Nutritional support for the dysphagic adult horse

The dysphagic horse will frequently require nutritional support due to a failure to ingest either sufficient or any feed at all to meet its daily energy and protein requirements. There are a variety of means by which this nutritional support can be provided, the choice of which is largely dependent on the cause of the dysphagia, anticipated duration of the dysphagia, metabolic demands of the underlying disease/disorder associated with the dysphagia, any financial restraints and facilities available. This manuscript provides an overview of the various means by which nutritional support can be provided and highlights some of the advantages and disadvantages of each which may be considered when choosing the most appropriate approach.