FAQs

Question:My thoroughbred gelding has been eating dirt lately. Is this normal? Should I be concerned? Nothing has changed with his diet or water intake. He has a salt block but doesn't use it. A few of the other horses at our barn have been eating dirt also. Any info would be greatly appreciated!  -  Jodi

Answer: Dear Jodi,

If your horse is turned out without much pasture, he may root on the ground for something to eat and end up ingesting dirt. The dirt itself will not harm your horse; however, if he consumes a large amount of sandy soil over time he could develop sand colic. This occurs most commonly in horses that are fed hay on sandy terrain. Sand is heavy and does not pass easily through the intestinal tract. If enough accumulates over time it can cause an impaction and your horse will be painful and exhibit signs of colic.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening. When your horse is turned out, try feeding his hay in a large tub instead of directly on the ground. You can also feed psyllium supplements to your horse to prevent sand colic. Sand Clear and Sand Free are just a few of many psyllium products that you can easily obtain through your local vet supply catalog or feed store. Most of these supplements are fed for one week out of the month and will help your horse pass sand through their digestive tract. You can have a manure sample tested for the presence of sand. At Conley and Koontz Equine Hospital, we include the test for sand with all Fecal Egg Count labwork.

Some horses may eat dirt in an effort to ingest salt or other minerals. Salt intake is very important, especially during the summer, as it helps increase your horses' water intake. Commercial grains are supplemented and should give your horse the proper amounts of vitamins and minerals, but it is still wise to offer a supplement. There are several ways to offer salt to your horse. Many horses will lick a salt or mineral block, but for those that won't, loose salt can be given. A few cups of loose salt can be put in a bucket for your horse to eat at will, or you can salt his hay just like you would salt your dinner. Sprinkle a liberal amount of salt on his ration of hay every day.

Dr. Bethany Couture

Question: My paint mare has crusty scabs on her muzzle and lower legs. I thought it was from insect bites but my friend said it could be sunburn? How can I tell and what can I do for her?
Karla

Answer: Karla, The first step is to have a veterinarian examine the horse to determine the exact cause of the scabs. Often, sun exposure during these hot summer months can cause problems not only for you, but also for your horse. Many horses, especially those with white markings on their heads, can be victims of sunburn. Mild sunburn is not a cause for alarm, but may necessitate sunscreen and/or fly mask application, and night turn out. Horses can also be affected with photodermatitis, a reaction in the skin that occurs from UV light exposure. There are two conditions that cause a horse's skin to be abnormally sensitive to sunlight (photosensitive).

Primary photosensitivity occurs when a horse is exposed to a chemical that causes the skin to be more sensitive to UV light. This can occur from contact with chemicals (fly sprays, coat conditioners, etc.) or drugs (certain antibiotics and tranquilizers). Ingestion of certain plants can also cause photosensitivity. Clover, St. John's Wort, Rye, and other weeds and grasses are digested by the horse to produce substances that reach the skin and cause sensitivity to sunlight.

Secondary photosensitivity occurs when the horse has underlying liver disease that allows photosensitive pigments to accumulate in the body. Liver disease can be caused by infection, toxins, or cancer. Signs of liver disease are nonspecific and can include lethargy, decreased appetite, weight loss, and yellow color of the eyes and gums (jaundice).

Photodermatitis usually occurs on non pigmented areas of skin, especially where your horse has white markings on their face and lower legs. Horses with photosensitivity will exhibit redness, swelling, scabs and crusts. Owners may see their horses scratching the affected areas. More severe cases can have open draining sores and peeling skin.

Your veterinarian will want to obtain a full history about your horse's care, and perform a complete physical exam. The hay and pasture should be inspected for signs of plants that may cause photosensitivity. Affected horses should be removed from sunlight. The areas of affected skin should be cleaned with antiseptic soap daily and if needed, a cream such as Desitin can be applied to soften the scabs and soothe the skin. In severe cases, steroids can be administered to decrease swelling and irritation. Antibiotics may be needed if there is a secondary skin infection (dermatitis) present. If your veterinarian suspects liver disease, blood work should be run to evaluate liver function. If the liver is affected, further treatment will be warranted.

