Equine Health
"Friends" by Adeline Halvorson
COLIC What is colic? It is abdominal pain from any cause. It originaltes in the stomach or intestinal tract. Horses cannot vomit or belch, which makes them more prone to colic than other animals. Grass and hay can block the large intestine. Insufficient water, a change in feed, bad teeth, or sand buildup can also contribute to the blockage of the intestines. The intestines can also become obstructed when the intestine rotates around itself, or when the intestine moves into an obnormal location. Most of the time, when the intestines become twisted or displaced, it is not from the horse rolling. The horse rolls because the intestine has become twisted or displaced, and it is very painful. Colic can also be cause by internal parasites(roundworm) and diarrhea. Muscle spasms in the intestinal tract is the most common form of colic. This is caused by change in diet, or even from stress or excitement. Colic can cause death, usually from shock brought on from the obstruction of the blood flow to the horse's digestive tract or by rupture of his stomach or intestines. When the blood supply is completely shut off to the horse's stomach or intestine, he will die within a few hours if it is not taken care of immediately. If the horse's blood flow is not blocked, but contents are able to move throughout the intestines is blocked, the horse may only survive 24-48 hours. If the horse has both blood flow and partial movement for the contents through the intestines, it might take a week for the intestinal contents to pass. But the horse will eventually die if it is not corrected. SOME WARNING SIGNS OF COLIC: Circling, Crouching, Kicking at the Abdomen, Lying Down, Pawing, Restlessness, Rolling, Sweating, Will Not Stand Still, Yawning. |
WEST NILE What is the West Nile Virus? It is a virus transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds (including crows, hawks, and blue jays) that have high levels of West Nile Virus in their blood. Infected mosquitoes then transmit the Virus when they feed on humans or animals. The disease has been confirmed in humans, birds, and horses. Many of the human victims do not show any symptoms, which are fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, or swollen lymph glands. Severe cases may lead to encephalitis (a potentially deadly inflammation of the brain), or meningitis (an inflammation of the spinal cord). Horses can become ill from West Nile virus, but no evidence suggests they can transmit it to other horses or to humans. There is a vaccine than can be purchased and administered by a veterinarian. PRECAUTIONS TO CONTROL MOSQUITOES: Dispose of old tires or any sources of stagnant water, Drill holes in containers left outdoors, Clean roof gutters, Clean water troughs, Use insect screens, Run fans, Use insect repellants, Keep animals inside at night, Avoid swampy and wooded areas. |
EMBRYO TRANSFER What is Embryo Transfer? It is the process of breeding a donor mare, removing the fertilized egg from her and placing the embryo in a recipient mare to carry. The recipient mare produces the foal and raised it as her own. The genetic mare's name appears on the papers as the dam. Many Clubs and Associations have agreed to register more than one foal per year out of a single mare to allow for embryo transfers. Cows can be superovulated to produce more eggs. This cannot be done for horses. A mare's reproductive system limits the number of eggs she can produce each heat cycle. Approximately 2.5 embryos can be produced each year from one mare. Embryo transfers are meant for mares in training, mares that abort or typically have late foaling dates, or older mares with fertility problems. Performance mares can take a break in training to be bred, have an embryo transferred and continue training. For the mares that are settled then abort can now use embryo transfer for producing foals. If the foal is carried past 25 days, the chances of it working are greater. Embryo transfer is not for every breeder, or for every mare. But embryo transfer allows breeders the opportunity for breeding that was not possible in the past. |
