The large population of emaciated horses continues to be an issue troubling the equine industry. However, little is known regarding the collection of equine metabolites (metabolome) during a malnourished state and the changes that occur throughout nutritional rehabilitation. In this study, ten emaciated horses underwent a refeeding process, during which blood samples were collected for a blood chemistry panel and metabolomics analysis via ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). Significant differences among blood chemistry analytes and metabolite abundance during the critical care period (CCP; Days 1-10 of rehabilitation) and the recovery period (RP; the remainder of the rehabilitation process) were observed. Potentially toxic compounds, analytes related to liver, kidney, and muscle function, as well as energy-related metabolites were altered during the refeeding process. The combination of blood chemistry and metabolomics analyses on starved equine during rehabilitation provide vital biological insight and evidence that the refeeding process has a significant impact on the equine metabolome.
Keywords: body condition score; emaciation; equine; high resolution mass spectrometry; malnourished; metabolomics; refeeding; rehabilitation.