Hypocalcemia in mares

Hypocalcemia is the condition where there is low level of calcium in blood.Calcium is responsible for normal functioning of muscles and nerves.Hypocalcemia occurs frequently in lactating mares following prolonged transport.

Causes

• Lactating mares in high milk production results in hypocalcemia.
• Grazing of lush pastures
• Prolonged physical exercise
• After transport
• Stress
• Decrease calcium intake.

Signs

• Increased muscle tone
• Stiff gait
• Sweating
• Prolapse of third eyelid
• Excess salivation
• convulsion

Treatment
Intravenous infusion of calcium solution.

Prevention

• Calcium supplement are required
• Alfalfa or calcium containing mineral mixer should be provided.
• Stress should be minimized
• Avoid fasting

Aflatoxin poisoning in horses

Aflatoxin is produced by fungus Aspergillus flavus.
Sometimes feedstuffs not stored in optimum condition leads to production of aflatoxin in feed.
Types
Acute  
Chronic
Symptoms

Acute Aflatoxin 

• Fever
• Anorexia
• Colic like symptoms
• Depression
• Jaundice-yellow color mucous membrane.
• Lying down
• Bleeding from nostril
• Ataxia
• Convulsion
• Death

Chronic

• Weight loss
• Jaundice
• Anorexia
• Diarrhoea
• Haematomas under skin
• Rough hair coat

Causes
when horses consumes feedstuffs contaminated with fungal moulds.

Treatment
Activated charcoal can be given oraly so that it prevents absorbtion of toxins.
Supplements
Low fat diet
Vitamin supplements can be given
Prevention

• Good stable management
• Good husbandary
• Thorough Examination of feeds

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome in Foals

• SCID- Severe combined immuno deficiency is a genetic defect characterised by deficiency of B and T lymphocytes.
• Autosomal recessive  genetic disease affecting Arabian foals.
• It is genetic defects which causes deletion of genes responsible for production of B and T lymphocytes.
• B and T lymphocytes are vital for devolopment of immunity.

Causes

Genetic defect

Symptoms

• Pneumonia
• cough
• Dyspnea
• Diarrhoea
• Colic
• Stunted growth
• Fever
• Weight loss

Treatment
There is no treatment for SCID.
Because of low immunity prone for all infectious diseases

Abortion in horses

Abortion of the fetus before it reaches the 300 days of gestation period.
It may be due to infectious or non infectious.

Causes

1.Infectious

 a.Viral
EHV-Equine herpes virus/Equine rhinopnemonitis

EVA-Equine viral arteritis causes potential abortion in horses

b.Bacteria
Erlichiosis
Leptospirosis
Pseudomonas
E.coli
Pasteurella
c.Fungus
Aspergillus
Candida
2.Non infectious
Twinning ---  Birth of twins is unusual in horses.
Hormonal---Progesterone deficiency leads to abortion
Stress induced
Umblical cord torsion
Congenital
Symptoms
Coughing
Fever
Depression
Formation of milk
Swelling of mammary gland
Vaginal discharge
Bleeding from vagina
Treatment
Identification of causative agents and treat accordingly.
consult the veterinarian.

Corneal ulcer

Injury of the outerlayer of the eye leads to corneal ulcers.

Symptoms
Excessive lacrimation
Blepharospasm
Swollen eyelids
Eye infections
conjuctivitis
Redness of the eyes
Closed eyelids
Avoid lights
Causes
Eye injury
Foreign particle enters into the eyes
Bacteria and fungus enters through ulcers and causes infections.
Viral infections
Insect sting
Chemical sprays
Inflammation
Treatment and prevention
Treatment should be done to prevent further infections.
Eyes should be flushed with normal saline solutions to remove foreign particles.
Antinflammatory drugs can be given
Broad spectrum antibiotis can be given to avoid infections
Nasolacrimal duct flushing can be done
Atropine ointment 
Anti protienase therapy

Regular obsevation is needed

Parrot mouth in horses

Parrot mouth is the condition in which the upper jaw is longer than lower jaw.
It is also called as under shot jaw.

Symptoms

• Unable to grind feed due to irregular mastication.
• Malnutrition
• Reluctant to eat
• Irregular mastication leads to uneven wear of teeth

Causes
Genetic dental disorder/ hereditary

Treatment

• Surgical technique to correct the angle of jaws.
• Post operative care and nursing care is essential
• Regular dental care
• Remove hook tooth at least every 6 months.

