Return to Contents Page Home Page: Feed Your Horse Like a Horse Visit Dr. Getty's website: Getty Equine Nutrition
Detailed Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
PART I: THE FUNDAMENTALS
Chapter 1 — Ground Rules for Feeding a Horse
The Basics
Getting by with only hay
Understanding the Digestive Tract of a Horse
Horses need to eat hay and/or pasture at all times
Digestive system
Chewing
Traveling down the esophagus
The stomach
The small intestine
The cecum
The colon
Type of Feed
Forages
Nutritional value of hay
Concentrates
Beet pulp
A note about the glycemic index of feeds
Corn and barley
Supplementation
How to Read a Feed Label
Hay Analysis
Common terms in a hay analysis report
Crude protein (CP)
Acid detergent fiber (ADF)
Neutral detergent fiber (NDF)
Relative feed value (RFV)
Non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC)
Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC)
Water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC)
Ethanol-soluble carbohydrates (ESC)
Starch
Calculating NSC
Calcium to phosphorus ratio
Calcium to magnesium ratio
Salt and Water
Special Case: Feeding Donkeys and Mules
The basic diet for donkeys and mules
Chapter 2 — Fundamentals of Carbohydrates
Fiber Digestion
Anatomy of a Cereal Grain
Non-Structural Carbohydrates
Sugars
Polysaccharides
Starch
Fructan
Fibers
Analysis Measurements
Fibrous measures
Sugars, fructan, and starch measures
Water soluble carbohydrates, ethanol soluble carbohydrates, and starch
Keeping NSC low
Summary
Chapter 3 — Fundamentals of Fats
Benefits of Fat
Adding Fat to the Diet
Special cases
The form matters
Coconut oil: no innocent fat source!
Liquid fats
How Fats Differ Chemically
Saturated fatty acids
Unsaturated fatty acids
Monounsaturated fatty acids
Polyunsaturated fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acid function and sources
Fish oils
Flaxseed
Commonly Fed Fat Sources
Vegetable oils
Sunflower seeds
Adding vitamin E
Wheat germ and corn oils
Animal fat and coconut oil
Fresh pasture and cereal grains
Gamma oryzanol
The best fat to choose
Volatile Fatty Acids
Summary
Chapter 4 — Fundamentals of Protein and Amino Acids
Protein Digestion
Protein Deficiency
Poor-Quality Protein
Determining Protein Quality
Feeding Too Much Protein
Calcium loss
Protein Requirements
Laminitis and Protein
Summary
Chapter 5 — Fundamentals of Minerals
Functions
Individual Minerals
Macrominerals
Calcium
Chloride
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Potassium
Sodium
Sulfur
Microminerals (trace)
Cobalt
Chromium
Copper
Fluoride
Iodine
Iron
Manganese
Selenium
Silicon
Zinc
Mineral Content Can Vary
Minerals are Indestructible!
Mineral Interactions and Supplementation
Free-choice minerals
Testing your horse’s mineral status
Hair analysis
Chapter 6 — Fundamentals of Vitamins
Water-Soluble Vitamins
Sidebar: Free radicals — bad guys meet their match in antioxidants
Vitamin C
Functions of vitamin C
Horses produce their own vitamin C
Circumstances when vitamin C intake is a concern
Supplements
B vitamins
Energy production
Body proteins
Skin, hooves, and hair
Red blood cells
Nervous system
Fat-Soluble Vitamins
Vitamin A
What does vitamin A do?
