Wisconsin Equine Roundup

Equine Back Pain

2012-04-11T09:07:00-05:00

Unfortunately, in both humans and horses, a pain in the back can be a “pain in the neck” to diagnose and treat! Back pain can begin as very subtle changes in the horse’s performance or temperament and may not be recognized initially. The sheer mass of the equine musculature can make the diagnosis and treatment of back pain even more difficult.

Symptoms

Most horses with back pain present with vague signs such as diminished performance, attitude changes, and gait alterations. When ridden, the horse may be reluctant to move forward and come “through”, resist stretching over the topline, hollow through the back, refuse leads, resist lateral work, toss its head, wring its tail, pin its ears, or buck,. In more severe cases, the horse may resent grooming, flinch when saddling, move stiffly, stand with a hunched back, or resist having its legs picked up.

Causes

The sources of back pain may be just as subtle and varied. Falls, kicks, overstretching, wear and tear, and other injuries may cause stiffness bruising, nerve damage, or even fractures. Jumping and dressage, in particular, require a great deal of back strength. Have a veterinarian evaluate your horse as soon as possible after injury to minimize inflammation and prevent further damage, especially if there is incoordination (ataxia) or strange behavior associated with it.

A common cause is a poor fitting saddle. Having an experienced saddle fitter evaluate your saddle may solve the problem. Proper placement, tree width, balance, and stability are important to avoid pinching the muscles, putting pressure on the spine, and concentrating the pressure over too small an area. Bruises, muscle fatigue, strains, or even pinched nerves can result from improper fit. The saddle may also alter the rider’s position enough to create undo pressure on a particular area of the horse’s back. Even if your saddle was professionally fit, the saddle fit can change over time as it is broken in or, even throughout the year, as your horse’s shape and fitness level change.

Back pain is often secondary to other medical problems. A lame or unbalanced horse may alter its movement, which will alter the way the back moves. This can cause back pain that may not even be noticed until the primary lameness is resolved. Have a veterinarian evaluate foot and lameness issues early to avoid prolonged lameness that may lead to back pain.

Conformation can also be a contributing factor. While you cannot change a horse with a weak or long back, proper training can at least help to strengthen the neck, abdominal muscles, top line and hindquarters to support the back. Some horses will be predisposed to developing “kissing spine” lesions due to impingement of the dorsal spinous processes.

Oral pain may cause a horse to carry its head and neck higher, which may create back stiffness. A thorough oral exam and regular teeth floating should help prevent this. Some mares may experience ovarian pain during their estrus cycle that may manifest as back pain.

Another source of your horse’s pain may be you! Not just because you are making him work, but your riding style, your technique and, possibly, your size may be creating strain or pressure on the back. Have an experienced trainer evaluate you to see if you might be causing the problem. The solution may be as simple as a change in position.

Diagnosis

Evaluation of back pain can be difficult. Initially, a basic physical exam and oral exam can help rule out other primary medical issues. A routine lameness must be performed to evaluate the horse’s way of going and rule out primary lameness issues. Evaluation and palpation of the entire neck, back and sacroiliac region is performed to assess pain, swelling, tightness, and asymmetry. Rectal exam may be helpful to evaluate the pelvis, reproductive tract, iliopsoas muscle and blood flow to the hind limbs. Depending on the practitioner’s comfort level, the saddle fit will be addressed.

X-rays may be performed to evaluate for kissing spines, osteophytes, and fractures. Ultrasound evaluation is very useful for evaluating the articular facets, muscles and ligaments of the neck, back, and lumbar region. The sacroiliac region can, in most cases, be evaluated quite thoroughly by ultrasound. Occasionally, referral for nuclear scintigraphy (bone scan) or thermography may be necessary.

The list of diagnoses may include:

Severe muscle pain

Pinched” nerves-nerve inflammation

Sacroiliac joint pain

Sacroiliac desmitis - inflammation of the sacroiliac ligaments

Overriding spinous processes (“kissing spines”)-bone on bone rubbing between the spinous processes
Osteoarthritis of the facets-arthritis between the vertebrae
Discospondylosis - calcification of the ventral longitudinal ligament
Supraspinous desmitis - inflammation of the supraspinous ligamentsFractures

Therapies

Treatment of back pain has come a long way in recent years. Depending on the diagnosis, some sources of back pain can resolve completely and others may require life-long maintenance. Some of the therapies utilized for back pain include:

Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy (VSMT) or chiropractic adjustment helps to “re-align” the spinal column to relieve subtle impingements on the nerves and improve the circulation and flow of energy.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) involves pulse waves that are emitted from a transducer to improve blood flow to a region and stimulate healing. This is especially useful in cases of “kissing spine” lesions, sacroiliac pain and muscle pain.

Injections of anti-inflammatories into the sacroiliac, paravertebral, or intervertebral spaces for sacroiliac disease, osteoarthritis, deep muscle pain, and kissing spines

Acupuncture is used to relieve pain and muscle spasms, and to increase nerve regeneration and circulation.

Mesotherapy has some similarities to acupuncture-a series of microinjections are made along the back to relieve muscle pain and inflammation. It is especially useful for muscle pain and kissing spines

Methocarbamol (Robaxin) is a muscle relaxant for muscle spasms

Tildren is a new drug which helps to reduce bone resorption and may be helpful in cases of back pain associated with bony lesions

Equine physiotherapy is an area of ongoing research, however most of the work is being adapted from human therapies. Various forms of muscle massage, body work, stretching, isometrics, laser, TENS, therapeutic ultrasound and specific exercises may all be helpful for treatment of back pain from primary and secondary sources, as well as prevention of future injury.

Back pain can be a frustrating to diagnosis and treat, however, tremendous progress has been made in this area in recent years and there is hope! Contact us for more information.

A Day in the Life of an Equine Veterinarian - On the Road

2012-03-28T09:40:00-05:00

Working as an equine field veterinarian allows me to do “house calls” for all my patients. I start each day with a set schedule and a plan, both of which commonly change as the day progresses. The beauty of my job is the variety of cases that I get to see in a 24hr period. Each day is different from the last. An emergency that requires me to leave what I am doing is not an unusual situation. For instance, just the other day I was performing a lameness exam on a horse that had been dealing with a chronic soreness issue when my phone rang and got the message that a colicky horse was requiring my attention. This meant I had to leave my current appointment in order to go where I was most needed. On arrival, I have a client that is very anxious, almost frantic, due to their old horse not wanting to stand. It sometimes becomes challenging when both the owner and horse are distressed. After sedating the old gelding and giving him some pain medication, miraculously both the client and the treated horse are now more relaxed. While sedated, I try to thoroughly examine the horse and come up with a diagnosis. A large colon impaction is palpated and the next step involves administration of oral fluids and mineral oil via a large naso-gastric tube. This means a large tube is inserted up the horse’s nasal passage, down the esophagus and into the horse’s stomach. Unfortunately during this procedure, my client became dizzy and fainted right in front of their own horse, lead rope in hand. The owner was moved safely outside the stall and remained there until they woke up completely. Now I am left holding a horse, a pump and reassuring the owner who is now rather embarrassed about what has just happened. My job is about the horse, but one must also love people because so much of my time is spent listening to a concerned client. I get to help horses and reassure clients. Educating clients is also a large part of my day. Informed clients have a much easier time understanding our recommendations regarding their horse’s health.

Now that my emergency is stable, I then find myself playing “a little catch up”. My clients are all so appreciative of my time and they understand that I sometimes have to go where I am most needed. Being a field veterinarian, allows me to see my patients in the comfort of their own homes. I get to spend time with my clients and therefore, get to know them better. I sometimes even get to see my patients “doing their job” as I am passing through. Once my daytime job comes to an end, sometimes my night time job starts….Being an ambulatory veterinarian does require me to do some “on call” work. There is the occasional day that never seems to end but what I lose in sleep - I gain in satisfaction from caring for an animal in need. I honestly love what I do. Despite having a very demanding job, I still work to balance being a mom, a wife and an ambulatory veterinarian. Referring to my work as a “job” seems inappropriate, I consider myself very fortunate to be able to help my clients, their horses and sometimes both.

Dr. Jo-Anne LeMieux

Health Information for Horse Shows Everyone Should Know

2012-03-09T14:14:00-06:00

Health Information for Show Horses

Believe it or not, spring is just around the corner! Are you and your horse ready for show season? Now is the time to start planning your training schedule and think about health requirements for travel and show.

1) Start with a Sound, Healthy Horse

First of all, make sure your horse is in peak physical fitness. At Wisconsin Equine Clinic, our experienced sports medicine team can help you keep your athlete in top shape from performance evaluations to nutritional analyses to training schedules and show planning to vaccination and travel requirements.

2) Travel Requirements

Coggins test- Any horse that competes will require a test for EIA (Equine Infectious Anemia), commonly referred to as a Coggins test. This is a test for a rare, but deadly virus. Each state has different regulations for this test, but in Wisconsin a negative test is required during the calendar year (from January 1^st-December 31^st).

Health Certificate/CVI - If you are traveling out of state (and, in some cases, to in-state shows), you must have a current certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI or health certificate). A health certificate requires a brief veterinary exam to inspect for any potentially contagious diseases. Generally, a health certificate is good for thirty days, but the exam must be performed within 10 days of departure. Each state has slightly different requirements, so check with your veterinarian or refer to: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_import/animal_imports_states.shtml

There have been multiple cases in the past few years of people being sent home from shows and fined heavily for not having health certificates, so don’t think that just because you haven’t been stopped in the past that it won’t happen!

Additional testing – In recent years, there have been outbreaks of various diseases, such as Piroplasmosis, which have prompted some states to require additional testing. This varies from state to state and year to year. So again, check with your veterinarian or refer to: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_import/animal_imports_states.shtmlPlan ahead!

3) Medications Rules

Be aware of all the rules of competition, but especially Medications Rules. Many competitions in the United States fall under the USEF Rules (United States Equestrian Federation, formerly ASHA). There have been important rule changes, most notably the NSAID’s rule allowing only one NSAID in the horse’s system at a time.

FEI horses must now keep track of every medication given at any time in a Medication Log Book. Contact Dr. Borzynski at Wisconsin Equine Clinic for further questions or take advantage of the new FEI I-phone Apps to keep abreast of changes. Visit the Wisconsin Equine Clinic blog on the new USEF and FEI Medications Rules or visit: www.usefnetwork.com/news/7828/2011/11/7/important_rules_changes_to_the_drug.aspx

4) FEI Passports

If you currently have a horse with an FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) passport or are considering competing in any FEI competition, be sure to check your passport now to be sure you are current with your stamp and vaccinations. Horses are regularly refused participation in competition for not having their passports up to date. Contact Dr. Borzynski at Wisconsin Equine Clinic for further questions or visit FEI Veterinary Regulations.

5) Travel Safely

Remember to check over your trailer before show season and have necessary maintenance performed. There is great information on trailering safety at:

http://www.usrider.org/safety.html - safety6

By planning ahead, you will avoid unnecessary expense and frustration, and help assure that your show schedule goes on as planned. Good Luck!

Do I need a Coggins test for my horse?

2012-02-16T14:25:00-06:00

Do I need a Coggins test for my horse?

Even if you do not show your horse, you may still need a test for EIA (Equine Infectious Anemia), commonly referred to as a Coggins test. This is a test for a rare, but deadly virus. Each state has different regulations for this test, but in Wisconsin a negative test is required during the calendar year (from January 1^st-December 31^st).

Below are the requirements for horses moving within the state of Wisconsin taken from the state’s website at http://datcp.wi.gov/Animals/Animal_Movement/Horses/index.aspx

If you are traveling out of state, you must follow the requirements of the state you are going to. Contact your veterinarian or visit: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_import/animal_imports_states.shtml

MOVING HORSES AND OTHER EQUINES WITHIN WISCONSIN

Equines moving within Wisconsin need to meet the requirements of the destination.

Fair or exhibition: Equines must have proof of a negative EIA test since January 1 of the current year. Check with the fair or exhibition organizers to find out if they require additional paperwork or testing.

Organized trail ride or training seminar: Equines must have proof of a negative EIA test since January 1 of the current year. Check with the ride or seminar organizers to find out if they require additional paperwork or testing.

Personal trail ride: No paperwork or testing required.

Sale or transfer of ownership: Equines must have proof of a negative EIA test since January 1 of the current year. A CVI is not required.

Boarding or private training facility: No paperwork or testing required by the State. Check with the trainer or boarding facility owner to find out if they require paperwork or testing.

What is Your Diagnosis? Choke

2012-01-30T08:27:00-06:00

What is a choke?

In horses, this means there is an obstruction of the esophagus (food pipe). This most often occurs when partially chewed food gets stuck in the esophagus.

Clinical signs:

Signs include coughing, saliva and food particles exiting both nostrils and mouth, anxiousness and inappetance. Attempts at ingestion (eating) often are followed by repeated extension of the head and other signs of distress.

Causes of choke:

A number of factors can lead to a choke. Dental problems can cause a horse to have difficulties chewing his feed. Therefore the partially chewed food is more likely to cause an esophageal impaction. Horses that tend to eat very quickly are also predisposed to this condition. Less commonly, obstruction of the esophagus due to a tumor, esophageal dilation or stricture can also lead to this problem.

Treatments:

As soon as you suspect your horse is choking, remove all feed. Call your veterinarian. A veterinarian’s objective when treating a choke is to clear the obstruction from the esophagus. In order to do so, a nasogastric tube (stomach tube) is passed up the nose and into the esophagus. The nasogastric tube is carefully advanced until the obstruction is reached. Most feed impactions will require the veterinarian to lavage the affected area in order to flush out and/or loosen feed material. Care has to be taken that the esophagus is not damaged or ruptured during this procedure. There are also certain drugs that can be used to aid in esophageal relaxation. It is also important that the horse is tranquilized during this process so that its head hangs down and therefore feed material flows out and is not aspirated into the lungs. After resolution, horses are slowly reintroduced to feed. Antibiotics are recommended in some cases due to the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Anti-inflammatories are also often given for several days.

Prevention:

It is important to schedule yearly dental exams. In the older horse, wetting the feed down will help with chewing and digestion. If your horse tends to eat his grain/pellets very quickly then placing a couple large rocks in his feeder will slow him down. Also keeping a horse busy with multiple smaller meals instead of two large feedings can help the voracious eater. Endoscopic examination of the entire esophagus is usually indicated in the repeat offender.

What is your Diagnosis? Buccal Ulcer

2012-01-16T12:00:00-06:00

Diagnosis:

Soft tissue ulceration of the cheek is the most common problem identified on oral examination of the horse. The cheek ulcers are created by sharp enamel points which grow on the ridges of the tooth closest to the cheek. Sagittal ridges are a normal structure of the equine tooth. They become “pathologic” when the sagittal ridge overgrows and becomes sharp enough to cut the cheek tissue.

The rate at which these enamel ridges grow is highly dependent on the age of the horse. In general, the growth rate (or eruption rate) of a horses tooth is greatest when they are young. Annual or bi-annual oral exams and floating may be required in equine patients less than 15 years of age. As the horse moves into its later teens and 20’s the eruption rate of the teeth decreases. Therefore, the enamel points that develop on the sagittal ridges do not become sharp as quickly.

In general, horses show very mild or no clinical symptoms when they have buccal ulcers. Horse owners most typically note the horse is resisting the bit or bridle, cranky under saddle, tilting their head to one side while eating or dropping grain.

Diagnosis and prevention of these soft tissue ulcers can be accomplished by having a yearly oral exam with a sedated patient in a full mouth speculum. Reduction of sharp enamel points (“floating”)can then be performed.

You Might be a Horse Lover if........

2012-01-10T12:00:00-06:00

You might be a horse lover…

1. If your car is less reliable than your horse then you might be a horse lover.

2. If you own a pair of cowboy boots and a cowboy hat and it is not last year’s Halloween costume then you might be a horse lover.

3. If you measure the quality of a sheet by how it keeps the flies off vs. its thread count then you might be a horse lover.

4. If your idea of a “nice ride” is four legged then you might be a horse lover.

5. If you hear the word “chaps” and don’t giggle then you might be a horse lover.

6. If your first thought when you hear someone say “bridal” is leather rather than lace then you might be a horse lover.

7. If you can recite your horse’s blanket size before your husband’s pant size then you might be a horse lover.

8. If you’ve taken a nap in a wheelbarrow then you might be a horse lover.

9. If britches are not something that your mom forced you to wear growing up then you might be a horse lover.

10. If your idea of buying new shoes involves meeting your farrier every 6-8weeks then you might be a horse lover.

Also Known as Hives

2011-12-30T08:24:00-06:00

Also known as hives, urticaria is characterized by localized or generalized raised bumps on the skin. This phenomenon of subcutaneous and dermal edema occurs commonly as a response to an allergen that has irritated the horse…in other words – big or small welts. Single or sporadic episodes without a clear cause do not always warrant a major search for underlying causes, but in recurrent episodes it is indicated. Dietary elimination trials, environmental alterations, allergy testing and skin biopsy are all helpful in pinpointing the primary problem.

In cases where itching is apparent, a cool bath can help relieve the itching sensation and alleviate some of the discomfort. Treatment with anti-inflammatories and sometimes corticosteroids can be very effective. Identifying the original cause of this allergic reaction is key to reduce the chance that it will happen again. Anti-histamines can also be used but they are typically used to try and help prevent a subsequent breakout . In chronic cases, specific immunotherapy like hyposensitization may be necessary. Although uncommon, if an acute hive attack is suspected then an immediate call to your veterinarian is recommended.

Safe Winter Trailering

2011-12-19T12:00:00-06:00

Many people do not choose to trailer in the cold winter months, but sometimes it is unavoidable. Many will trailer to warmer climates for the winter show circuit, others enjoy trail riding in the winter and at times, a visit to a veterinary hospital or an evacuation is necessary. In the winter, you are faced with cold weather, icy roads and sometimes blizzard-like conditions. Below are some tips and reminders to make your winter trailering a better and safer experience for you and your horse(s).

The first thing to do is plan ahead for your winter. Make sure you store your trailer in an easily accessible place – not where the snow pile will be and make sure everything is in good working order so you can fix it in the warmer times, rather than last minute trying to fix trailer lights when you have a colicky horse.

Our initial response to the cold weather would be to close-up the trailer. Horses actually do worse with overheating and they actually tolerate the cold very well! Some degree of ventilation is required to keep airflow moving and to avoid condensation and associated respiratory problems, but try to avoid having air blowing into the horses face. You can open the roof vents in reverse to draw the steam off the horses. You can also crack the windows slightly.

If it is exceptionally cold, or your horse does not have any kind of hair coat, a blanket may be necessary. Several horses in a trailer can share body heat. When you stop, check whether or not the horses are sweating under their blanket(s), if they are you can remove a layer. A fully sweated horse, however, should not be left naked, as they will get chilled very quickly. In this situation, provide more airflow into the trailer whilst leaving the blanket on. If you are travelling long distances, offer plenty of water on the trip, especially if your horse is sweating.

When loading / unloading, make sure it is not icy underfoot. Either back into an arena or put some sand or shaving on the ground behind the trailer. If the weather becomes too unsafe to drive, plan ahead for possible rest areas that accommodate horses along your route. One final tip is to watch the weather ahead of time – and obviously employ safe driving practices.

Keeping all of these things in mind should contribute to a safe winter trailering experience. Safe Travels!

Safe in the Storm - Tornado Preparedness

2011-06-06T17:56:00-05:00

In the wake of the recent outbreak of tornados around the country and the path of devastation that has been caused because of these horrific storms, we would like to review some emergency preparedness tips for horse owners, to ensure that you and your horse are safe, should a tornado occur.

One of the most important steps in keeping safe during severe weather such as a tornado is the proper preparation before the storm. Create (and practice) a plan in case a tornado or other natural disaster strikes – and be sure to determine who is in charge of each aspect of the plan. Additionally, make certain your plan includes both the safety of you and your animals.

It is wise to purchase fetlock identification bands (these are available online or at a tack shop). You will need two bands for each horse on your property. These should be put on both front legs of the horse if you are under a tornado warning. Additionally, create an identification tag for each horse. The tag should include the horse’s name, and contact information for both you and your veterinarian. Affix the tag to the horse’s halter if a storm is approaching. Furthermore, purchase a marker that is safe to use on your animal (these can also be bought online or at a tack shop). If your farm is in the direct path of an on-coming storm, write identification information directly on the animal as a back-up in case the halter gets lost or damaged.

You will also want to create an identification file that includes breed, sex, age, color, registration information, Coggins Test, photos, distinguishing features, and, if applicable, the microchip number of all horses on your property. This packet should be kept in a safe place, preferably off-site (this way you will have a safe file if your property becomes damaged).

Always be sure you have an adequate water and food supply for your animals and check to make sure they are up-to-date on all their vaccinations. It is also vital to have a fully stocked first aid kit. One of the biggest hazards from tornados is flying debris, which can cause severe lacerations and other traumatic injuries. For more information on what to include in your first aid kit, check out our video on first aid kit essentials (http://youtu.be/9VYlmsabAdU).

The first thought for human safety is to get indoors, however, this is not always the best course of action for horses. With all the loose items in a barn and the fact that these structures are often not as secure as a home, leaving your horse in its stall can be very dangerous. If the area surrounding your barn is wooded, or you have a structure specifically designed to withstand tornado or hurricane force winds, keeping your animal inside might be the best course of action. However, if your pasture is wide open, setting them free might be a better option. If your farm is large enough, your animals might be able to avoid the severe weather by simply relocating to another area of the property. Nevertheless, if you have a small farm, you might have to open the gates to allow the animal to leave the property.