Pigeon fever /Equine distember

Pigeon fever or Equine distember or Dry land distember.
pigeon fever is the abcess in horses caused by Cornybacterium pseudotuberculosis.

Symptoms

• Fever
• Depression
• Swelling
• Lethargy
• Internal abcess

Causes
It is caused by bacteria Cornybacterium pseudotuberculosis.
Infection mainly spreads through broken skin or open wound.
Also transmitted by house flies.

Types

1.Internal abcess
2.External abcess
3.Ulcerative lymphangitis

Prevention

• Cleanliness of the stable to prevent infection.
• Gloves should be weared while handling infected horses.
• Properly disinfect the equipments .

Treatment

• Hot poultices or hot packs should be done for ripening of abcess.
• Abcess should be opened and drained out.
• Abcess cavity should be flushed with povidine iodine solutions.
• Antinflammatory drugs can be given to reduce swelling.
• Antibiotics is required to control infections.

Heat stroke

Heat stroke is defined as increase in body temperature which affects Respiratory,vascular , nervous and muscular system.
It is also known as heat exhaustion or hyperthemia.

Symptoms

• Profuse sweating
• Increases heart rate
• Increased Breathing
• Increased body temperature
• Dry skin
• Excess panting
• Salivation
• Sunken eyes
• Convulsion
• Collapse 

Causes

• Overexertion/ Physical stress
• Respiratory tract infections
• Anhidrosis horses are more prone for heat stroke .
• Unfit horses
• Obesity

Treatment

• Horses prone for heat stroke should be taken to shady area.
• Cold water should should be sprayed on horses.
• Fluid therapy is required in extreme dehydrated horses.

Nail prick

Nail prick /Quicking is the condition in which there is penetration of nail through sensitive laminae of the hoof during faulty shoeing. So competant farrier is required.

Symptoms

• Pain evinced when hoof tester is placed over hoof.
• Lameness
• Unable to put weight on affected limbs.

Causes

• Faulty shoeing

Prevention

• Careful horse shoeing is the best way to prevent nail prick.
• Regular foot checkup

Treatment

• Horse shoe should be removed and pus is drained from abcess.
• The nail prick area should be throughly cleanead and iodine should be used for flushing of the wound.
• Tetanus toxoid vaccination should be given to prevent tetanus.
• Hot poultice is recommended for ripening of abcess.
• NSAIDS should be given to control pain and swelling.
• Nutrition supplements such as biotin, zinc and methionine may help the growth of hoof.

Wobbler syndrome in horses

Wobbler syndrome is a neurological deficit caused by compression of the cervical spinal cord.
It is also called as Cervical vertebral malformation.
There will be muscular coordination due to compressiin of cervical nerves.

Symptoms

• Incoordination
• lameness
• Gait abnormality
• weight loss
• Weekness

Causes

• Genetic
• Nutritional deficiency
• Trauma
• Malformed vertebrae
• Rapid growth of young horses

Treatment

• Nutritional management 
• Controlled exercise
• Specific drug therapy
• Nutrition ficused on nalance between Calcium and Phosphorus ratio
• Surgery in severe cases
• Complete stall rest
• Physiotherapy

Orchitis

Orchitis is inflammation of horse testis.
Symptoms

• Hard swelling if scrotum
• Pain
• Warmness
• Increased temperature of testis
• Decreased semen quality and motility.

Causes

• Bacterial
• Virus
• Parasitic
• Auto immune

Prevention

Good horse management to prevent infections

Treatment

• Cold packs can be applied to reduce temperature
• NSAIDS can be used to reduce pain and swelling.
• Antibiotics can be given to control bacterial infections.

Afterbirth /Retained

Placenta is membranous vascular organ develops in mare during pregnancy.
Mostly expelled after birth but sometimes it may retain and causes various problems.
If it is retained for longer time, it leads to production of toxins and released in the blood stream.

Symptoms

• Fever
• Depression
• Dullness
• Metritis
• Laminitis
• Increased digital pulse
• Decreased appetite

Causes

• Mares with history of retained placenta will prone again for afterbirth
• Breeding should be delayed for atleast 25 days.

