| Sunburn Solutions |
November/2009 |
Q: My neighbor/best friend has a major problem with sunburn on her Appaloosa mare. She is basically a black mare with spots on her rump, but not on a true blanket, as such, yet her sunburn is really nasty. It is pink and inflamed, and we have not really been able to find anything that would help it.
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| Neck Atrophy |
November/2009 |
Q:I was told by a trainer that my horse has atrophy in her neck that could cause problems later in life. Can you tell me what I may be facing in the future? She is a 4-year-old mare. What, if anything, can be done?
Margo Land
A:It is my experience that atrophy of the musculature of a horse's neck is usually caused by direct impact blunt trauma.
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| Trailering Anxiety or Heat? |
October/2009 |
Q: My 24-year-old Arab gelding recently came off the trailer very sweaty and with tremors in his shoulder muscle and hindquarters. It was only a 15-minute trailer ride, and it was sunny, but not hot. He walked normally and seemed bright and alert.
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| Weaving Worries |
September/2009 |
Q: I have a 12-year-old Tennessee Walker who weaves. I recently obtained him and noticed lameness in the right front leg. I had radiographs and testing done to rule out the really bad causes, such as laminitis, navicular, and founder. The radiographs were normal except for slight arthritic changes.
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| Cryptorchid Concerns |
September/2009 |
Q: I have a 24-month-old Azteca (in this case, Andalusian x APHA) colt that has dropped only one testicle so far. He had two normal-appearing testicles at birth, and both of them withdrew above the inguinal ring before he was a year old.
This past winter, when he was about 20 months old, his left testicle dropped and appears normal, although rather large for his age.
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| Snakebite Woes |
August/2009 |
Q: Have you noticed or had owners comment on the change in a horse's personality after a rattlesnake bite? My mare was bitten on the muzzle six years ago. We almost lost her, but after two days of treatment with various medications she survived.
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| Guttural Pouch Tympany |
August/2009 |
Q: There seems to be little information available on the Internet about guttural pouch tympany. I lost a filly to this, along with displaced soft palate. She looked very normal at birth, 41 inches (tall) and 125 pounds.
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| Scoliosis in Adult Equines |
July/2009 |
Q: I purchased my Thoroughbred gelding when he was 5 years old. Within the next two years we were doing really well at entry level dressage. He looked and behaved fantastically.
Then the problems started.
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| Ask The Vet Live! Colic |
June/2009 |
In this first-of-its-kind, live question and answer session, horse owners were able to ask three veterinary specialists from The Ohio State University about colic, which is second only to old age as the leading cause of horse deaths each year. Below is a transcript from the original question and answer session on May 28, 2009.
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| Rehabilitating Muscle |
June/2009 |
Q: My horse has a severe laceration involving the biceps femoris and semitendinosis muscles (along the back of the hindquarter). He is 17 and in very good shape, training Prix St. Georges.
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| A Rash of Questions |
May/2009 |
Q: We have a Paint mare that is mostly white. In the spring and summer she has a rash-type skin problem around her nose and moving to her shoulders. It starts out looking like what we were told was dew poisoning, but it has spread to the point of bumps, scabs, raw sores, and bleeding. What could be causing this? Are there any preventive measures we can take? What are our treatment options? Charles, via e-mail
A: It is difficult to answer this question without some more information:
How old is the horse?
Where in the USA is this horse?
Does the "rash" only affect the white areas? Or both the pigmented and the white areas?
How many years has this occurred?
How long have you owned the horse?
If this rash occurs in the spring and summer, by what time of year does it resolve?
Does this mare have a different feed or pasture access in the spring and summer versus the fall and winter?
What treatments have you tried in the past? Did any of them work? Did any of them make the problem worse?
When this occurs, how much does it bother the horse--does she rub affected areas against posts or barn walls, or does she shy away from people touching the affected areas?
In general, spring/summer seasonal problems might be:
Allergies (either to insect bites or pollens)--these are usually quite itchy (the scientific word is pruritic) for the horse.
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| "Sticky" Third Eyelid |
April/2009 |
Q: Twice, my 12-year-old Paint gelding has gotten his third eyelid "stuck" over the top of his eyeball for 10 or 20 seconds. The first time was when water splashed in his eye during a bath. He tossed his head, rolled his eye upward, and the third eyelid stuck over the top of his eyeball, blocking his vision.
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| Insulin Resistance and Layup Time |
April/2009 |
Q: My 18-year-old Percheron/ Morgan gelding was diagnosed with insulin resistance. Just prior to being confined to stall rest for a connective tissue injury, his insulin was 67 microIU/mL. The vet did a dexamethasone suppression test to rule out pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), and it was well within normal bounds.
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| Abnormal Sheath Buildup |
April/2009 |
Q: I have searched the Internet and asked everyone I know about the abnormal sheath buildup on my 17-year-old palomino gelding. Ever since we bought him, we noticed a large, crusty buildup all over him. We have been cleaning him once a month for three years because within four weeks, he is crusty and dirty again.
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| Hay, Does Fertilization Matter? |
March/2009 |
Q: Should I look for hay that comes from a fertilized or unfertilized field? In what ways would the nutrition be affected? Does fertilizing the field increase the protein content of the hay? What are appropriate questions to ask regarding the hay? Roberta, Camano Island, Wash.
A: Whether or not a hay field is fertilized might be more important to the hay producer than to the hay purchaser.
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| Vaccine Reaction: Calculated Risk? |
March/2009 |
Q: I own a 12-year-old Percheron/Thoroughbred gelding who started to have severe allergic reactions to vaccinations last year. He's been receiving the same vaccinations for the past several years--a five-way and West Nile virus (WNV). Last spring, we decided to separate the vaccinations to make the effect less toxic.
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| Glucosamine in a Cushing's Horse? |
December/2008 |
Q: As soon as my 20-year-old gelding was diagnosed with Cushing's disease, I eliminated glucosamine from his diet. However, he appears to have become gradually and increasingly stiff and short-strided without it. I really think that it helped him, and I'd love to put him back on the supplement if I could safely do so.
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| Protein Levels and Seizures? |
November/2008 |
Q: I have a 37-year-old Welsh Mountain Pony mare who has been having seizures on and off for about two years. I have noticed that when her protein levels have been increased with feeding, especially in the springtime when the new grass appears, the seizures appear more frequently. Is it possible that the high protein levels could cause a seizure, or is it just coincidence and there might be something else going on? My vet seems to think there is nothing I can do for the pony because she is so old, and she might hurt herself badly during a seizure, so the best option would be euthanasia.
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| Training Age and Soundness |
October/2008 |
Q: Does the fact that cutting horses are started so young have any effect on their future soundness? Is it best to wait another year before starting them in training?
A: There has been no research completed to date that evaluates the incidence of athletic injuries in cutting horses relative to the ages they are started. Studies conducted on Thoroughbred racehorses indicate that the key factor in injury prevention of the athletic horse is not delayed training of the 2-year-old, but the proper conditioning of the musculoskeletal system to achieve the necessary remodeling of the bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons to increase overall strength.
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| Seeing Stars |
October/2008 |
Q: I have a Quarter Horse mare that stares into lights. She does this with both electric lights and the sun or moon. She'll stare for a while when she first gets into the arena and when she's just turned out, then she goes about her business. She's always done this, and she has no eye or sinus problems that we know of.
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| Mosquito Dunk Danger? |
August/2008 |
Q: Has there been any research on the safety of using "BTi mosquito dunks" in horse water troughs and buckets? Judy, Bar Harbor, Maine
A: Mosquito dunks are a form of the solid-dwelling Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria (that's the "BT" part) variety israelensis (the "i" part) that come in a solid form. As they float the dunks slowly release the BTi on the water surface.
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| Big-Boned Beastie |
August/2008 |
Q: My 9-year-old Missouri Fox Trotter gelding has steadily put on weight throughout his life, even though he is exercised two to three times a week on the trail at working gaits. He is free-fed Bermuda grass hay (not coastal) and no supplements, but he has developed a crest and fatty deposits on his body.
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| Managing Navicular Pain |
July/2008 |
Q: My horse was diagnosed with navicular syndrome about five years ago. He was put on isoxsuprine and half a gram of Bute twice a day, and we changed his shoeing regimen. He has been sound since, and he remains sound, as long as he gets the Bute and is trimmed on a regular basis.
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| Diagnosing Muscle Soreness |
June/2008 |
Q: Last year my 18-year-old Quarter Horse mare became very sensitive to touch on her back and hindquarters. It progressed to a slight hind limb lameness. She would stand with her back feet close together until eventually she would lean and prop her haunches against the barn wall.
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| Umbilical Issues |
May/2008 |
Q: My 11-day-old Walking Horse stud colt came down with tetanus, which was apparently contracted through his umbilical cord. His cord was leaking urine. When should a colt be vaccinated for tetanus to prevent this, and does a leaking umbilical cord ever seal off without surgery? Is the mare apt to have another colt with this problem? Should I put iodine or anything on the umbilical cord of a new colt? We were devastated about losing this precious baby.
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| Stiff Hocks and Knees |
April/2008 |
Q: My husband and I have raised several hundred horses over the last 40 years, but we have never seen an issue like the one affecting my 4-year-old Quarter Horse gelding. He does not like to bend his knees and hocks.
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| Tough to Swallow |
March/2008 |
Q: My 3-year-old pony mare developed a purulent (discharging pus) head infection last summer and was subsequently diagnosed with a stenotic (narrowing) left guttural pouch, which required two laser surgeries to correct. Surgeons constructed an opening to allow the infection to drain.
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| Cross-Species Deworming |
March/2008 |
Q: We have a stable yard with over 50 horses. The horses are on a quarterly deworming program. In the middle of the summer, we deworm the horses for tapeworms. How do the worm infestations of horses and domestic pets, such as dogs and cats, correspond with each other, if at all? If we deworm the horses now, but horse owners' pets are carrying a load of worms, can these animals reinfect the horses again?
Would it be beneficial to run horses and domestic pets (and even their owners) on the same deworming program?
Claire, South Africa
A: An animal in which a parasite lives is termed the "host," and most parasites demonstrate a characteristic known as "host specificity.
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| "Swayback" In a Young Horse |
February/2008 |
Q: I have a 3-year-old gelding. I bought him when he was almost 2, at which time he appeared somewhat swaybacked. He had, and still does have, very high withers. He was still growing, so I thought that as he aged and grew he would appear less swaybacked.
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| Genetic Test for "Sow Mouth"? |
February/2008 |
Q: I read the article "Orthodontics for Horses," authored by David O. Klugh, DVM, FAVD/Equine (available on TheHorse.com at thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=9671">article #9671).
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| Hair Club for Horses? |
January/2008 |
Q: I have a 9-year-old bay Quarter Horse gelding. He is losing his hair, and it's not just typical shedding--he's getting bare spots of skin. Any hints as to what it could be?
Rebecca, via e-mail
A: Hair growth occurs in cycles and is influenced by photoperiod and, to a lesser extent, ambient temperature. Hair growth is regulated by a complex interaction of the hypothalamus and hypophysis of the pituitary gland (in the brain) to regulate multiple hormones, including melatonin, prolactin, thyroid hormone, and cortisol.
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| Pain in The Neck |
December/2007 |
Q: I am an equine sports massage therapist and have been treating a 10-year-old Icelandic gelding that has a tendency to hold his head to the right while at a walk. He doesn't do this at any other gait, and he will do it both under saddle and while being led.
