Gas Colic – Common, but Preventable!

February 10, 2017 louisianathoroughbred

By Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D.

Gas colic is the least serious form of colic. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it’s very common. So common, in fact, that it is often overlooked as “just gas,” like you might get when you eat too much pizza. However, never be complacent about gas colic because it can lead to complications such as displacement or twisting of the large colon.[i] Truth is, if you’re feeding correctly, gas colic should not happen. And if it does, then you’re more than likely doing something wrong.

Where does the gas come from?

The fibrous portion of plants doesn’t get digested until it reaches the hindgut (cecum and large colon) where it is broken down by the resident microbial population. This process, known as fermentation, produces volatile fatty acids (to be used for energy) as well as gas. Gas production is normal. In fact, a horse who has sufficient forage will often develop a “hay belly.” This is not fat, but rather, evidence of healthy gas production.

Horses produce tremendous amounts of gas, which is why they flatulate a lot! But, if the gas doesn’t adequately pass through the large colon, with all its twists and turns, it can build up. And there you have it – gas colic.

Here’s what we know so far

The exact reason for gas colic is difficult to assess, especially since most forms of colic involve some gas accumulation. But in general, gas colic can be caused by:

Inadequate forage consumption
Stall confinement
Stress
Ulcers
Intestinal inflammation
Inadequate exercise
Dehydration
Changing forage sources too quickly
Introducing new feeds too quickly

Gas colic is common because of two widespread practices

1) Limiting forage disrupts proper digestion. Horses require forage to be available 24 hours a day, all day and all night. Not that they actually eat during the entire 24 hours, but rather to simulate a natural environment where they can graze on forages as they wish. When they know that forage is always available, they slow down their eating, take time for a nap or socializing, and come back for more when they are ready. If this basic, foundational instinct is not met, the horse releases hormones which can create muscular spasms and interfere with the normal functioning of the digestive tract.

On top of that, hormones become out of balance, leading to inflammation of the hypothalamus, insulin resistance, and obesity. This is not the focus of this article, but I encourage you to read more about it.[ii]

When there is insufficient forage, the stomach accumulates acid, creating pain and mental discomfort. When the hay finally arrives, the horse will gorge himself, eating quickly and every bit in sight. He won’t chew as well, resulting in large amounts of undigested feed reaching the microbial population, resulting in excessive gas production.

Forage restriction also leads to ulcers anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. Consequently, gas production increases because ulcers can interfere with digestion, allowing more undigested feed to reach the hindgut. Since ulcers can also bleed, blood flow to the large colon is diminished, inhibiting normal hindgut motility.

2) Confining your horse to a stall or small run/paddock reduces hindgut motility. When motility slows, gas cannot be expelled. The large colon is made of muscles which contract and relax in a peristaltic motion, moving digested material and waste products (including gas) along its length. When these muscles become “flabby,” movement becomes sluggish, leading to intestinal distress (colic). Gas accumulates, the intestine distends and pain-sensitive receptors in the large colon are stimulated, causing your horse to experience intense pain.

Blood circulation to the digestive tract is improved by moving around – simply grazing in the pasture, looking for the next tasty morsel, will add up of over the course of the day to more exercise than giving a horse an hour working in the arena. Standing for hours in a small space is very damaging to your horse’s digestive health.

And then there’s stress

There are literally thousands of studies showing the negative impact of stress on people’s health. Everything from irritable bowel syndrome, to heart disease, to autoimmune diseases, to obesity is impacted by constantly barraging our tissues with stress hormones, leading to a cascade of events that results in poor health. At the cellular level, the exact same thing is true for horses.

Stress exacerbates inflammation, which can damage any part of the body, but when the digestive tract is affected, the risk of colic goes up. Inflammation leads to ulcers, malabsorption, water imbalance, visceral fat accumulation surrounding the intestines, and microbial flora changes, all creating a scenario for colic.

Pasture turnout is the best way to reduce stress. Even a few hours each day will have a positive impact. If there isn’t pasture available, turn-out in an outdoor exercise area such as an arena (making sure there’s hay and water available) will reduce gas colic risk.

Feed changes need to be slow, with a little help

The hindgut microbial population must have time to adjust to any new food, so make sure give your horse’s digestive tract time to make the transition.

If you have to change hay every few weeks, an abrupt change of feed will put your horse at risk. Instead, do a little advanced planning and set aside a few bales of old hay, while slowly switching over to the new hay. You may find yourself regularly blending old and new hays since it is best to take approximately one week to make the adjustment. While doing this, offer your horse a prebiotic containing bacterial fermentation products to help adjust to a new forage source.[iii]

If you’re adding a commercially fortified feed to your horse’s diet to meet additional energy demands, make sure he already has some hay in his belly before feeding a concentrated meal. If you need to introduce a new product, take 2 to 3 weeks to safely change to a new feed.

