FEELING BLUE!!!

Horsy conversation!!! feeling blue. A little bit under the weather? cold and chills??, fever??? Can you help???

ANHIDROSIS !!!

photo credit.Erica Larson. This is a condition in horses that prevents them from sweating after exposure to exercise or high temperature.This condition is very fatal especially in working horses,where the sweat-cooling-evaporation process is absent.The horse cannot regulate the body temperature when exerted or in hot environment.These horses are referred to as non sweaters and are handled with care.The non sweaters are identified and isolated,they should be kept in well ventilated stables that are fitted with fans to ensure cool air is circulated.The non sweaters are not used for strenuous exercises and walked out in cool evenings and not on hot environment. Signs of anhidrosis are 1)dry flaky skin.2)loss of hair. 3)poor appetite 4)fatigue.5) low consumption of water 6) absence of sweat even after exercise. Treatment is only management/ supportive care. Stable horse in cool environment,fix fans in barns to cool the horses down.

THE THREAT OF THE WEST NILE VIRUS.

The disease is prevalent in Africa,but has been observed in the U.S; read more http://www.thehorse.com/features/35412/west-nile-virus-in-u-s-horses?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=farm-barn&utm_campaign=11-08-2015

HORSE POOP ANALYSIS!!!

Horses health status can be analyzed from behavior,temperament, poop nature,nature of coat,posture and color of mucous membrane.The horse health can be evaluated based on constituency and appearance.Horses should give about 8-10 of manure daily,these should be well formed but the fecal balls should break easily. Signs of ill health deduced from poop; 1) if the fecal balls are dry,hard and solid that does not break easily; the horse is constipated and should be provided with more water. Dry fecal balls with traces of blood also suggests constipation. 2)when mucus is not in the poop ,its an indication of irritation in the gut such as bacterial infection. 3)poop with pieces of straw,hay or grain indicate the horse is not chewing.The feed passes through the body fast,this indicates a dental issue. 4) when eggs are discovered in feces, a worming exercise is indicated. 5)when poop is very loose,the feed has high grain content or the horse feed has too much salt; this will result in watery diarrhoea.

COLIC IN HORSES.

COLIC IN HORSES; YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE!!!! Colic refers to any pain or discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract.The common causes are overfeeding, underfeeding, poor dental health, inadequate consumption of water , excessive consumption of water after exercise and changes in the quality and quantity of feed. The structure of the equine stomach predisposes it to colic hence adequate care must be ensured in horse management; the stomach of the horse is small and without muscles ,the stomach is connected to the small intestine where breakdown of food occurs and the digested matter is further metabolized in the cecal before the waste is expelled.Feed consumed in large quantities within a short period of time will not move rapidly into the small intestine, its the fermentation of feed in the stomach that results in distention with gas resulting in colic pain,which could be fatal if there is a twisting or turning of intestines,resulting in displacement of abdominal structures. The signs of colic in horses are pawing ,chewing and kicking at abdomen,dog -sitting posture, restlessness,getting up and sitting down,sweating ,dullness and refusal of feed and water. Flared snares,depression,cool extremities,depression,lack of bowel movement and reduced/absent gut sounds. Treatment depends on severity and whether surgery is necessary; 1) analgesic.2)sedative.3)lubricants/laxatives. When pain is not resolved after analgesic use,surgery will be necessary to correct it. HOW TO PREVENT COLIC. 1)do not overfeed. 2)give enough roughage. 3)avoid excess grain feeding. 4) proper dental health,to ensure proper chewing of feed to prevent gobbling. 5)do not feed on ground. 6) make dietary changes gradually. 7)de worm regularly; blockage in large/small intestines can also cause colic.6

HORSES AND WORMS.

Worms are usually found at a low percentage in horses that are on pasture because they usually pick up worm eggs. Horses that are not dewormed usually have high percentage of worm load which robs them of nutrients,energy and blood loss.Horses with heavy worm infestation suffer damage to intestines which result in malnutrition,chronic digestive problems,poor performance and colic. Horses with worm infestation are usually dull, weak,have potbellied appearance,rough coat and frequent episodes of colic.Horses should be dewormed once in 3 months,the deworing products are safe and easy to use. The deworming products are powdery,pellets,paste and liquid preparations; the worm preparation could be specific or a broad spectrum mixture that will take care of wide varieties of worms.Fecal examinations must be carried out at regular intervals to determine worm load, worm varieties and resistant/prevalent strains in the farm,so that appropriate drugs are used.

VACCINATION AND HORSE HEALTH.

Diseases can occur suddenly, and without a proper vaccination protocol,it could be fatal. The benefit of vaccination aside from health status is hinged on the performance of the horse, and its much better to vaccinate your horses than to wait for disease incidence and initiate treatment. Vaccination protects the horse against disease agents by stimulating their immune system to develop antibodies when exposed to infectious agents.Vaccinations do not confer immediate protection,it takes the body 2-4 weeks to produce the protective antibodies against the disease.The first exposure vaccination must be followed by a booster shot at 4 weeks to strengthen the expected response. HOW TO GET THE BEST FROM VACCINATION. 1) Develop and maintain a vaccination protocol. 2)Obtain vaccines from reliable sources. 3)Maintain the cold chain. 4)Do not vaccinate sick animals. 5)Use sterile syringes and use recommended dose and route. The Eastern and Western encephalomyelitis, west nile virus,rabies and tetanus toxoid are essential for every horse, these must be done alongside other vaccinations.