When Changing the Hay Makes a Difference: A Series of Case Reports.
Authors: Cavallini Damiano, Penazzi Livio, Valle Emanuela, Raspa Federica, Bergero Domenico, Formigoni Andrea, Fusaro Isa
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: When Changing the Hay Makes a Difference Quality and composition of hay represent critical but often overlooked variables in equine nutritional management, particularly for stabled horses with restricted pasture access. Through three detailed case reports, Italian researchers examined how hay-related factors—including contamination with irritant plants, physical characteristics affecting swallowing, and fibre composition—contributed to distinct pathological presentations: stomatitis with oral ulceration, dysphagia with associated malnutrition, and free fecal water syndrome respectively. The clinical outcomes across all three cases demonstrated resolution or substantial improvement following targeted hay changes, suggesting that hay assessment should be integral to diagnostic protocols when horses present with digestive or oral health problems. For equine professionals involved in nutrition, dental care, and clinical management, this series underscores that systematic evaluation of hay quality—including botanical composition, presence of contaminants, particle size, and structural characteristics—can serve as a practical, non-invasive intervention addressing otherwise resistant clinical presentations. Particular attention to hay management becomes essential when horses carry concurrent conditions that compromise their ability to select, process, or digest feed effectively.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Inspect hay carefully for unwanted plant species and sharp plant parts; poor quality hay should be replaced immediately if horses show signs of oral irritation, drooling, or inappetence
- •When a horse develops dysphagia or feeding difficulties, assess whether hay quality or management is the underlying cause before pursuing invasive diagnostics
- •If a stabled horse develops free fecal water syndrome, evaluate and potentially change hay source and quality as a first-line management strategy
Key Findings
- •Poor hay quality containing unwanted plants can cause stomatitis with hemorrhagic drooling, gingival hyperemia, edema, and ulcerative lesions in stabled horses
- •Dysphagia originating from hay-related feeding difficulties requires identification of the anatomical site to provide appropriate nutritional management advice
- •Hay quality appears to be a key factor in the etiology of free fecal water syndrome, a 2-phase feces expulsion condition in horses
- •Proper hay management is crucial for horses affected by concurrent pathologies including stomatitis, dysphagia, and FFWS