Beware of weekly bran mashes. A bran mash, or any new feed for that matter, if unfamiliar to the hindgut microbial population, can trigger a dangerous colic attack. If you want to feed a warm bran mash, consistency is key – it must be fed every day, not once a week. Be sure to introduce it gradually and since bran is very high in phosphorus, choose a commercially fortified version that has added calcium.

Helpful supplements

In addition to a forage foundation, there are several supplements worth considering:

B vitamins offer support for the digestive tract lining, as well as reducing stress. I recommend adding them to your horse’s diet prior to traveling or performing.[iv]
Yeast – both live yeast and yeast culture, protect the immune system by keeping the hindgut bacteria in good health.[v]
Colostrum has the ability to heal ulcers, protect against the damaging impact of NSAIDs, and increase healthy cell proliferation. It also heals leaky gut, caused by cecal acidosis and excess fermentation of carbohydrates.[vi]

Consider clean feeding

You are likely familiar with the movement to change your diet to “clean eating.” This simply means reducing the amount of “junk food” in your life and replacing it with whole, natural foods, clear of pesticides, preservatives, and inflammatory ingredients. In the horse world, there are two ingredients that we typically feed that are highly inflammatory: sugar and soy products. Most commercially fortified feeds contain both of these. Since these feeds often contain preservatives as well, fed over time, they can have a major impact on your horse’s overall health.

Slow feeders may be the answer

Slow feeder nets and containers are designed to simulate grazing.[vii] They must be kept full, or you’ll defeat your purpose. But when your horse knows that he will always have access to forage, he becomes calm and relaxed, rests more often, and walks away from the hay, knowing that it will still be there when he returns. In other words, slow feeders help your horse to “self-regulate” and eat only what he needs to maintain a healthy body condition. [viii]

Change what you can – every little improvement has an impact

Colic is rare among horses who graze on large pastures, simply because of their easy lifestyle and consumption of fresh, nutritious grasses. My goal in writing this article is to set a high standard, for all of us to strive toward. Still, I am vividly aware that many, if not most of you rely on boarding facilities and are not able to offer your horse acres of pasture. But once we know where we want to go, we are better able to get there.

Look into possible ways to increase outdoor grazing time. You may need to consider changing barns. Or perhaps your facility offers limited pasture turnout. Also consider using slow feeder systems in a stall at night so there is hay left over in the morning. In other words, the most significant change you should strive toward is how to make hay available 24 hours a day.[ix]

Every little improvement makes a difference, for your horse and for other horse owners boarding at the same location. You might just become a trailblazer!

Bottom line

Take control of your horse’s environment and feeding, by focusing on Nature’s rulesto avoid gas colic. Remember, your horse is a grazing animal, requiring a steady flow of forage at all times. Feed him, simply, like a horse!

Permission to reprint this article is granted, provided attribution is given to Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. No editorial changes may be made without her permission. Dr. Getty appreciates being notified of any publication.

Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. is an independent equine nutritionist with a wide U.S. and international following. Her research-based approach optimizes equine health by aligning physiology and instincts with correct feeding and nutrition practices. Dr. Getty’s goal is to empower the horseperson with the confidence and knowledge to provide the best nutrition for his or her horse’s needs.

Dr. Getty’s fundamental resource book, Feed Your Horse Like a Horse, is now in paperback, as well as in hardcover, searchable CD and Kindle versions. All except the Kindle version are available at www.GettyEquineNutrition.com — buy the book there and have it inscribed by the author. Print and Kindle versions are also available at Amazon (www.Amazon.com) and find print versions at other online retail bookstores. The seven individual volumes in Dr. Getty’s topic-centered “Spotlight on Equine Nutrition” series are available with special package pricing at her website, and also at Amazon in print and Kindle versions. Dr. Getty’s books make ideal gifts for equestrians!

Find a world of useful information for the horseperson at www.GettyEquineNutrition.com: Sign up for Dr. Getty’s informative, free e-newsletter, Forage for Thought; browse her library of reference articles; search her nutrition forum archives; and purchase recordings of her educational teleseminars. Find top-quality supplements, feeders, and other equine-related items, at her online Free Shipping Supplement Store[x]. Reach Dr. Getty directly at gettyequinenutrition@gmail.com.

[i] For more detailed information about colic, its forms, prevention, and what to do, please read the section on colic in Chapter 14 – Digestive Problems, of Feed Your Horse Like A Horse, http://feedyourhorselikeahorse.com

[ii] For information regarding the need for free choice forage feeding and its impact on obesity, laminitis, and leptin resistance, please see articles in Dr. Juliet Getty’s Library, at www.gettyequinenutrition.com

[iii] Ration Plus is an excellent prebiotic to use when changing forage (and other feed) sources. http://gettyequinenutrition.biz/ration_plus/ration_plus.htm

[iv] BPlex offers all 8 B vitamins, without added iron: http://gettyequinenutrition.biz/products/bplex.htm

[v] Yeast Plus offers both live Saccharomyces cerevisiae and yeast culture: http://gettyequinenutrition.biz/products/yeastplus.htm

[vi] Colostrum from Forefront equine is of high quality: http://gettyequinenutrition.biz/products/forecolostrum.htm

