joint ill

Joint ill usually occurs in foals, although it may occur in horses of any age. Joint ill takes several forms, all of them septic in nature since they are evidenced by a break down of tissues in the area leading to sepsis which is a toxic condition resulting from the spread of bacteria and toxic products from an infection.

These conditiions include septic arthritis, septic synovitis, septic physitis, and septic bursitis based on where the infection if localized. Acute heat, swelling, and lameness in or around a joint or tendon sheath is the earliest indication of this infection.

Symptoms

Fever
Swelling
Lameness
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Sleepiness
Causes

Joint ill begins when bacteria enter the bloodstream and invade the bone or synovial membranes of the joint.

Any type of neonatal infection causing septicemia can cause joint ill and most cases in foals are the result of a navel infection. Bacteria gain entrance through the digestive or respiratory tracts. Often, the first indication of the disease is lameness, accompanied by hot, swollen joints and fever.

Prevention

Careful treatment of the navel of the newly-born foal is one of the best methods of preventing infections that lead to joint ill. With weanlings and older horses, good sanitation, along with prompt and thorough response to any bacterial or viral infections affecting the digestive or respiratory tracts, will help prevent joint ill.

Treatment

Treatment of joint ill should begin as soon as the infection is discovered. Massive doses of antibiotics for at least three weeks are often advised by veterinarians.

Joints with septic infections usually need to be irrigated, and at times it is necessary to open the joint to remove pus and debris. A suction drain is inserted and the leg is immobilized.

Stall rest and physical therapy are important for a successful outcome. Because of the seriousness of joint ills, a veterinarian should be consulted and treatments prescribed as early as possible.

CORNS IN Horses

Corns
Bruise of the sole at the back of the hoof at the angle between the wall and the bars
Improper shoeing or poor hoof trimming A “corn” is most common in the forefeet on the inner buttress and can be caused by 

Corns are described as dry (only mild bruising), moist (serous exudate present), or suppurative (infected or abscessed). Bruising may be associated with lameness, depending on the severity. When the foot is raised and the solar surface freed of dirt and loose horn, a discoloration, either red or reddish yellow, may be noted. Pressure on the affected area with hoof testers usually causes varying degrees of discomfort, again depending on the severity of the lesion.

CAUSES

- Yellow or red discoloration of the sole, usually on the front feet 

- Possible lameness 

- Soreness of the area when using a hoof tester

- Area of corn may become abscessed

TREATMENT

- Consult your veterinarian

- Corrective trimming 

- Shoeing to protect and transfer weight from the bruised area 

- Draining of the area if there is an abscess

PREVENTION 

- Proper hoof trimming and shoeing

Navicular Syndrome

Navicular Syndrome

Inflammation and degeneration of the navicular bone and surrounding tissues. 
Navicular disease is one of the most common causes of chronic forelimb lameness in the athletic horse but is essentially unknown in ponies and donkeys
This disease begins with inflammation and gradually results in deterioration of the bony tissue of the navicular bone.

CAUSES

- Genetics and poor conformation 

- Improper nutrition 

- Continual impact of the toe on hard surfaces

SIGNS

- Intermittent lameness that tends to get worse over time 

- Toe will become worn as it hits the ground before the heel 

- Usually affects front feet

TREATMENT

- Consult your veterinarian

- Proper trimming and shoeing 

- Medications to increase circulation and decrease pain 

- Surgery may be necessary

PREVENTIONS

- Proper breeding 

- Proper shoeing 

- Adequate exercise, avoiding athletic stress

Cracks

Cracks

Symptoms:
A crack in the hoof wall originating at the coronary band is known as a quarter crack when it occurs on the side--or quarters--of the hoof. Toe cracks may also occur, but are less common. These cracks typically begin on the inside of the hoof, where they are not visible, and become obvious when the crack reaches the surface of the hoof wall. Affected horses will not always be lame, but if the area becomes infected, it can cause severe pain.

