Snakebites and Horses

A snake bite can be deadly to a horse. While many do recover, they can be left with permanent nerve or tissue damage. Amazingly, sometimes the bite itself is difficult to see, especially if the horse has been bitten on the leg or pastern. Oftentimes, a snake bite in these locales will not cause excessive swelling immediately because of the small amount of muscle tissue present, and because of thick hair, the fang marks might be difficult to find. For these reasons, it’s important to be able to recognize the symptoms themselves.

Most horses that get bitten by a snake receive the bite on the nose or face. This is because when a horse sees or hears a snake, it usually lowers its head to have a closer look. When the equine does this, the snake becomes startled and strikes.

Not only is the nose and face the most common bite sites, they’re also the deadliest. A horse bitten on the nose, face, or neck will usually have excessive local swelling that can close the airways, causing the horse to suffocate before it can receive anti-venom from the veterinarian.

Typical symptoms of snake bite in equines includes excessive sweating, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, muscle spasms, increased respiration, and excessive salivating. The horse might appear confused, and it might wobble and weave as it attempts to walk. It might also try to avoid bright sunlight, or it could lie down and be unable to rise.

If the horse was bitten on the face or nose, the bite marks will most likely be evident: two puncture wounds a half inch to an inch apart, depending on the size of the snake. There could also be a purplish bruising. The most indicative sign of a snake bite to the nose or face, however, is the rapid, extensive swelling. The horse’s entire head could swell, and its eyes could even be swollen shut.

If this happens on the outside of the horse’s head, imagine what’s going on inside. All that inflamed tissue begins to block the air passages shut, making it difficult or impossible for the horse to breathe. If that’s the case, place two short sections of stiff garden hose into the horse’s nostrils, tape them in place, and call your vet immediately. Try to get the horse to keep his head down, and do not let him move. Any movement will increase blood flow and will allow the venom to travel.

• Make sure your horse is receiving a high-quality diet and plenty of clean drinking water. You can enhance the diet with supplements like calcium b-hydroxy b- methyl butyrate monohydrate (HMB), leucine, L-Glutamine, pine bark, and vitamins C and E. These help build lean muscle and offer protection against muscle cell breakdown after exercise. Ask your veterinarian about safe supplements on the market.
• Before any strenuous exercise, always warm up with a walk. After completing an exercise routine, always cool down with a walk. Remember: walk, exercise, walk.
• Take into consideration the terrain of the area you’ll be using. Softer ground is much easier on your animal’s joints and bone structure.
• Use a 20-foot longeline to exercise your horse. Transition frequently from walk to trot to canter.
• Add cavaletti  to your longe routine.
• Longe or ride your horse in a plowed field. Think about how much muscle you have to use when walking through deep sand at the beach. Your horse will experience the same thing when walking, trotting, or cantering in a plowed field. The soft ground is also easy on joints and bones.
• Water therapy is also an excellent conditioning tool. If you have access to an equine swim tank, take advantage of it. Most horse owners don’t have this luxury; however, you can get similar results from using a lake or pond.
• Ride or lead your horse up and down inclines to add muscle mass. If you’re leading it, do not stand directly in front of the horse.
• Do not overdo it! Begin with just a few minutes a day. GRADUALLY increase the time of your sessions.
• Always allow your horse to cool down completely before offering it food or water.
• Watch your horse closely for muscle soreness or injuries.
• Be consistent. Ten minutes of an exercise routine a day is far better than one hour a week.

If you’re considering using anabolic steroids for your horse, do some research first! While some profession trainers, especially racehorse trainers, use steroids like stanozolol, there is no clear evidence that the drug increases muscle mass or performance in equines. As for the dangers of steroid use in horses, the jury is still out. Many vets do agree, however, that their use could certainly mask injuries, leading to bigger problems later. Most vets also agree that the use of anabolic steroids could create a “brittle” horse.steroids have also been linked to unusual aggression in horses, along with a decrease in fertility Be safe and smart – build muscle the old-fashioned way!

Sand Colic in Horses

What Happens Inside

What happens with sand colic horses is a painful process where sand is pushed to the lower part of the intestine, preventing blood from accessing the area. This results in the long term, low grade pain that can cause a horse to have problems with diet and eating habits. The “numbness” due to poor blood flow can result in problems with appetite and overall feeling of wellness.

