Equine Management

• -use a 35' to 40' lead
• 1) tie noose around base of the neck
• 2) run lead between front legs towards intended leg to be secured
• 3) tie hobble strap around pastern and attach to rope
• 4) pull hind leg cranially so that toe is just off the ground and secure rope back towards noose with quick release knot

• -most commonly used in a clinic
• -usually made of pipe
• -not more than 30" wide
• -never leave horse unattended

• 1) only allow a neck's length
• 2) always tie a quick release or slip knot
• 3) tie to a place that is sturdy, cannot be eaten, pulled up or break

• 1)work with the head- alleviate fear by calmly petting cheeks
• 2)use a 8-10 ft lead rope
• 3) walk around throat latch area close to horse
• 4)avoid walking in blind spots of horse

directly in front and behind

• 1) treat as companion animals
• 2) treat as  individual personalities
• 3) watch body, ear, nostril, eye, and tail movment/positions
• 4) assess temperment before approaching
• 5) approach slowly with confidence

• Touch
• Talk
• Body language

2(I3/3,C1/1,P3-4/3,M3/3)

• 8 days - i1 come in
• 8 weeks - i2 come in
• 8 months - i3 comes in

i=deciduous

young horse no longer nursing but less than 1 year old

the act of giving birth to a foal

young horse about 1-2 years old

newborn horse

neutered male horse

intact female horse that has not had a foal

intact female horse that has had a foal

young intact male horse

Adult intact male horse

99-101.5^o F

20-30 years

15-20 rpm

28-40 bpm

• Appearance of Galvayne's groove on upper I3 at 10 years at the gumline
• Half way from top down the tooth - 15 years
• all the way down the tooth - 20 years
• Disappears from bottom to midway - 25 years
• Disappears completely by 30 years

Notch on upper I3 appear at 7 years - 7 year notch

Wears away by 10 years

Canine teeth erupt - all adult incisors are in

All adult incisors are in

First and second adult incisors are in. Third is still deciduous

First adult incisor is in. Second and third are still deciduous

the grinding of the cups of the incisors to mask the age of the horse

filing down of points on the premolars and molars of horses

• 1) white sclera
• 2) striped hooves
• 3) mottled skin around eyes, muzzle and genitalia

a cross between a Jack and a mare

male donkey

female donkey

a cross between a stallion and a jenny

Assist with diagnosis of respiratory:colic: lameness: reproductive diseases

• Assist with pre-op and post-op care
• Assist with pre-breeding exams
• Coggins testing for EIA
• Herd health work
• research

• vaccinations
• deworming/pasture management
• sanitation/ventilation
• neonatal care
• nutrition

1894, New York City

• 1791 - British
• 1873 - US

1665, Long Island

first track built since Roman times.  1174, London

• Darley Arabian
• Godolphin Arabian
• Byerly Turk

• greek soldier "father of Horsemanship"
• 400 BC essays - foundation of modern horsemanship

Babylonia 2000 BC (Egypt 300 years later)

• Past: food source
• Present: transportation/work/leisure

Zebra, wild African ass, Przewalski horse

• True horse
• high crowned teeth - hipsodont

• "One toed grazer"
• 2-3 mya
• - splint bones
• -wider eye
• -teeth converted completely to grazing

• "grass eater"
• 26 mya
• - high crowns started to develop
• - middle toe largest, bore all weight and ended in a hoof

• "middle horse"
• 35 mya
• all 4 feet now 3 toes - middle larger
• -teeth bigger
• -browser

• "dawn horse"
• 55 mya
• front feet 4 toes; back feet 3 toes
• teeth small
• browser

Conquistadores

Mustang

• Andalusian
• Peruvian Paso
• Paso Fino
• Mustang

Appaloosa

Arabians

The Running Walk

Lipizzan

Percheron

Suffolk Punch

Shire

white hairs intermixed with bay

white hairs intermixed with chestnut/sorrel

white hairs intermixed with black

tan with black points on mane, tail, ears, muzzle and on legs below knees and hocks.