Vitamin A deficiency
Vitamin A toxicity
Meeting your horse’s requirement
Vitamin D
Function of vitamin D
Forms of vitamin D
Requirement
Toxicity
Vitamin E
Sources of vitamin E
Forms of vitamin E
Requirement
Not enough vitamin E
Treatment with large dosages of vitamin E
No problem with over-supplementation
Vitamin K
Requirement and sources
Chapter 7 — Fundamentals of Water and Electrolytes
Water Balance
Water output
Fecal losses
Urine losses
Losses from skin
Respiratory and lactation losses
Water intake
Determining Optimal Hydration
Drinking enough water while traveling
Electrolytes and Salt
Electrolyte supplements
Free-choice supplements
Summary
Water Safety
Pond water
Winter
Chapter 8 — Fundamentals of Forages
Pasture vs Hay
Types of Hay
Nutritional value of grass hay
Nutritional value of legume hay
Mixtures
Cereal grain hay
Problems with fescue
Evaluating Hay Quality
Maturity level
Cutting
Storing hay
Blister beetles
How Hay Fits into Your Feeding Plan
Round bales
Grass clippings
Toxic Plants
Common plants
Animal poison control center
Prevention
Chapter 9 — Fundamentals of Concentrates and By-Products
Digestive Energy Requirements
Concentrates
Cereal grains
Oats
Corn
Barley
High fat concentrates
Soybean meal
Seed meals
Vegetable oils
Commercial feeds
Sweet feeds
Pelleted feeds
Extruded feeds
By-Products
Beet pulp
Brewer’s and distiller’s grain
Wheat middlings
Soybean, sunflower, and cottonseed hulls
Bran
Bran mashes
Corn gluten
Special Section — Protecting Your Horse From Mycotoxins
Chapter 10 — Fundamentals of Treats
Unconventional “Treats”
More than hamburgers and French fries!
To Treat or Not to Treat
Fruits and Vegetables
Candy
Commercial Treats
Low sugar/low starch treats
Concluding Part I
Part II: CONDITIONS, DISEASES, AND LIFE STAGES
Chapter 11 — Laminitis
Founder and Laminitis
Acute vs chronic laminitis
Acute laminitis
Chronic laminitis
Common Causes of Laminitis
Hormonal disorders
Insulin resistance and chronically elevated insulin levels
Equine Cushing’s disease
Genetics
Carbohydrate overload (grain founder)
Overwhelming the small intestine
Sudden elevation of insulin levels
Pasture laminitis
Concussion founder
First Aid
Cold therapy
Activated charcoal
Reducing tension of the laminae
Medications
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Drugs that promote digital circulation
Antibiotics
Feeding and Management Objectives
Beneficial supplements
Some things to avoid
Preventing abscesses
A little more about alfalfa…
Summary
Chapter 12 — Weight Management
How Much Does Your Horse Weigh?
Measuring your horse
Calculating weight in pounds, using inches
Calculating weight in kilograms (kg), using centimeters (cm)
Using a weight tape
Henneke Body Condition Scoring System
Weigh Your Concentrates
The Easy Keeper
Feeding basics for the overweight horse
Avoid weight loss products
Avoid feeding cereal grain and sugary treats
Consider an all-forage diet
Provide hay free-choice
Have your hay tested
Let your horse graze on pasture, within limits
Beneficial supplements
Multiple vitamin/mineral supplements
Magnesium
Vitamin E
Omega-3 fatty acids
Exercise
Thyroid hormone replacement
The Hard Keeper
Conditions that cause weight loss
Medical problems
Dental health
Stress
Pecking order
Helping your horse gain weight
Attend to hindgut microbial population
Understand the importance of B vitamins
Give him more calories
Feed your horse like a horse
Summary of managing the underweight horse
The Severely Underweight Rescue Horse
Chapter 13 — Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders
Insulin Resistance (Equine Metabolic Syndrome)
Crash course on insulin
Regional fat deposits
More than just fat storage
A note about iron
Diagnosing insulin resistance
Treating insulin resistance
Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC)
Pasture grazing
Exercise
Keep the hay!
Magnesium/chromium supplementation
Omega-3 fatty acids
Joint supplements containing glucosamine
Medications
Overview of how to feed the insulin resistant horse
Case Study: Insulin Resistance
Equine Cushing’s Disease — Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID)
Signs of PPID
Testing for PPID
Dexamethasone suppression test (DST)
ACTH measurement
Other tests
Treating PPID
Diet
Grazing
Care
Medications
Muscle Disorders
Exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER)
Signs of exertional rhabdomyolysis
Causes of ER
What you should do for your horse
Prevention and dietary treatment
Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM)
PSSM is most prevalent in specific breeds
Diagnosis
Treatment and exercise
Diet
Multiple acyl-coA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD)
Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP)
Nutritional management
Additional guidelines
Thyroid Function
Hypothyroidism or something else?
