Table of contents for February 2016 in Equus

A study from Colorado State University suggests that it’s best to use a combination of imaging techniques when diagnosing stifle joint problems. The researchers reviewed the records of 37 horses (47 stifles because some horses had bilateral pain) admitted to the university clinic for evaluation of potential stifle injuries, paying particular attention to the results of ultrasonographic and arthroscopic examinations. They found that damage to the fibrous “cup” on the inside of the joint (medial meniscal lesions) was detected more often with ultrasonography, which uses high frequency sound waves to create images of internal body structures, than with arthroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves the insertion of a fiber optic tube and tiny video camera. Bone spurs in the joint were also more likely to be detected via…

A simple, nonsurgical procedure can be used to successfully treat some esophageal strictures, according to a new study from the University of California–Davis. An esophageal stricture is a narrowing of the esophagus with fibrous scar tissue that often occurs after a severe and prolonged episode of choke. Affected horses have difficulty swallowing, are more prone to recurrent choke and may develop pneumonia if food passes into the trachea° rather than the esophagus. Surgery under general anesthesia has previously been used to correct esophageal strictures, but the California clinicians have been treating the condition using a less-invasive technique that requires only standing sedation. In esophageal balloon dilation, a balloon is inserted into the esophagus and inflated at the site of the stricture, creating pressure that gently breaks down the fibrous tissue…

February is a good month to check your hay stores to make sure you have enough to last the rest of the winter. Take stock of how many bales remain in your loft or shed and do some quick calculations based on how many flakes you are feeding daily. If it looks as if you may run out of hay before spring pastures grow in, now is the time to take action. The easiest solution is to purchase more, if it’s available. If good-quality hay is hard to find this late in the season, you may have to make some judgment calls. Hay that is a bit bleached or stemmy may be less nutritious but is fine to feed as a source of fiber. On the other hand, avoid buying…

When a normally eager trail mount suddenly balks at walking downhill, it’s a clue that something is wrong physically. Descending an incline requires a horse to balance and brace himself with various parts of his body. Pain or dysfunction in any one of them can cause him to be less willing. Reluctance to walk downhill could be a sign of navicular pain as the horse shifts more weight to his heels with each step. Similarly, a horse with ringbone0 may experience more pain on a downhill stretch than he does on flat ground or an upward slope. Descending a hill can also be unpleasant for a horse with a sore neck---his discomfort may increase as he uses his neck for balance. In addition, an ill-fitting saddle can cause pain when…

Good management can head off or lessen the effects of many age-related health issues, but there’s not much you can do to keep a horse from developing arthritis. “Much like in people, arthritic changes in horses are an inevitable part of aging,” says David Frisbie, DVM, PhD, of Colorado State University. A horse’s genetics and lifestyle have some influence on how well his joints function as he ages. But there’s no escaping the basic wear and tear that eventually leads the inflammation that normally assists in joint healing and maintenance to outpace the body’s restorative abilities. The result is a destructive cascade of processes that lead to deterioration of the joints: arthritis. Even if joint problems can’t entirely be prevented, however, there are things you can do to slow the…

Heat-shock proteins (HSPs), also called stress proteins, are present in every cell of every organism, where they serve multiple functions. One role of certain HSPs, called chaperones, is to protect against stress. “Heat-shock proteins are a new area in human medicine and rodent science,” says Karyn Malinowski, PhD, of Rutgers University. “They appear after an insult to the body and are called ‘heat-shock proteins’ because the initial studies were conducted by exposing research subjects to high temperatures. When a body is dipped into hot water or exposed to heat, the concentration of these proteins increase. We now know that they respond to any insult, such as a change in energy homeostasis, heat, response to exercise, etc. Their role is to bring the body back to balance.” Early studies of HSPs…

There was a time---about seven years ago---when I dreaded pulling on a pair of riding breeches. Once dressed, I would scurry past the mirrors in my house, scowling if I happened to catch a glimpse of myself: I was 50 pounds overweight and selfconscious about it. But my problem was more than just being unhappy with my appearance. I was also unfit, and I could no longer fully enjoy many of the equestrian activities that I loved. I went trail riding less often because I was afraid I might have to get off and knew that I could not mount from the ground without assistance. I lacked the stamina to complete even a one-hour riding lesson without frequent breaks. Horse show classes left me gasping for air. In short, I…

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antibody---disease-fighting substance produced by the body in response to the presence of an antigen. antigen---substance, often a protein, that the body’s immune system recognizes as foreign and reacts to by producing an antibody. ascarid (Parascaris equorum)---large intestinal roundworm, about the size of a pencil, that infects foals and young horses and may retard growth or block the intestines. Banamine---trade name of flunixin meglumine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to control inflammation and pain primarily associated with colic and muscle injuries. body condition score (BCS)---a designation, based on a nine-point numeric scale, indicating the amount of fat on a horse’s body. A BCS is assigned after a visual and hands-on appraisal. bute---colloquial term for phenylbutazone, the generic name for an odorless anti-inflammatory medication used in the management of joint, bone and muscle…

