The role of diet in the prevention and management of several equine diseases

Modern feeding and housing practices of horses are typically directed at achieving a high level of athletic performance. There are some unfortunate consequences including an increased incidence of disease. Some of these diseases can be directly linked to dietary practices, while in others diet contributes as an important co-factor. Breeding practices to select for specific traits have also inadvertently resulted in the preferential selection of horses with genetic mutations within several breeds. In several of these genetic disorders specific dietary management is required for affected horses to achieve an acceptable level of performance. Diseases in which diet has a significant influence are discussed including equine metabolic syndrome, laminitis, diseases attributed to deficiency of vitamin E and/or selenium, exertional myopathies, nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism, hyperkalaemic periodic paralysis, and the developmental orthopaedic disease complex.