Ultimately, the sand can accumulate until it entirely obstructs a loop of intestine. By this time, the horse begins to experience a lot of pain from the accumulation of hay and water in front of the obstruction. Once this pressure accumulates to a particular point, it either thrusts out the sand obstruction or tears the intestine due to the pressure. The intestinal burst is always deadly.

Specific Symptoms

All horses cannot avoid accidentally eating sand-it is everywhere and can easily build u over time. The sand oftentimes travels fast through the stomach and small intestine. Once the sand travels to the cecum and large colon, its movement decelerates and it is likely to settle to eh lowest parts of the large intestine as the result of gravity. If the horse only consumes tiny amounts, most will be easily moved through the large intestine without compromising effects. If the horse consumes large amounts of sad, however, the sand builds up in the large intestine. This build-up can result at a compromising stage where the horse starts to display apparent symptoms.

An affected horse may seem down and out with depression. It may be unable to gain weight for some reason, no matter what feed it consumes on a regular basis. It may lose its appetite to a certain extent, may pass watery stool and begin to lose weight suddenly.

In time the sand rubs against the intestinal mucosa and damages it. One of the large intestine’s purposes is to soak in water. Because of the build up and damage to the mucosal lining, water is not absorbed properly, causing in watery stool. This describes the probable reason why affected horses often lose weight and are unable to gain it properly. Nutrients are also “washed off” and not absorbed properly.

Prevention

Sand colic horses can be easily treated if complications are not severe, but prevention is always key. It is often suggested that if your horse is likely to consume large amounts of sand or dirt, the initial action to take is to manage the consumption through some alterations. These alterations include feeding both grain and hay and only out of feeders. You may also use mats while feeding on the ground. Horses can eat sand when feed is on the ground, however, they also tend to take feed out of the feeder when the feeder feels too “enclosed” or crowded.

Horse Botfly

Horses can get bots in their stomachs through eggs hatched by botflies on different parts of horses. The three different types of botflies lay their eggs in three distinct regions in a horse’s body. Gastrophilus nasalis lay eggs in the hair below the throat or jaws. Gastrophilus hemorrhoidalis lays eggs on the hairs located on the lip region. The most common of the three types is Gastrophilus intestinalis which lays eggs on hairs on the front legs, chest and shoulders.

All three types of bot eggs hatch and find their way into the stomach as larvae. G. intestinalis in particular hatch quickly because it comes into contact with the warm breath of a host horse. Horses that have botflies and eggs around them may lick the parts where eggs are laid to ease feelings of discomfort.

It is when the eggs are licked that they hatch. The larvae of stomach bots hide temporarily in the muscles of the tongue or on the gums. After some time, these bots will molt and will move on into the stomach. Once there, they stick to the stomach lining. Stomach bots stay in horses’ stomachs for many months and are usually expelled only during spring. At this time, bot larvae become botflies. Strangely enough, these flies do not seem to eat and thrive purely on the energy that they have in their bodies. It is as if these flies live only to reproduce on horses and cause horses a lot of discomfort.

Bot larvae are not often regarded as causes for serious concern. This is especially since they are eventually expelled anyway come spring. Untreated stomach bots in large amounts however can lead to tremendous discomfort. Horses may injure themselves by repeatedly hitting their stomachs. Bots can also cause digestive problems, weight loss and poor coat growth. Severe bot infestations can even lead to ulcers and more serious perforations of the stomach lining.

Since botflies are everywhere, it is almost impossible to prevent stomach bots. However, there are a few strategies that can help limit the number of stomach bots that get into a stomach’s horses. Horse owners can may manually remove bot eggs once they notice them on horse hair. Some horse owners opt to use chemicals on a horse’s coat to kill eggs even before they cause irritation. Lukewarm sponging can also help ease the discomfort caused by bot eggs.

In adult horses, salmonellosis causes infectious diarrhea. Foals are at an even more critical position because an infection could quickly lead to the systemic spread of bacteria that can lead to death. This is why it is very important to protect horses of all ages against this salmonellosis.

Salmonella bacteria

The condition is caused by an infection of the bacteria salmonella. There are however, numerous strains of the bacteria. Some of them may even thrive in the stomachs of horses without causing illness. Under normal circumstances, salmonella in horses is managed by the good bacteria in the gut. In some cases however, horses may fall ill especially when the invading salmonella is S. typhimurium. Horses can catch salmonella through contaminated food and water.