Once the storm has passed, assess your property and barn for damage and debris to ensure that it is a safe for your horse(s) and other animals. Take some time to inspect your horse to ensure that there are no serious injuries and contact your veterinarian, if needed. If your animal is unaccounted for, contact your local authorities with identification information.

While we hope that these precautions are not necessary for you or your animal, being prepared is the best way to assure the health and safety of you, your family and your equine friends. If you have any additional questions about preparing your horse for tornados, please feel free to contact the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital at 262-569-1550 or via email at contactwec@wiequine.com. At Wisconsin Equine, it is all about the horse!

WECH Up Close and Personal - Dr. Bourne

2011-05-31T13:30:00-05:00

Dr. Bourne’s passion for veterinary medicine began as a child in England, as she watched the television adaptations of Dr. James Herriot’s bestselling novel, All Creatures Great and Small. While she has always loved all types of animals, her affection for horses started at the young age of seven when she had to make a choice between gymnastics and riding lessons (not a difficult choice we might add). Much of her childhood is filled with fond memories of riding Dressage with her Cleveland Bay Thoroughbred, “Toya.”

Her childhood hobby soon became a lifetime passion, as Dr. Bourne worked toward her veterinary degree in Equine Medicine. In 1993, she earned a BSc in Zoology from the University of Calgary and went on to graduate from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan, Canada in 1997. She finished her internship at the Atlantic Veterinary College on Prince Edward Island in 1998 and then joined the staff at Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital (WECH).

Although a generalist, her specific areas of special interest include Ophthalmology, Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy (VSMT), Acupuncture and Wellness Programs. She was drawn to these specialty areas for several different reasons. “I love the horses’ eye - they are so expressive and so beautiful,” she notes. “I am also fascinated by how they can have serious disease problems, yet heal amazingly well.” When considering holistic medical procedures such as VSMT and Acupuncture, Dr. Bourne indicates that she “wanted to offer a more natural way to improve my patient’s health. I have seen amazing results with both modalities and thought they would be an excellent addition to WECH.”

While she loves many aspects of her job, Dr. Bourne notes that her favorite part of being an Equine Veterinarian is “Seeing patients in their home environment and watching clients interact with their horses.” Additionally, she finds great joy in “helping clients succeed with their horses and the wonderful relationships developed with them. Quite often, it seems like less of a job and more of meeting with friends to talk about our favorite animal – the horse!”

Another notable part of Dr. Bourne’s job is educating her clients on the care of their horses. She says there are many things she hopes horse owners are aware of when considering her specialty areas. “With regards to ophthalmology, you need to be aware that eyes heal amazingly well, but also go downhill quickly under certain conditions. Always call if you notice any abnormalities,” she suggests. Additionally, when considering holistic therapies, such as VSMT and Acupuncture, she notes, “seeing the horse early in the disease process will offer the greatest benefit. We are often presented with horses that have been sick or lame for extended periods, however, just as is the case in Western medicine, the success of complementary medicine once the illness or condition is further developed is more limited.”

Finally, Dr. Bourne notes that she enjoys the teamwork philosophy of the staff at Wisconsin Equine, “The camaraderie amongst the vets is great. We all enjoy working with each other on cases and truly respect one another. Additionally, I enjoy the collaboration with our tech and office staff and seeing their care and compassion for both the horse and client.” In her free time, Dr. Bourne enjoys horseback riding, water skiing, hiking, reading and working out at the YMCA.

How Can I Keep My Horse Cool in the Summer?

2011-05-27T11:00:00-05:00

Horses do not tolerate heat as well as we (humans) do. On a day that feels comfortably warm to you, it may be unbearable hot to your horse. Here are some suggestions on cooling your horse on those hot summer days.

1) Provide unlimited access to water. Horses, like people, cool off by sweating. As they lose fluids through sweat, they can become dehydrated. Fresh water will replace these losses. If it is really hot, a single horse may consume as between 20 to 35 gallons a day.
2) “Cool” foods! Proteins and starches produce more heat in the body and fats produce less heat. Maintain your horse on free-choice grass hay or grass-alfalfa mix with appropriate vitamins and minerals. If your horse needs extra calories, supplement with a high-fat supplement, just remember that fats can turn rancid quickly in warm weather.
3) Turn-out. If the air circulation in your barn is poor, then turn-out is a must. Fans can help to keep air moving whilst inside – and some barns remain very cool, even in the warmest of conditions, which is great. Outside, most horses will seek appropriate shelter and will position themselves to maximize the breeze.
4) Avoid riding when the dew point is high. The dew point is high when it feels the most humid – or muggy outside, which means that you and your horse will have difficulty sweating.
5) Clipping. Removing hair from the head, neck and belly will actually help your horse sweat. Just remember: shorter hair means less protection from bugs.
6) Give your horse a shower. Water cools as it evaporates, so spraying the common sweat areas will help your horse cool down. These areas include the head, neck, chest and legs.
7) Offer your horse a cool drink if he is hot.
8) Offer salt in the feed or as salt blocks. Sodium chloride is a primary component of sweat, so if your horse is sweating a lot, you will need to supplement the loss. Typically, horses lacking in salts or electrolytes may start chewing on fences/walls etc.
9) And, of course, riding your horse when the weather is cooler outside (avoiding high noon) is also a great way to keep them from getting too hot!

Common Poisonous Trees

2011-05-20T11:00:00-05:00

Knowing the types of trees in and around your pasture is extremely valuable, as several types of trees can be poisonous to horses, and some can be deadly. Even if a tree may be out of reach of your horse, a windstorm could bring a branch down and it may end up within eating distance. Most horses will not eat poisonous plants unless they are particularly hungry or bored.

Check to see if any of the following varieties are on your property. They are arranged from most toxic to least.

• Yew
• Oleander
• Red Maple (other maple varietals can show more mild toxic effects)
• Cherry
• Black Walnut
• Black Locust
• Horse chestnut, buckeyes
• Oak

If you think your horse may have been exposed to any of these, especially those at the top of the list, please call your veterinarian as soon as possible. You can reach the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital at 262-569-1550 or via email at contactwec@wiequine.com for all your questions and concerns. At Wisconsin Equine, it is all about the horse!

EHV-1 Health Alert!

2011-05-18T17:42:00-05:00

Urgent: Health Alert on the Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1)

In a continuing effort to provide you with the best equine health care, we wanted to share with you the following critical health alert on the Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1). Please contact our clinic if you have additional questions at 262-569-1550:

An outbreak of the neurologic strain of Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1) is currently underway in the United States. The outbreak has been traced to a recent cutting horse competition in Ogden, Utah, at the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western National Championship. Horses from at least 29 states, including two from Wisconsin, attended this competition and may have been exposed. Affected and suspect cases have been reported in Utah, Washington, Idaho, California, Arizona, Colorado and Alberta, Canada. The Wisconsin State Veterinarian, Dr.Robert Ehlenfeldt, has released a statement available at http://datcp.wi.gov/news/ encouraging appropriate biosecurity precautions be utilized to prevent spread of the disease. No recent cases of the neurologic form of EHV-1 have been reported in Wisconsin.

Clinical signs of EHV-1 include respiratory signs, such as cough or nasal discharge. The neurologic form of EHV-1 can be preceded by a fever. A rectal temperature should be taken on any horse that is showing any signs of respiratory disease, lethargy, dullness, anorexia or colic signs. Please call your veterinarian if your horse has a temperature greater than 101.5°F. Signs of the neurologic form of EHV-1 include: decreased coordination, hind limb weakness, loss of tail tone, dribbling of urine and an inability to rise. If you see any neurologic abnormalities in your horse, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

EHV-1 has four manifestations, which include a neurologic form, respiratory disease, abortion and neonatal death. The most common route of infection is direct horse-to-horse contact, because the virus is shed via the respiratory tract. EHV-1 can also be spread indirectly by contact with contaminated items, such as tack, buckets, grooming equipment and contaminated stalls. EHV-1 is not transmissible to people, however, it can be carried and spread indirectly to other horses inadvertently on hands and clothing. Extra precautions should be exercised if you are attending a horse show or your horse is traveling to a place where they can come in contact with other horses.

Precautions include not allowing your horses to come in nose to nose contact with unknown horses and monitoring rectal temperatures daily. We recommend isolating horses seven days after they have attended a horse show or anywhere they have come in contact with other horses. During the seven-day isolation period, we recommend taking daily rectal temperatures.

Additional sources of information can be found at:
http://www.aaep.org/ehv_resources.htm
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/ehv/equine_herpesvirus_brochure_2009.pdf
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18253
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18262

Again, if you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital immediately at 262-569-1550.

Lameness Exams - What Are They and Why Are They Done?

2011-05-13T08:00:00-05:00

Lameness is an issue that strikes fear into the hearts of most horse owners, however, with a little understanding, the process of diagnosing and treating lameness can be relatively pain free – for both the owner and animal.

There are a number of reasons why a horse owner might request a lameness exam for their animal. Among the most common are:

Obvious lameness, or a limp when exercising
Mild lameness in which the horse is not performing as they had previously
Performance issues where no lameness is evident
Routine evaluation prior to a new show season, or after a long period without riding
Prior to the purchase of a new animal to diagnose underlying problems that may affect future use of the horse

Horses who might be suffering from a lameness issue can exhibit many different symptoms, or, could be completely asymptomatic. In order to best diagnose a lameness issue, owners should ask themselves the following questions:

Is the horse having issues bending?
Has it lost rhythm?
Is the horse resisting different directions or leads?
Is the horse bucking, or acting up under saddle?
Is the horse having sudden behavioral changes when being saddled or ridden?
Does the horse have an unsteady gait or head carriage (head tossing)?
Is there heat or swelling in any limbs?
Is the horse favoring a limb?
Is the horse pointing its front feet when standing?
Is the horse refusing jumps or other work?
Is the horse tender footed when picking its hooves?

To further complicate the diagnosis, a horse may exhibit these signs for a variety of reasons, which may or may not be related to a lameness issue. The following questions will help eliminate other common issues.

Is the horse in pain?
Is this symptom a training problem?
Is there a physical limitation regarding the work you are asking the horse to perform?
Is it a rider issue / error causing this behavior / symptom?
Is the horse at a reduced fitness level with regard to the work it is being asked to perform?

Every veterinarian has their own preferences and techniques when conducting a lameness exam, however, the following are some of the aspects that might be investigated during the process.

The first step in determining lameness is observation. Because subtleties may be evident, either from the horse’s behavior or their first steps out of the stall, a watchful eye is very important. The horse will normally be observed at the walk in hand, walk-trot-canter in both directions, on the lunge line and, when appropriate, ridden by the owner or trainer.

Following careful observation, individual joints might be flexed to put stress on areas of interest. This will help determine if there is normal range of motion, to discover sensitive areas and verify if the flexion test makes the horse sore. The whole body is generally evaluated by sight and touch with areas of heat, pain, swelling and loss of muscling noted. In the end, the veterinarian is looking for changes in use of the body that may indicate a neck, back, pelvic or leg problem.

Therapies for a horse suffering from lameness vary from very simple supportive care such as rest, icing and low-dose bute, to surgery and advanced regenerative therapies, such as stem cells, to treat the problem. Some horses just need a set of shoes or a change in shoeing to achieve soundness. Performing horses will commonly receive Adequan and/or Legend to aid in the prevention of arthritis or to treat / prevent mild lameness issues. Injection of medications directly into the area of concern may also be necessary in certain situations. Other treatments may include veterinary acupuncture and chiropractics.

If you are interested in having a Lameness Exam performed on your horse, please contact the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital at 262-569-1550 to schedule an appointment.

The Artistry of Cutting Set to Music!

2011-05-12T08:00:00-05:00

Here is a great video showing the true artistry and athleticism involved in equestrian sports. Set that to a fancy beat and you have great entertainment too!

WECH Up Close and Personal - Dr. Langer

2011-05-10T08:00:00-05:00

Dr. Langer’s ambition to become an equine veterinarian is the culmination of a lifelong passion in working with animals. Specifically, he enjoys working with horses because they offer a unique challenge, not only because of their power and beauty, but also the demands put on them. Veterinary Medicine allows him to help the horse and educate the owner in the treatment of equine-specific diseases and health maintenance. Dr. Langer finds this aspect of his job very rewarding.

He graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. This was followed by a one year internship at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada and a three year Equine Surgery and Lameness Residency at the University of California–Davis. Prior to veterinary school, Dr. Langer completed a Masters Degree in Nutrition at the University of Kentucky.

Always happy working with his hands, veterinary medicine was a natural fit for Dr. Langer. While in school, this love was kindled in woodworking classes. Today, however, he is able to use his hands in equine health evaluations, as well as equine surgery cases. Dr. Langer is highly regarded as a leading equine surgeon, and is sought after for his surgical skills with regard to complicated equine colic and lameness issues.

Sport Horse Lameness is a specialty area in which Dr. Langer derives great satisfaction. He notes that it is extremely rewarding from the standpoint of being able to evaluate the horse’s movement, attitude and body mechanics to determine the root cause of the issues. Often times, it is a problem in which the owner is completely unaware. He also notes the rapid expansion in the area of Sport Horse Medicine – specifically with regard to new and improved diagnostic equipment, including: digital radiographs, ultrasound, MRI, Nuclear Scintigraphy and CT capabilities. This, along with improvements in treatment options, such as the regenerative therapies, Stem cells, PRP (platelet rich plasma) and IRAP (interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein), allows Dr. Langer to improve long-term soundness and recovery from injury. He notes that, “every horse seen is a new challenge to identify, treat and have success within guidelines established by the horse owner and the horse discipline.”

When asked about the favorite part of his job, Dr. Langer states, “I have tremendous passion for the horse. Each horse I deal with could just as easily be my horse. Educating horse owners when needed, and helping them make appropriate decisions for them and their horse are some of the best parts of my job.” Dr. Langer also aims to teach horse owners as he treats their animals. One goal is to help them understand that the principles of Sport Horse Lameness and Surgery should be applied to all horses – and all disciplines. He notes, “One horse may be a backyard pet, another may be competing nationally. They both require the same attention, even when the problems they develop may be different. Early attention to a problem, even those that may seem minor, may have a profound effect on long-term health and soundness.”

When he is not treating his clients horses, Dr. Langer enjoys breeding and raising his own Warmbloods. He also spends a great deal of his time outside with his family, camping, fishing, riding and gardening. Dr. Langer is also a competitive ballroom dancer. He has been a veterinarian at the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital since July 1993.

Creating Little Miracles - Embryo Transfer

2011-05-06T08:00:00-05:00

Having a sister or a mother carry your baby as a surrogate, while not uncommon, is sometimes considered unusual - but would you ever consider having a horse as a surrogate mother? Surrogacy is a term that is normally associated with human infertility issues or other reproductive concerns. However, this same concept is also applicable in the area of equine reproduction. The staff at Wisconsin Equine Clinic and Hospital regularly aids horses and their owners in the area of equine surrogacy procedures.

Like human surrogacy programs, horse owners often use this option when they want their horse to have a foal, but do not want them to go through a traditional pregnancy. Unlike human surrogacy, the actual fertilization process is not commonly conducted in a laboratory, but rather through the standard equine insemination process.

The surrogacy process starts with a procedure called an embryo flush. This takes place approximately seven days after a mare has ovulated. This special process allows the veterinarian to safely remove the embryo from the “biological mom” so that it can be transferred to a surrogate horse.

While a human surrogate is normally located in close proximity to the biological parents, in many equine programs, the surrogate mom can be thousands of miles away. In the case of Wisconsin Equine Clinic and Hospital, they utilize the services of companies based in Fort Collins, Colorado and Purcell, Oklahoma that specialize in providing replacement mares.

Because of the distance, the delivery of embryo is a carefully coordinated process. “The surrogate mare needs to be on a very similar ovulation cycle as the donor mare. We are in constant contact with the recipient herd to ensure this synchronization,” informs Dr. Jo-Anne LeMieux, a veterinarian at Wisconsin Equine Clinic and Hospital. In addition to the ovulation synchronization, the embryo must be transferred to the recipient mare the same day it is recovered.”

It is also interesting to point out that the surrogate mare does not need to be the same horse breed as the biological mom. “While there are obvious size considerations, it is quite common to see a Quarterhorse surrogate mare with a Tennessee Walker foal,” notes Dr. LeMieux.

The surrogacy program is particularly common in show horses. Often, an owner will choose this option so they do not have to take a mare off the show circuit. “Surrogacy reduces the risk of injury during foaling to a mare with champion bloodlines and it also allows them to have more than one foal during the year,” Dr. LeMieux reports. It is also a common option for horses who have had an injury or another reproductive issue that does not allow them to carry a pregnancy to term.

Run for the Roses - A Tribute

2011-05-05T12:00:00-05:00

As a tribute to Kentucky Derby's past, and in anticipation of this year's event, please take some time to enjoy the touching tribute below!

WECH Up-Close and Personal - Dr. Schmidt

2011-05-03T08:00:00-05:00

Dr. Schmidt was born in Memphis, Tennessee and grew up on a family-owned Arabian farm in Kansas City. He came by his love of horses through family tradition, with his mother and grandfather being long-standing horse aficionados. His grandfather was an avid rider, and bred and raised both Arab and Saddlebred horses.

While his career path did not initially point towards equine veterinary medicine when he entered college with aspirations of becoming an engineer, that dream soon changed as realized his true passion – and entered the animal science and veterinary program at Kansas State University. Dr. Schmidt was awarded a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1984 from Kansas State.

Dr. Schmidt’s special interest is in the area of equine reproduction. He received a Masters in Equine Reproduction from Michigan State University, where he completed his residency in Equine Reproduction in 1989. He enjoys the opportunity to work the mares and foals, as well as the process of helping to create the healthiest filly or colt possible. He is renowned for his work in embryo transfer and is highly sought after for his skills in this area of equine reproduction. Dr. Schmidt notes that he “loves the coordination of various semen situations and the teamwork needed between owners, technicians, barn staff and vets in managing the mare.” He adds that the “process involves a lot of different parts of horse management and healthcare, plus science and the art of managing different fertility issues.”

Because of his love of the outdoors, it is no surprise that Dr. Schmidt takes great joy in farm calls and the ability to work with the animals in their own environment. He notes that this is one of his favorite parts of his job. He also especially treasures the new healthy foals and the farm dogs. Dr. Schmidt takes great pride in working on the difficult breeding cases and notes that it is very rewarding to produce foals from older mares or show mares via embryo transfer. Dr. Schmidt also likes to work with frozen semen and see the quality foals that are produced from stallions half-way across the globe.

When asked what one thing he wished every horse owner knew with regard to reproductive health, he noted that “happy, well managed, healthy mares make healthy babies. You get out of this what you put into it … like a lot of things in life.”

Mother's Day Gift Idea!

2011-05-02T13:01:00-05:00

In honor of the upcoming Mother’s Day Holiday this Sunday, May, 8, 2011, Wisconsin Equine Clinic is proud to offer their extra special foaling kit.

Preparing for the arrival of a new foal is an exciting time. However, it can also be a time of great anxiety and uncertainty. One of the best ways to ensure that you are prepared for this special delivery is to have all the necessary tools for the labor and delivery of your new foal.

Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital wants take the stress out of your preparations by offering a special foaling kit all the necessary supplies to help you safely welcome a healthy newborn foal. This special kit is available for the special price of $29.50 plus shipping (or, if you prefer, kits can be picked up at the WECH offices). Please call for kit pricing if you have multiple mares.

The WECH Foaling Kit comes with the following important supplies:

One Phosphate Enema
One Tube Ivermectin Dewormer
Exam Gloves
Dixie Cups
Navel / Umbilical Dip
Thermometer
One Garbage Bag
Scissors
Mare and Foaling Literature
Informational DVD

Taking part in the foaling process is a highly rewarding experience. The proper preparation will help make this important event as worry-free as possible. If you have additional questions on foal or mare care, or would like to purchase a foaling kit, please contact Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital at 262-569-1550.

Note: This kit is not designed to take the place of medical care, should an emergency arise.

"Eye-D" for Horses

2011-04-29T10:00:00-05:00

Have you heard of using a scan of the eye in people for identification that is specific for that person, like a fingerprint? Up and coming to the horse population is a unique way to identify your horse(s) using a similar technology that is used in humans!

Horse identification has been a goal for the equine industry for many years now. It all began centuries ago, with branding of horses as a claim of ownership – or a specific breeding line. Although this helped to narrow the identification process, it was not specific to one horse, as whole herds of horses could be branded with the same brand. Also, both freeze and hot-iron brands require proper application to remain consistent with the design of the brand, and both can be altered to skew the original brand. The same theory applies to tattoo’s of the upper lip in thoroughbreds and other breeds.

Over the years, like with the small animal population, a more specific identification process that was established eventually evolved into exploring microchipping. In the horse, the microchip is placed into a strong ligament within the neck and is attached to a number that is submitted to a microchip company that can use that number to identify the horse if stolen, sold, or lost in a natural disaster. This system works well, although it is mildly invasive and requires a veterinarian (and the associated expense) to place the microchip and, of course, special equipment to find the chip and link it to the number for that horse. Occasionally these chips will migrate around the neck and be could be difficult to locate.

