Posted on Wednesday, Feb 6, 2008 - 9:00 am:

This newsletter offers a way to keep up with the horse information added to Horseadvice.com without overwhelming your email box. Posted every day or two this newsletter will highlight the new topics and discussions added to the main sections of Horseadvice.com. Note that replies to discussions, and some "Member's Only" posting areas are not displayed here. To view replies click on the link to the discussion. For a complete listing of topics and discussions please visit us at Horseadvice.com and click on Today's Discussions.

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HorseAdvice.com: Inspiration, Art, Entertainment members_only: Controversial Issues:
Euthenasia or Continued Care?

Posted by JoAnn on Monday, Feb 4, 2008 - 2:34 pm:
Hello Everyone. This is my first post so hope I do this right! I have a 21 yr old mare with Cushings and chronic laminitis. She is pasture sound (with grazing muzzle;) and of no economic value but we love her and want to care for her as long as her quality of life is reasonably good. She has fractured a tooth (upper first molar) and I am in the process of getting an estimate of how much it will cost to treat the tooth. My dilemma is if the cost begins to become substantial, at what point do I say, "I just can't afford that" and elect instead to euthanize an old horse with chronic health problems. Two years ago we treated her for a $2,500.00 colic. Not a wise financial move but like I said, we love her. Financially, however, I have to be realistic about how much money we can continue to spend to support her. How have others faced this type of situation? Thanks.

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Nervous System: Neurological Conditions Not Covered Above: Neurological topics not covered above.:
Is this normal after choking?

Posted by Amy Burns on Monday, Feb 4, 2008 - 10:51 am:
I have a 17yo TWH mare. She had a choking episode 2 weeks ago. We put her on Gentocin as a precautionary measure to head off complications if she developed asperation pneumonia. Approximately 5 days after she developed a putrid smelling, thick, cardboard colored nasal discharge. We changed to a stronger antibiotic, Naxcel, and the thick discharge has subsided. She still has nasal discharge but it is relatively clear and watery but still putrid. A few days later she started shifting her weight from foot to foot, front to back and developed an 103.8 degree fever! We put her on Banamine, 10cc initially and 5cc every 12 hours thereafter and are continuing the Naxcel 10cc once daily. I have been charting her temperature and she has maintained a normal temp for a couple of days. This morning she has a 101.4 degree temp and seems to be dragging her toes when she walks. Otherwise she seems normal. She is not depressed, she is eating and drinking, using the bathroom, etc.. Does this all stem from the choking episode or should I be concerned about Wobbles, EPM, ....? I should also tell you that I have only had her since Thanksgiving and she was very, very thin when she came here. She has gained a good amount of weight but is still very thin. She has had a colt every year since she was 4yo. Her last colt was weaned in September and this is her first year not being bred back.

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HorseAdvice.com: Member's Services members_only: The Lounge: Kick back and relax.:
Regional Inquires: Looking for Training Help Near Charlottesville, VA

Posted by Terri on Monday, Feb 4, 2008 - 2:56 pm:
Hello All-- I'm calling on other Virginia members for help finding an instructor for my dearest and oldest friend's daughter and her new horse in the Charlottesville area.
Erilyn, the daughter, is 10. She has had lessons on quiet school ponies for the last year and a half. The family has been looking for a nice first horse for her and have found one, but they are very new to horses and they are trying to find an instructor to work with their daughter and the horse, which will be boarded at a private residence near their home.
During their search, Erilen was thrown from a horse that bolted with her aboard and she suffered a green fracture of the collar bone. It also put a severe damper on her confidence. They are looking for a person who can help Erilen through her fears and who can also work with the horse on a regular basis.
They live in Free Union, which is right outside of Charlottesville. Does anyone on HA have contacts in that area? Any recommendations would be appreciated. The goals are to be able to enjoy riding "Ruby" in the ring or on trail. They don't plan to show her. She is coming 4, has an exceptionally quiet and affectionate temperament, and has excellent foundation training. Both horse and student have a background in English riding, but that isn't a requirement...a really solid NH trainer (English or western) would be fantastic...just don't know anyone up that way as I'm down here in coastal VA...
Thanks for any names you can provide! (Older, accomplished teens with solid skills would be good too...)

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HorseAdvice.com: Inspiration, Art, Entertainment members_only: Images:
Celebrating 50 years of Pony Express - HashKnife rides again

Posted by Muffi on Monday, Feb 4, 2008 - 10:12 pm:
I thought you all might enjoy these pictures of the Pony Express - Hashknife Gang that rides from Show Low AZ to Scottsdale to deliver the mail. Yes real mail. I friend of mine in Overgaard took these pictures and gave me his approval to post them on HA for your pleasure and enjoyment - [Hashknife #1.JPG] [Hashknife #2.JPG]

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings: Bumps / Nodules / Warts / Tumors: Overview of Bumps, Nodules, Warts & Tumors:
Aural Plaques

Posted by Chris Mills in NC on Tuesday, Feb 5, 2008 - 4:26 pm:
I agree that a biopsy would tell us for sure.
Here is a photo - does it look like normal aural plaques (if there is such a thing)

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HorseAdvice.com: Inspiration, Art, Entertainment members_only: Images:
Horsetography
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Posted by Ann on Tuesday, Feb 5, 2008 - 11:02 am:
...exploring my photo program.. what do you think..?
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..

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Care Tips
By visiting our Care Tips section you might learn how to throw away that manure fork and replace it with a hammock! Maybe not, but if you post a great and original tip you can have time added to your membership and we will pick up the tab and that is almost as good.
http://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/3/667.html

Training Tips
Members, horses not cleaning their own stalls yet? Better yet a little training tip that has made your horses behavior or your riding much improved? Best training tips get published in the newsletter and if your tip is posted you get 3 months added to your membership and we pick up the tab.
http://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/7/668.html

Product Reviews
Have you found a great product you can no longer do without or how about a stinker that you want to warn other members about? We will publish the best organized reviews in the Newsletter and if yours is published we will add 3 months to your membership.
http://www.horseadvice.com/cgi-bin/advisor/board-auth.cgi?file=/10/5544.html

Posted on Monday, Feb 4, 2008 - 7:51 am:

This newsletter offers a way to keep up with the horse information added to Horseadvice.com without overwhelming your email box. Posted every day or two this newsletter will highlight the new topics and discussions added to the main sections of Horseadvice.com. Note that replies to discussions, and some "Member's Only" posting areas are not displayed here. To view replies click on the link to the discussion. For a complete listing of topics and discussions please visit us at Horseadvice.com and click on Today's Discussions.

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HorseAdvice.com: References: Equine Illustrations: Leg Anatomy and Conformation: The Distal Sesamoidean Ligaments:
New Article: Anatomy of the Distal Sesamoidean Ligaments

Posted by Robert N. Oglesby DVM on Friday, Feb 1, 2008 - 2:03 pm:
With improved diagnostic imaging techniques injury to the distal sesamoidean ligaments is becoming recognized as a more common cause of lameness in horses than was previously thought. Most often the oblique and/or straight distal sesamoidean ligaments are involved. Desmitis (strain or sprain) of the deep and and short ligaments are a very rarely diagnosed condition. The location of the distal sesamoidean ligaments is deep to the flexor tendons which makes diagnosis from clinical exam alone difficult. Following localization of the lameness to the pastern it requires ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging to visualize the damage and it's extent. This article describes these ligaments and has images of the ligaments to give a better understanding of the anatomy of this area.

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Respiratory System: Laryngeal Hemiplegia:
Research Summary: Endoscopic laser ventriculocordectomy for laryngeal hemiplegia

Posted by Robert N. Oglesby DVM on Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 - 11:41 am:
Here is great news for those horses that suffer from laryngeal hemiplegia (LH). A relatively simple procedure using an endoscopically guided laser that removes the laryngeal saccules had a high rate of success and relatively low incidence of complications when compared with more traditional surgeries. For more details on this see the article by selecting Laryngeal Hemiplegia off the navigation bar above. We have done a major upgraded of this article in response to this work.