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| Needing a Pick-Me-Up |
December/2007 |
Q: I have a 20-year-old Quarter Horse, and I have had trouble putting weight on her for the past few years. I have had her teeth done and a veterinarian has ruled out any major issues, such as cancer, system shutdown, etc. She has been vaccinated against the usual threats.
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| Belching Horse |
November/2007 |
Q: I have a 16-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse gelding who appears to be in perfect physical condition, except for one thing ... he belches. Often. You can hear it rolling all the way up from his belly into his throat, then out it comes, usually through his nose. It doesn't smell too bad, but definitely smells like it comes from the stomach.
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| Stopping the Flow |
November/2007 |
Q: I have a mare that is still lactating heavily months after weaning her foal. What is the cause of this? And how can it be cured or prevented?
Michelle, via e-mail
A: I have no information on specific disorders of the mare that would explain this. That leaves us with a concern for management failure as an explanation for this situation.
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| Sticky Stifles |
October/2007 |
Q: I have a 7-year-old Thoroughbred I got off the track three years ago. I had my veterinarian come out when I first got the horse to investigate a strange popping sound I heard when he turned in a small circle. My vet told me it was in his stifles and told me to adjust his diet to reduce protein, work on conditioning, and it should improve.
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| Nip a Bone Spur in the Bud? |
September/2007 |
Q: I recently bought an expensive 8-year-old hunter-jumper that was radiographed at purchase. He was an excellent junior show horse and is already proven. He vetted sound.
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| What to Expect from a Veterinarian? |
September/2007 |
Q: I am looking for general information regarding my veterinarian and horse care. What should I expect from the veterinarian? I feel like she just provides shots, but there is really no physical examination. Is there a set protocol or standard that I should be asking for? She does shots and moves on to the next horse, and that is about it.
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| Rude Noises |
August/2007 |
My new mare had trouble foaling her colt three years ago and ended up tearing, requiring stitches. Now she is constantly "sucking air" (into her vulva), and it sounds awful. Is there anything that can be done to rectify this or minimize the air intake? Jacqueline, Surrey, B.
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| PHF Vaccine Efficacy: Better Safe than Sorry? |
August/2007 |
Has there been new research completed on the available vaccines for Potomac horse fever (PHF) or are they what veterinarians gave years ago? A person told me that there has been no new research on Potomac horse fever vaccines that we use today. Are our vaccines up-to-date as far as preventatives? Do our horses need a PHF vaccine, or are we wasting our money giving it? Ruth, via e-mail
All existing PHF vaccines are based on an original single isolate of the agent from the blood of a horse.
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| Recuperating Back Muscles |
July/2007 |
Q: I have a 17-year-old Half-Arabian gelding that underwent colic surgery in August 2005. He had a totally uneventful recovery, and within six months he was back to his usual job of pleasure and trail riding. My only remaining concern is that he lost tone in his belly muscle and his back dropped somewhat, and I haven't been able to get it to return to normal.
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| Hitch in the Giddy-Up |
June/2007 |
I have a Trakehner/Thoroughbred cross starts flexing his hind legs rather noticeably when trotting and/or beginning to canter. He usually does not do this unless he gets excited in the trot, is striking off in the canter, or is transitioning to trot from canter. He never does this at the walk.
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| Clunking Hocks |
June/2007 |
I have two differently-bred Miniature Horses, one yearling and one weanling, and both have a horrible clunking sound that definitely comes from their hocks. I only hear it when they walk, never at the trot or canter.
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| Clogged Tear Duct |
April/2007 |
My horse has a clogged tear duct. Our veterinarian tried to blow it out with saline, but couldn't. We are treating her with antibiotic drops, but it doesn't seem to be improving it. She has a "swelling" on her cheek bone area, and it seems to be progressing up toward her eye.
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| Eating Trees |
April/2007 |
Q: My horses are eating the bark (within reach) on my mature silver maple and slash pine trees. I suspect it will kill the tree. Is there anything I can do to stop the horses or protect the trees? Robert, via e-mail
A: The best solution to the problem of horses eating the bark off of your trees is to fence the trees off with board fencing. Chicken wire and snow fencing wrapped around the trees is dangerous because the horses chew at it and loosen the wire, and it becomes a hazard to their eyes.
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| Upright Foals |
March/2007 |
Q: A friend of mine has a new stallion, and his first crop of foals was just born. When they were born, all seemed fine. As they have been brought in to be weaned, we have started to notice that the foals all have the worst-shaped feet we have ever seen. They are all walking on their tiptoes, and their feet are very upright.
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| Maiden Mare |
March/2007 |
I have a 3-year-old maiden mare. She is in estrus and has been bred twice. She bled both times. The blood was spread over the stallion's penis and most of the way around above the glans penis (the cap-shaped termination of the penile shaft). What would cause this? A tear? Should I just use artificial insemination? Jackie, via e-mail
The presence of blood after breeding can be very disconcerting.
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| Farrier Hygiene |
February/2007 |
Q: Many veterinarians and farriers have told me that white line disease is becoming more common. Is it ridiculous of me to purchase my own blacksmithing tools for the farrier to use exclusively on my horse? This practice is common in nail salons for protection against the spread of fungal and bacterial infections (as well as HIV). It seems logical that stronger sanitation or exclusivity would be prudent, especially in terms of nippers and rasps.
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| Breeding a Laminitic Mare? |
February/2007 |
Q: Is it safe to breed a mare that is prone to laminitis? Linda, via e-mail
A: There are several considerations that go into the decision to breed a mare that is prone to laminitis. Is the laminitis an occurrence that can usually be prevented by good dietary (pasture and supplemental feed) management? If so, then continue to practice these effective dietary manipulations, with due consideration to the needs of the fetus and foal during late gestation and lactation.
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| Overexcited Stallion |
February/2007 |
I have a stallion that "saucers" (exhibits glans penis enlargement) prior to mounting. We have to back him up several times before he can mount and penetrate the mare. Any suggestions? Larry, via e-mail
Saucering is a description of enlargement of the glans penis (the tip) during copulation.
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| What Causes Seizures? |
December/2006 |
Q: My eventer has recently been diagnosed with seizures. However, despite blood tests, we have no idea what causes them. The episodes last for approximately two minutes, and once they are over, he is completely normal again. He has never had them while being ridden, and they mostly occur in the paddock.
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| NSAIDs and Pregnancy |
December/2006 |
Q: A mare I am planning to breed had shoulder surgery almost two years ago (part of her scapula was removed due to a fracture). Although she healed well, she recently slipped and reinjured the shoulder. She's on Bute twice a day.
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| Euthanasia Assistance |
November/2006 |
Q: Some veterinarians and shelters will take care of your pet for free if you have a low income or are out of work. Can people with no money get a veterinarian to euthanize their horse for free? Carrie, via e-mail
A: First, does one of the following statements, developed by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), apply to your situation?
Is the horse's condition chronic or incurable?
Does the condition suggest a hopeless prognosis for life?
Is the horse a hazard to himself or his handlers?
Will the horse require continuous medication for pain relief for the remainder of his life?
If so, some veterinarians might euthanatize a horse at a reduced cost or at no cost to end the animal's suffering. Some clinics even have an emergency fund for this purpose.
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| Lame or EPM? |
November/2006 |
About a year and a half ago, my horse was diagnosed with EPM (equine protozoal myeloencephalitis), which he was treated for, and I haven't seen any signs since. Now he's having hock issues.
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| Autumn Pests |
October/2006 |
Q: Every fall, I see bot flies terrorizing my horses. I have tried to find a way to get rid of them or to even cut their numbers down, but I have not been successful. I have cows in the next pasture, and someone told me cows attract bot flies.
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| Buying a Problem? |
October/2006 |
I have been leasing a 12-year-old pony for my daughter for two years. We now have to decide if we want to purchase this pony. She has foundered the past two years on the spring grass. The farrier said her feet have "separated.
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| Misplaced Nail |
September/2006 |
Q: Two days after my farrier shod my mare, she became lame on a front hoof. I pulled the shoe and put a boot on her until he could return. However, when I pulled the shoe, I saw that he had put two nails in too high. She is painful and won't put any weight on it at all.
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| Hay for the Laminitic Horse |
September/2006 |
Q: Is there a particular type of grass hay that is better than others as a long-term part of the maintenance diet for a horse prone to laminitis? Sue, via e-mail
A: If a horse has a history of chronic laminitis, my first concern would be addressing the metabolic issues contributing to the problem, usually obesity and/or pituitary dysfunction, both of which are treatable.
If the horse is truly insulin resistant/glucose intolerant there is no one "type" of hay guaranteed not to trigger a bout of laminitis.
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| Information on Inducing Labor |
August/2006 |
Q: I am searching for information or articles on induced parturition (labor). Is there any information published on this topic? John, via e-mail
A: There are multiple sources of published information regarding induction of parturition in mares. However, this data is presented in scientific format in veterinary textbooks, proceedings from the American Association of Equine Practitioners conventions, or in peer-reviewed journals, thereby not lending it to casual reading by the lay person.
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| Could This be Back Pain? |
August/2006 |
My mare appears to be in pain particularly in the withers, shoulder, and stomach areas. She used to round her back, but has since stopped. She squeals when she is touched. She has been checked for ovary problems, bladder problems, lameness, and her blood test came back normal.
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| Recovering From EPM |
July/2006 |
Q: My horse was diagnosed about six months ago with EPM (equine protozoal myeloencephalitis). He is a 5-year-old gelding. This affected his hindquarters, and he is still stiff and sometimes wobbly. Is there anything I can do to help him gain his strength back? Sharon Todd, Georgia
A: EPM is caused by a parasite that infects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) of the horse.
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| Torn Eyelid |
July/2006 |
Q: My husband is boarding a 10-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse mare for a friend. When she was loaded in the trailer, she bumped the outside of her eye and split the flesh straight out from the corner about a half inch. It did not damage her eyeball.
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| Help, My Horse is Too Fat! |
June/2006 |
Q: My 14-year-old mare has severe obesity problems. The veterinarian ruled out Cushing's disease because she does not exhibit the typical Cushing's traits. I am afraid to work her for fear that any overexertion will harm her physically.
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| Dealing with Old Injuries |
June/2006 |
I have a 20-year-old Quarter Horse that is in top working condition, worked daily in basic dressage, and he is always happy to jump whatever I ask him to. However, before I purchased him, he had a deep wound in his offside flank.
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| Unexplained Swelling |
June/2006 |
I have a 16-year-old gelding that I found lying down with a swollen rear leg. I assumed that he had gotten his leg hung in the fence, but the next morning, I noticed that his front leg diagonal from his affected back leg was also swollen, and I noticed what appeared to be a cut inside his nostril. The next day all four legs were swollen and his nose and lower lip were very swollen and were dripping blood.
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| Hematomas in Horses |
May/2006 |
What exactly happens the minute after the direct trauma (like a kick or a collision)? How does the blood pool? Are there many complications? Samantha Martin, Alberta, Canada
It’s hard to make generalized statements about how to treat hematomas or bruises because there are so many variations in location and seriousness. Horses often get bruised by running into things, being kicked by another horse, falling down when running and bucking, etc.
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| Mouth Ulceration |
May/2006 |
My 7-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse has developed ulcers on the bars of his mouth. They quickly resolved within a week of antiseptic mouth washes, but returned three weeks later. The bit is well-placed in his mouth and doesn't touch the affected area.