Other attempts for identification, such as retinal and iris mapping, have been explored to offer easier and less invasive procedures. Each horse has a unique pattern of the iris or the retina and imaging systems have been developed to accurately identify each specific horse. Retinal scanning is a fantastic approach, but despite our best efforts for an accurate reading, problems may arise due to the horse’s inability to stay perfectly still. Also, the retina appearance may change when there is disease present within a horse’s eye.

Global Animal Management, Inc. and Intervet/Schering – Plough Animal Health have developed a camera called EyeD that captures an image of a horse’s iris, creating a digital “eye-print.” The EyeD can store information in a secure database for future identification. The iris is a structure within the eye that is distinctive to each individual, even amongst twins or clones, and is more accurate than a fingerprint. Another exciting part of this technology is that the person with the scanning device can be up to 18” away from the horse’s head, the horse does not appear to care that the camera is there, and the image is still a quality image. Horses with disease within the eye have also been tested with the camera, and it did not appear to affect the accuracy or ability of the scanner to map the iris. The process is accomplished within seconds and is not at all invasive to the horse.

The launching of this new technology (in December 2010) helps to revolutionize the identification of horses for the equine industry.

For more information, please visit the website EyeD.com or talk to us at the Wisconsin Equine Clinic and Hospital (262-569-1550 or contactwec@wiequine.com).

Photos courtesy of countiesnzsporthorse.org, pasofinohorsedirectory.com and Dr. Elsbeth Swain.

Show Us Your Best In Show

2011-04-28T08:00:00-05:00

Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital would like to invite you to show us your favorite Horse Show pictures for a chance to win our one-of-a-kind Horse Show Kits. Share your pictures by posting them on our Facebook page (or send them to us at contactwec@wiequine.com and we’ll post them for you).

Post your photos from now until May 20, 2011. Voting for the Best in Show will take place from May 23rd to May 27,2011. The winner of the Horse Show Kit will be announced on Thursday June 2, 2011. Post as many pictures as you would like … they all can be entered in the contest. The photo with the most “likes” during the week of voting will win the exclusive Wisconsin Equine Horse Show Kit! We can’t wait to see your photos - why not post some today!

THANK YOU!!

2011-04-25T08:00:00-05:00

We would like to thank everyone who took part in our Brand Perception Study. The input you shared was invaluable and will help us to provide the care and service our wonderful customers and patients require. Please let us know if you have any other input for us! We love to hear your suggestions, as they make us better!

Emergency Shoe Removal

2011-04-21T10:00:00-05:00

We have all had horses that, at the most inopportune times, have partially pulled a shoe. This is usually caused by overreaching, missing nails or popped clinches. If the shoe completely comes off, you may end up dealing with some damage to the hoof wall and the frustration of finding the shoe – but when it is partially pulled, what do you do? You could call your farrier or vet, but on a weekend/evening this is not the kind of bill you would want (or like).

The following are tips on safely removing a loose shoe:

1) Firstly, you need the most appropriate equipment. Many feed or tack stores carry this equipment. Some towns also have farrier supply stores, or you can also purchase equipment online. It is recommended to purchase a hoof rasp and shoe pullers (pull-offs). You could additionally purchase nippers or nail pullers, but these are not required.

2) Position the horse in an area with space and good light.

3) For a front foot, face the rear of the horse, pick up the foot and put it between your knees/thighs (just like your farrier does). For a hind foot, face the rear, pick up the foot, bring it back wards a little and place it on your thighs.

4) Use your rasp to file the clinches – this is the nail part that you can see in the hoof wall. The farrier folds this over to keep the shoe on. File these with your rasp until they are flat to the hoof. This can sometimes take a little time, depending on the thickness of the nail.

5) Use your shoe pullers to pry between the shoe and the hoof and pull the shoe forward with your pullers directed towards the toe. Alternate pulling from inside to outside. You can also use your pullers to pull each nail out one by one. Remove the shoe slowly to avoid tearing a chunk off the hoof wall. If the shoe has been loose for a while and your horse is lame, it may be a little painful to remove the shoe, especially if you try to pull too hard.

6) Once the shoe is removed, it is recommended to wrap the foot with some cotton (or even a diaper) and hold this in place with duct tape. This will protect the foot from chipping until your farrier can return to nail the shoe back on.
Removing a shoe can be a challenge, especially if you have a particularly wiggly, nervous, or in-pain horse. It is definitely a physical challenge that will give you an appreciation for how hard the life of your farrier can be!

The Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital is here for all your equine needs, 24/7. You can reach us by phone at 262-569-1550 or by email at contactwec@wiequine.com.

More Horses than Harleys

2011-04-19T12:31:00-05:00

Horse ownership in Wisconsin is no small issue. While Harley Davidson is Wisconsin’s pride and joy, there are actually almost 25 percent more horses in the state than there are licensed motorcyclists. In fact, according to the Wisconsin State Horse Council, the economic impact of horse ownership in the state of Wisconsin is nothing to whinny at.

Unlike the predicted corporate restructuring of the Wisconsin based Harley Davidson, which estimates hundreds of jobs cuts, factory closings and cost cuts in the millions by the year 2012 , the more than 620,000 horses in the state, generate between $1.6 and $1.9 billion in revenues from boarding, training, prize money and other sources. Horse operations pay upwards of $200 million in state and local taxes on their enterprises, employing about 5,000 full and 20,000 part-time workers.

While horse and Harley owners both love their source of horse power, there is one thing that is certain, horses are able to contribute to their owner’s financial well being in a significant way. “Horses are a very special animal. Not only are they wonderful companions and bring great joy to their owners, they are often as source of financial gain as well,” notes Bob Magnus, President of Wisconsin Equine Clinic and Hospital. According to a study conducted by the American Horse Council, nationwide, “the horse industry has a $39 billion direct economic impact on US economy and generates $102 billion in total spending.”

So, while Harley Davidson will remain Wisconsin’s crown corporate jewel for at least the foreseeable future, horses will leave a permanent and positive mark in the state by offering a positive economic boost as well as hoof prints on their owner’s hearts.

A 'Shadow' of His Former Self

2011-04-15T11:00:00-05:00

In November 1998, I was first introduced to Shadow and his wonderful owner, Judy. Shadow was a seven month old colt that had just been purchased, along with another horse named Echo, a 1.5 year old mare. Shortly after purchase, Judy had her regular farm vet come out to examine and vaccinate both horses. Judy also owned three additional horses that had been on the property for a while that had already received their fall shots. The two new horses appeared healthy – and they too were vaccinated.

By the next day, both horses had become lethargic and very stiff, not an uncommon reaction to vaccines. Judy contacted her vet who advised to giving them some Bute and observing. However, by the second day post vaccination, both horses exhibited a decreased body temperature, labored breathing and dark urine. Judy’s regular vet was called and medical management, including anti-inflammatories and antibiotics were administered. Blood was also pulled to try to figure out what was going on. Over the course of the day, both horses deteriorated to the point that they were down in the stall and could only rise with difficulty. At this time, Judy and her vet decided that the horses should be hospitalized.

On arrival at the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital, both horses were in critical condition. They were hypothermic and had severely elevated heart and respiratory rates. Their urine was very dark and bloodwork from the referring vet revealed extremely high muscle enzymes. Warming fluid therapy was immediately initiated. High muscle enzymes indicate that muscle was breaking down. Imagine the worst workout session you have ever had, and then multiply it by 1,000 - that is how these horses felt. As the muscles breakdown, they release myoglobin, the protein in muscle (similar to hemoglobin in blood), that takes up oxygen from the blood to allow the muscles to work. This protein gets filtered through the kidneys and turns the urine anywhere from red to black in color. Myoglobin is extremely toxic to the kidneys, so large volumes of IV fluids needed to be used to flush the kidneys and protect from toxic damage.

Along with IV fluids, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants were given to the horses. Despite our treatments, both horses continued to deteriorate. Their breathing worsened and their heart rate stayed elevated. Both horses started making noise as they were breathing and our concern was that we may need to place an emergency tracheotomy. As all of these things were happening, not only were the muscles of the legs, back and neck deteriorating, but also the heart muscle, the diaphragm and muscles of the throat. For a 12 hour period, we were extremely worried that we would lose both horses either to heart or respiratory failure. We were especially worried about Shadow; he was only seven months old, and lean to begin with. Both horses, however, made it through this critical time, and despite their heart rate and respiratory rate remaining high, they seemed to stabilize and stop making noise when they would breathe. At this point, Echo seemed to turn around fairly quickly. Her total stay at the clinic was 10 days.

Shadow, on the other hand, had more serious problems. He lost so much muscle mass and was so weak that he became recumbent and unable to rise. If a healthy horse spends too much time lying in one position, we worry about their muscles. We were already worried about his muscles, so every two hours we had to flip Shadow from one side to the other on very deep bedding to help protect whatever muscles he had left. Feeding him was another problem. After the first couple of days, his appetite began to return, which was great because we could start giving him energy and protein to help rebuild muscles. The problem was that he would only eat grass. November in Wisconsin is not an ideal time for grass! Shadow’s owners and the staff of the clinic would go out and cut whatever grass we could find and feed it to him. Shadow would lie on his side, unable to raise his head, but he would eat his grass. We considered tubing him with a slurry, but due to the concerns about his throat muscles and him being down, we did not want anything aspirating into his lungs. Over a few days, he regained enough strength that if we rolled him onto his belly and propped him up with hay bales, he could stay upright – he still had his appetite and it was getting better everyday – but he would still only eat grass!!

After another few days, we were able to get him up – with assistance. It took 2-3 people on his head and his tail to lift him. Thank goodness he was so little! Once up, he was wobbly and could only stay up for a few minutes, but it was progress. Gradually he would spend more time standing, but would still need assistance to rise. I had told all the technicians that if they saw him get up by himself, that they were to page me with 9999999 so I would know!

It took two weeks to get that page. I happened to be at a colic emergency at the time. Fortunately, it was not a bad colic, as I received the page and couldn’t help but dance! I knew now that Shadow would be okay. He continued to get up by himself and gradually started taking walks. He went home on December 5th – fortunately, by this time, he would eat food other than grass.

You may be wondering how this happened. Severe muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) is caused in a few ways. One is by excessive exercise – not the case and for two horses to be affected at the same time (highly unlikely). Toxin exposure is another possibility. Monensin, a cattle feed supplement is highly toxic to horses and often fatal. This is why cattle feed should NEVER be fed to horses. Judy had her feed tested for toxins and none were found. We were also doubtful about toxins, as none of the other horses that received the same feed were affected. We also searched the pasture for toxic plants – there is a condition in the Midwest called pasture myopathy, whose true pathology is not fully understood; but plants like White snakeroot have been implicated. No identifiable toxic plants were found and again – none of the other horses on the same pasture were affected. One of the other horses was a miniature – truly the canary in the coal mine. Due to his small size, any common toxin should have affected him first.

The only thing in common for these two horses was the vaccine they received. The vaccine was submitted for testing and nothing was found, but it was the one common denominator. I don’t think we will ever truly know what caused this, but fortunately for Judy, both horses are alive and doing well. Shadow certainly doesn’t feel any ill effects from the muscle wasting – he’s actually quite portly these days, making up for all those meals he missed. As you can see from the picture, he also turned grey.

What did Shadow teach me?

1) It often takes a team to lift you when you’re down.

2) When you’re sick, take advantage of it, because people will feed you whatever you want (hello, chocolate cake for me!).

The Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital (WECH) is here for all your equine needs, from routine check-ups, to general wellness, to those emergencies situations. It is all about the horse! You can reach WECH by calling us at 262-569-1550 or by email at contactwec@wiequine.com.

Where in the World was Carrie Steindorf?

2011-04-14T00:57:00-05:00

Where in the world was Carrie Steindorf last week? If you answered the Pacific Northwest, and more specifically, Seattle, you were correct! During her “visit” she was lucky enough to see the Appaloosa horse which is native to this region of the US.

About the Appaloosa

The Appaloosa is best known for its distinctive spotted coat. Besides the spotting patterns, there are three other distinctive, characteristics in this breed, including: mottled skin, striped hooves, and a visible white sclera around the eye.

Skin mottling is a basic indicator of an Appaloosa and is usually seen around the muzzle, eyes and other areas of the body. While striped hooves are a common trait in Appaloosas, it is not unique to the breed. The sclera is the part of the eye that surrounds the iris. While all horses show white around their eyes if the eye is rolled back, to have a readily visible white sclera with the eye in a normal position is a distinctive characteristic seen more often in Appaloosas than in other breeds.

While domesticated horses with spotting patterns have been depicted in art as far back as Ancient Greece, the Nez Perce tribe, which is native to the United States’ Pacific Northwest, developed the original American breed. Appaloosas were once referred to by white settlers as the "Palouse horse," possibly after the Palouse River, which ran through the heart of Nez Perce country. Gradually, the name evolved into Appaloosa.

During the Nez Perce War in 1877, the tribe lost most of their horses and the breed fell into decline for several decades. However, a small number of dedicated breeders preserved the Appaloosa as a distinct breed until the Appaloosa Horse Club was formed as the breed registry in 1938.

Appaloosas are known for their quiet temperament. They are versatile, able jumpers, and do well in Western events and three day eventing. They also make good trail and long distance riders.

Ouch ... A First Aid Necessity!

2011-04-08T11:00:00-05:00

When stocking your first aid kit, make sure you purchase Povidone Iodine (trade name Betadine). Povidone Iodine is a dark red-brown solution that can be used for cleaning wounds and does not irritate or burn the skin. Avoid buying tincture of iodine, which causes a burning sensation when applied to wounds, and can also cause serious irritation if used underneath a bandage.

Povidone Iodine comes as either a scrub (makes bubbles when shaken) or a solution. The scrub is still gentle, but contains a detergent, so it must be rinsed off. The solution does not need to be rinsed off. Both of these are good options and a great addition to your first aid kit.

Having a first aid kit is an important tool in keeping your horse healthy and safe. A well-stocked first aid kit is the best way to store these much needed supplies and keep them clean and organized. If you don't have one and would like to buy a first aid kit from the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital, simply call us today to purchase one at 262-569-1550.

For more equine tips from the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital, continue follow our blog and Facebook for useful information and updates.

Common Problems Of Miniature Horses

2011-04-01T11:00:00-05:00

Miniature horses are becoming increasingly more popular as both show horses and companion animals. Miniature horses suffer many of the same medical problems as large breed horses, but their small size makes the diagnosis and treatment of those problems more of a challenge. In this posting, we will look at some of the problems that are more common in minis and how they can be identified by their owners.

Miniature horses come in every color and marking pattern imaginable. They are shown in a variety of classes, from halter, to driving and obstacle classes. They must be less than 34 inches tall for AMHA registration and can be up to 38 inches for AMHR registration. Larger minis can be used as children’s riding horses, although they tend towards bad habits with poor supervision. A smaller pony would probably be a better choice for a child. They are very hardy and grow a very heavy winter coat. Their upkeep can be very economical with regards to feed, deworming and supplements when compared to the average large breed horse, although their costs can be the same, if not more for tack, vet work and farrier care. Below are some of the medical problems that are not unique to miniature horses, but seem to be more common in the breed:

Musculoskeletal Problems

Mini’s tend to have fewer lameness issues in general. Some of the more common issues include:

1) Angular Limb Deformities – This would also be known as “crooked-leg” syndrome. This occurs in minis due to laxity of the soft tissue structures around joints, incomplete ossification of bones and problems with the growth plates. Nutrition, prematurity and trauma are often highly associated. Diagnosis is made by physical exam and radiographs and treatment is based on rest, appropriate farrier work and sometimes surgery. Because minis reach their growth potential earlier than large breeds, surgical or medical correction of angular limb deformities must occur earlier in life.

2) Upward Fixation of the Patella (locking stifle) – In a normal horse, the patella (knee cap) slides up and down. However, in some horses, due to conformation or inflammation, the patella slides up and becomes stuck. The horse would then demonstrate an inability to bring the leg forward. The toe often drags behind the leg and the fetlock (ankle) will be flexed, but not the hock or stifle. Usually, this can be corrected by asking the horse to move backwards, sometimes the owner or vet has to manually fix the leg. The condition is often hereditary in minis and treatments, such as stifle blistering, anti-inflammatories or surgery are required to prevent the fixation from continuing to occur.

3) Luxation of the Patella – This occurs when the patella slips to the outside of the stifle (knee) joint. This seems to be a congenital problem in mini’s due to an underdevelopment of one of the bones of the stifle. These mini’s present with a stiff gait and inability to flex the stifle. The only really successful treatment involves surgery, otherwise severe arthritis can form.

Miniature horses, in general, seem more resistant to laminitis; however, as with any horse, if they are overfed, laminitis can occur – and if it occurs, it can be severe. Diet management is a must. One must also be careful with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for the treatment of lameness, as only a very small dose is required and if excess is administered, severe gastric and intestinal ulceration(s) can result.

Respiratory System

Minis are susceptible to the same respiratory diseases as large breed horses, such as flu, rhino and strangles. If minis spike a fever, they often go off feed, which, as we discuss further later, can be life threatening for them. Other clinical signs include: cough, nasal discharge and enlarged lymph nodes. One condition that is more common in minis would be sinusitis.

1) Sinusitis – Mini’s have very small sinuses for their size, with large roots on their cheek teeth which can prevent normal sinus drainage. Signs of sinusitis include facial swelling, nasal discharge and sometimes fever. Diagnosis is made by physical exam and radiographs. Treatment relies on antibiotics, dental work and sometimes surgery to flush out the sinus.

Teeth and Jaws

Many minis have poor conformation to their mouth, which promotes many dental disorders. Malocclusions (the teeth do not meet correctly) and maleruptions (the baby teeth are not lost correctly) are common. Sow mouth and parrot mouth conformations are also common. Routine dental exams become more important in minis, even though many do not wear a bit; as if these conditions go unchecked, the horse cannot eat well, loses weight and may be more predisposed to colic.

Gastrointestinal Tract

Veterinarians face unique problems in the diagnosis and treatment of colic in minis. Miniature Horses often do not show a lot of the classic signs of pain. They may only be off feed or have a decreased fecal production. Diagnosis is often based on a physical exam and response to therapy. Due to their small size, a rectal exam is often not performed. It is also difficult to siphon fluid out of the stomach because of the small tube necessary. Ultrasound and radiography, however, are easier due to their small size. Certain types of colics that minis are more predisposed to include the following:

1) Fecaliths – Fecaliths are impactions formed by improper fecal ball production and often contain hair, sand and other foreign objects (twine, plastic etc.).

2) Enteroliths – Enteroliths are hard, “rock-like” concretions that form in the intestinal tract, often associated with sand and high alfalfa diets. Both of the above often require surgery for resolution.

3) Sand Colics – Sand Colics are common in minis as they tend to scrounge for every last morsel. Avoid feeding from the ground and test the manure by performing a Sands Test (floating feces in water in a clear Ziploc bag, and watching for sand settling out). You should perform this test often and treat with psyllium, if necessary. An instructional video of how to perform a Sands Test is also located in our blog.

Hyperlipemia and Hepatic Lipidosis

Hyperlipemia is a metabolic condition initiated when a horse goes off feed. Horses go off feed for a variety of reasons, including: illness, colic, late pregnancy / lactation, or starvation. When the feed intake decreases, fat stores are metabolized and excess fats will be seen in the blood, actually giving the blood serum a milky white appearance. The fat stores are broken down for energy in the liver. This is not a very efficient process, and eventually, when the liver cannot cope, the fat starts building up in the liver, leading to a condition called Hepatic Lipidosis.

Both of these conditions present as mild colic (from a swollen liver), jaundice, swollen legs and sometimes neurologic signs. Treatment can be difficult and relies on intravenous nutrition and then getting the horse eating again. The prognosis is quite poor with a mortality rate of 60 to 100 percent, so if your mini goes off feed for more than 24 hours, it is imperative that they be evaluated.

Reproductive Problems

The small size of miniatures leads to some special considerations with regards to breeding and foaling. Collecting semen is more of a challenge, as is artificial insemination due to the small size of the mares’ reproductive tract. Most miniature mares are bred by natural cover. Monitoring the mares reproductive cycle can also be challenging as rectal exams cannot be performed in many small mares. The Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital has designed a rectal probe that can be used without an arm being inserted and the cycle can be effectively evaluated. The same probe can safely be used for pregnancy exams at 14 to 18 days. Later in pregnancy, a trans-abdominal ultrasound can be used, or blood testing of estrone sulfate levels.

Miniature horses have a higher abortion rate than large breed horses. These abortions often occur after six months of gestation and often occur due to a malformed fetus, twins or a twisted umbilical cord. Minis also have a higher risk of dystocia, as many foals are born with a domed forehead which can often become stuck in the pelvic inlet.

Nutrition

Feeding miniature horses does not need to be difficult. The same principles apply to minis as apply to large breeds. Fresh water needs to be available at all times. Carbohydrates are the primary energy source, and, 50 percent or more of the diet should be forage (hay, grass, hay cubes).

The main challenge owners face is estimating body weight – and most owners underestimate weight by 30 to 50 pounds and therefore, tend to overfeed. To maintain body weight, minis need 1.5 to 3 percent body weight fed per day. Owners are encouraged to weigh their hay and feed no more than 1.25 pounds of grain per 250 pounds of body weight. Again – weigh the grain so it is not being overfed. Most minis should not have free access to pasture, unless the pasture is very sparse. Limit the access to grass to short periods one to two times daily. An estimate of grass eaten needs to be factored into the total daily ration, as well.