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2007 Dec 15;231(12):1868-72.
Transendoscopic, laser-assisted ventriculocordectomy for treatment of left laryngeal hemiplegia in horses: 22 cases (1999-2005).
Henderson CE, Sullins KE, Brown JA.
Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Leesburg, VA 20177.
Objective-To determine long-term effects of transendoscopic, laser-assisted ventriculocordectomy (LAVC) on airway noise and performance in horses with naturally occurring left laryngeal hemiplegia. Design-Retrospective case series. Animals-22 horses with left laryngeal hemiplegia treated by means of LAVC. Procedures-Medical records were reviewed and initial complaint, intended use of the horse, duration of abnormal airway noise, preoperative performance level, endoscopic findings, surgical procedure, postoperative treatment, and complications were recorded. Follow-up telephone interviews with owners and trainers were conducted to determine time for return to intended use, level of postoperative performance, and percentage reduction in airway noise. Results-All horses were examined because of excessive airway noise; 10 (45%) had concurrent exercise intolerance. Left ventriculocordectomy was performed in all 22 horses; bilateral ventriculocordectomy (right ventriculocordectomy was done 1 year later) was performed in 1 horse (5%). Complications occurred in 3 (14%) horses. Twenty (91%) horses returned to their intended use. Excessive airway noise was eliminated after surgery in 18 (82%) horses; exercise intolerance improved postoperatively in 8 of 10 horses. Three racing Thoroughbreds returned to racing; 1 additional racehorse returned to racing but required a laryngoplasty 1 year later to continue racing. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results suggested that LAVC was an effective procedure for elimination of excessive airway noise and improvement of performance in horses with left laryngeal hemiplegia.

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Lameness: Joint, Bone, Ligament Diseases: Arthrodesis and Joint Fusion for Arthritis:
Research Summary: Improved Arthrodesis for Pastern Joint

Posted by Robert N. Oglesby DVM on Friday, Feb 1, 2008 - 9:14 am:
If you having arthrodesis of your horse's pastern (proximal interphalangeal) joint the equine spoon plate looks like the say to go when it becomes available. DrO
Vet Surg. 2007 Dec;36(8):792-9.
In vitro biomechanical comparison of equine proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis techniques: prototype equine spoon plate versus axially positioned dynamic compression plate and two abaxial transarticular cortical screws inserted in lag fashion.
Sod GA, Mitchell CF, Hubert JD, Martin GS, Gill MS.
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, USA.
OBJECTIVES: To compare in vitro monotonic biomechanical properties of an equine spoon plate (ESP) with an axial 3-hole, 4.5 mm narrow dynamic compression plate (DCP) using 5.5 mm cortical screws in conjunction with 2 abaxial transarticular 5.5 mm cortical screws (DCP-TLS) inserted in lag fashion for equine proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint arthrodesis. STUDY DESIGN: Paired in vitro biomechanical testing of 2 methods of stabilizing cadaveric adult equine forelimb PIP joints. ANIMAL POPULATION: Cadaveric adult equine forelimbs (n=18 pairs). METHODS: For each forelimb pair, 1 PIP joint was stabilized with an ESP (8 hole, 4.5 mm) and 1 with an axial 3-hole narrow DCP (4.5 mm) using 5.5 mm cortical screws in conjunction with 2 abaxial transarticular 5.5 mm cortical screws inserted in lag fashion. Six matching pairs of constructs were tested in single cycle to failure under axial compression with load applied under displacement control at a constant rate of 5 cm/s. Six construct pairs were tested for cyclic fatigue under axial compression with cyclic load (0-7.5 kN) applied at 6 Hz; cycles to failure were recorded. Six construct pairs were tested in single cycle to failure under torsional loading applied at a constant displacement rate (0.17 radians/s) until rotation of 0.87 radians occurred. Mean values for each fixation method were compared using a paired t-test within each group with statistical significance set at P

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HorseAdvice.com: Inspiration, Art, Entertainment members_only:
Images: Thinking positive

Posted by Diane E. on Wednesday, Jan 30, 2008 - 7:43 am:
This winter has been horrible, so I thought a Spring pic would make us look forward to better sailing ahead. This was taken last April 28...so ONLY 2 more mos. That isn't very long...sigh. This did make me feel better! [100_1263.jpg]

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HorseAdvice.com: Commercial Advertising and Links:
Denny T is offering a 2 day clinic

Posted by Ilona A on Wednesday, Jan 30, 2008 - 9:37 am:
Denny T is offering a 2 day clinic at my facility in May and October this year.
I am so proud to have met and come to know Denny. We have decided, after Denny came out to see that I had a verifiable place , to partner up by having him come twice annually to offer his knowledge and pragmatism to the South West. I wanted HA members to know of this prior to putting out my advertising blitz. The web-site where details can be found is www.ruidosoequine.com Denny has offered so much to so many on this site. I know many have voiced the desire to meet with him if possible that I thought it only just that the opportunity to meet him in person be offered the HA community in advance of the general public.

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Lameness: Lameness topics not covered above:
Very intermittent lameness - just a few steps...

Posted by Judy Henslee on Wednesday, Jan 30, 2008 - 3:55 pm:
We have a wonderful 11 year old stallion who experienced an injury to a rt. fore suspensory in April '07. There was no tearing, no significant swelling, no significant heat. Just slightly off. Work-up at A & M showed a slight enlargement of the ligament. We were advised to begin an exercise program with gradual increase in time under saddle, after the horse recovered from the acute injury. (I think it was June by that point.) Follow-up ultrasounds documented improvement, with all parts of the ligament within normal limits by early fall. Because he continues to, every now and then, take an off step or so, we had his reassessed last week. The ultrasound was completely normal. Because the hoof was slightly sensitive, X-rays of the hoof were taken. They were absolutely normal also. No laminitis, no navicular, no bony growths, no arthritis. Since he had just been trimmed, the slight tenderness was attributed to trimming, which was probably correct because all tenderness resolved the next day. Soundness exams on hind limbs earlier were normal. The studies weren't repeated. (The vet does not feel this is a compensatory issue.) He was slightly off for a few steps after flexion on the right fore. But was essentially sound on concrete and on dirt. The recommendation was to continue the exercise program to strengthen the limb, adding a little cantering in about a month if he remains essentially sound.
His symptoms are very confusing. The dressage rider who is exercising him with lots of walking and some trotting, according to A & M's recommendations, says he will be absolutely sound at walk and trot...then suddenly appears off for up to 10 steps...then is completely sound again at the walk and trot. This doesn't happen every time he is ridden - just occasionally. She also mentioned that, when he is allowed to decide whether to be ridden on the grass close to our asphalt roads or on the roads themselves, he prefers to be ridden on the asphalt. Will move over to the road and walk happily and cheerfully. She only works him on the grass though. We have a deep sand base covered with bermuda grass throughout the property. She said he is full of himself, looks alert and happy, & is not acting like he is in pain, even when he takes a few short steps. He lives in a 1 acre paddock with a run in shed. Any ideas on what can cause a few steps to be "off", then everything become absolutely normal again seconds later? He is not on any medication or supplements. - If this was a rear leg I would wonder about a locked patella/ stifle. Is there anything comparable in the foreleg?
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Judy 0 0 \_/

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Lameness: Diseases of the Upper Rear Limb: Overview of Diseases of the Hock (Tarsus):
Joint Supplement Suggestions for old Hock Fracture

Posted by Wanda S. Bibens on Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 - 12:31 pm:
Hi Dr. O,
I have a 16 yr old TB Mare 3 years out from a clean fracture to the point of the hock. 95 % sound and not yet ridden. I am wanting to start hacking her a bit and I plan to breed her in the Spring. Are there any joint supplements that would help her be more comfortable and are safe for pregnant mares? I am using Surpass cream when she seems sore...should I just keep doing that?She runs, bucks and rears playing in the pasture and was able to carry one colt full term a year after the accident.
Thanks! Wanda

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HorseAdvice.com: Training & Conditioning Horses: Behavioral Problems: Suppressing Heat and Estral Behavior in Mares:
Heat Suppresion with Oxytocin

Posted by Robert N. Oglesby DVM on Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 - 1:16 pm:
Disrupting luteolysis (dissolution of the corpus luteum) by administering oxytocin during diestrus appears to be a practical method of long-term suppression of estrus in mares. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2007;231:1864–1867) Studies has found this is effective for an average of 60 days (range 35 to 90 days). No harmful effects of the oxytocin administration have been found. For more on the procedure see the article on Suppressing Heat and Estral Behavior in Mares. DrO

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Lameness: Diseases of the Hoof: First Aid for Foot Disease in Horses:
Lameness after shoeing