EQUUS welcomes freelance submissions for practically any section of the magazine. We prefer to receive manuscripts via email; send to EQLetters@EquiNetwork.com. We will also consider typed hard-copy manuscripts, but please note: If you would like your materials returned, a self-addressed, stamped envelope needs to be included with your submission. We do not review or accept simultaneous submissions. Here are a few guidelines for prospective contributors: • Features generally run from 1,600 to 3,000 words. • Medical Front (200- to 400-word items)—Brief articles about the latest research, technological advances, treatments and other veterinary topics pertinent to horse owners. • Hands On (100- to 400-word items)—Short items offering practical advice and useful reminders on everyday horse care issues, ranging from feeding and hoof care to training and breeding. • True Tales (700…

In a recent survey of veterinarians conducted in the United Kingdom, the horse’s response to pain-relieving medications was found to be the most commonly used diagnostic tool in cases of colic. Researchers at the University of Nottingham sent questionnaires to 228 veterinarians asking about their first assessment of colic cases. The most frequent diagnostic test reported (87.2 percent) was “response to analgesia”— whether the horse’s condition improved after the administration of pain-relieving medication. Rectal examination was the second most cited measure (75.9 percent) and naso gastric tubing was the third (43.8 percent). Three other tests—abdominal paracentesis (also known as “belly taps”), bloodwork and ultrasound—rounded out the top diagnostic choices. Despite the popularity of certain diagnostic techniques, the researchers note that there was a wide variation in individual protocols: For each…

A plastic sled works wonderfully for pulling hay out to horses over snowcovered terrain. A small “saucer” sled can take a few flakes, but the big “toboggan” types can easily handle an entire bale.—Leslie Montague, Moorhead, Minnesota 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.…

“Saddled and bridled and booted rode he, A plume in his helmet, A sword at his knee. ---“Bonnie George Campbell,” traditional Scottish ballad With a Thinsulate lining rated to keep your feet warm in temperatures well below zero, the Dublin Medway Thinsulate Tall Boot (suggested retail, $269.99), from Dublin Clothing, is designed for all-day comfort with a moisturecontrol footbed for support; a durable, lightweight rubber outsole that fits in a stirrup; and an elastic top gusset and adjustable lace for a custom fit. The boots feature a waterproof, full-grain leather upper with quilted stitching. Available in chocolate, in ladies’ full and half sizes 6 to 10 and 11. Visit www.dublinclothing.com. The Daisy Clipper Children’s Side Zip Paddock Boot (suggested retail, $79.99), from Huntley Equestrian, combines classic styling with a durable,…

RECOVERY A remedy for muscle atrophy? Q:I have an 11-yearold Friesian sport horse who has just completed treatment for EPM. We have been given the OK to go back to work, but because of the disease he lost all the muscle on the left side of his head. There is no muscle where his jaw is or above his eye. Will the nerve damage to the head ever heal? Are there any exercises or massage that may help? Cheryl Martinell Maud, Oklahoma A: Muscle atrophy can be caused by the deterioration of the muscle cells themselves or damage to the nerves that control the muscles, which is the case in equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). A disease of the central nervous system, EPM is caused by the protozoal organisms Sarcocystis neurona…

For me, volunteering had always been a way to be near horses when I couldn’t have one of my own. My love affair began as a young girl, reading every horse book and fantasizing about being Elizabeth Taylor in “National Velvet.” Once I was an adult, I started helping out at a therapy program that taught disabled children how to ride and care for horses. There, I learned the basics of grooming, tack and safety. I also frequented Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program (FLTAP), in New York State, just to keep alive my dream of someday owning my own horse. At age 53 I figured it was just that, a dream. I knew these beautiful athletes were too much horse for a beginner like me. One day over lunch, an…

Although a transfusion with the wrong blood type won’t necessarily put a horse’s life in jeopardy, it’s still a good idea to seek a match, according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. In people, there are eight different blood types, determined by group (A, B, O and AB) and antigens0 (known as the Rh factor). If a person receives blood with incompatible antigens, the resulting immune response can be deadly. For this reason, people are usually only given blood that matches their own type, and a test called cross-matching is done using the blood of both the donor and recipient prior to a transfusion. By comparison, the procedure for administering blood transfusions to horses is simpler because mismatched blood types do not usually lead to…

TELL ME WHERE IT HURTS Q: In the interest of precision, veterinarians use anatomical directional terms when describing specific locations on a horse’s body. Where would you look for the problems described below? a. a wound on the medial aspect of the hock joint b. swelling on the proximal portion of the cannon limb c. insect bites on the ventral midline of the abdomen. For the answers, see page 21. Answers a. a wound on the inside of the hock joint b. swelling at the top of the cannon bone, near the knee c. bites on the underside of the horse’s belly, near the center of the body…

Horses no longer do the heaviest work in our world, and with attentive care, they can live much, much longer than did their ancestors in preindustrial times. If horses are “not overdriven or overworked … they are capable of full work until they are twenty years old,” wrote veterinarian J. Russell Manning, MD, VS, in Manning’s Horse Book, a veterinary manual published in 1882. “How many arrive at this age? Not one in fifty. The most of them die under seven years old.” Nowadays, when it’s not uncommon for horses to live well into their 30s, we are left with a relatively new question: When does a horse begin the transition from middle-aged to old age? Current research into aging has given us an answer that, surprisingly, aligns with Manning’s:…