Monitoring your mini(s) for the atypical behavior and symptoms listed above is a good habit for all owners. And hopefully, you never have a problem or issue, but if you do, the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital and our veterinarians are always here for you.

To address other questions or concerns that you have on your Miniature Horse(s), please contact the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital at 262-569-1550.

Where in the World Was Dr. Schmidt Last Week?

2011-03-31T16:24:00-05:00

So exactly were was Dr. Schmidt last week? If you guess England, you were correct. And, what type of horse did he see there? Here's a hint...it was the same breed as Dr. Bourne's beloved childhood pet - "Toya" - The majestic and beautiful, Cleveland Bay!

About the Cleveland Bay

The Cleveland Bay is England’s oldest breed of horse. It is incredibly versatile and can turn its hoof to all disciplines, It is a horse with substance, activity, stamina and a temperament that is unsurpassed by any other breed of horse.

They carried the goods of the traveling salesmen and initially were known as Chapman horses. The name Cleveland bay developed later as their color and their association with the Cleveland district of North Yorkshire were linked together. By 1962 there were only four Cleveland Bay stallions in Britain. The breed survived largely because Queen Elizabeth II made available the stallion Mulgrave Supreme, originally destined to be sold to America. He was so successful that by 1977 there were 15 stallions, most of them his progeny.

The head of the Cleveland Bay still displays some characteristics that are reminiscent of the Andalusian from which it descended. The sometimes convex profile, which in earlier times was termed ram or hawk like, is a typical characteristic of Spanish stock. The Cleveland Bay is always bay with black points and stand between 16 and 16.2 hands in height.

The modern Cleveland, though lighter than its predecessors, is especially powerful in its neck and through the shoulder. Although powerful, this horse is remarkably active. Clean legs, without feather, are an essential feature of the Cleveland Bay. They allowed the breed to work in the heavy clay of Northeast England and to jump in the hunting country.

The Cleveland Bay is a versatile horse and is still used today for many tasks, including driving and farmwork. In the 1920s, Cleveland Bays replaced black Hanoverians in the British royal stables, and both the Cleveland Bay and Cleveland Bay/Thoroughbred crosses are used as royal carriage horses today.

Combating Stiffness

2011-03-25T12:00:00-05:00

You may find your horse is consistently unable to bend to the left; unable to pick up the correct canter lead or just takes a long time to warm-up. While some may assume that you need additional training or your horse is just not well-conditioned, but after some time goes past, you find out you are still battling the same problem. The reason may not be training, stubbornness or condition-related, but potentially stiffness, so your horse simply cannot do what you are asking.

Stiffness simply means the inability or unwillingness to bend or flex due to an inability of the tissues to stretch. Areas most commonly affected are the neck, back and joints. Just as some people are incredibly flexible and others are not, some horses are much more flexible than others. Under normal circumstances, they do okay, but when asked for gaits or bending that require more flexibility, pain occurs and the horse resists.

Stiffness occurs in all breeds, ages and disciplines. It may be due to an innate lack of flexibility, but also due to arthritis, sore muscles, injury or poor fitting saddles. Treatments for stiffness can include, but are not limited to the following:

Pre-Ride Warm-Ups – As people stretch before exercising, so should horses. A good warm-up will loosen the muscles by increasing blood flow. A good 10 to 15 minutes of walking, followed by 5 to 10 minutes of trotting before asking for any significant effort is recommended. Allow your horse to stretch out his neck during the warm-up. Remember to allow 10 to 15 minutes of cool down at the end, which is equally as important. Also, to avoid stiffness, alternate more intense days of schooling with less intensive riding, such as hacking or trail riding (cross training).

Stretches – Stretches will loosen the connective tissue and muscles before a workout, especially for horses that spend a lot of time in stalls. When stretching, never force anything that the horse resents. Stretching after a warm-up is also recommended. The following are examples of good stretches:

Neck Stretches – Place the horse by a wall so they cannot move. Take a treat to the horses elbow and then gradually extend it towards the hip, stopping when your horse seems to be struggling. Repeat on both sides, gradually increasing the stretch as flexibility improves. If your horse ducks his head down and then bends the nose towards you, it is cheating and probably needs chiropractic attention.

Belly Lifts – Tickle your horse or apply pressure to the area of the belly where the girth would sit. The horse should elevate through the withers with the head and neck coming down. Hold the lift for 10 seconds and repeat four or five times. If your horse evades the lift or tries to kick, then it is probably feeling pain.

Leg Circles – Pick-up your horses’ foot as if you are picking it out. Imagine there is a pencil hanging from the toe and try to draw circles in the ground by moving the leg. Complete four to six circles in each direction. If you are not drawing circles, but odd shapes, that is the sign of a problem.

Equine Chiropractic (VSMT) Examination – A trained chiropractor can evaluate symmetry, muscle tightness and the range of motion of all joints. They can then perform adjustments to restore mobility to joints and thus, flexibility.

Acupuncture – Acupuncture can be used to enhance blood flow, decrease pain and reduce muscle spasm. It often works very well in combination with chiropractic adjustments.

Massage – Most horses love a good massage. Massage can also help remove tension and spasms from muscles, but also release tightness from other structures, such as fascia and ligaments. Look for someone who has completed an equine specific course in massage therapy.

Joint and Muscle Supplements – When joints are stiff, supplements containing glucosamine chondroitin, MSM can help decrease inflammation in those joints and make them more mobile. A variety of good vitamin and mineral supplements can also help with muscle spasms. Many areas of the country are low in Selenium, which can help muscle health. Organic forms of Vitamin E can also be beneficial for muscle soreness.

In all situations, if in doubt or your horse has a more serious problem, then you should consult your veterinarian. Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital is always available for questions and concerns. You can reach us at 262-569-1550 –and we have two veterinarians trained in Acupuncture and VSMT.

Puncture Wounds

2011-03-18T12:00:00-05:00

Puncture wounds can be very deceiving and may not initially appear serious; however, punctures can be a dangerous injury.

The skin wound from a puncture might be very small, however, the underlying injury may be much more severe. Common causes of puncture wounds are pieces of wood, nails, wires, metal and sticks. A common reason for horses to sustain puncture wounds is running through fencing, or falling onto fence posting.

Signs that a puncture has occurred recently include bleeding and pain, heat and swelling around the puncture site. If there is a foreign body remaining in the wound, do not attempt to remove it. Foreign body removal should be performed by your veterinarian. If a puncture wound is not identified immediately, the skin wound can heal over quickly in a few days, although, a local infection may occur in the underlying tisses. If this occurs, the area around the puncture will often swell and become painful, which is due to the infection caused by bacteria that entered the wound during the trauma. The puncture site may break open and drain allowing accumulated fluid and pus to escape. If a puncture occurs on a leg and enters a joint or tendon sheath, the horse may be very lame and be reluctant to bear weight on the affected limb.

One serious complication of a puncture wound is the possibility of a horse developing tetanus. Tetanus is caused by an anaerobic bacteria called Clostridium tetani. This disease has a high fatality rate in horses. Initial signs of tetanus include a stiff gait, reluctance to eat off of the ground and facial muscle spasm. Tetanus progresses to spasm of all muscles, rigid extension of the neck, limbs and tail (sawhorse stance) and often death. The tetanus toxoid is a core vaccine that all horses should receive annually. Any horse that has a laceration or wound should receive a tetanus booster if it has been more than six months since they received their vaccination. Another type of clostridial infection that can occur following a puncture wound is called clostridial myositis, although, this disease is most commonly associated with intramuscular injections. Signs of clostridial myositis include swelling, unwillingness to move and crepitus. Crepitus is gas within the infected tissues and has a crackling or crinkly feeling to the touch.

Treatment for a puncture wound will depend on the type and severity of the puncture wound. All horses should receive a tetanus booster after a deep laceration or puncture wound. Often NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories), such as bute or banamine, will be used to help reduce the pain and inflammation associated with the injury. Antibiotics are also necessary following a puncture wound. The type of antibiotics administered will depend on the injury.

The wound itself should be cleaned and explored by your veterinarian to determine the extent of the puncture into the underlying tissues. Please contact the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital if you have any questions or concerns regarding wound care.

Where in the world was Dr. Langer last week?

2011-03-17T14:44:00-05:00

Dr. Langer was busy visiting the Taj Mahal in India last week, where he was lucky enough to see India’s native breed, the Marwari! Did you guess correctly?

About the Marwari

The Marwari Horse acquired its name from the original place it was bred, namely, Marwar in Rajasthan, India. The breed is known for its inward-turning ear tips and hardiness. The Marwari comes in all equine colors, although pinto patterns tend to be the most popular with buyers and breeders. They are descended from native Indian ponies crossed with Arabian horses, possibly with some Mongolian influence.

The Rathores, the traditional rulers of the Marwar region of western India, were the first to breed the Marwari in the early 12th century. The Rathores promoted strict breeding that encouraged purity and hardiness in the Marwari breed. The horse was traditionally used as a cavalry horse by the people of the Marwar region, and was noted for its loyalty and bravery in battle.

The breed deteriorated in the 1930s, when poor management practices resulted in a reduction of the breeding stock, but today has regained some of its popularity. The Marwari is used for light draught and agricultural work, as well as riding and packing. In 1995, a breed society was formed for the Marwari in India. Just recently, horses began to be exported to the United States and Europe.

Stomach Ulcers: A Pain in the Stomach

2011-03-11T11:05:00-06:00

Stomach ulcers are not an uncommon finding in show horses, race horses and horses with a history of being treated long-term with NSAID’s (bute/banamine). Ulcers form as a result of an imbalance between acid (inciting factor) and base (protective factor) within the stomach. Changes in diet, stress (trailering, showing, changes in environment), illness and NSAID administration are all factors that contribute to this imbalance. Clinical signs of such ulcers may be obvious or very subtle. We suspect ulcers in horses that have a history of chronic/intermittent colic, diarrhea, poor performance, poor hair coat, an irritable attitude, as well as in horses that grind their teeth or have a decreased appetite.

A diagnosis is made by performing gastroendoscopy, which is a procedure that allows us to look inside the stomach at the mucosal surface. This is done by passing the Gastroscope (long tube with a light source and camera on the end) into the nose, down the esophagus and into the stomach. The severity of ulcers is graded on a scale of 0-4.

Grade-0 Normal (no reddening or proliferation of tissue)
Grade-1 Areas of reddening and proliferation (mucosa intact)
Grade-2 Small, single or multiple plaque-like lesions
Grade-3 Large, single or multiple plaque-like lesions
Grade-4 Areas of deep ulceration or perforation

Recommended treatment for gastric ulcers includes medications that suppress acid secretion by the gastric cells. The medication of choice for treating stomach ulcers is Omeprazole (UlcerGard or GastroGard). Other medications include: Cimetidine, Ranitidine and Sucralfate, which work similarly to Omeprazole to help treat/heal ulcers, but not quite as efficiently.

Some basic tips for prevention of stomach ulcers include: pasture turnout, continuous access to high quality forage (or small amounts more frequently) and prophylactic anti-ulcer medication. Decreasing stress and limiting NSAID administration will also help decrease the risk of developing ulcers.

If you are concerned that your horse may have stomach ulcers, or have other equine-related questions, please contact the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital at 262-569-1550 so we can assist with the diagnosis and treatment of such cases.

Feeding Tips from Dr. Langer

2011-02-25T11:00:00-06:00

Dr. Langer tells you how he feeds his horses to minimize health issues in his adult - and young growing horses in the entry below. Enjoy!

Horses have evolved over the years as free-range grazing animals. If we keep this in mind, it will serve us well from both a feeding and management standpoint. As we train them for our particular interest, we then modify that environment which may require changes in our feeding practices. Below is a list of diet ingredients to keep in mind.

1. Water – Often the most overlooked, even though it is the most important. When the water temperature drops below 45 degrees water consumption drops dramatically. In colder climates, heated waters should never be overlooked.

2. Forage – Ideal source of nutrition, “for what a horse’s digestive system is geared.” Generally, it is ideal to feed free choice, with plans to limit only if overweight. Keep in mind, there is a dramatic difference in both the types and quality of hay being fed.

a. Grass Hay is lower in calories, protein, calcium and phosphorus. This tends to make it much easier for us to manage weight and growth since deficiencies here can be met by one of the other means listed below.

b. Alfalfa Hay is high in calories, protein and calcium, while being low in phosphorus. Because of the high calorie content it often has to be limited to control body weight. Excessive calcium and calories supplied by alfalfa hay often leads to many of the growth issues seen in young horses. This is particularly important in horses under 18 months of age, since they are unable to excrete excess calcium through their kidneys.

c. Grass / Alfalfa Mix – This often gives the best balance of nutrients and allows better flexibility from a feeding standpoint.

3. Concentrates – These are generally pelleted feeds, fed in small amounts that complement the hay being fed to help optimize overall nutrition. This allows feeding of very precise amounts based on age and level of work being performed. These tend to have minimal cereal grains within them.

4. Fats/Oils – A much healthier alternative to cereal grains as a source of calories. Fat/Oils have been shown to increase bone strength in growing horses and to give more stamina to adult horses. Several muscle related problems in horses (such as EPSM and shivers), respond favorably to fats. Fats/oils, such as flax seed oil and fish oil are preferred, and oils, such as soybean oil, have good omega fatty acid ratios. Corn oil, for example, is not as desirable due to it high omega 6 to omega 3 ratio.

5. Cereal Grains – Cereal grains such as corn, oats and barley have been fed to horses for decades. They tend to be a relatively inexpensive source of calories and horse owners get tremendous satisfaction out of “graining their horses”. The problem with cereal grains are that they are rapidly digested to sugars in the body creating several problems.

a. Growing Horses – Excessive calories and lack of exercise are the two most common causes of growth related problems in horses. In addition, the insulin spikes generated have been linked to the development of osteochondritis dessicans (OCD). For this reason, limiting cereal grains and using oils as an alternative energy source is preferred.

b. Adult / Older Horses – Overweight horses are more common than we would like. In addition to this, as horses get older, we see problems with type 2 diabetes in horses commonly linked to Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Cushings Disease.

Laminitis/founder can also be seen when either too much cereal grain is fed or the cereal grain source is changed too rapidly.

6. Vitamin / Mineral Supplements – Often used to supply many of the nutrients lacking in hay and grain. These will typically be supplied in one of three methods.

They can: a) be incorporated in the grain/concentrate b) be fed as a separate supplement at feeding time or c) be offered free choice so that individual differences in need can be adjusted by the individual horse.

7. Salt – should be offered free choice to meet requirements and replace that lost through sweat during exercise.

8. Exercise – Good for all horses. A number of lameness problems that we see often relates back to either a lack of adequate turnout or inconsistent exercise. A lack of adequate exercise is a leading cause of growth related problems in young horses.

9. Genetics – Some horses are genetically predisposed to developing the various growth related problems we see in horses. These effects can be minimized by optimizing feeding and husbandry practices throughout the horse’s life.

Feeding, although fairly complex, can be made fairly simple as long as you understand what effect each diet change may have. In general we have come to realize that if we start with hay and minimize cereal grain feeding to horses, that long term negative health effects are reduced. Over the years, tremendous strides have been made in understanding what effect various feeding practices have long term on horses. This has led to a dramatic shift in the way I look at feeding horses. For my breeding farm, all horses are turned out on grass pasture. When pasture is not available grass mix hay is fed to all my horses less than 2 years of age and primarily alfalfa hay to older horses. A concentrate is fed to all horses with the amount being adjusted based on age, mature body size and pregnancy status. When additional calories are needed oils are used first followed by cereal grains. In addition to this all horses have free access to a mineral mix formulated for the hay/pasture being fed. These feeding practices have resulting in minimal growth related problems over the last 12 years.

How well do horses hear?

2011-02-11T11:00:00-06:00

Horses have very large, mobile ears that seem to hear every candy/carrot bag rustle and the sound of every horse whinny in the area. One would think it would be advantageous to horses, as prey animals, to hear well – but do they hear well?

Horses do not hear as well as one would think. Comparative studies show that they hear better than we do, but not as well as other species, including: dogs, cats, rabbits and goats. The results of the study show that horses definitely rely on hearing in their daily interactions (knowing when food is coming, to mares nickering to their babies to encourage nursing), but hearing does not seem central to horses’ survival. Deaf horses do not seem to be as disadvantaged as a blind horse would be.

Horses hear low frequency sounds quite well, but are less sensitive to high frequency. They can hear quiet sounds better than we can – if you are whispering your horse can definitely hear you! When it comes to localizing sounds, a horses ears set wide-apart on top of the head should allow them to hear where a sound is coming from. It actually seems that horses are quite poor at localizing where a sound originates. Apparently, only underground dwelling animals are worse than horses at localization, although cattle are nearly as bad. Even ear mobility does not seem to help unless the ear is pointed towards the direction of the sound when it is made (which often is the case).

Horses have an amazing field of vision which is probably why they do not hear quite so well. They can see the predator much better than they can hear them. Horses, as a species, do not spend a lot of time identifying what a sound means. They have evolved to flee first and ask questions later. Horses can be desensitized to sound, so their reactions are more rational, but this takes time.

How can you tell if your horse has a hearing problem? Often behavioral changes may be noted, possibly with a head tilt. You can test hearing by having someone shake a grain bucket out of the horse’s sight (in an adjacent stall or room). If all the other horses perk up and one doesn’t, this would be a clear sign of a hearing problem.

Equine deafness is usually a congenital problem (one they are born with). One syndrome where horses with white markings are born deaf in one or both ears is present in Paints/Pintos (specifically over’s). More commonly, horses become deaf following head trauma or a neurological disease that damages the auditory pathways in the brain.

Most deaf horses are very mellow and obviously do not spook to sound. Just remember that these horses cannot be trained with auditory cues and visual cues should be used.

Reproduced from Equus, January 2004, issue 315 pg 28-35 by Christine Barakat

WECH Vaccination Clinics have returned!

2011-02-08T13:00:00-06:00

Out and About with WECH

2011-02-07T11:20:00-06:00

Dr. Lisa Borzynski spoke at the Wisconsin Desert Horse Association's (WDHA) Gathering Banquet over the weekend in Foud du Lac, Wisconsin. In her presentation, Dr. Borzynski shared information on the new strategic worming guidelines, as well as tips on horse emergency first aid.

Continue to check our blog and Facebook for these valuable tips and information on all things equine!

Hoof Principles

2011-02-04T11:00:00-06:00

Just as our fingerprints are unique to us, a horse’s hooves are unique to them. There is variability between horses reflecting individual conformation; however, there are some general characteristics that apply to all horses.

Front hooves have a 50 to 55 degree angle, while hind hooves have an angle of 55 to 60 degrees.

The pastern and front of the hoof wall usually follow the same angle. Exceptions are very upright or very sloping pasterns and club-footed horses.

From the side, the coronary band at the front of the hoof is twice the distance from the ground (measured straight down) as it is at the heels.

Hooves are usually longer toe to heel than they are wide.

The hoof wall is thicker at the toe than at the heel.

At its’ widest, the frog is between one third and one half the measurement at the widest part of the hoof.

The Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital is available around the clock to assist you and your horse with any hoof - or non-hoof questions or concerns. You can reach our office at 262-569-1550.

Should your horse acquire a minor hoof injury, we do have a step-by-step video on how to bandage your horse's hoof and the basic items you will need. You can check out our video here http://www.wisconsinequineclinic.com/blog.php?ID=72.

A New Perspective on Broodmares and Pregnancy!

2011-01-28T11:00:00-06:00

As a busy professional, the idea of becoming pregnant had not exactly been at the top of my to-do list. However, 2 years ago the idea of becoming pregnant had suddenly become a reality.

In the past, the majority of my exposure to pregnancy had been through broodmares. I’ve been working with pregnant mares for a number of years, but only in the last few months of my own pregnancy did I have a better appreciation for their role in creating these precious little lives. Like many, I used to think of a broodmare as a retired mare that needed a second job in life. Frankly speaking, it has always sounded like a pretty easy gig for them. They get all the food they want and don’t have to do a thing for it. One day, while laying on my couch (literally laying, as sitting has become surprisingly complicated) I had realized what these horses really go through; from the challenge of getting pregnant – all the way to giving birth.

Having spent very little time at the doctors’ office in my life, it suddenly seemed that I was being “looked over” in such a way that made me feel more like one big reproductive tract than a woman. I can only imagine what these mares must be thinking. The numerous palpations, inseminations, ultrasounds, and for what … do they even know at this point? I got through the endless exams knowing that someday I would have a precious baby in my arms. The broodmare is being asked to create something for us, the perfect foal with only the best qualities of both its parents. No pressure, right?

In the beginning of my pregnancy the huge hormonal changes made me feel like a different person. I felt so tired and almost beat up on a daily basis. Is there such a thing in the broodmare? She is obviously going through a lot of hormonal changes and, therefore, I can only imagine she must not feel herself either. Yet, we commonly expect them to carry on with their daily routine, if they are both broodmare and riding horse. If someone even expected me to perform athletically the same way I did prior to my pregnancy, I would have to look at them with an are you kidding me sort of look! For the most part, these broodmares carry on without too much fuss. Do I think it is wrong to ask them to do so? No, I now just respect and admire them even more for their desire to please their owners. But I do wonder if they would “tweak” some of our expectations, if given a voice.

