Newsletter for Equine Clients

December 2nd, 2008

Dear Client:

The colder weather and barren trees hasten our steps to get ready for the upcoming winter months.  We are sending this note to reach out to our horse owners about several topics that are pertinent to your horse’s well being. More and more of our horse clients are using the round hay bales during the winter months and studies have shown that feeding round bales increases a horse’s risk of developing botulism.  According to Dr. Robert Whitlock, DVM, PhD, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, about 90% of botulism cases are in no way associated with dead animals baled into the hay. Most horses have type B botulism and type B comes from the soil, not from deceased animals (which are linked to type C) baled into the hay.

Round bales should be placed on a platform to keep them off the ground and ideally under roofs.  Throwing baled hay out into muddy or damp ground can also be a source of botulism poisoning.  Horses walk on the hay and it gets packed down – creating an environment for spores in the soil for toxins.  Again, keeping hay off the ground (low feeding tub) and under a roof is a much better management practice.  Equus magazine (October 2008) did an extensive article on Botulism.  As a summary, botulism is a rare but often deadly form of poisoning.  There are several forms of botulism (Types A-H) with the most common botulism affecting more than 85% of horse cases being type B.  Signs of botulism include the inability to eat, difficulty swallowing, drooling, trembling and muscle weakness, stiff, short strided walk, in coordination, poor muscle tone; reduced tongue tone and ability to retract, weak eyelid tone, poor tail tone, recombency,  an inability to rise, colic, and abnormal respiratory pattern/rate. We are carrying BotVax B which will provide protection for your horse against type B, the most common type of equine botulism.  Previously unvaccinated horses should receive three 2 ml does of BotVax B at one month intervals.  Broodmares can be vaccinated (starting at the ninth month of pregnancy).  BotVax B is safe to administer to foals as young as 2 weeks. We have received reports of skunks and raccoons testing positive for rabies in the Claremont and Cornish area and expect this may spread.  Please be certain that all your animals are up to date on their rabies immunizations.

Also this is the time of year we would recommend a dental check up and float if one has not been done this year.  Due to the continuous growth and side to side chewing pattern of the horse, sharp points develop along the cheek side surface of the upper molars and the tongue side surface of the lower molars.  These sharp surfaces abrade and irritate the soft tissues such as the tongue and cheeks.  If left untreated, the horse will have difficulty chewing food.  You may notice your horse having a difficult time eating or reluctant to eat, head tossing or grain/hay falling from the mouth or “quidding” of hay.  We can float either with the traditional method or with the equine power float.  The power float enables us to float in an efficient and precise manner to remove points and hooks and to perform more extensive treatments such as wave mouth, tall teeth and bite alignments.  The veterinarian, along with the horse owner, can discuss each situation to make the choice for each horse.

Please call the office if you have any questions or concerns about the above issues at 603-543-0117.

Happy Holidays,

Lynn F. Fisher, DVM

Entry Filed under: Latest News