After the worry of illness or injury

After the worry of illness or injury, the expense of medical treatment and nursing, and the trauma of confinement and convalescence it is understandable that Aftercare Nutrition is not always high on the agenda and indeed is often only considered when recovery does not go according to plan. Compared to everything else it is more a question of attention to detail than cost but it can be quite vital in ensuring a trouble free return to full health. There are two major problems facing the horse on Box rest, besides that of the original problem. The first is the sudden reduction in exercise the second is the necessary change in diet that prevails due to confinement.

1)      In the horse external exercise means internal exercise, the latter being much dependant on the former. Although the increase in the percentage of dietary roughage, which results from reducing hard feed, will  help; changes in peristaltic and flora activity due to this and stress can have a counterproductive effect on recovery. This should be one of the first parameters to consider when formulating an aftercare diet.

2)      The reduction in the energy concentration of the diet, which is necessary because the horse is no longer in work very often, means a reduction in total nutrients which is wrong. Indeed the requirement for some nutrients may go up due to the horse’s efforts to heal itself. It is therefore important to view post treatment feeding in a different light than that which would be considered adequate in normal circumstances. Whilst recovery is in operation it is possible that a number of nutrients normally considered ‘none essential’ due to the fact that they can usually be synthesised from other nutrients, become ‘conditionally essential’ and because of the reduction in feed essential nutrients such as Lysine can become first limiting. This should be the other parameter to consider when formulating an aftercare diet.

The nature of the original confining problem must of course also influence aftercare nutrition No 1) is even more important following an incapacitating injury, and indeed such non essential nutrients such as Glutamine may well come into their own following a debilitating infection and an increase in more available siliceous sources are advantageous in both situations.

The right support nutrition will certainly hastens recovery and can avoid relapse. Following discussion we may well be able make up a Boxrest Formula to help. Please ring us if you need us.