Now what about the extra weight that one has to carry? For me, chronic back pain had become my “new” normal. I exhausted many therapies in the hopes of finding something that would have given me some relief. I can only imagine that horses feel like their bodies have for some unknown reason turned into something which is now causing them discomfort. And, why is it that we feel like these horses that have spent most of their lives indoors, blanketed and shod can now be without? Is that where barefoot and pregnant comes from? Personally, anything I could do to stay comfortable is a plus, so thank you for not expecting me to all of sudden want to walk around in flip flops, if I am used to Air Jordans!

What about the swollen limbs? I used to think that it is normal for mare’s to get “stocked up” – and it is nothing to worry about? Well for the most part this is true … but, normal, really? As my extremities were getting more and more swollen, I didn’t look at myself and say … “no biggie, it’s normal.” It was more like, “is there anything else left on me that can get any bigger?”

Most people feel like pregnant women and new moms have the hardest job out there. So keeping that in mind, I do feel like our broodmares deserve great recognition for their amazing patience and natural ability to care for their babies, as if they chose this life for themselves.

Through the Eyes of a Veterinary Technician at Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital

2011-01-21T11:00:00-06:00

The rhythmic hum of the ventilator is heard throughout the room. In the background, Kenny Chesney is singing about a love ‘gone bad.’ I drag the muck bucket across the floor. Too heavy for me to pick-up, I enlist Anna, the extern, to give me a hand. We lift the bucket and poor the watery brown contents into a large container. I warn Anna to look away or be splattered. Yes, it is colon contents from the colic surgery being performed. Chatter and excitement build in the room as Dr. Bolam, like a fisherman landing the record catch, reveals the item causing such commotion. It’s an enterolith (stone), roughly the size of a large melon. It is now obvious to everyone why this horse had been in such discomfort. Times like these are what make my job exciting!

However, being involved in a colic surgery is just one aspect of my job. As a Veterinary Technician at Wisconsin Equine, you, in a sense, must be a “jack of all trades” – ready to perform treatments, assist in surgery, help collect a stallion, assist with daily in-clinic appointments as well as admit and discharge patients. And, let’s not to forget, the unplanned – “WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY COMING IN”. Many days can be intense and a bit crazy with very little break time, but that is one of the things I love about this job.

The most rewarding part of my job is the patient care. As a technician, I am responsible for delivering the care to your horse as prescribed by the veterinarian on the case. This includes: administering oral and IV medications, performing physical exams, monitoring IV fluids, running blood-work, grooming, feeding and the up-keep of stalls for our critical care patients – all to be completed in a timely manner. This can sometimes be a daunting task, but we rely on teamwork to get the job done.

Once treatments are completed, I assist the doctors in their in-clinic appointments. This could include a lameness evaluation, scoping a stomach, chiropractic care, a dental exam, ultrasound, x-rays, and the list goes on. Not only am I here for patient care, but also doctor support. They rely on me to set-up for their appointments, assist throughout the exam, hold the horses, scrub, clip, run, run, run (lameness eval), clean-up, discharge your horse, oh – and collect your money as well. Now, during all this, I continue to monitor my hospital patients and perform prescribed treatments throughout the day. In the middle of it all, the front office may call and say, “WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY …” As you can imagine, it takes teamwork to fit it all in and have it run in an efficient manner.

I love my job and can’t imagine doing anything else. I care for your horse as if it were my own, becoming VERY attached. I am as thrilled as you are, when your horse goes home healthy. I feel your pain when they, unfortunately, can’t be healed or fixed. The mother in me doesn’t mind your horse’s reflux splattered on her, cleaning-up a very messy foals bottom, catching your horse’s “pee in a bucket” during an MRI, or dumping your horse’s colon contents during a colic surgery. It’s all in a day’s work, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Being a Veterinary Technician at Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital is both exciting and rewarding!

Kim Haines, Veterinary Technician

The Winter Crusties

2011-01-14T11:00:00-06:00

Wet, cold and windy weather, along with a heavy hair coat, blanketing and less grooming due to cold weather sets horses up for a variety of skin afflictions. The following are some of the most common:

1) Scratches – Chafing and cracking (similar to chapped lips), causes this painful condition in the pastern area of your horse. The scabs are painful to remove and often ooze serum. When severely affected, the leg can become quite swollen. Initially, rather than removing the scabs, coat them in a thick ointment such as Desitin to allow the scabs to loosen. At WECH, we make our own scratches ointment that combines Desitin with an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory. After a couple of days, the scabs should have loosened, where you can wash the affected areas with a gentle anti-septic. Allow the legs to dry (use towels or a hair dryer) and then add more desitin. Continue to treat until the condition is resolved. If the legs become swollen, or your horse is lame, consult your veterinarian.

2) Cannon Bone Crud – This occurs on the front of the hind cannon bones. The skin and hair comes off in crusts. Moisture becomes trapped by the skin; in geldings they sometimes scald their legs with urine. The moist skin sets up a nice environment for bacteria leading to the hair loss and skin crusties. Treat the legs as you would for scratches (with a thick ointment like Desitin, as mentioned above). After the crusts have been removed, use an antiseptic lotion to clear up any infection. When all the crusts are gone, regular grooming should prevent their return.

3) Contact Dermatitis – You may find thickened, pimply skin on the side of your horses stifle, or on their abdomen. This occurs when the blanket shifts putting the skin in contact with the stall and possibly urine/manure. This can irritate the skin and sometimes go unnoticed due to the blanket. You can treat this condition by washing and drying the skin and then applying a soothing antiseptic lotion.

This is a good reminder to keep the stall as clean as possible during times of winter confinement. Also, take your horses blankets off every other day to check the skin and give them a good grooming.

If you have other questions or concerns, feel free to contact the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital at 262-569-1550. We are here to help and serve both you and your horse.

Blanket Lameness

2011-01-07T11:00:00-06:00

It’s the winter and your usually sound horse becomes lame. Among the usual causes are stone bruises, foot abscesses and strains. One thing you may not have thought about is blanket lameness. This occurs when an ill-fitting blanket puts pressure on your horses’ withers or shoulders. This makes it painful for your horse to move. The hair in the area of pressure often becomes broken or “burned” from the friction of the blanket. If your horse is body clipped, the condition may be worse. A horse with blanket lameness will be significantly improved by simply removing the blanket, however, the lameness may return under saddle if the saddle presses on the painful area.

The solution is to make sure your blanket fits well. Possibly trying a different style or trying one that has a softer lining. Also, stretchy undergarments can help protect the rubbing. If significant pain or swelling occurs around the pressure spot, some anti-inflammatories and time-off may be warranted. If an open sore occurs, a topical antibiotic with anti-inflammatories would be recommended, but then please consult your veterinarian for the best choice of medications for your horse.

The Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital is available around the clock for all of your equine needs, including lameness. If you have a concern, you can always contact us at 262-569-1550, we are here to help.

Intramuscular Injection Reactions ... and how YOU should React

2010-12-17T11:00:00-06:00

In general, the incidence of an injection reaction is low, but being able to distinguish between a minor problem and a more serious complication is critical. Below are some tips about what to look for and what you can do if a problem occurs:

During the first 10 to 30 seconds – You may notice a small lump form under the skin, almost immediately. This is probably some bleeding in or under the skin. Applying a small amount of pressure will stop the bleeding.

Ten seconds to one minute – Your horse may show behavior changes (twitching, throwing the head, hyper reactivity to touch/sound), trembling, breathing changes, rearing/flipping over or seizure. This is probably the result of the product being inadvertently injected into a blood vessel in the muscle. This is most commonly seen with procaine penicillin G and can be a very violent reaction. To minimize the risk of reaction pull back on the syringe plunger checking for blood prior to injection. If blood is observed, remove the needle, place a new needle on your syringe and move to a different site. Make sure you are giving the shots in a safe place, so if they go down, they are not on concrete. If the horse looks like it may be reacting, above all, be safe, exit the stall and call your veterinarian.

One to 10 minutes – Your horse may show signs of distress including breathing changes, hives, swollen eyes/muzzle/legs/sheath, convulsions, colic or collapse. These are the hallmark signs of a true allergic reaction. This is a life threatening situation – call your vet immediately. Try to keep your horse calm, rinse hive areas with cool water and once again, remember to keep yourselves safe.

One to 30 minutes – You may notice a deep, soft lump at the injection site. This may indicate more significant bleeding in the deeper tissues. Once again, apply pressure for 10-15 minutes and talk to your vet about giving a dose of anti-inflammatory medication to prevent overt pain and stiffness.

Twelve hours to three days – If you horse has tenderness or warm swelling at the injection site, this may be secondary to unnoticed bleeding, or a local inflammatory reaction in the muscle. You can help your horse by icing the area (if it not too painful) for 15-20 minutes. An oral anti-inflammatory will also help – please talk with your veterinarian about the best option for your horse.

One to five days – If you discern deep, hot, painful swelling at the injection site that seems to be getting larger, or if your horse has a fever or has gone off feed, this is probably the start of an abscess. The needle may have become contaminated from dirty hair or bacteria in the horses’ bloodstream and may have congregated at this site. This is a situation where you should certainly contact your veterinarian. The abscess may need to be lanced and your horse probably needs antibiotics. Certain types of bacteria (e.g. Clostridia) can cause life threatening infections at injection sites.

Whatever the situation, if you are unsure about what is going on with your horse, you should ALWAYS contact your veterinarian. The Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital (WECH) is available around the clock for all your equine needs. You can reach the WECH by calling 262-569-1550 or visiting us on the web at http://www.wisconsinequineclinic.com.

Prudy brought home a checkered flag!

2010-12-10T12:00:00-06:00

Placentitis, or infection/inflammation in the placenta, is an ugly word when it comes to foaling mares. The following is the story of a 20-year-old Saddlebred mare that was first seen by Wisconsin Equine Clinic’s reproductive department on cold day in 2004.

Prudy (names of horses sometimes are apropos and are sometimes misleading) had never had a live foal. She had been pregnant twice when she was bred as an 18-year-old maiden, however, had a twin pregnancy and lost both fetuses in early gestation. She was then rebred and lost that foal in late gestation in a stillborn event. She was moderately overweight and was showing clinical signs of equine metabolic syndrome. However, the owner was determined to get a live foal from this mare!

Prudy had been bred to a 27-year-old stallion in 2003 and was 10 months pregnant at the time of her first examination. The examination was fairly straightforward to begin with. The goal, to make sure there was a live fetus, evaluate placental thickness and see if there were any overt abnormalities that would make management of this foaling difficult or challenging. The ultrasound examination by Dr. Andy Schmidt of the Wisconsin Equine Clinic Hospital (WECH) showed a vigorous fetus, although the placental thickness was increased near the cervix (16mm, instead of 10mm), along with edema and areas of echogenicity (cloudiness). The cervix was softer and wider then it should be for this stage of gestation – and combined with the ultrasound findings, it was highly plausible that we were dealing with placentitis and possibly a placental insufficiency (a complication of pregnancy in which the placenta cannot bring enough oxygen and nutrients to a fetus growing in the womb). Both of these conditions can cause early foaling, stillborns – and if the foal is alive, complications in the foal’s health, such as prematurity or sepsis. After speaking with Prudy’s owner, it was decided that she would be started on progesterone therapy, oral antibiotics and other medications to improve the blood flow across the placenta to the fetus and ultimately prevent any further spread of infection, if present.

Four weeks after that initial evaluation, Prudy, who was now past her due date, was feeling good and was still on medications. Her ultrasound exams were showing a decrease in placental thickness (13mm) and she was showing signs of impending foaling (waxed, full udder). On March 1st, the long awaited foal was born at 11:30 p.m. under the close supervision of clinical staff at WECH. Although Prudy had some difficulty with the delivery, she needed only minimal assistance and was proud to show off her new foal, Nascar, as he was eventually named by clinic staff for his theatrics in turnout. Nascar had some initial health issues that were quickly dealt with (meconium impaction or constipation and umbilical infection) and he was on his way to showing his mom what having a foal was all about.

This was a rewarding case for all involved. We had a motivated owner, a pregnant mare with a treatable and manageable placental thickening for which we fortunately had effective treatments and a great staff to closely monitor and treat Prudy throughout the last month of her pregnancy. Prudy was a nervous mom, which is common in mares that have lost foals previously, but took great care of little Nascar. After foaling, she was again evaluated for equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and Cushing’s disease. Although negative for Cushing’s, the EMS was managed by dietary changes and thyroid supplementation. Prudy was retired to pasture after Nascar was weaned that fall and has been living a with her pasture mates. Nascar is doing well and is still has his original owner.

It is important to note that without diagnosis and treatment of these “placentitis” cases at least two to three weeks prior to foaling; these mares will likely produce compromised foals or have complications during the foaling in association with a thickened placenta “red bag” or difficult birth “dystocia.”

The Story of Chi: From Vets to Shows!

2010-12-03T19:00:00-06:00

I had spent my childhood dreaming of owning my own horse. That dream was finally realized in 2001 when I purchased a red bay Thoroughbred mare, named Chi. Chi had the fastest time at Arlington that day, but at five years of age, it was time for a new career. I began riding Chi and retraining her for Eventing and Dressage.

In the spring of 2006, Chi developed a very severe lameness on her right front. She would seem sound, but then become severely lame. Within several hours, she would appear sound again.

My regular veterinarian examined her and during the initial lameness exam (including lunging, jogging and flexing), she appeared sound. There was no swelling or heat in the leg – nothing to indicate why she had become lame. He was preparing to leave when he asked me to jog her one more time. After three steps, she was severely lame. My vet took several x- rays of her foot and ankle. The x-rays were negative, the only obvious thing was that Chi had very thin soles; “paper thin” was my vet’s assessment. Chi was wearing shoes and had farrier visits every five to six weeks. I knew she resented having her feet cleaned and we struggled at times to keep shoes on her. Her feet were soft to the point that I could almost squeeze the heels and her foot would bend. My farrier attributed her thin soles to “lousy thoroughbred feet” and kept her in pads.

Because of the severity and intermittent nature of her lameness, my regular vet advised me that she may have a hairline fracture and that I should consider a nuclear scan for further evaluation. Chi had a nuclear scan in March of 2006 and the scan showed “hot spots” in her right front foot, possibly related to damage in the ligaments in her navicular area. I was told that a more definitive diagnosis would require an MRI, but the facility that performed the nuclear scan did not have an MRI machine. The vet who performed the nuclear scan then recommended the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital as an option to get an MRI. Alternatively, I could give her some time off and use corrective shoeing, bigger wedge shoes, more pads, special navicular shoes to try to keep her sound. Even with corrective shoeing, the prognosis for a future riding and jumping for Chi was not good.

After weighing the alternative, I brought Chi to the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital and Dr. Langer performed an MRI on Chi. I was nervous about leaving Chi so far away from home, but Chi got the best of care! She had a spacious stall, was hand-grazed, groomed and given plenty of attention from the staff. They took my numerous phone calls and kept me well-informed. The staff cheerfully accommodated visits from my Aunt Dolly (who lives in Oconomowoc) to bring Chi carrots. Aunt Dolly’s reports always included how friendly and kind the staff were – and how well-cared for Chi was.

The MRI showed damage to the ligaments in the area of her navicular bone and some bone resorption in the navicular bone. Dr. Langer explained the findings and the bad news that her condition was likely to impact her Eventing future. He explained that there were therapeutic shoeing options that might improve her soundness, but these may only work for a period of months and that ultimately she might need to be retired.

I was devastated. I asked Dr. Langer if there was any other option for my beloved Chi. Dr. Langer mentioned that he knew some people who treated horses with similar conditions by having them go barefoot. However, he cautioned that with Chi’s thin soles and soft feet , barefoot may not be an option for her. I asked if we could figure out a way to overcome the thin soles and soft feet, did he think barefoot could work? He suggested that maybe with boots and trimming, and a good hoof supplement, it “might.”

Well, “might” work was all I needed to hear. Since she had been in pads and wedge shoes and was not looking at a very good future, I was determined to try the barefoot option. No one else had suggested this to me before.

I decided to try her in Soft Ride boots. Since she needed time off, these seemed to be the best option for the staff at the boarding barn. They were easy to put on, did not rub or irritate her feet and had openings to “breathe” so that her feet would not be damp and subject to getting even softer. They had a variety of pads and she walked comfortably in them over the gravel driveway to her small turnout paddock. There were no issues if the barn staff did not take them off in her stall. If they got wet or dirty, they could be hosed off and washed and dried readily. I also looked for a new hoof supplement. Chi had been on a hoof supplement recommended by her farrier, but clearly, despite years of use, it was not giving her any benefit. I put her on Formula 4 feet.

A lot of people at my boarding barn thought I was crazy. They believed barefoot horses were pasture pets and retirees. Everyone had a tale to tell about “navicular horses”. None of the stories were positive. In fact, all of the stories included: chronically lame, special shoes, “lives on bute” and had outcomes of light trail riding or retired to a pasture. My farrier told me that she would only be more lame without wedge shoes and pads, and laughed at the idea that Chi would be left barefoot.

I found a barefoot trimmer that followed Pete Ramey’s methods and worked to get her toes back and heels down. It took a little trial and error to find the right trimmer. The first one trimmed her feet in the perfect mustang image. Chi was very lame. I was very discouraged. I finally found someone who believed that since Chi was not a mustang, and she did not live in the mountains of Nevada that she needed to be trimmed based upon her feet and the environment she lived in.

Three months later, I had my regular vet take x rays of her feet so we could determine if she had enough sole to allow her to start to go without her Soft Ride boots. My vet and I were both amazed to see that Chi had nearly a ½ inch of sole growth! I started riding her in the arena and on grassy areas. Within six months, Chi was back in work and starting to jump.

Today, Chi’s feet are like rocks! They are no longer soft. She has not had a recurrence of her lameness –– and has remained barefoot. We gallop, jump, Dressage, trail ride and do everything I dreamt of the day I loaded her on the trailer at Arlington Race track.

This past summer, Chi competed in several events. And, she won the highest combined score at the Maui Jim Eventing Derby this summer.

I have known several other horse owners who had similar diagnoses for their horses, and sadly, all of them ended up retired after trying numerous shoeing options. I do not think Chi would have made the recovery that she did and be sound today if I had not taken the barefoot route.

I am very grateful that I brought her to the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital for their expert diagnosis and the care they provided to Chi – but I am even more grateful for their open-minded approach to consider alternative treatments, and provide advice on how to make those alternative treatments a success.

Thank you Wisconsin Equine, for giving me back my Chi!

Regards,
Kathy Kaminski
Chicago, IL

Pictured below are Chi and I jumping barefoot at Lamplight [left] and with my mom (Chi's Grandma) after competing barefoot at Barrington this past summer [right].

Balancing Patient Time With Personal Time: Perspective from an Intern

2010-11-19T12:00:00-06:00

Being a veterinary intern can be quite a stressful job (that is, if you let it be stressful). Not only are you a new graduate that wants to gain the trust and respect of your colleagues and clients, you also work extremely long hours most days and are on-call 24/7 (day and night).

As interns, we oversee all the care for each and every patient that walks through our clinic doors. We are often the first-line of defense for any questions our clients or technicians have about patients in the hospital or out in the field. It is very easy to get caught up in all the daily action, and, at the same time, very difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

It is a well-known fact that the interns at WECH have a very difficult time leaving their patients at the end of the day (even if it is just to run home for an hour or two to eat dinner). We are very involved with our patients, and in turn, our own personal pets / friends / families and health often pay the price. One thing that has been particularly difficult for me personally is making time for my own horses Including Dakota, pictured below with me). At times, it is difficult to get motivated to go out to the barn to see my horses when I have spent the last three nights assisting in colic surgery and have not gotten any sleep.

Despite the challenges of being a veterinary intern, I am still a firm believer that having a (somewhat) normal life outside of work is attainable! I work hard to do something fun outside of work at least once or twice each week. For instance, I may spend time grooming my horses, playing fetch with my dog or watching my favorite television show (“The Bachelor”). These activities are often interrupted with emergencies, but in the end, it is about loving your job, being able to go with the flow, and keeping everything in perspective! Not only does my mental health benefit from taking the time to do activities outside of work, my patients also benefit; I am able to come back to work the next day refreshed and with a completely new outlook.

So, the next time you are feeling bogged down by the daily grind, make it a priority to do something you enjoy (even if it’s for an hour or two)!

Babies Before Vet School

2010-11-12T12:00:00-06:00

Education for veterinarians begins long before veterinary school. For me, my passion and motivation for learning about horses led me into a job where the delivery of over 500 foals became my responsibility. I worked at Royal Vista Equine -Colorado in Windsor, Colorado.

The work involved delivering foals through the nighttime; meaning that I finally got my childhood wish … I lived, ate and slept in a barn! The mares would come to our foaling facility one month prior to their approximate due date for examination and for their final series of vaccination to prepare for their foals’ delivery.

Every day, each mare was evaluated for the development of the udder and milk characteristics. It was important that I looked at each individual mare and tracked what was normal for them and note how they changed as they grew closer to their delivery time. This allowed the veterinary team to able to act quickly if anything was out of the ordinary.