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| What Was Causing Foal Abnormalities? |
May/2006 |
I have bred and raised 142 Morgan foals since 1976. During that time, we've had eight foals born with a very similar set of problems--contracted front tendons, an underbite, lethargy, hypothyroidism, and/or mental deficiency. We tried bottle feeding, making a sling to hold them up to nurse, and putting plaster of Paris casts on their front legs, but our success rate was low.
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| Recovering from Sesamoiditis |
April/2006 |
Q: Two weeks after my sister bought a 10-year-old gelding, he started head-bobbing at the trot. Many veterinary exams, farrier visits, and six months later, we found sesamoid problems on both forelimbs. Can the sesamoid bones be removed? The veterinarian said his tendons are putting pressure on the sesamoid bones, which is resulting in small fractures and weakening the tendons (eventually, they will be severed).
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| Henneke Body Condition |
April/2006 |
I am looking for a body score chart in layman's terms. I would like to include this chart in our handbook for Personal Ponies, a national nonprofit organization, but many people (including me) don't know what these terms actually mean. The two I can't find are the "transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae" and the "spinous processes.
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| Fever, Colic, Swelling...What is It? |
April/2006 |
I had an 8-month-old colt stop eating his grain on Friday. I took his temperature, which was 105ºF, and gave him Bute and Banamine to reduce his fever. My veterinarian came the next day and said it was a virus, but didn't treat him.
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| Hoof Care for Toeing Out |
April/2006 |
My 2-year-old filly has turned-out toes, which originate from her knees. She does not trip or paddle when moving. However, after trimming her feet, she walks on the outside of the hoof and rotates her weight to the inside. I would like to know if a particular way of trimming her hooves would help the problem, or if I should shoe her.
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| Helping Older Horses Get Up |
March/2006 |
Q: I have an older horse that sometimes lies down and has trouble getting up. My vet thinks it is advanced arthritis in his stifles. Do you have any rescue equipment that you have used to lift a horse up? Thank you for the compassionate work you do with horses. Sharon Loucks
A: There are several pieces of emergency rescue equipment that can be adapted to assist an older or arthritic horse in getting up.
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| Will Eating Grass Seeds Hurt My Horse? |
February/2006 |
We are new horse owners who know very little about horses. We've had our horse "Trouble" (a 2-year-old Standardbred-Arabian cross) for almost a week now. A local horseman said it would be fine to dump our two bags of buckwheat, red clover, and twitch grass seed in the exercise area.
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| Correcting Foundered Feet |
January/2006 |
Can coffin bone (also called the third phalanx, or P3) rotation be improved or corrected in horses that have foundered (suffered laminitis severe enough to displace the coffin bone)? Michelle
The cornerstones of founder management are shoeing and diet. Once the disease has occurred, treatment is aimed at decreasing stresses on the foot and reducing risk factors for recurrence.
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| Will Cimetidine Hurt the Foal? |
January/2006 |
Q: I have a gray mare that's 19 years old and has melanomas under her tail. She's been on cimetidine for a couple of years to treat them, which has been working fine. I cut off her cimetidine before breeding her recently (she was just checked in foal at Day 20), and the melanomas haven't enlarged much since then.
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| Frozen vs. Cooled Semen |
January/2006 |
We are getting ready to breed our mare to a stallion whose semen is only shipped frozen. Does using frozen-thawed semen instead of cooled semen reduce the chances of our mare getting pregnant? Sheri
Generally, any time you manipulate semen, the per-cycle pregnancy rate decreases. The rate should be highest for fresh semen, then shipped semen, followed by frozen-thawed semen.
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| Pelvic Fracture |
December/2005 |
Q: My 6-year-old mare suffered a pelvic fracture from a pasture accident five months ago. My veterinarian examined her and prescribed stall rest. What timeframe can I expect for starting light exercise and how can I tell if she is ready? Should I expect to ride her again? Dawn
A: Most pelvic fractures have a good prognosis for healing and return to athletic function. Hairline or incomplete fractures of the ileum or ischium heal relatively quickly in 90-120 days with stall rest and small paddock confinement.
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| Shoeing Wild Horses |
December/2005 |
Q: I've just adopted a wild horse and have heard that they often don't need shoes. She is in a quarter-acre dry lot connected to a 10-acre irrigated pasture for turn-out. Do we need to shoe her?
Mary
A: This is an excellent question; there has been a lot of debate lately about when a domestic horse needs to be shod.
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| Urinating Too Often? |
November/2005 |
My 3-year-old registered Paint gelding urinates up to three times in a three-to-four hour period. My veterinarian has checked a blood profile and two urinalyses. The blood profile was normal and the first urinalysis showed elevated protein.
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| Snake Bite Preparedness |
October/2005 |
Q: Our area has a healthy population of rattlesnakes. We spend six to 10 hours a week on trails where we have seen snakes. I would like to be prepared in the event one of our horses gets bitten. What are the procedures and supplies we should have on hand? Pat
A: When on excursions into areas frequented by pit vipers (also called crotalids, including rattlesnakes), it is prudent to consider some basic precepts concerning bites.
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| Pinworm Problems |
October/2005 |
I have a 10-year-old mare being treated for pinworms. She incessantly rubs her tail. She also uses the wall of her stall or anything else available to lean on while defecating. Are these signs related? Could they be behavioral? via email
Part of the diagnostic process should include a thorough veterinary exam to rule out neurological abnormalities, skin problems, or other parasitic diseases.
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| Swollen Thyroid Gland |
September/2005 |
My 19-year-old Quarter Horse gelding has a swollen thyroid gland on the right side of his throatlatch. It was about the size of a grapefruit, but recently it has decreased to about one-third of its original size. It has never bothered him.
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| Corneal Dystrophy |
September/2005 |
I own a 12-year-old foundation-bred Appaloosa gelding. Five years ago he was diagnosed with corneal dystrophy, which seems to be extremely stable (it hasn't flared up in more than four years). The surface of the cornea has a slightly rough texture, and the margin with the sclera is not a smooth line.
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| Worrisome Warts |
August/2005 |
Q: I have a yearling that has warts in her ear. They have grown so much that the mass almost fills her whole ear. She will not let us touch it, which is a problem for her halter training. Will the warts eventually go away, or should we have them removed? Steve
A: Warts are caused by the Papilloma virus and commonly appear on the face and ears of horses.
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| Mineral and Electrolyte Balance |
August/2005 |
I understand that correct ratios of calcium and phosphorus are important to the function of muscle tissue during exertion such as in endurance racing. How does one achieve a good balance using imbalanced feeds? Is there a good strategy for mineral or electrolyte replacement during rest stops?
Michael
Calcium and phosphorus balance is indeed a complex topic.
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| International Breeding |
July/2005 |
I brought two Walking Horse mares to France. I would like to breed to a U.S. stallion and want to know what the success rate might be with shipped frozen or cooled semen. Will I run into importation red tape? Joey
Expect LOTS OF RED TAPE.
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| How to Improve Stallion Fertility? |
July/2005 |
I have a young (4-year-old) Dutch warmblood stallion with some fertility issues. However, he has had good fertility and a good sperm cell count. He has low motility, some poor morphology, and some dead and immature sperm cells. The longevity of his semen is good.
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| Cicatrix in Older Horse |
June/2005 |
I have an 18-year-old gelding that has to slow down and catch his breath periodically while on trail rides. He seems comfortable and fit otherwise and always wants to keep up with the other horses. My veterinarian has estimated that his pharynx is 30% constricted and has diagnosed cicatrix.
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| Maiden Mare Fertility |
June/2005 |
Q: I have a 12-year-old Quarter Horse barrel mare I would like to breed. She has never had a foal, and we have not been able to get her to settle after breeding her with cooled semen for three cycles. What could be causing fertility problems in an otherwise healthy mare? Elizabeth
A: One of the most common fertility problems in a mature maiden mare is a cervix that fails to open properly.
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| What is Ringbone? |
May/2005 |
Q: My 17-year-old Arab gelding has been diagnosed with ringbone. His granddam and another of her offspring also had this disease. What exactly is ringbone? Is it hereditary? What is its cause? My veterinarian has done an exam and X rays and recommended Bute (phenylbutazone) and regular exercise. Dana
A: Ringbone, a lameness disease of the pastern and coffin joints, is a degenerative disorder that has no cure.
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| Recurrent Mastitis |
May/2005 |
We have a 25-year-old mare that gets a case of mastitis almost like clockwork every 35 days. The mastitis begins with swelling in a teat and varies from side to side. It is sore, sensitive, and produces very little fluid.
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| Lyme Disease and Shipping Stress |
April/2005 |
We have a horse on antibiotics for Lyme disease. After his 30-day regimen, he will be shipped from New England to California. Will the stress from the trip cause a flare-up in this disease? Is it a risk to ship him? Are there ways to prevent recurrence? via e-mail
Lyme disease can be a difficult problem to diagnose. Luckily, it appears that horses are intrinsically resistant to the organism, but cases do occur.
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| Black Walnut Tree Shavings as Trail Mulch? |
April/2005 |
Q: This summer we are planning to start making riding trails on our heavily wooded property. As we cut down the branches and trees, we plan to chip the wood to mulch the trails. However, we have a good number of black walnut trees, and I am wondering if the wood chips pose a health risk to our horses.
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| Freeze Branding a Horse |
March/2005 |
Q: I am interested in freeze branding my horses. What is involved in the process? Can I do this myself, or do I need help?
Virginia
A: Freeze branding is a method of permanently identifying your horse. It is aesthetically appealing and is less painful than hot iron branding.
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| Treatment for Ringworm |
March/2005 |
Q: I have consulted with three local veterinarians about the best way to treat ringworm. Each one gave me a different treatment recommendation. What is the most effective way to treat ringworm? Mary
A: Ringworm, which is not actually a worm but a fungal infection, is most likely a normal inhabitant of the skin. It can be introduced into the skin through abrasions or inflammation to create the crusty, flaky, round, hairless areas that are typically associated with the disease.
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| Bone Spurs |
March/2005 |
Q: What exactly are bone spurs, how do they affect a horse's performance, how common are they, what causes them, and how can I manage them in my performance horse? Cara
A: "Bone spur" is a term used to describe sharp bony projections that are visible on X rays at the joint margins of affected horses. The medical term for these spurs is "osteophytes," and they occur specifically at the margins of joints where the articular cartilage blends into the underlying bone.
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| A Rare and Fatal Disease |
February/2005 |
What can you tell me about Tyzzer's disease? I've heard of only two cases in the last 20 years. Bill
Tyzzer's disease is a fatal liver disease affecting foals from nine days to six weeks old, commonly seen in the first two to three weeks of age. The cause is a Clostridium bacterium, recently renamed from a Bacillus.
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| Getting Back to Work |
February/2005 |
My 5-year-old mare has been suffering from an odd gait problem for a few weeks. She "hikes up" her right hind leg from the hock at a walk, but is perfectly sound at the trot and canter. She has been diagnosed with a form of tenosynovitis involving the tendon sheath of the digital deep flexor tendon in the area of the Achilles tendon above the hock.
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| Are We Over-Vaccinating? |
February/2005 |
Q: Is there a reliable test to check the titer of immunity before we revaccinate each year for flu, rhino, etc.? Why is a tetanus shot good for five or more years in humans and only one year or less in the equine? Samantha
A: The equine veterinary community has been doing extensive investigation into appropriate vaccine schedules and the best methods of administration. But even if we don't know the "optimum" schedule for every horse, there is essentially no evidence that "overvaccination"--that is, vaccinating more often than the horse needs--causes horses any harm.
