Ask the Farrier » Disease and Illness

Why it is Important to Check the Stifle before Purchasing a Horse

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:50:28 +0000

The stifle is the rear joints in a horse or other four legged animal that is akin to the knee in a human. If this joint is damaged, the horse is not considered in fit condition. Many times a horse stifle injury can mean having to put the horse down if it is severe enough. If you do not know how to check this area of a horse, you are going to want to contact a veterinarian who can do this for you. They can tell you whether or not there are any issues with the horse that can make the horse basically worthless for riding.

An injury to the horse stifle can be as detrimental to the horse as a knee injury can be to a human. This is the area that takes all of the weight on a horse or other quadrupeds. While a human who gets a knee injury can prop up their leg until the knee heals, a horse cannot do this. That is why stifle problems in horses can mean that the horse should not be ridden. The weight can be too much for the injured joint and it can cause many more problems for the horse down the road.

In many cases, stifle injuries in horses can mean that the horse is no longer able to walk. There is no cheap way to fix this type of injury. For that reason, and for the horses benefit, the horse may be put down because of this injury. This is usually a last resort. When one can afford it, there are now surgeries that can be performed, at great expense, to help strengthen or even replace the stifle. This is the same type of surgery that is used on humans who have injured their knee to the point that they need to have surgery and a replacement knee fitted.

While a horse with stifle problems is not completely useless, they cannot do the things that a healthy horse with sound horse stifles can do. One thing that the horse can do is breed. The horses stifle problem is not going to keep it from mounting a mare in heat. Studs that have this problem are not going to pass this on to their offspring unless it is a genetic condition. This is a rare occurrence though as most horses that are born with this condition are not going to be bred at all. The stifle problems are going to be bred out eventually.

A stifle injury in horses should be disclosed before a person purchases it. Many who are selling horses are not the most ethical or honest people. This can be said about sales in any aspect as well. That is why it is important to bring a veterinarian who can check the horse out thoroughly to make sure that there are not any health problems or physical problems with the horse. The best way to determine if there are any problems with the horse stifle joints is by extending the leg while it is flexed. He is also going to have the horse run in a straight line to determine if there is any noticeable limp while being ridden.

If the horse is listing to one side, there may be issues with the stifle. After doing a thorough examination, the vet is going to give you their conclusions on the soundness of the horse. If he says that the horse is not to be ridden, then you should not purchase the horse if that is your intent. Even if you love the horse and have saved up for it, you should listen to your vet. They know better than you what makes a good horse and what a lame horse can mean to the buyer.

If the stifle is sound, it is important to protect your new horse from any injuries to it by making sure that the area where it is going to be ridden is free from deep holes that can catch the leg and break it. This can also injure a stifle and then the sound horse that you first purchased is going to become a pet instead of the animal that was wanted for riding. There is going to be more money spent on vet bills that you may not have planned on.

The area that was chosen as the corral should be checked thoroughly to make sure that there are not any large or deep holes that can catch the horse’s leg. This is going to be a protection for the horse and its stifle. Horses do not come cheap and this is why all this work and preparation is needed to make sure that they stay sound and healthy while you own, ride and love it.

Wobbler Syndrome in Horses

admin — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 18:42:50 +0000

While out on your regular ride, you notice that your horse seems a little clumsier than usual, tripping over sticks and stumbling. You put it down to him being lazy, but notice it’s becoming a common pattern. Should you be concerned?

Many horses with spinal problems will exhibit signs of clumsiness as they are being ridden. In particular, Wobbler syndrome occurs when the spinal vertebrae have been compressed. This causes nerve damage resulting in the horse being unable to know where their limbs are positioned. This syndrome can be seen in all horses, regardless of age, breed, or gender, but seems to most often crop up in male horses of fast growing breeds, such as Thoroughbreds or Quarter Horses. It can affect the front legs or the back.