This was also true as I assisted in each of the mares’ delivery of their foals: to be sensitive to small changes in behavior was something I had to learn very quickly, so as not to miss the subtle signs that the horses would display immediately before birth. There was one night I remember clearly, it was snowing outside and the mares were eating hay peacefully in their stalls. I had been walking through the barn as I always did, checking each mare every hour. At 10:00 p.m., I heard a mare begin pawing the ground. Quickly she progressed into a normal delivery of a beautiful and healthy filly.

No sooner had the filly stood on her wobbly limbs for the first time; my alarm was going off … another baby was ready to be born! As I was walking through the barn to help the second mare, I heard another mare lay down and her water broke. Two mares at the same time! `Uh oh, how am I going to do this?!’ was my thought as I worked between the two mares. Luckily, mares foal at a different rate and I was able to first focus my attention on the one that was progressing more quickly. As I left the new mother with her colt, I moved to the other mare, and again delivered a strong foal that was eager to stand in his new world.

As I looked around at the foals delivered, I was proud of my night, with three happy mares and three happy foals. Little did I know that my night was going to get even more exciting! I was assisting the second delivered colt to nurse, yet another mare had lay down and began grunting. Immediately, as I entered the stall, I knew this foaling would be more complicated. The placenta was a bright red color and I had to act fast. This is called “red bag” and means that the placenta has prematurely separated from the uterus and the foal has no access to oxygen. I called the veterinarian first, then quickly cut the placenta open to gain access to the foals’ limbs. As I pulled the foal to deliver, I prayed that she would be ok. Within three minutes, the foal was delivered and required some stimulation of her chest to get her to breathe. The veterinarian then arrived and helped me set up her oxygen.

My adrenaline was in full swing, but with the veterinarian and I working through the rest of the night, the filly slowly began acting like a normal foal. She began to fight the oxygen line and sent out a dramatic whinny to her mother, who responded with a strong nicker as they touched noses.

My eyes filled with tears as I watched the pair together as the mare began the process of cleaning the foal and nuzzling her to rise. As I looked around at the barn filled with four new, beautiful foals, I realized that I continue to be amazed by the mystery of life. I didn’t sleep much through those years delivering foals, but the education that these babies taught me day-in and day-out was just as significant to me as the four next years of veterinary school and I continue to love what I do!

Artificial Lighting

2010-11-05T12:00:00-05:00

Did you know that the use of artificial lighting can stimulate an early breeding cycle? Below are some of the guidelines and methods that you can use to get the reproductive process started early.

Objectives:
• To induce estrus earlier in the breeding season

• To produce foals earlier the following year

Purpose:
• To initiate earlier cycling activity earlier in the year

o Minimum of 60 days of light stimulation to take a mare from anestrus (non-cycling) into transition

• May require another month, (i.e. 90 days total) to establish a normal cycle

o Example: To have open mares cycling by February 15th, you should have mares under lights by November 15th

Guidelines:
• 200 watt incandescent* bulb per 12x12 foot stall (*other bulbs / types of light can be used, as long as it is equivalent to exposure, [i.e. incandescent, fluorescent, mercury, sodium, stall, or paddock])

• 12 or more foot candles of light at eye level

• 16 hours of light exposure per day (enough to read a newspaper in the corner of the stall)

• Maintain mare under lights until she has been bred & diagnosed in-foal at 45 days OR until natural light approaches 12 to 14 hours per day (May 1st).

• If a mare has been placed under lights, brought into transition and light stimulation is discontinued prematurely, then the mare, within a few days, can slip back into winter anestrus. All of “time savings” is lost.

Note: Extreme cold weather can override the effects of supplemental lighting

Methods:
• This all should begin November 15th – December 1st (allows minimum of 60 days to attain transition, 90 days for synchronous estrus activity)

o 16 hour interval begins with natural sunrise. If sunrise is at 8:00 a.m., barn or paddock lights should come on at dusk and remain on until midnight Example: Sunrise at 6:00 a.m., lights on at 3:00 p.m., off at 10:00 p.m.

o There appears to be an advantage to adding supplemental light to the end of the day

• Alternate Method: Increase light slowly (15 minutes / week) starting in October or November until 16 hours of light is achieved. No advantage over beginning at 16 hours. Owners may forget to increase the timer setting each week.

o Never have lights on 24 hours (less effective than all other systems), mares need a period of darkness also.

o Check light bulbs periodically to ensure they haven’t burned out

If you have any questions, the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital is here to help. Please do not hesitate to contact our office at 262-569-1550 to speak with our Reproductive Expert, Andrew R. Schmidt DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT.

Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy

2010-10-29T12:00:00-05:00

Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy (or VSMT, often described as animal chiropractic) is a holistic approach to healthcare that is based on symmetry and movement. VSMT does not replace traditional medicine or surgery, but works in conjunction with traditional veterinary medicine to improve the health and movement of all the joints in the body, especially the spinal column.

The spinal column is made up of bones (vertebrae), muscles, ligaments and nerves. It functions to support the body and serves as an attachment for muscles. Nerves exit the spinal cord between vertebrae and communicate information to the entire body.
When two adjacent bones (vertebra) come together they form a joint. There are over 175 joints in the spinal column. When these joints are moving normally, the horse is flexible, happy and healthy. However, when these joints are not functioning well, the animal becomes stiff and the nerves that exit the spinal column through these joints become impinged upon creating pain and illness. Over time, this pain worsens and we start seeing other signs such as muscle loss, postural changes and lameness.

VSMT evaluates the entire spinal column looking for vertebrae that are not moving well (also described as being subluxated or “stuck”). When these areas are identified, they can be adjusted with very specific rapid thrusts to improve the motion at that particular location. WECH has two AVCA (American Veterinary Chiropractic Association) trained veterinarians, Dr. Nadia Czjakowski and Dr. Rachel Bourne, both of which can evaluate and perform adjustments on your horse.

How do I know if my horse needs an adjustment?
If any of the following changes are observed, our trained veterinarians can evaluate your horse, not only from a traditional veterinary perspective, but also from a VSMT perspective to evaluate the best way to help your horse:

o Pain when saddling
o Hollowed back, abnormal neck carriage
o Wringing the tail, pinning ears or bucking when being ridden
o Unwilling to jump, or jumping to one side
o Inability to perform lateral work or collection
o Change in behavior or poor performance
o Pain when touching / brushing the back and/or neck
o Lameness
o Inability to hold leads
o Muscle loss

Please call Dr. Nadia Czjakowski or Dr. Rachel Bourne at the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital at 262-569-1550 to see if VSMT is right for your horse.

Has Your Horse Seen A Dentist Lately?

2010-10-15T16:05:00-05:00

Routine dental care is an essential part of taking care of horses. Just as we should have our teeth examined regularly by a dentist, our horses should also have routine dental care performed.

Common signs that your horse may have dental issues include: weight loss, dropping feed while eating, difficulty chewing or if you notice large amounts of undigested feed in the manure. More dramatic signs of mouth problems include swelling of the face or jaw (often on one side) and a foul odor from the mouth. Another indication of teeth problems are issues when being ridden, such as head tilting, chewing on or fighting the bit, or being heavy in the bridle. Or, in some cases, your horse may not even show any obvious signs of dental problems.

One of the main reasons horses develop dental issues is due to common feeding practices. Horses evolved to eat grass for most of the day, rather than being fed a concentrated diet of grain and hay. Horses have teeth that continually erupt (grow) throughout their lives, which are constantly worn away by chewing. Without constant grazing, horse's teeth erupt at a rate faster than they are worn away. Another reason horses develop dental problems is because their upper jaw is wider than the lower jaw. This results in the edges of the teeth being unopposed on the outside of the upper (maxillary) teeth and the inside of the lower (mandibular) teeth. These unopposed edges continually grow and can form "points," which are sharp edges that can cause ulcerations on the cheeks and tongue.

"Floating" is the common term used for removing points and creating a more even biting surface. Most horses will need to be floated annually; however some horses need to be floated every 6 months to maintain a healthy mouth.

"Hooks" are another common problem, and these develop when the front or last cheek teeth are malaligned. Hooks can become extremely long without routine dental care, which may necessitate several treatments to recreate an even biting surface.

The veterinarians here at the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital recommend an oral examination at the time of both fall and spring vaccinations. If the horse's mouth and teeth are healthy at the time of an examination, floating does not need to be performed.

If you have questions on equine dentistry, or if you would like to schedule an appointment, you can contact the Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital at 262-569-1550.

Live from the World Equestrian Games!

2010-10-08T12:00:00-05:00

Hi all!

I am here in Lexington, Kentucky for the World Equestrian Games, which are the world championships for the eight international sports of dressage, eventing, endurance, show jumping, driving, reining, vaulting and Paralympic dressage.

There are nearly 700 horses from 60 countries competing here and they are expecting over half a million spectators over the 16 days of competition! This will be the largest sporting event in the US in 2010.

I am here as one of 7,000 volunteers. I will be working during the eventing along with many other vets to help ensure the safety of the horses. The horses are inspected multiple times before, during and after the competition.

It has been amazing so far, with a phenomenal setting at the Kentucky Horse Park, which has been transformed. Buildings and stadiums have been erected to give it the feel of being a city of its own. It has a feel of the Olympics with teams and fans from around the world sporting their flags and team uniforms.

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous and the grounds are lush and green with beautiful landscaping.

I am very excited for the eventing and Team USA, especially for my friend and old coach, Becky Holder! Attached is a link so everyone can catch some of the live action on NBC this Sunday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tune in! http://www.usef.org/documents/WEG/WEGTelevisionSchedule.pdf?utm_campaign=USE

As an added bonus, I was able to bring my horse down here thanks to David, Kevin and Silvia from KD farm. I have been getting up before dawn to ride in lessons with another old friend and coach, Eric Dierks. He is working out of a beautiful farm about 20 minutes from the Horse Park with 180 acres of beautiful rolling hills and cross-country jumps!

More updates to come,
Lisa Borzynski, DVM
Wisconsin Equine Clinic

A "Lumpy," Bumpy Situation

2010-10-01T12:00:00-05:00

As an equine veterinarian, days come and go caring for one horse after another. When you step into someone’s barn, you are never quite sure which horse will become a cornerstone in your veterinary career. Lumpy became one of mine.

Meet Lumpy. In July of 2009, she was a 10 year old Warmblood broodmare. I had been on a farm doing routine work on other horses when the owner said, “While you are here, do you have time to look at Lumpy? Her eye was swollen and began tearing last night. I gave her some banamine and it looks better today, but will you just peek at it?”

Although most acutely painful equine eye exams are fairly straight forward and are simple corneal ulcers (abrasions to the outer covering of the eye), Lumpy was different. A previous eye injury had resulted in an eye that was diffusely whitish blue in color with long blood vessels running through it. This “blue” eye was “normal” for Lumpy and although I had worked on Lumpy for other reproductive procedures and had noted that her left eye was abnormal, I had never really examined it. So today when I was asked to “peek” at this left eye, I was presented with an already abnormal, unusual looking eye. At this initial exam, her left eye was half closed, slightly swollen, tearing and the pink tissues of her upper eyelids were reddened and inflamed. The entire cornea (outer, normally transparent, portion of the eye) was light blue in color. The deeper structures of the eye, such as the pupil and the lens, could not even be visualized. In the center of the eye, there were several fluid filled bumps (bullae) that typically are indicative of abnormal fluid in the cornea. These abnormal bumps however, did not take up fluoroscein stain, which means the corneal covering was still intact and not ulcerated. This meant this was not a simple corneal ulcer. The problem still existed however, that I had never looked at Lumpy’s eye this closely before, so I was not entirely sure these “bumps” were not “normal” for her anyway. It was possible that she had just bumped the eye and traumatized the lids and the outside of the eye or that there was deeper inflammation within the eye causing these bumps. Regardless, we started her on anti-inflammatories and triple antibiotic ointment daily and would recheck the eye in a few days.

Four days later Lumpy had minimal swelling around the eye and was holding the eye open. She was very sensitive to light and now just looking at the outside of the eye, there were two areas (one located centrally and one just lateral) that appeared like deep crater like ulcers. This time, the fluoroscein stain was positive. I was concerned these bullae had ruptured since the last exam and we continued the triple antibiotic and banamine for another week.

One week later the eye had not changed much. Lumpy was still moderately uncomfortable. The deep ulcerated regions appeared unchanged. There was no sign of healing, but also no sign of worsening eye inflammation. The edges of the ulcer appeared irregular and loose today, so Q-tips were used lift off these irregular edges. Unexpectedly however, a large part of the corneal covering was easily lifted off. In a normal eye, the corneal epithelium is tightly adhered, so the fact that it was easily lifted off today meant there was a problem with more of the cornea than just the deeper ulcerated areas. At this point, there was a large superficial ulcer approximately two-thirds of the entire eye, and still, the two deeper ulcers located centrally. I was concerned (as most people would be after lifting off that much of the cornea) of worsening bacterial or fungal infection. We started more aggressive therapy, adding an antifungal ointment, Sodium Chloride to draw fluid out of the cornea, Atropine to keep the pupil dilated and continued the triple antibiotic ointment. Lumpy was now getting medicated 10 times daily in her left eye.

Corneal ulcers commonly become infected. Fungal infections of the equine cornea, also known as Fungal Keratitis, is a serious complication of ulceration. It can be a rapidly advancing disease process that causes severe destruction by eating through the cornea. The equine cornea is only a few millimeters in thickness and if the integrity of the cornea is damaged and fully disturbed deeper structures of the eye are in jeopardy. This could mean the loss of the eye.

I recommended a consult with a Board Certified Equine Ophthalmologist at this time.

Two days later, Lumpy was brought to the clinic for a consult with Dr. Heather Kaese. Dr. Kaese diagnosed Lumpy’s previous corneal condition as corneal fibrosis or scarring. It was unknown what had caused the previous condition, but the bottom line was that the cornea was abnormal to begin with and this was likely affecting the way Lumpy would be able to heal her current problem. Dr. Kaese agreed the central crater of the cornea was ulcerated and extending deeper into the corneal tissues. Cytology of the eye showed bacterial contamination and evidence of scarring. Although we did not see fungus on the cytology, we were concerned there was still a fungal component to the infection. For this reason, we began much more aggressive medical treatment of the eye. A sub-palpebral lavage system was placed in Lumpy’s left eye. This is a catheter like system that allows us to put medication into the eye without actually having to touch the eye or manually open the eyelids. It is VERY useful for horses that are difficult to treat or that are getting medications frequently. For Lumpy, she was now getting treated every four to six hours. Because of the high maintenance of therapy, Lumpy was hospitalized at WECH in the beginning of August (2009). Her initial therapy consisted of oral banamine and oral anti-fungal pills. Topically, we were applying atropine, anti-biotics, anti-fungals and anti-inflammatories.

Within the next two weeks Lumpy maintained her comfort level and was the best patient for which we could ask! She was tolerating the lavage system and her new eye mask and she loved getting treats from the staff. A recheck examination by Dr. Kaese,however, was not overly positive. The ulcer was becoming deeper (now approximately 50% the depth of the cornea), and the superficial ulcerated areas that we had lifted off with the Q-tip were not sticking down. At each exam they could be easily lifted off to make a large superficial ulcer around the deep central ulcer. We were frustrated. Although things were not necessarily getting worse, they weren’t getting better either.

Dr. Kaese recommended treating the cornea with acid. Yes! I said acid! Trichloroacetic Acid to be exact. The eye was swabbed gently with acid as an irritant. The idea was to irritate the exposed cornea to stimulate healing of the superficial ulcer and get those cells to stick down. The treatment went well. Within a few weeks, the superficial ulcer was healing, but the deep ulcer was static. No better, no deeper. By this time it has been over one month that Lumpy has been at WECH. She loved the treats, don’t get me wrong, but she was also tired of receiving 21 treatments per day.

Together with Dr. Kaese we recommended surgery. The eye needed help healing as well, as it needed protection. Due to the previous injury and scarring in the cornea, the natural defenses and healing systems were not up to par. They were very delayed.

Lumpy was placed under general anesthesia. The unhealthy portions of her eye were gently debrided (scraped) and two layers of equine amniotic membrane were sutured to her eye. The amnion is the paper thin portion of the placenta that covers the foal at birth. The theory behind this surgery was to cover the eye and the deep ulcer to allow protection and to buy time for the eye to heal itself. The outer layer of amnion would eventually fall off the eye, it was not meant to stay on the eye forever, but to cover it for several weeks to prevent possible rupture of the cornea and loss of the eye. The inner layer of amnion would hopefully incorporate with the cornea to some degree.

The surgery went well. Again, the intensive medical therapy continued. Week by week, the eye began to look better. It had better luster, it had better comfort and it was still visual. We began decreasing medications slowly and re-evaluating often. Things were looking up for Lumpy.

Nearly two months after Lumpy had come to WECH, she was discharged. She continued on twice daily topical medications for one additional month.

Today, Lumpy has two beautiful eyes. The vision in her left eye is partially obscured centrally from the scarring, but the outer periphery of her eye is normal. She is currently pregnant and is expected to foal in early 2011.

Although atypical and complex, this case is a testimonial for the amazing things we can accomplish with education, consultation, compassion and perseverance.

How to Test For Sand - Video Blog

2010-09-23T18:33:00-05:00

Testing for sand is a very important part of caring for your animal. Horses who are pastured in a sandy environment or spend a lot of time in an arena are particularly vulnerable to sand issues. The following video, featuring WECH’s very own Dr. Bourne, provides a how-to guide for testing your horse for sand.

Tango's Entanglement

2010-09-17T12:00:00-05:00

On June 3, 2007, WECH received a frantic phone call from an individual who noticed an emergency situation at their neighbor’s farm. The neighbor told us that they had already called the Humane Society and Police department due to their uncertainty of what was going on. With a location and an obscure description of “a down horse with something dragging behind him,” off we went to hopefully help this horse in need.
When we arrived at the farm, we were greeted by a few concerned neighbors, a Humane Society employee and a police officer … a first for me. In the meantime, the office was able to reach the barn’s owner and therefore figured out that the horse in need was “Tango” a nearly three-year old Trakehner gelding. Tango’s owner, Christine, was at a horse show, but without hesitation, she gave us permission to do whatever was needed to help Tango.
So what exactly was going on with Tango? Unfortunately at some point that morning, he had gotten himself tangled up in a large metal hay feeder. According to Christine, he most likely decided to have a “good roll in a bad spot!” Tango has a long rap sheet of not so good judgment when it comes to picking a safe spot to roll. When I arrived, Tango had his left hind leg entangled in his metal feeder. It was hard to imagine how he could have been so unlucky. He was recumbent with the now fallen metal feeder lying behind him. You could see where he managed to drag the feeder around the property, all the while being down, and was visibly exhausted and dehydrated. Due to how badly tangled he was, I made the decision to put him under general anesthesia before making any great attempts to free him. Once anesthetized his limbs were relaxed enough to make manipulation much easier. With his leg now free, I started him on intra-venous fluids, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories while he was recovering from anesthesia. We also cleaned all of his deep wounds and applied a thick full limb bandage while he was still down. I started to feel better at this point, but was still unaware of the extent of his injuries. Tango’s next challenge was to have to get up in a relatively narrow space with one limb that may or may not work very well. Not knowing Tango very well, I just hoped that he was a smart boy and would get up as well as one could after going through all of this.
Tango did not disappoint; he got up like a champ! He was unable to bear full weight on his left hind at this time, so I felt bringing him into the clinic for further evaluation would be best, provided we could safely get him there. I proceeded to splint his mangled limb in order to stabilize it for the trailer ride. Once again, Tango made me proud and hobbled right on to the trailer and off to the clinic we went! My main concerns were possible communication of his extensive wounds with his upper hock joint and/or fracture due to the severe trauma. I also decided it would be best to have our surgeon on call involved, in case any joint involvement or fracture was found. Dr. Bolam promptly met us at the clinic and started to investigate the extent of his injuries. Despite his deep wounds (which were down to the bone), radiographs were unremarkable and the joint capsule was found to be intact. This basically meant that Tango’s future as a performance horse was a likely thing. After many months of bandage changes and close monitoring by Dr. Bolam, Tango returned to a normal level of exercise. His progress also had a lot to with his very devoted owner, who obviously cared for him very much.
Today, Tango is going to horse shows and doing very well. He still has a few scars to show and quite the story to tell, but more importantly, he leads a sound and happy life!

Poison Control

2010-09-03T08:00:00-05:00

POISON CONTROL: What would you do if your horse (or even your cat, dog, etc.) consumed a substance that may be toxic??

The first thing to do would be to contact your local veterinarian. If they are unable – or they do not have an answer, then the ASPCA has a 24-hour Animal Poison Control Center Hotline that is staffed by veterinarians, including board-certified toxicologists. They are available 365 days / year to advise on animal poisoning, including horses. It is recommended to have the following information available:

1) Species, breed, age, sex, approximate weight and number of animals involved

2) The animal’s symptoms

3) Information about the exposure, including: the agent, amount involved and the time since the exposure

A consultation fee may be charged, but the veterinarians can give immediate treatment recommendations and ongoing case consultation to your regular veterinarian.

Post the following number in your house/barn so it is available in times of emergency:

1-888-426-4435

The Myths of Aging

2010-08-27T08:00:00-05:00

Aging and the prevention of aging is a much studied field in people. People will pay a lot of money to prevent nature’s aging process; it works well for some, but not for other (Kenny Rogers!). What about horses and aging?? How can we keep them around and doing well for longer??

