Posts Tagged ‘horse health’

Equine Periodontal Disease

Monday, March 14th, 2011

Research funded by The Horse Trust shows link between bacteria and equine periodontal disease

The potential role of bacteria in the development of periodontal disease in horses has been shown in research funded by The Horse Trust.

The research, which was carried out by Alistair Cox at the University of Edinburgh, is also the first study to describe the microscopic anatomy of equine periodontal disease. Cox plans to submit the research to a veterinary journal.

Equine periodontal disease is a common condition in horses affecting around 60 percent of horses over the age of 15 years (1). The disease is painful and can have a big impact on a horse’s quality of life, affecting the animal’s ability to eat and its performance.

Although bacteria are known to be a cause of periodontal disease in humans, cats and dogs, their significance in relation to the disease in horses is less clear. Mechanical factors, such as food being packed between the horse’s teeth due to abnormal growth and spaces was considered to be the primary cause.

For the research, Cox examined the skulls of 22 horses that had been submitted for post mortem examination. Although none of the horses had received treatment for periodontal disease, 16 had some form of periodontal disease.

“This research, funded by The Horse Trust, highlights how common periodontal disease is in horses. Yet many horses don’t receive treatment so are likely to be suffering in silence. I would advise all horse owners to get their vet or equine dentist to regularly check their horse to see if it is developing the condition,” said Cox.

Cox identified bacteria, including spirochaetes, that were associated with the presence of periodontal disease. Spirochaetes are known to be important in human and canine periodontal disease, but this is the first study to identify spirochaetes associated with equine periodontal disease.

“This study shows that bacteria may be more important than was previously thought in the development of equine periodontal disease. More research is needed to understand whether bacteria or mechanical factors are the main cause of the disease. Once we have a better understanding of why and how the disease develops, we can do more to prevent horses from developing this painful condition,” said Cox.

The Horse Trust-funded research also found a significant association between the age of the horse and periodontal disease. Skulls were examined from horses ranging from 4 to over 20 years of age. The older horses were found to be more likely to have periodontal disease and a more advanced form of the condition.

Cox examined the skulls under the microscope and under x-ray. He found various histological features associated with equine periodontal disease(2), but did not find any statistically significant radiographic features (3).

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Equine Strangles | Horse Care | Horse Health

Monday, June 7th, 2010

Equine Strangles

Strangles is a bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by the bacteria streptococcus equi and is very contiguous and can spread quickly among horses, especially in a stabled environment. The condition can affect any horse of any age or type and is the most common equine respiratory diseases in the world.

Strangles itself can kill, in simple cases there is a 1% mortality rate, but complications are frequent. In around 10% of cases, horses can develop abscesses in other body organs, which eventually rupture. These are known as ‘bastard’ strangles and horses with this complication are at higher risk of death.

The clinical signs of strangles can vary in intensity but from onset horses become depressed, dull, stops eating and can have a temperature of 41 degrees Celsius. Many horses will also get a swelling under the lower jaw, this is an abscess in the submandibular lymph nodes. After a few days most horses have a yellow nasal discharge, this is down to the abscesses rupturing in the nasal passages. The horse will have difficulty breathing and swallowing, a cough and increased respiratory rate.

A swab of an abscess, nasal discharge or from the back of the pharynx, pharyngeal swab, is required to culture the bacteria in a lab.

Strangles can be difficult to treat, affected horses should be isolated until four weeks after the clinical signs have resolved or until three negative swabs have been cultured each one week apart. Antibiotics may or may not be used; this should be left to the attending vet to decide.

People and equipment can spread the infection so disinfection and barrier nursing, only one person handles affected horses, should be employed. Once affected horses have recovered they have immunity against the bacteria for approximately four years.

Horses can be vaccinated against strangles and is a good way of preventing outbreaks. All horses in a yard should be vaccinated.

For more details on strangles go to:

Equine Strangles

Horse Care

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Horse Care | Horses Health | Horse Illness

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Horse Care a Priority

All horse owners put their horse’s health as their first priority and when a horse does become unwell or injured it is a major concern and can become expensive. That’s why preventative measures are of the up-most importance and all aspects of horse care should be taken seriously by anyone caring for horses.