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| Nutrition During Stall Rest |
January/2005 |
I purchased a 3-year-old Thoroughbred gelding with a fractured knee. My veterinarian put him on lay-up for an additional four months of stall rest (he has already had two months) with hand walking twice a day. Then, after additional X rays, he is to be turned out to pasture for another eight months before he can begin any training.
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| Should the Screw Stay In? |
January/2005 |
My 2-year-old filly clipped a fence post in a pasture eight months ago. The result was a slab fracture of the right hind long pastern bone. My vet attempted to repair it with a screw, which failed to hold the fragment in place, so I opted to leave it in a cast for eight weeks and let it heal naturally. After babying my filly for eight months, she's currently sound at all gaits, although she favors it at rest.
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| Do Horses Have Heart Attacks? |
January/2005 |
Q: I read about horses that have died of apparent "heart attacks" during competitions, breeding, and even out in the field. I have had veterinarians tell me there is no such thing as a horse having a heart attack. What are people talking about when they report a horse has died of a heart attack? Molly
A: In general, most horses that collapse and die suddenly are the victims of an aortic aneurysm, which is a weakening in the wall of the aorta--the major vessel leading from the heart.
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| What Is Stringhalt? |
December/2004 |
Q: My 29-year-old Quarter Horse gelding has been diagnosed with a condition that my veterinarian called "stringhalt." He indicated that this condition is rare in this breed and in this location of the United States (northwestern Pennsylvania). What causes this condition? What is the treatment and prognosis? Missy
A: Stringhalt is an abnormal gait that involves exaggerated flexion of one or both hock joints, resulting in a rapid elevation of the hind limb.
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| Joint Supplements and Vitamins |
December/2004 |
Q: I have a 2-year-old Quarter Horse gelding who has been in training for three months. When should I start giving him a joint supplement? Also, when should I begin giving him a vitamin supplement?
Sarah
A: Well, to be honest, your question supposes that you need to be giving him such things at all. Horses were made to be able to satisfy all of their own vitamin requirements, assuming that they've got access to good feed.
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| Is Tubal Ligation a Viable Choice? |
December/2004 |
Has laparoscopic unilateral tubal ligation reached a level of safety and success for mares, or is it a procedure yet to be useful and/or effective or cost prohibitive? Why or why not? Samantha
Laparoscopic tubal ligation has been shown to be feasible by Patrick McCue, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT, associate professor of equine science at Colorado State University.
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| Don't Bypass a Veterinarian |
November/2004 |
I have an older Tennessee Walking Horse with Cushing's disease. She has been on Cipro for some time. She foundered long before I got her, but it has become chronic. I have been able to maintain her to a point, but she is losing weight and I have a difficult time getting her to eat.
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| Is Millet a Problem in the Pasture? |
November/2004 |
I am considering moving my two mares to 10 acres of land that had been planted with millet feed last spring. Because of the lack of moisture, the millet only grew to be about five inches high, then dried out and died. I am going to wait and see what comes up in the 10 acres this spring, but I'm wondering if it would be bad for my horses to graze on if it came up again in the 10 acres? Josie
I assume that the millet you are referring to is pearl or horse millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and not red millet that is a Sorghum species.
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| Is Arthritis Genetic? |
November/2004 |
Q: My 14-year-old Thoroughbred mare was diagnosed with arthritis about a year ago. She competed in low-level horse trials for about six years and only recently began to show signs of arthritis, but 14 seems to be a little young for such a severe case. My hope had always been to breed her at about this point in her life, but it seems a shame to breed a horse with this gene (if it is even a genetic problem).
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| Clean Hooves Before Treating Thrush |
October/2004 |
My 13-year-old Morgan has had very bad thrush for six years. The most recent treatment our vet recommended is soaking the feet in Epsom salts and packing them with iodine-soaked gauze. He's stalled when it's wet, and the stall is cleaned daily.
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| Feeding the Cushingoid Horse |
October/2004 |
Can you provide more information on feeding the Cushing's horse? My dressage horse has Cushing's and is on cyproheptadine and Thyro-L, grass hay, and a quarter-cup of 10% sweet feed. I am worried he is not getting the essential vitamins.
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| Dexamethasone Use in Pregnant Mares |
September/2004 |
Can you help me locate information on steroids given to a mare during pregnancy? The mare has been receiving dexamethasone for cancer up until two months before her due date. The cancer then returned.
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| Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis and Colic |
September/2004 |
Q: I have a 4-year-old Quarter Horse gelding who is HYPP N/H positive. This horse is very gassy and tends to colic once a month, which causes a minor HYPP attack. I have tried everything, from changing his diet (no grain) to just oats, beet pulp, and grass, to giving him Prozyme and other products that have not worked.
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| Corneal Endothelial Degeneration |
August/2004 |
My horse has corneal endothelial degeneration. My veterinarian and I have been using a "control" schedule for some time, but I would like some information about the condition. Janine
The cornea of the horse eye is slightly thicker than 1 mm.
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| Cryptorchidectomy Surgery |
August/2004 |
My stallion is going in for a cryptorchidectomy surgery (removal of a retained testicle). He has never bred any mares and is well behaved. This spring, his testicle started swelling on hot days and my veterinarian recommended the surgery. What is the expected recovery time and how long do I need to wait until I can turn him out with mares? He has been turned out with geldings in the past and never caused trouble.
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| Confusion on Substitute Drugs |
August/2004 |
Until approximately two years ago, I had my retired Quarter Horse on both Legend and Adequan. A change in our choice of vets convinced me that her "generic" MAP-5 and Chondroprotect were just as good and cheaper. Can you address this?
Also, is it necessary to give both the Legend and Adequan injections, or is there any research showing that just one of these will work well enough alone? Randi
There is no evidence that these two products are "just as good and cheaper.
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| Protecting the Elbow From the Shoe |
July/2004 |
I'm desperate to find some way to prevent my 20-year-old Thoroughbred mare from cutting her elbow on her egg-bar shoe when lying down. She has been wearing egg-bars on her front feet to give her a little extra support since she pulled her front right suspensory for the second time. The egg-bars themselves seem to be fine; she is going great in them, jumping small jumps, and primarily doing dressage.
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| Can Horses React to Poison Ivy and Poison Oak? |
July/2004 |
Q: There is quite a bit of poison oak and poison ivy on the acreage where I keep my horses. I have recently added a 2-year-old Thoroughbred mix, and she immediately broke out on her legs and muzzle with small rash-like, raised bumps that remind me of my allergic reactions to poison oak. I am trying to isolate her from it, but it is difficult, as it seems to be everywhere that I can turn her out.
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| Patent Urachus |
June/2004 |
I have a 10-day-old orphaned foal. When she urinates, it also comes from her navel. I have talked to our vet, but would like to read more about this condition. via e-mail
Patent urachus is the term used to describe the condition of urine dripping from the navel.
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| Mangoes Toxic to Horses? |
June/2004 |
In our horse paddock there are four mango trees. Our horses often eat the mangoes that fall off the tree. We were wondering if it is possible for our horses to get sick from eating too many mangoes. Katie
Mango (Mangifera indica) has not been reported to be toxic to horses.
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| Chickens, Ducks, and Horses |
May/2004 |
Q: My horse is on a neighbor's land that is on loan. I pick up the pasture and run-in twice a day. My concern is that my neighbor bought over 100 different species of chickens and ducks that run free. They are constantly in my horse's shed, her pasture, and our backyard.
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| Are Grass Clippings Toxic to Horses? |
May/2004 |
Q: A friend swears that I put my horses at serious risk of "grass tetanus" by mowing my pasture with a rotary finish mower. He says that all of the short pieces produced by small, high-speed equipment expose so much of the grass juices that horses can get very sick. Is this true? Peter
A: It's usually not recommended that horses be fed grass clippings, which are basically the type produced by a rotary mower.
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| Surgery for Septic Osteitis? |
May/2004 |
I read "thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=2771">Septic Osteitis--One Laminitis Complication." My horse has this, and I don't think my vet has had much experience in this and feels that surgery would be detrimental. I'd like to talk to someone with more experience, maybe the vet interviewed in the article, for more information.
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| Too Sore to Nurse |
April/2004 |
Q: I have an 8-year-old mare which delivered a filly recently and since the second feeding, she is protective of her teat area. She is constantly nipping when the baby tries to nurse from her. Is there anything I can do to make this a little less painful for my mare? I am afraid the foal might end up discouraged and stop trying to nurse.
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| Alsike Clover Poisoning |
April/2004 |
Q: I'd like to see more information on alsike clover sensitivity, especially in horses with large areas of white skin such as Paints, pintos, and Appaloosas. All the information I can find suggests that the only problem you will encounter is a severe sunburn on the white areas with sloughing of the damaged skin.
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| Eye Protection from the Sun |
March/2004 |
I have a 14-year-old Paint/Quarter Horse with one blue eye that has been diagnosed with a "detached iris." His iris appears wide open or not even there. My vet suggested providing his eyes with protection from the sun.
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| Oranges for Treats? |
March/2004 |
Can horses eat oranges? I just bought a 4-year-old gelding who apparently loves oranges, but I don't want to feed them to him if his digestive system can't handle the citric acid. The young girl who had him fed him an appalling amount of junk food, including Pepsi, Cheetos, candy bars, etc.
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| Owner-Performed Fecal Exams |
March/2004 |
In the interest of checking fecal samples for types of worms actually present in individual horses, and since I have the equipment, I'd like to do fecal checks here at home. Can you direct me to a chart or a book containing information and illustrations of eggs of various parasites? My veterinarian is an integral part of my horses' health, and he agrees that I could perform this task myself.
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| Round Pen Injuries |
February/2004 |
Has there has been an increase in hind limb lameness since the round pen has become more popular? I feel like I ruined my dream horse with round pen work starting when he was about six months old. He is nine now and mostly unridable due to a degenerative condition in his hips.
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| Regumate to Control Stud Behavior? |
February/2004 |
Q: My yearling stallion has begun his show career in longe line classes. He is beginning to lose concentration and act "studdy" at shows. It was suggested that I put him on Regumate to help control this behavior (as an alternative to gelding). What are the pros and cons? Jennifer
A: Altrenogest (brand name Regumate) is a synthetic progestin that mimics certain actions of progesterone in horses.
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| Excessive Girthiness |
January/2004 |
Q: I start young Thoroughbreds for racing, and occasionally I work with a horse that gets really "girthy." Some even get to the point of falling down, and others get a hump in their backs as if they are going to explode. Can you tell me why this happens, what it is called, and what I can do to prevent it? Vale
A: We see two distinct responses when comparing yearlings and 2-year-olds in the beginning of their breaking period to older horses at the track.
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| Jutted Jaw in a Foal |
January/2004 |
Q: Our foal was born with something that our veterinarian called a "jutted jaw." Can you provide any information on this condition and what, if anything, needs to be done about it?
Jody
A: If by "jutted jaw" you are referring to a mandible (lower jaw) that is longer than the maxilla (top), it is uncommon. The term I have heard more frequently is "sow mouth.
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| Newborns Out of Breath |
November/2003 |
I'd like to know more about foals who after being delivered, dried, and rubbed well, quit breathing in 10-20 minutes. We have done resuscitation by blowing into their nostrils and pumping their rib cages, and have rubbed them vigorously. The foals were both fine, with no further problems--it was just scary.