Causes:
Cracks can be caused by trauma to the coronary band or heavy concussion, such as work on hard surfaces. Horses with weak or thin hoof walls are more prone to quarter cracks. Poor hoof conformation or an improper trim—especially long toes and underrun heels--can also lead to cracks. Quarter cracks can affect any breed of horse in any sport, but tend to be more common in race horses.

Treatment:
If the hoof is infected, your vet will open the crack to disinfect the area and remove any dead tissue, if necessary. In some cases, the vet will repair the crack using screws, staples, or wire lacing. The horse will usually require special shoeing to relieve pressure while the crack heals and begins to grow out. In most cases, your vet will cover the crack with an acrylic patch to reinforce the repair.

Abscess in horses

Abscess

Symptoms:
Abscesses in the hoof are typically characterized by sudden-onset, severe lameness. In some cases, the horse may refuse to put any weight at all on the affected hoof. The horse will be sensitive in the area of the abscess and may have an increased digital pulse and swelling in the lower leg.

A vet or farrier can pare away the hoof to reveal and drain the abscess, confirming the diagnosis. If left untreated, the abscess may erupt on its own through the sole of the hoof or at the coronary band.

Causes:
A hoof abscess is a pocket of infection in the lamina. It can start with a puncture wound caused by the horse stepping on a sharp object in the barn aisle, or a misplaced horse shoe nail. The hole allows bacteria to enter the hoof, where it thrives in the warm, dark environment. While the bacteria eat away at the hoof tissue, the horse's immune system attacks. The resulting pocket of bacteria, white blood cells, and dead hoof tissue puts pressure on the sensitive structures of the horse's hoof, causing the pain response.

Treatment:
Once the vet has located and drained the abscess, the key is to keep the area clean to avoid reinfection. The hoof should be soaked in a solution of Epsom salts in warm water to help draw out any remaining infection. The hoof should be kept bandaged until it has healed. A vet may suggest an anti-inflammatory, such as Bute, to manage the horse's pain. The recovery period is typically no more than a week to ten days, but this can vary widely depending on the severity of the abscess and the owner's ability to prevent reinfection.

Equine Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis (EGE)

Etiology
Equine Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis (EGE), also called Potomac Horse Fever, is caused by the rickettsial agent Anaplasma phagocytophila. The organism is an obligate intracellular gram-negative bacterium that replicates in the cytoplasmic vacuoles of host cells, particularly granulocytes and monocytes, to form microcolonies called morulae.
Species affected
A. phagocytophila has a wide host range; naturally occurring infections have been recorded in horses, burros, dogs, llamas, and rodents. Humans have also been found to be susceptible to A. phagocytophila infections.
Geographic distribution
A. phagocytophila frequently infects horses in the foothills of northern California. Other states with confirmed clinical infections include Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Cases have also been confirmed in British Columbia, Great Britain, South America, and Sweden.
Transmission
EGE is a blood-borne infection transmitted by bites from ticks in the family Ixodiae. Infections can also be transmitted by blood transfusions in humans. Mechanical transmission by biting insects has been suggested as a possible means of spread. Incubation period The incubation period is 1-14 days in horses and 7-10 days in humans.
Clinical signs
Severity of signs varies with age of the animal and duration of the illness, becoming more severe over several days. Horses: Less than a year old, fever may be the only clinical sign. One to three year olds develop fever, depression, mild limb edema, and ataxia. Adults exhibit the characteristic signs of fever, partial anorexia, depression, reluctance to move, limb edema, petechiation, and icterus.
Zoonotic potential
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is zoonotic and causes human granulocytic erhlichiosis (HGE). HGE is a generalized disease ranging from mild nonspecific symptoms to severe and possibly fatal hematological disorders. Gastrointestinal signs are common and may be combined with photophobia, conjunctivitis, joint pain, coughing, and confusion.


Prevention and control
Horses that live in areas with Ixodes tick populations should be checked frequently for ticks. If found, ticks should be promptly removed with gloved hands. Human tick bites should be thoroughly disinfected after removal of the tick, and hands should be washed with soap and water. It is important to control tick populations in horse habitats to prevent infection.


