Whinny, Author at Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic

Do pigeons cause Pigeon Fever?

Aug 4, 2012 | Ailments, Pests

I was hanging out on the counter the other day when a client came in asking about Pigeon Fever. My ears perked up at the thought of chasing pigeons but it turns out this conversation had nothing to do with birds. Pigeon Fever is a syndrome cause by a very specific bacterium, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, which leads to abscesses. This bacteria hasn’t been a big problem for Floridians since it prefers dry weather but this year has been different!

Let’s start with a little bit of learnin’. Pigeon Fever or Dryland Distemper or Lymphangitis is a relatively common problem in the hot, dry regions of our desert southwest. For reasons the experts don’t really understand the organism has been marching its way across the country to wetter regions. C. pseudotuberculosis is perfectly content to live in soil until drought conditions occur. At that time it seems to begin looking beyond the ground for somewhere to live and reproduce. The bacteria is readily spread by common insects like the stable fly and infects horses through any small wound.

The most common appearance of Pigeon Fever is a large swelling of the chest, so the horse looks like a pigeon, or underside of the belly. Upon further examination the swellings turn out to be large abscesses. Another, less frequent problem, is what’s known as ulcerative lymphangitis. This is a big swollen, oozing infection of the leg. Even rarer is an invasion of the internal organs such as the kidney and liver by the organism.

Once Dr. Lacher has decided that a C. pseudotuberculosis abscess is likely to be the problem she will start treatment by draining the abscess and flushing the area. The tricky part is any pus that hits the ground can contaminate the entire area so all pus must be contained and disposed of properly. Dr. Lacher said she tries to open them on concrete so bleach can be applied to the area. Opened and regularly flushed abscesses generally heal rapidly with minimal scarring. However, ulcerative lymphangitis can be very difficult to treat. These horses are placed on aggressive antibiotic therapy with both injectable antibiotics and highly concentrated therapy into veins in the affected leg. The leg is kept bandaged to help reduce swelling, absorb drainage, and keep antimicrobial ointments in place. Unfortunately chronic scarring of the leg and repeated infections are often left over effects of this form of the disease. Infection of the internal organs is treated with rest and aggressive antibiotics with a full recovery the usual outcome.

Prevention is aimed at controlling insects in the stable area and making sure any wounds are regularly addressed. The very bottom of the abdomen is a common area for us to see insect bites leading to open skin and excellent entrance sites from many diseases. SWAT fly ointment is the best way Dr. Lacher and her team has found to prevent this problem. Several groups are working on a vaccine but so far they have had no luck. The good thing in Florida is that Pigeon Fever time of year and scratches or dew poisoning time of year are not the same.

The biggest lesson I learned is, once again, if in doubt about what is going on with your horse: Call Springhill Equine! And in the meantime May your litter box be clean and your food bowl full!!

Vacation Time!!!!

Jul 22, 2012 | Feed

Dr. Lacher spent the week before her vacation running around the clinic trying to make sure Dr. King and our fabulous team were up to speed on all her cases before she headed to Paris for a week. She assured me she would bring me back something tasty from France so I allowed her to go. Along with making sure we have good communication in the office, Dr. Lacher all her animals at home were taken care of. I thought I would let you in on her preparations for leaving since I thought it was great information for all humans.

First thing Dr. Lacher did was to make sure she had plenty of feed and hay for the horses, and was stocked up on cat and dog food. She went through her feed room to be sure she had her feeding board up to date. Her feeding board was, of course, out of date with one horse listed in the wrong stall and a few on their winter feeding amounts. Making sure these details are clear for her farm sitter will minimize any confusion while she is gone. While in the feed room, Dr. Lacher made sure there was enough Myristol, Solitude, and One AC for the non-sweaters. She added a bucket of homemade electrolytes just in case the horses sweat overly much one day or someone wasn’t drinking enough. Recipe: two containers of Morton Salt Balancer, or two regular salt and two lite salt containers, and 10 ground up Tums.

