Ask the Vet!

I would like to start out by saying sometimes 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, Retama Equine Hospital

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:
At The Horse Gazette and HorseGazette.com our 'Ask the Vet' 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.

Can a mare come into heat when already in foal?
Added 12/1/05

Dear Dr. Mike,
I pasture bred eight mares last season; the stallion ran with the mares from June 1 to August 1. H bred all the mares we wrote down when they were bred all the mares had foals on their sides. We had one mare abort twins but was not able to determine what one it was. I guess my question is it that we one of the mares was showing signs of heat so we put the stallion back out with the eight mares and all the mares came back in to heat. Four of the mares are do to foal in three weeks and have started forming bags and they cam into heat. The mares have been with two yr old colts and able to sniff the stallion since August and none showed any signs of heat. Can a mare come into heat and be bred if they are already in foal? Thank you I would really like your opinion, Amy – submitted via www.horsegazette.com.

Dear Amy,
To answer your question, yes, mares that are pregnant can show heat. It sounds to me like you don’t know who, what, or where things are happening. You might contact your vet and have them check the mares to see who is pregnant and who is not. You might also be having some fertility issues with the stallion. It never hurts to get a second opinion by someone who is familiar with your breeding program. – Dr. Mike

Shivering Disease?
Added 10/31/05

Dear Dr. Mike,
I study equine osteopathy in France. I have to write a memory and my subject is "the osteopathic lesions associated to the symptoms of "shivering".

It's very difficult to find information about this. Could you tell me which disease presents a shivering or shaking symptoms localized on the hind limb? Where can I find information about this (book, internet address...), especially about shivering disease? Thank you for your help, Emilie, France, submitted via horsegazette.com

Dear Emilie,
Shivers is a disorder that is not seen often. It can look very similar to stringhalt. It is more common in Draft Breeds.. It was first thought to be a neurological problem but some horses seem to suffer from equine polysaccharide storage myopathy. This can be treated with a high fat and low starch and sugar diet. There are several articles on the Internet and the more recent veterinary lameness books generally have information about shivers. – Dr. Mike

Cause of Diarrhea
Added 10/31/05

Dear Dr. Mike,
I have a 6-year-old PMU mare (Belgian/Appaloosa). I just got her over the summer. In the last 3 weeks I have noticed that she has diarrhea every couple of days. She leaves these really small puddles of a brown watery like substance. I was told that possibly she had a tapeworm. So I did the Strongid wormer 2 tubes a day for 5 days and she still has diarrhea. She has no fever and seems otherwise completely normal. Her only issue is she is a little overweight. What else could be causing her diarrhea? Thanks, Janeen, submitted via horsegazette.com

Dear Janeen,
There are several things that could cause periodic loose stools. Tapeworms and other parasites is one possibility. Some of the newer paste de wormers have Praziquantel which is specific for tapeworms. Diet changes can also cause loose stools. Small colon impactions almost always present with those symptoms. As you can see there are a variety of possibilities. A good physical exam with a fecal would be a good starting point. – Dr. Martin

Healing Wound - Wrap or Unwrap?
Added 10/31/05

Hi Dr. Mike,
I have a yearling filly that has injured her foreleg just below the knee. The vet was out and said that stitches weren't an option and that we should keep it clean and wrapped for about 10 days. The injury is about the same diameter as a lemon and not overly deep. It was looking good but now as it heals I think it is itching and she won't stop biting at it. It looks as though it's time to let some air get to (it's just staying really wet and not making much progress) it but I'm afraid to leave it unwrapped as she is so aggressive in her scratching. (The one day she got the bandages off she had the entire thing opened up and bleeding quite a bit). Any thoughts as to if it will continue to heal if we keep it wrapped or thoughts on how to get her to leave it alone? It's in a really bad spot and I'm stumped! Thanks! Linda, submitted via horsegazette.com

