The Liphook Equine Hospital

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FEEDING THE CONVALESCENT HORSE

Feeding the convalescent horse is a challenge as you need to be certain that your horse receives sufficient good quality feed to ensure good healing without becoming difficult to manage. More specialist nutritional advice is available from the larger, reputable horsefeed supplies.

After Colic Surgery

After an operation for colic your horse will have been through a period without feed, before being started back on small amounts of hard feed and then hay. As a consequence he is likely to have lost weight due to this and several other factors i.e. general anaesthetic, stress and /or pain. By the time he is ready to go home he will be on four colic mashes and four small amounts (1/2 to 1 section) of hay daily. (All feeds will be wet and the hay soaked.)

A colic mash comprises of Alfalfa chaff, bran and a convalescent compound mix with medium to high levels of protein and energy.

It is not essential that the horse remains on colic mashes provided that at least two weeks are taken to transfer the horse onto any different feed and this should also contain medium to high protein, fat and energy levels.

At the time the horse leaves the hospital, it must be remembered that he may not be currently eating enough to maintain body weight and that over the next few weeks the amounts may need to be carefully increased to the levels in the table below.

Weight of horse*
Total feed per 24 hours*
Hard Feed Portion*
Hay Portion*
100
2.5
0.75
1.75
200
5
1.5
3.5
300
7.5
2.25
5.25
400
10
3
7
500
12.5
3.75
8.75
600+
15
4.5
10.5

* All figures are in kilograms


It is important to ensure that fresh water is available to the horse at all times.

These are recommended daily intakes but all horses are different and some adjustment may be required.

Please check with the veterinary surgeon dealing with your case that it will be appropriate to worm your horse if he is due.

After Orthopaedic Surgery

After orthopaedic surgery your horse will be on box rest or short walks in hand for a period. Therefore he will need a diet with reduced energy while maintaining mineral, vitamin and protein content.

For young horses it is important not to over feed. To accommodate reduced levels of energy without accompanying loss of vitamins and minerals in the diet we recommend feeding Suregrow or adding an additive such as Surelimb to the diet.

A ratio of 30:70 hard feed to hay should be aimed for with most convalescing horses unless otherwise instructed by your veterinary surgeon.

* * * * * * * * * * *

These notes are intended as a guide to feeding the convalescent horse, if you have any queries please contact your own veterinary surgeon.
 
 
© The Liphook Equine Hospital 2005