In the barn, Dr. Lacher made sure all the stalls were labeled with the horse’s name and that halters and lead ropes were in obvious locations. Dr. Lacher tried to make sure that all those little things we put up with, such as the snap that isn’t quite right, were fixed up. On her last stall cleaning she made sure she added a little extra bedding and made sure they were super clean. She gave all the water buckets an extra scrub and generally did a bit of tidying up. While her farm sitter is excellent, it makes it flow a little easier to have things a bit “over” ready. Just like most farm sitters, Dr. Lacher’s has places to be after taking care of her farm and she tries to get her in and out as quickly and efficiently as possible. Finally Dr. Lacher made sure that an extra copy of the feeding and turnout instructions were posted in the barn aisle and e-mailed a copy to her farm sitter.

Now that all the concrete work was done Dr. Lacher sat down to work on the hard part: paperwork. Dr. Lacher filled out an owner/agent form for each of her horses, cats, and dogs. This form allows her to designate her wishes for each of the animals. There is a location for what kind of procedures are allowed and not allowed, and a monetary amount she is willing to spend on each animal. It also legally allows her farm sitter to authorize veterinary care up to the designated amount. The form has a paragraph designating what to do in case euthanasia should be necessary. This form makes sure everyone knows what should be done with each animal in case anything is necessary! These forms, along with all contact information are placed in a folder readily visible for the farm sitter.

It’s hard going on vacation and leaving us furry kids behind but with the proper preparation you can be sure we will be well taken care of!

May your litter box always be clean and your food bowl full!

Horse Breeding for Dummies Part 6 – Stallion Basics

Jul 12, 2012 | Breeding

What a week! I am exhausted just from watching the clinic staff in recent days – Springhill Equine has been in full swing for breeding season these past two weeks! In honor of that, I felt it was time we continued our discussion on horse breeding. This week, I would like to segue into the male side – basics of management of stallions and geldings. A stallion is a male horse that has not been castrated and is sexually mature (vs. a colt, which is not mature). A gelding is a stallion or colt that has been castrated. Sexual maturity is reached at about 4 years of age, but many colts will exhibit stallion-like behavior and sexual activity as early as 8 months of age. They should be separated from females when this is observed.

Castration, or removal of the testes and associated structures, is commonly performed on horses, as stallions can be tricky and difficult to handle and manage. Stallions are often housed in facilities separate from mares so no accidental breedings occur. They must be handled with a firm but cautious hand. With all of this said, there are many stallions out there who are considered docile and easily managed. Geldings that are castrated before significant stallion behaviors develop, on the other hand, make wonderful companion and riding animals, and are generally more docile. If a stallion is castrated later in life (eg, more than 2 years of age), stallion-like and/or aggressive behaviors may persist post-castration. It is not recommended for the beginner horse-person to own a stallion – usually males are only kept stallions (or ‘intact’) in situations where they will be specifically used for breeding purposes. Some are left intact until physical characteristics develop (eg, larger size, crested neck), and are then castrated. Thoroughbred racehorses are often kept as stallions so they have the potential for a breeding career if their racing career proves successful.

Let’s talk more about the specifics of the male horse reproductive tract. As with any mammal, both stallions and geldings have a penis as their external genitalia. Unlike humans, however, the male horse’s penis at rest is telescoped within itself, and is housed inside the body during the majority of the time. He will externalize the penis (as one would extend a telescope) during times of sexual arousal, for urination, or during sedation/relaxation. There can be medical issues that result in the horse becoming unable to retract the penis, and can become a major problem if left externally for an extended period of time (just like they say on the Viagra commercials – 4 hours is too long!). Tumors and other skin conditions of the penis are relatively common in horses, so regular cleaning of the dirt and skin oils (termed ‘smegma’) from the penis and sheath is important. The vets here at Springhill Equine clean any male horse who is sedated for a dental float, and check them thoroughly for any signs of cancer or other abnormalities.