Dear Linda,
Some horses tend to chew on wounds. Whether it truly itches or maybe it just feels different. This can be a problem because obviously about the time it starts healing they traumatize it by chewing on it. Neck cradles, muzzles, etc might help prevent the horse from chewing on it. Wrapping might have to be done if the horse will not chew through the bandage. There are some sprays that you can put on top of the bandage to discourage chewing. If it does not heal up or if the horse continues to chew on it then I would suggest you have the vet look at it again to make sure nothing else is going on under the skin. I have had some horses that had to be tied up to prevent them from chewing. An overhead cable sometimes works and still allows them to be tied up but move back and forth across the stall. You might discuss with your vet about changing medications and get there opinion on the chewing and possible preventative measures. – Dr. Martin

Heaves
Added 10/31/05

Hi Dr. Martin,
I have a 13-year-old mare that has the heaves. She has been on many meds, such as ventipulmin, antihistamines, and steroids. The breathing has started to get much better, she’s actually not heaving anymore. But, my question to you is she is having sudden weight loss and I don’t know why. She is on a senior feed (platform, by Purina) and she has wetted hay and a mineral block. Her mouth seems to be really sore. What can I do to put this weight back on her with out affecting this disease and causing her to colic?? Thank you, Heather, South Carolina submitted via horsegazette.com

Dear Heather,
I hate to start out like this but have you discussed the sudden weight loss with your veterinarian? If the horse has had all these meds for heaves then you must have a local veterinarian. There are several reasons the horse might be losing weight. You mention that the horse's mouth seems sore? This could be the primary problem. I would suggest calling your local vet and having them examine the animal. Without examining the animal I would just be guessing as to why the weight loss. Heaves can be very stressful and weight loss sometimes is a complication of that disease. But I still think the horse needs to be examined immediately by your vet. – Dr. Mike

Dry Spell = less nutritious pastures?
Added 10/31/05

Dear Dr. Martin,
Not sure if this qualifies as medical. We have had a dry spell and the pastures are not very "nutritious." I feed grain in the morning an evening and hay a few times during the day.

Any suggestions until the grass turns green again? Seems like the horses are bored in the dull pasture. Thanks, Lori Rutherford, submitted via horsegazette.com

Dear Lori,
There are several areas of the U.S. and the world for that matter, that experience dry summers. Poor pastures are common in my area of south Texas. A balanced diet with good quality feed, hay and water is about your only alternative. There are millions of horses that have no access to pasture but still do fine on good feeding programs. Talk with your local vet or county extension agent about feeding programs that would fit your particular environment. – Dr. Mike

Can Improper Shoeing Cause Lameness?
Added 10/9/05

Dr. Mike,
I have a friend that her farrier isn’t shoeing properly. He has put a square toe shoe on the front and has it on the sole about a quarter of an inch from the point of the frog leaving the white line to be worn off. All of the weight is not on the outer wall. Will this cause him to go lame in time? I have told her that it is improper shoeing that she will cause her horse to go lame. I need your help for I have dealt with chronic founder and her horse was founder before. Help us.  – Barbara Zahnle

Dear Barbara,
Has anyone talked to the farrier to find out why the horse is being shod in this fashion? Maybe the farrier is doing this for a specific reason. Is the horse lame now? The best thing is to have your veterinarian and farrier discuss what would be the proper way to shoe the horse. X-rays of the feet might be necessary. If the farrier resents input or will not communicate with the owner then talk to or find another farrier. The farrier might have a perfectly valid reason for shoeing the horse in this manner. – Dr. Mike

Roccuring Swelling on Both Sides of Head
Added 10/9/05

Dear Dr. Mike,
I have a 10-year-old Canadian warmblood gelding. He is experiencing reoccurring swelling on both sides of his head, it begins just below his ear and extends down his jaw line, I have consulted several vets and have been told that it could be a blocked salivary duct or a problem with his parotid salivary gland. I have also been told it could be allergies. It is not painful for him. It does occur on both sides and it comes and goes. I am concerned that it could be cancerous, I have not been able to find any disorders of these glands that accurately describe what is occurring. I would appreciate your thoughts on this matter. – Thanks, Cari

