WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT STARVATION

Starvation in any form will eventually cause the body to fail. The end result is death if the body is not treated in time. Time is critical in the final stages of starvation because of organ failure. Some of the signs shown when the condition has advanced into the danger zone are: loss of hair, dull or shaggy hair that does not shed, foul smelling manure, an obvious skeketal frame, whites of the eyes becoming jaundice, difficulty swallowing, choking, lathargic movements, excessive time laying down, inability to rise without assistance, hoof growth stops, colic due to slow digestion, nervous behavior such as repetitive movements and cribbing, food intolerances, diahreah, constipation, swollen legs from edema, large abdomen and weakened immune responses to any infections viral or bacterial.

If you have acquired a horse that shows a majority of the signs mentioned above, its condition should be treated as critical. Other issues that can complicate the survival rate are advanced age, injury and the amount of time the animal has been without proper nutrition. Survival rate for an elderly injured starved horse is low and a veterinarian should be contacted immediately to help decide the most humane outlook for the horse. If you acquire a horse that is younger to middle aged, has little injury and has only been without proper nutrition for 6 months to a year then the survival rate will be considerably higher. The best way to determine what you should expect is to contact a trusted veterinarian and have a complete exam and blood analysis done on the animal. This will tell you how the vital organs have been effected and how advanced the starvation really has become. Common readings that are abnormal in the blood would involve the liver and kidneys. Often the liver can repair itself with time and proper nutrition. Issues with the kidneys could require advanced treatment if caught in time, survival is questionable in both cases.