What causes a horse to have a big belly when there is no other signs of fat on her body?

Question

What causes a horse to have a big belly when there is no other signs of fat on her body?

Answer 1

A number of things:

"Hay belly" -- this is not caused by too much hay consumption, as a lot of people think.  It is actually caused by poor quality hay.  Poor quality hay has a lot more lignin in it (as the hay plant matures, it needs more support, so builds more lignin to keep itself standing upright) which is completely indigestible by the horse (and other animals for that matter).  As a result, the horse ends up with a large belly.

If it is a mare, it could be from numerous previous pregnancies -- each pregnancy can stretch her out a little more, especially if she was not kept in shape most of her life.

Worms -- a severe load can make a horse look pot-bellied.

Answer 2

Poor nutrition (sometimes called "hay belly") or a severe load of intestinal worms.  It could also be age-related or poor conformation.  Then again, it could be she's fit (no fat, nicely muscled) and pregnant or in poor condition (no fat, poor muscle mass) and pregnant.

Answer 3

i am not sure how it works with horses but it could be two things

cats and dogs get worms

i am not sure about horses but that is one possiblility

and pregnancy

i really hope you find the answer!

good luck!

Answer 4

I don't know if this is the reason in horse but a severe protein deficiency can cause swollen bellies in people. Have you seen those commercials with starving children in 3rd world countries who look super skinny but have incredibly large bellies? They have severe protein deficiencies.