Posted by Robin Lutz on Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 - 9:18 pm:
I lunged and rode my mare for 1 1/2 hours on 1/6 and she was sound with none of the symptoms I have noted present after shoeing. My mare was re shod 1/8. I board her so I am not there everyday. I saw her on 1/12. She was lame (left front) and her heel area was swollen and slightly warm. I checked her hoof and found 2 nails unclenched and slightly inside the hoof.Visible but I could not feel them only the nail hole. I alerted the stable owner . He called the blacksmith for him to come over and remove the shoe. He did remove the shoe (1/14), cut away to see if there was an abscesses. He reset the shoe with the no nails back in the two holes that had the unclenched nails. The blacksmith does make all his own shoes. All shoes are hot. Her lamness improved . However, there was swelling and heat( hotter than the it was when I first discovered it)that was 1/16. I called our vet. She came the next afternoon (1/17) and examined her. She used a hoof testers to locate any tenderness. She told me she did not find any sign of infection tenderness,or abscess. She gave her a shot of dexamethsone and Bute 1 1/2 grs TID x 10 days. My mare has been resting in her box stall. Today I noticed no heat, slight puffiness in the heel - much less than before but still noticeable. She is still a bit stilty turning to the left. However, turned out in indoor arena she galloped around very quickly, bucked, jumped, lunged, for the better part of 20 minutes before she rolled. I asked our vet what she thought the problem was. She told me she did not know. However, added if she was not better to call her for an x ray and additional follow up. What do you think could be the cause of this heat, lameness,and swelling?

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HorseAdvice.com: Horse Care: Routine Horse Care: Hair Coat Care:
To body clip or not to body clip?

Posted by Deborah Scanlon on Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 - 10:20 pm:
I recently purchased a 5 y.o. mare who is in the Boise, Idaho area, and who has been living outdoors unblanketed. She will be shipped to me in here in the Santa Barbara area of California next week. We currently have days with highs in the 50's to low 60's, with lows in the 30's overnight. I'm concerned that she might be uncomfortably warm here in her winter coat, and am debating whether or not to body clip her, or do a trace clip, or maybe a blanket clip, or to just leave her alone? She will be living outdoors here as well, but I do typically blanket my horses here overnight if it will be below 40 degrees. I would like to get to work riding her when she gets here, but it would be probably just light work for the next month or so, and then increasing into March or April as she gets more fit. I've never dealt with bringing a horse into a moderate climate from an extreme winter climate before...any help on any related topic would be appreciated! Thanks!

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HorseAdvice.com: Horse Care: Routine Horse Care: Particular Situations & Procedure topics not covered by above:
Questions about shipping 8 month old filly

Posted by Julie Masner on Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 - 11:48 pm:
I have someone interested in buying one of my weanlings who is in Florida and I'm in southwest Idaho--clear across the country!! You can imagine how concerned I am about shipping one of my babies at all, let alone that far. I've emailed Cyndy for advice, but I so need words of wisdom, cautions and advice on this one from those of you who have experience. I'm a bit inclined to "just say no", but maybe that's just being over cautious. Thanks, Julie

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HorseAdvice.com: Training & Conditioning Horses: Behavioral Problems: Stall Resting Horses:
Tail Flapping and neck stretching

Posted by Gerri Hura on Friday, Feb 1, 2008 - 1:26 pm:
This last week, my 14 year old gelding has started a new behavior. I have been doing some winter ground work (giving to the bit-type activities) with him so I'm just using a western bridle (full check snaffle bit). Half-way through a 20 minute training session, he started flapping his tail up and down (not swishing sideways). In addition, he did some head and neck stretching while flapping his tail. A couple of days later I was doing the same process using my English bridle (D ring snaffle bit) and he started doing the same behavior with a little more intensity of tail flapping and really extending his head and neck (it looked like something was caught in his throat and he was trying to get it out). I walked him a bit and he was fine. As soon as I stopped walking him, he stood in place for a while and then began the tail flapping and head and neck stretching. I listened to his stomach and I could hear the right sounds, so I didn't think it was a colic issue - which he is not prone to ever. I took him back to his stall and he seemed fine. He stood while I put his winter blanket on and then resumed eating some hay left in his stall.(PS I clean his sheath twice a year- I don't think that is the issue). There has been a number of other boarders witnessing this behavior and we are all clueless. Any thoughts?

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Lameness: Diseases of the Hoof: Thrush:
Benzalkonium chloride + methyl violet spray against thrush

Posted by LL on Saturday, Feb 2, 2008 - 10:03 am:
Hi DrO,
A farrier in our area recommended a spray containing the above ingredients as a thrush preventive and treatment. It is extremely effective, and comes with a really thin nozzle which makes application a piece of cake. I just wanted to check with you that these chemicals are ok for use on horses. (The spray can has only pictures of cattle and sheep, but their website does say the product is for use on all types of animals.)
Many thanks for your time.

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HorseAdvice.com: Horse Care: Equine Nutrition, Horse Feeds, Feeding: Nutrition topics not covered by the above:
Dry molasses

Posted by Lori on Sunday, Feb 3, 2008 - 8:54 pm:
I am trying to get my yearling to eat some alfalfa cubes to increase her protein but she hates them. I soak them and add some dry molasses to make them more palatable. How much dry molasses could I add without being detrimental? Since I would also like to put some weight on her maybe I should just switch to beet pulp.

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Care Tips
By visiting our Care Tips section you might learn how to throw away that manure fork and replace it with a hammock! Maybe not, but if you post a great and original tip you can have time added to your membership and we will pick up the tab and that is almost as good.
http://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/3/667.html

Training Tips
Members, horses not cleaning their own stalls yet? Better yet a little training tip that has made your horses behavior or your riding much improved? Best training tips get published in the newsletter and if your tip is posted you get 3 months added to your membership and we pick up the tab.
http://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/7/668.html

Product Reviews
Have you found a great product you can no longer do without or how about a stinker that you want to warn other members about? We will publish the best organized reviews in the Newsletter and if yours is published we will add 3 months to your membership.
http://www.horseadvice.com/cgi-bin/advisor/board-auth.cgi?file=/10/5544.html

Posted on Friday, Feb 1, 2008 - 10:30 am:

This newsletter offers a way to keep up with the horse information added to Horseadvice.com without overwhelming your email box. Posted every day or two this newsletter will highlight the new topics and discussions added to the main sections of Horseadvice.com. Note that replies to discussions, and some "Member's Only" posting areas are not displayed here. To view replies click on the link to the discussion. For a complete listing of topics and discussions please visit us at Horseadvice.com and click on Today's Discussions.

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings: Hair and Coat Problems / Itching / Irritated Skin: Culicoides Hypersensitivity: Sweet & Queensland Itch:
Research Summary: Sweet Itch potential mechanisms of cause and control

Posted by Robert N. Oglesby DVM on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008 - 11:13 am:
Because of the highly technical nature of this piece of research I almost passed over it for posing. However on close reading there is an amazing fact that comes out that is of concern to all who own horses where there are no culicoides: If you move an adult horse which has never been exposed to culicoides to an area that does, he has a significant chance (appx. 50%) of developing Sweet Itch (culicoides hypersensitivity).

Though this idea is somewhat speculative the conclusion controls for genetic factors by looking at the incidence of adult horses moved into areas with culicoides and comparing it to their progeny which were exposed from birth. If they are born in an area with culicoides they have less than a 10% incidence of Sweet Itch.

This observation strongly suggests that early exposure to the biting midges has a protective effect on developing the allergy. We are not without precedent on this idea. The rising incidence of asthma in humans for instance has been hypothesized to have a similar mechanism based on the observation than asthma is less common in households where children have been exposed to indoor pets.

The report is also interesting as it gives some ideas on control. The hypothesis that is shaping up around this work is that exposure to culicoides at an early age stimulates a antigen-specific mechanism that helps to control (down-regulate) the development of an allergic response to the culicoides. Large surveys in other works suggest that about 30% of the adults who develop Sweet Itch get over it while 70% stay the same or worsen over time. If all of this pans out, the question is will it be possible to stimulate this antigen specific down regulation? Using the proper antigens and immunotherapy might be such a therapeutic regimen. Unfortunately the current antigens available are not well characterized for containing the appropriate antigens. For instance some scientific work in the past has suggested that different species of culicoides may have different allergy producing allergens.