Dear Cari,
 Has a veterinarian examined the horse? That would be a good starting point. There are several different things that can cause swelling in this area. The things you stated including cancer are all possibilities. Some horses also get air in the guttural pouches, which can sometimes cause swelling in the area. I would probably do an endoscopic exam of the upper respiratory area to rule out any internal problems. A biopsy of the swollen area would probably be very helpful if your veterinarian recommends this. Is the horse gray? If it is then cancer might be a little higher up on the list as Melanomas are fairly common in this area. Salivary gland problems are rare, but is a possibility also. From what you are describing a biopsy could be the proper thing to do to get a definitive diagnosis. Discuss the problem with your veterinarian and see where they think a good starting point would be. – Dr. Mike

Gelding's Strange Behavior
Added 10/9/05

Dear Mike,
My 22yr gelding spreads his back legs wide apart, swishes tail, head pulls back at different times of day, lasting several minutes, then walks off to graze.  We cleaned sheath, gave antibiotics, urine sample was normal.  Symptoms lessened recently until I started riding him, then flared up again.  I hope you can help us please! - LP

Dear LP,
When you say the head pulls back, do you mean like the horse is stretching or possibly having some type of mild seizure? I am assuming since the horse has been on antibiotics and a urine sample was normal that a vet has examined the horse? What did the vet think was going on? On something like this a full and complete physical exam would be a good place to start. This would include blood work, a neurological exam, teeth, and anything else your vet thinks is necessary. If these spells are infrequent try to videotape an episode to show to your vet. I horse this age could have several things going on. It can also be very difficult to try to diagnose something like this as it could be something normal for this horse to possibly some type of arthritic condition or neurological problem. These symptoms that you describe are somewhat vague and do not fit the pattern of any specific condition. Consult your veterinarian and see if they suggest a diagnostic plan. – Dr. Mike

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Added 10/9/05

Dear Dr. Mike,
A friend of mine in TX has a mare that has been diagnosed with COPD. Will it help or hurt her to move her to MD? How well might she tolerate the travel? – Thanks, Sherry

Dear Sherry,
COPD is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is a respiratory ailment that can be caused by many factors. It is thought to be triggered by an allergic response in some horses and dusty environments can aggravate the situation. I would not think that hauling a horse with COPD would be detrimental as long as common sense and normal trailering procedures were followed. Clean trailer with good ventilation. Frequent stops with access to water, etc. You do not state the severity of the COPD, as it can be mild to very severe. As to whether the horse will be better off in Md. I think that will depend on what is the initiating factors of the COPD and what the new environment will be like. – Dr. Mike

Muscle or Vein Injection?
Added 10/9/05

Dear Dr. Mike,
I pasture bred eight mares last season; the stallion ran with the mares from June 1 to August 1. He bred all the mares we wrote down when they were bred all the mares had foals on their sides. We had one mare abort twins but were not able to determine what one it was. I guess my question is that we one of the mares was showing signs of heat so we put the stallion back out with the eight mares and all the mares came back in to heat. Four of the mares are due to foal in three weeks and have started forming bags and they came into heat. The mares have been with 1-year-old colts and able to sniff the stallion since August and none showed any signs of heat. Can a mare come into heat and be bred if they are already in foal. Thank you, I would really like your opinion, Amu

Dear Amu,
Mares can and sometimes do exhibit signs of heat when they are pregnant. It is not common but it does happen. Sometimes mares that are surprised or scared might expel some urine and throw their tail up and not actually be showing heat. The simple solution to this is to have your veterinarian palpate or sonogram the mares. Also if you do this after the mares are exposed you can eliminate the twinning problem as this can be fatal if the mare does go full term with twins and has a breeched birth. There are also blood tests available that will confirm pregnancy later in gestation. For the short answer to your question, some mares will show heat and accept a stallion when they are pregnant. – Dr. Mike

Muscle or Vein Injection?
(Added 7/6/05)

Dear Dr. Mike,
Should the West Nile vaccination be given in the muscle or a vein? - Kris Amin, Rolling Hills Estates, CA