• Must have appaloosa coloring
• Cross between Shetland Pony and Appaloosa

any color other than black with white that crosses over the back and extends downward

any color other than black with white that does not cross the dorsal line

black horse with white that crosses the dorsal line

black horse with white that does not cross the dorsal line

A paint can only be of Quarterhorse breeding

• blanket
• leopard

white marking on nose between the nostrils

white marking of any shape on the forehead

white line down the face

white band down the face but does break the cheek line

white from forehead to muzzle, extending around eyes and usually breaks the cheek line

white around the coronary band

white from top of hoof to bottom of fetlock joint

white from top of hoof to fetlock joint

white from top of hoof to halfway up cannon

white from top of hoof to 3/4 way up cannon

white all the way up to the carpus or hocks

• 1) chain is run from left ring at base of the ear to left cheek ring, run under the the chin and clipped to the right cheek ring
• 2) same as 1 except chain is run over the noseband
• 3) same as 1 except chain is run into the mouth along the upper gum

• -try to keep mother in sight (if she gets to agitated,must remove)
• -if foal gets to stress, stop immediately
• -DO NOT FLANK A FOAL
• -corner against stall wall
• -hold with one arm around chest and the other raises the tail over the back

• Rope twitch
• Chain twitch
• Humane twitch

releases endorphins; lasts 5-15 minutes

• 1) can use a stirrup leather or long belt
• 2) strap is placed around pastern of front leg and leg is flexed
• 3) encircle flexed forearms and secure strap  laterally on leg for quick removal

• Rompun
• has analgesic properties
• 0.5 - 1.1 mg/kg IV/IM
• produces transient bradycardia and decreased RR
• can still respond violently to stimuli

• phenothiazine tranqilizer
• no analgesia
• 0.044-0.088 mg/kg IV/IM
• causes hypertension and tachycardia

• Butorphanol tartrate
• 0.05 -0.2 mg/kg
• opiate agonist with analgesic properties
• usually combined with a sedative
• Lowers HR/RR

• detomidine
• muscle relaxant and analgesic
• does not have flashes of instant awareness
• 10-40mg/lb IV

Mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, right ventral colon, sternal flexure, left ventral colon, pelvic flexure, left dorsal colon, diaphragmatic flexure, right dorsal colon, transverse colon, small colon, rectum

to listen with a stethoscope

rumbling or gurgling noises of the gut of a horse

in the quadrant format clockwise.

• "choke"
• dry grains that have been greedily eaten or sometimes alfalfa cubes

• enlargement of cervical esophagus
• regurgitation of feed: water and saliva through mouth and nostrils
• holding neck straight out or arching

• Aspiration pneumonia
• rupture of esophagus

• Pass nasogastric tube, warm gentle gavage under sedation
• Surgical removal of obstruction if other means do not work
• Feed small quantities of soft food after removal
• Broad spectrum antibiotics to prevent aspiration pneumonia

• Place rocks in feed to slow down eating
• Regular dental care

• Etiology - Gasterophilus larva
• Clinical Signs - mild gastric or no signs at all
• Diagnosis - sometimes presence of eggs on forelegs
• Treatment - Routine botacide in fall after flies disappear

• etiology - Habronema muscae, H. microstoma and Draschia megastoma
• clinical signs - usually absent
• diagnosis - difficult
• Treatment - routine anthelmintic therapy about every 2 month rotating products

• Etiology - stress of disease
• Clinical signs - foals lay on back attempting to take pressure off stomach and teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Diagnosis - clinical signs
• Treatment - Tagament, Cimetidine

• Etiology - 1) overconsumption of grain/water 2) intestinal obstruction causing secondary reflux
• Clinical signs - abdominal pain
• Diagnosis - Passage of nasogastric tube: helps identify stomach contents (full of gas/fluid)
• Treatment - decompress stomach with nasogastric tube. Surgery to remove obstruction. Fluid therapy

• Etiology - Salmonella spp.
• Clinical signs - acute diarrhea (projectile and foul smelling, fever, depression, abdominal pain, congested (red) mucous membranes
• Diagnosis - fecal culture (10 grams) at least 5 different times
• Treatment: fluid therapy, antidiarrheals, antiinflammatories, antimicrobials

• etiology - ingestion of dead blister beetles trapped in alfalfa hay when harvested.  Beetles produce catharidin toxin that is highly irritating to mucous membranes
• Treatment - symptomatic therapy, fluids, and pain control
• Prevention - after June, be aware of grasshoppers in abundance because beetle larva feed off grasshopper eggs

