Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Managing thin soles in performance horses

Image showing measurements for sole depth of the toe of the P3, the heel of the P3, and the palmar angle of the P3 (© Metz et al 2024)
(c) Matz et al 2024
 Thin soles and poor palmar angles are common issues in performance horses, significantly impacting their comfort, movement, and hoof health. Horses with thin soles are more prone to lameness due to increased sensitivity, pain, bruising, and a higher risk of developing solar abscesses.

Managing thin soles can be challenging for farriers and hoof care professionals. Many owners turn to protective footwear, while supplements rich in biotin, methionine, and zinc are often used to promote hoof growth. 

One potential therapy gaining attention is Pulsed Electromagnetic Frequency (PEMF) therapy. Widely used in equine therapy, PEMF promotes healing, reduces pain, and supports overall health and performance. Could it also play a role in managing thin soles?

 

A recent pilot study led by Madelyn Matz, published in the Journal of Equine Rehabilitation, explored the effect of PEMF therapy on hoof parameters in ten adult horses of various breeds. The horses were divided into a PEMF group (n=6) and a control group (n=4).

 

All horses underwent standard hoof trimming the day before the study began, with no further farriery work during the trial. Radiographs were taken before treatment and again 30 days later, measuring sole depth and palmar angles (see figure).

 

The PEMF group received treatment at a frequency of 22 Hz for ten minutes per session, applied to both hooves three times a week (on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) over a 30-day period, while the control group received no intervention.

 

The study found no significant differences between the PEMF and control groups in terms of sole depth under the apex of the proximal phalanx or palmar angles. However, there was a trend towards increased sole depth beneath the distal processes of the right hoof in the PEMF-treated horses.

 

While this pilot study showed no significant improvement overall, the trend towards increased sole depth suggests that PEMF therapy may offer some benefit. 

 

The researchers concluded that further investigation is warranted, as PEMF therapy could become a non-invasive option for managing thin soles in horses.

 

 

For more details, see:

 

M.M. Matz, D.L. Alexander, J. Moore, C.E. Fedorka,

Evaluating the effect of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy on sole depth of the equine hoof: A pilot study,

Journal of Equine Rehabilitation, (2024) Vol 2,100010,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eqre.2024.100010

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Can Horses Sniff Out Poisonous Plants?

(c) Victoria Shibut Dreamstime.com
Recent research from Poland suggests that horses may use their sense of smell to avoid
poisonous plants.
 

Many plants are toxic to horses, potentially causing serious health issues or even death if ingested. So how do horses identify poisonous plants? 

In the wild, horses may avoid unfamiliar plants or those with bitter or unpleasant tastes. Domesticated horses may not always avoid toxic plants. Overgrazed pastures or contaminated hay can expose them to harmful species, clouding their natural foraging instincts.

 

A study by Izabela Wilk and colleagues at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland, tested whether stabled horses could distinguish poisonous plants by scent alone. The researchers presented six plants to the horses, enclosed in boxes so the horses could only smell them, not see or touch them. 

 

The plants included three poisonous species: Common Yew (Taxus baccata), Common Box (Buxus sempervirens), and Northern White-Cedar (Thuja occidentalis), as well as three non-poisonous ones: Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Dill (Anethum graveolens), and Arugula (Eruca sativa).

 

The horses were trained to approach and investigate the boxes. Researchers observed the time they spent exploring each box and found that horses spent significantly more time investigating non-poisonous plants. This suggests that horses may be able to discriminate between novel odours and rely on olfaction to avoid toxic plants.

 

While this ability may help horses avoid danger, it is not foolproof, and their environment plays a significant role in their exposure to harmful species.

 

For more details, see

 

Izabela Wilk, Elżbieta Wnuk, Anna Stachurska, Wiktoria Janicka, Ewelina Tkaczyk, Natalia Kumanowicz, Jarosław Łuszczyński,

Explorative behaviour in horses when presented with unfamiliar poisonous and non-poisonous plants,

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, (2024) Vol 277, 106352,

 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106352

 

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Effect of PPID on egg shedding after deworming

It has been suggested that horses with hormonal disorders, such as insulin dysregulation and
Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), may be more susceptible to worm infections.
 

Horses with PPID often have a weakened immune system, which can allow worms, such as cyathostomes, to thrive more easily compared to healthy horses. These horses may also not respond as effectively to standard deworming treatments due to their altered immune function.

 

A study conducted in Australia aimed to determine whether horses with PPID had increased strongyle faecal egg counts (FEC) compared with control horses.

