Common Equine Nutritional Diseases

Despite our best efforts to provide our beloved animals with high-quality feed, horses are nonetheless prone to equine nutritional diseases that can adversely affect their performance and health. These diseases are categorized into one of three main areas: directly related to nutrition, indirectly related to nutrition, or a combination of the two. Those directly related to nutrition are, generally speaking, completely preventable with proper nutrition and supplementation management. Those indirectly related to nutrition aren't usually preventable, or curable for that matter; however, proper nutrition can play an important role in managing the disease. 

Diseases Directly Related to Nutrition

• Obesity
• White muscle disease
• Developmental Orthopedic Disease
• Mycotoxicosis (Mycotoxin poisoning)
• Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (NSH)

Diseases Indirectly Related to Nutrition

• HYPP
• Insulin Resistance
• Enterolithiasis (intestinal calculi)
• Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM or EPSM)

Diseases That Are a Combination of Both

• Laminitis
• Equine Colic
• Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (Equine Ulcers)

Be Proactive, Not Reactive

Being proactive regarding your horse's nutritional needs can go a long way towards keeping the animal healthy well into adulthood. Unfortunately, many horse owners misread the nutritional information on feed tags or bags, leading to under or over supplementing the horse. Learning how to interpret the data on those labels will allow you to choose the best products for your horse while ensuring they receive exactly what they need. Being well-informed can also help you prevent or manage certain equine nutritional disorders, thereby giving you the confidence to provide the best care for your horse.

Everyone at Horse Guard Inc. is passionate about horses. We love healthy, happy horses and we know you do too! This is why we have offered nutritionally balanced feed supplements for over 35 years. Contact our expert staff with any specific questions or concerns you may have, or call us at (800) 553-4246 to learn more about how our products can help your horse live and feel better for years to come!