Dear Kris,
It should say on the package. The one I use goes in the muscle. – Dr. Mike

Percentage of Fat can be given safely?
(Added 7/6/05)

Dear Dr. Mike,
Reference a 27 y/o emaciated horse: Body Condition scale score=4. All food fed is soaked w/H20-mush state d/t poor/missing teeth-no grinding surface. I would like to know when adding supplements—is there a limit on the % of fat you can safely give? Is there a certain amount that is too much? We thank you in advance for your time. – Mit, submitted via horsegazette.com

Dear Mit,
There is some research that suggests that you can feed as much as 25% of the daily caloric intake as fat. This can lead to loose stools and poor palatability of the diet. You also need to know the amount of fat that is in the supplement or feed that you are using. I would consult an equine nutritionist to give you advice in this area. I would also have your veterinarian do a complete physical exam including checking the teeth and doing blood work to determine any underlying problems. It is extremely difficult to get some horses that age back into good condition even with heroic efforts. – Dr. Mike

Ruptured Tendon?
(Added 7/6/05)

Dear Dr. Mike,
Hello there. I have a 7-year-old quarter horse mare than I rescued about a year ago. She came to me with an injured leg and the leg had an ugly scar on it. The scar is a few inches above the pastern. I applied bag balm to it as it had a huge lump of tissue on it and it softened it and fell off. I did not mess her, as she was 10 months pregnant. Anyway. I noticed when I first got her that she would trip on her back leg (the one that was injured) I just thought it was because her feet we so long (hadn’t been trimmed in 2 years) well I got her feet trimmed and she didn’t trip as much but still tripped but only at a walk. The vet said it probably isn’t a tendon issue that far down into the pastern. But I have been doing some research and it sounds like a ruptured tendon. Some times she will stand there and her hoof will be bent backwards and she doesn’t care. There is usually no swelling unless she is running around a lot. I try to lunge her and she does great except when I try to lunge her on that one side, then she rears and refuses. A friend suggested I put a boot on that leg and add some weights to make her lift her leg higher and not trip and it would strengthen the muscles. She is a really nice mare and I would like to ride her someday. Am I fighting an endless battle? Do you have any suggestions? Or is there anyone out there with any suggestions? Thanks, Jennifer Dobkins

Dear Jennifer,
An ultrasound examination would help to rule out a ruptured or injured tendon. X-rays of the area might also be helpful. I would stay away from the weighted boot. – Dr. Mike

Gelding with Stallion Genes?
(Added 7/6/05)

Dear Dr. Mike,
I have a black Welsh Cob/Freisian gelding but sometimes when I hack him out he gets very over excited when he sees horses at a little distance. His tail flairs and he starts to pant very loudly and makes a strange noise and he has bolted a couple of times with me because of this. Do you think he could still have any stallion jeans (genes) in him? – Sarah

Dear Sarah,
I am assuming you are asking if he is proud cut. Ask your veterinarian to pull blood to test and see if he has any testicular tissue or if he might have an undescended testicle that has never been removed. Hormone tests on the blood will give you this information. It is also possible that he was castrated correctly but is still exhibiting some stallion-like behavior. This happens in approximately 10-20% of all horses that are castrated. – Dr. Mike

Can the hematoma be drained?
(Added 7/6/05)

Dear Dr. Mike,
I have a horse in training that fell over in the pasture while playing.  Other boarders at the farm told me his back left slid back and away from his body during the fall and that he got up limping.  I felt around on it, and you can feel exactly where the muscle tore (inside of the stifle). I immediately put him on stall rest with handwalking and light trail riding.  He has not been lame at a walk since it happened, and he is a little ouchy on occasion at a trot.  It has been almost two weeks, and last week I had a vet come out to check it.  The tear had swelled up to the size of a softball and I wanted to see if she could drain it for him.  She decided against, saying that he needed an ultrasound first.  I told the owners the verdict, and they decided that they didn’t want him ultrasounded, and that they wanted to talk to their vet for some ideas.  I waited, and yesterday, the swelling was the size of a cantelope, and it really bothers me.  Unfortunately, as it isn’t my horse, I am unable to make decisions regarding the horses vet care.  I called the owners and told them that I thought it needed to be drained.  I wanted to know, as another opinion, what you think about draining this sort of stuff in general.  I know that without you seeing the horse it is difficult, but with this swelling getting bigger, I think it needs to be drained.  Can there be any complications when draining this sort of injury?  If you don’t drain it, what could happen to the horse?  In what situations would you leave the swelling and let the horse’s body absorb it?  Any help you can give is a great help.

