VETERINARY CLINIC BULLETIN BOARD
The latest news and information from the veterinary world
to help you keep your horse a happy, healthy horse.
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Please note that the information contained here is to give general advice and is not necessarily specific for individual cases. You should always seek professional assistance from a veterinary surgeon if in any doubt about the condition of your horse.
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LAMINITIS
Be mindful that, although laminitis is associated with the spring and summer, it can still strike anytime really as itnot just a disease which affects fat little ponies with access to too much lush grass - stabled horses can also be affected; also some horses/ponies can be affected by the addition of certain feeds to their diet.
Most feed companies have telephone helplines which you can call for advice and information about suitable products for the laminitic prone so if you have any doubts, it is best to make contact.
Also the Laminitis Trust has set up telephone helpline so that worried owners can ring for advice.
The number is 0905 105 105 1.
The helpline operates Monday – Friday between 10.00am and 4.00pm and is manned by a veterinary expert who can discuss laminitis related problems. Calls cost a £1.00 per minute with money such raised being directed to much needed further research.
Robert Eustace, the Director of the Trust, has set up a website – www.laminitis.org - which also has valuable information relating to Cushings Disease.
Whether or not you have owned a horse or pony which has suffered from either of these "ailments" or worse, lost one (sadly I am amongst those that have) the website makes important reading. You can go there right now by clicking here.
GRASS SICKNESS UPDATE
The Animal Health Trust has announced that a thoery which w researched years ago but not proven, has been reveiwes and very compellin evidence ound as to the cause of this killer disease. It seems that grass sickness is indeed linked to the toxin botulinium.
Tests have shown that animals injected with a serum derived from infexted horses actually developed resistance to the disease, thus the serum obviously contained some form of anit-toxin.
Results from post mortem examinations have established that infected horses had a much higher amount of the toxin in their intestines than that of a healthy horse.
It is now hoped that a vaccine can be developed against the botulinium toxin as soon as possible.
Let us pray that this indeed will be the case and finally we can do something to protect our horses from this deadly disease. As one who has lost a horse through grass sickness and follows the pgoressof research very avidly, I am delighted that there finally looks as if there might be some light at the end of the tunnel.
GASTRIC ULCERS
These are far more common than owners realise; it is just that with today's improved equipment available to vets, the presence of ulcers is more readily detected. Vets in Amercia have been busy bringingulcers to the attention of owners.
Make sure you know all about them and read the "Gastric Ulcers" article.
Does your horse crib?
The latest reseach results have revealed that some horses may crib because of the build up of acids in the stomach; the action of cribbing produces saliva which then neutralises the acids in the stomach.
Whilst there are those individuals who crib because of boredom, poor environment, etc. (and obviously these factors should be addressed as a matter of urgency) and there also may be those that inherit the trait as there is evidence of very young foals cribbing, the acid build-up notion is indeed a very valid one and one which we support.
We have a horse that has cribbed for as long as we have owned it (an racehorse rehab case); not happy to fit a collar but not happy either to let the horse crib because of the health implications, we lowered his stable door height and fitted a chain at standard door height (to keep him in!). The horse was not able to crib on the chain so we have successfully put an end to this behaviour when stabled (he will sometimes crib when outat grass which puts paid to the boredom theory in his case). Mindful that the horse could stress because he could not crib we watched him very closely for signs of negative behaviour etc. Having successfully stopped the horse from cribbing, the immediately noticeable result of this was that he began to drink more water. This supports the acid theory. The horse has not displayed any other adverse behavioural signs and at 21 years of age is as fit and happy as he has ever been.
There is now a new product on the market from FEEDMARK called SETTLEEX which is an antacid; given as a feed supplement it neutralises stomach acidity. so if your horse cribs or windsucks we recommend that you try it as these "vices" are detrimental tohealth and well-being but yet there may be a valid reason for it.
Please contact FEEDMARK on 0800 585525 (next day free delivery). The product is also available from retail outlets.