Stallions also have a pair of testes housed externally in the scrotum. Veterinarians are aware of several conditions that can arise with the scrotum and testes – including infections, tumors, testicular torsions (a medical emergency that presents often as severe and sudden colic), and scrotal hernias. The testes is the assembly factory for sperm, while the next-in-line epididymis is responsible for sperm maturation – eg. packaging and storage. On ejaculation, the sperm leave the tail end of the epididymis, where they are waiting in storage, and travel up toward the pelvis along the ductus deferens (analogous to the vas deferens in humans) until they dump into the urethra (also the exit for the urinary tract) at about the level of the anus. Fluid is added from three different glands (bulbourethral glands, seminal vesicles, and prostate) to help the sperm along their journey. They travel along the urethra through several feet of penile tissue (whose base is just below the anus internally) before exiting with the goal of seeking an egg. In our next blog, we will discuss the various routes a sperm can take to reach that egg – with the stallion actually breeding a mare, or via artificial insemination (A.I.) with fresh, cooled, or frozen semen.

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog this week, maybe next time I could see you in person at the clinic (for some pets)! Keep emailing if you have any specific questions you would like me to cover in my blog (or in the newsletter, for that matter!)! May your litter box be clean, and your food bowl full!

Three Easy Ways to Afford Your Horse!

Jul 2, 2012 | Feed

I was listening in on some phone calls this week, and learned a ton about the latest in financing options that Springhill Equine offers to help our clients provide the best care to their horses (I figured we just took cat food and treats as payment, but apparently we offer loads of other choices). Just so we are clear, Teenie and I are happy to continue to work for food (particularly Pounce).

The most exciting thing I learned about was Payment Banc. This option allows our clients to pay via an automatic withdrawal from a checking or savings account. Whether you want to pay monthly or weekly, ANY frequency can be set up – allowing for amazing flexibility. This program allowed one of our clients to perform extensive dental work on a geriatric rescue horse for just $70 down. Our Doctors performed an extensive float, and the horse was finally able to comfortably chew when they were finished. It will save her a ton in feed costs (instead of having that money dropped on the floor of his stall) as we get him back to a normal weight. The client was very excited since Payment Banc allowed her to spread the work over six weeks instead of one lump sum. The Doctors recommended bloodwork to check for Cushing’s disease (PPID) and X-rays of his front feet as well (to check for laminitis). Once the horse has had time to get back in shape, our client will add on to her payments so she can continue to provide the best for this fantastic old guy! This client told me (ok… well actually Marilyn, but I was right there on my cushion!) that application was quick and easy. She said a “soft credit check” was performed, but it did not impact or even register on her credit report. I have no idea what all that meant, but it sounded important to the client.

A second option I heard about in the office was Care Credit. This works like a credit card that is specific for health care providers. Many people apparently already have it for use with their doctors and dentists. Much like a credit card, Care Credit sets a credit limit. You are able to charge up to that limit with your healthcare provider. It is a great option for those sudden and unexpected expenditures – like the late-night colic that always happens just before payday! After you apply online and are approved, Care Credit offers INTEREST FREE payment plans for the first 6 months. Be aware, however, that Care Credit does revert to a large interest rate once the promotional period is complete (just like other similar offers from retailers like Best Buy). Just like Payment Banc, Care Credit allows you to add on when more services are provided. The biggest difference is the interest at the end. I have heard our clients talk about using Care Credit for major procedures, like colic surgeries or tooth extractions, while Payment Banc works better for minor procedures or routine services.

The last great option I heard about was recurring credit card payments. We are able to set up payments as often as once weekly on Master Card, Visa, Discover, and American Express. One client spread her payments for an extensive lameness evaluation over a two month period, while still earning points on her credit card! This client planned to go to the Quarter Horse Congress this year, and jokingly told us that all the points would help!

I must say, I expanded my knowledge of the many options we offer to make sure our clients can take excellent care of their horses. Our Doctors never want you to have to compromise on your horse’s care on account of your finances! And of course, may your food bowl always be full and your litter box clean!

Exciting new eye med!

Jun 3, 2012 | Ailments

Hallo there! Another day in the world of Tony here (just waiting for the Monday to come so I have all my people paying attention to me again). This weekend, watching the vets prepare another edition of our monthly newsletter, The Naughty Pony, I was amazed at what Dr. King had to share about a new eye medication called Equitrx Corneal Repair drops (from Bayer). I mostly stole this week’s blog from the newsletter, because I think as many people as possible need to know why they need to call us quickly when their horse’s eye becomes painful.