Or what if we could non-specifically down-regulate this inflammatory response? Would there be downsides to this type of non-specific down regulation? Stay tuned while I bone up on some of these newer immunological systems that have been elucidated since I left school. DrO

Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2007 Nov 9;
Reduced incidence of insect-bite hypersensitivity in Icelandic horses is associated with a down-regulation of interleukin-4 by interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-beta1.
Hamza E, Wagner B, Jungi TW, Mirkovich J, Marti E.
Institute of Veterinary Virology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Laenggassstrasse 122, CH-3001 Bern, Switzerland.
Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an allergic dermatitis of horses caused by IgE-mediated reactions to bites of insects of the genus Culicoides. IBH does not occur in Iceland due to the absence of Culicoides. However, Icelandic horses exported to mainland Europe as adults (1st generation) have a >/=50% incidence of developing IBH. In contrast, their progeny (2nd generation) has a

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HorseAdvice.com: Treatments and Medications for Horses: Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx): EQUIOXX (firocoxib):
Research Summary: Comparison of firocoxib and bute

Posted by Robert N. Oglesby DVM on Monday, Jan 28, 2008 - 10:25 am:
Here is an important study that looks at commonly used dosage rates of these two medications and how effective they are for the treatment of arthritis in horses. The bottom line is that they are roughly comparable at pain relief initially but with time the firocoxib is better at pain relief.

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2008 Jan 1;232(1):91-7.
Comparison of efficacy and safety of paste formulations of firocoxib and phenylbutazone in horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis.
Doucet MY, Bertone AL, Hendrickson D, Hughes F, Macallister C, McClure S, Reinemeyer C, Rossier Y, Sifferman R, Vrins AA, White G, Kunkle B, Alva R, Romano D, Hanson PD. Département de Biomédecine Vétérinaire, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 7C6, Canada.

Objective-To compare efficacy and safety of paste formulations of firocoxib and phenylbutazone in horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. Design-Randomized controlled clinical trial. Animals-253 client-owned horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. Procedures-Horses were treated with firocoxib (0.1 mg/kg [0.045 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h) or phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg [2 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h) for 14 days. Physical examinations and lameness evaluations were performed prior to treatment and after 7 and 14 days. Clinical improvement was defined as a reduction of at least 1 lameness grade or a combined reduction of at least 3 points in scores for pain during manipulation or palpation, joint swelling, joint circumference, and range of motion. Results-Proportion of horses clinically improved on day 14 for the firocoxib group (104/123 [84.6%]) was not significantly different from the proportion for the phenylbutazone group (103/119 [86.6%]). Proportion of horses that were improved on day 14 was significantly greater for horses treated with firocoxib than for horses treated with phenylbutazone with regard to score for pain on manipulation or palpation (P = 0.028), joint circumference score (P = 0.026), and range of motion score (P = 0.012), but not for overall lameness score or joint swelling score. No direct treatment-related adverse effects were detected during the study. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results suggested that overall clinical efficacy of a paste formulation of firocoxib in horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis was comparable to efficacy of a paste formulation of phenylbutazone.

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Lameness: Lameness topics not covered above:
Old scars split open
Posted by cp on Monday, Jan 28, 2008 - 7:58 am:
DrO, have you ever heard of scars splitting open after a horse stocks up? My friend's horse that she's only had for a short time has some old scars around his lower legs. He stocked up the other day and the scars got all fleshy wrongs-side-out-like. I understand if you can't answer since it's not my horse, but my friend is not a computer user so just thought I throw the question out there.

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HorseAdvice.com: Treatments and Medications for Horses: Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx): Steroids, Overview of Antiinflammatory Use:
Ataxia

Posted by Nicola Sturgess on Monday, Jan 28, 2008 - 1:17 pm:
Hi
I have a strange and worrying problem with my showjumping belgian warmblood horse. He has always had a strange gait particularly behind but it never seems to have affected his jump although obviously his flatwork had to be managed. However recently he suddenly got a lot worse and stumblin more than usual until eventually he fell down on top of me twice unable to recover his balance after stumbling. AS i live in egypt it is very difficult to get good veterinary help. A french vet was visiting and he diagnosed ataxia and treated him with mesotherapy. This achieved nothing and he got worse although perfectly ok at walk his canter was terrible and transitions dangerous. Head always going up and down as trying to find balance. French vet reccommended Dexaphynly Arthrite over 16 days intravenously. Local vet refused to administer as said he would founder. He took xrays and says he has arthrosis of the articular facets and should be treated with hylauronic acid and prednisone by injection usin ultrasound. What do you think? I love this horse but i can't ride him now as dangerous and can't realise how this got so bad so quickly

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Lameness: Diseases of the Upper Rear Limb: Stringhalt:
Stringhalt?

Posted by marie anne on Monday, Jan 28, 2008 - 8:53 pm:
The last two times I have lunged my horse, on the canter depart on the left lead, he has kicked at his belly with his left rear-just on the depart. The first time (last Thursday) I though the surcingle was bothering him, I took it off, and just worked on ground exercises. Tonight I was just working him in the round pen, to work off steam before I put a saddle on him, no bit or surcingle, and the step/kick was more pronounced, but again only on the canter depart on the left lead, walk and trot seemed fine.

I was planning on calling the vet anyway, as he has lost a bit of weight, and the whiteline in the rear hoofs, which had been getting better, looks worse, but wondering if this could be stringhalt? The article says this only rarely occurs at the canter. The one recent change I have made is slowing adding alfalfa cubes (soaked) to his diet-could this be related? Otherwise, he is in no apparent distress, normal temp and respiration, no sweating, normal appetite.

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HorseAdvice.com: Horse Care: Equine Nutrition, Horse Feeds, Feeding: Water, Water Quality, and Watering Horses:
Talk therapy not an option

Posted by CarlajA on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008 - 12:17 pm:
Dr. Oglesby, may I pick brains again? I have read the article Drinking Water for Horses and still have concerns. Friar Truck is a coming 4 yr old, Bel/TB X, 16.3h. I purchased him in 9/07 from a hack stable where horses were watered several times a day by being led out of their straight stalls ( no turn out), tied in the aisle and allowed to drink from a 5 gal bucket. Obviously, this didn't happen at night. Since his arrival here, he has had available 24/7, abundant, fresh, warm water. All horses are out 20/7 and in 2+ hours AM and2+ hours PM. They eat, drink, lay down, get up and go out. He is fed in his stall, daily, (divided by 2 feedings), 10# 3rd cut alfalfa, 2# haystretcher, 2# beetpulp, meas. vita E and Se, 1 meas. magnesium, 1 oz. linseed oil meal, 1 cup veggie oil, free choice minerals, and a salt block. Outside is very good quality 1st cut tim/grass hay, "all you can eat".

Outside, Trucker is a reasonably normal drinker. Inside his stall, he dunks hay, drinks water through a mouthful of hay and usually empties his 5 gal. water bucket in his 2+ hours. If his water bucket is not empty when it is time to go out, he's begging me to wait a minute, while he finishes up. He's not rude- but he's quite clear with me. And, yes, after he leaves the stall and goes outside, there is a heated stock tank for all horses. After riding him this fall, (w/t- 30 min-knees not closed) and returning to the barn, he would dive into the bucket and suck down all 5 gal.

I had considered this more psychological than metabolic and had been waiting for the "light to go on". Both the "trimmer" and another horse person suggested that I am: 1. stressing his kidneys by feeding alfalfa (although this behavior preceeded the Nov. hay and the Dec./Jan. hay and alfalfa, 2. it is a metabolic problem, 3. it is unbalancing his electrolytes. His body score is 7 ish, no hay belly, short but extremely thick coat, frisky, happy- no skin tenting-ever.
so, the question- continue to continue or call the vet and do blood chem. etc? Even- just thanks for reading this!