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| Brushing Horses' Teeth |
November/2003 |
Q: Is there anything we can use on a horse's teeth to get all the gunk off and the grass out of their gums? Is it okay to use toothpaste? Chantel
A: Horses' teeth are not completely covered in smooth, hard enamel, like dogs, cats, or humans. Instead, they are largely covered with a material called cementum, which is a little softer and much more porous than enamel.
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| Can Laminitis be Inherited? |
October/2003 |
Q: I just read your excellent article "thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=939">The Latest on Laminitis" by Karen Briggs. Is laminitis an inheritable disease? What about founder? William
A: The terms "founder" and "laminitis" have become somewhat confusing and are often used interchangeably. I suspect that the more accepted definition and distinction is that when the word "founder" is used, it implies that structural damage has occurred between the interface of the coffin bone and hoof capsule as a result of "laminitis.
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| Ear Teeth? |
October/2003 |
My yearling Standardbred colt has been diagnosed with a dentigerous cyst by the veterinarian. Can you possibly give me some information on this type of cyst? Marylee
Dentigerous cysts, also known as temporal odontoma, temporal teratoma, heterotrophic polydontia, or ear teeth, are relatively rare but well-documented occurrences in young horses. They are composed of sacs containing a tooth or dental tissue that develop where there should not be a tooth.
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| Starting a Rescue Facility |
September/2003 |
Q: I live in Florida, and I am researching private equine rescue facilities. I am interested in starting one in my area. I see a great need for it! Any info that you could send my way would be appreciated. Connie
A: Rescuing horses is very rewarding work, but it's also very demanding work.
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| Salting Hay for Storage |
September/2003 |
Q: I was told that using rock salt on hay that is kept in a small area would keep it from molding. Is this true, and would it do anything to the hay other than keep it dry? Julie
A: The basic answer is yes, salt (sodium chloride) can be effective in inhibiting growth of mold organisms in hay. In earlier days, the practice was not uncommon for small rectangular bales.
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| Pregnant Mares in Heat? |
September/2003 |
Can you supply me with a veterinary explanation on whether a mare that is in foal can come back into season? We have had many discussions about this subject at my barn and are still divided on the answer. Trialee
Mares in late pregnancy will occasionally show signs of heat, such as elevation of the tail, frequent urination, and "winking" of the lips of the vulva.
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| Foal Temperature Regulation |
August/2003 |
Q: I recently clipped my 1-week-old Norwegian Fjord colt as he was having a hard time with the 95-97-degree heat here in Florida. We at first thought he was really sick with a fever, but after ruling out everything else we (me, my veterinarian, other Fjord breeders, and the University of Florida vet school) felt it was the heat. His temp went up to 105 at one point, but hovered around 103-104 during the day and 102 at night.
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| Reaction to WNV Vaccination? |
August/2003 |
My miniature horse injured her shoulder last February (it has healed). However, after her first West Nile virus vaccination over a year later, she became lame in that leg/shoulder again. Is this documented as a possible side effect to the vaccination? I am concerned about her receiving the second injection, which is due shortly.
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| Risks of General Anesthesia |
July/2003 |
Q: Are there health risks simply from the anesthesia for a horse undergoing surgery? If so, what are these risks, and how common are complications from them? via e-mail
A: Equine anesthesia has made dramatic safety advances in the last 20 years, including better sedatives, induction agents, and inhalant anesthetics, and improved monitoring. However, it remains perilous, especially compared to other species.
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| Wetting the Bed |
July/2003 |
I just started raising a few minis. This year I have a colt which was born with a urinary problem. He keeps dripping urine, not every minute but especially when he lies down. His genital area will be wet, just like kids when they sleep and just forget to wake up.
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| Cleaning Water Buckets |
July/2003 |
Q: I'm concerned about keeping our horse's water buckets clean. In summer and winter (heated buckets) there is always scum on the inside. So far, I have spritzed them every day with a weak bleach solution followed by a spritz of club soda with separate sponges. My friend commented that I might not be getting all the bleach out; however, I do rinse with plain water as the last step.
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| What Makes a Horse Yawn? |
June/2003 |
Q: I would like to know what makes a horse do his mouth like he is yawning. Does this help the horse get lots of air in his lungs like with people? Is it a sign of anything in particular? via e-mail
A: Unfortunately, there is no simple answer that explains why a horse "yawns." There are some veterinary medical professionals that firmly believe that the behavior we attribute to yawning in the horse is actually a manifestation of pain or discomfort.
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| Wrapping a Bowed Tendon for Exercise |
June/2003 |
Q: We have a 4-year-old Thoroughbred with a bowed tendon. He has been laid up for about a year and is now in training and doing well. My question: When we race him, should we wrap his leg to support the bow or leave it open? I say that we should wrap it to support the bow, and my husband says that this will only bow the leg worse. Rose
A: Most bandages are put on horses to keep them from running down (when the back of the fetlock is abraded by the racing surface, often seen in a horse whose fetlocks drop lower than normal).
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| Colt Fertility |
June/2003 |
My husband and I have a mare in heat. I had suggested that we use a 2 1/2 year old stud that we own. He said that the stud is too young and that the foal would probably come out with some form of defect. I am having a hard time finding an answer to this question.
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| Why the White Spots? |
May/2003 |
I'd like to ask a question about my horse's skin problem--depigmentation. He is a 10-year-old chestnut Hanoverian gelding with dark eyes and eyelids. But now there is a pink spot on his left upper eyelid and I think it's getting larger. The skin hasn't changed, only the pigmentation.
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| Lyme Disease From Contaminated Feed? |
May/2003 |
Q: Is it possible for a horse to get Lyme disease from eating a tick with his pasture grass, or from eating an infected tick or other source of the bacteria in his hay or feed? Ty
A: I have checked with two colleagues here at the Gluck Equine Research Center, and we all believe that a horse would not contract infection following ingestion of a tick infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterial causal agent of the Lyme disease, or from eating a portion of an infected mouse (which could have been baled into his hay).
It is very probable that B.
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| The Whites of Their Eyes |
May/2003 |
I have a 3-year-old filly which has prominent white around her eyes. Most farriers and several others tell me this is a sign of madness in a horse. I always thought that this was an old wives' tale, but this particular filly does appear to be very nervous. Could you please clarify this for me or direct me to some articles I can read on the subject? Jane
I think it means the horse has a lack of pigment in the sclera (the membrane that connects to the cornea and constitutes the major portion of the outer layer of the eyeball).
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| Caring for a Newly Blind Horse |
April/2003 |
Q. We have a 19-year-old Appaloosa gelding that is going blind fast from a genetic disease. He is not coping with it well; he stumbles around, runs into things, leaves the herd, then gets confused and panics. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated.
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| Foaming at the Mouth |
April/2003 |
Q: My friend's 3-year-old filly plays with her tongue so much that she foams at the mouth (without a bit). She also plays with the rails in her stalls at feeding time such that she has foam all over. She is not cribbing or sucking air.
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| Mare vs. Stallion Genes |
April/2003 |
Q: I hear people talking about how genetic lines all trace through the paternal side of the horse. What about the mares? What quality of foal would you get if you doubled on the maternal side, linebreeding (mating related individuals to concentrate on genetic material) on the mare's side (providing she has the quality)? Is there a difference? Barb
A: The horse, like all other mammals, derives half of his genetic makeup from the sire and half from the dam. This is accomplished in the process of development of both sperm cells and ova (egg cells) by a reduction, by half, of the number of chromosomes in each.
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| Braces for Horses? |
March/2003 |
Q: I read in another magazine that you can have braces put on a horse for an overbite. Naturally, in the article there was no contact information. How can I find out about this? I have a super nice filly that is show quality except for the overbite. If you could help me find out where to start looking for a qualified person to do it, I would really appreciate your help.
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| Fescue Allergy? |
March/2003 |
I have a 6-year-old Arabian gelding who used to spend up to about 12 hours a day on our fescue pasture. As a 4-year-old, he developed lesions on his three white legs on the cannon bone area that were crusty, raw underneath, very sore, and made him lame. His hind legs swelled terribly.
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| Recovering from the Flu |
December/2002 |
Q: There was recently a flu-like breakout at the barn where I board, and some other boarders disagreed on how long, or even if they need to, keep horses in and relatively isolated. Some folks are turning them out soon after the fever breaks, and others are screaming that they should be kept in for a week.
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| Frozen Feed? |
December/2002 |
Q: I live in northeastern Ohio, and it gets pretty cold here at times. My question is: Have you heard of horses getting colic from frozen sweet feeds? I have had horses for the past 40 years and have yet to come upon this happening, but have a friend who is quite certain that this can happen. Any suggestions? I have mixed oats with my feed at times and supplemented with linseed pellets for the horses' coats, and I always make sure that they have plenty of fresh water.
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| Soothing Itchy Eyes |
November/2002 |
My 20-year-old Appaloosa mare seems to have increasingly puffy, swollen eyes each spring and summer. She has white sclera and pigmented skin on her lids. I think the problem is allergy-related, and it seems to be getting worse just the last couple of years.
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| Guinea Grass Toxicity |
November/2002 |
I have a 12-year-old gelding that can't eat guinea grass (Panicum maximum), not even for three days, because it causes the hair around his face, neck, and belly to fall out in patches. As soon as he stops eating it, his hair grows back within a week or two; by four weeks you wouldn't even know he had lost his hair.
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| Vaccinating Older Horses |
November/2002 |
Can you help me find a list of geriatric horse vaccinations (for whichever diseases affect geriatric horses, how much and how often to give them, and any other information you can provide)? I have lists for broodmares, pleasure horses, competition horses, yearlings, and foals--but I am missing a vaccination chart for geriatric horses. Lija
This is a good question.
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| Finding a Suitable Cooled Semen Facility |
October/2002 |
I'm considering using shipped cooled semen for my mare. I want to find a reliable farm/facility to take the shipment and breed her. How do I find a qualified facility? What questions do I need to ask about quality? Is there a site or a book to inform me about this? Kandyce
Equine practitioners offering ambulatory services can often provide this service on the farm. However, few would argue that fertility can be optimized by taking your mare to a facility that offers specialized services.
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| Probiotics and Yeast Cultures |
October/2002 |
My personal experience has been very positive in using probiotics and yeast in the equine diet. My question is about the best formulation of the products. Does using only yeast culture with no bacteria diminish the effects? Which bacteria are beneficial, and which are just "cosmetics" that aren't necessary? What is the minimum number of these organisms that must be present in order to be effective? Don
Since there are so little hard data on any of these products, especially in horses, I can't address these very specific questions.
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| What's a Thumper? |
September/2002 |
My training is in equine myotherapy; I specialize in sports massage, stretching, and hydrotherapy. Sometimes I get asked about a thumper. I have an idea of what it is and its use, but am not sure if I'm correct. The only thing I am sure of is that I heard one horse sustained a serious back injury from the use of a thumper.
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| Eye Removal |
August/2002 |
Q: I was just informed that my 2-year-old Quarter Horse needs to have his right eye removed. He is a rescue that I received through the court, and when I got him he was blind in his right eye. My veterinarian says that it looks like he was hit with some type of blunt force, leaving him with no chance of sight.
