| Veterinary Medicine Expert Rachel A. Pemstein, VMD Questions (For answers, scroll down or click on question) What
are the signs and symptoms of Rhino? Can a mare abort a foal due to rhino without
exhibiting any signs of being sick? Is Potomac fever contagious and can
they get it even if they have had the vaccination? I have a 2 1/2 year old
Quarter Horse gelding that recently developed swelling in all four of his legs
from the top of the hoof to halfway up to the hock... He was out
on a pasture that has a small wooded area in it. This wooded area is
mostly oak trees. I read recently about oaks and acorns being toxic to
horses. I cannot find any information of the effects of acorns on horses.
Could this be what happened to my gelding and could you provide any more
information?...
Questions and Answers
A: Rhinopneumonitis is
a viral, infectious disease that comes in three forms, the influenza-like strain, the
abortogenic strain, and the paralytic strain. The first has signs like the flu; fever,
nasal discharge, runny eyes, and sometimes a cough. Frequently the horse will be depressed
and off feed. These symptoms may be mild or more severe and can be brief or last 1-2
weeks. The abortogenic strain often shows no signs except for the mare aborting, usually
from her 6th month of gestation onward. The paralytic strain is manifest in a
horse that can’t rise, or that is unable to use her hind end. While there are many
vaccines to help prevent the spread of this disease, they have to be given frequently to
be effective. It is recommended to vaccinate a pregnant mare during her 5th,7th,
and 9th months of gestation. Also the vaccines used to prevent an abortion do
not protect against the flu-like form and vice versa (There is not a vaccine made
specifically against the paralytic form) . It is thought that a mare may have the flu-like
symptoms early in her pregnancy, get well and then abort several months later without any
warning signs. An autopsy on the fetus is required to determine if Rhino was the cause of
the abortion.
A: First, all horses should have a
yearly rabies and tetanus booster. Other immunizations depend on the age, status, and
location of your horse. A pregnant mare requires a Rhinopneumonitis (or "virus
abortion") shot during her 5th, 7th, and 9th months
of pregnancy. Depending on your location, it is a good idea to vaccinate her against
Botulism at the same times if she has never been vaccinated against it before. If she has
gone through the series during a previous pregnancy, then she needs only one shot, a month
before she foals. This vaccination is to protect her newborn foal against Botulism, or
"Shaker" disease and by giving it a month before foaling you are trying to boost
the antibodies in her colostrum. This is also a good time for her tetanus and flu
boosters. All the horses in the stable should be vaccinated against Influenza and
Rhinopneumonitis and depending on your location, vaccinating against Potomac Horse Fever,
EEE, and WEE, should be considered. With horses going away to horse shows, one might also
consider vaccinating against Strangles, but discuss this with your veterinarian for
explanation of the shortcomings of this bacterin, and also to discuss the best times to
give these shots for the best protection of your horses.
A: Approximately 30-40% of a horse’s body
weight is fluid (water). Therefore horses should always have access to fresh cool water.
Studies haven shown in cold weather horses will drink about 40% more water if the water
temperature is warmer than near freezing levels. That being said, a hot heavily worked
horse should be allowed to cool out completely before allowing free choice water. While
cooling out the horse should be allowed sips of water while walking to help the cooling
out procedure. The amount of water and the length of time it takes to cool out a horse
varies with the individual, level of fitness, ambient temperature, and amount of work
performed.
A: Gray horses are predisposed to Melanomas, a form
of cancer related to the pigment, melanin, in their skin. While other colors can
occasionally get these tumors, they are thought to occur because of a change in melanin
metabolism associated with graying. The older a gray horse gets, the more likely a
melanoma will occur. Coat color is a genetic factor and therefore the predisposition is
genetic due to color pigmentation, as is evidenced by the higher incidence of Melanomas in
Arabian, Lipizaner, and Percheron breeds.
A: I’m not sure this is a veterinary question,
but I think if you use common sense, you can answer it. It depends on the age, muscle
development, conformation and fitness level of the horse. If your horse is an adult,
reasonably fit and sound, he will let you know if you are too much of a burden for him. If
his ankles start getting puffy, his back becomes sore, or he tires quickly, then you might
consider that you are too much for him. However most ponies are outgrown because of the
rider’s height rather than weight.
A: It sounds like your horse is "tying
up". Tying up is also known as Exertional Myopathy, Rhabdomyolysis, Monday Morning
Sickness and Azoturia and is a muscle dysfunction. This condition is caused by many
factors related to diet, level of fitness, mental and physical state, and even the weather
may play a role in contributing to tying up. First it would be good to have your vet
examine your horse when this happens because blood work can be taken to determine the
severity of the condition and he may need treatment. Then you need to assess your
horse’s level of fitness for the amount of work you are asking him to do. You may
have to make adjustments in his diet or workload or even emotional state before you work
him hard again.
A: It is hard to
speculate on the cause and significance of an "irregularity" with the coffin
bone without knowing what that irregularity is and its location on the bone. Coffin bones
often have an irregular appearance that can be within normal limits or may have clinical
significance. An irregularity indicative of an old laminitic incident is less worrisome
than one due to early ring bone changes, for example. If the horse has passed flexion
tests and a hoof tester exam, and is properly shod, the slight irregularity is probably
insignificant and would not prevent him from being a useful pleasure horse. However you
should pay careful attention to shoeing this horse and the footing you ride him on.
A: There is an excellent article in The Horse Vol.
XIV NO 7, July 1997. WWW URL address is: http://www.thehorse.com Phone:1-800-582-5604.
A: No, it is not necessary to shoe a horse. Depending on
the footing and the work and the wear on the horses feet, you can ride a barefoot horse.
They've done it for 2000 years. :-)
A: There
are reliable means to determine fetal gender based on the use of ultrasound. However it
requires special training and experience on the part of your veterinarian. Fetal sex can
be determined via a rectal scan at approximately 60 to 75 days of gestation. The next
opportunity to determine the fetus’ sex is transabdomenaly, after 120 days. Again
skill on the part of the veterinarian and cooperation from the fetus and mare are
important in getting an accurate prediction. Q: My 5 yr. old gelding fractured a bone in his hock. The chip was surgically removed. Extensive damage to the medial short collateral ligaments was identified. The horse is currently on stall rest, but in about 4 weeks will be able to start back to a controlled exercise program starting with hand walking. Because of the severity of the injury he is not to do fast or strenuous work for 4-6 months. My questions are: (1) What program of exercise would best strenghten the ligaments without damaging their healing. (2) How gradually should the work be increased. (3) Are there any exercises which could be done to assist the healing/repair. A: This is a tough question to answer without
seeing your horse. Ligaments take a long time to heal and no amount of exercise will
shorten the recovery time. It sounds like the examining vet has a pretty good idea of an
appropriate plan for you to follow. The main things you want to accomplish are to let the
injury heal without further damage and to maintain reasonable body condition and a
workable temperament in your horse. You might want to discuss with your vet the use of
swimming or treadmills as an alternative form of exercise and ways to monitor the progress
of his healing. That will give you the best idea as to when and how to increase workload.
