Abstract
Summary Starvation and partial starvation lead to loss of body weight and condition, which are general clinical signs seen also with bad teeth, bad feet, intestinal parasites, cancer, and several chronic diseases. More specific signs may accompany malnutrition, but often poor performance is the only indication. Thus both starvation and malnutrition require a careful differential diagnosis from the points of view of humane investigators and veterinarians. Abrupt refeeding usually results in the death of a severely starved horse in about three days. Thus, refeeding should be gentle, beginning with water and electrolytes, then enterals, slurries and, eventually, good quality forage and concentrates. Once the horse begins to thrive, it can be built up to a growth regimen. Not all nutritional abuse is due to nature or naivete. For example, the use of pre-taee jugs of intravenous nutrients occasionally causes fatal reactions. Also, the partial starvation of young horses confined in the dark to suppress manifestation of the wobbler trait has dubious merit, medically or ethically. Nutritional suffering may be countered therapeutically by recognition and treatment, and prophylactically by planning, education and regulation.
Published Version
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