There is a significant
lapse in the time between when these questions are sent
in and when the answers appear in the Gazette newspaper and online. If
you feel your horse needs to be seen by a veterinarian do not wait for
a response. Call a reputable equine veterinarian in your area and let
him/her examine the horse! Dr. Mike Martin and Dr.
Betsy Mikkelsen,Retama
Equine Hospital
IMPORTANT
DISCLAIMER:
At The Horse Gazette and HorseGazette.com our 'Ask the Vets' page is
not intended to replace diagnosis or treatment of your horse by your
own veterinarian or other professional; The Horse Gazette or
HorseGazette.com does not assume any legal responsibilty.
“Please
remember, there
is a significant lapse between when these questions are sent in and
when the
answers appear.If you feel your horse
needs to be seen by a veterinarian, do not wait for a response. Call a
reputable
equine veterinarian in your area and let him or her examine your horse.This is advice only and not meant to be a
substitute for proper and prompt local veterinary care.
Fusion
causing stiff neck?
I bought a 2-year-old filly this summer she developed shipping fever,
we gave her shots and kept her separated from the other horses for the
first month and I noticed she had a very stiff neck on one side. I took
her to the vet; he said it was probably just scar tissue from the many
shots she had received. I was not happy with his answer, so I took her
to a horse chiropractor; she thinks that from an old injury her axis
has fused together. What can be done for this if this is the problem? –
Thanks Becky Reuss, submitted via HorseGazette.com.
Dear Becky,
Multiple intramuscular shots can definitely make a horse noticeably
sore, especially some antibiotics which are irritating to soft
tissue. However, a cervical problem cannot be ruled out. It
is recommended that you work with a veterinarian to get to the root of
the issue. Finding the cause of the soreness may take diagnostics
such as radiographs to rule out any bony changes that would cause the
soreness. An ultrasound of the tissue of the neck may be
performed to evaluate the soft tissue on the affected side. – Dr. Symm
Exercise After Colic?
How long do you have to wait to ride a horse that just had colic?
Is there a time frame to not be riding them? What other
precautions do you take? - Lacy, submitted via HorseGazette.com
Dear Lacy,
The amount of time that should pass before riding a horse that has had
colic is dependent upon the severity of the episode. If the horse
suffered a minor episode that resolved quickly, the time could be as
long as several days. If the colic was severe, such as anterior
enteritis or a colic that required surgery to correct, the time frame
could be over 60 days. It is important to communicate with your
veterinarian and have a planned schedule for return to exercise for the
colic patient. – Dr. Symm
Back Left Hip Clicks
My friend has a 6-month-old colt and his back left hip seems to click
kind of coming out then going back in is this something to worry about?
- Thanks, Ayesha, submitted via HorseGazette.com
Dear Ayesha,
Clicking sounds when horses move can be a normal finding. If the
clicking is associated with any heat, pain, swelling and/or lameness,
it is recommended that you consult with your veterinarian. Your
veterinarian will likely want to perform a physical examination to try
and identify the specific cause of the problem, after which time a
prognosis could possibly be given. – Dr. Symm
Stocking
I have a 2-year-old mare and a 2-year-old gelding. When I put them up
in a stall their hind legs swell. I also have a couple of yearlings and
I don't have this problem with. What would cause this? – Thanks,
Sherrie, submitted via HorseGazette.com
Dear Sherrie,
The swelling that you are reporting sounds much like stocking up, which
is a colloquial term used to describe a benign or harmless accumulation
of fluid within the tissues or simply swelling of the lower limbs in
horses. The fluid is lymphatic fluid or left over fluid from the
horse’s circulation that is usually drained out of the area by the
lymphatic vessels. Lymphatic drainage is dependent upon movement and
contraction of the skeletal muscles to ‘squeeze’ the fluid along the
lymphatic vessels. Since horses do not have much muscle covering their
lower legs they tend to have problems with fluid accumulation in those
areas. Some horses seem to never have an issue while others stock up
frequently or whenever they are confined and movement is restricted for
an extended period of time. The swelling is typically not a problem
that leads to any lameness or serious medical issue. Additionally, the
swelling will usually decrease or go away with return to exercise.