Dear Dr. Mike,
It sounds like a hematoma to me. The lump needs to be scanned with an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis. Draining the area is the preferred method if it is indeed a hematoma. I usually like to wait 3-5 days after an injury so that the bleeding inside has stopped.Usually when these are drained you get a large amount of serous fluid out of them. That can sometimes feel back up and need to be drained again. Discuss these things with the owner and your veterinarian and come up with a plan. Make sure the horse is current on Tetanus and I usually will put them on antibiotics if I drain the hematoma. – Dr. Mike

Feed Question
(Added 5/1/05)

Dear Dr. Martin,
I have a feed question. I am breeding now on my farm and have a feed question. I am currently feeding armada 12% all horse honey sweet my concern is I am feeding this feed to my weanlings and broodmares. Is this feed sufficient? Here are the particulars of the feed tag. (Crude protein-12.0 % min, Crude fat- 2.5 % min, Crude fiber-5.0 % max, Calcium-.3% min 1.3%max, Phosphorus-.4% min, Salt-.1min-1.0 max, Copper-15 ppm, Selenium-.3ppm, Zinc-100ppm, Vitamin A-3000 iu/lb) 
Are the ingredients in this feed sufficient for broodmares and foals and weanlings? Or do I need to add to it. – Star Lite Farm Sara, submitted via www.horsegazette.com

Dear Sara,
There are several other questions that need to be answered. How much hay, what type of hay, do they have access to pasture? What is the soil like in your area? All these things need to be taken into consideration when deciding what feed to feed. Local agriculture extension agents and your local veterinarian are a good source of information. – Dr. Mike

Sweating in Cold Weather
(Added 5/1/05)

Dear Dr. Martin,
I have a large draft horse, when riding him he works up a sweat easily. My question is what is the best way to deal with this in the winter? My daughter rides him in any weather even when temperatures are well below zero. When
he is sweating after a ride in cold temperatures should I blanket him? And is it true that a horse cannot have water when they have just been worked. P.S. During the winter my daughter does not let him run but he “prances” when walking therefore he works up a sweat. Thank you, Christine, submitted via www.horsegazette.com

Dear Christine,
You are asking a cold weather question to a vet that practices in South Texas. The horse needs to be cooled out slowly and it does not need a blanket while it is still sweating. Horses can have water after they are worked but in moderation. Use common sense and ask your friends and local riders how they cope with the cold weather. – Dr. Mike

Senior Grain or Complete Pellet
(Added 5/1/05)

Dear Dr. Martin,
I’m trying to figure out whether I should keep my horse on a senior grain or put him on a complete pellet. I mean 2 years ago he was on strider, just a maintenance pellet... I have had him on senior this last year cause I figured. Heck he is a senior. Shouldn’t he be on senior grain? But it’s so expensive... He’s on Nutrena senior now but that only has 4% Fat... I wonder if I put him on Triple Crown Senior which is 10% Fat. Then he can get less each feeding. As he does get like almost 5 qts now each feeding twice a day (he can only get 2 feedings a day). So with more than DOUBLE the fat content. He could get less grain. But then how much less grain. How many qts... he has no trouble keeping weight on... but I hate feeding him so much each feeding cause he also get a ton of hay cubes - any ideas or suggestions? Or I could try him on just a regular complete feed, pellet or sweet? Now his back and his butt area are kind of sunken in (not a sway back) but more like just no muscle or weight around his spine and hips He’s 24 years old and he is still very active and I ride him 3 times per week – completely sound. Will he ever get the shape back? I have him on hay cubes to put more weight on cause he can’t chew regular hay... should or can I try beat pulp and how much? Also how much hay cubes should I be feeding... I just want to make sure I’m feeding the right thing and the right amount for him... he has no trouble keeping weight on... but I want to build it up. Thanks, Kim