If you believe your horse may be suffering from photosensitivity, please call our office to consult a doctor and set up an appointment.

Bethany Couture, DVM

Question: My horse has patches of hair missing. I am afraid it may be ringworm.  How do I know, and how do I take care of it? Can I contract ringworm from my horse?  Please Help. - Mary

Answer: Dear Mary,

Dermatophysis or "ringworm" is a common, contagious, fungal skin condition in the horse. True dermatophysis is one of several species of fungus. Dermatophysis is over diagnosed because many people erroneously categorize any skin lesion as "ringworm".

Symptoms include: hair loss, reddening of the skin, scales, crust, pustules, and sometimes these lesions form a circular pattern which has lead to the name ringworm. These are the same symptoms as most other causes of dermatitis; making diagnosis by visual examination impossible.

Many cases will respond to broad spectrum treatment and a precise diagnosis is not necessary. I like to use chlorhexidine scrub to clean the area and remove all exudates. I then topically apply an antifungal, antibacterial, and in some cases a steroid to the affected area. Exact diagnosis may be important in refractory cases. Culture, cytology, and biopsy of the affected areas can be used to give us a definitive diagnosis and help direct treatment. Systemic antifungal medication such as griseofulvin or ketaconazole may also be useful in refractory cases. Treatment may take several weeks to finally resolve the dermatitis.

Ringworm can be contagious to humans or other horses thru direct contact or sharing of tack. Transfer of the fungus is not common however because prolonged contact with the skin is required. To transfer ringworm from a horse to a human some of the fungus must get under a watch band or other clothing that grinds it into the skin. To transfer ringworm from horse to horse the fungus usually must get under some tack, this has caused some people to call dermatophysis "girth itch".

The environment and tack can be cleaned with povidone iodine, 6% sodium hypochlorite (bleach), 5% lime sulfur, or 1.5 % copper sulfate.

Question: I was wondering if there is any certain products that will help to prevent or reduce tick numbers on horses? I have never had any major tick problems until this year and my three horses have ticks all over, mainly in their manes. My gelding, has them the worst, they seem to appear where his mane is black rather than the white portions and basically I haven't the slightest idea where to even start with this issue. Also I was wondering with all these ticks should I be getting any certain vaccines just to be on the safe side?  -  Amanda

Answer: Dear Amanda,

Ticks appear to be more prevalent this year, and we have seen them on several horses here in the clinic. Unfortunately, ticks are difficult to control but there are a few measures you can take to protect your horse. Ticks are found in heavily wooded areas and tall grass, so keeping your horses out of the woods and mowing pastures regularly is important. Inspecting your horses regularly for ticks will allow you to remove them before they've been attached for very long. Manes, tails, and ears are especially important to check, as ticks can hide easily in these areas.

If you do find a tick on your horse, you can remove it by gently grasping the head of the tick, right at its insertion to the skin, with tweezers. Be sure to remove the head of the tick, because if left behind it will remain under the skin and cause pain and irritation. Dispose of the tick in a jar of alcohol to be sure that it is killed. Wash the site of attachment with an antiseptic and monitor it for any signs of infection such as redness, swelling, or discharge. You can take the tick to your veterinarian to determine if it is the species that carries Lyme disease.

There are products available for application to your horse. Many fly sprays also repel ticks and can be applied daily to your horse. Applying a spray before riding, especially on trails, can help prevent tick attachment. Products that contain permethrin have the ability to control ticks, and are available in sprays, spot-ons, and pour-ons. A few product names include Permectrin, Ultrashield, Duraguard, and Equi-spot.

Question: What are the thoughts on Stringhalt being a vitamin deficiency? Lish Diffendarfer

Answer: Dear Lish,

Stringhalt is  abnormal gait that involves exaggerated flexion of one or both hock joints, resulting in a rapid elevation of the hind limb. The abnormality might be subtle--such as minor upward jerking of the hind leg, or so severe that the canon bone and fetlock are pulled violently against the horse's belly. The gait abnormality generally only occurs at the walk and is not present at other gaits. Some horses with stringhalt have difficulty backing. Horses with very mild disease may only demonstrate stringhalt when backing.

