Category: Emergency Care

10 Tips for Preventing Colic

10/1/2020

Colic is not a disease, but rather a combination of signs that alert us to abdominal pain in the horse. Colic can range from mild to severe, but it should never be ignored. Many of the conditions that cause colic can become life threatening in a relatively short period of time. Only by quickly and accurately recognizing colic – and seeking qualified veterinary help – can the chance for recovery be maximized.

While horses seem predisposed to colic due to the anatomy and function of their digestive tracts, management can play a key role in prevention.

Although not every case is avoidable, the following guidelines from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) can maximize the horse’s health and reduce the risk of colic:

1. Establish a daily routine – including feeding and exercise schedules – and stick to it.

2. Feed a high-quality diet comprised primarily of roughage.

3. Avoid feeding excessive grain and energy-dense supplements. (At least half the horse’s energy should be supplied through hay or forage. A better guide is that twice as much energy should be supplied from a roughage source than from concentrates.)

4. Divide daily concentrate rations into two or more smaller feedings rather than one large
feeding to avoid overloading the horse’s digestive tract. Hay is best fed free-choice.

5. Set up a regular parasite control program with the help of your equine practitioner.

6. Provide daily exercise and/or turnout. Change the intensity and duration of an exercise regimen gradually.

7. Provide fresh, clean water at all times. (The only exception is when the horse is excessively hot, and then it should be given small sips of lukewarm water until it has recovered.)

8. Avoid putting feed on the ground, especially in sandy soils.

9. Check hay, bedding, pasture and environment for potentially toxic substances, such as blister beetles, noxious weeds and other ingestible foreign matter.

10. Reduce stress. Horses experiencing changes in environment or workloads are at high risk of intestinal dysfunction. Pay special attention to horses when transporting them or changing their surroundings such as at shows.

Virtually any horse is susceptible to colic. Age, sex and breed differences in susceptibility seem to be relatively minor. The type of colic seen appears to relate to geographic or regional differences, probably due to environmental factors such as sandy soil or climatic stress.
Importantly, this indicates that, with conscientious care and management, we have the potential to reduce and control colic, the No. 1 killer of horses.

For more information about colic prevention and treatment, contact the Starwood Equine office.

Additional colic information is available by visiting the AAEP’s website at www.aaep.org/

Reprinted with permission from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

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Rattlesnakes

7/13/2020

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Experts say there may be three times the usual amount of rattlesnakes in the Bay Area right now.

Typically, rattlesnakes hibernate in the winter, become active in the summer, and breed around August. Due to an unusually warm February, snakes began breeding months earlier this year. Al Wolf, director of Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue in Petaluma, told KPIX, “Usually they are born late August, early September, but we’re going to see them in late June and early July this year.”
-Read the full article HERE

Remember, snakes share spaces with horses.

Now that we are spending more time outdoors in the summer sun, let’s not forget that snakes like to share the same spaces as us and our equine partners. They can be found on trails, in pastures or stalls, and even make their way into feed bins or tack rooms. While many types of snakes are not harmful, rattlesnake bites can be extremely dangerous and cause serious and emergent medical conditions for your horse. Being aware of what can happen when your horse is bitten by a rattlesnake will help you and therefore your veterinarian provide timely treatment for your horse.

The most common place a horse may be bitten by a rattlesnake is on their muzzle while grazing or sniffing, or less commonly, on their lower legs. The severity of clinical signs after a bite may vary based on age and health status of the horse, the amount of toxin released into the tissues, and the species of snake. Rattlesnake venom is extremely toxic to the immediately surrounding tissues and blood vessels, and thus, will likely cause immediate and sometimes severe swelling of the area. Since horses can only breathe through their nose and not through their mouths, it becomes critically important to maintain their airway. In severe cases, rattlesnake venom may also affect the heart, liver, and clotting times.

So, what should you do if you suspect a snake bite?

Remember, you may not always see the bite marks on your horse, but if you notice severe facial or leg swelling, you should be thinking a snakebite may be the cause. Call your veterinarian immediately. Helpful information you can provide over the phone is the location of the bite, horse’s ability to breathe with potential facial swelling, vaccination status, and the current medications your horse is taking. If your horse is having difficulty breathing due to facial swelling, your veterinarian may walk you through how to maintain their airway over the phone while waiting for them to arrive. Do not try to extract venom or cut that area of the skin open. If you plan to be riding further out on the trails, your veterinarian may recommend carrying emergency medications and supplies (i.e., NSAIDS and cut syringe case or garden hose for airway maintenance). Stay on groomed trails, as snake bites often occur when horses step in long grass. If bitten by a snake on the trail, slowly handwalk your horse back to the closest location your vet can access.

Treatment options for snake bites.

As previously mentioned, since horses only breathe through their nose, the most critical aspect of treatment is maintaining their airway so they can breathe. Based on severity of swelling, this may require intubation through the nose or in rare cases, a tracheostomy. Other treatments your veterinarian may utilize include oxygen supplementation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and Antivenin.

Through a partnership with local veterinary clinics, Starwood Equine has access to rattlesnake Antivenin that we can administer if your horse is bitten. Antivenin has been shown to neutralize the rattlesnake toxin to reduce the severity of clinical signs. After initial assessment and stabilization, referral to a larger hospital may be recommended based on the severity of the case. Close monitoring in the immediate days and weeks following exposure will also be important for identifying potential secondary effects.

We all hope you and your horses never encounter a rattlesnake, but if you do, hopefully, this will prepare you more for what treatment entails and how Starwood Equine can help.

Sources

Dickinson, C. E., Traub-Dargatz, J. L., Dargatz, D. A., Bennett, D. G., & Knight, A. P. (1996). Rattlesnake venom poisoning in horses: 32 cases (1973-1993). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 208(11), 1866-1871.

Fielding, C. L., Pusterla, N., Magdesian, K. G., Higgins, J. C., & Meier, C. A. (2011). Rattlesnake envenomation in horses: 58 cases (1992–2009). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 238(5), 631-635.