Q: I am interested in information on the new Quest wormer. Particularly in relation to using it on mares in foal and with other worming products such as the standard Ivermectin or Strongid C. A: Quest ,or Moxidectin, is a new anthelminic
similar in composition and action to Ivermectin. The advantage it claims is its ability to
kill encysted cyclostomes (a larval form of small strongyles). It is supposed to be safe
in pregnant mares but the only information I found on field testing pregnant mares was
just a trial of 40 horses. Also there have been serious toxic effects when overdosed,
especially in miniature horses. The drug company claims one only needs to use this product
every 3 months. However, I think one should determine the interval between deworming on
the life cycle of horse parasites and density of the horse population at your horse’s
home. I wouldn’t use this or any other anthelminic within one month of your
mare’s foaling date. Q: I purchased a 5 yr. old TB mare (off track) 6 months ago. The pre-purchase exam was good. She is a nice mover/nice gaits, but I've noticed that at an even standstill she sometimes does not lock the left front leg. It shakes slightly. This only happens occassionally. Is there any reason for concern? There is no lameness and it does not hinder her performance. A: I do not see any reason for concern with your
horse if this is an occasional occurrence and there are no other musculoskeletal or
neurological signs. I do not know what is causing the shaking unless it may be a nervous
habit. Q: I am looking at a yearling colt (coming two June 98) for purchase that had surgery for OCD in his stifel in September 1997 and has been at a rehab barn and is now on full turn out and is sound. (The colt has the breeding I am interested in and I could give him a few years of turn out and light work eventually to be used as a horse for CT/Eventing.) What is the prognosis of this disease? Is it reasonable to think with proper care the colt could be serviceably sound in the future? A: When one is considering purchasing a horse with a past problem, there are many questions you need to have answered so one is able to make a wise decision. There are many types of OCD lesions and it depends on the location and extent of the problem to determine the future serviceability of this horse. Ask to see the pre and post operative x-rays and surgery report and show them to your veterinarian. The horse would need an extensive pre-purchase exam and you need to assess your expectations for the horse. An OCD lesion can be small and insignificant, or
large and crippling, with many degrees of variation. After surgery many horses have
gone on to perform well, while others have not.
Q: What would be your advice on a training program to bring a training/first level horse back after six months of walking only (flat work and hills) due to a torn suspensory ligament? ( I will ultrasound again and get vet's advice, but I'm afraid my trainer will work him too hard too soon because she's worried about his back muscles having lost strength during the lay off.) How can we keep him quiet? Is powdered Ace advisable, or do natural calmatives work? (My main goal here is to keep him from getting so exuberant that he hurts himself again. He has been a really good boy all told, only gotten borderline out of control a couple of times due to high spirits.) Also, should I use liniment and wrap the leg to tighten it after a work? He is a 7 1/2 year old Throughbred, never raced. A: It sounds like you have started with a
reasonable program to get your horse back in shape. I would gradually increase what you
are doing with the horse (start trotting up the hills) and his back muscles will
strengthen along with the rest of him. As for his exuberant nature and re-injuring
himself, how much grain are you feeding him? I would look at his diet first, before
resorting to chemical alterations. Tranquilizers, both Acepromazine and "natural
calmatives" may be beneficial, if used wisely. Liniments after a work make you and
the horse feel better, but probably don’t do much to influence repair. Bandaging may
help prevent him from traumatizing himself but be careful you don’t make him
dependent on them. You have come this far with common sense and good veterinary advise,
don’t let others change what you know is the proper program to follow. Q: I have a filly who had swollen lymph glands appear under her jaw last spring ('97) that never went away. I took her to a DVM who said it probably was allergies. For about one year now she has seemed okay. The rest of the herd, last summer, ended up getting strangles. Last week (1/20/98) one of the areas under the jaw on this same filly came to a "head" and a pustule was formed, it broke and drained. Now she has another area which appears to be swelling. Is it possible for this filly to have carried "strangles" all this time? If so, what can I do about this? A: The best way to know if your filly has
Strangles is to culture the abscess. If a horse has had Strangles, it then usually has
immunity for about 15 years. The lymph nodes serve to fight infections, so any swelling of
a lymph node is a sign that your horse is trying to fight off an infection of any sort,
viral or bacterial, and not necessarily Strangles. Without other signs of disease (fever,
nasal discharge, depressed, etc.) it is unlikely that she was carrying the infection, more
likely she has been re-exposed to the disease and never had it in the first place. Q: I am leasing an 18 year old Trakehner gelding with documented arthritis in his left hock (confirmed on x-ray) that I ride first and second level dressage. His lameness is erratic: most days he starts off a little lame and works out of it, but other days he is very lame and work has to be stopped. He receives 2 bute a day about 3 times a week and just recently received 3 injections of Adequan IM. The bute helps, however, we've seen no measurable difference from the IM Adequan. Do you thing injecting his hock with cortisone or cortisone with hyaluronic acid would diminish his flare-ups? A :Based on personal experience ( I have arthritic
changes in my ankles, and have had them injected several times), I would expect steroid
and /or hyaluronic acid injections to help your horse. For how long and how much relief is
gained would depend on several factors, such as the nature and duration of the arthritic
changes, and response to other medications (bute, adequan), etc. Q: I have purchased a 10 year old paint mare who has been used for a brood mare for the last 3 or more years. Previously, she has been both a successful show horse and used for trail riding and chasing cows. Apparently, while in hard use she developed "bog spavin" (so I am told) in one or more hind legs. She presently shows no signs of lameness or favouring of any hind limb or any unusual swellings/calcifications. My questions are: 1. What exactly is "bog spavin", how is it caused and is it permanent? 2. Would my mare's 3 year layoff be sufficient to cause the condition to subside enough to work this mare again for "light" riding and showing (western pleasure and trail)? 3. What conditioning regime would you suggest to "bring her back" to this level safely? A: Bog spavin is the term used to
describe chronic distention of the joint capsule due to an acute or chronic synovitis of
the hock. It occurs because of poor conformation (too straight in the hocks), or trauma,
or OCD lesions or chip fractures, or nutritional deficiencies. Depending on the cause
dictates the severity and permanence of the condition. Rest and time (both of which your
mare has had) can help this condition. Because your mare shows no signs of lameness or
swelling I would assume the condition has improved enough to start her back in light work.
If I were to guess, I would say that "chasing cows" was the factor that
contributed most to her condition and light riding and showing would not be as stressful
to her. If she has poor conformation the condition may return with heavy work so go slow
and easy to start. As for a conditioning regime, I would start her as you would any horse
that had not been ridden for three years. If the condition returns, radiographs of the
hocks would be indicated and therapies could be selected based on your vet’s
findings. Q: I own a coming 2 year old WB mare. She was born 3 weeks premature and had incomplete ossification of the carple joints. She moves well and has not been lame due to this condition. (I attended the orthopedics seminar at Hilltop in January and learned a lot about this condition.) My question to you is, what would you recommend for a fitness program? Would it be wrong to try and work with her in hopes of making a light riding out of her? I have begun light lunge line work with her and she is doing really well. I also have my farrier trim her frequently to help keep her front balanced. (She toes in a little bit and frequent trims have seemed to help correct.) I do not want to risk making her unsound due to work, but I have been advised that exercise could help her strengthen up for the potential weaknesses. Could long lining and driving be an alternative to riding that would work for this mare? Please give any advise you see fit for this situation. A: By now your filly has probably matured quite a
bit and the carpal bones have ossified to a normal degree. This condition (incomplete
ossification of the carpal bones) should no longer be a problem. At this point in time it
would be reasonable to start light exercise to strengthen her and help her develop (bone
needs to be lightly stressed to mature). What you are doing sounds like a good start for
her. She should be able to become a nice riding horse for you and long lining, lunging,
and driving are all good ways to start her conditioning and training. The only precautions
to take would be no speed work and no heavy weight on her back until she is fit enough and
mature enough to handle it. Do not be discouraged by her early start in life, it should
not affect her ability to become a pleasure horse, assuming she is normal in other
respects.
