The medical records from 9 consecutive miniature horses (n = 5) and mi
niature donkeys (n = 4) with hyperlipemia (serum triglyceride concentr
ation > 500 mg/dL) were reviewed. In all cases, hyperlipemia was a sec
ondary complication of a primary systemic disease including septicemia
, colitis, parasitism, esophageal obstruction, gastric impaction and r
upture, fecalith, and pituitary adenoma. Therapy consisted of specific
treatment for the primary disease, supportive care, and nutritional s
upport. The mean time for resolution of hyperlipemia in cases requirin
g nutritional support (n = 6) was 7 days, and the duration of nutritio
nal support in surviving patients was 11.7 days. Seven of 9 patients s
urvived. The primary disease resulted in death in 2 patients. Enteral
feeding with commercially prepared low residue diets and treatment of
the primary disease was successful in reversing hyperlipemia in 5 of 6
surviving patients that required nutritional support. Parenteral admi
nistration of a glucose-based (non-lipid) solution was successful in r
esolving hyperlipemia in 1 patient.