[vii] Getty, J.M. 2014. The correct way to use slow feeders. http://gettyequinenutrition.biz/Library/Thecorrectwaytouseslowfeeders.htm

[viii] Dr. Getty recommends several slow feeders, available at Dr. Getty’s Free Shipping Supplement Store. http://horsesupplements.gettyequinenutrition.biz/slowfeeders.html

[ix] Many horse owners fear weight gain with free-choice forage. Ironically, restricting forage keeps horses overweight. Read my in Dr. Getty’s Library under “Overweight Horses” at www.gettyequinenutrition.com

[x] http://horsesupplements.gettyequinenutrition.biz

Warm Winter Could Affect Tall Fescue Toxicosis in Broodmares

February 10, 2017 louisianathoroughbred

By Krista Lea

LEXINGTON, Ky., (Feb. 8, 2017) — Mild weather this winter is likely the cause of higher than average concentrations of a toxic substance in tall fescue called ergovaline that has been observed in Fayette and Bourbon pastures in Central Kentucky, according to University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment experts. Tall fescue toxicosis in broodmares, which is caused by ingesting ergovaline, is rare in the early months of the year due to typically cold winter temperatures.

Naturally occurring tall fescue is often infected with an endophytic fungus that can produce ergovaline, a known vasoconstrictor – something that causes the narrowing of blood vessels. This has been blamed for prolonged gestation and low milk production in late term pregnant mares. The UK Horse Pasture Evaluation Program sampled three farms in Fayette and Bourbon counties this year and found a handful pastures with higher than average ergovaline concentrations for the time of year.

“These levels would not be alarmingly high in May, because pastures would have other forages such as bluegrass and orchardgrass actively growing, providing sufficient dilution in the total diet. However, other grasses are not active in February, therefore horses are likely to consume more tall fescue, especially in pastures that were overgrazed last fall,” said Krista Lea, UK Horse Pasture Evaluation Program coordinator.

According to Ray Smith, UK forage extension specialist, dilution is the key to minimizing the effects of ergovaline.

“Farms should move mares to pastures where more desirable forages are available and tall fescue is less prevalent,” he said. “Keeping good quality hay in front of mares on pasture will also dilute any ergovaline the horses may consume.”

He urged farm managers whose mares experience foaling complications to work closely with their veterinarian to evaluate all possible causes.

“There are so many ways and reasons foaling can go wrong,” said Cynthia Gaskill, veterinary toxicologist at the UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. “Any time foaling complications are observed, all appropriate tissues and samples should be sent to us to evaluate possible causes immediately.”

According to Gaskill, no direct test is available for ergovaline levels in animal tissues, so diagnosing suspected cases of tall fescue toxicosis includes ruling out other possible causes and determining ergovaline concentrations in forages or bedding. In certain situations, domperidone can be administered to alleviate the symptoms of tall fescue toxicosis, but this can have other side effects and is costly, making prevention the ideal treatment.

Pasture, hay and bedding can all be evaluated for ergovaline concentrations at the UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for $52 per sample. Pasture samples of tall fescue should be frozen and transported on ice to the lab immediately. Hay and bedding samples should come from several bales and can be transported at ambient temperature out of direct sunlight. Detailed instructions on sampling can be found at http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/Tall%20fescue%20sampling.doc

Local county extension agents can assist farms in sampling pastures, hay or bedding. More information can be found on the UK Forage Extension website, http://www.uky.edu/ag/forage, or by emailing UK’s forage group at UKForageExtension@uky.edu

Foaling Horses: 101 to 911

February 9, 2017 louisianathoroughbred

By Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor

Keep a close eye on your newborn foal, his vitals, and his environment, and always get veterinary assistance if something goes wrong. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian, and never take “wait and see” approach. Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

During and after foaling are two of the most critical times in a neonate and his mother’s lives. One little thing gone wrong could set off a potentially life-threatening cascade of events for either horse. Rissa Parker, BVSc Pret, from Glen Austin Equine Clinic, in Gauteng, South Africa, has had a special interest in mare and foal care for the past 24 years and shared her first-hand knowledge of how to identify normal vs. emergency situations with attendees at the 2014 Cape Breeders Club Seminar, held Jan. 27-28, in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Parker first described the three stages of foaling:

Stage 1 begins when the foal starts to position itself for birth within the mare’s womb. Parker said signs of this first stage of impending parturition in the mare include restlessness, kicking at the abdomen, lifting the tail, sweating, urinating, and rolling as if colicking. While these signs might be distressing to an owner, Parker said there’s nothing to fear unless they carry on for more than an hour. At this point, consider it an emergency and call your veterinarian immediately.

Stage 2 is the presentation of the foal. At this time the mare’s water breaks, and she delivers the foal. This stage occurs rapidly, said Parker—within about 10 to 30 minutes. Consider anything longer to be an emergency requiring veterinary attention, Parker said. After 30 minutes, “for every 10 minutes that go by, there’s 10% less chance of the foal surviving,” she noted.