Treatment

• Antimicrobials should be given to contrl bacterial infections.
• Fluid therapy is required in severe cases.
• Oxytocin can be given to expell the retaine placenta.

Atresia ani in foals

Atresia ani is a rare congenital condition in which a foal is born without an anus.
Affected horses shiws signs of colic.

Symptoms

• Absence of anus
• Signs of colic
• Distended abdomen
• Straining to pass a bowel movement.

Causes
Congenital condition that may be inherited.

Treatment
Surgery is the only option to correct the conditions.
Surgery is required to correct the opening for the anus.

Pyramidal Disease (Buttress Foot)

• Pyramidal Disease (Buttress Foot)
• Pyramidal disease, also called buttress foot, involves inflammation of the covering of connective tissue that surrounds the coffin bone.
• The disease may arise after trauma or from a separating fracture caused by excess tension on the tendon.
• Secondary arthritis is a likely complication. In early stages, the area will be hot and painful. 
• The toe region above the coronet usually enlarges, creating the “buttress foot” appearance.
• There is no specific treatment for pyramidal disease.
• Anti-inflammatory medication given by mouth or injection may be beneficial.
• Corrective shoeing can help minimize lameness.
• Surgery has been successful for the separating fractures.

Guttral pouch tympany

Guttral pouch tympany is air filled distension of one or both guttral pouch usually seen in foals.

Affected foals -snoring respiratory noise when sucking.

Breathing may become stertorous in severly affected animals.

Symptoms

• Distended nostrils 
• Difficult breathing
• Inability to swallow
• Snoring noise
• Swelling of throat

Treatment
NSAIDS and Antimicrobial therapy.

Guttral pouch mycosis

Guttral pouch are paired air filled diverticula of the auditory tubes peculiar to equidae.

GPT -Guttral pouch mycosis
It is defined as presence of mycotic plaques in the guttral pouch.
Causes
Fungus-Aspergillus sps

Signs

• Epistaxis
• Hemorrhage
• Foul smelling nasal discharge
• Dysphagia
• Difficulty in eating and swallowing
• Dorsal displacement of soft palate

Diagnosis
Endoscope
Treatment
Antifungal therapy

Empyema

Guttural pouch empyema is defined as the accumulation of purulent, septic exudate in the guttural pouch.

The infection usually develops subsequent to a bacterial (primarily Streptococcus spp) infection of the upper respiratory tract.

Clinical signs

• purulent nasal discharge,
• painful swelling in the parotid area,
• stiff head carriage
• stertorous breathing.
• Fever, depression, and anorexia may or may not be seen. 

Diagnosis 
endoscopic examination of the guttural pouch.

Radiographs of the pharynx 

Treatments

• Systemic antimicrobial therapy alone rarely resolves the infection; 
• guttural pouch lavage is necessary. 
• Penicillin gel can be administered directly into the guttural pouch and may enhance bacterial clearance.
• Retropharyngeal abscesses can be resolved by rupturing the abscess into the guttural pouch using an endoscopic blade.
• If endoscopic rupture into the guttural pouch is unsuccessful, surgical drainage is necessary for 
• Tracheotomy may be necessary to provide a temporary alternative airway in these cases.

 For more information 

Mercks veterinary manual

Warts in horses

• Warts are small growths on the muzzle of young horses caused by the papilloma virus.
• Warts can also be spread to other horses.
• Warts usually affects young horses upto 3 years of age.
• Older horses acquires immunity with infections.

Causes

Warts are caused by the equine papilloma virus

Symptoms

Warts appear on a horse as small, grayish, irregular bumps .Most commonly seen in nostrils and muzzles.

Treatment

• warts disappear spontaneously on its own.
• Tissue vaccines prepared from horse own wart tissues.
• It is also possible to remove them with surgery, laser surgery, or cryosurgery.

Vitiligo in horses

• Vitiligo is an idiopathic loss of pigment especially in hairless or thin-haired areas.
• Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder characterized clinically by depigmentation of the skin-both epidermis and hairs-caused by destruction of melanocytes.
• Increased autoantibodies against melanin, tyrosinase, and various tissues are frequently present in vitiligo patients.
• Vitiligo is also considered hereditary and more common in some breeds.
• vitiligo is simply a cosmetic problem.
• Symptoms include flat areas on the skin that feel normal and have no pitmentation.
• White hair can be caused for a variety of reasons such as sound trauma, saddle sores, improperly fitting tack, sunburn and sundamage, frostbite, infections

Dental caries in horses

Dental caries is a disease in which there is destruction of the cementum in teeth by food and micro-organisms results in destruction of the teeth. It is more commonly occurs in older horses.