Allowing the horse to be turned out in a paddock, if there are no other
medical reasons for confinement, will give the horse freedom to move
enough to alleviate the swelling. Regular controlled exercise, like
hand-walking, will often help with the swelling. In some more severe
cases standing leg wraps can be applied in conjunction with cold-hose
therapy. If you notice any heat, pain, discharge, fever and/or lameness
you should contact your veterinarian, because swelling simply
associated with stocking up should not present with any of these
symptoms. – Dr. Symm
I have a 2 yr mare whose nasal area on her face has swelled and is soft
on both sides. It runs 2 to 3 inches up where her nasal passages would
be. This just developed about the last few weeks. Would penicillin help
this? There is no running, she eats, but is the "bottom" horse and
often is left waiting for her turn at the hay. I gave her ivermectin in
Oct and Nov, but she still doesn't gain weight. Up until last month our
pastures were really full, so I did not grain my horses. They have hay
at all times.
I have another 3 yr mare that has a hard lump on both sides of her face
about middle ways. Would the development of teeth cause that? - Suzanne
Sturgell, submitted via HorseGazette.com
Dear Suzanne,
Bilateral hard bumps, especially along the lower jaw
of a younger horse, are most likely eruption cysts which are perfectly
normal and will eventually disappear as the permanent teeth
erupt. With regards to the first horse, swelling in the nasal
region of the muzzle can be due to a number of different causes. While
an infection could be the cause of the swelling, I would expect there
to be other clinical signs such as nasal discharge, fever and decreased
appetite. Bloodwork might also indicate the presence of an infection.
Gastric ulcers could be a possible cause for her poor body condition
and inability to gain weight. Gastroscopy or scoping her stomach would
be a definitive way to diagnose stomach ulcers. If this is a seasonal
occurrence, then another possible cause could be an allergic reaction.
This last is probably the most difficult to prove and would be more of
a diagnosis of elimination of other causes. While penicillin, in the
correct dosage, would probably not hurt the horse, I would recommend
that you first have your veterinarian determine there are no other
inciting causes and confirm by a fecal float that your deworming
program is working. – Dr. Symm
Hi, I have a 8 month old half-Dutch filly who developed as ulcer at 4
months after being weaned. Was treated ASAP and soon was back eating
like a pig! She is VERY active and bright. My problem is I think she is
not gaining weight like she should. Has good free choice hay and is on
roughly 7 pounds of feed (divided into 3 feedings) daily. She lacks
muscle development. Have her on a 16% foal feed. Also add 3/4 of a cup
of soya oil to her feed. Any ideas? Thanks. - Jill Phillips,
submitted via www.HorseGazette.com
Dear Jill,
Balanced nutrition for a growing weanling is essential not just for
weight gain, but for bone and joint development. Weanlings should be
fed 2-2.5% of their body weight a day with 60-70% of those calories
being from forage or hay. In addition to the correct nutrition, a
regular deworming and vaccination program will contribute to healthy
weight gain. Overall, weanlings approaching 12 months do slow in growth
rate from the previous 6 months. Weight gain and coat development are
often the result of an increase in fat content of the feed, and horses
usually tolerate an increase in fat very well. While soya oil is one
way to add this, you can also try rice bran and corn oil mixed in with
the grain. Assuming that “half-Dutch” is referring to a Dutch
Warmblood, she will take longer to move past the awkward phase and
truly round into form, especially in relation to more precocious breeds
like quarter horses. The lack of muscle development may be a
consequence of this characteristic, especially if she is acting bright
and is active, and is otherwise healthy. She can be judiciously
exercised or allowed ample turn-out to help develop the muscles
further. Another factor that should be considered is the presence
of other horses where she is being fed. Is she actually getting to eat
all the feed that you are giving her? As she has developed ulcers in
the past, I suggest speaking to your veterinarian about possibly using
a preventative dose of omeprazole or another anti-ulcer medication to
help her gain weight. One last factor could be a nervous nature that is
causing a higher metabolic rate. If this is the case, then increased
turn-out or other training methods to calm her down may help with
weight gain. – Dr. Symm
My cousin’s 24-28 year old pony "C.B." has been shedding abnormally. It
is still cold out, and whenever you stroke him a big clump of his hair
falls out. his shoulder, part of his back, and the sides of his barrel
are almost completely bare except for a small layer of very thin hair.
He seems to be acting totally normal, except when it gets cold; he will
shiver (which is to be expected with the limited amount of hair he has
right now). Normally he will have this very this warm coat. The vet
suggested it was ringworm, but there are no little circular patches. He
has a bit of dandruff, but I don’t think that would make him shed that
much. Please help me. What should I do and what do you think is wrong?