If everything progresses smoothly, however, Parker advised owners to clear the foal’s nasal passages and then sit back and watch. The foal’s umbilical cord should break spontaneously as he becomes active. “Do not cut it,” Parker urged. “This can cause bleeding and infection.” Any bleeding from the umbilical cord is an emergency, she said.

If the cord breaks properly on its own, treat it with a chlorhexidine-alcohol spray three times a day for two days, then two times a day for two more days, Parker said. Any hemorrhaging, patent urachus (urine dripping through the umbilicus), or edema (fluid swelling) in the umbilical region warrants a quick call to your veterinarian.

If you observe discoloration of the placental surface (seen here) or holes in the placenta, call your veterinarian right away.Photo: Courtesy Dr. Rissa Parker

Stage 3 includes the passing of the placenta from the mare. This typically lasts one to three hours, but if it continues any longer, consider it an emergency. With a slow-to-pass placenta, Parker suggested administering oxytocin to help it “let go.” But do not, however, try to pull the placenta out yourself. “This can leave minute amounts of villi (the small, vascular projections that attach the placenta to the endometrium) still in the uterus,” Parker warned. If the placenta does not pass or a piece of it remains in the mare, she can develop endometritis (uterine infection).

If the placenta passes without problem, examine its horns and body thoroughly to ensure the horn tips are intact and that its weight, color, and integrity are normal. If you observe discoloration of the placental surface or holes in the placenta, call your veterinarian right away.

“The placenta reflects the uterine environment the foal was in,” Parker said. It should weigh less than 11% of the foal’s body weight—any more than that might indicate edema or other problems; these high-risk foals require blood tests and monitoring to ensure they are not septic or compromised and to tackle the problem early.

Examine the amnion for signs of inflammation before discarding it. Photo: Courtesy Dr. Rissa Parker

Parker added that some owners throw away the amnion (placental membrane) without checking it first, but said it’s important to examine this part for amnionitis (inflammation of the amnion which occurs in certain disease syndromes resulting in fetal losses).

Post-Partum

After parturition, Parker said it’s very important to allow the mare and foal to bond. But first, wash the mare’s udder and legs as soon as possible. Foals have a tendency to suckle on anything they can while learning to nurse, and they can easily pick up any bacteria on the mare. After this, just sit back and observe, Parker said. Watch that the foal is breathing, that he attempts to stand within one hour, and that he nurses within about three hours (any longer than this is a cause for concern).

“The foal must drink within four to six hours,” she explained. “Suckling aids gut motility as well as colostrum (the mare’s antibody-rich first milk) absorption.”

Although it might seem like an obvious task, she emphasized the importance of watching the foal nurse. Horses have a natural fight or flight instinct; for a foal this often manifests as cowering with his head under the mare’s belly. Parker said at first glance, it might appear as if the foal is nursing, when in reality he’s not. To determine whether he is truly getting milk, check the fullness of the mare’s udder (if it’s very full, he’s probably not drinking), and seek veterinary assistance if needed.

Foals that don’t consume enough good-quality colostrum (seen here) are at risk of failure of passive transfer. Photo: Courtesy Dr. Rissa Parker

Why is it so important the foal suckles? Because if he doesn’t consume enough colostrum from his mother’s first milk, he is at risk of failure of passive transfer (FPT), said Parker. To determine whether your foal has achieved passive transfer, have your veterinarian measure his IgG antibody levels within the first 24 hours of life. More than 800mg/dl is adequate; 400-800 mg/dl is partial FPT; and less than 200 mg/dl is complete FPT. Parker said she typically treats foals with FPT with a plasma transfusion and antimicrobial administration if the foal shows signs of sepsis.

Signs of Trouble

Parker also described signs to look for in the foal that might indicate a problem needing veterinary attention. First, know how to recognize normal foal vital signs, including:

Temperature between 38-38.9°C (100.4-102.02°F);
Heart rate 40-80 beats per minute (bpm) initially, increasing to 130/150 bpm in the first week and then decreasing to 60-80 bpm after that; and
Respiratory rate greater than 60 breaths per minute during the first hour, decreasing to 20-40 breaths per minute after the first one to two hours.

Once you have these core measurements down, look for signs of the following common neonate issues:

Meconium impaction Clinical signs of an impaction of these first feces include straining, bloating, colic signs, and an absence of suckling. “If the foal is bloating, take him off the mare so you are not filling up a dysfunctional gut,” Parker said. She said her typical treatment includes a noncommercial enema using an acetylcysteine base (which breaks down the disulfide bonds that make the meconium so hard and sticky) and warm water for 20 minutes under sedation.
Ruptured bladder Because this condition can be life-threatening, make sure your newborn foal urinates a full stream, keeping in mind that the bladder might not even become full for two to three days. “Foals with ruptured bladders show signs of abdominal distension and anuria (the absence of urination),” Parker said. Transport affected foals to a surgical facility for correction.
Diarrhea Although common in foals, veterinarians don’t always know what causes diarrhea, Parker said. This is yet another reason why it’s so important for owners and breeders to stand back and observe the neonate, taking into account his age, vitals, habitus (when the foal is quiet, such as eating or sleeping), and drinking/hydration. Diarrhea causes can be infectious (e.g., from viruses such as corona or bacteria such as Escherichia coli or Rhodococcus equi), noninfectious (e.g., due to overfeeding, lactose intolerance, pica [consuming nonfood items]); or parasite-related (Strongyloides westerii).
Parker cautioned that, when it comes to infectious diarrhea-causing agents, “we underestimate how much we can transmit disease ourselves. It’s good practice to have a box of disposable gloves at your farm for handling newborns.”