Q: What information do you have about Arthrogryposis? (I just had a miniature mare who went into premature labor (10 months) and the vet had to deliver a stillborn colt that he said had a mild case of this. The foal looked normal but since it was early (1.5 month), the hooves were still white and the back legs did seem different.) A: Arthrogryposis is a developmental problem that
results in one or several flexed joints. In pigs and sheep, it has been attributed to
eating certain plants at a particular stage of gestation. No similar cause has been found
in horses. Q: I have a foal that was born 2 weeks past the "official due date". He was not a big foal, even though both his dam (16.3H) and sire (17.2) are big horses, but his cannon bones are as long as his dam's. He currently looks a little 'over at the knee' and a little upright in the pasterns of both front legs, perhaps indicating that his tendons are a bit tight. What, if anyting, can I do about this? Is it something I should be concerned about? A: You did not say how old your foal is. Foals
change very dramatically the first few weeks of life and as long as they progress in the
right direction, I wouldn’t intervene. Sunshine and controlled exercise can do
wonders, but if your foal is getting worse you should discuss Tetracycline therapy with
your vet. Q: We have a horse that has been lame for over 6 months. Our vet has diagnosed the problem as "damaged collateral ligaments on both sides of the left fore-fetlock joint" (enlarged on radiograph). There is no swelling, heat, or noticeable abnormalities found during palpation or examination. We are uncertain as to the origin of the injury. Treatment has included phenylbutazone (at variouis intervals and dosages of 2 grams per day, 1 gram per day, and none). Front toes have been squared to allow easier break-over, plus two 7-day treatments with Reducine to help stimulate blood circulation to the area. He has been turned out to pasture with no work other than occasional lunging to check his progress. His improvement has been nominal. We intend to take additional x-rays of both front legs for comparison. We are considering treatment by injection of hyaluronic acid and cortisone. I am curious if some other therapies might be indicated as well, such as: chondroitin sulfate/glycosaminoglycan oral supplements or injections, or possibly some nutaceutical supplements including chelated copper and other minerals to expedite the natural healing process. I would greatly appreciate any referrals or recommendations for traditional, or nontraditional treatment or therapy. A: It sounds like you have done a lot of
diagnostic work to determine this horse’s problem, but you do not mention ultrasound.
A condition that has lasted this long with minimal improvement might benefit from nerve
blocks and ultrasound examination to confirm the diagnosis. Oral supplements have not
really been proven to be beneficial, but they will do no harm except to your pocketbook.
Hyaluronic acid and cortisone injections help cartilage repair and decrease inflammation
and are used as joint injections. Since you seem to have a ligament problem I’m not
sure that would help. I.V. Adequan or Legend might be something else to try, but it sounds
like time is your best bet and you need to continue to be patient. Q: Our National Show Horse seems to have a sore stifle that is beginning to hinder his movement some. What is the best treatment for sore stifles? We are using injections of bute and chiropractic now. A: This is a difficult
question to answer because you do not say what has caused the horse to have sore stifles.
Has he been overworked or in an accident? Is this his only problem? Therapy depends on the
diagnosis and "sore" does not give me much to go on. If he is only sore with no
other underlying pathology, then rest and anti-inflammatories should help, but there are
other treatments and therapies that may be indicated depending on the cause and pathology.
Q: Our National Show Horse developed a quarter crack. I am looking for information about quarter cracks and the best treatment. He also has a sore stifle on the opposite hind leg. Could the two be related? A: Quarter cracks are
stress fractures in the hoof wall occurring typically at the quarter. They are usually due
to excessive shear force when a horse is at speed. Often they are infected. The best
treatment is to draw out any infection, then have your blacksmith patch the crack. There
are several methods and materials to do this. The accompanying sore stifle may be related
in that a quarter crack affects the horse’s way of going (usually lame) and causes
him to use himself abnormally which often manifests as soreness in other areas.
Q: What is your opinion of magnet therapy for horses and is there a good resource book about placement and length of application? A: I do not have much
experience with magnetic therapy and have not seen a good resource book on the subject. I
do respect the opinion of Mimi Porter, an equine physical therapist who has written a book
on different modalities used for equine physical therapy. Each may be helpful for a
specific problem but overall use for a non specific cause is usually not beneficial.
Q: Could you explain the seriousness of lyme disease and the success of treatment? A: Lyme disease is a tick
borne Rickettsial (similar to bacterial) infection. It is hard to diagnose in horses and
therefore its prevalence is unknown. It seems to affect a horse’s general well being
and causes nonspecific lameness. When accurately diagnosed, it responds well to
appropriate antibiotic therapy.
Q: I just found out my mare is pregnant (4 weeks). She is on Chondroitin Sulfate and Pure Yucca. Should I take her off these supplements since she is pregnant? If so, should I do it all at once or slowly? A: Most supplements will not harm a pregnant mare
and if she is on them for a particular problem, they may help her because she will feel
better. However Yucca has been shown to interfere with the absorption of fat soluble
vitamins in women and is contraindicated during pregnancy. The same may be true in horses.
Q: My 6 year old gelding had surgery to remove a chip fracture. He had several torn ligaments and spent 8 weeks in a stall. He progressed to hand walking for up to 30 minutes and was started back under saddle at a walk, and allowed 2 minutes of trotting. Houdini (the horse) escaped from his stall while it was being cleaned and got in the indoor and ran around for 20 minutes. At first, it seemed as if there were no lasting effects from his escape. However, on the third day after the incident, he started hopping behind on what appeared to be a leg injured at the stifle. Subsequent veterinary diagnosis confirmed a strained ligament. He was rested 2 weeks and started back hand walking. He is currently sound, but has to start back at the beginning under saddle. His vet has recommended walking over caveletti so he has to use the joint. Is there anything else that can be done to build up the joint after his lay off? A: Ligaments take time to heal. You are on a good
program, as he progresses you might try adding hill work to help strengthen his gluteal
muscles.
Q: I have a 23 year old Arabian gelding who seems slightly stiff in the rear end. I just use him for pleasure/trail riding. I feel he may have some arthritis. What type of remedies could I administer at home to help him? A: It is not uncommon to have some arthritic
changes in an older horse. There are many analgesics (NSAID) that might help him feel more
comfortable. The most common drug to try would be phenylbutazone, or "Bute".
Also there are several feed supplements that may make him feel better, discuss these with
your vet.
Q: I just got a filly that is about 5 years old and hasn't had good care. She is wild and no one can get their hands on her at this time. I'm concerned that she needs worming but since no one can get near her, this is difficult. Is there a good worm medicine on the counter that will mix with her feed? A: There are
several good dewormers that are liquids that you could attempt to mix in with your horse's
feed. Fenbendazole (Panacur) and Pyrental pamoate (Strongid) and Ivermectin all come in
liquid form and your veterinarian should be able to get them for you. You might also have
to add molasses or Karo syrup to make it more palatable to your horse. Q: Is is possible for fescue toxicity to permanently disable milk glands in AQHA mare? We've read all material we can get and tried what it says and still no luck. A: Fescue toxicity does not damage the milk glands
at all, it affects the neurologic control of the production of milk (through prolactin
release). Once a mare is removed from endophyte infected fescue she is no longer subjected
to the toxin and she will return to normal function. There are drugs that can help
stimulate milk production, but she should be removed from the offending pasture. Q: A friend of mine has a friesian horse who is a 13 year old gelding that collapsed four months ago during lessons. At first they thought it had tied up from too much feed, but that didn't turn out to be the case. The horse dragged one hind foot for about two months, also the tail hung very limp, no power in it whatsoever. Slowly, he began to recover. His gaits are back to normal but he has become very skinny (although he eats enough - 6 kilos). I offered to put up the horse because I have a good paddock. He's been at my place for two days but he won't eat grass. He eats everything else. Also I noticed he breathes twice as fast as my horses. Is that because he is so weak? His blood has been tested (Rhino as well) and the only thing they could find was a lack of iron. Any ideas? A: This sounds like you may
have multiple problems going on with this horse. I would start first with a good physical
exam and complete blood work to determine the reasons for this horse’s problems.