– Amy Tschiger, submitted via www.HorseGazette.com
Dear Amy,
Many different things can cause loss of hair in a horse, including
parasitic, fungal, allergic, nutritional, metabolic, and idiopathic
(unknown) causes. A good way to attempt to isolate what is causing the
hair loss in your horse would be by having your veterinarian perform a
culture and skin biopsy. These tests may give information regarding the
cause of the disorder, especially if it is a fungal or parasitic
infection. While good diagnostic tests, they are not infallible
and may give no answer to the question of what is causing this hair
loss. A diet including a pelleted senior feed may be easier for him to
digest and may help his hair coat. Additional supplements high in fat,
like corn oil, might be helpful as well. It is also a good idea to
consult with your veterinarian regarding any dietary changes, getting
baseline bloodwork, having him dewormed and having his teeth examined
as these may all be contributing factors. – Dr. Symm
I just got a AQHA 2-yr old gelding with a "lame" LH
foot. He came up lame 1-yr ago at the ranch where he originally came
from. No injuries known. I got him 2-weeks ago. I took him into my vet
for xrays and exam. He has high ringbone and a possible infection. I
was told to soak in epson salts every night (which we are doing). He
had some heat originally, especially after turn out. So we have him in
a 12x24 rubber matted stall and the heat was gone last night. Is there
a place that I can post his xrays and pictures of both hind feet,
soles, etc., to have vets look at?
I really think there is more going on than what my vet thinks. - Thank
you, Sabrina, submitted via www.HorseGazette.com
Dear Sabrina,
The best advice I can give you regarding your
gelding is to continue further diagnostics with your veterinarian and
attempt to localize the source of the lameness. This includes things
such as potentially blocking different parts of the foot and limb to
try to isolate where the pain is coming from. Once the area of highest
suspicion is found, additional diagnostics such as radiographs or
ultrasound would potentially be indicated. If the area continues to be
difficult to identify, taking the horse in for diagnostics such as a
bone scan, MRI or CT of the affected limbs, while pricey, could yield
the most information for you. Radiographs can be sent to a
specialist if desired. This usually comes with a nominal
consultation fee for their time and expertise. – Dr. Symm
I have a
22-year-old Arabian mare that I have used in endurance and CTR since
she was 5. She is in excellent condition. Is she too old to
consider breeding her for the first time? Not doing this for
money she has been my soul mate on the trails and I would like to have
something of hers. Thanks for your input. Sandy, submitted via
HorseGazette.com
Dear Sandy,
Advanced age does not necessarily mean there will be increased risks to
a mare that has never been bred or carried a foal. However, older
mares that have never been bred may have more trouble becoming pregnant
compared to younger maiden mares. Thorough physical and
reproductive exams by an equine veterinarian should be performed before
breeding your mare. Those exams will guide your veterinarian’s
recommendations. – Dr. Symm
Hello, A Horse I am working with has Bad dandruff. And when you look at
her there are huge flakes. I have tried brushing it out and bathing her
with different shampoos, but it still isn't working. Is there a cheap
way to deal with the dandruff? – Dayna, submitted via HorseGazette.com
Dear Dayna,
Dandruff can be a result of normal variation in the individual horse, a
disease process, or exposure to substances which dry out the
skin. Dandruff will often respond to special shampoos, since
these shampoos have not worked well for you, it is a good idea to have
your horse evaluated by an equine veterinarian. He or she may
have specific recommendations which may include diagnostics, treating a
disease and/or limiting exposure to substances which may be
contributing to your horse’s skin condition. – Dr. Symm
My 18-year-old gelding, is losing hair around the face, first started
around the eyes. Why? – Ric, submitted via HorseGazette.com
Dear Ric,
The hair loss you are describing may be the result of an allergy, skin
infection, hormone imbalance, or several other possible
explanations. Having your horse looked at by an equine
veterinarian should give you more answers. He or she may
recommend a skin scraping, or skin biopsy. Many skin conditions
will often respond to simple treatments, without ever knowing the exact
cause. – Dr. Symm
My horse has had a spot on her right shoulder that has been oozing for
a while now. It smells really bad. Its not an open wound and has no
knot underneath it. I have tried to squeeze some puss out but nothing.