Enlarged thyroid gland
Goiter
Age
Hyperthyroidism
Iodine
Hyperlipemia
Starvation or stress
Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (NSH)
NSH symptoms
Treating NSH
Chapter 14 — Digestive Problems
Gastric Ulcers
Reasons ulcers develop
Performance
Stress
Improper feeding
Pain relievers
Summary
Signs of an ulcer
Diagnosing an ulcer
Endoscopy
Fecal blood test
SmartPill
Blood sucrose
Treatment
Dietary adjustments
Medications
Colonic Ulcers and Right Dorsal Colitis (RDC)
Signs
Diagnosis
Tests
Treatment
Diet
Additional treatments
Colic
While waiting for your vet to arrive
Medical treatments
Causes and prevention
Here are some important ways to avoid colic
Cecal impaction vs dysfunction
Sand Colic
Ways to prevent sand colic
Enteroliths
Diarrhea
Acute diarrhea
Chronic diarrhea
Prevent sand accumulation
Encourage water drinking
Establish a good deworming program
Try changing feeds or hay supplies
Reduce cereal grains
Use a potent probiotic and prebiotic
Give a large amount of vitamin B1
Consider aluminomagnesium silicate
Choking
Chapter 15 — Joints, Hair, Hooves, and Skin
Joints
Joint nutraceuticals
Glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and hyaluronic acid
Herbs
Fatty substances
Amino acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Others
Choosing a supplement
Injectables
Diseases of the joints
Osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease)
Physitis (epiphysitis)
Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD)
Ligament and tendon damage
Stringhalt
Navicular
Windpuffs
Medical treatments
Hair and Hooves
Nutrient overview
Selenium toxicity
Overall hoof health
Young horses
Thrush
Dry hooves
Wet hooves
Hoof supplements
Hair loss
Skin
Key nutrients for skin health
Common skin problems
Photosensitivity
Seborrhea (dandruff)
Ringworm
Rain rot (also called rain scald)
Scratches
Sarcoids
Allergies
Chapter 16 — Immunity Issues
Allergies
Sweet itch
Hives
Recurrent airway obstruction (heaves)
Treatment
Photosensitivity
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM)
Viral and Bacterial Infections
Viral infections
Equine herpes virus (rhinopneumonitis)
Equine influenza
Equine infectious anemia (EIA)
Warts
Bacterial infections
Pigeon fever
Strangles
MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Lyme disease
Nutritional Approaches for Allergies and Other Immune-Related Disorders
Dr. Getty’s Fighting Formula
Supporting nutrients
A Word About Garlic and Heinz Body Anemia…
Chapter 17 — Stress and Behavior
Weather Extremes
Accommodation for winter
Calorie needs and outdoor temperatures
Bran mashes
Water
Older horses
Feet
Blankets
Shelter
Heat stress
Testing for dehydration
Effects of dehydration
Treating mild dehydration
Sidebar: Know what’s normal for your horse!
Transporting
Preparing for travel
Stress diet
Guidelines while traveling
Signs of distress
Upon reaching your destination
Training and Boarding
Agitated horse, borderline deficiency?
