MICROCHIPPING

It is a permanent way of identifying your horse and cannot be removed without surgery. It gives peace of mind that your horses can be safely and easily identified should the worst happen and they are stolen.

A scanner reads the microchip and a unique number is registered to your horse. The microchip is the size of a grain of rice and is implanted by a vet into the nuchal ligament half way down the left side of the neck.

All Weatherby registered foals are already microchipped and new regulations state microchipping will be compulsory from 1 st July 2009 for foals and adult horses when a new passport is applied for.

Although not a visible deterrent it can be used in combination with a freezebrand symbol such as a W, which signifies the horse is microchipped. Also consider the use of signs around the property to advertise that your horses are traceable. Your vet can check the microchip every year during your routine health check for continuing peace of mind.

Special Offer

Have your horse permanently identified with a microchip for the special price of just £35.19….Or for even greater saving have it done for just £29.31 when done at the same time as your annual vaccination.

EQUINE HEALTH PLAN

A cheaper way to pay for all your equine needs, including your annual vaccination, health check, dental check and wormers for the year only 49p a day. Full details on how to sign up are available from the Equine Clinic.

Worming

Don’t forget this is the time of year to worm against tapeworms and small redworms.

Gloves and containers are available from any branch to use for fecal egg counts in the spring.

AVOIDING DISASTER!

Abortion is a devastating loss to you and your horse. However the risk can be reduced by controlling one of the major causes.

Abortion is the expulsion of the foetus before it is capable of life outside the womb and occurs at a rate of 10% after 60 days gestation.

The condition we want to help you with is abortion caused by Equine Herpes Virus (EHV). This can be one of the most distressing causes as the foal will be aborted any time from the 5th month but most commonly from 8 months to full term. This means often without warning a fully formed foal is aborted and the mare is less likely to breed the next season.

EHV has 2 strains that are most significant to our horses, EHV-1 and EHV-4. They can cause respiratory disease, abortion and other complications. Most mares of breeding age will have had the respiratory disease and have some short lived natural immunity to it but not to the infection causing abortion. The spread of EHV-1 through a group usually occurs with no sign of disease. This makes it difficult to isolate animals that have had it.

Control measures include management and vaccination.

Management: Pregnant mares should be kept separate from other horses. Any new arrivals should be isolated for 21 days. Any abortion cases must be isolated for 56 days. There are more management procedures that can be followed but are too complex to summarise here. Any questions please phone us for advice.

Vaccination: The vaccine used is not one that they have with their regular yearly jabs. It is called Duvaxyn EHV 1,4 and pregnant mares should be given this at approximately 5,7 and 9 months pregnant. The reason for such regular doses is the difficulty of getting a good immunity and even then it is not 100% but not doing it is widely regarded as inviting disaster.

Sorry to be gloomy in festive times but we want to see lots of nice little foals running around in spring.

Understanding Respiratory Problems

Winter is the time when most horses are stabled for at least part of the day, this can be to save some precious grazing or for convenience as a wet muddy horse can take longer to clean than you have time to ride! So respiratory disease can become more prevalent.

With stabling there can be a resurgence of Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), the new name for COPD. For those with chronically affected horses you know the best management for your horse; whether it is living out, soaking hay, ensuring the stable is adequately ventilated or using rubber mats and dust free bedding with the addition of medical management. So what are the signs to look for if your horse has never coughed before when stabled? Usually a dry harsh cough that is worse when he is stabled and that can develop following the feeding dry hay or in horses bedded on straw. The respiratory rate can be elevated during rest and a ‘heave’ line can result from over use of the abdominal muscles both from increased respiratory effort and coughing. Exercise intolerance and a nasal discharge can also occur. RAO is caused by hypersensitivity to mould spores in dusty feed or bedding, bronchospasm occurs and the airway constrict reducing the lung capacity. Drugs such as a bronchodilator (Ventipulmin) can help by dilating the constricted airway and making breathing easier. Steroids can also be very efficient at improving respiratory function, as they reduce the inflammatory process occurring in the airways. They can be either given as an inhaler or as oral tablets. If an infection also develops a mucolytic (Sputolosin) can aid by loosening the mucus blocking the airways making it easier for your horse to cough the mucus up. There are also various herbal supplements that can also help such as Respimin.

Just as with people there are more respiratory infections around at this time of year we also see more in horses. And as advised for older people it is vital to ensure your older horse is up to date with influenza vaccines. Whilst vaccination does not prevent infection, it certainly reduces the clinical disease. So he may get a mild nasal discharge and or cough and need only a few days off work rather than developing full blown clinical disease requiring weeks if not months off work with the added chance of developing complications such as pneumonia.

Other respiratory diseases such as strangles, sinusitis, pleural pneumonia and inflammatory airway disease may also occur. The initial clinical signs for all respiratory disease are similar and can include; nasal discharge, coughing, pyrexia, lethargy, anorexia, snorting, increased respiratory rate or effort. If you notice any of these signs or just that your horse is not his usual self please book a visit with one of the equine vets. We will come and give your horse a full and thorough clinical examination; this may include a blood sample and nasal swabs to ensure the correct diagnosis and most appropriate treatment for your horse.