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| Skunk Cabbage Toxic to Horses? |
August/2002 |
Recently our horses have begun eating skunk cabbage that grows on the property. They have not done so before. They have plenty of grass plus hay and grain, all of which they also eat. One veterinarian says it is harmful to them; another says it's OK but that it has no nutritional value.
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| Mare Milking Early |
August/2002 |
I have a Paso Fino mare whose due date is three months away and her milk bag is full, hot, and dripping very white milk. She has been waxed over for about a week now, but thankfully she seems to be in no distress. I can find no one with this experience so I am asking for any advice I can get.
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| Forging in Young Horses |
July/2002 |
My trainer says that my 1 1/2-year-old Thoroughbred colt is forging, but only at the trot. Is there something that can be done to correct this problem (i.e.
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| Hermaphroditic Teaser "Mare" |
July/2002 |
A stud farm I once visited was using a hermaphrodite mare as a teaser, with none of the problems of having a stallion (i.e., no problem with mares in foal to the teaser stallion should he escape). How can you tell if a mare is a hermaphrodite (what does she look like, and what is her behavior like)? Sue
What you are looking for is a "male pseudohermaphrodite.
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| Sheath Cleaning Frequency |
July/2002 |
Gray is a 22-year-old Quarter Horse gelding. My question is how/whether to clean his penis. When he lengthens it to urinate, I try to pick off the black crusty stuff, but it is somewhat unpleasant to do this. There is no smell, no yellow color, and no swelling, so I assume this is normal--but how proactive should I be in cleaning? Keith
Horses seem to vary quite a bit in personal hygenic needs.
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| Environmental Factor in Cushing's? |
June/2002 |
I have been treating an aging pony mare for Cushing's syndrome. She had been chronically foundering for three years when she abruptly started exhibiting diabetic symptoms. After reading your article on Cushing's and conferring with my veterinarian, we put her on pergolide.
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| Feeding Laminitic Broodmares |
June/2002 |
My best friend's broodmare has unilateral laminitis (laminitis in one front hoof); she is a 19-year-old Quarter Horse and is currently five months pregnant. The concern is what to feed her to keep the foal healthy, and to keep her from suffering further damage.
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| Don't You Stick Your Tongue Out at Me! |
May/2002 |
My 5-year-old Thoroughbred mare sticks her tongue out when I ride her, especially when asked to accept the bit or to go "on the bit." I have had an equine dentist examine and float her teeth, and I have tried different bits. I have worked on getting her to stop by saying "no tongue.
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| Bute Toxicity in Neonates |
May/2002 |
My wife and I were told that giving Bute (phenylbutazone) to a mare in foal can cause heart defects in the foal, similar to aspirin taken by women in early pregnancy. Is there any connection? Tom
Signs of phenylbutazone toxicity in foals whose dams are treated with the drug are rare.
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| Flushing Solution? |
May/2002 |
I worked at a breeding farm when I was in high school, and after we inseminated the mare we flushed the tube with some type of solution that either was skim milk or reminded me of skim milk. What was that solution and was it necessary? Suzi
The solution you are referring to is semen extender.
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| Pregnant Mare Weight Gain |
April/2002 |
We have a 6-year-old Quarter Horse mare and a 21-year-old Paint mare, both in foal to the same Quarter Horse stud. Both were five months along in mid-November (they were bred one week apart). The 6-year-old gained 31 pounds in a six-week period, and the 21-year-old gained 15 pounds in the same time period.
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| Ruptured Stomach |
April/2002 |
I had a broodmare which died from a ruptured stomach. From what I can find out, this is reasonably rare and I would like to know if I was somehow to blame. Jess
Rupture of the stomach is relatively rare.
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| Mesquite Tree Beans Toxic? |
April/2002 |
My horse recently had a horrible colic episode due to mesquite tree beans. Every summer these trees produce large bean pods, which evidently taste like candy to horses. According to my vet, they also slow down gut motility--hence the colic.
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| Skin Problems and Climate |
March/2002 |
We recently purchased a horse in Kentucky which we shipped to Montana to be a ranch horse. His coat is taking a beating with the cold, dry air. He has little hair on his face, and his coat is thin and flaking. Are there any supplements or ointments that would help? Does brushing help? Franny
It is most unusual to see horses with dry, flaky skin solely due to a move to a drier climate.
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| Equine Lymphoma Cancer |
March/2002 |
I am trying to find out if equine lymphoma cancer is hereditary, and any other causes and effects. I had to euthanize my 5-year-old Quarter Horse recently because he had this. How could I have known sooner that he might have had it? Could a purchase exam have detected it? He was never sick a day until this--then in three or four weeks, he was gone.
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| Shoeing Prescription for Ringbone |
February/2002 |
My eventer was recently diagnosed with ringbone. I am led to believe that he should be shod so he can break over more easily, so I'm thinking of a rolled shoe. My question for the experts would be: How well can he jump with a rolled shoe? Wouldn't his "grip" on the ground be compromised? What else can be done? He has high periarticular ringbone and after just one shot of Adequan appears quite sound, although he will get the full treatment and maintenance of this drug along with any shoeing recommendations.
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| Protein-Losing Enteropathy Diagnosis |
February/2002 |
My 3-year-old Quarter Horse gelding has been diagnosed with protein-losing enteropathy, but I can't find a whole lot of information on it for horses. The veterinarian says that if the steroids and antibiotics don't work, he doesn't think there's much hope. Verna
"Protein-losing enteropathy" is a catchall name for a group of problems that can affect a horse's intestinal tract, ultimately resulting in nutrient malabsorption and loss of the body's protein.
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| Scrape That Won't Heal |
February/2002 |
My 2-year-old Percheron gelding has a scrape just above his right hock (on the outside in the groove). He has had it since birth, but it was more irritated this summer. In winter, it gets dry, scabby, and hairless.
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| Front Foot Flick |
February/2002 |
My 12-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse often "flicks" his left front foot when putting it forward. His previous owners said it was only a cosmetic problem, but my friends say it hurts him when I ride. However, after our latest three-mile ride, he didn't show any pain.
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| Retiring Performance Mares to the Broodmare Band |
January/2002 |
Q: I was interested to read the question on mares returning to performance careers after foaling ("High Performance Broodmares" in the August 2001 issue of The Horse, article #2766 at thehorse.
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| Moon Blindness Attacks |
January/2002 |
Q. Is there any food, treat, or climate that causes moon blindness flare-ups? My horse recently had one, and I want to prevent any more if possible. I already use a fly mask for "sunglasses.
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| Ketoprofen Side Effects? |
January/2002 |
Q. I have a 9-year-old Quarter Horse gelding with caudal heel pain or possible navicular syndrome, and he is becoming more dependent on painkillers. The trouble with phenylbutazone (Bute) is that he is starting to have some gut ache and loss of appetite. So when I read your article on ketoprofen ("Drugs and Pain" in the March 1997 issue of The Horse, article #733 at
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| Turnout Time for Warmblood Foals |
December/2001 |
I am being told by "professionals" that warmblood foals should be turned out a limited amount of time. The "professionals" were a farrier (who shoes Olympic-quality horses) and a respected veterinarian. Their reasoning is that warmblood babies grow too fast and this would slow his growth down.
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| Testing Passive Transfer of Antibodies |
December/2001 |
Q. In an article about the newborn foal’s care (article thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=287">#287), Christina Cable, DVM, talks about the CITE test as one of the most frequently used tests for foal antibodies in her area. Could you please give me more information about this test?
Sergio
A.
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| Which Foot to Pad? |
December/2001 |
Q. I just read your June “Ask the Vet” article about muscle toning and development (article #2775). It describes my horse exactly! Her left shoulder is more developed, and the right shoulder is farther forward and flat. Her left foot has a low heel and the right is slightly clubbed.
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| Canker: What Is It? |
November/2001 |
Q: My veterinarian mentioned that she was treating a horse on a nearby farm for canker. What is it? Where does it come from? And how do you treat it? Is it different from thrush?
A: To the best of our knowledge, canker is an anaerobic (grows in the absence of oxygen) infection in the superficial epithelium of the hoof (the horn-producing tissues of the foot). Veterinarians believe the invading organism is a part of the bacteroides species, which is similar to what causes "footrot" in sheep.
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| Glaucoma in Foals |
November/2001 |
I am looking for information on glaucoma in foals. Any information will be helpful.
Kelly
Glaucoma is a disease characterized by an increase in pressure within the eye that is higher than the eye can tolerate. Glaucoma causes blindness from damage to the optic nerve and retina (the structures that collect light and transmit visual signals to the brain).
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| Cushing's and Seizures? |
November/2001 |
I was wondering if, in addition to the various topics that you discussed as possible causes of equine seizures ("AAEP Answerline: Seizures" in the November 1999 issue of The Horse, online at thehorse.
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| Bouncing Knees a Problem? |
November/2001 |
I have a 6-year-old Quarter Horse gelding that I trail ride in the mountains. He is noticeably "over at the knees." Often while riding, one knee or the other will wobble forward and back when we pause. He doesn't appear lame or swollen, but the bouncing makes me wonder if his tendons are sore.
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| Nephrosplenic Entrapment |
November/2001 |
Q: My 17-year-old Quarter Horse had surgery in September of 2000 for nephrosplenic entrapment (in which the large colon becomes hooked over the nephrosplenic ligament). We went back on June 13 for the same surgery.
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| When Your Horse Thinks He's a Termite... |
November/2001 |
Q: Is chewing pressure-treated wood (the green-tinged wood) dangerous for horses?
Catherine
Q: Our horses have started eating our fences and tree bark quite frequently this year. They run on pasture, get 10% sweet feed once a day, and have salt blocks all over the pasture.
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| Phenylbutazone (Bute) Longevity |
November/2001 |
I was wondering how many days phenylbutazone (Bute) can stay in a horse's system? I have a horse which has to stay on this medication on a fairly constant basis.
Carole
If you mean how long is the drug effective at reducing inflammation or how long can it be detected in serum or urine, the answers are different.
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| Breeding Horses With Genetic Disorders |
November/2001 |
I read on your site that two or three Quarter Horse stallions might be traced to the syndrome of polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM). I have a performance Quarter Horse filly with PSSM, and I feel it is important to know who these sires are so I can be an informed and responsible breeder. The filly is great, but in picking out a stallion for her I would not want to double up on the genetics for this syndrome.
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| Problems With Blue Eyes? |
October/2001 |
Q: I'm looking at a Quarter Horse cross who is about 12 years old and appears to be perfectly healthy. My only concern is that he has two blue eyes. I have not had a pre-purchase vet exam done yet due to the vet's busy schedule, but was wondering if there is possibly a vision problem with a horse that has two blue eyes.
Loni
A: If this horse was born with irises that are blue, there is no specific ocular reason not to purchase this horse.
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| Geldings and Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) |
October/2001 |
Q: Is it possible for a gelding to have equine viral arteritis? I've read all about this disease in mares and stallions, but I have not read anything about it in geldings.
Nikki
A: It is certainly possible for a gelding to develop this disease.
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| Pre-Purchase Exams |
October/2001 |
Q: Over the years, I've had a number of pre-purchase exams done on my horses. I've come to realize that one vet will read an X ray and say a horse has arthritis, osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), navicular problems, etc., but when you have a different vet read the same X rays, they will come up with totally different findings.
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| Disposal of Euthanized Animals |
October/2001 |
I work at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Md., with the Marine Animal Rescue Program. Occasionally a large marine mammal requires euthanasia. I was wondering if you knew the half-life of some of the usual drugs. There is concern (and debate) that if we euthanize a marine mammal on a beach, that other animals will eat the carcass and die from the euthanasia drugs.
