Happy New Year!
The end of the old year was a rough time at the clinic. Dr Hayes treated an impaction colic every day for 6 days. The drop in weather temperatures made water sources very cold, causing the horses to not drink. Impaction colic is caused by the horse failing to drink water at the time that they eat coastal hay, especially on a cold morning. By that evening the hay is impacted in the large colon, causing a blockage and colic. All of these horses’ guts shut down so they required iv fluids, which made for big vet bills.
Prevention is simple:
- Add a tablespoon or palm full of regular table salt to the horse’s feed am and pm.
- Put a heater in the water trough.
- Feed alfalfa with the coastal hay. Alfalfa hay has more moisture and does not impact.
New Wound Treatment
We have purchased a Phovia Blue Light device to help wounds heal faster. The photo converter gel is applied to the wound and the blue light is shined on the wound for two 2-minute periods. The gel absorbs the light and converts it to light energy, which is capable of penetrating the skin. This promotes healing, kills bacteria, and has an anti-inflammatory effect. We can do the Blue Light treatment once a week when we change the bandage. I had very good results using the light, and the salt water treatment when treating a cut tendon.
No Worming for Bots in January
We used to worm for bots in January but with the strategic worming plan, we wait until April 15. If we worm in January, it kills only the bots because the other worms are dormant. These worms hatch in the spring around or after April 15. If we use ivermectin or Quest wormer at that time we are getting all the worms and bots.
AAEP American Association of Equine Practitioners meeting highlights
*Tylenol can be given to horses for pain. The dose is 18 500mg tablets for 1000lb horse
*Previcox) or Equioxx (Firocoxib) is a low dose daily pill pain medicine for horses which does not cause ulcers. It takes 24 hours after giving the firocoxib pill for it to be in full effect, then it lasts for another 24 hours. To reduce cost, the pill could be reduced to Monday, Wednesday, Friday dosing to cut cost. Firocoxib has ¼ the pain relief that Banamine (flunixin) has. Banamine is 70% absorbed when given orally so be sure you give at least 10cc. It takes 1 hour to work, and lasts 12 hours.
* Calvenza EHV1 (Rhino) vaccine can be given intranasal or in the muscle. Both routes produced systemic antibodies against EHV1.
* Dexamethasone cortisone can be given to prevent vaccine reactions without decreasing the antibody response of the Flu/ Rhino vaccine for those horses that are sensitive to vaccines.
* EPM test titers are not reliable to test the effectiveness of EPM drugs at the end of treatment. The EPM antibodies that the horse produced when it got EPM, remain in the horse for 6 months post treatment.
* Old mares produce better eggs when given omega oil supplements. You can use flax or Platinum Powder. There are many omega oil products on the market that will work.
CASTRATION DATES
Dates are weather dependent this time of year.
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