If you suspect that your horse might be suffering from this syndrome, it is important to call your veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis. Wobbler is sometimes confused with the neurological disease, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), which causes muscle wasting, facial paralysis, and behavioral changes. In order to properly diagnose, your veterinarian will locate the affected area on your horse’s neck or back, and then take radiographs. These will help your veterinarian to pinpoint exactly what is going on in your horse’s spine to cause the symptoms. Sometimes radiographs are not enough to clearly diagnose the disease, in which case a myelogram may be necessary. This is a procedure where colored dye is injected into the horse’s spine to show on the radiographs where exactly the compression of the spine has occurred. Because the horse must be under anesthesia for this procedure, it is not always a convenient or even possible option.

Wobbler Syndrome can be treated without surgery. Most notably, benefits have been seen in supplementing an affected horse’s diet with vitamin E. For horses that are still growing, a change in diet and turnout in a small paddock can help their bodies to realign. Surgery is an option, however, in which case the surgeon will actually remove pieces of the horse’s vertebrae to eliminate the compression.

Cushing’s Disease in Horses

admin — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 18:39:21 +0000

As equine medicine progresses, and routine stable management improves, horse owners are finding that their horses and ponies are living to a much more advanced age. Because of this, it is important for horse owners to be aware of age-related diseases. Cushing’s Disease is a relatively common problem affecting older horses, and particularly ponies. Cushing’s Disease is caused by a benign tumor growing in the pituitary gland. This creates an increase in the number of chemical messengers sent throughout the body, and in particular to the adrenal glands which control all the hormones in the body.

Horses suffering from this disease tend to have a long shaggy coat that looks almost curly. They typically grow their winter coat in early and fail to shed it out in the spring. This thick, heavy coat causes them to heat up quickly for no apparent reason, and often results in skin infections since the skin is unable to breathe and dry once it becomes sweaty. The disease also causes laminitis, chronic hoof abscesses, excessive thirst, muscle wasting, and a sway back appearance. Immunodeficiency also accompanies the disease, and affected horses will often have difficulty healing from wounds.

The signs of the disease can be both subtle and gradual, making it difficult for you to immediately notice changes in your horse. Cushing’s should always be suspected in chronic laminitis cases in older horses and also in the case of a coat that even partially won’t shed. If you are concerned about the disease, have your vet examine your horse to confirm diagnosis. Although surgery is rarely an option, there are drug treatments that are extremely effective in dealing with this problem. This drug therapy is costly, and must be continued for the duration of the horse’s life, but is proven to improve the horse’s condition almost immediately.

Is Your Horse Suffering From Back Pain?

admin — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:47:29 +0000

Usually we take for granted our horses’ strong backs, however, what if your horse is suffering from back pain? How can you tell, and if you suspect he is, what can you do about it? Just as with humans, back pain in horses can make them incredibly uncomfortable, irritable, and have difficulty moving.

Suspect back pain if your horse shows signs of poor performance, hesitant gaits, or sensitivity to being touched over their back. They might also fight the saddle and attempt to get you off their backs once mounted. Horses with back pain are usually cranky and irritable, and may not be able to perform such maneuvers as rounding their backs when jumping or keeping their gaits collected. Some horses will also carry their tail at an off angle.

There are many causes of back pain, and you will likely need your veterinarian’s assistance in pinpointing just what is going on with your horse. The most common problem is an ill-fitting saddle or a poor rider who may be mounting improperly. Off balance riding can cause your horse to move unnaturally to compensate, thereby straining their back. Additionally, older horses will be more prone to arthritis. Falls and injuries can also cause damage to your horse’s back, and sometimes a secondary problem, such as arthritis in the hock, can cause the horse to overexert his back muscles.

Finding the cause of your horse’s pain will take some investigating. You’ll need to consider your horse’s unique situation, such as his age, how often he is worked, and what kind of work he does. You’ll want to have your saddle fully checked to make sure it fits properly. Your veterinarian will also be able to do a physical exam to check for other injuries or lameness that might be contributing to the back problem. In conjunction with your veterinarian, you might also decide to work with an equine chiropractor or an equine physiotherapist. Once the underlying issue is discovered, then you will be able to work out a plan for helping your horse to be pain-free.