Diarrhea treatment includes resting the foal’s gut by withholding milk, but not water, for 24 hours. Your veterinarian might then recommend feeding 50 ml of milk every 4 hours to feed the enterocyte cells that line the horse’s gut, administering Bio-Sponge (Di-tri-octahedral smectite) to line the gut, and feeding the foal salt (1 tsp twice daily) to replace lost sodium.

“If the foal isn’t suckling or has a high temperature, it’s an emergency that requires veterinary attention which may then include antimicrobial administration and intravenous fluids,” Parker said. “Sequelae to diarrhea include lactose intolerance, patent urachus, and joint ill (infection), so you’re not completely out of the woods (after diarrhea subsides).”
Musculoskeletal issues Foals can be born or acquire conditions such as congenital limb deformities and lameness due to infected joints or limb injuries, all of which require veterinary attention. So pay close attention to your newborn’s lower limbs as well.

Take-Home Message

Keep a close eye on your newborn foal, his vitals, and his environment, and always get veterinary assistance if something goes wrong. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian, and never take “wait and see” approach—it could be the difference between life and death for your foal.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor

Alexandra Beckstett, Managing Editor of The Horse and a native of Houston, Texas, is a lifelong horse owner who has shown successfully on the national hunter/jumper circuit and dabbled in hunter breeding. After graduating from Duke University, she joined Blood-Horse Publications as Assistant Editor of its book division, Eclipse Press, before joining The Horse.

Use Your Stethoscope Before You Need It!

February 3, 2017 louisianathoroughbred

Use Your Stethoscope Before You Need It!

By Dr. Juliet M. Getty

Your emergency kit likely includes a stethoscope – a highly valuable piece of equipment during any urgent health situation. Knowing your horse’s normal heart rate and gut sounds beforehand will allow you to better assess the seriousness of the situation — so use your stethoscope now.

A resting pulse is typically between 32 and 40 beats per minute (ponies’ are slightly higher). Place the stethoscope in front of the girth area, just behind the elbow. Using the sweep second hand on your watch or a stop watch (usually a feature on your cell phone), count the number of beats for 30 seconds and double it to get beats per minute. Measure at various times of day, before and after eating, and at any change in circumstances or activity level; this will give you a clear idea of how your horse generally responds to his environment. Marked deviation from normal (without obvious explanation such as exercise) can indicate the presence of infection, pain, or illness.

Your stethoscope is especially useful for listening to gut sounds. It is normal and healthy for sounds to come from the digestive tract due to the movement of feed, gas, and fluid. Intestines are made of muscles; processing forage continuously provides the necessary exercise to keep these muscles in good condition. Normally, the sounds will be low in pitch with some growling. Colic occurs when there is a change within the intestines, ordinarily due to obstruction, gas[i], or torsion, and sounds change or stop altogether. If you don’t hear any noise, or if the sounds have become higher pitched, significantly slowed, or sound hollow, it likely indicates colic and you should contact your vet immediately.

Practice listening to four areas of the gut: along the upper barrel and the lower flank area on both sides. Generally speaking, sounds from the upper left come from the small colon and tend to be high pitched and of short duration. The lower left has sounds from the large colon. On the upper right, the sounds come from the large colon and cecum whereas the lower right has the large colon. However, the point of origin for gut sounds is not completely predictable; the important thing is to identify a variation from your horse’s normal sounds.

Deviations from normal in pulse or gut sounds may have many possible explanations, so unless you have extensive experience, you should never put yourself in the position of diagnosing colic or other disorders. But you can be a valuable resource to your veterinarian if you know what is normal for your horse and can identify a change, before illness happens.

Find a world of useful information for the horseperson at www.GettyEquineNutrition.com: Sign up for Dr. Getty’s informative, free e-newsletter, Forage for Thought; browse her library of reference articles; search her nutrition forum archives; and purchase recordings of her educational teleseminars. Find top-quality supplements, feeders, and other equine-related items, at her online Free Shipping Supplement Store[ii]. Reach Dr. Getty directly at gettyequinenutrition@gmail.com.

Concerns Over Nocardioform Placentitis For Kentucky Foal Crop On The Rise

February 2, 2017 louisianathoroughbred

by Paulick Report Staff | 02.01.2017 | 7:32am

A rise in nocardioform placentitis cases in Central Kentucky’s 2011 foal crop caused concern among equine caretakers, veterinarians and the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UKVDL). A placental infection that can cause late-term abortion or small, underdeveloped foals, the disease could take a toll on the Thoroughbred breeding industry.