When I have squeezed it she will look over at me like it hurts a little
but it’s not a severe pain. How can I treat this? – Jenny, submitted
via HorseGazette.com
Dear Jenny,
Your veterinarian needs to examine your horse. Diagnostics may
include ultrasound, x-rays, and/or a culture. Treatment may
include removing a possible foreign object, flushing the wound with a
dilute Betadine solution, making the opening bigger, packing the wound
with gauze soaked in dilute Betadine solutions, and/or antibiotics. –
Dr. Symm
Raised Scabs
I have a rescued Morgan/Quarter Horse, 6-years-old who has developed a
skin condition. He has raised scabs like hives on his back and along
the mane line. I have been soaking them with tea tree and they just pop
off, but I would like to know what they are. He is now in good health,
dewormed every other month and vetted. They do not seem to be itchy or
sore and start out as a fine rash like bites. He gets good hay with
timothy/alfalfa. I have stepped up his grooming to keep a closer eye on
him. He was previously left in a pasture with ground water and to
graze. I have had him about 3 months. Could it be a bad worm
infestation or an allergy? He is not being ridden, so there isn't tack
or blankets to rub and it is only in 2 places. – Thanks, Cathy,
submitted via HorseGazette.com
Dear Cathy,
The sores that you are describing could be caused by an infection or an
allergy. The best way to determine the cause would be speak to your
veterinarian about culturing the areas for bacteria and fungus, as well
as possibly taking a biopsy. Hopefully with these diagnostic tests you
can determine a definitive cause and treat the horse with the
appropriate medication. However, empirical treatment with medicated
shampoos might be effective. If neither of these approaches eliminates
the condition, extensive allergy testing and/or consultation with a
veterinary dermatologist might be required. You should in the meantime
take precautions to not use the same grooming tools on your other
horses, in case the cause is transmittable. – William A. Symm, DVM
White Foam
My 4-year-old miniature horse has quite a bit of white foam that comes
out of his mouth when eating his hay. Do you have any idea what this
could be from? – Thanks, Courtney, submitted via HorseGazette.com
Dear Courtney,
The most likely cause is dental problems. Miniature horses are
especially prone to malocclusions and over-growth of their molars. My
recommendation would be to ask your veterinarian to thoroughly examine
your horse’s teeth. Often horses need to be sedated and have a speculum
or mouth gag in place in order to see the entire dental arcade. –
William A. Symm, DVM
Sore Mare
My mare had a colt weaned off about 4 months ago is very sore under her
belly and is still bagged up. What can I do? Thank you, Jan,
submitted via HorseGazette.com
Dear Jan,
It can sometimes take a significant amount of time for a mare’s udder
to return to normal size after weaning and there can also be
significant swelling along the belly. However, one potential cause that
comes to mind is mastitis, or inflammation of the mammary tissue,
usually due to infection. Even though this is uncommon, it is cause for
concern and you should have your veterinarian examine your horse. They
might want to do some blood work as well to help determine what might
be causing the swelling. When giving the history to your veterinarian,
any complications during pregnancy or foaling the mare might have had
could help explain the swelling as well. – William A. Symm, DVM
Behavioral or Health Issue
Hello, I have a 9-year-old thoroughbred jumper. I have owned him one
year. Six months ago I moved him to another barn. Well, the past month
every time I tie him he pulls back; he breaks his halter, lead rope,
pulls boards out of the wall, etc. I am scared he is going to really
hurt himself or me. I am not sure why all of a sudden he has a huge
behavioral change. He always has stood quietly till recently. He has
also developed rain rot from someone using my brushes I think. But that
has been only the past two weeks he was already pulling back. I was
thinking could it be possibly due to lyme diease. I know it can cause
behavioral changes and skin problems. Or maybe I could have your
opinion if you think something may have scared him. Thank you very
much, Kamille. Submitted via HorseGazette.com
Dear Kamille,
Pulling back may be a response to pain, a perceived
threat and/or behavior problems. Your veterinarian can help you
rule out any possible causes of pain, which may instigate the pulling
back. If there are no apparent signs of pain, an experienced
trainer can help you re-teach your horse to stand tied quietly.
The safest option for you and your horse may be to refrain from
tying. Your veterinarian will also have recommendations about his
skin condition. – William A. Symm, DVM
My horse is 19
years old with coffin joint arthritis. He isn't completely lame, but
starts out a little off, and never seems perfectly sound. He's been
retired for the past couple of years, but I'd love to get him working
lightly again. What are the best ways to treat coffin joint problems?
