Dr. Hayes went to the AAEP equine vet meeting in San Antonio for her required CE continuing education and some fun. There were lectures on reproduction, neonatal, ophthalmology, colic and bone injury. Below I’ve listed some take home information from the meeting and trade show.
BONE STUDY
Dr. Sue Stover presented her years of research on bone injury of racehorses. She compared the bone to a stick. A great force will break the stick. It you bend it every day, it will eventually break. Dr Stover discussed how the same properties can apply to bone. In racehorses, the concussion forces from routinely increasing the galloping speed can bend and weaken the cannon bone or hip. This can result in microfractures in the bone, and like the stick, can cause it to break. Unfortunately, these microfractures in the bending bone cannot be seen on an Xray or CT scan so it is hard to diagnose. A nuclear scintigraphy scan is the only way to view the uptake of the nuclear particles by the bone, in the area of inflammation where the bone is being damaged. There are only a few equine imaging centers that can do nuclear scans in the state.
GENTOCIN
Gentocin (gentamycin) is an injectable antibiotic that we use for infections especially in leg wounds. It has been found that prolonged use of high doses of Gentocin can cause hearing loss in the horse (and human).
ICSI REPRODUCTION PROCESS
ICSI is Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection. To begin the process, eggs are retrieved from the follicles on the ovary of the donor mare by an equine repro specialist. In a petri dish while using a powerful microscope, the sperm is injected into the egg. After incubating the egg for 8 days if an embryo develops, it is put into the recipient mare. Typically, if 12 eggs are harvested from the ovary, and ICSI is preformed, the result is only 2 embryos. Now there is a treatment for the sperm that helps it penetrate the egg, without having to inject it into the egg. This results in a higher yielding of 6 embryos out of the 12 eggs.
VETERACYN
Veteracyn is a topical spray that kills bacteria and fungus in 2 minutes contact time. The hydrogel spray form, if frozen in your barn or trailer, becomes inactivated. The spray without the gel can withstand freezing temperatures. It is labeled as an antimicrobial wound and skin cleanser but works well on wounds as a healing treatment.
PROTEK GI
A new supplement made by Kelato, ProTEk GI, uses multiple ingredients to work on different parts of the stomach and large colon to be used after treatment of ulcers. This supplement includes these ingredients:
1. Pectin (kaopectate) which coats the stomach and Lecithin which forms a gel over the stomach lining.
2. Antacids sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), calcium carbonate (tums), and magnesium hydroxide (Maalox) that buffer the
the stomach acid.
3. Prebiotic yeast extract Mos that block the bad bacteria from attaching to cells in the large colon maintain the balance of
beneficial gut microflora and Beta glucans that help the immune system.
4. Yeast that supports digestion and reduces acidosis in the large colon.
5. Oat flour which slows the digestion of starch and sugar in the stomach preventing an acidotic sugar overload in the large
colon.
ProTeck GI costs 260.00 plus shipping for a 42-day supply.
BLR EQUINE NUTRITION PRODUCTS
We are now stocking new products for horses that have respiratory bleeding after barrel racing. Bleeder Shield paste is a product to be given 2-4 hours before a barrel race. RaceToday is a powder given daily on the weekends of your run.
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
Dr Hayes will be in Florida Friday December 23 thru Monday December 26 visiting her mother during Christmas. Hayes Equine will be closed, and no services will be available during this time. The emergency line will be answered and can provide you alternate veterinary contacts. It can be very difficult to obtain mobile veterinary service in her absence. It is advised to have transportation arrangements made in advance in case of an equine emergency during this time. Isiah Hunt at 214-289-9343 has said he should be available to trailer your horse if needed.
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