The UKVDL reported via The Horse that in 2012, the number of confirmed cases dropped to a more-typical number, but that the 2016 crop had a small rise in cases in February before numbers dropped quickly later that year.

Though 2017 has just begun, the UKVDL has seen an increase in confirmed nocardioform placentitis cases, beginning with 10 abortions in December 2016 (compared to zero abortions in December 2015). Additionally, there were eight confirmed cases in the first two weeks of January 2017, with additional cases pending.

First identified in Central Kentucky in the mid-1980s, the development of nocardioform placentitis is not well understood. It can cause stillbirths, prematurity, late-gestation abortions, live but non-viable foals, and foals that are small and weak, but live. The lesions of nocardioform placentitis are distinctive and are gram-positive branching bacilli; they are found only on the placenta and do not reach the fetus.

It is not clearly understood how nocardioform placentitis is transmitted as the infection does not follow the transmission path of either ascending bacterial placentitis or septicemic bacterial placentitis. The cases tend to come in waves with some years having more cases than other. Scientists are investigating if environmental factors contribute to the disease. So far, nocardioform placentitis seems to occur after hot, dry weather.

Temperature Swings Increase Risk of Colic in Horses

January 17, 2017 louisianathoroughbred

Monday, January 16, 2016—As winter sets in, notable temperature swings have occurred in many areas of the country. Perhaps it’s 50^○ F during the day but drops to 25^○ F at night, or sunny and mild one day but snowing the next. Horses are notorious for colicking under these conditions, but horse owners can minimize this through simple management strategies.

It may seem obvious, but providing access to fresh, unfrozen water is essential for proper hydration and digestion. The more forage a horse consumes, the more water required to help move it through the gastrointestinal tract. This is especially important in winter when moisture-rich pasture grass is limited or absent.

Offering free-choice salt or adding a little salt or electrolytes, especially a slow-release electrolyte supplement, to a horse’s ration will encourage a horse to drink and assist in keeping a horse adequately hydrated, minimizing colic risk. Another key to helping a horse stay hydrated is to provide plenty of forage in the form of hay or pasture grasses because the presence of the fiber in the gut will stimulate the thirst response.

Additionally, microbes in the hindgut ferment the structural carbohydrates, or fiber, in hay or grass. Heat is a byproduct of fermentation, which helps keep the horse warm. For this reason, extra hay (and water, of course) should be offered when temperatures are expected to drop. Note that grain concentrates will not have quite the same hydrating or warming effect. Exceptions would be commercial feeds high in beet pulp or standalone soaked beet pulp, which will have a similar effect as forage. The use of a digestive-tract conditioner helps minimize the risk of colic.

When temperatures drop, it’s not unusual for training regimens to diminish and for turnout time to decrease. Exercise and movement, even if just walking around a turnout area, promotes gut motility. When horses are confined for long periods due to inclement weather, the risk of colic increases. Keep horses moving and turned out as long as the footing is safe. With this in mind, for horses that live outside, shelter is critically important for protection from the elements. If a horse’s coat or blanket becomes wet, the risk for chill increases dramatically and could trigger a bout of colic. Be sure to check in on your horses, especially in inclement weather.

In summary, remember the basics. The importance of water cannot be overstated in helping a horse stay healthy and hydrated. Good-quality forage is essential for warmth and proper gut motility. When drastic temperature changes are predicted, pay extra attention to a horse’s behavior. Any subtle changes could indicate a problem. Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect colic or any health issue.

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Kentucky Equine Research (KER) is an international equine nutrition, research and consultation company serving both the horse producer and the feed industry. Its goal is to advance the industry’s knowledge of equine nutrition and exercise physiology and apply this knowledge to produce healthier, more athletic horses. For more information, see www.ker.com or call 888-873-1988.

What is ERU?

January 6, 2017 louisianathoroughbred

Dr. Boggs explains why your horse’s health could be at risk.

QUESTION

A horse at my barn was diagnosed with ERU – what is it?

ANSWER

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), also known as moon blindness, is a painful condition where repeated occurrences of inflammation in the eye can cause permanent damage. The inflammation may cause career or even life-ending complications, explains Jacquelin Boggs, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, senior technical services veterinarian with Zoetis. ERU is the most common cause of blindness in horses worldwide.¹

ERU is characterized by repeated occurrences, or flares, over the course of the horse’s life. The painful flares can reoccur months or even years apart; however, the interval between flares often shortens over the horse’s lifetime. With ERU, the horse’s immune system inappropriately attacks normal or host proteins in the eye, causing damage that can lead to blindness.