Stringhalt should be differentiated from upward fixation of the patella, fibrotic myopathy, shivers, and other mechanical causes of lameness. Stringhalt is caused by neuropathy (disease of the nerve) that innervates the hind limb. Although neuropathy is well documented the exact biomechanical cause is still unknown.

There is a well established pasture associated stringhalt in Australia involving a flatweed dandelion (Hypochoeris radica). In the United States (US) pasture associated stringhalt is becoming more prevalent. In the US pasture associated stringhalt involves vetch and sweet peas. The flatweed dandelion is also making its way to the US, and has been reported in Indiana. In addition to toxic plants, anything that can cause neuropathy can cause stringhalt. Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), trauma, tendon adhesions, equine motor neuron disease, and viral encephalitis are other causes. Accurate diagnosis is very important.

Treatment involves removing the horse from pasture and resolving the inciting cause. The drug phenytoin has been effective in some cases of stringhalt. Some veterinarians recommend the vitamin thiamine as an adjunct treatment. Because thiamine deficiency is not a known cause of stringhalt, using thiamine as a treatment is of dubious value.

Horses that do not respond to medical therapy may respond to surgical removal of the lateral digital extensor tendon. This is the tendon that connects the muscle that causes exaggerated upward flexion when the affected horse walks. Horses affected by stringhalt may return to full athletic performance or may always have an abnormal gait.

Robert H Koontz DVM
Chief Executive Officer

Question: Dear CK Equine Hospital My horse is very lame. She has a large crack on the side of her foot. There was a small amount of blood oozing from the crack. When I touch the crack Daisy pulls her foot away. My farrier tells me she has a quarter crack. What is a quarter crack? Why do horses get them? How can I treat Daisy? Kay Kozinski

Answer: Dear Kay

It does sound as if Daisy has a quarter crack. A quarter crack is differentiated from other hoof cracks by: location (toe, quarter, heel, or bar), depth (superficial or deep), and site of origin (ground surface or coronary band). It sounds like Daisy's hoof crack is at the quarter of the foot, is deep enough that it involves the sensitive tissue, and probably originates at the coronary band. Pictured below is a severe quarter crack that is bleeding extensive from the coronary band.

Hoof cracks can be caused by improper foot balance, coronary band defects, excessive hoof growth, thin walls, dry hoofs, or overly moist hoofs. Because improper hoof balance is a leading cause of hoof cracks, the farrier is often blamed. This may be unfair. Many horses get hoof cracks due to genetics; they grow low heels with a long toe and thin hoof walls. The tubules that make up the foot of horses with low heel long toe conformation grow forward instead of downward. The forward growing tubule is not as mechanically strong therefore is not able to stand up to the forces placed on them. Consequently the hoof wall breaks (cracks). Most horses develop hoof cracks while at work when the forces are greatest on the hoof wall. I have however seen rather sedentary horses develop quite severe and painful hoof cracks.

Superficial hoof cracks can be treated simply by balancing the hoof and correcting any extenuating circumstances such as adding moisture to overly dry feet. Some farriers will cut a horizontal groove in the hoof above the crack "to stop its progression upward". This practice is counter indicated. The groove only serves to weaken the hoof wall further. This "treatment" probably gained popularity because when the farrier was cutting a grove into the hoof wall he was also balancing the foot. Proper hoof balance, not a groove stopped the progression of the crack.

Severe cracks like the one you describe are more complicated and often must be treated in several steps. The pain you describe originates from three sources. The vertical force when the Daisy puts her foot on the ground. Horizontal stress from the now unstable back part of the hoof pinching sensitive tissue when Daisy walks. Finally inflammation and swelling from infected soft tissues.

To treat the vertical force we float the heel. This simply means the area behind the crack is trimmed shorter than the surrounding hoof wall so that it does not contact the ground. The vertical force has now been eliminated. In the hoof pictured below vertical force has been removed. Notice that the heel of the foot is not touching the shoe. An eggbar shoe is applied to support the healthy hoof.

