abscess | Horse Racing Free Tips

Five Potential Causes For Recurring Hoof Abscesses

Horses with healthy, good-quality hooves usually aren't prone to abscesses, explains Equus Magazine. An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms after bacteria enters through a crack or another deformity in the hoof.

Horse owners often panic at the sight of their lame horse until they realize the cause of lameness is an abscess. A horse with an abscess or one that is developing will often become lame in a short period of time. Many abscesses will burst on their own, but in some cases you may need to get the pus drained by your veterinarian or farrier to release the pressure in the hoof.

If you have a horse who is constantly developing abscesses, you may need to look into the problem further with your veterinarian. Recurrent abscesses in your horse could be caused by a variety of issues, such as poor-quality hooves, not keeping up on farrier care, environmental changes, chronic laminitis, or Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction ('weakening of your horse's immune system).

Two Horses Infected With Piegeon Fever In Washington State

Two horses have tested positive for pigeon fever in Clark County, WA. Both horses are housed at the same farm. Equids, cattle, sheep, goats, buffalo and camelids can contract West Nile, as can people in rare instances. The disease can be highly contagious if it is not managed properly; there is no licensed vaccine available.

Pigeon fever is caused by a bacteria that can persist in soil for months; in horses it is primarily spread from through open wounds or by flies. Pigeon fever most commonly presents as external abscesses on the chest or abdomen, though internal abscesses can also occur. This disease is typically present in hot, dry Western climates, but has spread to states such as Florida and Kentucky.

Read more at the Equine Disease Communication Center.

Reade the AAEP Infectious Disease Guidelines here.

The post Two Horses Infected With Piegeon Fever In Washington State appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Tips For Top-Notch Hoof Care

Certified Journeyman Farrier Sean Elliott shoes horses that compete in a myriad of disciplines. He offers tips to promote hoof health and notes some things to avoid. Sean says the top three things healthy hooves need are good nutrition, a dry environment and balance.

Proper nutrition will give a horse the building blocks he needs to have quality feet. Sean recommends good hay, clean water and a ration balancer, and he discourages owners and caretakers from adding supplements just to use them if they claim they can make a difference in hoof quality. He reminds horse owners and caretakers to treat each horse like an individual and that feeding programs aren't one size fits all.

First and foremost, horses shouldn't stand for extended periods of time in mud or wet conditions, Sean says. He also recommends that horses not be bathed daily, which can strip hooves of oil essential to keeping them healthy. Sean also isn't a fan of topical hoof treatments, noting that a dry environment is more essential than anything that could be applied to the hooves.

Hooves should be seen by a qualified farrier every four to six weeks to ensure that the hoof capsule is placed correctly underneath the horse's leg. Routine trims will also deal with issues like long toes and flares in the hoof wall. Sean notes that a good farrier must have a grasp of equine anatomy and conformation, as well as understand the biomechanics of how hooves handle concussion.

Each hoof should be trimmed to be in balance and not to create hooves that look like they match one another. Shoes should be shaped to the foot and not the foot shaped to the shoe, Sean says.

Hooves can crack because the toe is too long, the heel is underrun or because the horse has been standing in a too-wet environment. Though most cracks aren't a big deal, ones that go all the way through the hoof capsule or all the way up to the hairline require an intervention by a farrier.

Contracted heels are also a common issue and are most often caused by improper hoof balance, which can affect blood flow and hoof expansion. Abscess can be startling to see as the horse tends to become suddenly, severely lame. Sean suggests that genetics may predispose a horse to abscesses and thin soles can exacerbate the problem. Abscesses are most common during spring and wet winter months, when moisture softens the hoof and the foot becomes bruised, which can lead to an abscess.