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Urinary System: Dribbling and Uncontrolled Urination:
UTI and Cranberries

Posted by Jynx on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008 - 1:09 pm:
Dr. O, Do cranberries work the same for horses as they do for women and elephants? Can you use crushed whole cranberries rather than the juice form?
As always, your feedback is very much appreciated. I'm not sure what we would do if we didn't have you to put our oddball questions to.
Jynx

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HorseAdvice.com: Commercial Advertising and Links

Posted by Sarah Blanchard on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008 - 3:11 pm:
New book, just published!
Jump with Joy: Positive Coaching for Horse & Rider
by Sarah Blanchard (Howell Equestrian Library). $29.95. Available through Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble. Learning to jump, from selection of horse and equipment through intermediate-level courses and beginning competition. Progressive training on the longe and under saddle; exercises to develop skills, rhythm, strides and distances; troubleshooting.
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HorseAdvice.com: Treatments and Medications for Horses: Sedatives & Anesthetics:
Xylazine: Zylazine and ace following operation

Posted by Owner and Trainer on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008 - 3:25 pm:
My two year old filly had severe colic, two operations were required to save her life, the small intestine had collapsed and stuck together. A hole was placed in the stitching to keep the intestine from sticking together again. After returning home, instructions were given to give her ace and rompun together to keep her calm and maintain healing. She began to colic each time that I gave her the IM shot as directed. She was given the rompun and did not have any problems at the hospital. My vet did not seem to be concerned that this was the reason she was acting as she had again. I then was instructed to giver her banamine as well. She also acted slightly hypotension which is not this horse normal behavior but had only been home first day and third day. The 3 vets said probably was as a result of the sticking together of the intestine. They jointly treated her as would for ulcers. My question, if this occurred when gave her the mixture, how would I know if she was allergic to the ace and rompun and do I need to keep the medication to counteract the hypotension (if that is what the agitation was) on hand just in case, or could this have been from so much medication over the week and half in the hospital. My vet also had me, after the fourth week, to treat her for parasites for 5 days. After the 5th week , she stopped showing signs of colic or excitement and has done fine since. My only concern is giving her the combination which I won't do again, but am having concerns if I may need to give ace or rompun for some unknown reason. I would hate to lose my horse if the vet couldn't get here in 10 minutes of less which is impossible. Thanks

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Care Tips
By visiting our Care Tips section you might learn how to throw away that manure fork and replace it with a hammock! Maybe not, but if you post a great and original tip you can have time added to your membership and we will pick up the tab and that is almost as good.
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HorseAdvice.com: Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses: Tips and Tricks: 2007 - 2008 Add New Training Tips Here:
Amazing Stall Boredom Buster

Posted by Dove2 on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008 - 10:40 pm:
The Amazing Graze is a great stall toy. It keeps your horse occupied for hours. Basically, it's a cylindrical shaped unit with an opening for the treats, which you've put inside. The treats rattle around inside and fall out as the horse rolls and flips over the toy. I've tried lots of other boredom buster toys, but none are as effective at entertaining the horse as the Amazing Graze. It has the added advantage of getting your horse's head down to push it around and look for any fallen treats, so it has a calming effect on the horse as well.
The treats that I like to put inside are Flax Snax Horse Treats. These are vanilla-cinnamon cookies with flax seed, stabilized rice bran, high in omega 3, and low in sugar. They smell like home-baked cookies and the horses absolutely love them! I believe they are made with human-quality ingredients.
Even though the Amazing Graze is a bit pricey, it is built to withstand horse pawing, chewing, stomping, etc. so I believe it will last a very long time. It's my top-rated boredom buster.

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Training Tips
Members, horses not cleaning their own stalls yet? Better yet a little training tip that has made your horses behavior or your riding much improved? Best training tips get published in the newsletter and if your tip is posted you get 3 months added to your membership and we pick up the tab.
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Product Reviews
Have you found a great product you can no longer do without or how about a stinker that you want to warn other members about? We will publish the best organized reviews in the Newsletter and if yours is published we will add 3 months to your membership.
http://www.horseadvice.com/cgi-bin/advisor/board-auth.cgi?file=/10/5544.html

Posted on Monday, Jan 28, 2008 - 9:33 am:

This newsletter offers a way to keep up with the horse information added to Horseadvice.com without overwhelming your email box. Posted every day or two this newsletter will highlight the new topics and discussions added to the main sections of Horseadvice.com. Note that replies to discussions, and some "Member's Only" posting areas are not displayed here. To view replies click on the link to the discussion. For a complete listing of topics and discussions please visit us at Horseadvice.com and click on Today's Discussions.

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HorseAdvice.com: Treatments and Medications for Horses: Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx): Flunixin (Banamine) :
Banamine reaction in neck
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Posted by monica Quinn on Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 - 10:47 am:
My mare was given 6cc's of Benemine in her neck four days ago for pain related to a leg injury. She now has a swelling on her neck approximately 8" long and 4" wide. It is hot to the touch, but she seems unaffected by it. Should I drain it? What is the protocal for this? She has had benemine shots in the past without any effect.

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Lameness: Joint, Bone, Ligament Diseases: Arthritis and DJD: An Overview :
Caudal heel pain, juvenile arthritis and kissing spines
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Posted by Astrea on Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 - 10:05 am:
Dr. O, I have a 5 1/2 year old unraced thoroughbred gelding who is a walking text-book for things that can go wrong. I am unsure about what he is still capable of doing. Here is his bio: He fractured a splint bone, broke his left coffin bone (non joint), and recovered. Through two and half years of training, he showed weakness in his back end and was treated by a chiropractor for multiple "off" areas. He was in training as a hunter, but was switched to dressage. Throughout this he would come up lame or be not quite right. After frustrating months of vet exams, chiro work and more extensive vet exams, he has been diagnosed with Bi-Lateral Caudal Heel Pain (navicular series with in normal limits), Juvenile Arthritis in both fetlocks with significant degenerative changes and bone spurs in right (3 and 4 degree lameness when blocking, but not visibly lame on lunge line), as well as three trouble spots in his spine under his saddle area which includes an area of possible vertebrae actually touching. The vet said that he is good for light work for years if he is maintained with injetions. Do you agree? I am very interested in selling this horse or even giving him away to a good home, just to get him safely situated, but want to protect him from harm. Should he be retired as a companion only or could he still do light work? Normally, I would just keep him , but I already have my other gelding who is described under the posts on "Septic Arthritis from Injection". I have not had good luck with horses recently. Any advice or guidance? He is currently for sale, but the only people who want him, are interested in using him in riding programs. He is not suitable for trail riding or beginners. Thanks.

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract: Mouth, Esophagus, and Liver: Choke: Esophageal Obstruction:
Choke Filly who is laying down
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Posted by Sarah P on Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 - 11:08 am:
AT the barn I now manage I have a filly who is prone to Choke and for the most part is recovering but lately she is tiring and laying down and it is making it harder on her to recover. I have informed the trainer of what I am seeing but nothing is being done, I have the right according to the contract to contact the owners and or vet but wanted to be sure this is not something more than I'm seeing.
She is a racer who has practices for 1/2 hour every other day and is on free feed of grains and 3rd crop alfalfa.

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Eye Diseases: Topics on Eye Diseases Not Covered Above :
Pupil doesn't dilate
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Posted by jesse j compton on Saturday, Jan 26, 2008 - 5:48 pm:
I have a 3 year old TB filly whose left eye doesn't dilate. In fact you can barely see the pupil at all, it's all brown, with just a tiny dark line where the pupil is. There is no redness, swelling, tearing, cloudiness or any other normal signs of eye problems. The eye is set a little more into her head than her normal right eye, and sometimes in the right light it appears to be just slightly cast over. She is very flighty, especially about things behind her, but is very calm in comfortable places, such as her stall. Walking from shadowy places to bright ones is very difficult for her also. I have read the description of night blindness and glaucoma, and she doesn't have those kind of symptoms. Are there any other possibilities?

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings: Swellings / Localized Infection / Abscesses: Diagnosing and Assessing Swellings in Horses:
Swollen Submandibular Lymph Node
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Posted by Alicia Larson on Saturday, Jan 26, 2008 - 1:38 am:
Dr. O.,
Thankfully, it has been awhile since I've needed to look something up on HorseAdvice, but my time has come. I noticed my gelding had a tumor-like bump under his jaw that is tender to the touch/squeeze. After researching here, I am pretty sure it is a swollen submandibular lymph node. With his winter coat hiding the bump so well, I really don't know how long he's had it. I feed (and pet) twice daily and he's had no signs of illness. I rode him before I found the bump and he was just fine. I highly doubt it is strangles since he hasn't left our place or been exposed to other horses in over 4 months. My farrier was here about 14 days before I noticed the bump. His only stop before he came to my place was my sister's and I know her horses are all healthy with no exposure either. He has a history of coughing, runny nose and eyes and I treat him with antihistamine when he's at his worst, but that is generally in the dry, dusty summer months. Winter is his "good" season and occasionally he may have a clear runny nose. I read another post where you suggested dusty hay could have contributed to a swollen lymph node. My question, with what I've described, would it be advisable to watch and wait a bit before calling the vet? After our last vet visit (lots of dental work on the 27 year old mare = $$$$), my husband is a bit anxious about another vet visit. But if this is an issue that should be checked asap to rule out anything serious, that's what we will do.
Thank you, Alicia

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HorseAdvice.com: Horse Care: Hoof Care, Hoof Trimming, Shoeing Horses : Trimming and Preparing the Feet for Shoes:
Trim with electric grinder?
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Posted by CarlajA on Saturday, Jan 26, 2008 - 1:42 pm:
I would appreciate some brainstorming...I have decided to give the barefoot trim another "go". The first person left something to be desired. This second person has raised even more concerns. Person #2 does not use a paring knife or rasp. Instead, person #2 uses an electric hand held electric grinder with a coarse circular wire brush to "trim" the sole, bars, wall, and to roll, round, and smooth the edges. Because it is heavy and awkward, the rolling, rounding and smoothing doesn't happen. Instead, there are spots where too much has been taken off, the horn has been taken down to the white line, and the foot looks badly chipped. Not even close, right? Is this electric grinder method typical or this person improvising? Thank you-all humans!