Sources
•Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University Ehrlichiosis fact sheet http://www.cfsph. iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/ehrlichiosis.pdf
• Merck Veterinary Manual http://www.merckvetmanual. com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/52700.htm
• Franzen P. et al. Death of a horse infected experimentally with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The Veterinary Record.27 January 2007. http://veterinaryrecord. bvapublications.com.proxy.lib.iastate.edu:2048/cgi/ reprint/160/4/122?view=long&pmid=17259454

Brucellosis in horses

Brucellosis occasionally occurs in horses. The bacteria usually localizes in muscles, tendons and joints, though it is most commonly seen in cases of infected withers in horses.
Drainage from areas infected with this organism contains high numbers of bacteria and is very infectious.
Brucellosis can cause abortion in mares, so transmission is possible for veterinarians handling fetal membranes.
Fistulous withers and poll evil are rare, inflammatory conditions of horses that differ essentially only in their location.
In fistulous withers the sinus is located on the withers and the symptoms are severe inflammation, swelling and pain on manipulation.
Because the exact nature of the infection in many of these cases is known only after obtaining culture results, veterinarians are urged to be cautious and to observe good protective technique when dealing with such cases.
Brucellosis can affect sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, horses, and dogs.
Brucellosis can also affect rats and wild animals including deer, bison, elk, moose, camels, water buffalo, and marine mammals.
People can become infected by eating or drinking (oral) raw milk or unpasteurized milk products that contain the Brucella bacteria.
Direct contact or aerosol exposure to infected animal fluids are additional ways to be infected.
People who work with animals (e.g., livestock producers, veterinarians) may be at higher risk of exposure to Brucella.
Infection in people causes flu-like signs (fever, night sweats, headaches, back pain).
Arthritis (joint pain) and re-occurring fevers may occur with long term infection.
Rarely, cases of brucellosis can involve the nervous system, eyes, or heart.
As the disease progresses one or more openings discharge pus with necrosis affecting the deep seated tissues and spine.
Brucella can survive for months in the environment under optimum conditions but can be destroyed by heat and some disinfectants.
Do not eat or drink raw milk or unpasteurized dairy products.
 Wear protective clothing (gloves, masks) when handling reproductive tissues (assisting delivery of newborn animals). Always wash your hands after touching animals.

Cryptorchidism in horses

Cryptorchidism is the failure of one or both testes to descend into a normal scrotal position from the abdominal cavity after birth.

Horses with one descended testicle are usually fertile, while horses with both undescended testicle are generally sterile. The testes may be retained anywhere from the abdomen to the inguinal canal, the normal passage route into the scrotum.

Three different forms of cryptorchidism are observed in horses: under the skin in the inguinal area, in the inguinal canal and in the abdomen. In bilateral cryptorchids, most of the time both testes are abdominal.
Cryptorchidism may not be apparent at birth, as the testes do not drop from the abdominal space, through the inguinal canal and ring and into the scrotum – where they remain – until after birth. The time it takes before both testes have descended varies from horse to horse but both testes should be in the scrotum by two years of age. In all cases of one undescended testicle, the stallion will still be able to produce normal amounts of testosterone. Usually, the undescended testicle is much smaller than the descended one.

Symptoms and Types

Bilateral cryptorchids/Complete rig

Both testicles remain in the abdomen
Physically appears as a gelding (testes cannot be palpated)
Infertility
Stallion-like behavior

Unilateral cryptorchids

One testicle remains in abdomen
Will still be fertile from the one descended testicle


Causes

Cryptorchidism can be due to hereditary or developmental issues, whereby the testicles fail to drop into the scrotum after birth.

