain products for horses recommend that a horse consume 1.5 to 2 percent of his body weight every day in food. The hay you feed your horse should also be fresh so it contains all the proper nutrients. Hay that is over a year old or completely dried out is not good. It is also a good idea to check the field where your horse lives and make sure there is plenty of grass and not just weeds.

    Exercise

    • Your horse may also be losing weight if it is being worked or ridden on a regular basis and is burning more calories than it is consuming. Adding supplements to your horse's diet may be one way to combat this. There are many horse supplements on the market that contain essential fatty acids such as omega-3 and amino acids such as lysine, methionine and threonine which help to build muscle. Other supplements are also available which can help to stimulate your horse's appetite and contain ingredients such as bee pollen and banana.

    Stress

    • Too much stress can cause a horse to lose weight and there are many causes of stress, including excessively hot and cold temperatures, bugs that cause skin irritations and itching, and small living quarters. Make sure your horse has shelter from extreme temperatures and check him for pest infestations. Also, make sure your horse gets plenty of exercise.

    Health

    • There are a variety of medical reasons which may explain weight loss in your horse. It can be something as simple as an abscess which has caused infection, to a more chronic condition such as stomach ulcers, arthritis or organ failure. Your veterinarian can do a complete exam and run tests to determine the problem.