Chronic Equine Weight Loss

While there are numerous causes for weight loss, a methodical evaluation of these horses is more important than the lengthy list of possible diagnoses.
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Chronic weight loss in the horse presents a diagnostic challenge that requires careful attention to detail. While there are numerous causes for weight loss, a methodical evaluation of these horses is more important than the lengthy list of possible diagnoses.

The primary drivers of weight loss are decreased caloric intake, decreased nutrient utilization, and increased metabolic demands. Decreased caloric intake is caused by either a poor appetite or inadequate feeding. If the horse has a good appetite, then feeding management should be investigated. Assess feed for both appropriate quantity and quality. Steps should be taken to guarantee all horses, particularly those on the low end of the social order, have access to feed in group situations.

After examining feeding management, physical abnormalities should be examined. A poor appetite might be related to an inability to eat (due to swallowing and chewing problems or discomfort with lowering head/neck). Particularly in older horses, poor dental care can cause weight loss. Dental malocclusions (misalignments), tooth root abscesses, and periodontal disease will hamper the horse's ability to process his feed. In geriatric horses, loss of multiple teeth also will make their efforts to chew forage far less efficient.

Decreased nutrient utilization might result from conditions that alter absorption or digestion of nutrients. Examples of this include chronic parasitism, chronic diarrhea, and infiltrative disease-altering absorption in the gastrointestinal tract

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Written by:

Martha Mallicote, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, is a large animal clinical assistant professor at the University of Florida. Her interests include neonatology and endocrine disease.

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