 Treatment

There is only one method of treatment for cryptorchidism in horses — surgical removal of both testes. This is to prevent the trait from being passed on to offspring. In cases where the undescended testicle is low in the abdomen, the castration can be performed on the farm and is generally uncomplicated. If both testicles have been retained and are high in the abdomen, your horse may require more complicated surgery and will be referred to an equine surgical facilit

Interference in horses

 Forging is a common fault in horses working in fast tempo in any of the three gaits. It usually refers to a hind leg hitting (catching) the front leg of the same side. At the walk it is commonly referred to as over reaching, which in most cases involves the hind toe of the shoe striking the front toe of the shoe, hence you can hear it; rarely the horse grabs the heel part of the front shoe at the walk. During forging, the wounds, which some call the "treads", are caused mainly to the lower part of the front leg by the over reaching hind leg. 

“Brushing” refers to contact between opposite (right and left) fore or hind limbs. This most commonly takes place in the lower limb, pastern or fetlock and rarely above the fetlock. Brushing happens as a consequence of a lateral gait deficit, meaning something affecting side-to-side movement of the limbs in flight

“Over-reaching” or “grabbing” is a type of forging in which the toe of the hind foot contacts the lower forelimb on the same side, usually causing a heel bulb wound or catching the heel of the shoe.

“Scalping” refers to contact with the coronet band,  “speedicutting” refers to a strike to the fetlock area, “shin hitting” to the cannon area and “hock hitting’ to the hock region.

Equine hernia

Equine Hernia

A hernia is one of many afflictions that can affect foals during birth. There are two types of hernia that a foal can suffer from, both of which may go by unnoticed until they have grown a bit more. They are caused by some type of defect in the wall of the abdomen, either affecting the umbilical area or the inguinal canal -- a passage in the anterior abdominal wall. This is a congenital defect, one that should be repaired as soon as possible, as it poses a host of health problems for the horse.

Symptoms and Types

Umbilical Hernia
Appears during first six weeks of life
A rotund swelling in the abdominal area
Ring felt underneath the skin

Inguinal Hernia
Enlarged or weakened inguinal ring
Swelling in the inguinal area and, in males, near the scrotum
As time passes, the swelling will become larger

An umbilical hernia occurs when the muscles around the foal's navel fail to close at birth. The hernia may be the result of trauma or it may be hereditary. The umbilical hernia manifests itself as a bulge where the umbilical cord was or is attached. The swelling is tissue that envelops the internal organs, but may also contain part of the intestine.


Causes

Umbilical hernias are due to a congenital birth defect. This defect can cause an abscess to form in the horse's umbilical cord or weaken its abdominal wall, both of which can cause a hernia. Inguinal hernias, on the other hand, are a result of an increased pressure in the abdomen due to a difficult birthing and/or an enlarged inguinal ring -- found at the entrance and the exit of the inguinal canal.


Prevention

Careful treatment of the umbilical area during and after the birth of the foal may help prevent umbilical hernias. Allowing the umbilical cord to break naturally when the foal is born is important. The cord should never be pulled on. If it does not break on its own, the handler or veterinarian will usually find the natural indentation, approximately two inches from the abdomen, grasp the cord on each side of the indentation, and twist it until it breaks apart. The cord usually breaks easily when twisted.

Treatment

Inguinal and umbilical hernias must be treated differently. In addition, inguinal hernias are more urgent than umbilical hernias, as umbilical hernias generally regress after the first few weeks, but inguinal hernias only get larger and more serious.

Surgery is required to treat an inguinal hernia; there is no other method of treatment that has been found to be as effective. Conversely, umbilical hernias are generally left to heal on their own, most going away within the first year. If the umbilical hernia is larger, elastrator rings -- a tool used to dilate an area -- may be used. However, because it may trap the horse's abdominal contents within the abdomen, it should only be attempted by a veterinarian.

procedure is high, but a veterinarian should explain the risks involved.

Placentitis

Placentitis—an inflammation of the placenta—is often caused by an ascending infection that enters the mare's uterus through the cervix.Placentitis may be caused by bacteria, fungi or viral agents; however it is most commonly associated with bacterial infection.
This usually arises from faecal contamination with bacteria subsequently ascending through the vagina and cervix thus reaching the placenta
Signsvaginal discharge
premature udder development
Ascending infections may show one or both of these signs where as hematogenous and mucoid usually only show premature lactationA diagnosis usually can be determined using trans-rectal and/or trans-abdominal ultrasound in combination with a culture if a vaginal discharge is present.

