Veterinary Vertex
Veterinary Vertex
AVMA Journals
Feeding Before Surgery Helps Horses
15 minutes Posted Nov 21, 2025 at 7:00 pm.
Sponsor Message: Dog Nutrition
Welcome And Guest Introduction
Challenging The Equine Fasting Dogma
Study Design And Safety Protocols
Anesthesia Findings And Oxygenation
Surprises: Water Intake And Behavior
Big Gap In Time To Manure
Clinical Impact And Hospital Changes
Key Takeaways For Vets And Owners
Award Recognition And Team Effort
Career Growth And Research Path
Advice To Trainees And Openness
Personal Rapid-Fire And Hobbies
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Show notes
Send us Fan Mail We sit down with award-winning equine researcher Dr. Charlie Barton to unpack a controlled randomized trial from Colorado State University that challenges the tradition of fasting horses before general anesthesia—and the results are hard to ignore. Horses allowed hay before anesthesia passed manure much sooner post-op, often within three hours, while fasted horses took up to eight. Even better, careful intraoperative monitoring showed no difference in oxygenation or other key...