Dear Kim,
This is another question that needs more information. Does he have access to pasture? Have you had his teeth floated regularly? Is he on a regular de-worming program? I don’t think cutting corners on feed prices is in the best interest of your horse. These questions are best answered by your local veterinarian who can actually see the condition of the horse and make the proper recommendations. A geriatric horse needs more care and a good relationship with your local veterinarian will certainly be in the best interest of your 24-year-old friend. – Dr. Mike

Dry Hacky Cough
(Added 5/1/05)

Dear Dr. Martin,
We have an 18-year-old Quarter Horse-Percheron cross.  He has developed a cough the past 2 weeks.  He coughs like he has something in his throat like a dry hacky cough.  He doesn’t seem to be breathing labored at all.  He acts fine.  He was on a trail ride with my daughter and he didn’t cough at all.  He coughs more when he is in the barn and mostly when he is eating.  We are very puzzled. Please help us!!!!  Also he has no discharge coming out his nose. Doug, submitted by www.horsegazette.com

Dear Doug,
An endoscopic exam of the upper airways is the first thing that I would have done. Based on the findings of that exam you can proceed to whatever your veterinarian thinks needs to be done. – Dr. Mike

Remedies for Mare Menopause
(Added 5/1/05)

Dear Dr. Martin,
My 29-year-old mare that is going in to menopause, causing her milk glands to be activated. She is under the care of a vet but was wondering if there were any Mild home remedies / treatments as there are for humans that could help with a mare? She is a very gentle and good natures animal. – Fred, submitted by www.horsegazette.com

Dear Fred,
Not to my knowledge. Discuss the treatment alternatives with your vet. Geriatric horses need special care and your veterinarian is the best source in helping you to decide the care that your horse needs. I am not sure what you mean by menopause and there could be some other causes of the abnormal milk production. – Dr. Mike

Medical Reason or Mistreated?
Added 4/2/05

Dear Dr. Mike,
Two years ago my husband bought an AQHA mare through an auction. She is one of the prettiest mares with a cutting horse background. She is sweet natured & has lost some of her bad habits, but she still freaks out for no reason. I have raised numerous horses but this is the first nut case. We had her breed & the colt is due in mid April. The breeder said that the mare acts like she was severely mistreated. My question is will her offspring have this same mystery gene? Example: we were feeding her one day with halter & lead rope, I was brushing her, which she normally doesn’t act out, then she suddenly started jerking back & rearing on the lead for no apparent reason, my husband didn’t let go in time which really tore his hands up, then she came back to me & was shaking. I have taken her to the vet & I’m female, but unfortunately the vet was too & it took 4 people to handle her. She’s next to impossible to give shots without being sedated. So I worm her every 6 weeks with the Safeguard pelleted wormers that are added to her feed. The vet said she had no apparent disorders after they examined her, and she didn’t think the mare was crazy, just scared. The breeder was there to witness this episode, so fortunately he knew what we were up against. He would take her out of his stallion pen to breed her, she will lead fine, then he’d bring the stallion in, she’d rear back on the lead line which was not tied, but loosely flipped around the pipe fence, giving her time to back off the lead if she started rearing, she won’t give the rope time & she flips herself over backwards, then stands there and shakes. The mare hasn’t had any other shots this year and I’m hoping there is a foal, she’s awfully fat, but since she’s like this it is next to impossible to get her to the vet without sedating, which would have to be given in her feed, I can’t get a wormer in her mouth or even look like I’m going to put fly dust or spray on her. We have tried to ride her, but she almost killed my son by running him into a tree. She stands at the horse trailer & shakes then when I finally can get her in she won’t stand tied, she can’t be tied at all. I wouldn’t want to sell her to someone else that will mistreat her, so raising babies is what we decided to do, a pasture ornament is what we call her, I just want to know if this will show up in her foals? My husband is afraid of her now & it’s next to impossible to get her in the trailer without help, so another issue is since it’s Texas and will be in April will it be ok to take the foal away from her for an hour or so to get it vet checked without momma? Thank you, Pat.

