Approach to clinical nutrition

While there is no single ‘correct’ way of feeding horses, inappropriate diets and feeding regimens can negatively impact equine health, welfare, behaviour and performance. It is also well recognised that nutrition (taken here to include both the diet and nutritional management) can be part of the problem as well as the solution for several key clinical conditions such as obesity, laminitis and certain muscle disorders. In addition, nutrition, alongside veterinary support, has a role to play in the management of many clinical conditions, such as gastric ulcers. This means that nutrition competency, or having an experienced equine nutritionist as part of your support network, is key for veterinarians. This article provides guidance to veterinarians when they themselves, or in collaboration with their nutritional support team, evaluate a clinical case that requires more targeted and focused nutritional advice. This is intended to be an introduction to a series of more in-depth articles on specific conditions.