We have them injected about every 6 months, and he's on the Shark Legs
supplement.
Is there anything else that will help his coffin joints? I've heard a
few things about nerving- could this help him, or is it mainly used for
navicular? – Leah
Dear Leah,
Many horses with arthritis can be managed in a way that will allow them
to be lightly worked. Before returning to work, it is a good idea
to have a veterinarian perform a general physical exam as well as a
lameness exam. The lameness exam will determine if there are
other achy joints, and/or if the coffin joint arthritis has changed.
Radiographs of any painful areas may be warranted. Such images
may offer helpful information that can be used to get your horse as
comfortable as possible. There are several therapies that can be
used to treat painful joints. Your veterinarian may discuss
proper shoeing, joint injections, anti-inflammatories, supplements,
and/or surgical options. Getting your horse sound enough to use will
likely involve several treatments and may take some time to see
results. The term “nerving” refers to a surgical procedure to
alleviate heal pain, regardless of the exact cause, by cutting the
nerves that supply that part of the foot. The procedure is
usually reserved for horses that have been unresponsive to other
treatments. – Dr. Symm
I have a 14 yr old mare, and I know for sure she’s not pregnant. I’ve
had her for just over a year, and no studs. Last Friday I noticed she
is bagged up. Her breasts are full of milk. They are both the same
size, they are not hot just body temperature and are firm but not hard.
If you squeeze they are full of milk.
I’ve been told to not squeeze them, to hose spray them will cold water
for 5 min twice a day, and take her off grain. She is still in the
pasture so getting grass and just a handful of pellets just enough to
mix in supplements.
They are staying about the same, not getting hot or lumpy. So is this
just a false pregnancy? or bad heat cycle? She does not show heat
cycles, I never know when she’s in heat, and I’ve never seen her breast
swell before and I check her a lot. She has had one foal in 2001 and
was bred in 2005/6 but lost the foal around 6 months.
Is this normal? Should I give her more exercise? Or keep doing what I'm
doing? Laurie Ramsey, Tampa, FL
Dear Laurie,
Presuming she is not pregnant, it does seem as though she may be
experiencing a “false pregnancy”. If this is the case, there has
been an interruption in the normal hormone signaling that brings mares
in and out of heat. A mare with a “false pregnancy” has an
increased amount of specialized tissue which secretes the hormone that
tells the rest of her body to prepare for pregnancy and
lactation. The specialized tissue may be over-developed or she
may not be receiving the appropriate hormone signal telling her that
she is not pregnant. It is not known why some mares experience
these abnormalities. Most mares can be diagnosed with ultrasound
and effectively treated. Your mare should have a thorough
reproductive exam performed. Once she is treated, her udder
should return to its normal state. Occasionally, further
treatment may become necessary if the udder becomes painful,
excessively swollen, or hot to the touch. – Dr. Symm
Could this be Pseudomonis? My mare has blue eyes. I noticed her having
a discharge from eyes about a month ago and it cleared up. Now I see
she has a yellow line in upper part of eyes. My vet came out and
checked her with a light and she did not seem sensitive. He said he had
not see this before and if it gets worse to call him. I have searched
all over internet for same symptoms. Nothing. Do you know what it is?
Thanks, Lynnette Moore
Dear Lynnette,
I cannot say what I think the problem is without getting more
information and performing an eye exam. Pseudomonas is a species
of bacteria which can cause severe problems in the eye. If
pseudomonas were the cause of what you are describing, I would expect
the eye to have been more painful and to have not resolved without
treatment. – Dr. Symm
I have a 3-month-old colt. He has bald patches on his body. It started
around his eyes, then the muzzle, then the ears, and now his buttocks.
There are a few patches on his body now. You can't pull the hair he has
out and he doesn't seem like any of it bothers him. He is not itchy.