Other diagnostics such as ultrasound or x rays might be needed depending on what you find.
It would be inappropriate to suggest what to do with this horse without further
information as there may be any number of reasons for his problems.
Q: I would like to know more about floundering (cause, treatment). A: I think the term you are inquiring about is "founder". This is the
layman’s term for Laminitis, an inflammation of the sensitive lamina of the
horses’ feet. It can be an acute or chronic problem and occurs as a result from many
diseases; overeating, trauma, fever, etc. It starts with any insult that causes
vasoconstriction of the blood vessels that supply the foot. It progresses to a tearing
away of the lamina from the hoof wall which can cause the coffin bone to rotate or sink
within the hoof. Treatment consists of correcting the original problem and relieving pain
and providing support to the coffin bone. This can be a life threatening problem and needs
to be dealt with immediately. Any good book on horse care should have basic information
for you.
Q: My miniature mare aborted at 7 weeks prior to due date. The pathology report indicates "no possible diagnosis", but slightly swollen liver and spleen - mild necrosis of the lymphoid follicles and severe congestion. The abortion occured three days after herbicide (garlon 24d) was applied at the edge of pasture. Could this herbicide be the cause of the abortion? A: The changes in your
fetus are non specific signs but could be due to several reasons such as Rhinopneumonitis
or toxic changes. Further lab tests would be needed to try to confirm or rule out an
etiology. Herbicides can be very toxic to horses and minis are especially sensitive and
therefore label directions must be followed carefully. However usually one would not
expect an abortion due to the herbicide to occur so soon after contact, but this would
depend on the dose and other factors. You may never know why your mare aborted, but in the
future I would be very cautious about grazing on sprayed pasture.
Q: I am 1/2 owner of an older (approximately 21 years) gelding. He is stabled and gets a minimum amount of exercise. He seems happy enough but recently had a bowel impaction which scared us to death. I.V. cleared the impaction but we want to do what we can to try and avoid this in the future. He has been in great health in the almost 5 years we've had him. Any suggestions? A: The best
suggestions to avoid bowel impactions in horses is to ensure they get plenty of exercise
and are free to graze on good pasture. Make sure his teeth are in good condition (no sharp
points) and he has plenty of water available. If you are in a sandy soil area or must keep
him confined most of the time, you might want to feed him a bran mash periodically to keep
his manure soft.
Q: I
would appreciate your input into the following situation: The mare, a 13 year old,
15.2 Saddlebred, shown saddle seat her whole life became lame ("a tad gimpy") in
one front hoof. She was diagnosed with mild bursitis/navicular with no bone
deterioration. She was given time off, and put on a course of Isoxuprine and bute
which did not remedy the lameness. A decision was made to nerve both front feet
(the navicular hoof and a healthy hoof) with this rationale: first, the mare has small
feet and it was felt it would just be a matter of time before it too became
navicular. And secondly, because the mare trots level in normal keg shoes there was
a concern that the lame hoof would be so sound that the unafflicted hoof would appear lame
(the goal was to even out the trot). A: Nerving a horse is a
prudent course of therapy when all other treatment options have been tried and have not
helped. Also one must be aware that a "nerved" horse may stumble some and may
develop painful neuromas at a later date. These are complications that may occur and you
should have been so informed. It is not related to what you do with the horse. Perhaps the
reasoning behind nerving a sound foot was that one felt the horse would develop problems
in the sound leg at a later date. As long as the mare is showing no sign of lameness and
appears happy then she is able to handle the work load you are giving her. What you are
doing with her does not seem unreasonable. To keep her comfortable in the future make sure
you keep her feet well cared for.
Q: I have a 3 year old appaloosa mare with recent puffiness around ankles and hocks. The hocks have developed caps. Is there any way to treat capped hocks and get rid of them? I have been putting her through a vigorous training schedule and have stopped to let her rest and treat the caps. A: To answer your question, there are treatments
that can help capped hocks, but first you need to consider why they have occurred. It
sounds like your filly is too immature or poorly conformed to handle the amount of work
you are asking her to do. For the therapies to work you must also change her training
regime. Cold water hydrotherapy and rest are the first things to try. Then you might use
topical DMSO. If there is not enough improvement, discuss with your veterinarian the use
of topical or injectable steroids.
Q: My 10 year old Arabian horse has a drainage under one eye. What does that mean? A: Drainage from an eye usually means there is a
blockage of the lacrimal duct or irritation somewhere, usually from a piece of sawdust or
dirt, or from flies. It is easy to flush the eye and duct and to relieve the irritation
with eye ointment and fly repellent around the eyes. If there is no improvement with these
treatments ask your vet to examine the eye to rule out more serious problems such as a
tumor or ulcer.
Q: My 10 year old Arabian gelding got a rope burn of a lead rope when left tied up. I flush with water twice a day, let dry, apply an antiseptic, and follow with "Corona" wound heal paste. I have been trying this for two weeks and no results. It is not infected or oozing. The cut is not deep, just to the pink flesh. What should I do? A: It sounds like you are doing a good job taking
care of the wound but it is not healing quickly enough. You did not indicate the location
of the lesion and this may have some influence on why and what to do, it may require
bandaging or a change in medication. Ask your vet to take a look.
Q: I have a 21 year old Arabian stallion whose lymph nodes keep swelling up to the size of golf balls. When this happens, he loses weight to skin and bones even though he eats all of his feed. He is now recovering from the last bout and is eating 20 lbs. alfalfa hay, 12 lbs. Equine Senior, and 12 lbs. timothy hay cubes divided into three feedings. What is the problem? Is there a medication for it? We have used penicillin in the past. A: There are many reasons for a horse’s lymph
nodes to swell. One would need to do a physical exam and some blood work to make a
diagnosis. Some things to consider would be Strangles, cancer, a viral infection or some
other bacterial infection. Treatment would depend on the cause.
Q: I have a 25 year old mare. Eight months ago she came up lame after I heard a pop while trailriding her. The vet came out, took x-rays and concluded bone chips and arthritis in the knee. She was put on a combo of adequan and cosequin and stall rest. I recently got a second opinion from another vet and he concluded that she has a fractured knee and arthritis has already set up and there's really nothing that I can do to help it. He told me to spray a mixture of DMSO and liquid bute around her knee daily (to help with the swelling) and to take her off of the cosequin and to forget the stall rest, but is positive that her lameness is permanent. Is there anything else that I can do to help her. She's out at pasture 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, lives in a very humid environment, and she's slightly overweight. A: There are a few things to try to make her more
comfortable. First try to take some of the extra weight off her. At her age, surgery would
probably not be recommended, but you might want to discuss this option with your vet. Non
steroidal anti inflammatories may help. If she is very sore, injecting the joint may be
beneficial, but I would first "block" (use local anesthesia in) the joint to
make sure that is the cause of her lameness.