There are several myths associated with aging. For example, that certain breeds live longer than others. A study performed by Tufts University in 2002 looked at a large group of horses over the age of 20. It found that all breeds were represented and in similar quantities as the overall breed demographics in that area. The study felt that in some areas there may be a preponderance of a certain breed (e.g. Saddlebreds), so it seems logical that there would be more older Saddlebreds in that area. This does not mean that Saddlebreds live longer than other breeds. The study shows that pony breeds (such as Shetlands) were overrepresented in the oldest group of horses. Less than one fifth of the horses between 20 and 29 were ponies, whereas over half of those 30 and above were ponies. It does, therefore, seem that ponies live longer than horses – but the reason why is still a mystery (although we all know how smart ponies are!).

The same study also showed that colic, arthritis and laminitis plague horses in their old age. In fact, forty percent of the horses were seen at least once for colic. An equal amount (40%) of the horses were seen for stiffness/lameness or had some degree of arthritis; and 86 percent of the horses seen for a hoof lameness had laminitis. We know that colic is probably the leading reason that we lose our older horses. Changes in dentition and diet may play a role, as well as certain types of tumors that occur in older horses. Arthritis occurs with repeated trauma and stress to joints. And, horses that have an active career are much more likely to suffer from multiple joint arthritic issues. Older horses seem to suffer more from laminitis due to their loss of a regular exercise program and other diseases such as Cushing’s disease.

So, how can you help your horse live longer?

1) Take care of the teeth – this will help to maintain weight and reduce the risk of colic or choking.

2) Use Appropriate Parasite Control – this will also reduce your risk of colic and help maintain a healthy weight. Newer deworming strategies are actually deworming less often, but deworming appropriately for the parasite load your horse actually has.

3) Feed your Horse Well – there are an abundance of excellent quality feeds on the market that are targeted for the older horse that may have poor dentition. There are also feeds that are designed for certain diseases.

4) Exercise – maximize turnout time to keep joints supple and muscles toned. Natural grazing can decrease colic risk and lower the chance of upper airway allergies.

5) Regular Veterinary Visits – signs of disease may be easily treated/managed if identified early. Annual exams (including vital signs, lameness checks and dental exams) should be performed as well as nutritional consultation and sometimes blood work. Simply having a vet look at your horse can sometimes identify problems that a novice horse owner may perceive as normal.

There's a Horse in a What??

2010-08-20T08:00:00-05:00

Imagine being in bed, it’s 4 a.m. and you hear a noise outside. Initially you think it’s a raccoon in your garbage and ignore it, but the noise persists. When you get up to look outside, instead of a raccoon, it’s a horse in your swimming pool! To make matters worse – it’s January 15, 2006 in Southeast Wisconsin and your pool is half frozen and the horse is stuck in the pool cover!

Now imagine you’re the vet on call. You receive a page at 5 a.m. on a Sunday morning and are told a horse is stuck in a swimming pool. First you think you’re dreaming. When you call the client, you realize it’s not a bad dream because the client frantically tells you “Dancer is stuck in a swimming pool.”

My first half asleep response was “Can we drain the pool?” After jumping out of bed and putting on many layers for January weather, I headed out. All that was in my head is “how am I going to get a horse out of a pool?” I figured if I have to jump in I will. I decided I will probably need help so I called my back up, Dr. Rob Blohowiak and told him the story. His response – “Where is the horse??” I also called the night tech at the clinic and asked her to meet me at a park and ride with the shackles that we use to get horses into surgery (don’t tell Dr. Langer). As I sped to the call I, was pulled over by the police, however, they let me go when they realized where I was going. (Dr. Blohowiak also got pulled over by the police – they let him go too.)

The horse was in a pool owned by a neighbor of the horse owner. I wasn’t sure I would know the exact location in this particular subdivision, however, as I neared the site, I couldn’t miss the glow. There was a fire truck and at least five vehicles with flashing lights, including police and EMT’s. When I arrived the emergency crew had sent someone in the pool with a wetsuit on to cut Dancer out of the pool cover. Then they used a sling (fashioned from the mesh used to separate the back seat and trunk in an SUV) around Dancer’s hind end and dragged him out of the pool. When I got to the pool Dancer was lying on the concrete at the side of the pool with the emergency team around him, wondering what to do. Their initial plan was to pull him backwards and up two small wooden steps onto the wooden deck adjacent to the patio window. The thought of a cold, wet horse trying to get up on a wet wooden surface in front of a plate glass window did not sit well with me. I decided that anesthetizing Dancer, and using the shackles to drag him 15 feet onto the grassy surface was the best idea.

Anesthetizing a hypothermic animal does not come without risk. The cardiovascular system is compromised and frost bite with ear/limb necrosis (death) is possible. We covered Dancer with blankets and gave him the lowest dose of anesthesia possible to safely move him. With all those fire-fighters, emergency workers and neighbors around moving him was easy. The owners of the house (not horsey people) and Dancer’s owners were amazing. They brought their rugs and blankets out of the house for Dancer to lie on and be covered with. The pool owners’ allowed us to gently heat some fluids in their microwave, which we started running in to help heat Dancer from within, and they made coffee for all the emergency workers. Dancer slept for a while. When he started to rise he was very unsteady, but Dr. Blohowiak and I were able to support him until he could stand with more stability. The emergency crew was very concerned and stayed to help until Dancer was ready to leave. A police officer even approached Dr. Blohowiak and I to ensure that there were two vets with lead feet at the emergency location.

When Dancer was stable he was transported to the clinic to warm-up where he made an uneventful recovery. Dancer was eating within two to three hours and despite his ordeal Dancer had no long term complications – except for maybe being a little star struck when Fox 6 news came to tell his story!

What did Dancer teach me?

1) When you are in trouble make as much noise as possible.

2) When you work as a team amazing feats can be accomplished

3) Hollywood – it’s not all it’s cracked up to be!

This blog is written in memory of Dancer – 1988 - 2009

Introducing a New Anti-inflammatory Product for Horses

2010-08-13T08:00:00-05:00

One of the newest anti-inflammatory products to the market is Equithrive Joint – a product containing resveratrol and hyaluronic acid. Resveratrol is an anti-inflammatory compound found in grapes, nuts and berries. The product has undergone research in the human and small animal field and it seems to work by shutting off genes that work in the inflammation process. This type of gene therapy is the newest hope to control metabolic syndrome and prevent inflammatory conditions in horses.

Patrick Lawless PhD, has researched compounds designed to slow inflammatory conditions in humans and has designed Equithrive Joint based on his knowledge. This product uses gene therapy to block inflammatory problems at the cellular level. The compound resveratrol attacks gene production of cytokines that create inflammation, leading to lameness, stiffness and arthritis.

Several veterinarians around the country have been observing the effects of Equithrive on their patients. The horses appear to have more stamina, more energy, have a shorter warm up time and decreased signs of lameness and muscle pain.

Some school horses that received daily Bute therapy were switched to Equithrive and have not needed the Bute. This product does not have the adverse effects of other non-steroidals including stomach/large intestine ulcers and renal failure. It is also not being tested for in competition. If you think Equithrive may benefit your horse please visit the company website www.equithrive.com or call for more information.

Potomac Horse Fever - More Prevalent in WI this Year

2010-08-06T07:00:00-05:00

This year there have been a few cases of PHF rearing their head in Wisconsin. We see the disease every now and then but there are many years where not a single case is described. Signs of PHF include anorexia, depression, diarrhea (sometimes severe), fever and laminitis. If left untreated the disease can be fatal. The disease is caused by an organism called Neorickettsia risticii. The organism goes through some of it's life cycle in flatworms and snails (found in ponds) and flying insects that live close to water (mayflies, dragonflies, caddis flies). If a horse inadvertently eats these insects they can become infected with PHF. It is not transmitted from horse to horse unlike other diarrhea-causing diseases like Salmonella. Treatment for the disease is quite successful if caught early. The initial treatment of choice is oxytetracycline IV and supportive care to manage the fluid losses from the diarrhea and to prevent against laminitis.

How can you minimize your risks of the disease?

Vaccination - vaccines for PHF are available - they do not give 100% protection as there has been some shift in the strains of the disease over the years but in endemic areas the vaccine seems to lower the degree of clinical signs in affected horses.
Fence off natural water sources - this will keep the horse away from some of the intermediate hosts that could be ingested
Cover your hay - keeping feed sources covered or indoors and checking for dead insects will also limit exposure to the intermediate hosts.
Turn off barn lights at night - flies are attracted to the lights at night and will congregate and may fall into feed/water buckets. A study showed that horses at the end of the barn aisle or close to bright lights were at higher risk of contracting the disease.
Stay abreast of the insect situation in your area - the types of insects that cause this disease will sometimes hatch in massive quantities, mate and then die leaving carcasses all around. Your local agriculture extension office may have information on these insects.

Other diseases that look like PHF include salmonellosis, clostridial diarrhea, toxin exposure. If diarrhea is noted and especially if your horse has a fever or seems depressed then your veterinarian should be contacted immediately.

Sara & Sherlock

2010-07-30T07:00:00-05:00

In October 2009, I received a call regarding a horse with a rectal tear. Little did I know, but this case would be one of the most rewarding of my career. When Sara and Sherlock arrived both had worried looks. Sherlock, a young 29 years old, had received treatment on the farm for mild colic. At that time, a defect in his rectal wall was identified and he was immediately referred to WEC&H. To avoid creating more traumas and to minimize straining during rectal examination sedation, local anesthetic and lots of lube (for Sherlock) and no glove (for me!!) was utilized. We discovered a defect the size of an NFL-regulation football in the pelvic soft tissues that communicated with the rectum through a 4 inch tear. Dr. Austin and I guided a small fiber optic camera into Sherlock's rectum and we directly viewed the defect. It was flushed, and then packed with gauze to keep manure from accumulating within. Although the tear did not appear extend into the abdomen during palpation or endoscopy, it was critical to know this for sure. If it did, Sherlock would be euthanized - treatment of a grossly contaminated abdomen in horses is generally futile. Thankfully, the belly tap showed no evidence of gross contamination (manure) or infection (bacteria).

Sara and I sat down to formulate a plan. The large size of the tear severely limited my surgical options. We elected to let the defect heal by second intention (fill with granulation tissue), then the lining of the rectum could re-establish itself. As long as the tear did not progress into the abdominal cavity, I was confident we could save Sherlock's life but suspected it might be a long and bumpy road to recovery!

In the short term we had to address the cause of the tear....Sherlock's colic. I was suspicious of impaction colic - where the manure becomes too dry to pass easily and the horse gets constipated. It was likely the tear occurred during attempts by Sherlock to defecate. I treated with fluid therapy and mineral oil administered by stomach tube. Once he began to move manure we had to prevent it from accumulating within the defect. I was concerned that packing of manure within the defect could lead to rupture of the defect into Sherlock's abdomen. We developed a "program" that would allow the defect to begin healing, while allowing Sherlock to eat and rest comfortably. The defect would be packed with gauze and we would utilize mineral oil to induce "diarrhea-like" manure that would just slide past the rectal tear and also to eliminate bulk from his diet. The wound was bound to get infected, so antibiotics were started and he received anti-inflammatories to manage his swelling and discomfort.

Sherlock was admitted into our critical care unit - his home for the next 2 ½ months. Initially he was tubed with mineral oil TWICE daily and the tear was palpated, evacuated and re-packed several times daily. All that oil and an infected rectal wound meant pretty foul manure, a fact not lost on the intern veterinarians who performed this task. Within 24 hours after admission Sherlock began passing his impaction and he was started on a mash diet. At 29 years old, Sherlock had strong opinions regarding what he should eat and he turned his nose up at EVERYTHING!! HE WANTED HAY!!

We did hand-graze Sherlock as much as possible, but at the end of October, there was little grass to be had and he needed some more nutrition!!

Sherlock and I finally came to a compromise....alfalfa cubes soaked with water. He ate it, begrudgingly.

As the days, then weeks, passed we were constantly trying to simplify things. Nasogastric intubation twice daily was hard on everyone. We started substituting the water in his mash for mineral oil. To my surprise, our picky patient began eating mashes containing 2 gallons of mineral oil each day! Simultaneously, the defect was beginning to fill with healthy granulation tissue and the packing was staying put for 2-3 days at a time. Fewer rectal exams made both Sherlock and the intern veterinarians happy! Eventually the defect became too shallow to retain the packing; however it was still quite large! It appeared to have stopped healing. So I did what I would do if the wound was on his leg...I debrided the granulation tissue in an attempt to stimulate healing. Every 2-3 days we gently "roughed-up" the surface of the granulation tissue. This really got things rolling and the defect very quickly decreased in size. We also gradually decreased the amount of mineral oil in Sherlock's mashes, trying to find the critical volume at which his manure remained soft enough not to cause a problem. We only needed ½ gallon a day drizzled on the dry alfalfa cubes!!

With Sherlock on autopilot we made plans to discharge him from WEC&H. On December 26th (10 weeks after admission) Sherlock left with Sara. Our only instructions were that Sherlock needed to continue to eat alfalfa cubes with oil. I re-evaluated him on the farm every 2-3 weeks until the tear healed. I followed up on the farm for the last time with Sara and Sherlock on February 1st, shortly after he celebrated his 30th birthday! He looked great and the rectal defect was no longer palpable. The oil had been gradually discontinued and then hay was gradually reintroduced. Today, Sherlock is a "normal" horse with a normal diet and routine. Sara has the green light to resume riding. This was truly one of those cases that presented several challenges and introduced me to a very special pair, Sara and Sherlock.

Sunburn Protection

2010-07-23T07:00:00-05:00

Summer is certainly here and more questions are coming up on how you can protect your horse from the sun. Obviously sun damage is a significant problem in people, especially fair-skinned people, but what about horses.

Horses with fair/pink skin particularly around their eyes and muzzle are also at risk of sun burn. Extended sun exposure can also increase the risk of squamous cell carcinoma, a type of cancer. Another condition called photosensitization, occurs when the sun triggers a chemical reaction in the skin that leads to a burning reaction. This can sometimes occur secondary to diet, toxin exposure or other disease.

You can protect your horse from sun burn in a variety of ways. UV blocking flymasks not only protect against insects but also the sun. They come in many forms and can include not only eye and face protection but also ear and muzzle protection. You can also purchase UV blocking sheets and leg wraps. You can apply zinc oxide (like life-guards) onto the muzzle. It can be thick and messy and attract dust but is highly protective. You can also try human sunscreen products designed for babies as long as your horse cannot lick them. Some fly sprays also contain UV protection. You can always keep your horse inside during the day but here in Wisconsin our summers are short as it is so how much fun would that be?? Remember also to apply sun screen to yourself!

Food Rewards

2010-07-16T07:00:00-05:00

I recently wrote a blog about "How Do Horses Know Who You Are?" (i.e. the vet). A recent study in France (highlighted in the June issue of Equus Magazine) showed that horses remember people they associate with positive experiences. Maybe they also remember people they associate with negative experiences??

The study raised 23 foals (15 fillies and 8 colts) with minimal human interaction. Prior to training they were given a personality test - the researchers watched their interest to both a motionless person standing in an arena and their response to an approaching person.

At 1 year old the youngsters were divided into two groups. The first group was trained to stand quietly using the command "stand" and a food reward; the second group received the same command but no food. The same person in the same clothes performed all the training. The day after the training was complete the same tests were performed with both the familiar trainer and an unfamiliar trainer.

After 6 months of minimal human interaction the horses were tested again and turned out again for two months before a final test.

The study showed the horses trained with food learned quicker and in addition retained positive memories of their trainer, measured by the amount of time spent interacting with the familiar trainer vs. the unfamiliar trainer. They spent much more time with the familiar trainer that gave the food rewards.

The researchers suggest that the way to a horse's heart is definitely through their stomach but also suggest that any kind of positive reward would give the same effect (grooming etc). Horses like us when the time spent with us is positive. I think I need to buy stock in apple wafers and keep a supply in my pocket!!

Reference "Positive interactions lead to lasting positive memories in horses" Animal Behaviour, January, 2010.

Being On Call

2010-07-09T07:00:00-05:00

Being on call is something most equine vets have to do at least part of the time. In many small animal practices, when the clinic closes at the end of the day, any afterhours emergencies are referred to the local emergency clinic and any critical cases that came in during the day will also be transferred to a facility with 24hr monitoring to ensure the utmost of patient care. In equine practice there are very few veterinarians that perform only routine care. There are a few that specialize in dentistry, lameness or complementary therapies that only see patients during the day and refer their clients after hours to another vet in the area that they have an agreement with.

Being on call is unpredictable. Some days you start at 7am and work solid for 24hrs, other days you wait all day for your pager to go off. Some days all you receive are questions from clients and other days are full of life threatening emergencies. Some days every call is in Racine - you spend all day there - sometimes travelling back and forth to the same area multiple times. Other days you feel like you have driven to Canada and back - calls in all four corners of the practice range. Some days you spend all day with referrals in the hospital, other days you never make it back to the clinic.

Our answering service does a great job, but they are not horse people. I remember one evening after receiving a page, the answering service employee that had been working there many years asking "So what exactly is a colic?" When you call our answering service they will ask you who you are, what your phone number is and whether your call is about an emergency and if so, what kind of emergency. They will immediately page the vet on call who should call you back within 5-10minutes. This is how it should work but sometimes problems occur:

The vet is at another emergency and cannot answer the call right away - in this situation if the page is unanswered in 5-10 minutes the answering service will call the vets cell - if still no answer they call the back-up vet right away.
Our pagers can sometimes get testy - I recently realized that any electronic devices (computers/alarm clocks) interfere with the pager and the pager does not go off. Also some areas of our practice range are dead zones.
We may be in Home Depot - for some reason pagers do not seem to work there!!??
Sometimes we call back right away and we get your voice mail - you are waiting for the call back and your phone may have poor reception. Please try to watch your phone for the call - if you need to be in the barn with the horse but the reception is bad - perhaps leave your phone with someone else outside that can answer the phone and give an address/directions as necessary.

While we are on call we try to live as normal a life as possible. My on-call weekends are cleaning weekends (I hate cleaning!). We do not sit up all night waiting for pages - if you need us in the middle of the night we're here for you. Please forgive us if we sound sleepy - 90% of the time we just woke up. The crazy thing about emergency duty is that despite how difficult it is to wake up and get out of bed at 2am in the middle of January - the emergency calls are the fun calls that keep your mind young and your heart pumping. Emergency calls are what often make every day different from the last. Despite it being challenging and hard work, I know I would not want to give up being on call.

The Battle of Big RED

2010-07-02T14:30:00-05:00

Red is a 29yr old QH gelding. He is a mounted police horse that is the favorite and most trusted partner of his owner. Every year, his owner thinks about retiring him, but despite his age he does his job extremely well and loves it. He's solid, reliable and calm in a variety of situations. Red has worked State Fair for many years (this year will be his 26th year) and a variety of other crowd control situations including the State Street Halloween Party in Madison. One year he was actually punched in the head by a State Fair goer (under the influence I'm sure). I cannot imagine the speed at which Red's owner dismounted and arrested the offender who was charged with assaulting a police officer. The only thing that has ever fazed Red was a hot air balloon being filled.

Red is tough, he's rugged and when I'm in the barn, his head is firmly tucked in the corner thinking that if he can't see me, I can't see him. Working on Red is one of my biggest battles. He would never hurt a fly and when I'm working on him not a single foot moves, but his displeasure with me is palpable. He lifts his head, shakes his head, pulls faces, twitches, tenses and stretches. He knows all the tricks that make shot giving, oral examination, eye examination etc incredibly difficult. Red is also wise enough to know that if the exam is being performed with me and his mom, he's going to test us to the limit. The funniest part is when Red's dad (the police officer) gets wind of Red's behavior, and a booming voice comes down the aisle "Red, cut it out". This awesome horse now puts on the biggest pout and stands still - until his dad leaves and then the battle starts again.

You can't do anything but laugh. You know exactly what Red is thinking. If he could speak we'd probably have to bleep every other word from this grumpy old man. Despite his quiet demeanor his personality comes across loud and clear. I think he's great, and hope he's around for many battles to come.

What Red has taught me:
1) Face your battles head on; hiding in the corner never works.
2) Pay attention to the one who knows what's best for you, even if you disagree
3) Have an opinion, it makes you more interesting!

Never Say Never!

2010-06-25T10:00:00-05:00

Cherie, a spunky 30 year old Arabian mare, provided a Christmas miracle for her owner, Pat Krueger, and the doctors at Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital last December. It was a bitter cold weekend and Cherie had been colicky for 24 hours. She was treated by her regular vet several times on the farm. Despite this, she was becoming more uncomfortable and had so much fluid (reflux) building up in her stomach that it was coming out of her nose.

Horses are normally unable to regurgitate or vomit fluid due to the tremendous amount of pressure that it takes to move fluid back up through a very strong sphincter and a long neck. When stomach fluid is coming back up, it is a bad sign. She was referred to Wisconsin Equine Clinic for further treatment and possible surgery.

Upon presentation to WECH, Cherie's heart rate was 88 bpm (normal 32-40), she had no intestinal sounds, and her mucous membranes were dark pink/purple indicating toxic shock. She was very dehydrated and a blood-tinged, foul-smelling fluid was obtained through an NG tube. The fluid around her intestines was also blood tinged indicating that she likely had damaged or dead intestine.