ERU can affect one or both eyes. You may notice an affected eye appearing cloudy or discolored. Your horse may squint or tear excessively, and the pupil may be constricted. These are frequently the first signs, with more severe changes to the eye developing with subsequent flare-ups. There is no cure for ERU. Even with the best treatment, many horses that develop recurrent uveitis won’t return to their previous level of performance.²

Equine recurrent uveitis is a multifactorial disease with a number of initial triggers. While there are many potential triggers, research indicates that the No. 1 trigger is leptospiral organisms, representing up to 70% of the ERU cases.^3,4

Potential risk factors for Leptospira-associated uveitis include:

– Access to standing water or ponds

– Seasons that are wetter than usual

– Pasture flooding

– Exposure to skunks, white-tailed deer, raccoons, opossums or other wildlife near your horse’s pasture or barn

– Keeping feed in open containers or feeding on the ground

– Other animals on the property that have had ERU or mares that have aborted

To see if your horse is at risk for leptospirosis and to learn more about this potentially deadly disease, visit www.LEPTOEQINNOVATOR.com.

¹Dwyer AE, Crockett RS, Kalsow CM. Association of leptospiral seroreactivity and breed with uveitis and blindness in horses: 372 cases (1986-1993). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1995;207(10):1327-1331.

² Gerding JC, Gilger BC. Prognosis and impact of equine recurrent uveitis. Equine Vet J. 2016;48(3):290-298.

³ Polle F, Storey E, Eades S, et al. Role of intraocular Leptospira infections in the pathogenesis of equine recurrent uveitis in the southern United States. J Equine Vet Sci. 2014;34(11-12):1300-1306.

⁴ Borstel MV, Oey L, Strutzberg-Minder K, Boeve MH, Ohnesorge B. Direkter und indirekter Nachweis von Leptospiren aus Glask perproben von Pferden mit ERU. Pferdeheilkunde. 2010;2(M rz/April):219-225.

Tips on Feeding Horses Hay-Based Diets

December 30, 2016 louisianathoroughbred

According to the National Research Council’s Nutrient Requirements of Horses, many mature horses can maintain a healthy body weight by consuming a diet composed solely of forage, in addition to clean water and salt. Here are some tips for managing horses on hay-based diets.

Weigh your horse’s hay, and feed based on your horse’s target body weight. Ensure your horse is receiving 1.5–2.5% of its body weight in forage each day.
Have a veterinarian or equine dentist routinely examine and treat your horse’s teeth. Don’t assume the horse has a functional mouth if you simply pull back his lips and find a full set of incisors. These front teeth are usually the last ones lost by aged horses. The molars you don’t see grind forage. If your horse is not able to chew its hay sufficiently, consider alternative forage sources.
If the horse is overweight, restrict grazing and offer mature hay with lower digestible sugars and higher indigestible fiber. However, be sure that the horse will actually eat the hay and not just use it for bedding.
Feed off the ground to minimize the chance of sand colic in areas where this is a concern. Use nets, feed bunks, feed racks, or place the hay on rubber mats.
Hay shortage in your area? Consider other forage sources: hay cubes, alfalfa or grass hay pellets, chopped forages, shredded beet pulp, or soy hull pellets.
Invest in a few hay nets. Use of hay nets will keep forage off the ground and away from sand and bedding dust; make it easy to weigh and preload hay to quickly feed hungry horses on busy days; and potentially slow consumption.
Soak or steam hay to reduce dust if your horse has a respiratory ailment or to reduce the water-soluble sugar content for horses with endocrine abnormalities or chronic laminitis.

In the case of harder keepers, a forage-only diet can be challenging. Making sure the horse has the best-quality forage will go a long way to increasing the caloric intake. Abundant grass and legumes, like clover, in the pasture and high-quality alfalfa, grass, or mixed hay with a high leaf-to-stem ratio are excellent sources of forage calories. Supplementing with forage alternatives, such as hay cubes and pellets or beet pulp, will further increase calorie consumption.

An all-forage diet does not, however, work for every horse in every circumstance. Depending on the origin of the forage and the individual horse, additional minerals and vitamins may be necessary to balance out the deficiencies of the forage. Deficiencies can be corrected through the use of a ration balancer or a vitamin and mineral supplement, such as Micro-Max™, which is a low-intake concentrated source of vitamins and minerals for mature horses. Micro-Max is ideal for horses that maintain body weight on diets composed entirely of forage or forage and small amounts of concentrate. Learn more.

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Nominations Open for the 2017 Equine Industry Vision Award

December 12, 2016 louisianathoroughbred

SOUTH DAYTONA, FLA., Dec. 12, 2016 —Nominations are now open for the 16^th annual Equine Industry Vision Award. Sponsored by Zoetis since its inception, the prestigious award is the first of its kind to showcase innovation across the entire equine market, as well as ingenuity and service.

Award nominees may include individuals and/or organizations. Candidates may be considered for a single outstanding visionary achievement or for sustained outstanding contributions that have made a profound impact on the equine industry. Anyone is eligible to be nominated, re-nominated or to nominate a candidate for the award. Nominations are due Feb. 6, 2017.