Q: I owned a 12 year old appaloosa gelding that had a heart of gold. I lost him last month due to a tumor on the small intestine. I made sure he was seen by an equine vet twice a year, then out of nowhere, he needed an operation. It was decided that he needed thirty feet of his small intestine taken out. He couldn't survive with the 10 feet left, so I had to put him down, which about devastated me. Were there signs I didn't see? Are there any tests to show the presence of tumors? How could this have been prevented? Is there anything else I could have done to save his life? A: You do not say what kind of tumor your horse
had. An intestinal problem may have shown some early signs of unthriftiness, weight loss,
dullness, etc. Blood work may or may not have indicated an impending problem, but would
probably not have identified a tumor. Without any warning signs it is hard to say what
could have been done differently or if it was preventable.
Q: A friend of mine has a 10 year old Arabian broodmare whose prognosis is not good because of a weakening of the 'postsuper hepagastric artery'. What causes this artery to weaken and rupture? Is there anything that can be done to prevent a rupture and/or strengthen the artery? A: The name of the artery is incorrect. However,
which ever one you are referring to may be prone to rupture because of weakening
due to an aneurysm or damage from parasitic migration. One therapy to try that may help
the vascular damage would be to use a larvicidal dose of dewormer. There are also other
medications that may be of some use depending on the reason for and extent of the damage.
Your vet can recommend the proper treatments and oversee their effectiveness.
Q: My horse gets a lot of what seems to be colds, but when I or a vet treat it like you would a cold, it doesn't help very much or not at all. Any suggestions? A: First off, before treating a "cold"
you should try to find out what you are dealing with. Does this horse have a viral, or
bacterial infection, or an allergy? The reason for the problem will suggest what therapy
to try.
Q: Scratches? Greasy Heel? My nine year old paint has been diagnosed with this ailment. He has it on all four feet. It really bothers him to work with this, we have been putting iodine on the problem areas every day for weeks and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. Do you know of an easy way to cure this? He is really tender to the touch and hates to have his feet touched. A: This problem is caused by a bacteria or a
fungus, or may be a condition that looks similar that occurs on white legs called
photo-sensitization. It is important to clip the hair and keep the area clean. After you
have washed the area with your iodine based shampoo, apply a topical ointment. I use a
mixture of Desitin ointment, an antibiotic ointment (Morumide if you can find it, triple
antibiotic or Furacin will do), Tinactin (an antifungal cream), DMSO and gentian violet
(esp. if it is a photo-sensitization case). Apply this at least once a day and you should
see improvement immediately. (You might want to add a little steroid to the mixture for
the first application to decrease his sensitivity.)
Q: I have a five year old mare who has been diagnosed with a cyst on the pedal bone and she is not going completely sound. The vet has injected hyaluronic acid into the joint, and she has been put in bar shoes. The next option seems to be to operate, which is apparently difficult and high risk, and will involve a year out of work, even if the operation is successful. Can you put me in touch with anyone who can provide advice on successful alternative therapies? A: For bony lesions, I don’t believe
alternative therapies have proved useful. Have you tried a course of antibiotics and
anti-inflammatories on this horse? Acupuncture may be helpful for pain relief. If a
posterior digital nerve block returns the mare to soundness, you should discuss the
possibility of a neurectomy with your vet.
Q: I have a yearling filly that is favoring her left rear leg. With veterinary assistance it has been deemed the problem is in the stifle joint area. At birth she was accidently kicked by the dam in that same area. For five months she favored that leg by placing as little weight as possible or sometimes even dragging it. She was x-rayed, etc. and originally a small divet was found on the growth plate. During the winter all symptoms disappeared. This past June, the symptoms returned. A series of x-rays have been taken again. Nothing can be determined by the recent x-rays. A comparison was done between the good joint and the problem one. No difference was found. O.C.D. was suspected but there was no fluid found in the joint. She has a very rapid growth rate. At five months she was 525 lbs. and 13 hands. She is foundation quarter horse so is not expected to finish very tall or heavy. She is presently on bute for five on and two off. It does not appear to be genetic as I have communicated with the sire's side and I have the dam and a sibling. I am at a loss as to the cause of the lameness. Could a bone chip be missed on x-rays and why no symptoms over the winter months? Our winters are six months long averaging from -4 to -5. A: There are many possibilities for your
horse’s lameness. It is not clear if the symptoms are a reoccurrence of an old injury
or a new problem. A full physical exam with nerve blocks and then radiology,
ultrasonography. or nuclear scintigraphy may be indicated. These tests help to evaluate
bony, ligamentous and tendon, and soft tissue problems.
Q: I was recently told that horses can carry a virus which may cause depression in humans. What can you tell me about this "borna virus"? A: For the most part horses cause joy and happiness
in humans. The only depression I know of caused by horses is the one felt in our wallets. :-)
Q: I have a four year old gelding that was raced on the beach for fun about 10 days ago, he is my 13 year old's horse and he is very fit, generally being ridden every day. He was not started under saddle until this February. Approximately 15.2+ and 1300 lbs., she is very careful with this horse training slow and doing lots of foreword riding and mostly trail riding in the mountains. After running on the beach, he has developed a small 1/2 walnut sized bony enlargement where a bone spavin would be, it is still slightly warm and a little puffy. Should it be fired? How long should he be rested? He was never lame, on this leg or any others but is very slightly off, I've taken horses in on trades before with bone spavins but have never had a horse develop one while in my care. Any help or suggestions you could give would be very appreciated. A: Without x-rays it
is hard to say if your horse has developed bone spavin. First things to do are cold
water hosing and poulticing to reduce the inflammation and soft tissue swelling, and
possibly anti-inflammatories to relieve his pain. Then you need to have him examined to
determine the extent of his injury. Your vet can make recommendations about how long he
needs to be rested and if firing is the proper therapy.
Q: I would like to find out more information on "Constricted Annuler Ligaments", i.e., causes, possible treatments, and solutions. A: This condition occurs
because of trauma or infection. Most frequently associated as a sequella to a low bow, or
wire cut or puncture wound, the resulting scar tissue formation incorporates the annular
ligament and the resulting constriction causes lameness. The only effective therapy is
surgical excision of the scar tissue.
Q: We recently acquired a 22 year old gray horse who has been diagnosed by our vet as having melanoma. (There is a large lump under his left leg and a smaller lump under his chin.) While we can't hope to cure him, are there any vitamins/supplements that can help? A: There is no known vitamin or supplement that
will change the course of melanomas. If possible, surgical removal of the tumor and
Cimetedine therapy may help, but at your horse’s age and description of signs, it
sounds like he has internal melanomas as well. It might be worth trying the
Cimetedine.
Q: My trainer promotes the use of products such as flex free in young horses as a preventative. I have a four year old holsteiner mare that I am using for dressage. I feel that this isn't appropriate for a horse so young but on the other hand if it will prevent problems then maybe I should do it now. I try to work her well, warmups, cool downs, etc. Is there any evidence that these work as preventatives and do you recommend them as such or see any harm to a young horse in using them, i.e. building up an immunity, etc. A: Since there is no
scientific proof that these supplements are actually helping to heal damaged joints, there
is no proof that they are helpful as preventative medicine either. In a young horse it is
more important to pay attention to how he is handling his training and adjust that as his
body tells you. I have not heard of any horses building up immunity to these products
(they do not interact with the immune system). I usually do not recommend them as
preventatives, but they might be useful in older horses showing signs of wear and tear.
