Table of contents for August 2015 in Equus

Spread the word As a horse owner of 52 years, a humane investigator and a member of the EQUUS family since issue # 1, I have been moved by articles over the years and educated by many. But none have had such a lasting impact with me as “The Squeezing Cure” (EQUUS 452), which will save so many lives once we get the “word” out widely enough. applaud John Madigan, DVM, whose curiosity and concern led to this breakthrough method for curing dummy foals with ropes and pressure. I grow emotional thinking of all the foals who have lost their lives needlessly and the efforts spent trying to save them. I am passing the word and connecting horsemen to the information provided regarding this simple procedure that will save lives,…

A gel commonly used in urology and plastic surgery shows promise as a treatment for arthritis in horses, according to a new study from Denmark. Polyacrylamide hydrogel, which has long been used to reconstruct or augment tissue in human medicine, is a non-degradable gel composed of 97.5 percent water and 2.5 percent polyacrylamide, a highly biocompatible polymer. A 2014 University of Copenhagen study showed that polyacrylamide hydrogel injected into the joints of goats became integrated with the synovial0 membrane, significantly reducing lameness caused by arthritis. To see whether similar effects occur in horses, the researchers selected 43 with arthritis-related lameness (mild, moderate or severe) diagnosed in only one joint. A polyacrylamide hydrogel product was injected into each arthritic joint and the horse was then rested for two weeks before beginning…

SOAP SAVER I fill a spray bottle with shampoo and water, making a diluted cleaning solution. When it’s bath time, I spray the solution on my horse instead of mixing shampoo and water in a bucket. Not only does this save on shampoo when I’m bathing my horse, but it lets me clean targeted areas between baths with minimal waste. —Meredith Reed, Placerville, California Send your suggestions for inexpensive horse-care substitutes as well as hints for saving effort and time to Hands On, EQUUS, 656 Quince Orchard Road, #600, Gaithersburg, MD 20878; Fax: 301-990-9015; e-mail: EQLetters@EquiNetwork.com. Senders of published items will receive selected EQUUS merchandise.…

Abdominal hernias, the unnatural protrusion of intestine or other tissues through an opening in the body, can develop from several causes. Some are secondary to trauma, including postoperative hernias, which occur when abdominal contents press through an incompletely healed incision site in the abdominal wall. Horses can also develop hernias from natural causes. Two types of congenital hernia are most common: Umbilical hernias may occur when the umbilical ring—the dense, fibrous tissue that surrounds the umbilicus—fails to close properly after the foal is born. Swelling may appear at the foal’s navel within the first few weeks of life. Smaller hernias, of less than three centimeters, may resolve without treatment as the foal grows. Your veterinarian may recommend manually massaging the contents of the hernia back up into the abdomen each…

• Law enforcement. If something goes wrong, call your local law enforcement first to file a report. • Stolen Horse International/NetPosse. In addition to providing guidance for preventing theft, equine identification and missing horse recovery tools, this nonprofit organization offers online resource articles and a variety of items to help prove ownership, including farm security signs, microchips and freeze brands. Go to www.netposse.com. • RateMyHorsePRO.com. This informative website offers ratings and reviews of horse professionals as well as news, pro forma legal documents and criminal background checks. • Your state Department of Agriculture. You’ll find a number of helpful resources, including any information about brand registries and state laws pertaining to livestock. • Equine attorneys. Use an attorney to set up agreements before a civil matter occurs. If you are…

TOXICOLOGY Is milkweed a danger? Q: My horse occasionally grazes as I ride him on the trails---he knows when he is allowed to eat and when he is not. Normally he’ll snack on grasses, dandelions and clovers, but he will also take an occasional bite of milkweed. I have been told that milkweed is dangerous and contains a neurotoxin for horses. Is this true? How much must he eat before damage occurs, and what is it about milkweed that attracts a horse to eat it if it’s not good for him? Sharon Bowen Chicago, Illinois A: Whether or not a horse is poisoned by milkweed very much depends on the species he has eaten and how much of the plant he consumes. More than 100 species of milkweed grow in North…

antibacterial---drug or other substance that kills bacteria. antibiotic---drug that interferes with the vital functions of bacteria; used to control or eliminate bacterial infection. bars---on the bottom of a horse’s hoof, the continuations of the horny wall running forward from the heels between the sole and frog. biotin---water-soluble vitamin of the B complex. borium---crystals in soft steel tubing that may be melted and applied to the bottom of a horseshoe to improve traction, especially on pavement and frozen footing. buttress---thickened angle at the heel of a horse’s hoof wall. coffin bone (pedal bone)---major bone within the hoof, shaped like a miniature hoof. congenital---present from time of birth; not necessarily hereditary. corium---tissue layer in the skin or its appendages (hoof, hair, etc.) from which growth occurs; rich in blood and nerve supply.…

