[Effects of housing, feeding and use on equine health with emphasis on respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases].
Abstract: In a random population of Swiss horses 54% suffered from a subclinical to moderate COPD. Cause of a COPD is a hypersensitivity of the respiratory tract to spores of fungi and thermophil actinomyces. Teeth problems are strongly associated with the type of diet and the feeding regime. Problems of the teeth belong to the most often treated equine diseases by large animal practitioners. Racehorses are the population of horses most often affected by gastric ulcers with an ulcer prevalence between 63 and 90%. In contrast, a much lower prevalence (37%) of stomach ulcers is seen in pleasure horses and the degree of ulceration is less severe. Large amounts of concentrated high-energy feeds, small rations of forage and a low feeding frequency per day as well as the use of spoiled food can contribute to the development of colics.
Publication Date: 2002-08-15 PubMed ID: 12174682DOI: 10.1024/0036-7281.144.7.348Google Scholar: Lookup
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- English Abstract
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article investigates the impact of housing, feeding, and usage patterns on the health of horses, focusing on respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases. The study found conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), teeth problems, and gastric ulcers prevalent in horses due to certain environmental factors and feeding habits.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- The research revealed that over half (54%) of the random horse population in Switzerland were suffering from a mild to severe form of COPD.
- COPD in horses is triggered by a hypersensitive reaction in the respiratory tract to spores of fungi and thermophil actinomyces. This means that the horse’s respiratory system overreacts to these spores, potentially causing breathing difficulties or other respiratory complications.
Dental Problems Related to Diet and Feeding Regime
- The researchers found a strong correlation between the type of diet and feeding regimen and dental issues in horses. These dental problems are among the most frequently treated equine diseases by large animal practitioners.
- While the specific dietary factors leading to these dental issues were not detailed in the abstract, it suggests that further research might illuminate the exact causal relationship.
Gastric Ulcers in Racehorses and Pleasure Horses
- The study revealed a striking disparity between racehorses and pleasure horses when it comes to the prevalence of gastric ulcers.
- Between 63 and 90% of racehorses were found to have gastric ulcers, compared to only 37% of pleasure horses. Moreover, the severity of these ulcers was significantly higher in racehorses than in pleasure horses.
Feeding Practices and Colic Development
- The research found that certain feeding practices could contribute to colic development in horses. These include providing substantial amounts of high-energy concentrated feeds, limited rations of forage, and low feeding frequencies per day.
- The use of spoiled food was also identified as a factor in colic development.
Cite This Article
APA
Feige K, Fürst A, Eser MW.
(2002).
[Effects of housing, feeding and use on equine health with emphasis on respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases].
Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd, 144(7), 348-355.
https://doi.org/10.1024/0036-7281.144.7.348 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Pferdeklinik der Veterinärmedizinischen Fakultät der Universität Zürich Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zürich.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / adverse effects
- Animals
- Environment
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Prevalence
- Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / epidemiology
- Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / veterinary
- Stomach Ulcer / epidemiology
- Stomach Ulcer / veterinary
- Stress, Physiological / epidemiology
- Stress, Physiological / veterinary
- Switzerland / epidemiology
- Tooth Diseases / epidemiology
- Tooth Diseases / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Rezazadeh F, Pourebrahimi N, Ghotaslou R, Nasab MG, Memar MY. Frequency of endoscopic findings of equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) in rural horses and its association with Helicobacter pylori virulence genes. Vet Med (Praha) 2022 Feb;67(2):61-69.
- Ross M, Proudfoot K, Campbell Nishimura E, Morabito E, Merkies K, Mitchell J, Ritter C. 'It's more emotionally based': Prince Edward Island horse owner perspectives of horse weight management. Anim Welf 2024;33:e14.
- Albanese V, Munsterman A, Klohnen A. Prevalence of Gastric Ulceration in Horses with Enterolithiasis Compared with Horses with Simple Large Intestinal Obstruction. Vet Sci 2022 Oct 25;9(11).
- Intemann S, Reckels B, Schubert D, Wolf P, Kamphues J, Visscher C. The Hygienic Status of Different Forage Types for Horses-A Retrospective Study on Influencing Factors and Associations with Anamnestic Reports. Vet Sci 2022 May 6;9(5).
- de Laat MA, Hampson BA, Sillence MN, Pollitt CC. Sustained, Low-Intensity Exercise Achieved by a Dynamic Feeding System Decreases Body Fat in Ponies. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Sep;30(5):1732-1738.
- Woodward MC, Huff NK, Garza F Jr, Keowen ML, Kearney MT, Andrews FM. Effect of pectin, lecithin, and antacid feed supplements (Egusin®) on gastric ulcer scores, gastric fluid pH and blood gas values in horses. BMC Vet Res 2014;10 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S4.
- Birkmann K, Junge HK, Maischberger E, Wehrli Eser M, Schwarzwald CC. Efficacy of omeprazole powder paste or enteric-coated formulation in healing of gastric ulcers in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2014 May-Jun;28(3):925-33.
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