Diseases of the Horse Digestive Organs

An understanding of horse health needs an understanding of digestive disease. The digestive organs of the horse are affected by water and feed. Studies have shown that improper feeding and watering accounts for more than one-half of the digestive diseases of the horse.

 

Water as a Source of Horse Digestive Health

Here are some basic rules to follow when watering your horse:
  • The average horse needs about eight gallons of water per day. This varies somewhat upon the character of the horse's feed: If fed green feed, less water will be needed than when fed upon dry hay and grain.
  • At rest, a horse should receive water at least three times a day; when at work, more frequently.
  • Water should be given in small quantities and often for proper horse digestive health.
  • Ice-cold water should never be given to horses.

Determining the Purity of Water

When determining whether water is safe for your horse, consider the following:
  • Wholesome waters: spring water, deep-well water and upland surface water
  • Suspicious waters: stored rain water and surface water from cultivated land
  • Dangerous Waters: river water to which sewage gains access and shallow-well water
About the only examination of water that can be made by the average stock raiser is to observe its taste, color, smell and clearness. Pure water is clear and is without taste or smell.
 
Chemical and microscopic examination will frequently be necessary in order to detect the presence of certain poisons, bacteria, etc. and should, of course, be conducted by experts only.
 
Impurities in Water
It's important to have a basic understanding of the types of impurities in water:
  • Organic: animal or vegetable substances that can affect horse health
  • Inorganic: salts of the metals such as lime, lead, iron and copper that can affect horse health.

Feed as a Source of Horse Digestive Health

Here are some rules about horse feed to follow:
  • Consider the age and health of the animal when selecting the feed and preparing the feed.
  • Feeds must be wholesome, clean and sweet.
  • Feeds should also be of a more laxative nature when the horse is to stand for several days.
  • Keep the hours of feeding regular.
  • One of the common errors of feeding, and the one that produces more digestive disorders than any other, is to feed too soon after a hard day's work. This must never be done.
  • Rapid or severe labor can not be performed on a full stomach. For such labor, feed must be given in small quantity and about two hours before going to work.
  • Sudden changes of diet are always dangerous.
  • The horse should always be watered before feeding.
  • The horse should be fed in small quantities and often.
  • The horse should be fed three or four times a day.
  • The quantity of feed given must always be in proportion to the amount of labor to be performed.
You should adhere to the mode of preparation found by practical experience to be the best for horse digestive health.

Types of Common Horse Feed

Horses are fed chiefly upon hay, grass, corn fodder, roots, oats, corn, wheat and rye. Each has a different impact on horse digestive health:
  • Beets: These are not much used as feed for horses.
  • Bran: The bran of wheat is the one most used, and its value as a feeding stuff is variously estimated.
  • Carrots: These make a most excellent feed, particularly during sickness. They improve the appetite and slightly increase the action of the bowels and kidneys.
  • Chaff: Wheat and rye chaff should never be used as a feed for horses. The beards frequently become lodged in the mouth or throat.
  • Grains: Oats take precedence of all grains as a feed for horses, as the ingredients necessary for the complete nutrition of the body exist in them in the best proportions.
  • Grasses: Grasses are the natural food of horses. It is composed of a great variety of plants, differing widely as to the amount of nourishment contained.
  • Hay: The best hay for horses is Timothy. It should be about one year old, of a greenish color, crisp, clean, fresh and possessing a sweet, pleasant aroma. Second crop or aftermath hayis not considered good hay for horses.
  • Linseed: Ground linseed is occasionally fed with other feeds to keep the bowels open and to improve the condition of the skin.
  • Maize (corn): This grain is not suitable as an exclusive feed for young horses, as it is deficient in salts. It is fed whole or ground.
  • Musty Feeds: Musty or moldy feeds should be avoided. They are very frequent causes of disease of different kinds.
  • Potatoes: These are used as an article of feed for the horse in many sections. If fed raw and in large quantities they often produce indigestion. Their digestibility is increased by steaming or boiling. They possess, in common with other roots, slight laxative properties.
  • Silage: Silageis safe to feed to horses and mules only when it is made from fairly mature corn, and when it is properly stored and is not allowed to mold. It is also unsafe to feed horses frozen silage on account of the danger of colic.
  • Straw: Straws should be cut and mixed with hay and ground or crushed grain. Wheat, rye, and oat straw are the ones most used; of these, oat straw is most easily digested and contains the most nourishment.
  • Wheat and Rye: These grains are not to be used for horses except in small quantities.

Resources

Michener, CH. B, V.S. (2007). Diseases of the Digestive Organs. Retrieved March 8, 2008, from the Project Gutenberg Web site: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/23403/23403-h/23403-h.htm#Page_49.