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HorseAdvice.com: Inspiration, Art, Entertainment members_only: Images:
My horses love the cold!
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Posted by Melissa Baker on Saturday, Jan 26, 2008 - 10:25 am:
I had my first snow a couple of weeks ago and I'm thinking the horses don't miss Florida much! Maybe next winter I'll let go of being overprotective and take the blankets off!!!
[MOOSE ROLLING SNOW.JPG]

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract: Diarrhea in Horses: Overview of Colitis in Foals:
Electrolytes interferring with milk digestion
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Posted by kbrooks on Sunday, Jan 27, 2008 - 12:37 am:
I'm dealing with an orphaned foal and feeding milk replacer. She has diarrhea and the vet provided electrolyte packages for calves (Entrolyte HE - Pfizer) that contains bicarbonate as an alkalinizing agent.
I'm reading that this interfers with milk digestion in calves and at one site, they recommended separating milk from electrolytes by as much as 4 hours. The filly is getting milk at least hourly, if not more often. I can't see getting enough milk replacer/calories into her if I were to hold her back to 4 hour feedings. The site that provided that information was not what I'd call authoritative, so my questions are:
Is there any research about this interference in horses as well? I'm assuming that it does.
What is the recommended time between milk and electrolytes w/bicarbonate in them?
How useful is Pedialyte (if at all)? I don't think I'm seeing an alkalanizer in it (Water, dextrose; less than 2% of: Potassium Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate and Citric Acid... 1 ltr provides Sodium 45mEq; Potassium 20mEq; Chloride 35 mEq; Dextrose 25gm; Callories 100 )
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks Kami

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Lameness: Leg Swellings: Hot & Painful Legs:
Lymphangitis -- alternative treatments to IM antibiotics
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Posted by Jill Marks on Friday, Jan 25, 2008 - 11:31 pm:
I have posted before about my grade Percheron gelding. He had scratches on his front legs during Nov/Dec. They have cleared up but on Christmas Day his right hind blew up. No signs of scratches, no heat, no discomfort when you touched it -- just a real stovepipe leg. Vet prescribed bute and anti-inflammatories. Leg came down although there was stubborn edema in the hock.
Early last week things got really bad, very quickly. One day he developed a tiny lesion on the inside of his hock. There were also raw areas high up on the inside of his leg into his groin area. By the next day the lesion had doubled and at the suggestion of the BO had a holistic type vet (who is also a DVM) look at it. I was skeptical about that vet's suggested treatment but as I was no longer able to get my regular vet out (he's dealing with bovine patients now)-- I had to find another vet. New vet came out two days later. By then the lesions had spread upwards from the hock and downwards to just above the coronary band.
The new vet was great. Gave my horse a loading dose of antibiotic (Three injections since he such a big horse)and left instructions to pick up gentamicin from the clinic and add that to the treatment as well. I checked with the barn owner and she assured me that her husband would be fine doing IM injections. They just don't do IV treatments.
I have been out every evening this week to hand walk and check my horse. After the initial positive response to last Saturday's treatment he seemed to plateau, but the vet had said, and I know from reading up about the condition, that healing will take time.
Today I got to the barn and found a note on the barn message board that the BO's husband was not comfortable about giving him so many meds. No one was around to clarify what had happened but later I was able to reach them by phone, and it turns out they have given my horse none of his antibiotics at all.
I can't quite describe how angry I am about this. Up until now I have thought this facility has provided the best of care. Aside from boarding riding horses, they also do broodmare and racetrack layups so I know they have given IM injections in the past. I understand that my horse is big, but that is why I was so careful to ask last Saturday if they minded administering the shots.
I am hoping that the vet clinic will have enough calls in the area that one of the vets will be able to drop by during the week and administer some of the injections. But what if they aren't available. I am very squeamish about giving needles and I am a klutz. I don't even like to give Sub-Q needles. My husband says he will do it, but frankly his experience is limited to administering Sub-Q fluids to a cat with kidney disease.
The boarding part of the operation is small and so there are no other boarders with the experience be competent in administering the needles.
Are there alternative forms of antibiotics to give? I realize that they likely will not be as effective. Also, we have lost almost a full week's worth of treatment. What sort of impact may this have on long term outcome?
Finally how harmful would moving him to another barn be at this point? I have a friend who owns a barn and lives about an hour away and I am considering asking her to take him if necessary. Her vet lives right across the road from her and is a friend of hers. I have another friend who is a vet tech but she no longer has her own place so I would have to find a barn close to her.
Sorry for the rambling.

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Lameness: Treatment Methods: Rehabilitating Injuries to the Tendons and Ligaments:
Medial oblique sesamoidean ligament
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Posted by Michelle Spinosa on Sunday, Jan 27, 2008 - 3:33 am:
My 6yo TB has been off and on lame for 3 months. The first month, my vet thought it was a stone bruise. The lameness went away but came back with increased exercise. Since then we had Xrays, which indicated slight pedal osteitits and nothing more. So, we put pads on him. The vet also recommended the 147 series of adequan in case his joint was sore. we have completed the Adequan series.
A few weeks later he was still sore when walking uphill, but sound at the walk and trot going on the flat. I finally had different vet do an ultrasound and was diagnosed with a tear at the origin of medial oblique sesamoidean ligament. He thought it was about "25%." So, we did our first round of shock wave treatment. We are doing two more treatments, two weeks apart.
Can you please give me a good rehab program for my TB? He has had no noticable swelling ever, but slight warmth on the inside left pastern. His lamess at this point is only seen when walking on an incline. His stall is located up a slight hill. We surpentine up the hill now.
I wanted him to be a medium level jumper, but I am wondering if I will be lucky to have him work as a low level hunter now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Cardiovascular, Blood, and Immune System: Heart Disease:
Mitral insufficiency
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Posted by Els Janssen on Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 - 11:27 am:
Dear Dr.O, horse of friend has been diagnosed with "leaking valve". Seems to be feeling well, not depressed, eating well, but losing condition. I've already e-mailed her several articles from your site about methods of diagnosis. She is definitely going for second opinion. But: anything about treatment, if diagnosis is confirmed? Regards, Els

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HorseAdvice.com: Treatments and Medications for Horses: Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx): EQUIOXX (firocoxib):
Equioxx Previcox - effectiveness and Length of Use
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Posted by Kay Frydenborg on Sunday, Jan 27, 2008 - 2:54 pm:
Dr. O, I, too, have concerns about the long-term safety of Equioxx/Previcox - though I was pretty excited to discover on this board the Previcox alternative, which would bring the price down to a much more reasonable level. My vets just sold me a week's supply of the Equioxx paste for my 20-year-old App who has high ringbone in his left front pastern and who had been on the Surpass topical cream most recently, until it became clear that it wasn't giving him enough relief, especially with the hard, frozen ground in his pasture right now. I'm pretty sure that at this point I'm going to need to think about managing his problems a little more aggressively, and it's going to be a long-term thing for as many years as he has left. I'm concerned, on the basis of the studies cited by the maker of Equioxx, that the risk to his kidneys with long-term use may be worse than the risk of GI problems with long-term use of bute. At least if he develops an ulcer on bute, I know I can treat it with Gastroguard, but if his kidneys go we're pretty much out of options. So while I'm satisfied that the Equioxx is safe for short-term use, up to 14 days, the information on longer-term use isn't very reassuring. Bute works, it's cheap, and I know a lot of horses can be on it for long-term with no problems. He's been on bute or Banamine, off and on, for a long time, as needed mostly rather than daily. But last year he did have a bout of colic that we attributed, possibly, to the bute, and I've been hesitant to use it much since then, unless I also give him Gastroguard as a preventative. But that's too expensive for the long-term, definitely. What's your take on this?

