9 research outputs found
When changing the hay makes a difference: A series of case reports
Dry hay (composed of grass, legumes, or a mixture of the two) provides the primary source of
alimentary fiber in stabled horses with limited access to fresh pasture. However, hay can also give rise
to health problems in the horse, depending on the quality and quantity of its components. Pathologies
may be rooted in biological problems, such as inadequate digestion disturbances, or reflect mechanical
difficulties – for example, due to the presence of sharp plant parts that irritate the oral mucosa, or due
to physical intake problems that inhibit consumption. Unwanted plants in the hay may cause stomatitis
and affect the oral mucosa, resulting in inappetence, hemorrhagic drooling, gingival hyperemia,
edema, and ulcerative lesions, as reported in case 1 of the present study. Horse dysphagia, defined as a
difficult in ingesting feed through the mouth and esophagus, is another important cause of malnutrition
in the horse, and identifying the site of its origin is important in order to provide practical advice for
nutritional management, as reported in case 2. Free fecal water syndrome (FFWS) is a condition where
the horse exhibits two-phase feces expulsion, with an initial solid phase followed by a liquid phase.
Although the etiology of FFWS is still unknown, hay quality seems to play a key role, as the outcome
of case 3 suggests. This case series highlights the importance of hay quality and of providing an
appropriate and adequate fiber intake. Moreover, good hay management becomes crucial when horses
are affected by contextual pathologies, such as stomatitis, dysphagia, or FFW