The vets at Springhill Equine have experienced recent success in treating ‘fresh’ corneal ulcers, thanks to a new medication. Corneal ulcers – defects or scratches on the outermost surface of your horse’s eye, are a serious problem for you and your horse. The new medication is for ulcers recognized in the first 24 hours, so we encourage you more than ever to call us IMMEDIATELY if you notice your horse has a painful eye.

Dr. King first learned about the medication, called Equitrx Corneal Repair drops, when a Bayer representative presented at a University of Florida Equine Club meeting (UF SCAAEP). She has subsequently prescribed the medication to appropriate cases with great success. Corneal ulcers are a particularly frustrating and potentially expensive problem for horse owners in Florida. The cornea, the outermost clear surface of the eye, not only is part of the sphere that keeps the eye inflated, but is the window to the eye. It contains no blood vessels and no water, thanks to special water pumps inside corneal cells – and this is how this thin layer stays so clear. An ulcer is a disruption in this outer surface – from a bump, poke (hay and grass heads are common culprits), or who knows what. Sometimes the defect heals quickly over in the face of infection, and what is called a ‘stromal abscess’ results.

The cornea itself is made up of three layers – akin to a hamburger (meat between two buns). A corneal ulcer disrupts some portion of the top bun and the meat, but can erode down and or/through the bottom bun. A stromal abscess is in the meat with both buns intact. It can rupture into the eye, or out. The scariest part is that the bottom bun is only 2 CELLS thick! The corneal layers are extremely sensitive to pain – which is why if you try to poke a horse in the eye, he reflexively shuts it. This ‘corneal reflex’ is one of the last reflexes to leave a horse when it dies, and can be used by veterinary staff to measure depth or level of anesthesia.

If your horse suddenly has one painful eye (squinting, eyelid drooping, tearing), a corneal ulcer is suspected until proven otherwise. If we see your horse, we will look in the eye, and can often see the defect in the surface, and in later stages blood vessels and/or surrounding edema. Blood vessels and edema obscure the window, making it hard for your horse to see. We will stain your horse’s eye with florescein, a bright green dye, which binds to the meat of the cornea. The amount of stain will show us how big and where the ulcer is. It can also help differentiate a corneal ulcer from a stromal abscess. Florescein does not bind to either bun, so in the worst cases, there is no stain in the middle of the ulcer (bottom bun), and a ring of green where the meat is exposed. These are medical emergencies and generally are treated surgically, which is usually close to and potentially significantly more than $5,000 by the time the ulcer has healed (usually weeks to months). Appropriate medical treatment for the average ulcer can easily reach $700-$1200 in 1-2 weeks of treatment, if hospitalization is elected (and strongly recommended) at Springhill Equine or a referral facility.

The first medication used to treat corneal ulcers is an antibiotic ointment applied directly to the affected eye. This allows the ulcer to heal free of infection, which will constantly and continuously work against and erode the healing cornea. Another significant potential for infection comes from fungi, which are unfortunately abundant in Florida! Fungal infection results in a ‘melting ulcer’ – where the cornea literally appears to be melting away (droplet-like) from the site. These are extremely difficult to deal with, aggressive antifungal treatment is necessary (eg, hourly, 24/7) to save the eye, otherwise surgical treatment may be required (removing the eye as the battle fails).

Atropine is also used as a topical eye ointment, to dilate the eye keeping it more comfortable. Banamine is used as well to keep the horse comfortable (it appears to work better than bute). A variety of other topical medications can be added into the regimine based on severity. However, without corneal healing, these treatments are for naught. This new product, which contains hyaluronic acid (a viscous fluid that we inject into joints), provides a scaffold over which the healing corneal cells can move. Dr. King has seen healing within 24 hours in 4 out of 5 horses she has prescribed it to (the 5th was particularly large/severe and required several weeks to heal). These cases all fit the appropriate criteria for the company recommends for treatment (eg, they were certain to have occurred in the last 12-24 hours).

I am convinced, as is the rest of Springhill Equine, that this new product holds a great deal of promise for horses attended within 24 hours of injury. We recommend, now more than ever, that you please call us IMMEDIATELY if you notice your horse has a painful eye, to save you and your horse a potentially long and painful process! Thanks for reading, and may your litter box be clean and your food bowl full!