Unlike dogs or cats who may whimper or whinge, being a prey animal horses don’t vocally show signs of being injured so it is down to the horse owner or whoever is caring for the horse, to recognising the subtle signs that the horse is unwell or injured.

Knowing the horses normal and well behaviour will make it easier to spot when the horse isn’t his ‘normal’ self. It could be that the horse usually comes to the stable door or field gate in a morning to greet you and this hasn’t happened, or that the horse has started to bite when putting on his saddle. Whatever the sign, the quicker it is recognise that something is wrong and investigate it further, the less severe the problem will become.

Horses will have their own normal behaviour, which will differ from the horse next door but being aware of the general signs that something is not normal is a good start.

Signs of good health in a horse are:

Bright and alert attitude (not dull or lethargic)
Clear eyes (not runny or sticky)
Clear nose (no mucus)
Good coat (not sweaty, not obvious dried sweat patches, no signs of fur loss, no lumps or reaction patches)
Weight bearing on both front feet
Good amount of droppings
Eating feed/hay
Signs of drinking water
Horse is breathing normally (not wheezing, not mouth breathing, not breathing fast) normal respiration rate 8-16 breaths per minute
Body temperature normal – normal temperature for a horse is 38 degrees C or 100.5-101 degrees F

There are many illnesses or diseases that can affect horses below are just a few of the problems which as a horse owner we should be aware of how to recognise the signs of:

Muscle Problems
Azoturia
Tetanus (lock jaw)

Respiratory Problems
Cough
Cold
Influenza
Pneumonia
Strangles
C.O.P.D (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

Digestive Problems
Colic
Choke

Skin Problems
Sweet Itch
Ringworm
Mud Fever
Lice
Tack Sores
Sunburn

Foot Problems
Bruised Sole and Corns
Sandcrack and Grasscrack
Laminitis
Nail Bind and Nail Prick
Puncture Wounds

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Horse Health | Horse Care | Sweet Itch

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Sweet Itch

From as early as March through to October the Culicoides specie of Midge are breeding and this only means one thing for certain horses and that is Sweet Itch or Summer Seasonal Recurrent Dermatitis.

Sweet Itch is an allergic skin disease caused by a reaction to the saliva in a Cullicoides midge bite. The bite will cause an isolated irritation in the skin, the horse will then self inflict damage to him trying to rub the irritated areas.

Sweet Itch can affect any horse or pony, although normally symptoms start to show between the ages of 1 and 5 years of age.

Signs of the disease are, severe itching and rubbing against trees, fences etc which will cause hair loss; swishing of tail; frequently rolling; flaky dandruff; skin thickening; weeping sores or dried yellow crusts. Often the affected areas are the mane and top of tail, although in worse cases this can include the forelock, ears, neck, withers and even sides of the belly or legs.

Once a horse has Sweet Itch there is no cure and will occur every year so the welfare and comfort of a horse with Sweet Itch is down to the owner’s management of the condition.

There are several steps that can be taken to help minimise the effect on the horse they are:

Minimise midge attacks by
Avoiding marshy or boggy fields; Don’t put the horse in a field or stable near rotting vegetation such as a muck heap or old hay feeding areas; Don’t leave the horse in the field during peak feeding time for midges (1 hour before and after sunrise and sunset), at this time stable the horse closing all doors and windows or use fine mesh screens. (stabling horses is only advisable in mild/moderate cases as horses with more severe sweet itch can self damage on stable walls. Horses with severe sweet itch should not be stabled and other management methods used.); use commercially available sheets and hoods when horse is turned out; clean water troughs regularly to prevent flies breeding in this area.

Kill flies that attack the horse by using
Insect repellents such as DEET; Insecticides containing Benzyl benzoate can be used every day (Kill Itch by Carr Day & Martin) however insecticides containing pyrethrins or pyrethroids last longer but are only available from vets (Switch by Day, Son and Hewitt).

Anti-allergy treatment to minimise allergic reaction by
Using Corticosteroids or Anti-histamines, only available from your vet.

For more information or advise on Sweet Itch visit http://www.sweet-itch.co.uk/ or speak to your equine vet.

N.B Sweet Itch is classed by vets as a reportable condition and must be disclosed to a prospective purchaser before the sale.

Horse Care

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