Q: I will be purchasing an 11 year old mare and then trailering her 11 hours home. Do you have any suggestions to help her avoid colic and/or discomfort during this long haul? A: Before hauling this
horse 11 hours it would be a good idea to have her tubed with mineral oil (and
electrolytes if you are in a hot climate). Make sure you stop frequently to offer her
water. Do not tie her head up high, but allow her to hold it in a natural position and let
her lower it to prevent respiratory problems. Also bed the trailer well as some horses
will not urinate in a dry stall.
Q: What is the cause of wobbles and how can it be treated and prevented in the first place? The affected horse is a 19 year old saddlebred gelding that has come down with it three times in two years. The last two times have been in the last five weeks. A: The Wobbler Syndrome is
caused by compression of the spinal cord in the cervical region. In a 19 year old horse
this may be due to arthritic changes of his neck bones. A radiograph is needed to diagnose
this. Other tests, including a physical exam, are indicated to properly diagnose your
horse’s problem as your history is not typical for wobbler syndrome.
Q: I have an 11 year old quarter horse gelding, formerly shown in western pleasure and horsemanship. He has been diagnosed with navicular. The vet says "nerving" as a last resort. If it stops his pain and I am careful, why wait? A: There can be
complications from nerving including formation of a painful neuroma, stumbling and gait
changes. It is wise to try to alleviate his pain first with shoeing changes and
medications before you resort to a permanent therapy that may not work.
Q: I have two quarter horses that have had a heavy cough and labored breathing in the summer for the last two years. There is no feed, pasture, or water changes. The vet is giving steroids and antibiotics. The cough goes away for a couple of weeks and then returns. Last year the cough quit with cold weather, but the condition is worse this year. Vet said it could be allergy of some kind. They have nasal discharge, no fever, are eating normal and disposition is the same. Any suggestions? A: I have also faced this dilemma and it is a
difficult problem to solve. You might try allergy testing and treating with antihistamines
and desensitization. Also make sure your vet has ruled out chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, or "heaves". There are treatments and management changes you can
discuss with your vet that can ameliorate this condition.
Q: We, and our vet, have been trying to determine the cause, and how to treat our TB mare's lameness. She has been off now for over two months. We have gone through Isoxuprine, aluminum eggbars, pads and wedges, a bone scan, epm and Lymes tests, bute, injections of cortisone and acid, and stall rest. Our vet has blocked her twice and pinpointed the problem area to the front right hoof. Typically, she goes around to the right pretty much okay, but when she goes left, we can see her head start to bob at the trot. It does not seem to get better, but at this point we're not sure if we're looking at her lameness or her stiffness from being off so long. The scans and x-rays showed nothing abnormal. Our vet, the vet who did the scan, and another vet who reviewed the scans found nothing conclusive. We are almost out of options and we don't want to even think of neurectomy unless we absolutely have no choice. We started giving her bute and are trying to gradually work her to see if there is any imporvement. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. A: It sounds like you have done extensive
diagnostics to pinpoint the area of your mare’s lameness but you don’t mention
what you are doing with this horse and how she has responded to the therapies you have
tried. If you can block her sound and she x-rays and ultrasounds clean in the affected
area, then depending on the structures involved there may be options to try to help your
mare, such as anti-inflamatories, antibiotics, joint treatments, shoeing changes, and
rest, but this depends on your vet’s findings and is a process of trial and
evaluation.
Q: Do you know of a disease or commonality in quarterhorses called ecorlithic or something like that (I'm not sure if spelling is correct, but it sounds like monolithic). It is some type of stone that blocks the horse's intestine and when combined with minerals of sort, like the type of water, gets bigger and causes the horse not to eat or drink. They become impacted or blocked. My mare has had this twice. [I have a 1 1/2 yr old filly quarterhorse pony mare that I purchased when she was 2 months old from a ranch here in Littlerock, CA. She came from Lincoln, CA with her Dam who died from a freak accident at the ranch shortly after arriving. I have had her ever since. She comes from a good breed of quarterhorse ponies and my vet says she seems very sound.] My vet thinks it might be a little colic because we have a lot of sand here in Littlerock, but it isn't the sand for we have checked. She is now constantly being bran mashed with Mineral Oil and I give her phsyillum husk once a week. This seems to really clear her up. If you can give me more information and the correct name of this disease, I would appreciate it. I heard it said quickly on a talk show, but have not been able to find information on it. I would like to know of some articles or books on the subject. A: The term you are looking
for is Enterolith. This is a concretion of minerals formed in
the intestine of horses that can cause an obstruction of the intestine. Usually there is a
foreign body at the center of the rock that precipitates its development. It can occur in
any breed. Most books that discuss colic will have a discussion on enteroliths.
Q: My horse was diagnosed with a laceration to the deep digital flexor tendon 11 weeks after the horse was cast in a pen and pastern sliced to the bone on pen wiring. I retained the services of a second vet this past week. I don't think we have too much of a future of riding, will know in about a year with proper shoeing. Any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated. A: This is a
serious injury and requires extensive therapy just to save her life. Depending on how it
heals will tell you if you will have a pasture sound animal.
Q: I have a filly that suddenly has become down in the pasterns. She is in wedges and trailers on the hind. It's gotten worse and her pasterns are nearly on the ground, otherwise she is sound. Any input is appreciated. A: You do not say how old
this filly is, her breed (Paso Finos are prone to this condition), stage of training, or
if she has recently been ill. There is not a whole lot one can do to improve this
condition, but a discussion with a good farrier may give you some shoeing options to try.
Q: What can you tell me about a HYPP N/H stallion's probability of passing the gene to offspring and is a N/H basically worthless for breeding stock? A: A stallion with this
genetic determination has a 50% chance of passing on this defect to his offspring. If your
mare is N/N, then your foal has a 50% chance of producing an affected foal. This can be a
devastating disease, or may be controlled with diet and medications. With so many other
nice unaffected stallions to breed to, is it worth the risk?
Q: A 7 year old Thoroughbred gelding who was started too young jumping has arthritis in his front fetlock area. Any new treatments? Can he stay serviceably sound for flat work? A: You do not say the
extent of the arthritis, is it an active process or a chronic, old problem? Also, what
therapies have been tried with this horse and how did he respond? There are medications
and shoeing options that may help and surgical treatments to use as a last resort.
Predicting his serviceability is dependent on many factors and would require more
knowledge of his history and current condition.
Q: I have a horse that is a bleeder and don't know about a natural product to use on him and that will help stop the bleeding every time I use him. Please let me know about the products available for this problem. A: I’m not sure what
you mean by bleeder, as this is primarily a condition seen in racehorses exerting maximal
effort. It is uncommon in riding horses. There are medications (such as Lasix) and methods
of feeding horses (such as "drawing" them) before a race that help to combat the
problem. I would look for an underlying disease causing the condition in a riding horse. I
am unsure of the efficacy of natural products, although their manufacturers claim they
help.
Q: My 10 year old mare has heavy problems with her eyes. Both pupils are wide open and look milky. The horse has obvious problems with obstacles she does not always see as quickly as necessary. Adaptability to light (torch or even daylight) is very slow. It is no acute inflammation says the vet. Has somebody experiences with allergic reactions of the eyes, maybe against pressed oats? A: It sounds like your mare
has some corneal edema, or scarring, or cataracts. There are topical and systemic
medications to try that might help her, and surgery might be considered if it is
cataracts. While there are allergic reactions manifested in the eye, this does not sound
typical for that kind of reaction. I have not heard of oats causing an allergic reaction,
although dust, shavings and flies certainly can.