Infection and inflammation must be controlled before the final stabilization of the hoof can be completed. Infection can be controlled using antibiotics, both topical and systemic. Drawing agents such as Epsom Salt and Animalintex can be used to reduce swelling.

To treat horizontal stress and pinching the crack is debrided often using a motorized Dremel tool. Necrotic, infected and undermined tissue is removed. The unstable back of the hoof is than attached to the more stable front of the foot. Attachment can be accomplished in many ways; the hoof can be laced with wire either embedded in the hoof wall or attached to metal studs drilled into the hoof wall. Farrier Lance Kendrick and I stabilized the foot pictured here using a wire lace method.

I often use acrylic hoof compounds to attach the unstable heel. The foot picture below is a completely repaired quarter crack using acrylic hoof compound for stabilization. Keep in mind that the hoof is not attached so it can grow together like a skin wound. Rather it is attached to provide stabilization while healthy tissue grows from the coronary band.

To prevent hoof cracks I suggest performance radiographs (x-rays) of the foot be used to properly balance the hoofs. Using radiographs of the hoof, balance can be achieved based on the internal structures inside the hoof capsule. If the mechanical cause of hoof cracks can be identified and eliminated prognosis for future athletic performance is excellent.

Robert H Koontz DVM
Chief Executive Officer

Question: Please give me a safe schedule for putting horses out on spring grass to prevent laminitis.

Answer: When looking at ways to prevent spring pasture induced laminitis, let's first talk about why horses placed on spring pasture are at risk for this disease. When horses are turned out on pasture rich in starches and sugars, they often consume enough forage to exceed the capacity of their small intestine. These starches and sugars bypass the small intestine and enter the horse's hindgut and thus change the bacterial flora and pH of the hindgut. This increases intestinal permeability causing toxins to enter the bloodstream leading to laminitis. As with all feeding practices, it is best to avoid sudden changes.

When a horse is being introduced to pasture, initially limit the turnout time to a few hours. The safest times for your horse to graze are late at night and early in the morning, with the worst being late morning and early afternoon. Ways to limit your pasture size include using a round pen or strip grazing using a mobile electric fence. Grazing muzzles work very well to limit the amount of forage the horse can consume. Unfortunately, pasture access may need to be taken away completely in horses with a history of pasture induced laminitis.

Provided by Dr. Grant Minnemeyer

Question: I've noticed this swelling on my horses hip the last few days.  It is the size of a large grapefruit.  It has gotten larger over the last couple of days.  Should I be worried?

Answer:  Seroma's are a frequently encountered problem in horses. Horses tend to kick each other or run into things causing blunt force trauma.  When this trauma is severe enough, the blood vessels leak and form a pouch of fluid that may be as small as a golf ball or larger than a basketball These must be differentiated from hematomas which consist of clotted blood. Seromas form a lining which may continue to produce fluid even after it is drained. I typically place a penrose drain which allows continuous drainage of the fluid and destruction of the lining. The drain is removed in seven to ten days. The seroma usually looks worse before going on to heal. We generally like to wait a few days before treating most seromas so that the full extent of the problem is evident. If no muscle was damaged these go on to heal with little or no blemish. If you happen to notice a swelling on your horse that isn't supposed to be there, give us a call at Conley and Koontz Equine Hospital at (877) 499-9909.

Provided by Dr. Ron Conley

When the limbs "wing out" during movement the issue may be a lameness problem but more commonly comformation is the cause. Unfortunately, in the adult horse the conformation cannot be changed. Shoeing can change the motion but at the expense of causing abnormal stress on other joints.

We evaluate each horse and each foot as an individual. We start with a lameness exam. We then progress to Performance Shoeing radiographs which help us determine the best balance to maximize the individual horse's movement. We may or may not correct the "wing out" movement but we have maximized this horse's performance considering his/her individual confirmation.

Please let us know if you would like to schedule a lameness exam or have any more questions by calling (877) 499-9909.

Question: I am in need of your advice. I live in an area of Alabama where, unfortunately, we do not have an experienced equine vet.