Signs
Common in horses over 5 years of age
Quidding
Pain on mastication
Foul breath

Diagnosis
Oral examination
Radiographs

Treatment
Regular dental care should be taken to prevent this conditions
Removal of the affected teeth is the best way of treatment.

References
Manual of Equine practice by Reuben J. Rose and David R.Hodgson

Cryptorchidism in horses

• Cryptorchidism is a congenital condition in which one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) of the testes fail to descend into the scrotum.Generally, unilateral cryptorchids are usually fertile, while bilateral cryptorchids are generally sterile
• Cryptorchidism in the horse can occur with either the left or right testis or with both testes.
• Failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotum may be due to genetic predisposition, insufficient androgen (i.e. testosterone) stimulation, and other factors.
• Cryptorchid testes are incapable of producing sperm due to the elevated temperature of the retained testes. If one or both testis remains in abdomen,the horse is called Rig.
• Consequently, a stallion would be sterile if both testes are cryptorchid. Libido and aggressive male behavior is present in cryptorchid stallions since testosterone is still produced by the retained testes

Causes
Hereditary


Symptoms and Types
Bilateral
Both testicles remain in abdomen
Infertility
Stallion like behaviour


Unilateral
One testicles remains in abdomen
still fertile from one testicles


Treatment
Surgical removal of both the testis is the only treatment.

Curb in horses

Curb is a thickening of the plantar tarsal ligament. This is short ligament that starts just below the point of the hock and run down to the head of the cannon bone.

When strained or injured , it ruptures along with surrounding blood vessels.

Causes

• Excessive work
• Falling
• Slipping
• Kicking
• Strain can come from overexertion when jumping or pulling
• Poor conformation
• Cow hock -leg points outward due to irregularly set back knees
• Sickle hock -Irregular angled hock

Signs

Enlargement below the point of the hock

Inflammation and lameness

Affected areas becomes warmth

The horse stands with the leg at rest and the heel elevated to reduce tension on the ligament

Treatment

Anti inflammatory can be given to reduce the pain and swelling.

Cold therapy can be given and complete rest is needed for at least one month.

Reference

Horsemans veterinary encyclopedia by Cheryl Rogers and G.Jeanne wilcox

Important parameters of Reproduction in Mare

Puberty Age      : 12-15 months

Types of oestrus : seasonally polyoestrus

Interval of cycle : 21-23 days

Oestrus length duration : 5-7 days

Average length of gestation : 340 +or-10days

Time of foal heat after foaling : 9-11 days

Anaemia

Anaemia is defined as decreased oxygen carrying capacity of blood.

Anaemia devolops due to 

Blood loss.
Increased RBC destruction.
Decreased RBC production.

Clinical signs

Pale mucous membrane
Reduced exercise tolerance.
Depression
Inappetance
Muscular Weakness
Tachycardia
Tachypnea
Fever, icterus in severe haemolysis

Treatment

Identification and elimination of cause.
Provision of nursing care.
Haematinic therapy can be given .
Iron,copper and cobalt mixture can be given orally.
Minimize the stress

References
The Equine Manual by Andrew J.Higgins and Jack R.Snyder

Capped elbow in horses

Capped elbow or shoe boil is a soft swelling over the point of the elbow due to trauma


Causes

• The shoe hitting against the elbow of the same limb while the horse is being exercised
  
• The horse hitting himself in stamping his foot.
  
• The horse being stabled with insufficient beddings.

Treatment

• First the cause must be determined and removed
  
• Then if is infected capped elbow antibiotics course is required.
  
• Surgical removal of this conditions is good.
  
• Serous fluid should be drained out and inject corticosteroids.

Prevention

• A plenty of bedding must be applied.
  
• A leather shoe is beneficial in preventing the iron shoe to come in contact with the elbow.
• The use of a special pad which adapts itself of the elbow in the standing and recumbent positions.

References

Horseman’s veterinary Encyclopaedia by Cheryl Rogers and Jeanne Wilcox