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| Wry Nose |
October/2001 |
I would like information on wry nose (laterally deviated rostral maxilla). I had a foal born with it and never heard of it before then. I would like to know what causes it and any other information about this condition. Also, how common is it in horses?
Virginia
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| Spleen Problems |
September/2001 |
Q: Can you help me settle a bet? I remember reading that a horse's spleen is unique, but my friend said that horses don't even have a spleen. What's the truth?
A: Horses do in fact have a spleen, so you win that part of the bet. However, although some aspects of the anatomy and function of the horse's spleen are different from the human spleen, these physical and functional characteristics are shared by a number of other mammals.
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| Tying-Up Syndrome |
September/2001 |
I just bought a Thoroughbred filly which was in race training, but retired without running because of recurrent bouts of ‘tying-up.’ She had been turned out for six months before I got her, and never showed any problems while on the farm. What can you tell me about this disease?
Tying-up is a syndrome or description of a horse with muscle damage that has many different causes.
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| Life After Colic Surgery |
August/2001 |
Q: My horse had successful colic surgery about 3 1/2 years ago. He is now for sale, but as soon as someone hears that he had the surgery, they are no longer interested and ignore all the good points about the horse. Is there any statistical data that shows a correlation between colic surgery and future health?
Jerry
A: There are several potential health problems that can arise after colic surgery, including recurrent colic due to scar tissue (adhesion) formation in the abdomen, weight loss, herniation of the abdominal incision, and recurrence of a twisted bowel.
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| If All Else Fails, Use Baycox? |
August/2001 |
Several Standardbred trainers have told me that when a vet cannot find what is wrong with their horses, the vet will suggest putting them on Baycox. I recently had two vets tell me to try my 3-year-old trotter on Baycox. They had gone all over him and thought that might help him where nothing else has.
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| Manure Eating in Adult Horse |
July/2001 |
We have a seven-year-old draft cross gelding who was treated for Lyme disease in October of 2000 with 8 grams of doxycycline (a broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic) twice daily for three weeks. Since that time, and not previously, we have witnessed him eating fresh manure of his pasture mates.
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| High-Performance Broodmares? |
June/2001 |
I have heard that breeding a mare does irreversible damage to the ligaments, tendons, and muscles -- that once a mare is bred, she can't return to the performance ring, i.e.
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| Graveled Horses |
June/2001 |
Q: My horse became very lame without showing any signs of cracks, bruising, or having a "hot" nail. The barn manager said my horse was "graveled" and called the veterinarian. After treatment, the horse became fine, but since my horse is never on gravel, could you please explain the term?
A: The diagnosis of a graveled horse is usually not difficult.
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| Dirty Mares |
June/2001 |
My veterinarian said my mare probably didn't conceive this year because she was "dirty." We treated her and cleared up her problem, but what are our chances of getting her pregnant, and could she get "dirty" again?
The term "dirty mare" can be very complicated, and one that applies to as many as 85% of broodmares that have problems conceiving. It consists of more than one specific complication; in fact there are three broad categories of problem mares.
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| Headshaking Problem |
June/2001 |
My horse is driving me crazy! Every time we go out to ride, he starts flipping his head. I've changed his bridle, put on gallons of fly wipe, and had his ears and eyes checked. What is his problem, and what else can I try?
Headshaking in horses has been observed by horsemen and veterinarians for nearly 100 years.
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| Stall Walking |
June/2001 |
I have a yearling Thoroughbred that constantly circumnavigates his stall. This is causing an uneven wear pattern on his hooves. How do I stop him from doing this? We do not want to put him in a standing stall, and have tried hanging a tire in the stall to no avail. He is outside when the weather is good and is quite happy there.
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| Gas Colic |
June/2001 |
My horse gets recurring bouts with what my veterinarian has described as "gas colic." Can you explain a little more about what causes it and what can be done to help prevent it?
Gas colic is a catch-all term that refers to abdominal pain in horses caused by excessive gas in any portion of the intestinal tract. In many instances, the diagnosis is made by exclusion of other specific conditions rather than actually identifying the location of the gas.
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| Muscle Toning and Development |
June/2001 |
A number of horses I've seen appear to have asymmetrical muscle development, particularly over the shoulder area, which can make saddle fitting difficult. Many publications seem to say that the larger shoulder indicates that the horse is having to work harder with this leg and that muscle mass has therefore increased--just like with a weight lifter.
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| Warts |
June/2001 |
Q: My yearling has broken out with warts around his mouth. These warts have become quite unsightly. How do I treat him, and will they come back? Should I quarantine him so he does not spread the warts to my other horses?
A: Warts are caused by the papillomavirus, and they usually appear as blemishes on the face, mouth, or nose regions in younger horses. They appear as either single warts, or as clusters of warts that have a "cauliflower" appearance.
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| Young Foal Exercise |
June/2001 |
When do I start my foal on an exercise program? My champion show jumper just gave birth to a foal a couple of weeks ago, and I want to give him every advantage possible since I have plans for him to be my next champion show jumper. What type of exercise should I start him with, and when?
An exercise program designed to build muscle mass is not recommended for the first year because the skeletal system of the foal is just not ready to handle a huge amount of muscle.
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| Who Owns Radiographs? |
June/2001 |
My vet took some X rays of my horse's legs. I paid the bill in full, but when I asked for the X rays, he said they belonged to him and not me. Is this correct? If I'm charged for the X rays, why can't I have them?
Many veterinarians run into this situation, not only equine veterinarians. To the client, it makes sense that he or she would own the radiographs (X rays) since, in the client's opinion, he or she paid for them.
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| The Club Foot |
June/2001 |
Q: After seeing the conformation of several weanlings at a sale recently, I noticed that my weanling had a strange-looking foot. On closer examination of his leg, his foot seemed a bit boxy. Will I still be able to sell him at the sales next year, and will he be able to perform as an athlete? My veterinarian said it sounds like he has a club foot.
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| Sole Bruise |
June/2001 |
This morning when I went to the barn, my Quarter Horse gelding was lame, to the point where he did not want to bear any weight on his left hind foot at all. My barn manager thinks it might be a sole bruise.
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| Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP) and Breeding |
May/2001 |
I have a 6-year-old Quarter Horse mare N/H (heterozygous) for hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP), and a lot of vets have told me that I can breed her to a Thoroughbred, and the baby should be fine. She does have some problems with the warm weather.
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| Disinfecting For Strangles |
May/2001 |
I have a pony on a farm where strangles has broken out. There are about 80 horses on this farm on about 100 acres (split into different pastures). We don't know where the infection started, but horses which show signs are being treated. What do you do about a farm that is so big with so many horses? How do you treat that big of a problem? Can you spray the pastures with a bleaching agent? I am at a loss for what to tell the owner of this farm to do.
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| Deworming Drugs |
April/2001 |
I wanted to ask if any vets or horse owners have heard of problems with the Quest wormer. I have heard from two different people in two different horse areas that this wormer has caused some problems for horses such as stomach aches or mild colic, and a family member's gelding got a belly ache after being wormed with Quest. If anyone has heard of this, I'd really like to hear about it.
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| Bute and the Urinary Tract |
April/2001 |
Can you direct me to any information regarding the effect of phenylbutazone (Bute) on the urinary tract of a gelding, specifically symptoms and prognosis for full recovery?
Peter
Phenylbutazone works by inhibiting the formation of prostaglandins, the chemical byproducts of inflammation. Prostaglandins appear to have an influence on perfusion (blood flow) into the tissues of the kidney.
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| Checking Out Equine Insurance |
April/2001 |
Q: I recently read your article in the February 2001 issue about horse insurance by Les Sellnow. What I would like to know is how to check and find out if the horse insurance you have is with a company with a good reputation. I have had my insurance for eight years, and I have never had to use it.
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| EPM Vaccine and the Western Blot Test |
March/2001 |
I am very excited to hear that there is a vaccine for EPM (equine protozoal myeloencephalitis)! Three and a half years ago, I had to put down an outstanding colt who was only 14 months old. He suffered from both CVM (cervical vertebral myelopathy) and EPM.
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| Umbilical Hernias |
March/2001 |
I am currently looking at a filly to purchase. She had an umbilical hernia, which the owner had repaired. I was wondering if this is a heritable condition. What is the likelihood that if this filly was used for breeding purposes in the future, she would pass on umbilical hernias to her offspring? Could a former hernia affect her future athletic performance? Any information you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
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| Stallion Libido |
March/2001 |
I have a breeding problem with my 13-year-old Quarter Horse stallion. He has tremendous bloodlines. He has four or five foals on the ground, so I know that he is not infertile. But recently I leased him to a friend out of state to use.
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| Narcolepsy in Horses |
February/2001 |
I am requesting information regarding narcolepsy. I haven't found any sources with any information.
Gail
In a book I edited with Warwick Bayly, BVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, entitled Equine Internal Medicine (published by W.
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| Power Lines and Horses |
February/2001 |
Have you ever published anything on the effects of power lines and electromagnetism around broodmares? My farm is trying to circumvent the local electric company from pursuing site location in our mares' field.
Angie
To my knowledge, there has been no information published on the effects of power lines around horses.
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| Long Gestations |
February/2001 |
Do you have information on mares which have had exceedingly long gestations with loss of the foal at birth and premature placental separation? My mare had one pregnancy that resulted in the above problems and is now in her second pregnancy. What are the chances that she will have a repeat incident? How should she be monitored as she nears her foaling date?
Cheryl
There are a number of causes for prolonged gestation and premature placental separation.
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| Any Headshaking Articles? |
January/2001 |
I own a 7-year-old appendix Quarter Horse that I have competed successfully on the Quarter Horse circuit at the national level. Early last fall, this horse began severely shaking or nodding his head at times. It usually was triggered by flies or gnats, but seems to have gotten worse.
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| Are Straight Hocks a Problem? |
January/2001 |
Does having straight hocks cause a horse to trip or to react any different than a horse without this? Will they tire more easily climbing hills when on a trail? What safety considerations should I be thinking about? --Lynn
This is an excellent question. Horses with hocks that lack angulation are considered "straight," and this is considered a conformational flaw.
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| Problems with Cataracts? |
January/2001 |
Q: I am thinking of buying a 6-year-old mare that has cataracts in both of her eyes. What kind of problems would I be in for if I decide to buy this sweetheart?
via e-mail
A: If you are seriously interested in this horse, you should invest in an examination by a veterinary ophthalmologist. The specifics of the cataracts will affect the prognosis.
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| Collecting Colostrum |
December/2000 |
Q: How can I collect colostrum from a mare and save it for future use, and how long can I keep it?
A: Colostrum or "first milk" is the thick, yellow secretion from the mammary gland that's present immediately after birth. Produced in the mare's udder during the last two to four weeks of gestation in response to hormonal changes, colostrum contains concentrated immunoglobulins (antibodies) from the mare's serum.
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| Pin Firing |
October/2000 |
I am about to purchase a gelding who is off the track. I notice he has lines of scars on his cannons that the owner says are from "pin firing." What is pin firing, what is its purpose, and how often is it performed? Is there any long-term damage as a result? via e-mail
Pin firing or thermocautery has therapeutic value for certain conditions in the horse. When done properly, the AAEP considers pin firing an acceptable form of therapy.