What Can Make Salmonellosis Worse

Horses become more susceptible to salmonellosis under certain circumstances. Horses are more likely to get sick of this condition when they are already sick with some other severe medical condition. Other infections and diseases may compromise a horse’s immune system, making it unable to fight against a salmonella infection.

It is also quite likely that the improper use of antibiotics could make an infection worse. Antibiotics are often the treatment of choice for bacterial infections. When antibiotics are misused, the bacteria could learn to resist treatment. Improper use of medication include not finishing a treatment schedule, indiscriminate use of antibiotics and giving doses that are lower than prescribed.

Signs and Symptoms of Salmonellosis

Fever and colic may accompany salmonellosis. A giveaway clue however is the texture and consistency of fecal matter. The expelled waste will be extremely watery and brownish. It will also usually smell much worse than regular feces. The stomach of an infected horse may also bloat because the infection causes the lining of the gut to become inflamed. In its advanced stage, the illness will bring a horse to a very weak state. This is both due to dehydration and the gradual systemic poisoning caused by the bacteria’s endotoxins.

Progress of Infection

Horses that are ill with salmonellosis may die quickly without immediate medical attention. In some cases, horses may have diarrhea for a couple of weeks before they get worse. In severe cases though, some horses die in as short as twelve hours after the onset of diarrhea and colic symptoms.

Adult horses may actually get better through proper treatment. Some horses though that do not show any more symptoms may actually become asymptomatic carriers. In other words, they may continue to shed the bacteria in their feces even if they show no symptoms, putting other horses at risk of getting infected.

Salmonellosis is a serious and deadly condition. However with medical attention the horse can survive through the intravenous replacement of lost electrolytes and nutrients.

Ascarid Life Cycle

Like other parasites, ascarids can infect horses through contaminated food or water. Adult roundworms typically lay eggs that are passed out into fecal matter. Eggs and larvae of this parasite type are quite hardy. Unlike other parasites, ascarids can be in an infectious state for a long time.

Picture of an Ascarid

Swallowed eggs hatch in the intestine and penetrate intestinal walls. They then move to the liver and lungs. At this stage, an infected horse may begin to cough and larvae are discharged into the mouth, only to be swallowed again. Upon their second entry into the horse’s system, larvae mature into large adults that can grow up to 15 inches.

Foals are the ones that are usually infected. This is because adults are often immune to roundworm infections.

Symptoms of Ascarids in Horses

Signs and symptoms of an infection are often observed across a period of time. If you don’t pay close attention to an infected horse, you may even miss the signs. Often, ascarids can lead to nutrient deficiency which in turn can result in poor growth, bad coat quality and a large belly. In its advanced stage, coughing that is accompanied by discharges may also indicate an infection.

Complications

If left untreated, an infection can lead to serious complications. An infected horse may begin to suffer from diarrhea as well as lung and liver damage. The infection may progress to internal bleeding and pneumonia. As adults, roundworms can create even more problems. Because they are large, they can be the cause of a significant blockage which can progress to colic, intestinal ruptures and eventually death.

Treatment of Ascarids

Fortunately, ascarids can be treated with dewormers. Different products however may have to be used depending on the stage of infection. A slow acting treatment may be advisable if the parasites are already in their adult form. If your horse is already at an advanced stage of infection, it is always best to consult a veterinarian first before any kind of treatment is attempted. Improper treatment administration may lead to severe intestinal blockage.

Prevention

Foals, like adult horses should undergo regular or scheduled deworming. This is a guaranteed preventive measure that can stop infections before they progress to life threatening conditions. For foals, deworming is often recommended two months after it is born. A different schedule may have to be followed after it passes its first year.

Of course, prevention also encompasses stable and feeding management. Foals ingest ascarids through contaminated food and water. Hence, it always makes sense to ensure that feeding and water trays are always kept clean. Stables should also be kept free of fecal matter as often as possible.

Ascarids may be easier to deal with than other parasites like strongyles. Even so, this is not a reason for horse owners to be complacent. A roundworm infection that is not promptly addressed may be life threatening.