 

The study, led by Adelaina Horner, took place over a fourteen-week period and involved adult horses and ponies over eight years old in Victoria, Australia. All horses lived on pasture and had not been dewormed for at least three months prior to the study. A total of 45 privately owned horses and ponies met the criteria for inclusion, with 14 horses diagnosed with PPID and 31 serving as controls. PPID diagnosis was confirmed by elevated plasma ACTH concentrations (above 120 pg/mL) along with at least one clinical sign of the disorder.

 

All horses were dewormed with a standard dose of a commercially available ivermectin product. Faecal egg counts were taken before treatment and then every two weeks for 14 weeks. A FEC of 200 eggs per gram (EPG) or higher was used as the cutoff for significant worm burden.

 

The results showed that the egg reappearance period (ERP) after deworming was shorter in PPID horses, and cumulative FEC after deworming was higher in these horses. However, the researchers noted that some PPID horses consistently had no detectable eggs or low EPG (≤ 200) throughout the study, and this could not be explained by observed husbandry practices.

 

Worm eggs collected during the study were cultured in the laboratory, and examination of the larvae confirmed that all worms were cyathostomin species.

 

The researchers advise monitoring egg shedding before anthelmintic treatment in PPID horses, in line with sustainable worm management guidelines, as some PPID horses consistently showed low FEC results.

 

While hormonal disorders like PPID do not directly cause an increase in parasitic infections, they can impair the horse’s immune system and overall health, making them more vulnerable to worm infections and potentially reducing the effectiveness of treatments. Effective management of both the hormonal disorder and parasitic infections is crucial for maintaining the health of affected horses.

 

 

For more details, see: 

 

Strongyle egg shedding and egg reappearance periods in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction

Adelaina Horner, Nicholas J. Bamford, Michael J. Stear, David Piedrafita, Abdul Jabbar, Kristopher J. Hughes, Charles M. El-Hage, Sarah Preston

Veterinary Parasitology (2024) Vol 328, 110176

 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110176

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Chicory: a natural anthelmintic?

(C) Malsa et al CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Recent research in France suggests that chicory shows promise as a natural anthelmintic for horses.

 

Cyathostomes (small redworms) are the most common gastrointestinal parasites in horses and are now the leading cause of parasite-related equine diseases. The larval stages of these worms can damage the large intestinal wall, leading to diarrhoea, colic, and loss of condition.

 

These parasites are also important because they are the most likely to develop resistance to the anthelmintics used to control them. Consequently, there is a shift away from regular deworming to reduce the development of anthelmintic resistance. Limiting unnecessary anthelmintic use is also important due to its environmental impact, particularly on insects that feed on horse manure.

 

Chicory (Cichorium intybus), a common forage plant, has been studied for its potential anthelmintic (anti-parasitic) properties, particularly in ruminants. Research has shown that certain compounds in chicory, such as sesquiterpene lactones, may have effects against gastrointestinal parasites.

 

Joshua Malsa and colleagues investigated the effect of horses grazing pasture containing a high proportion of chicory on faecal worm egg production and larval development. The research is reported in the International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance.

 

Twenty naturally infected 2-year-old saddle horses were used in the study. All horses were born and raised on the premises where the study took place and were naturally exposed to the same parasite populations. They had not been dewormed for 264 days before the onset of the trial. The last treatment given had been moxidectin.

 

 The horses were divided into two groups, each of ten horses, and were grazed either a field of chicory or a control field of mixed pasture

 

The researchers found a significant reduction in FEC after 16 days of grazing on chicory. By the end of the study grazing on chicory had an efficacy slightly lower than that of pyrantel treatment (85.5% vs 99.3% FECR for chicory and pyrantel respectively). 

 

The chicory diet also reduced the development of eggs into third-stage larvae in faeces and affected the diversity of the cyathostomin community.

 

They conclude: “Our study demonstrated the efficacy of grazing chicory (cv. Puna II) to reduce cyathostomins egg excretion and larval development in horses. The magnitude of this effect was almost as high as expected from synthetic drugs, although we identified differential sensitivity between species.”

 

Integrating chicory into a broader parasite management plan could be beneficial, especially in reducing reliance on chemical dewormers and combating drug resistance.

 

 However, while it might complement conventional parasite control methods, it should not yet be considered a replacement for standard anthelmintics without further research.

 

 

For more details, see:

 

Joshua Malsa, Leslie Boudesocque-Delaye, Laurence Wimel, Juliette Auclair-Ronzaud, Bertrand Dumont, Núria Mach, Fabrice Reigner, Fabrice Guégnard, Angélique Chereau, Delphine Serreau, Isabelle Théry-Koné, Guillaume Sallé, Géraldine Fleurance,

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) reduces cyathostomin egg excretion and larval development in grazing horses.

