Can bad hay make a horse sick?
Moldy hay can kill a horse. It’s a cause of colic that can be fatal, and some types of mold are toxic to horses. Feeding moldy hay to horses is dangerous. If it doesn’t kill them, it is likely to cause them to get sick, and for pregnant mares, the risks are even more significant.
What if a horse eats moldy hay?
Moldy hay can cause digestive upset that can lead to abdominal pain (colic), sometimes serious. In rare cases, hay containing toxic molds can cause life-threatening illness.
What causes mycotoxins in hay?
The long drying periods with high humidity can allow mold to grow on the hay in the field. Rain and poor drying weather has caused some hay to be baled wetter than desired. These molds can produce spores that cause respiratory problems, especially in horses and, under some conditions, will produce mycotoxins.
What does Mouldy hay look like?
Look for Mold Moldy hay generally presents as darker areas which are grey or black. If you find mold, refuse the bale – mold indicates that the hay was baled when it was too wet. Feeding moldy hay to horses can result in serious problems, such as colic.
Can a horse die from bad hay?
Moldy hay can be dangerous to horses. Horses fed on moldy hay can suffer from colic, or in severe cases, die from the toxins called mycotoxins. Wet hay or hay stored in damp conditions can lead to the growth of mold.
How do you know if horse hay is bad?
Signs that your horse hay may be bad include a lack of color or dried-out appearance, a moldy smell, excessive dust, visible mold, or excessive heat towards the center of the hay bale. Because hay provides your horse with so many essential nutrients, you must provide your horse with the best quality hay available.
How do you keep hay bales from molding?
Stack the bottom layer of bales on their sides, with the strings facing sideways instead of up. The uneven surface allows better air circulation and helps prevent mold from growing. Stack the second layer with the strings facing up, all pointing in the same direction.
What is mycotoxin poisoning in horses?
The mycotoxicosis (mycotoxin induced disease) most familiar to horse owners is leukoencephalomalacia, “moldy corn poisoning”. In this disease, the horse’s brain literally liquefies and by the time the horse is obviously ill it will be fatal and irreversible. Moldy corn poisoning is caused by the mycotoxin fumonisin.
How do you know if hay is Mouldy?
Smells Like Mold or Mildew Unlike the sweet smell of fresh, high-quality hay, hay that is going bad may smell like mold or mildew. Even if there is no visible mold, steer clear of any hay that hints of mold! Additionally, if the hay lacks smell or smells stale, it is likely not as fresh as you may have been told.
Can you fix moldy hay?
Bales that are covered with black sooty mold on the exterior can be removed and discarded, and usually the interior bales are not affected. Bale stack design can help minimize the surface area exposed and, thereby, minimize the damage. Barn design issues can also be corrected to prevent this problem in the future.
What happens if horses eat bad hay?
Moldy hay can be dangerous to horses. Horses fed on moldy hay can suffer from colic, or in severe cases, die from the toxins called mycotoxins. Wet hay or hay stored in damp conditions can lead to the growth of mold. Humid weather can also cause the rapid onset of mold.
What happens if a horse eats too much hay?
Overeating can easily cause obesity and health problems like founder, which is a painful inflammation within the hooves. Even horses that do quite well on rich pasture may need a period of adjustment if they’ve been eating hay, say after a long winter. A quick change can cause colic and other health problems.
What are the Seven Deadly Sins of horse hay?
Sadly, each year, horse barns and farmers storage barns burn down, horses become sick from respiratory disease and colic and a myriad of other diseases such as Cushings. Many of these situations are avoidable, so here are, in my opinion, “The Seven Deadly Sins of Horse Hay Making,” in no particular order. 1. Hay Moisture.
Why is my horse not getting enough grass?
Selenium, in particular, is of concern to horse owners. This mineral is scarce in many areas of North America, and that means horses won’t be getting enough from grass or hay. A balanced supplement is ideal for replacing this essential mineral. Selenium is an important antioxidant and a deficiency can cause something called white muscle disease.
Can a horse get colic from eating hay?
Overeating can easily cause obesity and health problems like founder, which is a painful inflammation within the hooves. 2 Even horses that do quite well on rich pasture may need a period of adjustment if they’ve been eating hay, say after a long winter. A quick change can cause colic and other health problems. The simple answer is yes.
What kind of hay should I Feed my horse?
Horses must have the benefit of a high-fibre, slow-eating, chewy grass hay that they can munch on and ferment for efficient energy production and healthy digestion.
Sadly, each year, horse barns and farmers storage barns burn down, horses become sick from respiratory disease and colic and a myriad of other diseases such as Cushings. Many of these situations are avoidable, so here are, in my opinion, “The Seven Deadly Sins of Horse Hay Making,” in no particular order. 1. Hay Moisture.
What happens if you give a Horse Too Much hay?
Hay that is baled with too much moisture will also ‘dust’. We all know the real hazards to horses of dusts and molds in hay.
What kind of disease can cause a horse to go down?
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM), Rabies, West Nile Virus, and Botulism are just a few examples of diseases that can affect the neurologic system and result in a down horse.