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| Popped Knees |
September/2000 |
I was talking to one of my e-mail friends last night, and she said her horse had a "popped" knee. I hated to seem ignorant, but I have no idea what that means. Can you help?
via e-mail
"Popped knees" is a layman's term for enlargement in the front of the carpal joints of a horse.
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| How Much Bute Is Too Much? |
July/2000 |
My veterinarian recently prescribed "Bute" when my gelding came up sore after an endurance ride. He advised a specific dosage, but I wonder if I could be helping my horse more by increasing the amount of Bute or giving it to him more often. Can I give him more without making him sick?
Phenylbutazone, or "Bute" as it commonly is known, is a potent compound that is classified as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
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| When Should I Call the Vet? |
June/2000 |
I'm a member of an online horse discussion group. Sometimes we ask each other about training or ailments our horses have, and we trade ideas, tips, and advice. Some health conditions sound very serious.
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| Proud Flesh |
May/2000 |
My horse had a cut on his lower cannon bone and my vet gave me instructions on how to wrap it to prevent proud flesh. What is proud flesh, and can it really become a problem, or is he being overly cautious?
Exuberant granulation tissue, or proud flesh as it is more commonly known, is part of the normal wound healing response in the horse. Granulation tissue is the pebbly or granular appearing tissue which develops in healing wounds anywhere on the horse's body.
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| Coggins Test |
April/2000 |
Q. My horse was turned away from a horse show because we didn't have a current negative Coggins test. Is it really that important?
A. To answer the question directly, you were turned away because it is customary to monitor the serum of horses for antibodies to equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV)--and we use testing to prevent the movement of virus carriers and spread of the infection caused by that lentivirus (a virus that can cause slowly progressive, often fatal animal diseases).
The Coggins test is the most commonly used means of finding antibody to EIAV, which causes a persistent infection in horses.
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| Coffin Bone Fractures |
March/2000 |
My horse has been diagnosed with a fractured coffin bone. What could have caused it, and what is the prognosis?
Fractures of the coffin bone or distal phalanx usually occur in the horse following some type of trauma, often from kicking, or a large force placed on the coffin bone (i.e.
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| Foal Heat Diarrhea |
February/2000 |
Can you please tell me what foal heat diarrhea is, and what causes it? Some people say it's because of the mare's hormones being transferred in her milk during foal heat, but other people have said that is an old wives' tale.
Foal heat scours (diarrhea) is a term used to describe the diarrhea that occurs in foals between seven and 10 days of age.
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| Bladder Rupture |
January/2000 |
It's nearly foaling season on the farm where I work, and a groom was telling me about a foal last year that died of bladder rupture on this farm. Is this something that I can prevent? How do I recognize it?
Bladder rupture is a tear or leak in the urinary bladder that results in uroperitoneum.
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| Seizures |
November/1999 |
I’m interested in purchasing a horse which has a history of seizures. What could they be caused by, are there different forms, and is there anything I can do to prevent them from happening again?
First of all, you would need a veterinarian’s assessment of the horse and the predisposition to seizures. The history of the individual horse is extremely important.
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| Patchy Hair Loss |
October/1999 |
I noticed that my Arabian mare was missing a patch of hair under her mane at the beginning of the summer. Since then, the spot has gotten larger. What causes this? How can I treat it?
Hair loss in the horse can be caused by something simple, such as environment and temperature, or it can be caused by a more serious dermatophyte (fungus), such as ringworm, that invades the hair follicles of the skin.
There are three phases of hair growth in the horse.
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| Foal Diarrhea |
September/1999 |
I am a new owner of a broodmare who just had her first foal, which now has diarrhea. What can I do about it? How serious is it for him? How do I keep this from happening again?
The causative agents for diarrhea can be bacteria, viruses, parasites, or a range of non-infectious agents or conditions such as toxins, lactose intolerance, or "foal heat" diarrhea. Foal heat is due to normal physiological changes in the foal’s gut and usually occurs anywhere from day seven to 12 after birth.
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| Steroids |
July/1999 |
Q: My horse had a soft tissue injury and my veterinarian gave him steroids. Some of the people in my barn say I need to be careful that he doesn’t get too aggressive or get foundered. I’m confused.
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| Buying a Horse/Prepurchase Exams |
June/1999 |
I’m in the market for my first horse. I’ve seen people at my barn buy horses, and they always have a veterinarian check the horse over before making the purchase. What exactly does the veterinarian check for and why is this so important?
For the sake of space and the amount of information available on this topic, this article will deal with the private sale of horses.
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| Feeding Beet Pulp |
May/1999 |
Q: I've been told I should feed beet pulp to help put weight on my skinny Thoroughbred. But I'm worried about the stories I've heard about beet pulp expanding in the horse's stomach and causing colic -- or worse! Is beet pulp a good addition to my horse's diet, and if so, how can I feed it safely?
A: Beet pulp is the fibrous material left over after the sugar is extracted from sugar beets. It's an excellent source of digestible fiber, with a relatively low crude protein content (averaging 8 to 10%), comparable to good-quality grass hay.
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| Dental Examination |
March/1999 |
I have a Morgan mare who, I think, might have something wrong with her teeth. What should I expect from a dental examination for my horse?
thehorse.com/images/content/dental_exam9903.
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| Warm Water |
February/1999 |
I've heard it's necessary to give horses warm drinking water in the winter. Is this true? And if so, how warm should it be? Do you have any suggestions on how I can keep my horse's drinking water warm when it's freezing outside?
thehorse.
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| The Down Horse |
January/1999 |
I saw a thread on the Internet about a "down" horse and whether it would live or not. Can you please explain what that term means and if that horse has a chance to survive?
thehorse.
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| Tail Rubbing Problem |
December/1998 |
My horse is constantly rubbing his tail on anything he can find. It has become so bad that the hair at the base of his tail has either fallen out or become matted. Thankfully, I've finished my show season, but what is causing him to do this? He also seems to be losing weight.
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| Heart Murmurs |
October/1998 |
Q: Is a heart murmur in horses the same as a heart murmur in people? What signs will a horse with a heart murmur exhibit? How can a heart murmur be diagnosed?
thehorse.
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| Hives Symptoms and Treatment |
September/1998 |
Question: I noticed the other day that my Appaloosa gelding had hair standing up and welts on his skin. A friend suggested that he might have hives. What can you tell me about hives on horses. What kind of treatment should he have?
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| Capped Hock Injury |
July/1998 |
I have a three-year-old Thoroughbred filly who was shipped from Texas. When she arrived, she had a swelling on her hock that was called a capped hock. What exactly is a capped hock and how should I deal with it? Will it affect her ability to race successfully?
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| Cooling Overheated Horses |
July/1998 |
With summer upon us, I am concerned about exercising my horse in hot weather. What can I do to make sure my horse is properly cooled out? Are there steps I can take before, during, and after exercise?
There are many variables involved in this question. The answer depends on how much exercise your horse will undertake and how strenuous the exercise is.
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| Umbilical Hernia |
May/1998 |
I have been told that my horse has an umbilical hernia. What exactly is an umbilical hernia and what can be done to correct it?
A hernia is defined as a "protrusion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening." The common hernias affecting the horse involve the herniation of intestine and are inguinal, scrotal, or umbilical in location.
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| How To Find A Vet On The Road |
April/1998 |
We are in the midst of planning our summer vacation. We also are planning to take our horses on this trip so that we can do some trail riding. However, we do have a concern. What if one of our horses becomes ill or injures himself on the trip? What is the best way to find a veterinarian when we are away from home with our horses?
You say you are planning your summer vacation.
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| Cleft Palate in Horses |
January/1998 |
My filly, which is only a few days old, dribbles milk from her nose when she nurses her dam. The veterinarian who delivered her has been back out to check this, and he tells me that she has a cleft palate. Does this mean the same as it does in humans? What kind of problems am I going to have with this filly?
A cleft palate is an uncommon congenital defect in the foal that usually is the result of a developmental defect of the soft palate, and in rare occasions, the hard palate.
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| Blanketing |
November/1997 |
I have a 4-year-old Thoroughbred filly that I am preparing for winter. When is it appropriate to blanket her, and when would she be better off without a blanket?
thehorse.
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| Hind End Lameness |
October/1997 |
I have a 4-year-old hunter who has become lame in his hind end. He routinely goes over 2' 6" jumps, but never anything larger. Being only 5'3", I do not think that my problem is the weight I am asking him to carry. There are no obvious problems with his hind end that I can see.
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| Dropped Hip/Hunter's Bump |
August/1997 |
My horse has an "uneven" hip that has been called a "hunter's bump" or a "dropped hip" by various people. Can you please tell me what these are, and how they are different?
There is not another group on the planet that has the specialized vocabulary of horsemen; but a "dropped hip" in reference to a horse is a new one on me. It is not recognized terminology in equine veterinary medicine or in horseman's jargon.
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| Pelvic Fractures |
January/1997 |
My horse was sound when he was turned out one night, and the next morning he was lame in the hind end. It took quite a few diagnostics by my veterinarian before it was determined that he had suffered a slight pelvic fracture. How common is this and what is his prognosis?
Unlike in small animals, pelvic fractures in horses are much less common.
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| Capped Hocks |
August/1996 |
My horse has suffered from an injury to his hock that my veterinarian called a capped hock. Can you please explain a little more about what a capped hock is, what caused it, and what I can do for it?
Capped hock, also known as bursitis of the hock, is a fairly common ailment that affects all breeds and disciplines of horses equally. This is an acquired bursitis of the hock caused by trauma, which can result from a trailer accident, bumping against a stall wall with the hocks, or any other instance where the hock is bumped and aggravated.
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| Cribbing |
May/1996 |
I have a horse that cribs all the time. He is always hanging his teeth over his stall or the fence and sucking air. How bad is this for him, and is there any way to stop him permanently?
Cribbing is when a horse places its front teeth on a horizontal surface, arches its neck, and pulls backwards. This behavior is usually associated with a grunting noise as the horse gulps air, and is often referred to as wind sucking or aerophagia.
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| Respiratory Disease In Foals |
April/1996 |
What is the first thing I look for to tell if my foal has a respiratory problem, and what are the best things to do to prevent pneumonia and other problems from happening in the first place?
The most important signs of respiratory disease in neonatal foals are an increased respiratory rate (breathing hard), occasionally a cough, sometimes discharge from the nose, and fever. Some of the foals might be weak and have a difficult time getting up.
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| Moving Your Horse Safely |
March/1996 |
I will be moving my horse from Kansas to Virginia in the near future. What preparations can I make to ensure the health of my horse in transit?
With the very mobile population of the United States, this is becoming a very common question of horse owners. You need to decide well in advance of the trip whether you are going to transport your horse by personal trailer or commercial van.
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| Prepping Stallions |
February/1996 |
It's getting close to the breeding season. What are some tips on getting my stallion, my crew, and myself ready for the onslaught?
How you get a stallion ready for the breeding season depends on many things, but basically you can break it down into getting new stallions introduced into the breeding routine, and a refresher course for experienced stallions. With either kind, it's important to remember the basic health aspect of the horse.
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| Dummy Foals |
January/1996 |
My mare suffered a dystocia and the foal had to be taken to a local veterinary hospital for care. The veterinarian termed him a "dummy" foal, but said his chances of being a normal adult were very good. What can you tell me about a "dummy" foal?
The term "dummy" foal is one that is given to foals that act "dumb" at birth, or even hours thereafter.
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