Calming agents
Weight Changes
Weight loss
Weight gain
Ulcers
Laminitis
Hyperlipemia
Behavior
Hot horses
Cribbing
Turnout as much as possible
Keep hay in front of your horse
Do not isolate your horse
Consider ulcers
Head shaking
Eating manure
Weaning
Sleep
Chapter 18 — Breeding, Pregnancy, and Lactation
Preparation for Breeding — Mares
Weight
Overall health
Plan for vaccinations and deworming
Vaccinations
Deworming
Preparation for Breeding — Stallions
Fatty acids for sperm health
The Pregnant Mare
A nutritious, balanced diet
Fresh pasture
Good quality hay
Alfalfa
Vitamin E and selenium
Comprehensive vitamin/mineral supplement
Flaxseed meal
Salt
Concentrates
Forage troubles
Fescue toxicity
Glycoside, blister beetles, round bales
The last three months
Calories
Protein
Minerals
Simplifying the diet
The Lactating Mare
Colostrum
Dripping milk in advance of foaling
Energy requirements
First two months
Subsequent months
Other requirements
Protein and lysine
Minerals
Chapter 19 — Growth and Growing Old
Preparing for Delivery
The Newborn Foal
Umbilical cord
Preventing constipation
Nursing
Colostrum
Potential Problems Shortly After Birth
Ruptured bladder
Dummy foal
Foal heat diarrhea
Jaundice
The Growing Foal
Estimated foal weight
7 to 28 days
28 to 90 days
Creep feeding
What to feed
Weaning
Weaning stress
Once weaned
Preventing Developmental Orthopedic Disease
Sweet and starchy feeds
Protein
Minerals
Skeletal growth vs weight
Preventing Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (NSH)
Deworming and Vaccinations
Deworming
Vaccinations
Pneumonia
Six to Twenty-Four Months
Nutrient requirements
High-quality protein and lysine
Fat and omega-3 fatty acids
Fiber
Beta carotene or vitamin A
Vitamin D
Vitamin E and selenium
B vitamins
Minerals
Exercise
Reaching maturity
Growing Old
Dietary guidelines for senior horses
The importance of flax
Supplementing vitamin C
Complete senior feeds
Making your own feed
The overweight horse may not need added concentrated meals
Trouble gaining weight
Poor teeth and mouth pain
Fast metabolic rate
Competition
Reduced hindgut microbial population
Other age-related problems
Joint and muscle deterioration
Insulin resistance and equine Cushing’s disease
Respiratory conditions
Liver and kidney disease
Liver disease
Kidney disease
Bottom line
The Orphaned Foal
Colostrum replacement
Milk replacement
Nurse mare
Milk replacer
Chapter 20 — Athletes
Defining Levels of Activity
Nutrient Requirements
Variations between activity levels
Digestible energy
Carbohydrates
Fat
Protein
Vitamins
B vitamins
Vitamin A
Vitamin D
Vitamin C
Vitamin E and selenium
Minerals
Calcium, phosphorus, and electrolytes
Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH)
Sidebar: Nutrients to Heal a Broken Bone
Ergogenic Aids
Gamma oryzanol
Creatine
L-carnitine
Lipoic acid
Summary
Appendix — Crunching Numbers
U.S. and Metric System Measurements and Conversions
Measurement terms
Conversions
Parts per million (ppm)
Calculation Instructions for Specific Examples
Chapter 1 — Ground rules for feeding a horse
Calculating selenium content in the diet
Chapter 4 — Fundamentals of protein and amino acids
Calculating lysine and methionine content in a feed
Calculating grams of protein in an 8% crude protein hay
Chapter 5 — Fundamentals of minerals
Macromineral content
Micromineral content
Determining the calcium to phosphorus ratio of your feeding plan
Calculating iron concentration (ppm)
Calculating selenium content
Chapter 6 — Fundamentals of vitamins
Calculating vitamin C supplementation amount
Calculating vitamin A intake
Chapter 13 — Metabolic and endocrine disorders
Thyroid gland
Chapter 17 — Stress and behavior
Calculating additional hay requirements during cold weather
Chapter 18 — Breeding, pregnancy, and lactation
Calculating lysine content in 20 lbs of grass hay plus 10 lbs of alfalfa
Energy needs of an 1100 lb lactating mare during first two months
Chapter 19 — Growth and growing old
Calculating foal weight
Weanling’s protein needs met by sample diet
Chapter 20 — Athletes
Since fat provides 9.2 Mcal/kg, how many Mcal are in 2 cups of oil?
Return to Contents Page Home Page: Feed Your Horse Like a Horse Visit Dr. Getty's website: Getty Equine Nutrition
Index