Last fall, an outbreak of the rare viral infection known as Getah swept through a racing stable in Japan. A mosquito-borne arbovirus, Getah is widespread among vertebrate populations in Eurasia and Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea and neighboring islands in the Pacific Ocean) but has rarely been associated with illness in horses. Affected horses usually show mild signs consistent with other viral diseases, such as a fever, leg swelling, skin rashes and enlarged glands around the head. Different strains of the virus produce slightly different clinical signs. With supportive care, most horses make a full recovery in two weeks or less. The most recent outbreak was detected when several horses at the Miho Training Center developed high fevers. Out of the 49 affected horses, 25 were…

MYSTERY MUSCLE Q:Ranging from 11 to 16 inches long, I am made up of more than a dozen individual and highly specialized muscles. In fact, I am one of the few locations where a horse has voluntary control of muscles that aren’t attached directly to bones. I play an essential role in digestion, while also serving in a sensory role and promoting dental hygiene. Injuries to me often go unnoticed but thankfully tend to heal well. What am I? Answer I am your horse’s tongue.…

You may not think a parched pasture landscape baked under a summer sun has much to offer, but there is at least one benefit to dry, hot weather this time of year: Pasture cleanup is a snap. When temperatures climb above 90 degrees Fahrenheit with no rain for several days in a row, parasite eggs cannot survive. That makes it safe to skip the wheelbarrow and pitchfork and “drag” pastures with a harrow or length of chainlink fence to break up and scatter manure piles. Keep horses on a different pasture for a week to give the sun time to kill the larvae. Conversely, dragging during cooler, wetter weather spreads viable parasite eggs around the pasture, contaminating the entire space rather than just the waste areas horses naturally tend to…

“When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes.” ---William Shakespeare, Henry V The Talent Yarn “Paisley” Ladies Wrap Collar Show Shirt (suggested retail, $125), from Essex Classics Inc., is made with a light, nanotechnology fabric with mesh panels under the sleeves for ventilation. The bright-white yarn is stain resistant and deodorizing and allows for a comfortable stretch. Snaps at the collar and cuffs open to reveal vibrant paisley contrast trim, in six color options. Available in sizes XS to XL. Visit www.essexclassics.com. The Trifecta ¼ Zip Top (suggested retail, $64.95), from SmartPak, offers multiple levels of summer protection, including InsectShield to repel bugs,…

As an equine veterinarian, I rely on many resources to keep the horses in my practice healthy. From the drugs on my truck to consultations with my colleagues, I draw from a variety of assets to provide the best possible care. Among those assets are my clients, the horse owners. A well-informed owner who is capable and confident doing a few basic horse health-care tasks is an incredibly valuable partner to a veterinarian. Of course, we don’t expect our clients to be able to diagnose illnesses or perform any complex treatments---in fact, trying to do so can backfire and make a situation worse. But under the guidance of a professional, an owner with fundamental horse-care skills can play a key role in a sick or injured horse’s recovery. If you’ve…

I felt a little guilty leaving for the barn after only eight and a half hours at work. That may sound crazy, but I run a 24-7 news operation full of constant pressures and staffed with workaholics. Long days are the norm. This had been yet another day of hard decisions and problems with no solutions in sight. By about 4 p.m. the thought of spending time with my beautiful palomino had become irresistible. I left the office with riding clothes in one hand and a big load of professional guilt in the other. I began riding around the time I started my current job. Horses were my midlife crisis, the thing I always wanted to do. I had been that horse-obsessed kid with her nose in the Black Stallion…

A new study from Poland shows how well-adapted the equine coat is for different seasons. Researchers at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland, followed a group of five Polish Konik mares living on a reserve in a temperate southeastern part of the country. They took photographs of the mares every two weeks throughout the year and used a computer to analyze hair growth patterns. Specifically, the researchers calculated the percentage of the surface of each horse’s body covered by short hair at each evaluation and determined which regions of the body had short hair. Their findings underscore how the equine coat contributes to equine body temperature regulation in hot and cold weather months. The largest increase in the percentage of short body hair occurred during April and the…

A new study from Brazil suggests that managing a mare’s environment to reduce her stress levels after she has been bred can increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy. Researchers at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre studied the breeding records of 1,206 Thoroughbred mares over the course of 10 breeding seasons. Based on how they were managed immediately after they were bred, the mares were divided into two groups: those who were managed in a manner intended to reduce social stresses—such as minimizing or eliminating stall confinement and maintaining herd stability— and those who were not. A review of the foaling rates of the two groups showed that social stress sometimes seemed to influence whether pregnancy was carried to term. When mares that had not…

Lost shoes, particularly out on the trail, are a common cause of hoof bruising. “It’s good to be prepared, with something that can be wrapped over the bottom of the foot so it won’t bruise on the way home if you’ve lost a shoe,” says veterinary podiatrist Julie Bullock, DVM. A hoof boot is a good choice, but other materials will do, too. “A roll of vet wrap or duct tape in your saddle bags or jacket pocket can come in handy,” Bullock says. “I prefer the Gorilla Tape when trying to protect or wrap a foot. It is stronger than duct tape. And if you do use duct tape, choose the thickest, strongest, industrial-strength variety. I also carry a big Kotex pad because I sometimes have to get off…