Q: For the past year and a half my gelding has had a swollen sheath. Left side of sheath is red and sore, painful to the touch. He urinates regularly but sometimes it has a pink tinge to it. It is swollen year round, some days more than others. I have tranq. and given him a good washing. What else could I do to relieve his discomfort? A: This can be a very
frustrating problem in geldings. There are many reasons for the sheath to swell and
sometimes it takes a detective to figure out the problem. Have your vet examine him to
rule out any serious disease and to prescribe medications that can help him.
Q: I know that H Pylori has been found to be the cause of most ulcers in humans. Is this also the case with horses? A: Unlike humans, H. pylori
has not been implicated in causing ulcers in horses.
Q: I'm seeking information on cutting the Jack cords on my 4 year old ASB mare to increase hock action. My trainer is suggesting this. How widespread is this among Saddlebred/hackney exhibitors? I am against any altering practices including "setting" tails, but I am curious about this practice. A: Cutting the jack cords is used for horses that have bone spavin in an attempt to
speed up the fusion of the joint, thus decreasing the pain associated with joint motion in
the arthritic hock. I do not see how this would increase hock flexion (in fact, I think it
should decrease it) and would advise against this surgery in a sound, young horse. I have
no idea how widespread this practice is.
Q: As a weanling, my Holsteiner gelding developed physitis in the ankle joints. After a treatment of MSM and changing the calcium/phosphorus ratio to a better level, the inflammation disappeared. I've been watching this C/P level ever since, going on four years now. Since these warmbloods are slow-growing, how long should this be a major concern? The vet feels as long as he is still growing, this should be watched. Your viewpoints please. A: Physitis is an inflammation that occurs around
the growth plates of a rapidly growing horse. It can be moderated with nutritional changes
and limiting exercise. After the growth plates close, physitis is not usually a problem.
Different joints close at different times, for example the knees usually close around the
time a horse turns two. It is important to always feed a growing horse the proper balance
of nutrients, energy, and minerals for proper growth and development, however physitis
should no longer be a concern even in the slower maturing warmbloods.
Q: What affect do bone spurs in the front leg have on the Hunter/Jumper prospect? A: The location and activity of the spurs will determine
their effect on the hunter jumper prospect. If they involve a joint, future soundness may
be compromised. If the spur is old, round and smooth and not compromising the joint, it
will probably not have any effect.
Q: Is Potomac fever contagious and can they get it even if they have had the vaccination? A: This disease is caused by a Rhickettsial organism, and
while it is infectious, it is not contagious. It is not passed from horse to horse, but
must travel through an intermediate host. While the vaccines do offer some degree of
protection, they are not 100%. Most horses do respond to supportive care and appropriate
antimicrobial therapy.
Q: My horse tends to have a "sore" back. My trainer and I have checked the saddle and we feel the saddle is an acceptable fit - not a perfect fit, but acceptable. The horse has a weak rear end and we are in a "conditioning" phase trying to get him to bend and build the rear muscles. He has been jumping 18" cross rails for about a year now, but we've been very careful not to overwork him in this area. I have been giving him DMG for about 2 months. I'm interested in suggestions for relieving the back problem. A: There are many ways to approach this problem. I would
start with a veterinary exam to rule out any other areas that may be contributing to the
soreness (causing referred pain), or a fracture or neurological cause. Many back problems
start with the foot and are compounded by ill fitting equipment and inappropriate
exercise. After determining the source of the problem, you might discuss with your vet the
use of analgesics, acupuncture, and chiropractic techniques in combination with training
techniques that may help your horse.
Q: I know lower hock spurs don't always correlate with clinical lameness. What about upper hock spurs? Can they ever be corrected surgically if the horse does become unsound? And what is lipping? This all came up during a prepurchase exam on a very large, 18H, Dutch. A: If blocking the spur with local anesthesia can identify the spur as the cause of the lameness, arthroscopic surgery may be able to remove the spur and cause of pain. Joint and surrounding soft tissue changes would influence the return to serviceability. Lipping is a term used to describe the appearance of a
type of bone remodeling seen on radiographs.
Q: What is the best method to approximate the age of a horse or mule and can we do it? One expert told us 6 years old while another told us 20 years old. We would like to try our own estimate. A: You can easily learn to approximate the age of a horse
by looking in its mouth. There are dependable changes in the teeth of the horse as it
ages. Many books have charts that display the mouth of the horse at each year, and your
veterinarian should be able to help you. Remember that an overbite, cribbing and wood
chewing can affect the wear of the teeth and complicate an interpretation. Also as a horse
ages, the angle of its mouth becomes more acute, making it relatively easy to tell the
difference between a 6 yr. old and a 20 yr. old horse.
Q: I have a 21 year old Irish Hunter (Thbd X) I have owned for 6 years. He has always been well mannered and anxious to please, a bit on the lazy side to the point of being clumsy. The clumsiness comes in part from old suspensory problems and the wear and tear of eventing. He points from time to time but x-rays show only normal navicular changes for age and he does not react to hoof testers. His stride is not choppy. The only other unusual thing about the horse is that he seems to urinate a lot and drink a lot of water. He will drink a full bucket each night. My vet recently did a serum insulin test because he noticed Kellett's coat was a bit curly. I had bathed his winter coat the day before and when wet it curls. The serum insulin test was negative. The horse is 16.2+ and weighs about 1400-1500 lbs. but is not fat for his size and bone. In the past year, he has lost some weight but is not in work. He is unshod and feet, once too long in toe, are now in exellent shape. He is fed Equine Sr mixed with soaked beet pulp, a mix of orchard grass, timothy, and alfalfa hay and has plenty of good pasture with a good running stream. He is on excellent worming program and has all his yearly shots and qualified dental care. If it is a pituitary problem, what are other symptoms? A: Excessive drinking and urinating are 2 symptoms of a pituitary problem. Also seen are: a long and thick hair coat and a reluctance to shed it as warm weather arrives, a pot-bellied appearance with cresty neck development, and some lethargy. Not all horses show all signs and not all horses with these signs have a pituitary problem.
Q: Can tying up be caused by switching from poor quality hay to really nice hay in a horse that is not being worked and then taken on a 30 minute walking ride? A: Please refer to earlier questions on tying up. Any horse that is not in condition and then suddenly worked is at risk of tying up, especially when combined with an increase in nutritional level.
Q: I have a 7 month old colt that had check ligament destomony on his front legs. He has done fine. He will have his wraps off in two weeks. What is the long term prognosis with this surgery? A: Usually horses recover quite uneventfully from this
surgery. However, whether it changes his underlying problem varies depending on many factors, e.g. his genetics, feeding program, exercise program, etc. Discuss these variables with your vet to get a better understanding of his prognosis.
Q: I have a very fit 18 year old mare that strained her deep flexor tendon on an extremely rugged trail ride two weeks ago. Using ultrasound, my vet determined that there was no tearing on the tendon, only swelling and some heat around it (about 2/3 up the cannon bone). She prescribed rest, butte, ice, wrapping, etc. for one month. Even though the tendon did not tear, will my mare be more likely to tear or bow her tendon in the future? She is very conditioned to do this type of riding and she has never had this type of injury before. A: A strained tendon does not constitute a "bow". If you follow your vet’s advice the strain should heal well, and unless you do a lot of speed work, I would not expect her to be any more likely to reinjure the tendon than if she had never had a problem. By the way, at least 90% of the time it is the superficial digital flexor tendon that tears.