I have a 12 year old splashed Overo paint mare. One afternoon she presented with drooling, staggering, and appeared to be in severe pain. She was given Banamine and stalled immediately (yes our pasture does have red and white clover). We noticed all of her white areas were raised/swollen and hot to the touch. She has been stalled during the day for the past 3 weeks and only allowed to graze at night. Her bald face was the first area to Scab and peel off. Now every splash where she is white is peeling off, even the white spots that are not exposed to the sun. The skin under the damaged peeling skin is very pink and has small white hairs growing back in. None of her sorrel areas are affected. The only conclusion I have come to is that she is suffering from photosensitivity. I am treating the areas with Vetericyn BID, Banamine as needed for pain, and penicillin only as needed for possible secondary infections. What would you recommend for bathing her? I don't want to use something too strong and further injure the new skin. Please help, any other suggestion, opinions and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely, Leslie

Answer: Dear Leslie;

Photosensitivity is a common problem with horses that a grazed on pasture with certain plants. As you mentioned in your letter, clover is among the toxic plants that can cause photosensitivity. Clover is especially common because horses will readily eat clover. The symptoms you describe are classic symptoms caused by ingestion of clover. You can learn more in our educational article about photodermatitis.

Unfortunately a horse that has intensive skin involvement may also have underlying liver disease. I would ask your veterinarian to consider testing for liver disease. I like the way you are treating the skin lesions, however you might consider topical steroids to help decrease the pain and inflammation. To prevent secondary infection penicillin would not be my first choice and I would never use an antibiotic on a hit and miss basis as described in your letter. You might consider a broader spectrum antibiotic such as Trimethoprim Sulfa. This antibiotic has the advantage of being broad spectrum and oral.

You can now eliminate clover and other toxic weeds from the pasture without destroying the entire pasture. Visit your local farm store to inquire about safe methods to control clover in your pastures.

Hopefully your mare can make a complete recovery and you can prevent such episodesin the future.

Robert H Koontz DVM
Chief Executive Officer

Question: I am considering purchasing a calming agent for my gelding and would like your opinion of these in general and whether a daily product or a single use product would be best.

Answer: B1, or thiamine has been used to calm horses for years. It is made in injectable and oral forms. The oral form seems to be the most popular. It works better in some horses than in others. It is generally used to take the edge off of show horses.

Tryptophan is an amino acid that is used as a calming agent and is the main ingredient in several of the commercial pastes used as calming agents. These also seem to work better on some horses than others. These products seem to work best on horses that don't need much edge taken off.

If your horse won't stand for the farrier or for clipping, or is truly dangerous in some situations, a prescription product from your veterinarian may be in order. Acepromazine, xylazine, and detomidine are strong tranquilizers or sedatives that will work on fractious horses for a few hours at a time. Some of these may be administered orally. Dormosedan gel is made specifically for oral administration and comes in an oral syringe with dosage rates indicated, making this product easy for owners to use without a veterinarian present.

There are some compounded products referred to as thirty day tranquilizers. These products have been associated with side effects that may include profuse watery diarrhea for a few days.

If you plan to compete in horse shows, make sure to know your association's rules and withdrawal requirements before administration. Most sedatives and tranquilizers are restricted and will show up in drug testing.

Ron Conley, DVM

It has been documented that over 70% of foals will have one diarrheal episode prior to weaning other than the typical foal heat diarrhea. Rotavirus is a major cause of infectious diarrhea in foals and has been documented to cause 50% or more of foal diarrhea cases in some areas. Rotavirus is transmitted through fecal-oral route and usually results in damage to the small intestinal absorption capabilities resulting in severe, watery diarrhea. Although death from rotavirus is very low (below 1%), up to 50% of susceptible foals can get rotavirus. Most foals that develop diarrhea will not require medical intervention. However, many can get dehydrated and require fluids and veterinary care.

Many foal owners will call and notify us that their foal has diarrhea. We instruct them to watch the foal closely, administer appropriate prescribed medications, and call if the condition worsens. In a few cases the foal will be unable to maintain his hydration and need to be admitted to the hospital for intravenous fluids, gastrointestinal protectants, and observation. Typically these foals that are admitted will be with us in the hospital for 5-7 days while the foal stabilizes and begins to maintain its hydration.

If you would like to read more on equine rotavirus please click here.