Unfortunately, malnourished and poorly care for horses can be found throughout the United States at this time. The problem of neglected horses has worsened in recent years and reflects the growing number of horses that are no longer wanted or needed by their owners. Many of these owners are not longer financially capable of maintaining their horses leading to a population of around 100,000 unwanted horses per year.
Refeeding starving horses
A report on refeeding research done at UC Davis provides specific information about the special needs of the starved horse and the resources necessary to properly care for these animals.
According to some sources, the global recession that has created economic hardship for many horse owners, coupled with the closure of equine slaughter facilities in 2007 that had processed upwards of 68,000 horses a year, has lead to the current situation.
Researchers at UC Davis recently completed a study to determine the best way to restore health to a starving and neglected horse. One of their major conclusions is that it does take a village of educated and dedicated people including caretakers and veterinarians to give starving horses a chance to not only survive, but to return to daily activities that further promote good health.
In the report on refeeding research done at UC Davis, researchers provide specific information about the special needs of the starved horse and the resources necessary to properly care for these animals. Revealing the veterinary care, support and the complications associated with restoring health to emaciated horses, researchers point out that no two starvation cases are the same and a village approach is often necessary for a successful outcome.
The report places emphasis on the proper approach for caring for malnourished horses: "Taking time to educate ourselves about body condition scoring, the potential underlying causes of malnourishment, the timelines and resources associated with rehabilitation and the recommended course of action when trouble is suspected will make us all more valuable to the horses we love and the communities we reside in."
The research found that the best approach for intial refeeding of the starved horse consisted of frequent small amounts of high-quality alfalfa with the amount slowly increased at each meal and the number of feedings decreased gradually over 10 days.
Horses showed increased energy after about 2 weeks with ear, eye and head movement being the first noticeable improvements. Some weight gain can be achieved in 1 month, but 3 to 5 months usually are needed to rehabilitate the starved horse back to a normal body weight. Veterinary care and nutritional advice should be sought during the rehabilitation as complications arise.
The study focused on different types of feed used for refeeding starved horses. The three types of feed were given to 22 starved horses that were brought to the UC Dais research site as representative of horses rescued by equine rescue organizations. The rehabilitation period was 10 days and each horse was fed one of the three diets.
Recommendations for refeeding a starved horse - Based on UC Davis study:
Days 1-3
Feed one pound (approximately 1/6 flake) of high quality alfalfa every four hours for a total of 6 pounds per day in six feedings. Contact a veterinarian to evaluate the medical status of the horse.
Days 4-10
Slowly increase the amount of alfalfa and decrease the number of feedings so that by day 6 you are feeding just over 4 pounds of hay every 8 hours with a total of 13 pounds per day in 3 feedings.
Day 10 and for several months
Feed as much alfalfa as the horse will eat and decrease feedings to twice a day. Provide access to a salt block. Do NOT feed grain, treats such as apples or carrots, or other supplements until the horse is well along in its recovery. Each feeding of grain, treats or any supplements complicates the return of normal matabolic function and can result in death.
Provide clean fresh water at all times.
Deworming and correction of dental problems are very beneficial to the horse's recover.
Other types of hay such as grass may be added following the first 2 weeks of feeding, but these should be added slowly over time. Alfalfa hay contains adequate amount of salt for a sedentary horse, so use caution in offering a salt block within the first 4 to 6 weeks.
You will also want to read: Evaluating your horse's condition
All information for this news article is taken from the UC Davis "Horse Report"