Nutrition plays an important role in equine rehabilitation,
with contradictory approaches existing on correct nutritional
management of patients. The preponderance of information
related to nutrient requirements for horses was designed
for healthy horses. Very little scientific research has
been undertaken to determine specific recommendations
for horses with health issues. This study provides a preliminary
assessment of current feeding practices within equine
hospitals in the USA. A survey was distributed to equine veterinary
hospitals (n=115) and the response rate was 21%.
The responses provided information on the demographics
of equine veterinary professionals, facilities and equine
patients, and current nutritional practices. A substantial
number of hospitals housed 51 to 100 patients (30%) on a
short-term basis of between 1 to 3 days (38%), treating a
wide variety of conditions; several of which require strict
dietary management (colic, laminitis and metabolic disorders).
All facilities fed hay as the forage source and 9 (38%)
provided pasture turnout. Only one facility fed forage only,
the rest fed supplementary feeds: including complete feeds,
pelleted feeds and cereal grains. Seven facilities (30%) fed
all patients the same type of feed, but none fed patients
the same amount of feed. Most facilities had specific nutritional
protocols in place (79%); half had conducted feed
analyses and half also consulted a nutritional advisor. As the
first known study to investigate the nutritional management
strategies of equine hospital environments, a clear need for
further research and validation of results is required