Cherie would have been unlikely to survive surgery due to her age and severe illness, but Pat, who had owned Cherie for 25 years, was not ready to say goodbye. Despite a very poor prognosis, Cherie's owner elected medical management of her discomfort as long as possible. Despite our predictions, Cherie survived the night.

Gastroscopy (essentially, a 9 foot video camera passed through the nose and into the stomach) was performed the next morning where a 4-inch laceration/wound was discovered in her stomach. The wound appeared to only affect the first layer of the stomach wall. There was a large amount of feed material still in her stomach, even though she had not eaten for at least 12-16 hours, indicating that her stomach was not functioning normally.

Cherie received intravenous fluids, antibiotics, pain medication and anti-inflammatories for 4 days. Miraculously, she slowly improved and we were slowly able to return her to normal food and water. Cherie went home the day after Christmas to a very happy owner and her friends at the barn!

Although I have learned over 17 years of practice to never say never, Cherie provided a reminder to me and the staff at Wisconsin Equine Clinic that despite all the odds that anything is possible!

The pictures show Cherie running in the pasture this spring. She and Pat have been back on the trails!

It's Driving Me Crazy!!!

2010-06-18T07:00:00-05:00

Is your horse rubbing their tail?? Is it driving you crazy?? If it is then you are not alone. You do everything in your power to make sure your horse has a beautiful tail for show season and you arrive at the barn one day to find the hair at the tail base sticking out, hairs broken and a large bald spot. This is the time when YOU start pulling your hair out!!
The first question is, "Why did they do this??" For some horses parasites can be a problem and pinworms in particular. Evidence of pinworms can be difficult to find on a fecal. The adult female worms live in the large intestine. They will travel to the anus - deposit sticky eggs just outside of the anus on the skin and then migrate back to the large intestine. These sticky eggs can be itchy - hence the rubbing but can be difficult to see. A recent study showed that ivermectin and pyrantel pamoate are both effective in treating pinworm infestation.

If your horse is a gelding then a dirty sheath may be the culprit. Obviously a lack of opposable thumbs makes scratching difficult. The itchiness may also extend up the urethra which runs underneath the tail so tail rubbing may also be the outcome. Having the sheath cleaned and any "beans" removed may help. Obviously some geldings do not like this, and may become dangerous, so sheath cleaning with sedation may be necessary.

If your horse is a mare she may be in heat and some of the sticky urine may be around her perineum or on the back of the legs creating itchiness. In both males and females closely evaluating the tail and skin in that area may reveal skin abnormalities (a rash, laceration or pimples) that can cause a problem.

In some horses the cause of rubbing remains elusive. Boredom, habit or just to tick you off. The treatment can vary from deworming, sheath cleaning, general bathing to topical steroid preparations, MTG and a variety of other commercial treatments. If significant lesions are present, a course of oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatories may be warranted.

Please comment if you have any other great remedies for tail rubbing.

Do You Recognize This Plant?

2010-06-11T07:00:00-05:00

Check your pastures, this is Hoary Alyssum. This plant grows well throughout the Midwest and many of you may have it and not realize its significance. The plant often grows alongside alfalfa and it is flowering right now so it will be easier to find in your pastures/hay fields.

This plant is actually quite toxic to horses. The great thing is that most horses won't eat it on pastures if other food is available. It is more of a problem though, if it gets in with your hay because the white flowers may be difficult to find and the dried leaves may look like alfalfa or clover.

Signs of toxicity include depression, fever, swollen legs, sometimes diarrhea, lower abdomen swelling (edema) and most serious, laminitis. If you see these signs, especially in multiple horses you should be suspicious of Hoary Alyssum toxicity. Other possible diseases that may show similar signs especially in multiple horses include certain viral diseases, some tick borne diseases, Potomac horse fever and black walnut toxicity (from shavings).

Where Did All the Vets Go?

2010-06-04T07:00:00-05:00

The veterinary profession has many challenges to face over the next few years, one of the biggest being the loss/lack of retention of large animal veterinarians. A 2006 American Veterinary Medical Association study showed that only 5.3% of 2,600 graduates went into large animal practice. That's only 130vets in the whole US!!! Over the last 20 years large animal vets have dropped to less than 10% of all practicing veterinarians. A recent study tried to figure out why.

When asked why vets chose large animal practice, most had developed an interest by the 8th grade. More than 50% had a relative with a farm and 23% cited James Herriot as a reason. Most placed a high value on the rural lifestyle. When asked why they leave - most leave within the first 5 years in practice. Most that leave came from an urban background and there was not a significant difference between men and women leaving. The biggest reasons for leaving were salary, benefits, emergency duty and time off. Most that left went into urban practice.

As a profession we are challenged with a high cost of education (many students graduate with $100-200K in debt), and low starting salaries especially in large animal practice. As our older members retire we are currently unable to replace them with only 130 new entries. Our profession needs to speak to those enthusiastic young 4H, pony club, saddle club and FFA members. There truly is no better job, and no better animal to work with than the horse (sorry bovine folks). Our clients are amazing and make everything we do fun. Our doctors regularly have young people that spend days riding with us to see if veterinary medicine is for them - many of those young people are now in pre-vet or vet school. If you know young individuals that are interested in being a vet contact our office and have them spend the day with us. Hopefully we can show them how great this profession really is!!!

New and Exciting Research

2010-05-28T07:00:00-05:00

A 2009 multi-center study based out of Colorado State University shows promising results using bone marrow derived stem cells to treat bone and soft tissue injuries. The researchers followed 162 horses that were treated with BMSC's. All the horses had received other conventional treatments prior to the stem cell therapy but after the stem cell therapy they were doing much better. The horses were followed for the next 2 years and the study found that 73% of the horses with orthopedic (joint) injuries returned to work. Of the horses with soft-tissue injuries (tendons/ligaments), 85% returned to work. Fat derived stem cells have also been used but in studies by David Frisbie DVM, PhD, the bone marrow derived stem cells prove to be preferable.

Please call Dr. Doug Langer or Dr. Courtney Bolam if you have questions regarding bone marrow stem cell therapy and whether or not your horse is a candidate.
Reference "Clinical follow-up of horses treated with bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells for musculoskeletal lesions," American Association of Equine Practitioners 2009 Proceedings

Jake and What Would YOU Do?

2010-05-20T08:00:00-05:00

It's a horse owner's nightmare. What starts as a simple "tummy ache" can progress to a "surgical colic". What would you do?? That's where I come in...as one of the surgeons here at Wisconsin Equine, it's part of my job to educate owners in this situation and help them make the best decisions for them and their horse. Let me tell you about "Jake" and his journey.

Jake, a 5 year old Shire gelding, owned and loved by Jerry & Debbie Sanders, was referred to WEC&H from Waupun. He was treated on the farm with standard colic care including Banamine and mineral oil, but these treatments did not improve his colic signs. Dr. Nadia Czjakowski admitted him to our facility late at night in February. When he arrived Jake had an increased heart rate, moderate fever, and decreased intestinal sounds. He was also dehydrated. Dr. Nadia performed a rectal examination and found an intestinal impaction. Simply put, Jake was constipated and subsequently uncomfortable. In the intestine "in front" of the impaction, fluid and gas were accumulating, causing intestinal distension shutting his intestines down and causing pain. Our plan was to break this cycle and get Jake's guts moving again. Jake was started on intravenous fluids to rehydrate him, soften the impaction and encourage his bowel to begin moving again. He also received anti-inflammatories to manage his discomfort. Unfortunately, Jake did not tolerate the fluid therapy and in the morning began to show worsening signs of pain. Dr. Nadia recommended that Jake be taken to surgery and called me.

The Sanders had a big decision to make. Surgery was Jake's best chance to survive this colic episode, but there were a lot of questions to think about. How would Jake, a large draft horse, tolerate anesthesia and surgery? Were there other significant risks? What were his chances of surviving this? How likely was it that he would have another serious colic episode? How long would he be hospitalized? How long would he be laid "off"? How much was this going to cost? Dr. Nadia and I listened carefully and answered each question honestly. Anesthesia is a risk for any horse. Jake, being a draft, had a higher risk of "tying up" (muscles being starved of oxygen and cramping severely) while anesthetized. To address this, we reassured the Sanders that Jake had been rehydrated overnight which would help keep the oxygen-carrying blood flowing to his muscles and prevent "tying up". As with all our surgery patients, he would be closely monitored utilizing state of the art equipment to ensure his heart rate and blood pressure, (among other things) remained stable and normal. He would be assisted as he regained consciousness and if necessary we could help him to stand. Taking all this into account, as well as the type of colic we had diagnosed (impaction), I felt Jake's chances of surviving this surgical colic episode were good. As far as other complications, the most common thing that we sometimes see following impaction colic surgery is inflammation or infection at the surgery site. Additionally, although the risk of Jake having another significant colic episode would be increased in the short term, it would drop quickly in the first several months and then gradually return to "normal" at approximately 1 year post-operatively. Jake would remain hospitalized for 5 days to ensure that he received antibiotic care and that the transition back to feed would go smoothly. Once home, for the first 2 months post-operatively, Jake would be confined first to a stall and then to a small paddock while his body wall healed. After this period, Jake could resume his normal day to day activity. As far as cost went, if Jake did well, as expected, his total bill at discharge would be between $6000-8000.

After digesting all of this info, the Sanders decided to take Jake to surgery. Our surgery team (myself, Dr. Minden Buswell, Dr. Anna Herath and Sally Schwartz) assembled and got to work. To minimize our anesthesia time, we clipped and scrubbed his abdomen prior to inducing anesthesia. He received broad-spectrum antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. He was then placed under general anesthesia and onto his back in our surgery suite. His vitals were closely monitored and we helped him breathe with a ventilator to ensure he was "breathing" adequately. We administered intravenous fluids to support his blood pressure. Through a foot long incision, a large impaction of manure was identified in his large intestine. We were able to empty his colon through a small incision using water to soften and dislodge the manure. No other abnormalities were discovered during surgery so I closed the abdominal wall. Jake was placed in the recovery stall and stood well without our help. All told, he was "down" for about 2 hours.

Post-operatively, Jake did very well. He recovered quickly and was offered feed less than 24 hours after recovery. It was gradually increased to normal amounts over 3-4 days....much to Jake's dismay!! He was a hungry boy!! Jake did develop some incisional drainage that was cultured and found to be a mild infection. He was treated with antibiotics in hospital and was discharged on these medications. His skin staples were removed on the farm and soon after his incision stopped draining. As the weeks passed, the Sanders have updated Dr. Buswell and me on several occasions. Jake continued to do well, though the pictures of him segregated in a small group away from pasture-mates were sad. Soon, however, we received a photo of the herd reunited!! Jake was back to his old routine, with only a "zipper" scar on his ventral abdomen to tell the tale of his experience.

What would you do in this situation? It can be a very tough decision and is often based on many factors including prognosis, horses' age/health and financial situation. We strongly recommend you think about these things while your horse is healthy and all emotion is removed from the situation. We will do our absolute best to help you make the decisions during times of crisis. Thank you to Jerry and Debbie Sanders for letting us tell Jake's story.

There's Something About Wynona...

2010-05-10T07:00:00-05:00

I met Wynona in 2002. She is a retired carriage horse that had lived a tough life on the streets and was adopted by a wonderful family who took her as a pasture mate/trail horse/family pet. Wynona lives with a family of 3 children who are currently very accomplished young adults that I have loved watching as they grow and mature.

I was first asked to evaluate Wynona because there was something about her that just wasn't right - the smell!!! Every once in a while the family would note an "odd" odor, but she was otherwise in good shape, happy and eating well. We wondered about bad gas, or if she laid/stepped in something??? After a while though, the smell just wasn't going away. The owners also started noticing some stickiness on her tail that again, was occasional and not associated with any other issues. She urinated/defecated normally and, to their knowledge, had never been bred.

Her physical exam was normal, she appeared very healthy, and examination of her hind end had no overt abnormalities. On rectal exam however, the problem became apparent. Wynona's uterus was extremely large and on ultrasound contained a lot of thick fluid. Wynona had a pyometra (an infection within the uterus). This is not very common in mares, especially when they have not been bred. As we learn in school, the solution to pollution is dilution. We had to flush out the uterus!!

I enrolled the help of the 3 children - obviously much younger then. I cleaned her up, placed the lavage catheter and put the first liter of sterile fluid in. I will never forget the look on those three young faces when the thickest, most foul smelling yellow/brown pus started coming out of the uterus.

If you know vets, we love pus. Abscesses are great - we love to open them up and drain the pus, so despite the smell, I was having fun. The kids however, I think I lost one of the three immediately. The other two stuck it out through bottle after bottle of sterile fluid until the uterus started to flush clean. We treated the uterus with antibiotics and repeated the whole process the next day. After four treatments we stopped and a month later, (somewhat surprisingly to me) the uterus cultured clean. Wynona has been clean ever since and those 3 children have never forgotten that smelly, yet fascinating experience. It has come up many times since then.

What did Wynona teach me?

1) When you put in your time and you work hard you will be rewarded.
2) That sometimes life gives you some pretty stinky baggage; don't let it get you down.
3) That you never know when young, malleable minds are watching, learning and remembering - make every moment count.

Hooteritis

2010-05-03T07:00:00-05:00

So have you ever wondered what all those fancy medical words actually mean? After examining your horse the vet looks at you and says, with a serious face, "Your horse has desmitis". Des-what??? This is actually a better diagnosis than I recently got after sustaining an injury to my right leg which made me unable to stand. The diagnosis....................Leg Pain!!!!!

The terms are actually very useful to us because they really do describe what is going on. The first part of the word describes the anatomical area and the second part of the word describes what the problem is.

‘Des‘means ligament, ‘itis' means inflammation. Your horse therefore has an inflamed ligament; same with hepatitis, an inflamed liver and gastritis, an inflamed stomach.

Leukopenia vs. Leukocytosis --- ‘Leuko' pertains to white blood cells, ‘penia' means a deficiency, ‘osis' means an increase.

In second year vet school we had a pathology exam where we had to look at a tissue and produce a pathological diagnosis using medical terminology as above. The pathology department presented us with a cow udder that was inflamed due to infection. The title of this blog should indicate that after many hours of cramming, and being overdue for sleep, I could not figure out the medical term for the udder. This was my best and most discrete answer. Leaving it blank was not an option for this type A personality.

So, "Hooter-itis" was my final answer.

I laughed all the way home especially when I finally realized that mastitis was the right answer!

How do they know?

2010-04-26T07:00:00-05:00

How can a horse tell the difference between the vet and any other person that may walk in the barn?? There are horses that know who you are even before you think about working on them. You walk into the barn and start chatting to the client where they do the "if I hide my head in the corner of the stall and don't look at them, they won't know I'm here" maneuver.

We know horses don't see detail well - they are flight animals that sense movement and distance well so that they can identify the lion (or rock) on the horizon that may eat them. So I wonder about smell. If I come from home (and yes I showered), having seen no other patients that day - they still know. Do they recognize an individual's odor?? Do they recognize your voice?? Do they recognize your mannerisms or do we as vets project ourselves a certain way??? I wish I knew the answer.

Second Chances

2010-04-19T07:00:00-05:00

I saw a patient today that I have been treating for an extended period of time for a condition that is treatable, but she has not responded normally and is still having problems. Over the past few days she has been doing much worse and conversations about difficult decisions have been had. I went to see the horse today thinking the worst - but was pleasantly surprised that she was doing better. She was bright, alert and wanting to eat. I, her owners and especially the horse said "today we are not giving up."

I love days like today. I love watching the spirit of horses that live in the now. I love that they "speak" to you and help you decide what's right - you just have be quiet and listen.

Vaccinations??

2010-04-12T07:00:00-05:00

Many clients often ask "What should I vaccinate my horse with, what is absolutely necessary and how often should I vaccinate?"

These are all very good questions and the answer varies a little with the type of work and travel your horse does. The AAEP has set forth vaccination guidelines that we follow at WECH. The AAEP recognizes five diseases that they recommend every horse in the U.S. be vaccinated against, every year. These are EEE, WEE, West Nile, Tetanus and Rabies. EEE, WEE and West Nile are all mosquito born diseases that cannot be transmitted from horse to horse, tetanus is contracted from penetrating injuries and rabies is contracted from other infected animals (in Wisconsin: bats, skunks and raccoons). All these vaccines need to be administered yearly and the vaccines are highly efficacious. There is currently not a rabies vaccine labeled for three years in horses as there is in small animals.

The AAEP recognizes certain other diseases that can be vaccinated against on an optional basis after conversation with your veterinarian. These diseases include influenza (flu), rhinopneumonitis (rhino), strangles and Potomac horse fever. Flu, Rhino and Strangles are all acquired from another infected horse. If your horses live at home or at a small private barn where very little showing occurs, then your exposure to these diseases is minimal. If any of the horses travel to shows, meets, clinics or veterinary hospitals, they run the risk of exposure to these diseases. Potomac horse fever is acquired from the ingestion of certain insects and their intestinal contents. It is quite area specific and does not appear to be spread from horse to horse.

At WECH we recommend the following protocol:

Spring - WEE, EEE, Tetanus, West Nile (Rhino and Flu)

Fall - Rabies (Rhino and Flu)

Other vaccines may be administered after consultation with your vet.

Please call your veterinarian if you have any questions.

What I Love about Spring

2010-04-05T07:00:00-05:00

Spring is here. Every winter seems longer and colder than the last. Maybe I'm just getting older. Everyone you speak to at this time of year is antsy - especially the horse folk. Waiting to ride outside without 20 layers. Waiting to put the blankets away, although remember, shedding season comes first, so does mud season. So I came up with a list of things I love about spring....

1) Foals - enough said!
2) Flowers - love the daffodils and tulips.
3) The return of the birds - barn swallows building their nests out of horse hair, red-winged blackbirds and the sand hill cranes.
4) Farmer's Markets
5) The return of busy season.
6) Everything turning green.
7) 4H kids starting to get ready for fair.
8) Daylight
9) Cadbury's Crème Eggs!!!
10) Driving with the windows open

What do you love most????

Mud Fever!

2010-03-29T07:00:00-05:00

Spring season is mud season!! I would rather take 40F and mud, than 20F and ice any day. Spring also brings hormones and excitement and new endeavors outside. Bottom line is we have a slippery mess and dirty shedding mudpuppies to contend with.

The main concern we have with the mud is traumatic injuries to tendon and ligament structures in the lower leg. The flexor tendons and suspensory ligament are designed to take strain and concussive forces. But excessive forces or normal forces in horses that have been winter pasture potatoes may create sprains or tears. Make sure you wash off your horses legs regularly and check for swelling, heat or pain. Sudden onset lameness would be another cue that you have a problem.

Getting rid of the mud - that's another problem. They roll because they itch, they itch because they're shedding and you are left with the mess. Your washing machine will be on overdrive! We vets ask only one thing - if it's vaccine day - clean up the neck and hind end so we can find a clean spot to put the needle.

Summer is around the corner!!!

Kasey

2010-03-19T07:00:00-05:00

I have often thought about how great it would be to write a book. However, when I actually got down to the basics - like the idea - I developed writer's block. I thought that I could write the next Harry Potter or Twilight series and become a gazillionaire. Nothing. Not an ounce of vampire or werewolf to be seen. Then along came the 21st century with websites, Facebook and blogging. I was nominated to be chief blogger.

My inspiration for this blog came from the most obvious source - my amazing patients. I decided to write a blog about what I know best - the beautiful, remarkable, funny, challenging and amazing horses that I surround myself with everyday. The rest of the blog will be education, advice and hopefully amusement.

I decided I would start out with a biggie. Kasey.

I met Kasey in 2000, just three years into my career (2 years in Wisconsin), when people still asked if I was old enough to be a vet. Kasey had been a patient of Dr. Langer's for several years and was struggling with an ongoing lameness problem. During a routine lameness work-up Kasey took a bad step and immediately came up more severely lame. Heat and swelling through the RF lower leg appeared very quickly. Dr. Langer's worst fears were realized, that Kasey had a severely injured the deep digital flexor tendon in the pastern/foot region. With this type of injury euthanasia is often recommended.

The owner however, was not ready to say goodbye to her Kasey. Over the next several months, with excellent nursing care, farrier work, drug therapy and many prayers Kasey gradually improved to the point that he could bear weight and get around. That's when the "new vet" with the acupuncture needles was called. Dr. Langer believed that acupuncture could make Kasey more comfortable and aid in healing and he was right. And so it is, my relationship with this amazing horse began.

In my 4 years of knowing Kasey he was the sweetest, kindest, most curious of horses. He was an exceptional patient - even for acupuncture! Despite a leg that became malformed over time and an obvious gait abnormality, he was happy. He motored around like nothing had happened, played with his buddies (donkeys and goats) and took pleasure in his job as a lawnmower. He had the most beautiful hair coat, excellent weight and a bright eye. He enjoyed his life.

Over the years Kasey would have intermittent foot abscesses that would make him more lame, but they would rupture and he would be fine. Eventually, due to the severe anatomical changes the abscesses became more persistent and Kasey had difficulty getting around. In December 2004 his owner made the difficult decision to say goodbye. It was my pleasure to have known him.

What did Kasey teach me??

1) Treat the patient, not the x-rays or ultrasound images.

2) You can survive when the odds are against you, especially when you are loved.

3) What you look like on the outside is not what is remembered, it's who you are on the inside.