Indications

The most apparent indication of horse founder is lameness. This is not the usual lameness where the horse is bobbing its head and limping on one foot. Founder in most cases affects both front feet at one time, and very occasionally, all 4. In the initial phase of the condition, the horse will apply weight to various parts of its body at various points in attempts to alleviate pain. The pain becomes more harsh, and the horse will attempt to shift its weight towards the back by lengthening its front feet and nearly sitting on its hind legs. If all 4 feet are affected, it may almost sit down in an emphasized manner and may even lie on the ground, unwilling to stand up.

Indications of Founder in the Horse Hoof

Other indications include an obvious warmth to the exteriors of the foot, an emphasized digital pulse, and a heart rate that is beyond 50. When the vet is present, he or she will analyze the horse’s temperature. He or she may also utilize hoof testers to establish if the pain is localized. With horse founder, a horse will have a positive outcome from test results with hoof testers over the whole foot rather than in any one specific location. Once a precise diagnosis has been established, the root problem of horse founder will be talked about between owner and veterinarian.

Treatment And Prevention

In treating founder, also be careful in introducing your horse to lush green pasture if it has been consuming hay all winter. A horse that is given access to grass as it shows up will be introduced naturally and gradually.

Contact the vet right away if you think your horse is foundering. It is essential to take action immediately. Take away all grain and hay from your horse if that is deemed as the main cause of founder in your horse. Wash the affected hoof with frigid water for about 20 minutes as you anticipate the vet’s arrival. You may also try employing a mud poultice or positioning your horse in a shallow, muddy pool. These methods may alleviate pain while waiting for professional assistance. Put your horse in a soft, heavily bedded stall and motivate it to lie down so that pressure can be alleviated. Employ a painkiller and anti-inflammatory drug upon the recommendation of a vet. Speak with your farrier about appropriate shoeing, minimize your horse’s physical activity and discuss treatment options with your vet.

Since diet is highly associated with the risk of founder, owners can play a large role in preventing and treating founder. If you feed grain, studies have indicated that feeding lower amounts of carbohydrate and higher amounts of fat type feed can help minimize the risk of founder. Also, think about minimizing your grain ration and raising the amount of forage you give your horse.

Alternative medicine for horses is exactly what the term suggests. It is an option for horse owners who do not wish to use conventional approaches. By conventional medicine we mean the use of surgery and medicines to treat disease and injury. In other words, alternative medicine is that which does not resort to the use of modern medical techniques.

Alternative Horse Medicine

To be more exact, alternative medicine uses a holistic approach. Practitioners of this discipline believe that horses, or any living creature for that matter, suffer from health conditions because of an imbalance in the system. When the spirit, body and mind are not in harmony, illness occurs. Hence, alternative medicine seeks to treat the whole individual and not just the affected part of the body.

Alternative vs. Conventional

It is no secret that alternative and conventional medicine sometimes do not mix. There are many aspects and principles over which they do not agree. One point which they do not agree over is the use of approaches and techniques that are not scientifically backed. Those who use conventional approaches scoff at the idea of using alternative techniques that do not come with clear scientific documentation.

Practitioners of alternative medicine for horses however counter argue that scientific proof is not everything. As most of us would know, many herbal applications and non-conventional techniques such as acupuncture have been in use for centuries. Although concrete scientific explanations for such alternative approaches are not always present, there is some proof that they are effective and beneficial to a certain extent.

Supporters of alternative medicine also criticize some conventional approaches. Sometimes, conventional medicine is viewed as a way to treat only the symptoms and not the root problem which is systemic imbalance.

Dangers of Alternative Approaches

Alternative medicine for horses has been effectively used by many qualified practitioners. Obviously though, the absence of definite scientific documentation and standards can be a disadvantage. Although alternative approaches can be effective, they can also be harmful in the hands of unscrupulous companies and practitioners. Because we have no absolute scientific manual to follow when it comes to alternative approaches, many con artists can pull together a treatment approach and claim it to be the product of alternative medicine.

What a Horse Owner Should Know

Under certain circumstances, alternative medicine for horses might be the best option for your horse. Before you choose this option though, remember to keep yourself informed first. Find out as much as you can about it before deciding to adopt any solution that claims to be an alternative form of medicine. Choose your practitioner wisely too. Make sure he has the right qualifications to recommend alternative approaches.

You should understand that you can’t just jump into lameness therapies for horses once you suspect that your horse is lame. Part of finding the right therapeutic approach is knowing more about horse lameness.