The 2017 Equine Industry Vision Award recipient will be announced during a breakfast ceremony sponsored by Zoetis on June 16, 2017, at the AHP Annual Seminar in Scottsdale, Arizona. The winner receives a lead crystal trophy created by master artisan Peter Wayne Yenawine and commissioned by Zoetis. Additionally, the name of the award recipient is engraved on the Equine Industry Vision Award Perpetual Trophy on display at Zoetis headquarters in Parsippany, NJ.

“Zoetis is honored to recognize those who are committed to advancing the equine industry with this prestigious award,” said Sally Amtmann, senior equine marketing manager, Zoetis. “We are proud to carry on the tradition of the Equine Industry Vision Award for the 16th consecutive year.”

To request a nomination ballot for the 2017 Equine Industry Vision Award, contact Judy Lincoln, EIVA coordinator, American Horse Publications, at 386-760-7743 or email ahorsepubs2@aol.com. Nomination information is also available online at http://www.americanhorsepubs.org/equine-industry-vision-award/. All entry materials are due on or before Feb. 6, 2017.

Past recipients of the Equine Industry Vision Award are true visionaries who have contributed to the growth and preservation of the equine industry, and include:

2016 – Gary L. Carpenter, commissioner and CEO of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), for his passion for increasing involvement with horses and working across disciplines in the equine industry.

2015 – Gayle Ecker, director of Equine Guelph, for her heartfelt work in connecting people, especially youth, with horses.

2014 – Patti Colbert for her numerous contributions to the equine industry including marketing Time to Ride, an initiative of the American Horse Council’s marketing alliance formed to connect people with horses and designed to encourage horse-interested consumers to enjoy the benefits of horse activities.

2013 – Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH Int’l) for their work in promoting safe and effective therapeutic horseback riding for individuals with special needs throughout the world.

2012 – Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) for the organization’s dedication to help preserve land for the future of equestrian sports, recreation and industry.

2011 – Robert Cacchione, executive director and co-founder of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), for his exemplary vision to start an organization that would allow any college student to participate in horse shows, regardless of financial status or riding level.

2010 – John Nicholson for his work as the executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park and as president of the World Equestrian Games 2010 Foundation including his leadership in bringing the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to the United States.

2009 – Charlotte Brailey Kneeland, the founder and director of the American Riding Instructors Association, for her vision to promote and certify riding instructors across the United States.

2008 – Sally Swift (1913-2009), the founder of the Centered Riding^®, for having a revolutionary impact on horseback riding worldwide in the 20th century.

2007 – David O’Connor, best known for his Olympic accomplishments and his work as president of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).

2006 – Stanley F. Bergstein (1924-2011), executive vice president of Harness Tracks of America (HTA), for his positive contributions to the Standardbred racing industry and lifetime of accomplishments.

2005 – John Ryan Gaines (1928-2005) for his countless contributions to the horse world that continue to reach across disciplines.

2004 – American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) for the organization’s vast, positive impact on the equine experience worldwide.

2003 – Don Burt (1930-2012) for more than 50 years of living and working as a member of the horse industry and his efforts across disciplines.

2002 – Alexander Mackay-Smith (1903-1998) for his broad contributions to the whole of the equine industry.

American Horse Publications is dedicated to excellence in equine media through education and communication. AHP strives to be the primary source of education, resources and networking for the equine media community. We believe a proactive approach in an ever-evolving communications-driven world allows us the flexibility and opportunity to promote, support and reward excellence in equine media. For more information, please contact Chris Brune, American Horse Publications at ahorsepubs@aol.com or 386-760-7743 or visit the AHP website at www.americanhorsepubs.org.

Zoetis (zō-EH-tis) is the leading animal health company, dedicated to supporting its customers and their businesses. Building on more than 60 years of experience in animal health, Zoetis discovers, develops, manufactures and markets veterinary vaccines and medicines, complemented by diagnostic products and genetic tests and supported by a range of services. Zoetis serves veterinarians, livestock producers and people who raise and care for farm and companion animals with sales of its products in more than 100 countries. In 2015, the company generated annual revenue of $4.8 billion with approximately 9,000 employees. For more information, visit www.zoetisUS.com.

KER’s Nutrition of the Performance Horse is Available Online

December 7, 2016 louisianathoroughbred

Contact:
Erin Ryder Hsu
ehsu@ker.com
888-873-1988 ex. 42

KER’s Nutrition of the Performance Horse is Available Online

Tuesday, December 6, 2016— Kentucky Equine Research (KER) has published Nutrition of the Performance Horse, a free 90-page reference guide that broadly covers the best ways to manage equine athletes, regardless of discipline, and includes practical management strategies and effective solutions for nutrition-related problems.

In-depth discussions are included regarding common issues such as gastric ulcers, hindgut acidosis, joint care, electrolyte replacement, and tying-up in its many forms. When appropriate, experienced nutritionists offer feed and supplement recommendations.

Access Nutrition of the Performance Horse here.

KER’s previously published free reference guides, Nutritional Management of Horses on a Breeding Farm and Nutritional Management of Metabolic Diseases, are also available online.

Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association

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