International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, (2024) Vol 24,100523

 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2024.100523

Friday, September 13, 2024

Do haynets affect tooth wear in horses?

https://www.dreamstime.com/horse-eating-hay-young-eats-cold-winter-months-snowy-field-image196221417
(c) Nigel Baker Dreamstime.com



Using haynets to feed horses has several benefits, including reducing hay waste and slowing down consumption. 


However, there are potential downsides, such as the risk of injury and unnatural feeding positions. When individual haynets are hung too high, horses may eat with their heads raised, which may lead to muscle discomfort and long-term problems. This position also increases the chance of inhaling dust or hay particles, which may cause respiratory issues.Do haynets also influence tooth wear.?

 

Michelle DeBoer and colleagues conducted a study to compare horse body weight and condition, hay consumption, tooth wear, and dental conditions between horses fed with or without hay nets. 

 

The work was presented at the Equine Science Society Symposium 2023, and a report is published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.

 

Thirteen adult geldings were recruited for the cross-over study and divided into two groups.

 

They were housed in adjacent dry lots with access to shelter and water. Both groups were fed round hay bales in feeders, with one group of six horses receiving hay wrapped in hay nets, while the other five horses were given hay without nets.

 

The study spanned two years, with the two groups switching halfway through: the five horses that initially had their hay wrapped switched to unwrapped hay, while the six horses moved to wrapped hay.

 

The researchers tracked hay consumption and monitored dental health, including incisor length, dental abnormalities, and conditions. They also recorded horse body weight and body condition scores annually—before, during, and after the study.

 

Results showed that horses eating unwrapped hay consumed more and had higher body weight (BW) and body condition scores (BCS). No significant differences were found in incisor length, incisor bevels, or dental abnormalities.

 

The researchers concluded that hay nets do not negatively affect dental health but can reduce hay consumption and help manage horse body weight and condition.

 

 

 

For more details, see:

 

M. DeBoer, L. Keener, J. Layeux-Parks, O. Schueller, L. Johnson, K. Martinson,

Effect of hay nets on horse bodyweight, body condition score, hay usage, and dental health in mature adult horses,

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science,(2024) Vol 136,105051

 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105051

Sunday, August 25, 2024

Inflammatory marker increase after routine vaccination

 Routine vaccination can lead to a temporary increase in Serum Amyloid A (SAA), according to a recent study in the USA.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is an acute-phase protein, meaning its levels in the blood increase rapidly in response to infection, injury, or stress. Due to its rapid increase during inflammatory conditions, SAA is often used in horses as a biomarker to assess inflammation or infection 

 

Researchers at the Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, conducted a two-part study to monitor the response to vaccination. Cassandra M. Baumgarten was the lead author of the study, which was published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

 

The study included a total of 36 clinically normal horses. Twenty-eight horses received routine booster vaccinations recommended for horses in the southern states of the USA (rabies, tetanus, West Nile virus, Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, equine herpesvirus-1/-4, and influenza). Eight horses received placebo injections of saline.

 

The research team conducted daily clinical examinations of the horses, which included measuring their temperature and collecting blood samples to monitor serum amyloid A (SAA) levels for the first ten days after vaccination.

 

They found that, compared to the control group, vaccinated horses had higher SAA concentrations for up to ten days after vaccination, generally returning to normal by the ninth day. About 85.7% of the horses had their SAA levels return to normal within ten days of vaccination.

 

Fever (temperature >38.4°C) was observed in 78.6% of the horses after vaccination, but there was no correlation between fever and SAA concentration.

 

The authors suggest that elevated SAA levels for 10 days after vaccination and fever lasting 12 to 24 hours cannot be used as indicators of illness. They recommend that clinicians, when assessing a patient’s condition after vaccination, should not rely on just one or two clinical signs but rather evaluate the patient as a whole. They also state that measuring SAA for 10 days post-vaccination cannot reliably indicate illness.

 

Based on their findings that routine vaccination increases SAA concentrations, the authors suggest that when advising horse owners about travel or competition, practitioners should recommend a recovery period following vaccination.

 

They also suggest the need for further studies to investigate the effect of travel or competition on the antibody response.

 

 

 

For more details, see: 

 

Baumgarten, C. M., Delph Miller, K. M., Davis, E. G., Beard, L. A., Blevins, C. A., Wottowa, M., Hill, M., & Larson, R. L. (2024). 

Serum amyloid A increases following routine vaccination of healthy adult horses. 

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association262(9), 1181-1187. 

https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.24.04.0244