FEEDING TO AVOID METABOLIC ISSUES IN HORSES Written by Dr. Stephen Duren & Dr. Tania Cubitt – Performance Horse Nutrition® Horses are grazing herbivores that live in herds when in their natural environment. They are designed to walk over long distances consuming a variety of forages constantly throughout the day. So what is the “modern[…]
Respiratory diseases can be costly for the horse owner in many ways. The major categories of respiratory diseases affecting horses are infectious (those caused by viruses or bacteria), allergic and parasitic. This article will focus on respiratory issues caused by allergens, but first in order to understand how these allergens affect the respiratory system we must have a basic idea of how it works….
UNDERSTANDING HYPERKALEMIC PERIODIC PARALYSIS (HYPP) IN HORSES Written by Dr. Stephen Duren & Dr. Tania Cubitt – Performance Horse Nutrition Over 20 years ago, a quarter horse called Impressive was winning all the halter classes. Impressive was strikingly muscled and became in huge demand as a breeding stallion. Impressive showed that he had a very[…]
UNDERSTANDING DEVELOPMENTAL ORTHOPEDIC DISEASE IN HORSES Written by Dr. Stephen Duren & Dr. Tania Cubitt – Performance Horse Nutrition WHAT IS IT? Developmental orthopedic disease (D.O.D.) can be loosely defined as any musculoskeletal disorder that occurs in the young animal as a result of growth and maturation. Invariably, it is related to the process of[…]
understanding ALPHABET DISEASES IN HORSES -performance horse nutrition- FEBRUARY 2019 Written by Dr. Stephen Duren & Dr. Tania Cubitt – Performance Horse Nutrition We all know people that have horses suffering from various diseases or conditions referred to by abbreviations or acronyms. For example, my horse has HYPP, EPM or COPD. All these diseases[…]
CHRONIC WEIGHT LOSS IN HORSES -performance horse nutrition- DECEMBER 2018 Written by Dr. Stephen Duren & Dr. Tania Cubitt – Performance Horse Nutrition Weight loss is simply a result of more calories being used by the body than are being consumed. There are several potential causes of chronic weight loss in horses. These causes[…]
FEEDING THE SICK OR INJURED HORSE -performance horse NUTRITION- DECEMBER 2018 Written by Dr. Stephen Duren – Performance Horse Nutrition The competition season is in full swing; your horse is fit and performing well. Then it happens, the horse takes a bad step and pulls up lame. Your immediate concern is the well-being of the[…]
UNDERSTANDING GASTRIC ULCERS May 2015 Written by Performance Horse Nutrition What is it? Equine gastric ulcers are caused because gastric acid (hydrochloric acid secreted by parts of the stomach lining), and, to a lesser degree, the digestive enzyme pepsin, irritating the lining of the stomach, causing ulceration. Gastric ulcers are common in horses. Their prevalence[…]
UNDERSTANDING POLYSACCHARIDE STORAGE MYOPATHY (PSSM) September 2014 Written by Performance Horse Nutrition What is it? Polysaccharide storage myopathy is a muscle disease that occurs primarily in horses with Quarter Horse bloodlines such as Quarter Horses, Paint Horses and Appaloosas. Polysaccharide storage myopathy also occurs in other breeds including Drafts, Draft crossbreeds, and Warmbloods. The primary clinical[…]
UNDERSTANDING INSULIN RESISTANCE February 2015 Written by Performance Horse Nutrition What is it? Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body’s cells become less sensitive to the insulin that is being produced. Insulin is a hormone that is secreted or produced and released from the pancreas. Insulin is released in response to an increase in[…]