• etiology - impaction of first feces
• Clinical signs - foals try to defecate repeatedly
• Treatment - soapy enemas, pain control
• Prevention - routine administration of enemas at birth

• etiology: physical changes in GI tract possible from hormone changes in mare and the composition of her milk
• Clinical sign: watery feces
• Treatment: self limiting

Salmonellosis, Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, Rotavirus/coronavirus

• Small intestine volvulus and strangulation
• Intussusception
• Impaction of the ileum
• Thromboembolic mesenteric vascular disease
• Large colon impaction
• Cecal impaction
• Sand ingestion
• Colonic volvulus
• Enteroliths

• HR: 40-60 bpm
• RR: 20-30 rpm
• Temp: 99-100.5 (normal)
• MM - pale pink
• CRT 1-2 second
• Gut sound present and normal
• Normal passage of feces
• mild pain level

• HR: 60-80 bpm
• RR: 30-40 rpm
• Temp: 99-100.5 (normal)
• MM: pale pink - dark red
• CRT: 2-4 seconds
• Decreasing gut sounds
• Small, hard fecal ball passage
• Moderate pain level

• HR: 80+
• RR: 40+
• Temp: Under 99 or over 103
• MM - Reddish/purplish
• CRT- 5+ seconds
• Absent gut sounds
• No fecal passage
• Severe pain level

• 1) Temperature
• 2) Heart Rate
• 3) Respiratory Rate
• 4) Peripheral pulses: submandibular artery, facial artery
• 5) MM color / CRT
• 6) PCV/TP
• 7) Nasogastric Tube Intubation
• 8) Abdominocentesis

• Yellow Green Color - bile reflux
• Reddish Color - mucosal damage or hemorrhage within intestinal tract

• Clear to yellow with slight turbidity - normal
• Reddish color with increased turbidity - Intestinal devitalization
• Reddish brown - Intestine necrosis
• Flakes of feed/ingesta in fluid - gastric/intestinal rupture or inappropriate needle placement

• Eastern/Western Enchephalomyelitis
• Rabies
• Tetanus
• West Nile Virus

• Anthrax
• Botulism
• Equine Herpesvirus
• Equine Influenza
• Potomac Horse Fever
• Snake Bite
• Strangles

• -caused by a virus
• -no cure no vaccine
• -spread through blood by biting flies or contaminated equipment and iatrogenically

• -shows no outward symptoms but test positive on Coggins test
• -pose the greatest threat because they act as reservoirs

• -positive Coggins test
• -may develop weakness, gradual weight loss, anemia and swelling of lower legs. Symptom can subside and reoccur

• -death often occurs 1-2 months after exposure.
• -develop fever, go off feed and look outwardly sick.
• -may test negative for 16 to 42 days due to body not producing detectable antibodies

• 1) usually recommended to be euthanized
• 2) if kept must be branded on left shoulder with 74-A and isolated 200 yards from others
• 3) donated to research

Gasterophilus spp (bot larvae)

• Draschia megatoma (stomach worm)
• Habronema spp (stomach worm)
• Trichostrongylus axei (minute stomach worm)
• Gasterophilus spp (bot larvae)

• Parascaris equorum (roundworm)
• Strongyloides westeri (threadworm)
• Anoplocephala magna (tapeworm)
• Paranoplocephala mamillana (tapeworm)

• Strongyles spp (large strongyles)
• Cyathostomum spp (small strongyles)
• Oxyuris equi (pinworm)
• Anoplocephala perfoliata (tapeworm)

Strongylus edentatus (large strongyle larvae)

• Dictyocaulus arnfeldi (lungworm)
• Parascaris equorum (roundworm larvae)
• Draschia megastoma (stomach worm larvae)
• Habronema spp (stomach worm larvae)

Strongylus Vulgaris (large strongyle larvae)

Strongylus edentatus (large strongyle larvae)

• Draschia/Habronema larva (summer sores)
• Strongyloides westeri (intestinal threadworm)
• Onchocerca cervicalis (threadworm)

• Thelazia lacrymalis (eyeworm)
• Onchocerca cervicalis (threadworm)