Treatment

• Antibiotics
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Hormonal treatment

“Dummy” foals or Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome

“Dummy” foals are a potential problem faced by breeders during foaling season. Numerous terms have been used to describe this syndrome including barkers, wanderers, or convulsants. Veterinary terminology includes neonatal maladjustment syndrome, perinatal asphyxia syndrome, and most commonly hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). These terms are used to describe newborn foals that have behavioral or neurologic abnormalities that do not have an infectious, toxic, congenital or metabolic cause. The condition results from decreased blood and oxygen supply to the brain.


History:
 Foals diagnosed with HIE often have a history of the mare experiencing difficulties during the pregnancy or during delivery of the foal. Premature lactation, uterine or placental infection, and prolonged or shortened pregnancy lengths may play a role. In addition, problems during delivery, such as dystocia or premature placental separation (“red bag”) increase the risk of a foal developing HIE. It is important to note, however, that some cases of HIE foals have no known predisposing factor.


Clinical Signs:
Clinical signs are very variable in onset, severity and duration. Some foals begin showing clinical signs immediately after birth while others may not show any signs for a couple of days. Mild signs can include poor suckle response, lack of interest in the mare, wandering, depression or staring into space. Facial spasms, lip curling or abnormal vocalization (“barking”) may be observed. Clinical signs may also be much more severe including seizures, unresponsiveness, and blindness.



Treatment:

• The amount and level of treatment is dependent of the severity of the foal’s clinical signs.
• In mild cases, very little treatment may be necessary.
• If the foal fails to absorb adequate colostrum and has failure of passive transfer in addition to HIE, plasma will be given.
• If the foal is unable to nurse, feeding through a nasogastric tube or supplementation given intravenously may be needed.
• In severe cases, more aggressive therapy is required.
• Seizure activity needs to be controlled.
• Medications, such as DMSO, mannitol, and magnesium sulfate, can be given to reduce cerebral edema and limit damage to cells.
• Caffeine may be administered to support respiratory function or mechanical ventilation may be needed.
• Broad spectrum antibiotics are started to decrease the risk of a secondary infection or sepsis. Thiamine is helpful in supporting the metabolic processes of cells. Anti-ulcer medications are given to prevent additional gastrointestinal problems.
• Vitamin E and Selenium are often added to reduce oxidative damage

For more information

http://www.newenglandequine.com/Articles/dummy-foal.pdf

Neonatal isoerythrolysis or Jaundice Foal Syndrome

• Neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI) or Jaundice Foal Syndrome is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening condition of newborn foals.
• It has been estimated to occur in 1 to 2% of equine births.
• The condition occurs when a foal ingests colostrum containing antibodies directed against its red blood cells (RBC’s).
• Destruction of RBC’s leads to release of a pigment called bilirubin that may cause the gums, white parts of the eye and feces to become yellow or jaundiced.
• Horses have a number of blood groups, the most common of which are labeled ‘Aa’ and ‘Qa’.
• A foal may inherit its blood group type from either the mare or the stallion.
• If the stallion and mare have the same blood group, the problem cannot occur.
• If a foal inherits the blood group type of its dam, there will also be no chance of developing this syndrome.
• Affected foals usually begin to show clinical signs between 24 and 72 hours of life.

Signs

• jaundice
• weakness
• lethargy
• decreased nursing vigor
• increased respiratory and
• heart rate, recumbancy
• passage of red-colored urine and possibly death.

Treatment

• Blood transfusions from a crossmatched donor horse or washed red blood cells from the mare. 
• Additional therapy may include administration of purified hemoglobin, antibiotics, and other medications.

For more information

http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/Documents/Learnfoals8-jaundicesynd-apr09.pdf