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Respiratory System: Strangles & Streptococcus equi:
Strangles Vaccine- Previously Infected Horse
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Posted by CCTexas on Sunday, Jan 27, 2008 - 3:39 pm:
I recently read that you should not vaccinate a horse that has previously had strangles, because if you do so you have a 50% chance of killing the horse. This sounds very far-fetched to me, since many people buy adult horses without knowing their previous exposure history, and I've never heard of a horse dying from a strangles vaccine. However, the information supposedly came from CSU, so thought I would ask and see if anyone else has heard this. I've searched online and can't find anything that substantiates this claim. I have read that vaccinating carriers or horses with active strangles could cause purpura, but not all horses who have previously had strangles are carriers, so I wouldn't think it would be a common enough problem that the vaccine would potentially kill 50% of all horses who have previously had strangles.
Thanks!

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Care Tips
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http://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/3/667.html

Training Tips
Members, horses not cleaning their own stalls yet? Better yet a little training tip that has made your horses behavior or your riding much improved? Best training tips get published in the newsletter and if your tip is posted you get 3 months added to your membership and we pick up the tab.
http://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/7/668.html

Product Reviews
Have you found a great product you can no longer do without or how about a stinker that you want to warn other members about? We will publish the best organized reviews in the Newsletter and if yours is published we will add 3 months to your membership.
http://www.horseadvice.com/cgi-bin/advisor/board-auth.cgi?file=/10/5544.html

Posted on Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 - 8:43 am:

This newsletter offers a way to keep up with the horse information added to Horseadvice.com without overwhelming your email box. Posted every day or two this newsletter will highlight the new topics and discussions added to the main sections of Horseadvice.com. Note that replies to discussions, and some "Member's Only" posting areas are not displayed here. To view replies click on the link to the discussion. For a complete listing of topics and discussions please visit us at Horseadvice.com and click on Today's Discussions.

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Lameness: Diseases of the Spine, Back & Pelvis: Lower Back Pain in Horses:
Research Summary: Effects of chiropractic on spinal pain thresholds
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Posted by Robert N. Oglesby DVM on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 - 8:16 am:
Here is a piece of research that has been a long time coming. It is very informative on potential mechanisms of how chiropractic may effect horses with back pain. As many who read these pages know, I have long railed against chiropractic for its rather liberal use of medical terminology with both diagnostic and therapeutic terms which are at best unsupported by any scientific work and at worse highly improbable. In spite of the gibberish spoken, many horse owners have found chiropractic beneficial to their horses.
In this research project measurements of how sensitive a healthy horses back to an adverse stimulus are made. Then the horses are treated in one of three ways: phenylbutazone, message, and mechanically assisted chiropractic adjustments consisting of thrusts make over the dorsal spinous processes on the lower back and the tuber sacrale. Then the horses sensitivity to the same adverse stimulus are made again and compared with pretreatment levels. At 7 days post treatment start all 3 treatments increased the amount of pressure it took to create an avoidance response but chiropractic was the most successful at decreasing the response to adverse stimulus with massage next, and bute least effective. It remains uncertain what is the nature of this change, how this relates to specific diseases of the back, what the long term effects and results of this treatment might be. But this is a great first step towards investigating the treatment modality chiropractic. DrO

Equine Vet J. 2008 Jan;40(1):14-20.
The effects of chiropractic, massage and phenylbutazone on spinal mechanical nociceptive thresholds in horses without clinical signs.
Sullivan KA, Hill AE, Haussler KK.
Valley Central High School, Montgomery, New York 12549.
REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Common methods used to treat back problems in horses need to be assessed objectively. OBJECTIVES: To measure spinal mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) and evaluate the effects of chiropractic, massage and phenylbutazone, compared with active and inactive control groups. METHODS: Baseline MNTs at 7 sites within the thoracolumbar and sacral regions were measured in 38 healthy mature horses exhibiting no clinical signs of lumbar pain. Horses were assigned to one of 3 treatment groups: instrument-assisted chiropractic treatment, therapeutic massage and phenylbutazone; or 2 control groups: ridden exercise (active control) or routine paddock turnout with no ridden exercise (inactive control). MNT measurements were repeated at 1, 3 and 7 days post treatment. The percentage change from baseline MNT values was calculated within groups. RESULTS: On Day 7, the median MNT had increased by 27, 12 and 8% in the chiropractic, massage and phenylbutazone groups, respectively. MNT changes of

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Lameness: Diseases of the Hoof:
Pedal Osteitis: Updated Article: Pedal Osteitis
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Posted by Robert N. Oglesby DVM on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 - 12:43 pm:
Pedal osteitis is a common radiographic diagnosis of lameness in horses feet but should be considered more of a description than a diagnosis. The term "pedal osteitis" translates inflammation of the toe (coffin) bone. Radiographically the coffin bone normally has irregular areas, most commonly along the margin and in the vascular channels. So, when you have a horse with lameness that blocks out at the foot and can find no likely cause: is that irregular coffin bone margin trying to tell you something or is it a red herring? Any inflammatory disease condition (infection, trauma, cancer, keratoma, etc.) could be labeled as a form of secondary pedal osteitis. Primary pedal osteitis is probably a result of chronic trauma. This article discusses the diagnosis and treatment of non-infectious pedal osteitis. To access the article choose » Pedal Osteitis » off the navigation bar above. DrO

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HorseAdvice.com: Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses: Behavior and Training: Topics Not Covered Above:
DENNY TAYLOR CLINIC
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Posted by Cyndy on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 - 4:38 pm:
As you know, we have been working on a few projects.We have wanted Dennis Taylor, Frank Bell Certified Trainer and our resident white hatted cowboy brother to do a clinic for HA,we are helping Holly get her training facility up & running, and planning our spring HA get together. Well, throw that all in a pot and you get....
DENNIS TAYLOR GENTLE SOLUTIONS CLINIC JUNE 27/28 WELLINGTON, KANSAS
We are hoping to see as many of you as possible there. The Nicker sisters and Saddle Bags are descending on Holly up to a week prior to help tweak the final preparations in realizing the dream Holly & Mark began before he died last year. It is expected that this will be the first of a series of clinics conducted across the country. Whether you reserve as a participant with your horse or an observer to then book him into your barn, we promise you good times, great lessons and unforgettable fellowship as we gather in the Heartland to celebrate what we can cook up when we turn on the heat. SMALL GLITCH...FYI... I wanted to post the flyer here, but cannot figure out how to email it as I am technologically challenged...DT will be posting it either today or tomorrow.

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HorseAdvice.com: Horse Care: Equine Nutrition, Horse Feeds, Feeding: Minerals and Electrolytes for Horses, an Overview:
Is Himalayan rock salt ok for horses
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Posted by Hilma Beuchert on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 - 10:23 pm:
My horse licks everything in his stall, he does not chew. I got him a Himalayan rock salt about 3#. He licked it until it was gone, in about a week and a half. It does not have selenium in it. THe contents are, 05 mg CHROMIUM,25mg BROMIDE, 3200mg of POTASSIUM, 0 COPPER,6000mg SULPHATE, 300mgHYDROGENCARBONATE,100MG CARBONATE,1.9 IRON,98.80 NACI,450MG MAGNESIUM, 0.15 MANGANESE. I can't see many of these minerals on you site for salt blocks, that is why I am confused.
I just want to know if it will hurt him,I have another to give him but just am not sure. He does not lick the regular salt block to this degree. Since it's been in a lot of magazines for horses, I thought I would treat him to the best(that's what they call it).
My other horses still have theirs, 4 weeks later. They are licking it also, but not to the degree that Speck does.
Any help appreciated.

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HorseAdvice.com: Horse Care: Horse Pasture, Fencing, Barns: Bedding, Flooring, and Footing for Horses:
Mulch or screenings for a dry lot?
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Posted by cp on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 - 3:20 pm:
Hello,
I'm sure this has been discussed, but there may be new and improved info out there!?!
I want to have some kind of surface put down in my dry lot which has turned super muddy with all the recent rain. I'm torn between cypress mulch or screenings. Can anyone recommend which would be best?
There are trees in this lot too (not sure if it makes a difference).
Thank you!

