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Equine Matters Summer 18 SP Final.Pdf Poisonous plants 10 common plants poisonous Equine to horses matters SUMMER 2018 Lameness Horse on box rest How to manage a horse on work-ups box rest The procedure explained An equine surgeon The day-to-day work of an equine surgeon Itchy horses WIN! Managing summer allergies £50.00 Joules Gift Card... or details See inside f contents Summer Edition 2018 the editor Hello and welcome to the summer edition of Equine Matters. 09 19 As I am writing this, the UK has been enjoying some of the best summer weather Safe grazing Summer most of us can remember! For those of us with horses, allergies we spend so much of the time working around poor weather conditions and trudging through mud that I think we can safely say life is a lot more fun in the sun! Unfortunately, there are a Poisonous plants Itchy horses few conditions which rear their heads Liz Bennett of Larkmead Vets highlights Jane King from North West Equine explains whilst it is warm and I for one have seen ten common trees and plants that are why some horses develop allergies and many horses with skin problems over the poisonous to horses. answers questions on Sweet Itch. last month or two. Jane King from North West Equine gives us an insight into itchy horses in this edition, with a number of useful tips should your horse have struggled with this problem. Similarly, the hard ground has brought a number of lameness problems to light and whilst finding the cause of your horse's lameness can feel like a daunting prospect, Wendy Furness of Scarsdale Vets takes the confusion out of this process with her informative article on how a lameness work-up works! So once again, I invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy this edition of Equine Matters. Susan Donaldson Clyde Vets 07 13 Physiotherapy for the equine Liver disease in the horse 03 athlete Dominic Alexander of Belmont Farm & Daisy Collins-Gross from Fellowes Farm Equine explains what can go wrong with Lameness work-ups explained Equine explains the role of the the equine liver. Wendy Furness from Scarsdale Vets physiotherapist in reducing pain and describes the process of examining the optimising performance. 15 lame horse. 11 Equine neurological conditions Jim Slaine from Parklands Veterinary 05 Strangles - what you need to Group summarises a range of conditions Managing the horse on box rest know that affect the equine nervous system. Clare Smith of St Boniface Vets details Mark Tabachnik from Wright & Morten the adjustments and requirements for a describes the symptoms, control and 17 period of box rest. prevention of this highly infectious disease. The life of an equine surgeon Andrew McDiarmid of Clyde Veterinary XLVets Equine is a group of 29 equine practices spanning the length and breadth of the UK. We work together to share experience, knowledge, ideas and skills in order to define and deliver the highest standards of equine health, care and welfare. Group describes his career pathway to becoming a surgeon and his typical day. Equine Matters Summer 2018 02 Lameness work-ups explained These investigations can range from very severe lameness, Lameness where the horse is non-weight bearing, to very mild lameness that can cause poor performance. When asked to examine a horse for lameness This also provides the opportunity to see how Wendy Furness we would commonly assess the horse in a variety relaxed the horse is. If the horse is very wound up MA VetMB CertEP MBA of ways (depending on access to appropriate then mild lameness can be missed. MRCVS facilities). We usually take a history first, then In some scenarios a horse is seen walked up Scarsdale Vets the horse is generally palpated (assessed by and down several times until it is used to its touch) to assess any abnormalities and areas surroundings. It is then seen in trot (unless it is of tightness or pain, heat and swelling. The horse very lame) and the same parameters assessed. will also be assessed standing square to view its conformation. A flat resonant surface is ideal for a trot-up as some lameness is subtle and it’s easier to hear a As equine clinicians, Moving assessment difference in footfall. If appropriate then flexion lameness is one of the tests may be used, as well as seeing the horse move backwards and in a tight circle. common problems we Next we would usually ask to see the horse move are asked to assess. in straight lines in walk (Figure 1) where we assess Lunging is generally done next on a soft surface the following; (Figure 2). The horse is monitored in walk, trot and canter. Some lameness is greatly G the comfort level of the horse accentuated on the lunge and head nods can become more apparent. Overall movement of the horse is assessed on the lunge; how balanced it is G how symmetrical are its movements (taking into account its age and education), if there is a difference between the reins, what its G if there is a head nod transitions look like and does it maintain its gait. If appropriate the horse may be lunged on a hard G what it looks like on the turn surface in walk and trot. In some circumstances we may also assess ridden and jumping movement, depending on the nature of the issue. G is there any toe drag? By the end of these initial examinations we will know which limb or limbs are affected and G tail position if we can go straight to diagnostic imaging. 03 Equine Matters Summer 2018 Nerve blocks Nerve blocks use local anaesthetic placed lameness is still present then blocking through the skin around the nerves at may continue. various locations on the limb where the This all sounds very black and white, nerves are accessible. The principle of however, there are times when the the nerve blocks is the local anaesthetic lameness is not fully obliterated by the will mask the lameness so you can work anaesthetic and the vet needs to take a out where the pain is coming from via a judgement call on whether the lameness process of elimination. The area where has been improved enough for it to be the nerve block takes place is cleaned, a significant or if there may be more than small needle inserted over the nerve and Figure 1: The horse is walked and one cause of lameness. Also, horses may local anaesthetic injected. The horse is trotted on a firm surface vary in their nerve anatomy, local left for a period of time then reassessed anaesthetic may diffuse away from the using the same surfaces as previously. site of entry so precision is very important If the lameness is no longer present in needle placement. The vet working on then imaging will take place at the the case will be able to explain how the areas below the site of the block. If the results of the block have been interpreted. Joint blocks In some cases, joint blocks may be a There are some cases that are not Figure 2: Lunging is often used in the more relevant starting point or they suitable for nerve and joint blocks such assessment of lameness may be used to further narrow down a as if the horse does not tolerate needles. diagnosis after nerve blocks. For joint These cases can be investigated using blocks, the needle and local anaesthetic other imaging modalities, such as However if, for example, a tendon injury are placed directly into the joint itself. scintigraphy (bone scan). To perform a joint block, the area is is palpated early on in the process, we Lameness investigation is fascinating. sterilised. Extra precautions need to be may not go through the remainder of the It’s often like being a detective and taken with joint blocks as any infections lameness assessment in case the injury putting clues together from the history, within a joint or tendon sheath are life is worsened. clinical examination and results of threatening and challenging to treat. blocking. Experience is required for There are many cases when a horse Once the local anaesthetic has had a interpretation of the blocks and what without any significant heat or swelling is chance to take effect then the horse is they mean for that particular horse and presented. The vet may have a reasonable reassessed to see if the lameness has how those results fit with imaging. idea of statistically likely causes of the altered. If it has altered sufficiently lameness based on the history and horse’s then that area is imaged to further the Please make sure you allow your vet work patterns, however most of these diagnosis. To complicate matters, time to put all the clues together and cases will require nerve or joint blocks although joint blocks sound very precise, wait for everything to be completed. to localise the cause of the lameness we have to be careful with interpretation Much like a good detective novel, until (Figure 3). as some joints communicate with each you put everything together you may other and local anaesthetic can diffuse get the wrong answer if you jump in to other areas of the limb. before you have all the evidence. Questions your vet may ask you about your lame horse How long have you had the horse? What saddles do you use and when What work does your horse do currently? were they last checked? What plans are there for your horse? Which limb(s) do you believe to be affected When was your horse last shod? Have you noticed any swelling and How long has the horse been lame? does this vary? What did you notice at the start? Figure 3: A nerve block being performed Is the lameness worse before, during What ground is the horse worst on? or after exercise? ? Managing the horse on box rest They are the words you least want to hear from your vet..
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