Low Blood Sugar in Horses

Equine athletes are more likely to suffer from low blood sugar.

Low blood sugar in horses can be an effect of too much exercise or various forms of insulin resistance. Low blood sugar is commonly found in performance horses engaged in serious competition or out-of-shape horses suddenly thrust into heavy work.

Cause

Low blood sugar in horses is commonly caused by a lack of carbohydrates combined with heavy exercise or exertion. Exercise depletes the stores of glucose in the horse's body.

Symptoms

Fatigue is a common sign of low glucose in equine athletes. Muscle soreness and stiffness may also be noticed over time. If the horse's blood sugar becomes low, coma and death may occur.

Treatment

Equine blood sugar issues are typically managed through careful feeding. According to Colorado State University, certain types of feeds have higher or lower values on the glycemic index, which will affect a horse's blood sugar. Sweet feed, corn and oats all have high values on the glycemic index, according to CSU.

References

• VitaFlex: Carbohydrates in the Performance Horse
• Colorado State University: Sugar Content in Feed and Forage Affects Horses Health