Our vet looked at him and said the skin looked good and he couldn't see
any reason for the baldness. I am getting concerned because it has
slowly happened over 6-8 weeks and there is no sign of the hair
returning. I look forward to your response and hope you have an answer
for me. Thank you! – Jerilyn, submitted via HorseGazette.com
Hair loss leading to patches of baldness can be caused by several
different things. The best chance for resolution of the problem is to
contact your veterinarian again and let them know that the issue has
not resolved. They might then want to do some diagnostic tests like
cultures and biopsies and/or recommend a treatment trial with medicated
shampoo. Additionally, you might consider de-worming the horse if you
have not already done that recently. – Dr. Symm
Dear Dr.,
I have a 11-year-old appendix paint gelding. A year ago a local vet
diagnosed him with navicular without taking x-rays. I told my black
smith and he proceeded to put wedge pads and shoes on my horses front
feet. Within a week after the first wedge pads were placed on my
gelding, he stopped limping and was back to his old self of
running around like crazy. Recently this year (a year after the first
set of wedge pads) my horse lost a front shoe on a trail ride. When I
had my black smith come over to put the shoe and pad back on
he noticed that my horse’s foot had gotten smaller and was flexible. My
horse has small feet gene from Impressive, he has always worn a 00
Lite shoe, my black smith says to put a shoe on his one front he will
now need a 000 Lite. I have never heard of a horse’s foot shrinking in
size. Along with this, in the same foot, his foot flexes. When picking
up his foot it is able to be flexed at the heal.
My blacksmith is worried it is something really wrong in
his foot. He seems lame on both front feet, but still makes his way
around the pasture. I have looked for ideas online, but I have not
found anything on why his foot would shrink and be so flexible. Can you
help me? Thank you, Ashley, submitted via HorseGazette.com
Sometimes if horses do not bear full weight on a foot, usually because
of lameness, over an extended period of time the foot will contract.
Meaning the foot will shrink in size, usually the heels will get
narrower and more upright. My best suggestion is to have your
veterinarian examine your horse for lameness. After examining the horse
there might be additional treatment options available to make your
horse more comfortable. - Dr. Symm
I am in the process of purchasing a horse. She had her vet
examination done yesterday and I was not there due to the fact that she
is in Oregon and I am in California. I am going to ask Dr. Perry
to write me a written document to send to me regarding the exam.
What should I ask him to include other than simply giving me the blow
by blow? Thank you kindly, Crystal, submitted via HorseGazette.com
Depending on the needs you have and what the value of the horse is
dictate the amount of information you might require. Dr. Perry would be
the best person to talk to in regards to helping you determine the
amount of information you might want to have included in the report. –
Dr. Symm
Tongue Damage
Hi there, I am hoping you can help, I have a mini horse who choked a
little while back and got nerve damage of the tongue, he cant stick his
tongue back into his mouth, which makes it very hard (nearly
impossible) for him to eat. He is only 1 years old and I would like to
know what I can do. He spent 3 nights at the vet and they said bring
him back home and hopefully in time it will correct itself, but it
hasn’t. Any suggestions would be great. Thank you for your time. –
Cecelia, submitted via horsegazette.com.
Dear Cecelia,
From the description given it is certainly possible that the
innervation to your horse’s tongue has been damaged. However,
there are other possibilities that should be considered, including but
not limited to a foreign body or local infection causing swelling at
the base of the tongue. The specific nerve that controls function
of the tongue is the hypoglossal nerve, which also supplies some of the
other muscles of the pharynx and larynx (the area leading to the
esophagus). The original choke could have been a result of this
damage, but the contrary could also be true as you have
suggested. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to
determine the exact cause of your horse’s nerve damage. Having
your veterinarian perform a thorough oral exam and possibly
radiographing the head and endoscopically examining the upper airway
and esophagus might help determine the cause. This may help guide
your horse’s treatment. Nerve damage is difficult to treat, but
time and supportive care could result in a positive outcome. In
the mean time if he is having trouble eating, you may want to consult
your veterinarian about feeding a mash, such as equine senior grain
soaked in water for 20 minutes. This may make it easier for your
horse to eat. We recommend that you continue to have his
condition re-examined by your veterinarian as well. - Dr. Symm
Small Holes in Coronet Band
Hi, I am recently new to Arkansas. My thoroughbred broodmare
appears to have small holes in her coronet band-almost like some type
of mite or bug has chewed or burrowed through it eating off of
it. I am concerned that as her hooves grow she may have a
problem. She just had her hooves trimmed-but I was not home at
the time. I just noticed it yesterday. Her pasture mates
are fine. – Karen, submitted via horsegazette.com
Dear Karen,
It is very difficult to determine the cause of the holes in your
horse’s coronary band without being able to examine your horse.
