Acidosis in Horses

Acidosis is a common ailment in horses. High grain feed combined with high levels of exercise can lead to an increased lactic acid and a lowered pH in the horse's hindgut. Most horses can naturally buffer the increased acid, but some develop acidic conditions in their colons that require treatment.

  1. Acidosis and Horses

    • Horses have a delicate acid/alkaline balance. Acidosis is a disturbance in pH balance, due to excessive acid in the horse's digestive tract, depleting alkali reserves, according to Petalia.com.

    Causes

    • According to Petalia.com, breeding horses or athletes require plenty of starchy fee for energy. A horse's high grain diet, combined with hard work and stress, produces a high amount of acidity. High-strung horses that expend more energy produce even more acid.

    Mechanism

    • According to VeterinaryPartner.com, when horses are fed high starch, large grain meals, the starch is fermented in the large intestine by bacteria. Scientists at Kentucky Equine Research assert that fermentation leads to increased lactic acid and volatile fatty acid production in the gut, causing acidosis in the large intestine.

    Symptoms

    • According to Petalia.com, one sign of acidosis is decreased appetite and low energy. The horse may also exhibit colic-like behavior, because intestinal lining is inflamed. Petalia.com also reports that wood chewing and weaving may be possible symptoms of serious acidosis.

    Treatment

    • A supplementary time-released sodium bicarbonate formula is usually added to the horse's feed in order to maintain proper pH levels and to treat and/or prevent acidosis.