Summer is here and the days are longer, giving us more opportunities to enjoy our horses. Many owners are saddling up and hitting the shows and trails. In this month’s newsletter I want to list some helpful advice before setting out on your adventure.
Trailer Maintenance
Check the trailer floor for structural damage. If trailer has a wood floor, it may have decayed over the winter, making it unable to support your horse’s weight. We have seen horses over the years that have fallen thru rotten floors and the outcome is usually not good. Be sure your tires (and spare) are at proper pressure and have adequate tread. It is going to be hot this summer and horses don’t do well standing in a sweltering trailer waiting for a tire change.
First aid
For those away from home emergencies you should have a basic first aid kit with you consisting of
at least the following items:
- Banamine. For a 1000lb horse a 10cc dose of liquid Banamine giving orally works in an hour for colic or pain.
- Bandage material consisting of 1 vet wrap, sheet cotton, Neosporin/triple antibiotic cream.
- Eye medicine, SSD, works on a bacterial and fungal corneal scratch/ulcer until a vet can examine the eye
- Hoof pick, plyers with a wire cutter edge, and scissors.
- Duct Tape. It can get you out of a jam.
Fly Relief
The insects are back especially the culicoides (aka gnats, midges, no see ums). These insects attack different parts of the horse’s body, depending on the species. The tailhead, ears, mane, withers, back and belly may be affected. Relief for your horse is anti- itch medication and prevention of the insect bites. They bite at dawn and dusk, so repellants work best when applied at those times. Use Swat or Ichthamol in the ears and on the belly daily. Treat the tailhead and mane with Skin so Soft with Deet. Regular fly spray does not work on repelling the gnats.
When on the trail for horsefly relief, our tech Lauren, has good results using Deep Woods Off on herself and her horse. Thanks for the tip Lauren!
Update on Studies
Forage, Starch and Sugar stomach ulcer study
Horses with low forage intake such as not being on pasture or no free choice hay, were prone to gastric ulcers. Forage throughout the day and night stimulates constant saliva production which neutralizes the stomach acid. It also keeps the stomach full preventing the splash effect, which is when the stomach acid on an empty stomach splashes up on the upper part of the stomach when exercising. When the stomach is full of hay or grass, the stomach acid can’t splash. Horses that ate high sugar and starch feed were prone to gastric ulcers even when on free choice hay.
So feed a low starch feed like Safe Choice or Equine Senior or feed an alfalfa- based feed.
Skin Allergy study
There was significant improvement in 76% of the horses with skin allergies within 1 year of using allergen-desensitization serums (allergy shots). The horse needs to be tested to identify that horse’s respiratory and skin allergies. This is done by a veterinary dermatologist injecting specific allergens into a clipped patch of the horse’s neck. The welt identifies the allergy. Then specific allergy shots for that horse can be made. Texas A&M has made allergy shots for one of our clients and it works well. The allergy shots can be made for insect allergies too
Castration Signs: June 14th through June 18th. If you are needing a horse castrated, call the office soon to get on the schedule before it gets too hot. Dr Hayes will stop castrating by June 30 and will not start again until the temperatures cool in the fall.
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