We recommend that you make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Your veterinarian will likely perform a physical exam and possibly have
to do some diagnostic work that may include radiographs and probing the
wounds to determine how deep they are. Your veterinarian
will be able to determine what the best course of action is for your
horse. - Dr. Symm
Forage Change Causes Diarrhea
I have a 7-year-old paint gelding with a 2 ½ year old problem.
In 2005 when I bought him he lived in a very active horse ranch and was
fed alfalfa and oat hay daily with the string horses and had no
problems at all. I moved him to a quiet 2-horse ranch in another county
where they fed him just wheat hay. That first week he got diarrhea so
we switched him to oat hay. Still the diarrhea for 6 months. Vet did
blood work and he was fine. He gets worming done quarterly.
We discovered beet pulp, 2 to 4 scoops a day with oat or wheat
seem to do the trick. No more loud gutt sounds and no more diarrhea. He
has been on wheat hay and beet pulp for 2 years. Every 6 months we try
taking him off the beet pulp but diarrhea happens. Vet said she
thinks he transfers too much water or was it not enough water through
the small intestine? But why did it happen the minute I relocated him.
I wonder if I put him back on alfalfa (which he doesn’t need because he
is not that active anymore) and oat hay it would change? I am
scratching my head. Can you give me your thoughts on some
scenarios I might want to check into? By the way, he hasn’t dropped
weight and he is not dehydrated, no fever. Gail Morrison, Sonoma
County, California, submitted via horsegazette.com
Dear Gail,
Chronic diarrhea in horses can be caused by numerous diseases and
conditions. Before deciding how to treat your horse’s diarrhea,
it is important to try to have the cause diagnosed if possible.
Some of the possible causes of chronic diarrhea include bacterial
infections, ingestion of sand, parasites, malabsorptive diseases of the
intestines, ulcers, and other less common causes. We recommend
that you consult your veterinarian about pursuing further
diagnostics. Some of these diagnostics may include checking for
sand in the manure, checking for parasite eggs in the manure, doing a
bacterial culture of the manure, and taking a biopsy of your horse’s
rectum. After your veterinarian makes a diagnosis it will then be
possible for him or her to make treatment and feeding recommendations
for your horse. - Dr. Symm
Roofing Nail in Hoof
My horse stepped on a roofing nail and it stuck in the frog on his back
hoof. We pulled it out and gave him a tetnis shot and poured
tertintine on it...is there anything else we need to do? Thanks, Jerry,
submitted via horsegazette.com.
Dear Jerry,
When a horse steps on a nail one of the possible complications is that
the nail may penetrate through the sole and into the structures within
the hoof. These structures include the navicular bursa, navicular
bone, coffin bone, tendons, and ligaments. If this occurs, these
structures can become infected which can cause very severe
lameness. We recommend that you consult with your veterinarian
anytime a horse steps on a nail or foreign body, and definitely
recommend contacting your veterinarian if your horse is lame.
Your veterinarian will likely take X-rays of your horse’s hoof to
determine if the structures within the hoof have been affected.
After your veterinarian determines the severity of the problem, further
treatment can be offered. Depending on the severity, further
treatment may include systemic and regional antibiotics, joint lavage,
arthroscopy, soaking the hoof, bandages, and possibly a surgical
procedure to debride the area. It is a good thing that you
gave your horse a Tetanus booster vaccine, because Tetanus is another
possible complication that could occur. In addition to a regular
vaccine schedule, a tetanus booster vaccine should be given anytime a
horse is wounded. For future reference, when a horse has a nail
in its hoof the best course of action is the following. First
contact your veterinarian, because he/she may want the nail left in
place. This is so that your veterinarian can take an X ray of
your horse’s hoof while the nail is still present to best determine
what structures may be affected. While waiting for your
veterinarian, keep the horse in a stall to prevent it from walking on
the affected hoof. Your veterinarian will then be able to advise
you of the appropriate treatment for your horse. - Dr. Symm
Do you have a question for Dr. Mike of Retama Equine Hospital? Fill
out the form below and ask a Vet! You can also visit Retama Equine Hospital online!
Should you wish to contact Dr. Mike you may write or
call: Dr.
Michael F. Martin - Retama Equine Hospital 17555 Old Evans Road - Selma, Texas 78154
210-651-6375
IMPORTANT: Before typing your
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between when these questions are sent in and when the answers appear in
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If you feel your horse needs to be seen by a veterinarian do not wait
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a response.
Call a reputable equine veterinarian in your area and let him/her
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