Q: I have a 2 1/2 year old Quarter Horse gelding that recently developed swelling in all four of his legs from the top of the hoof to halfway up to the hock. There was no lameness and no heat in the legs. He acted OK, but was not as energetic as usual. The swelling lasted a couple of days. Now he seems fine. He was out on a pasture that has a small wooded area in it. This wooded area is mostly oak trees. I read recently about oaks and acorns being toxic to horses. I cannot find any information of the effects of acorns on horses. Could this be what happened to my gelding and could you provide any more information? We have had a couple of unexplained lamenesses at the barn where I board him. A: Before I address if acorns were the cause of your horse’s problem, was he febrile? Did you change his diet or exercise regime? Did he have any other symptoms? There could be many causes for limb edema and I would not rush to blame the acorns. Usually an acorn overload would show up as a GI upset, colic, or diarrhea. Toxicity signs would also vary, usually depression, injected mucous membranes and other signs. Lameness is not one of them.
Q: My horse lacerated her back pastern last December. Six months ago we operated to cut ligaments to free up the tendon and to remove adhesions. It didn't work. We scanned it showing some thickening of tendon and scar tissue and a few adhesions. My vet talked about cutting the tendon like for founder, but decided against it. Is there any other operation or therapy we could use? She is now bred and due in early June. I'd like to make her comfortable. A: This is a difficult problem and due to the amount of scar tissue already there, I don’t think there is any surgery that would help because if you tried to remove the scar tissue, it would probably reform, and the laminitis surgery is usually performed at a higher level and would not affect the adhesions already there. I would consult a good farrier and see if he had any suggestions on ways to shoe this horse that may make her more comfortable. Also on her most uncomfortable days I would give her some analgesic medication.
Q: I am looking at a horse that the owner says is 9 years old. The owner does not have documentation to support this. The vet places the age of the horse at 12 years because of the amount of beveling of the front teeth. The vet does not believe the horse is cribbing. Should I be concerned about this? A: Without documentation, it is difficult to exactly age a horse by its teeth at this age range. Many variables such as diet, tooth alignment, wood chewing, etc. can affect the wear of the teeth. I would not be overly concerned unless you have reason to believe the owner is lying to you and you do not want a 12 yr. old horse.
Q: Could you tell me some good resources to find information about the history and advances in veterinary medicine of horses? A: Dr. David Ramey has edited the book, Anatomy of an Horse, by A. Snape. That would be a good place to start.
Q: We have several instances in our area of non-vaccinated horses coming down with strangles within a week of barn mates being vaccinated with the nasal drops vaccine for strangles. Is this being seen elsewhere? What are your recommendations? A: Because it is not uncommon for symptoms to occur in horses that were not vaccinated after contact with those that were, it is always a good idea to vaccinate the entire barn when using a modified live virus vaccine as in the case of the intra-nasal strangles vaccine.
Q: I have a 15 year old Quarterhorse gelding with an eye problem. This horse is in excellent condition other than eye, has good appetite, is drinking normal, not in any visible discomfort, and no apparent trauma to the eye. Vet has checked and found no ulcerations. Initially 3/4 of one eye was covered white and cloudy over the cornea. Started treatment 4 times daily with Muro 128 - 5% for 5 days. Started treatment with Maxidex 4 times for 3 days concurrently with Muro. On 5th day he had total cloudiness and blindness in the eye. No swelling around eyes and no discharge. Have not received results of blood work yet. I am concerned this might be metabolic and I do not want my horse to lose the sight in his other eye. Any suggestions? A: I doubt that your horse’s eye problem is due to a metabolic disease, but more likely due to an infection in the stroma. A scrapping for culture and sensitivity would be helpful in determining how to treat the eye. If you think a metabolic disease is involved, ask your vet to also check a blood sample for
Leptospirosis.
Q: I have a 5 year old pinto Arab who has developed hypothyroidism. Presently she is taking thyroid medicine, but I would like to treat this naturally with vitamins or herbs. Any information on this condition would be helpful. She is pregnant and it got much worse when she became pregnant. A: Many hormonal changes occur during pregnancy and sometimes a mare may become hypothyroid. This condition is difficult to diagnose based solely on a blood sample as variations occur depending on the time of day and which test you use. I am not a great believer in herbs for treatment because it is difficult to calculate a proper dose. There are effective medications for this condition, consult your vet.
Q: My 5 year old Arabian mare gets Tet-Flu EastWest, Rhino, Strangles, and Potomac Fever vaccinations each year. Each year she suffers a pretty painful reaction to the shots and each year the reaction is more severe. Her rump swells and gets hot and sore. The swelling even affects her leg. We administer two grams of bute twice a day for a week after shots, but this year it was so bad she wouldn't walk. Is there anything we can do to make next year's shots not quite so hard on her? Would changing pharmaceutical companies help? Which shot is she most likely to be reacting to? A: First off, this is a lot of shots to be giving a horse on one occasion in one area. I would suspect that the Strangles vaccine may be causing the reaction but not necessarily. There is a new intra-nasal vaccine for Strangles that you might want to try. Also I would give her her shots one at a time, on different days, and at different sites to try to prevent a reaction. Changing pharmaceutical companies may make a difference and make sure the products have been stored and handled properly.
Q: My 8 year old warmblood x gelding started head shaking two years ago. It starts in early March and eases off during the mid-summer. Using vaseline in the nostrils and applying a nose spray helps. This condition seems unaffected by flies. This condition seems better whilst working him in an outdoor arena rather than in an open field. Do you have any suggestions? I cannot use a nose net to compete in affiliated dressage competitions. A: This syndrome is commonly seen seasonally and may be associated with allergies to pollens and/or a sunlight hypersensitivity. There are medications to try that may help. Talk to your veterinarian to get on a treatment plan. It is a difficult problem to cure and there are also other options to try if medications
don't work.
Q: At what age are the growth plates in the knees "closed" and safe to begin jumping? What height intervals are considered "leg-safe" to horses that are beginner jumpers (i.e., no more than 18" the first year of training)? A: Usually the distal physis of the radius (the area referred to when evaluating knee closure) closes around 2 years of age. However this varies with different breeds and with each individual. Therefore I can not make a blanket statement on when it is safe or how high to jump a horse. This depends also on the fitness level, physical, and mental development of the horse as well as conformation and
aptitude.
Q: I have an appaloosa that will be two in May and he hasn't dropped any of his testicles yet. What does this mean? A: At this age it is unlikely that the testicles will descend. The best thing to do would be to have him operated on to remove the retained testicles.
Q: I took my mare to a stallion for live breeding back in September. The gentleman who owned the stallion did not feel as if she took because the two horses stayed apart as much as he had seen, but she did seem very attached to the stallion after this. Since then she has changed two shades in color. She used to be a light sorrel and now she is dark chestnut. After owning her three years, she has never changed anything, let alone color. This seems quite odd. She has also begun to fill out a bit in the flank area and hips. She is normally a slim line thoroughbred mare, unknown history, except she is built well and put together very nice. She is not your typical run of the mill horse. Can you please help me figure out what is going on? She also has always had a problem in the winter with the cold. Right now it is 17 degrees here and she would usually be shaking real bad and would have to be blanketed, but that is not the case now. She has only had to blanketed twice this winter and that was when it was the wind chill was 20 below. Any suggestions? A: I am unsure what you are asking, and therefore do not know what suggestions to make. Have you had the mare checked by a veterinarian to determine if she is pregnant? Hormonal changes that occur with pregnancy may be influencing some of the things you are observing. Often when horses shed their coats, their hair grows in a different shade. Temperature regulation varies with many factors, one being body fat, for example.
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