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Senior Horses in Field

Common Conditions in Horses

Understanding how nutrition fits into the management of common equine health conditions can help support each horse’s individual needs. Explore information on etiology, clinical management considerations, and nutrition recommendations designed to support overall health, performance, and recovery.

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Explore Equine Health Conditions and Nutrition Recommendations

  • Horse drinking water

    Equine Metabolic Syndrome

    Equine metabolic syndrome is characterized by insulin resistance, obesity and an increased risk of laminitis, often requiring careful dietary and weight management.

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  • Gray sport horse walking through a pasture, representing exertional rhabdomyolysis in horses, a condition commonly associated with Thoroughbreds and performance horses.

    Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis

    Recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis is a muscle disorder that causes recurring episodes of muscle stiffness, pain and cramping associated with exercise.

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  • Two horses grazing in a green pasture, representing horses affected by equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM)

    Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM)

    Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a neurological disease that can cause muscle weakness, incoordination and other signs of nervous system dysfunction.

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  • Horse standing in a pasture, representing polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) in horses.

    Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy

    Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) is a muscle disorder that can cause muscle stiffness, pain, cramping and exercise intolerance in affected horses.

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  • Quarter Horse standing in a pasture and looking to the right, representing hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) in horses.

    Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis

    Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) is an inherited muscle disorder that can cause episodes of muscle tremors, weakness, paralysis and collapse in affected horses.

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  • Girl leading a horse through a pasture, representing renal and hepatic conditions in horses.

    Renal and Hepatic Disease

    Renal and hepatic disease can impair kidney or liver function, requiring careful nutritional management to support affected horses and reduce stress on these organs.

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  • Horse drinking from a bucket in a stall, representing pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) in horses.

    PPID

    Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is an endocrine disorder that can cause abnormal hair growth, muscle loss, increased thirst and urination, and an increased risk of laminitis.

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  • Horse in stall

    Colic

    Colic refers to abdominal pain in horses and can range from mild digestive discomfort to serious gastrointestinal conditions requiring immediate veterinary care.

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  • Back of horse's neck

    Overweight Horses

    Excess body weight can increase a horse’s risk of insulin resistance, laminitis and other health concerns, making appropriate nutrition and weight management essential.

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  • Rear view of a horse grazing in a pasture with its legs and hooves in focus, representing laminitis in horses.

    Equine Laminitis

    Equine laminitis is a painful inflammatory condition affecting the tissues that support the hoof, potentially leading to lameness and structural damage within the foot.

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  • Girl touching a horse’s nose as the horse flares its nostrils, representing COPD or heaves in horses.

    COPD/ Heaves

    COPD, or heaves, is a chronic respiratory condition that can cause coughing, nasal discharge, exercise intolerance and difficulty breathing in affected horses.

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  • Woman rider feeding grain to a horse from her hand, representing nutrition and weight support for underweight horses and hard keepers.

    Underweight Horses

    Underweight horses have inadequate body condition and may require increased calories and balanced nutrition to support healthy weight gain and overall well-being.

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  • Horse standing in a pasture representing malignant hyperthermia in horses.

    Malignant Hyperthermia

    Malignant hyperthermia is an inherited muscle disorder that can cause a rapid rise in body temperature, muscle rigidity and other potentially life-threatening complications.

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  • Horse grazing on grass in a pasture, representing gastric ulcers in horses and equine digestive health.

    Equine Gastric Ulcers

    Equine gastric ulcers are painful lesions of the stomach lining that can contribute to poor appetite, weight loss, behavioral changes and decreased performance.

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  • Young girl hand-feeding a horse with its head out of a stall, representing care and nutritional support for neglected horses.

    Neglected Horses

    Neglected horses may experience poor body condition, muscle loss and nutrient deficiencies, requiring careful nutritional rehabilitation to support safe, gradual recovery.

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Horse receiving topline evaluation

Veterinary Nutrition Toolkit

As an Educational Partner of the AAEP and a leader in equine nutrition research, Nutrena provides veterinarians with complimentary educational resources designed to support equine health, nutrition, and client education.

Our toolkit includes clinical disorder booklets, body condition scoring and topline evaluation handouts, weight tapes, rehabilitation resources, and more.

Interested in receiving veterinary nutrition tools for your practice?

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