Encevac TC-4: Equine Influenza, WEE/EEE, Tetanus toxoid

Strepvac II: Streptococcus equi

Zimecterin Gold: praziquantel, ivermectin

Ivermectin

Fenbendazole

Oxibendazole

Dichlorvos

Piperazine, thiabendazole

Pyrantel pamoate

Pyrantel tartrate

• Auscultation of Heart - check for murmurs
• Palpation of Peripheral pulse - quality and rate of pulse
• MM color/CRT - adequate perfusion
• Skin turgidity to assess hydration
• Auscultation of Respiration - any crackles (cellophane) or wheezes, nasal discharge

• PCV/TP
• WBC count

generally not given due to potential for post-op ileus (intestinal stasis)

loss of feeling or sensation

Relief of pain without loss of consciousness

act of calming, decreasing excitability and irritability: animal will remain standing

• Xylazine given first for sedation/analgesia
• Ketamine given after 3-5 minutes - dissociative

• Induction and recovery-smooth
• Duration 15-20 minutes
• Remove halter and cover eyes once horse is on the ground

• 5% "GG" glycerol guaiacolate - muscle relaxant and mild sedaton
• 0.2% thiamyl sodium IV - ultra short-acting barbituate
• Duration - 12 to 60 minutes
• requires catheter placement
• Xylazine

• 1) Xylazine - 0.5mg/lb - sedation
• 2) GG - 2.5mg/lb - muscle relaxant
• 3) Ketamine - 0.7mg/lb - bolus

requires catheter placement

Inhalant Anesthesia

• 1) easier to control level of anesthetic depth
• 2) used for procedures greater than 1 hour

• 1) requires the use of an anesthetic machine
• 2) requires the use of oxygen
• 3) requires the use of an endotracheal tube

The oral cavity must be flushed out with dosing syringe and clean water to remove any food or foreign matter that may be aspirated.

• 1) done blindly
• 2) make sure cuff is patent
• 3) use the largest tube possible that will slide easily through larynx
• 4) tube is advanced between cheek and teeth until it bumps the larynx
• 5) extent head and advance tube while rotating
• 6) once in place, inflate cuff with a 60cc syringe

• Halothane
• Isofluorane
• Nitrous Oxide - needs oxygen to prevent hypoxia

• nerve damage
• rhabdomyolysis

• motor excitation and ataxia
• preanesthetics reduce
• rapid acting drugs prevent

Involuntary excitement or delirium

• loss of consciousness and voluntary control
• CNS excitation or increased stimulation occurs

• consciousness and pain sensations are abolished
• muscular relaxation occurs

• a form of stage 3 anesthesia characterized by:
• Nystagmus
• palpebral reflex
• steady respirations

a form of stage 3 anesthesia characterized by:

• complete loss of muscle tone (loss of palpebral and corneal reflexes)
• shallower respiration

O2 from tank>flowmeter>p/u anesthetic in vaporizer>plenum above soda lime>fills rebreathing bag (2/3)>mixed gases into inhalation tube>endotracheal tube to animal>animal exhales>gases back through endotracheal tube>exhalation hose>soda lime canister>excess gases exhausted past pop off valve>out through scavenging hose>soda lime filters out CO2>gases return to plenum recombine with fresh O2 and anesthetic vapor

1) Breed association age requirements - pressure to have foals born as close to Jan 1st as possible.

2) Economic pressures - maximize maturation before artificial birthday

Manipulation of physical environment - artificial lighting to create 16 hour days

Hormone supplements

seasonally polyestrous

Seasonally polyestrous

centers around long-day length - from late March to October - northern hemisphere

reversed south of the Equator

21-22 days but can be 4-7 day shorter during breeding season

• Ultrasound monitoring of follicular development
• rectal palpation

Consistent 15 days per hormone level

1 day after ovulation

• mare resists stallions advances by:
• kicking, squealing, pinned back ears, clamping tail between her legs

• mare shows estrus status by:
• squatting, urinating, lifting of the tail, winks (everts her clitoris) on stallion approach

• characterized by irregular estrus behaviors without ovulation
• will always precede onset of cyclicity regardless of induction of cycle

Behaviors can be stopped by synthetic progesterones

• Regu-Mate
• Intervet

• Rectal palpation
• Vaginal speculum examination
• Uterine "CBC": culture, biopsy, cytology

• Failure to become pregnant after breeding
• At sale/before mare purchase
• Before conception

The ob sleeve is placed on the non-dominant hand and lubricated after the tail has been wrapped by vet wrap

