JULY NL 2023
SUMMER TEMPS
Summer so far has been HOT and HUMID! This combination “cooks” the horses and predisposes them to colic. A high roughage diet consisting of plenty of hay or pasture with a small amount of grain is the best summer diet. (If your vet has recommended a specific feeding program for your horse, always check before changing it). Grain on a large colon that is not full of hay causes gas and gas colic. Feeding a probiotic such as Fastrack AM & PM also helps prevent colic. Probiotics provide good microbes to the gut and prevent the overgrowth of bad bacteria which causes colic. We also recommend that you keep a dose of Banamine on hand. Give this to your horse orally if it exhibits signs of colic. If it is not better in 1 ½ hours, call your vet.
CUTS
This weather makes both humans and horses cranky. I see a lot of leg cuts caused by horses kicking or pawing fences when arguing, and mares flirting with another horse when in heat. These wounds can be serious and often require a trip to the vet and may require antibiotics. If minor, wash the cut with the hose and bandage it to keep it clean. Be sure your horse’s tetanus vaccine is current (within 6 months). If in doubt, see your vet.
TIPS FOR TRAILERING
- Don’t tie the head up tight. If possible, leave the horse loose in the trailer. The horse’s balance is better when he can move his head freely. When the horse can put his head down, he can clear his respiratory tract.
- Hose down hay filled nets before hanging them in the trailer. Hay particles and airborne dust can get into the horse’s eyes or be inhaled, which will irritate its respiratory system.
- Skip the bedding in the trailer. Shavings in a trailer are going to blow around irritating the eyes and lungs. Be sure to clean out the trailer after each trip. Dried manure becomes bacteria laden dust that can will be inhaled by your horse.
HIVES
Hives or urticaria are immune reactions against allergens that the horse has inhaled, ingested, had injected or has come in contact with the skin. The first stage is the sensitization stage, where the horse produces specific antibodies at first exposure to the antigen. This does not produce an immune reaction or hives. The immune system has now been sensitized to the allergen and is now primed and ready to react to the next exposure to the allergen.
The 2nd stage is re-exposure to the antigen where the horse’s sensitized antibodies come in contact with the antigen, causing a hypersensitivity reaction. The inflammation wave causes the formation of raised bumps or patches on the skin. Sometimes the reaction affects the deeper tissues causing swelling of the nose, eyes, or legs.
Hives tend to be on the neck, shoulder, or ribcage. The hives bumps can develop on the skin as quickly as 15 minutes up to 24 hours after the exposure to the trigger allergen substance. The allergens can be pollens, dust, molds, shavings, hays, weeds, pasture grasses, supplements, antibiotics (Penicillin), vaccines or Rhino/Flu viruses and Strangles Strep equi bacteria. Physical stress or anxiety can also cause hives. Insect bite hypersensitivity can raise welts on the skin as well.
Hives should resolve on their own in 24-48 hours. If there is severe swelling of the nose, lips, or eyes, or hives lasting more than 2 days, a cortisone and antihistamine shot is needed. Dexamethasone is a fast-acting cortisone. Zyrtec, an over-the-counter antihistamine, can also be used. Allergy testing can be done on horses by injecting allergens in the skin of the neck and measuring the reaction size of the welt. Specific allergy shots can be made for your horse, but it is expensive.
INSECT BITE HYPERSENSITIVITY
This is an allergy to the bites(saliva) of the gnats or flies that some horses develop. We treat the horse with anti-itch oral medication and cortisone shots. The feed supplements NutriFlax and Equine Omega Complete help the skin and reduce the allergic reaction.
Minimizing exposure to the insects is essential. “Regular” fly spray is not effective against gnats.
The following are effective against gnats:
- Deep woods Off with Deet (Walmart).
- Repel with 40% Deet (Walmart).
- Bye Bye Insects natural spray from Spalding Labs
- Skin So Soft from Avon. Use ¼ SSS with ¾ water.
- Other all natural fly sprays with citronella and other oils.
Be sure to spray your horse at dawn and dusk when the gnats bite the most!
Castration Signs: TEMPS ARE TOO HOT
We hope everyone had a HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH OF JULY!
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