Vet Rap Articles - Chronic Weight Loss Chronic Weight Loss in the Horse Chronic weight loss is a common complaint from horse owners, especially when dealing with an older animal.
Weight loss is due to increased metabolic rate and calorie consumption and reduced intake.
Many stallions fret throughout the breeding season and do not eat as well as the normally would during the off-season. Late pregnancy and lactation also increase demand for nutrients, and weight loss results if dietary adjustments are not make. Other than these physiologically induced states of increased demand, some rare metabolic diseases result in weight loss. Late pregnancy can be associated with a loss of condition rather than a loss of weight. Anorexia is usually secondary to a primary disease.