Ultrasonography: follicles appear black, corpora lutea appear grayish/webbed

• visualized with ultrasonography
• changes during estrus resembles cartwheel due to edema in endometrial folds

aseptic technique required for all vaginal procedures (speculum exam, "cbc")

• clean hand retrieves cleaning supplies
• dirty hand cleans and preps areas as if for surgery

It is important that NO water be added to the disinfectant soap

11 months or about 330 days

• Checks for: (C'DUO)
• Cervical trauma
• Discharges - vaginal, cervical, uterine
• Urine pooling in cranial vagina
• Other conditions associated with subfertility

Vaginal discharge - indicative of placentitis or urine pooling

Udder milk dripping or streaming - placentitis, twins, wrong delivery date calculation

• "waxing teats" droplets of dried milk appear due to udder filling
• Vulva elongates
• Pelvic ligaments relax
• Test colostral Ca levels: > 10-12 mmol/dL
• Behavioral changes
• Sweating

• Kicking at abdomen
• Pacing
• Lifting the tail head
• Agitation
• Nickering
• Turning and biting at sides

• Placenta rupture
• Allantoic fluid escaps
• Forceful labor
• Foal delivered in 30 minutes or else assisted or Cesarean
• Strip umbilical cord of blood and break near foal's body

• Delivery of placenta
• Weight and evaluate placenta to ensure intact

• colic
• large colon volvulus
• uterine artery hemorrhage
• retained placenta
• peritonitis

• suck reflex begins shortly after birth
• standing within 1-2 hours
• successful nursing in 6 hours
• first urination around 12 hours
• passage of meconium in first few hours (may admin an enema to prevent retained meconium)
• capable of running in 24 hours

60-80 bpm

10-20 rpm

• nap - 10-20 minute periods
• nursing - 5 minute periods

2-4lb/day

• base-wide stance at first
• exaggerated steps at first
• jerky movements
• when restrained, initially goes limp

• attitude
• aptitude
• urine and fecal production

1% iodine,tid/qid x 2 days

Failure of passive transfer of maternal antibodies for tetanus

IgG <800mg/dL after 24 hours - through ELISA snap test

detected less than 24 hours = high quality colostrum via nasogastric tube

detected after 24 hours = IV plasma

130-150kcal/kg/day

Mare (dam): ideal source of nutrition - milk mare in cases of foal inability to nurse

Nurse mare: bond foal to nurse mare if she is sole milk provider

Bottle feeding - labor intensive and potential for aspiration pneumonia

Bucket feeding - commonly used with orphans

• primarily used with critically ill foals
• can be left indwelling if placed right
• must be checked before each feeding
• small volumes increasing from 5-10%bw over 12 feedings

• Geographic location
• Use of horse - large gatherings of horses
• safety of vaccine vs. risk

A manifestation of asymmetry in movement.

Structural or functional disorder in one or more limbs

• Progression of movement
• Standing in one position

• 1) Restricted movement
• 2) Reduced performence
• 3) Abnormal gait

• 1) determine which leg is affected
• 2) Differentiate between supporting and swinging-leg lameness
• 3) Establish the components producing lameness

• musculoskeletal and/or
• neurologic

Supporting limb lameness

Injury to bones, joints, collateral ligaments or motor nerves and injuries to the hoof

Swinging leg lameness

Pathologic changes involving joint capsules, muscles, tendons, tendon sheath or bursas

Mixed lameness

Complementary lameness

• 1)any inciting factors
• 2)changes in intensity and duration
• 3)responses to treatments already attempted
• 4)time elapsed since last hoof trimming/shoeing
• 5)when is the lameness noticed most
• 6)is there any stumbling

Assesses the horses position and posture while standing still from all sides

Horse is observed at a walk and trot laterally and coming/going to identify the limb or limbs and degree of lameness

Will fall on sound foot landing and rise when unsound foot lands

navicular disease

head will rise when the sound foot lands and lowers when the unsound foot lands

The affected limb will be brought higher

• evaluate digital pulses - will be stronger with pain
• manipulate each hoof - use a hoof tester ever 2-3 cm to check sole
• Always check coronary band for heat/swelling
• pastern joint and fetlock flexion tests

• I: not observed on walk but seen on trot
• II: Alteration of gait on walk noted, no overt head movements
• III: observed on walk and trot
• IV: non-weight bearing