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Care Tips
By visiting our Care Tips section you might learn how to throw away that manure fork and replace it with a hammock! Maybe not, but if you post a great and original tip you can have time added to your membership and we will pick up the tab and that is almost as good.
http://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/3/667.html

Training Tips
Members, horses not cleaning their own stalls yet? Better yet a little training tip that has made your horses behavior or your riding much improved? Best training tips get published in the newsletter and if your tip is posted you get 3 months added to your membership and we pick up the tab.
http://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/7/668.html

Product Reviews
Have you found a great product you can no longer do without or how about a stinker that you want to warn other members about? We will publish the best organized reviews in the Newsletter and if yours is published we will add 3 months to your membership.
http://www.horseadvice.com/cgi-bin/advisor/board-auth.cgi?file=/10/5544.html

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 - 9:37 am:

This newsletter offers a way to keep up with the horse information added to Horseadvice.com without overwhelming your email box. Posted every day or two this newsletter will highlight the new topics and discussions added to the main sections of Horseadvice.com. Note that replies to discussions, and some "Member's Only" posting areas are not displayed here. To view replies click on the link to the discussion. For a complete listing of topics and discussions please visit us at Horseadvice.com and click on Today's Discussions.

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HorseAdvice.com: Training & Conditioning Horses: Behavior and Training: Modifying a Horses Behavior: Conditioned Responses:
Research Summary: Effects of a calm companion on fear reactions
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Posted by Robert N. Oglesby DVM on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 - 9:42 am:
This is no surprise but interesting to note. When in the company of calm horses, other horses are calmer.
DrO

Equine Vet J. 2008 Jan;40(1):46-50.
Effects of a calm companion on fear reactions in naive test horses.
Christensen JW, Malmkvist J, Nielsen BL, Keeling LJ.
Department of Animal Health, Welfare and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus, PO Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark.
REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: In fear-eliciting situations, horses tend to show flight reactions that can be dangerous for both horse and man. Finding appropriate methods for reducing fearfulness in horses has important practical implications. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the presence of a calm companion horse influences fear reactions in naive subject horses. HYPOTHESES: The presence of a habituated (calm) companion horse in a fear-eliciting situation can reduce fear reactions in naive subject horses, compared to subject horses with a nonhabituated companion (control). METHODS: Minimally handled (n = 36), 2-year-old stallions were used, 18 as subjects and 18 as companions. Companion horses (n = 9) were habituated to an otherwise frightening, standardised test stimulus (calm companions), whereas the rest (n = 9) of the companion horses remained nonhabituated (control companions). During the test, unique pairs of companion and subject horses were exposed to the test stimulus while heart rate and behavioural responses were registered. Subsequently, subject horses were exposed to the stimulus on their own (post test). RESULTS: Subject horses, paired with a calm companion horse, showed less fear-related behaviour and lower heart rate responses compared to subject horses with control companions. Results from the post test suggest that the difference between treatment groups remained in the subsequent absence of companion horses. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: It appears possible to reduce fear reactions in young, naive horses by allowing them to interact with a calm companion horse in fear-eliciting situations.

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HorseAdvice.com: Horse Care: Equine Nutrition, Horse Feeds, Feeding: Current Concepts in Nutrition: Behavior, Lameness, and Reproduction:
Research Summary: Effects of L-tryptophan on behaviour
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Posted by Robert N. Oglesby DVM on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 - 9:37 am:
L-tryptophan is the precursor molecule for serotonin and melatonin important neuro-transmitters associated with behavior and your state of wakefulness. It is also one of the most popular ingredients in commercial calming pastes for horses. The use of this amino acid is probably because of its reputation as a calming sleep aid for people. The research for support of this is weak but generally supportive of this use. However there has been no objective testing of this use in horses till now. Here is a double blinded study of commercial preparations and while it did find elevated levels of tryptophan with supplementation did not find a behavioral effect. It does suggest higher doses might be effective.
DrO

Equine Vet J. 2008 Jan;40(1):51-6.
Effects of a commercial dose of L-tryptophan on plasma tryptophan concentrations and behaviour in horses.
Noble GK, Brockwell YM, Munn KJ, Harris PA, Davidson HP, Li X, Zhang D, Sillence MN.
School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales 2678, Australia.
REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: L-tryptophan is a common ingredient in equine calmative products, but its effectiveness has not been demonstrated in horses. HYPOTHESIS: To determine whether a commercial dose of L-tryptophan increases plasma tryptophan and alters behaviour in horses fed a roughage or concentrate meal. METHODS: L-tryptophan (6.3 g) or placebo (water) was administered per os in a cross-over design, to 12 Thoroughbred horses (503 +/- 12.1 kg bwt), just before a meal of lucerne hay or oats. Plasma tryptophan was measured by gas chromatography. Horse behaviour was observed in an empty enclosure, then in the presence of an unfamiliar person and a novel object. RESULTS: Total plasma tryptophan increased 3-fold in both studies, peaking 1.5-2 h after dosing. After the peak, tryptophan remained high for several hours if the horses had been fed hay, but fell sharply if fed oats, consistent with the glycaemic responses to these meals. However, the ratio of tryptophan to 4 large neutral amino acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine, leucine and isoleucine) increased in the tryptophan-treated horses to a similar extent and for a similar duration, with both diets. The presence of a stranger or novel object increased heart rate (P

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Cardiovascular, Blood, and Immune System: Piroplasmosis In Horses:
Research Summary: Treating and testing for Piroplasmosis (Babesia) in question
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Posted by Robert N. Oglesby DVM on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 - 6:40 am:
Concerning the CFT in this study you would be correct but it depends on the test Elizabeth. For more on each of the tests and their significance see the diagnosis subtopic in the article. DrO

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HorseAdvice.com: Diseases of Horses: Reproductive Diseases: Birthing Problems: Fescue Toxicity and Lactation Failure:
Updated Article: Fescue Toxicity
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Posted by Robert N. Oglesby DVM on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 - 12:19 pm:
For some time now pregnant mares have had an increasing frequency of foaling problems when fed tall fescue hay or pasture their last trimester of pregnancy and has been labelled fescue toxicity. The problems seen have been abortion, prolonged gestation, agalactia (failure to produce milk), and weak newborn foals. The fungus Acremonimum coenophialum, which grows inside the tissues of fescue grass, was identified as the culprit and produces a toxin that effects the normal hormone levels of the mare. This fungus is called an "endophyte" because it lives in the grass tissues and therefore can not be seen. Most fescue is infected but to varying degrees. This article deals with prevention and treatment of this growing problem including pasture management, the use of endophyte free fescues, prevention and treatment of lactation failure. For more see the article by clicking "Fescue Toxicity and Lactation Failure" on the navigation bar above. DrO

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HorseAdvice.com: Horse Care: Routine Horse Care: Winter Care for your Horse:
Curious about keeping warm
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Posted by Diane E. on Monday, Jan 21, 2008 - 11:28 pm:
Dr.O. Hanks diet thread has me wondering if horses can/do fluff up their coats as the weather gets colder. Tonight it is snowing like a blizzard and blowing a good north wind. I can see the horses are half way up the mountainous hill that catches the north wind, pawing away oblivious to the cold and wind apparently. In the morning they will have icicles hanging off their hair that are about 6 in. long. I'm sure. Does their hair really protect them that much? Should I lock them in the lean when it is like this? When I fed them tonight I gave them extra hay, because they were already covered in snow and it was a bit windy then. I do not want to blanket for various reasons. Their lean to is deeply bedded with shavings and they use it sometime in the night because they are covered with shavings in the mornings, I see them come in usually around dawn. I worry about the old girl more than the geldings, but the last few winters she didn't go out with them because her arthritis bothered her too much to tromp thru the deep snow. This winter she is and I GUESS that is a good sign?
Thanks

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HorseAdvice.com: Equine Reproduction: Pregnancy, Foaling, & Neonatal Care: Pregnancy, Foaling, & Neonatal Care topics not covered by the above:
Pregnant Mare with Tracheotomy
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Posted by CCTexas on Monday, Jan 21, 2008 - 10:54 pm:
What are the potential risks/problems a mare with a tracheotomy might encounter when foaling?
Thanks! CC

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HorseAdvice.com: Horse Care: Tips and Tricks: 2007 Add New Care Tips Here:
Manure in the winter??
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Posted by Cheryl K on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 - 8:25 am:
Same problem here Mary. Our low t