New Milton Park Life Spring-Summer 2018

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EQUESTRIAN ∙ Spring/Summer 2018

EQUESTRIAN ∙ Spring/Summer 2018

FOALING Foaling can be a very violent and rapid process, and it is important to recognise the abnormal situation and seek veterinary assistance very quickly if the foal and mare are to survive when things go wrong.

SUMMER WEIGHT CONTROL

KEY TIMINGS • The front feet should appear within 10 minutes of the waters breaking, and they should be facing downwards i.e. solar surface to the floor. • Within 10 minutes of the feet appearing, a nose should appear. ONCE THE FOAL IS BORN THERE IS AN EASY 1, 2, 3 RULE • Within 1 hour: the foal should successfully stand, and remember to check the mare has milk. • Within 2 hours: the foal should be nursing. • Within 3 hours: the foal should have passed meconium and urine.

Obesity in horses is a serious problem, as nearly 30% of the population are obese. A pony can eat up to 5% of their bodyweight daily as grass, which is approximately three times the daily recommended intake! Restricting pasture access is an obvious way of reducing calorie intake, and owners have several options: • 24/7 stabling with controlled feeding - however this is often not possible either because of lack of facilities, temperament, dust allergies, and it also restricts natural exercise. • Partial stabling – but horses soon recognise a pattern andwhen access to pasture is restricted to only three hours, they can still consume 40- 60% of their daily intake. Also this pattern tends to promote a binge and starve cycle which has potential gastric implications. • Restricting grass intake – either by area or the use of a grazing muzzle GRAZING MUZZLES These can reduce pasture intake by as much as 80%, but it is important that owners know how to use them effectively and safely. Total exclusion muzzles should not be routinely used and flexible muzzles are better than rigid ones. Correctly fitting your horse’s muzzle is very important. They should be wide enough to fit comfortably, leaving a gap of ½ inch to an inch around the edge to allow for movement of the jaw. The horse should be given time to adapt to its muzzle, initially only placing it on for short periods under supervision. For horses that have free access to pasture and are not currently significantly overweight, but have a tendency to put on weight, put the muzzle on during the day and remove at night. For very overweight horses, the muzzle should be used whilst out at pasture, thus allowing free exercise. But the horse then needs to be kept stabled or in a “starvation area” and fed suitable forage and amount with the muzzle having been removed. Remember that dietary intake is only part of a weight management program, and that exercise (when appropriate) is the major consideration.

If things do not seem to be normal, it is vital to ring the vet. Mares should be monitored carefully in the first 24 hours to ensure that there is a good bond forming between the mother and foal, and there are no signs of lethargy, discomfort, colic or depressed appetite in the mare. It is vital that a foal receives adequate amounts of colostrum (the thick, yellow initial milk) during the first few hours after birth. Pony foals require approximately two litres in the first 12 hours. This colostrum is very rich in maternal antibodies, and is essential in providing passive immunity to the foal. It is recommended you have the mare and foal checked by your vet within the first 24 hours.

SUMMER VET TIPS As the warmer weather approaches, we asked local equine vets for their advice to keep your horse healthy and well this summer.

Successful competition pony Rodlease Jubilation giving birth in spring 2018 (Photo: Suzanne Kempe)

GILLES MOFFAT FROM SEADOWN VETERINARY PRACTICE IN HYTHE GIVES US THE LOWDOWN ON SWEET ITCH, SUMMER WEIGHT CONTROL AND FOALING…

Laminitis

Sweet Itch

Alan Hough from Celtic Equine Vets takes us through the risks

Laminitis is always a hot topic at this time of year. This condition is an inflammation of the laminae within the hoof capsule and it can vary in severity from the merest hint of lameness to a situation described as ‘sinking’, which can be fatal. There are three recognised causes: • Hormonal diseases such as Cushing’s • Equine Metabolic Disease • Trauma and toxic insult from infections Up to 90% of cases of laminitis are caused by either Equine Metabolic Disease (EMS) or Cushing’s (PPID). Both Cushing’s and EMS cause

laminitis by means of a very high blood insulin level, especially following high sugar foods. Therefore management changes are needed to ensure that this risk is minimised, which include: • Limiting grass and cereal feeds • Regular monitoring by means of a blood test in horses that are overweight or over the age of 15 years for Cushing’s and EMS

Sweet itch is an allergic reaction to bites from midges, but it also occurs with bites from black flies, horn flies, and stable flies. The allergic reaction causes an itching sensation in the skin, and the horse bites, rubs and scratches the affected areas leading to hair loss, especially from the mane and tail, with crusting and scab formation. The condition usually occurs over the summer period and can get worse each year.

of equine metabolic syndrome and laminitis…

• •

Increasing exercise

Using medication if and where required

• Try and keep your horse away from areas where the flies or midges breed such as muck heaps or stagnant water. • The use of fine mesh screens for stable openings and the use of box fans in stables can help. • When avoidance is not possible, short-term use of steroids or antihistamines may be used to alleviate itching. • Allergen-specific-immunotherapy is another option, with 50-75% reported success rate, but a response can take several months so year-round treatment is recommended.

Treatment: Prevention is key when dealing with sweet itch – here’s some advice for managing the condition: • Fly control should begin before the start of the fly season and exposure to insects should be limited. • Application of insect repellent and stabling during dusk and dawn will help reduce exposure. • Fly rugs and masks should be used when your horse is not stabled.

Equine Metabolic Syndrome is where the horse loses its ability to correctly control its insulin levels. Both genetic and environmental risk factors interact in an individual horse. Environmental factors such as very lush pastures and high concentrate diets, or even just over feeding of fibre-based diets, promote obesity in a genetically-susceptible horse, culminating in very high insulin levels as a result of insulin resistance. Diagnosis is via a blood test, and treatment requires a strict weight-loss program. Preventing EMS revolves around detecting and reducing risk factors of an individual horse becoming overweight.

EQUINE METABOLIC SYNDROME