Does Your Horse Have Enteroliths?

admin — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:37:39 +0000

If your horse is experiencing chronic but low intensity colic, your veterinarian may suspect that enteroliths are at the root of the problem. Enteroliths are mineralized stones that form in a horse’s intestinal tract. At the centre of these stones is always an ingested object, such as a piece of stone, wood, or metal that does not pass through the horse’s gut. Enteroliths are common in different geographical regions, depending on the minerals present in soil and feed. Cases are particularly high in California. If left undetected, these stones can cause your horse’s intestinal tract to rupture, causing death. The only way to diagnose is through x-rays or abdominal surgery. Horses with enteroliths must have them surgically removed, a procedure that is highly successful unless there are already complications due to the rupturing of the intestinal tract.

If you live in a high risk area, you will want to discuss tools for prevention with your veterinarian. Since diets high in magnesium and protein may be contributing to the development of enteroliths, lucerne hay should be avoided. Lucerne hay is also more digestible than other hays, resulting in less fiber passing through the horse’s intestinal system and clearing out any potential objects that might cause an enterolith to develop. Your horse should also be fed several times per day to encourage intestinal movement, and also receive regular exercise. Since pH is a factor as well, some horses benefit from having a cup of vinegar added to their daily feed. Finally, genetics do also play a role, with Arabs being the most common breed for developing these stones.

Since enteroliths have such fatal implications for your horse, if you live in a high risk area, it is important to understand the signs and symptoms of enterolith formation, and to be able to obtain quick treatment for your horse.

How to Tell if Your Horse is Tying Up

admin — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 20:34:31 +0000

Tying up is a condition that can affect horses in many different situations, from the casual riders who do a few trails over the weekend, all the way up to competitively working horses in all disciplines. Horses suffering from this form of muscle breakdown show stiffness and poor performance in its mildest form, and in more severe cases will have elevated heart rate, sweating, pain, and will pass dark-coloured urine.

Known by many other names, including azoturia, Monday morning disease, or myoglobinurea, tying up is usually brought on through exercise, but can also develop from stressful situations such as trailer loading, or even viral infections. Similar in many ways to humans who play too hard on the weekends, the milder forms can simply be due to high lactic acid levels in muscles. However, some horses may be at risk due to electrolyte imbalances or dehydration.

If you suspect that your horse has had episodes of tying up, your vet can perform bloodwork that will analyze their enzyme levels. This will help determine whether the horse actually was tying up and, if so, how severe the episode was. Mild cases may simply be treated with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory to make the horse more comfortable, while severe cases may require intravenous fluids to prevent kidney damage and to keep them hydrated. Sedatives may also be prescribed to keep the horse relaxed and calm.

For horses that are prone to this condition, stable management can also be key to preventing future attacks. Keeping the horse calm and in a consistent environment with regular routines, as well as strictly monitoring diet, water intake and exercise, will go a long way towards making a horse that ties up much more comfortable.

Heaves and Your Horse

admin — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 22:23:35 +0000

Heaves, also known as broken wind or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is a devastating disease that affects the respiratory system of a horse. It is usually caused by ingesting dusty or moldy hay, or being exposed to dust, mold or pollen in bedding and elsewhere in the horse’s environment. Depending on the length of time that the horse has been exposed to the irritant, their symptoms may be mild or severe.

The usual symptom associated with heaves is a dry cough, particularly one that comes on with exercise. It can also cause a yellowish nasal discharge and increased or laboured breathing. In severe cases, the horse may be listless, show loss of appetite due to breathing difficulties, and can even develop what is called a heave line, or a muscular line along the barrel caused by the horse constantly taking a double exhalation.

There is no cure for heaves. Once diagnosed, the best options are to minimize the horse’s contact with respiratory irritants. This can be accomplished by feeding good quality hay that is neither dusty nor moldy, and also keeping the horse in an extremely well ventilated environment. Many horses with heaves are best kept out of stables and instead housed outside. This is a chronic condition that causes gradual damage to the lungs, so good stable management can halt the disease in its tracks. Depending on your horse’s situation, your veterinarian may also prescribe drugs or natural remedies to assist your horse with his breathing. Many horses with a mild form of heaves are able to carry an almost normal workload. However, it is important to remember that if your horse is diagnosed with heaves, he will always be at risk for further lung damage.

