Obesity

Fat horse. Image © vprotastchik / Adobe Stock

Obesity

Content and resources focusing on one of the biggest health challenges facing the UK equine population.

Nutrition – how vets can play key role countering obesity in...

Nicola Menzies-Gow MA, VetMB, CertEM(IntMed), DipECEIM, FRCVS looks at the growing epidemic, with up to 70% of UK ponies either overweight or obese.

60 mins
Managing obesity in horses

Nicola Menzies-Gow discusses the reasons behind horses and ponies gaining too much weight, its repercussions and prevention tools.

46 mins
How big is the obesity problem and what advice can be given?

Lucy Grieve discusses the impact of this “taboo subject” on the UK equine population, as well as how vets can empower owners of overweight horses to make achievable changes.

27 mins
Dealing with owners’ perception of obesity

Tamzin Furtado uses insights from human health behaviour change to explain how veterinary professionals can facilitate communication around complex equine welfare topics such as obesity.

Practical tips on nutritional management of equine obesity

Sarah Stoneham discusses how advice can be tailored to increase effective and sustained weight loss, and improve horse welfare.

42 mins
Therapeutics in the management of obesity and obesity-related laminitis

An increasingly worrying problem in equids, as in other animals, obesity and the accompanying laminitis it causes are probed by the author, who delves into management options.

34 mins
Tackling obesity and related laminitis in equine patients

A meeting of academics and practitioners with an interest in equine obesity and obesity-related laminitis was convened for Vet Times Equine (sponsored by Bova UK) on 14 January 2020. Published evidence was reviewed and opinions were shared to provide the following summary for veterinary surgeons managing horses with obesity.

78 mins
Equine obesity: the most common risk factor for laminitis in the UK?

David Rendle, Pat Harris and Nicola Menzies-Gow discuss the welfare threat posed by this issue, and the need for education to alter perceptions of healthy body condition.

51 mins
Equine nutrition: diet management and advice for owners

Jamie Prutton provides some pointers on how to guide owners about nutritional advice for horses deemed overweight or obese.

42 mins
Managing obesity-related equine laminitis: part 2

David Rendle, in the second of a two-part article, highlights a one health approach to tackling this condition in horses.

55 mins
Inappropriate nutrition: occurrence, welfare consequences and advice for owners

Andy Durham looks at how and why inappropriate nutrition occurs, and some of the points veterinary surgeons should educate owners on.

39 mins
Management of obesity-related equine laminitis part 1: planning

David Rendle discusses measures he considers should be taken to manage obesity in horses, in the first of a two-part article.

50 mins