Dear Pat,
It sounds like the mare has been mistreated sometime in her life. I am extremely pessimistic when it comes to horses like this because it sounds like she has come very close to hurting members of your family. Even if she isn’t doing it on purpose it still sounds like she is a danger to your family. Give that some serious thought. Sometimes mares get more aggressive after they foal so there is a possibility that she may get worse after the foal is born. Instead of taking the foal to the vet to get checked I would recommend that a vet come to your place and check the foal. I think that might be the safest thing to do. – Dr. Mike

Starting to Crib?
Added 4/2/05

Dear Dr. Mike,
My 7 yr old Tennessee Walker mare in the past 4 weeks has started to exhibit a behavior of extending her neck and head straight out when out in the pasture and sometimes on the cross ties. I thought she started this when she was in heat but it has gone on so long now and she is doing it daily. I have her teeth floated twice a year. I exercise her regularly. She eats and drinks normally. What could be the reason for this new odd behavior? – Thanks, Joan

Dear Joan,
Is she a cribber? Is she trying to start cribbing? Have you discussed her condition with your veterinarian? Talk to your veterinarian and have the mare examined. – Dr. Mike

Product to dry a Mare's Milk?
Added 2/27/05

Dear Dr. Mike,
Is there a drug or a product that will dry a Mare’s Milk? Having a hard time weaning my 8-month-old Belgian colt. I have had them separated for almost 5 weeks and her milk still hadn’t dried completely. Then yesterday he jumped the fence and well... there went all my efforts down the drain. I have ordered a weaning halter but was looking for some other products or drugs that could be used. Thanks, Maggie

Dear Maggie,
As long as there is stimulation the mare may continue to produce milk. The best thing to do is to take the mare or foal to a different location for a couple of weeks. This will give the mare time to dry up. Even when you bring them back together they will need to be completely separated so the foal does not start sucking again. As long as she can see or hear the foal she may continue to produce milk. I do not know of any drugs that will dry up a mare especially if the foal continues to be near and sometimes continue to suck the mare. – Dr. Mike

Shivers
Added 2/27/05

Dear Dr. Mike,
I have a 3 yr old Belgian filly.  She was diagnosed today with Shivers. She has the shaking of her hind leg when picked up to be cleaned.  I purchased her in August 04, and started to notice this problem in November 04.  Is she ever going to be able to jump or do any upper level dressage with this disease?  Is she going to deteriorate with age and become lame?  I was told to give her bute for two weeks and go from there, but I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.  Is there anything I can do?  Surgery?  Diet?  Thanks – Victoria

Dear Victoria,
This disease can be progressive and can also affect the front limbs. It also can be hereditary. There are no surgical procedures that will correct this. A change to a high fat and low starch and sugar diet has been helpful in some horses. Some studies have shown improvement in horses with shivers after they have been on this diet for four to six months. I think that is probably the route to go. Discuss this with your veterinarian and see if you cannot come up with a diet change and see if this helps the horse. – Dr. Mike

Rain Rot?
Added 2/27/05

Dear Dr. Mike,
I have a 5-year-old Paint mare. I was told she had rain rot, however she has been treated for this for over 2 months, with iodine shampoo, as well as shampoo just for rain rot. The problem is this mare seems to be getting worse not better, she now has large spots of hair loss mostly on her rump as well as the flank area she is very tender to the touch and getting harder to handle. I have dealt with rain rot before and have never seen this before. this mare was given to me today because the people who owned her cant handle her anymore due to her attitude during treatment. I helped doctor this mare today and have never seen a horse react like she did. Could this be something other than rain rot? – Rick

Dear Rick,
Yes it could. A skin biopsy of an affected area might be prudent. Talk to your veterinarian and see if they have any more suggestions. – Dr. Mike