Equine Influenza Virus

admin — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 22:20:36 +0000

As with humans, horses can become very ill from the normal influenza virus. Although most horses can and do make a full recovery from the disease, those with a compromised immune system, and in particular very old and very young animals, are at a higher risk of succumbing to their illness. Additionally, secondary infections such as pneumonia can develop and cause more difficulty for the horse, including lung and heart damage.

Horses with the equine flu present very similar symptoms to humans with a flu bug. They tend to lose their appetite, be lethargic, run a fever, and have a harsh cough and nasal discharge. Equine flu is very contagious, and is spread through airborne particles, as well as through infected buckets, brushes, or even unwashed hands. The disease is extremely contagious, and entire stables can quickly become infected.

Prevention is the best option, and it is always advised to keep your horse up to date on his vaccinations, including the influenza vaccine. Also, good hygiene is very important and all stables should maintain a regular routine of sterilization of equipment and good hand-washing. Avoid sharing brushes or buckets with other horses, unless they have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected first.

Should your horse develop the disease, he should be moved to a large, clean, and dust-and draft-free stall. If he can tolerate it, it might be wise to give him small amounts of light exercise, such as hand-walking, to help his body drain fluids and improve circulation. As he recovers, you will be able to slowly re-introduce regular exercise to his routine.

Equine Infectious Anemia

admin — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 22:18:44 +0000

Also known as swamp fever, this devastating disease is mainly prevalent in the southern United States, as well as in some areas of Canada. The disease is spread through the bites of blood-sucking insects such as mosquitoes. As a mosquito bites an infected horse, then moves on and bites an uninfected horse, the second horse will be at risk to contract the disease.

EIA causes an overall decline in the horse’s health. Infected horses become listless and experience loss of coordination, weakness, jaundice, fluid retention and small lesions on their mucous membranes. Usually these symptoms occur in a cycle of every two weeks or so and typically come on after exercise. There is no cure or treatment for the disease. Although rarely fatal, the disease is so highly infectious that most countries have a strict requirement that all known infected animals must be either euthanized or fully quarantined in a completely fly proof building.

The best prevention of the disease is through aggressive testing and fly control programs. Because the disease is so easily transmitted from horse to horse, and because many horses without symptoms can still be infected carriers of the disease, it is vital that all new horses entering a boarding facility or stable have a current Coggins test. The Coggins test is a blood test that determines whether a horse is a carrier of the EIA virus.

Fly control is also essential to preventing outbreaks, as with any insect-borne disease. Reducing the number of flies attracted to your barn will automatically reduce your horse’s risk of being infected. At this point in time, there is no vaccination available for the virus, so prevention is your best option.

Arthritis in Horses

admin — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:56:10 +0000

All animals, including humans, have a tendency towards arthritis as they get older. In horses the disease can the result of the ageing process and general wear and tear on joints, or can come on at any age due to an injury.

Arthritis specifically refers to the inflammation of your horse’s joints, especially weight bearing ones, which then causes erosion of cartilage. As the disease progresses it causes stiffness, pain, and can eventually cripple your horse. Typical symptoms of arthritis include stiffness when first being worked, swollen or puffy lower leg joints, and a change in his gait or ability to perform exercises that he used to do with ease. If you suspect that your horse has the beginnings of arthritis, talk to your vet about x-rays and a possible treatment plan.

In the meantime, there are some simple things you can do to keep your senior horse from being at risk of this debilitating disease.

Keep him fit and active. Even moderate exercise keeps joints flexible and improves circulation in his body. Being able to move around allows him to shift his weight bearing, and lets the cartilage in his joints work the way it was meant to. If he doesn’t have pasture to walk around on all day, a paddock is still better than a stall.
Try equine physiotherapy or simple stretches on your own. Keeping your horse flexible and his muscles warmed up will not only make him more comfortable, but will also improve his ability to exercise
Feed an appropriate diet. There are many supplements that are known to assist with joint maintenance. Talk to your veterinarian to be sure your older horse is getting all the nutrients he needs.

Ask the Farrier » Disease and Illness

Why it is Important to Check the Stifle before Purchasing a Horse

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