Inspecting for Horse Lameness

First of all, it is important to spot the right symptoms. Recognizing the right signs and symptoms will help you determine if your horse is indeed lame or is suffering from some other condition. Different horses may show slightly different signs. In general though, a lame horse will move differently from the way it usually does. When it stands still, it may try to relieve the pain on the lame leg by standing less on it. It may also show that it is in pain by bobbing its head while moving.

Once you suspect that your horse is lame, the next step is to find out why. There are a number of possible causes of lameness. It can be due to an infection, a traumatic injury, muscle strain or arthritis. Knowing the exact cause is important because this is how you will know how to treat the condition. Treating the underlying condition in the most appropriate manner will ensure proper healing.

General Therapies

Lameness therapies for horses should be specific to the condition that has caused the lameness. Here are some possible therapeutic techniques to consider.

• Acupuncture- This is an alternative form of treatment that originated in ancient China. It traditionally uses acupuncture needles on specific points to open pathways and return balance to the horse’s systems. Modern research has found out that this method can induce relaxation through the release of endorphins.

• Rest and Exercise- This is among the most logical of all lameness therapies for horses. When a limb is lame, a good strategy is to simply keep it out of action. At the same time though, there are some mild exercises designed to both reduce the negative impact of lameness and ensure that the horse is not further weakened by inactivity.

• Medication- Horses suffering from lameness may also be given medication. Mild cases may be resolved by regular anti inflammatory drugs while more severe cases may require corticosteroids. A horse that has an infection or is suffering from arthritis may need medication that is specifically intended for such conditions.

• Cold and Hot Packs- Just like humans, lame horses may benefit from ice and/or hot packs. Some horse owners may prefer using cold compresses alone while others may alternate cold and hot compresses. These will help reduce swelling and promote proper blood circulation.

There are many other possible lameness therapies for horses. This is why there is absolutely no reason not to have your lame horse treated. Be very vigilant and watchful though. If you suspect that your horse’s lameness is caused by a severe underlying condition, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Many animals, including humans can get infected with the bacteria that cause tetanus. Horses however are said to be more at risk of getting this condition. This is because horses are said to have a lower level of natural immunity. This is compounded by the fact that horses also live in an environment that has plenty of opportunities for infection. Horses can pick up bacteria while grazing, while being ridden or even while it is just in its stall. Because the condition can lead to a painful death, horses that are infected should receive immediate medical attention.

Causes and Disease Progress

The disease is caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetanii. Although it is not contagious, it can be easily picked up by horses from a variety of sources. The bacteria can be found in contaminated feces or rusty objects in pastures and stalls. Puncture wounds are the most common points of entry but other kinds of openings can also be used by the bacteria. Since the bacteria are anaerobic, they often thrive best when a wound has closed and has poor oxygen supply. The bacteria can incubate from anywhere between 3 days to 3 weeks.

Once inside the body, the bacteria produce toxins. These are transported to the bloodstream, nerves, spinal cord and even to the brain. Eventually, tetanus will paralyze the nervous system. In the final stages of the disease, a horse will collapse and be unable to breathe.

Symptoms Tetanus in Horses

It is important to detect symptoms immediately to increase the chances of saving a horse’s life. Initial symptoms may include colic, minimal stiffness, third eyelid protrusion and spasms. In an advanced stage of tetanus a horse will have very stiff limbs, sweating, difficulty moving, labored breathing, difficulty swallowing, jaw contractions and seizures.

Treatment and Prognosis

The treatment for tetanus would depend on the severity of the condition. Treatment approaches may involve surgery, penicillin injections and antitoxin administration. An infection of this kind is almost always a cause for alarm so infected horses should be treated in veterinary facilities.

Recovery from an infection is not impossible. Some experts note though that survival for infected horses is often low. This is especially if a possible infection is not quickly detected. Many horses have had to be euthanized after an infection that has progressed.

Preventing Tetanus Through Vaccination

Prevention of Infection

The best way to prevent tetanus is to have horses vaccinated. Of course, part of prevention always involves good environmental management. Pastures and stalls should always be clean and rusty tools and nails in the premises should be immediately removed.

Horse owners should also carefully watch out for wounds. Any wound on a horse, even a small flesh wound should be treated and dressed.

Indeed, tetanus may be fatal to a horse. There is however, always a way for infected horses to recover with prompt and proper treatment.