Use of a liquid diet as the sole source of nutrition in six dysphagic horses and as a dietary supplement in seven hypophagic horses.

The research study explored the use of a liquid diet as the only source of nutrition in six horses suffering from dysphagia due to various reasons, and as a dietary supplement in seven horses suffering from hypophagia due to bacterial pleuropneumonia or peritonitis. The study found that body weight and critical laboratory values remained stable throughout the feeding period, with minimal complications.

Methodology

• The study involved thirteen horses in total, six suffering from dysphagia due to botulism, glossitis, or guttural pouch mycosis and seven from hypophagia because of severe bacterial pleuropneumonia or peritonitis.
• The researchers utilized a commercially available liquid diet for all the horses included in the study.
• This diet was the sole source of nutrition for the six dysphagic horses while it supplemented the regular diet for the seven hypophagic horses.
• The liquid diet was administered to the horses through a nasogastric tube either two or three times a day.

Results

• The study found that utilizing a liquid diet did not cause any significant change in the body weight of the horses during the feeding period.
• All the horses maintained adequate laboratory values throughout the feeding period, with no major deviations suggestive of health complications.
• The study didn’t encounter any serious complications arising from the use of the liquid diet.
• However, the study did note that three horses developed loose, low-volume feces. It was assessed that this situation did not warrant any medical intervention.

Conclusion

• The study concludes that a liquid diet can be safely and effectively used as the sole source of nutrition in horses suffering from dysphagia, and as a dietary supplement in horses with hypophagia.
• It found no significant changes in body weight and health parameters, signifying that the diet was well-tolerated and doesn’t cause adverse effects.
• The minor issue of low-volume loose feces in some horses was deemed manageable without requiring specific treatment.