Cushings | Horse Racing Free Tips

Hoof Abscesses: A Sign Of Something More Sinister?

A horse with an abscess in his hoof can be startling to see he: He may be so painful he's loath to bear any weight on the affected limb, making horse owners fear a broken leg. One abscess can be time consuming and frustrating to heal, but a horse that develops multiple abscesses in different feet may have more going on than simply poor hoof condition.

Hoof abscesses are fluid-filled cavities under the sole or the hoof wall. They can be caused by sole bruising, puncture wounds or hoof cracks. Though some abscesses are only uncovered by the farrier during routine trimming—never causing the horse any discomfort—others are extremely painful. Abscesses can drain on their own, either down through the bottom of the hoof or up through the coronary band, or a drainage channel may have to be cut to offer the horse relief.

There are many concoctions for hoof abscesses, from veterinary-prescribed products to home remedies. Most products focus on drawing the material out of the abscess. Antibiotics are often not needed, but pain medication is essential to provide relief to the horse and prevent harm to the other hooves from bearing excess weight.

If an abscess doesn't begin to heal in a few weeks, a foreign body may be trapped inside the hoof, like a splinter or nail—or even a bone chip. A horse that is experiencing abscesses that don't heal well in multiple feet most likely has something else wrong and the abscesses are secondary.

Metabolic issues may cause a horse to have multiple of abscesses that don't heal well. Cushing's disease and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) can cause laminitis, which can predispose a horse to abscesses. A veterinarian can run bloodwork to determine if a horse has either of these conditions and if they are the cause of the abscesses. Once the underlying conditions are controlled and hoof damage is addressed, the abscesses should decrease in both frequency and severity.

Pony Mistakenly Overdosed On Pergolide Has No Lasting Effects

A pony in Germany was accidentally given 110 times the veterinary recommended dose of pergolide (sold under the name Prascend). The most prescribed medication for horses that suffer from pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (called PPID or Cushing's disease), pergolide mimics dopamine's action in the body.

Instead of being given half of a 1-milligram tablet (.5 milligrams), the pony was given 55 tablets. The mistake was discovered four hours after the pony had been medicated. The veterinary exam showed that the horse had an increased heart rate, but no other symptoms.

To try to prevent any additional absorption of the medication, vets gave the pony paraffin oil and activated charcoal through a nasogastric tube. They also administered two drugs: One to prevent heart arrhythmias, which is a known side effect of pergolide overdose in humans, and one to counter pergolide's dopamine-biding action.

The pony was unusually anxious for the week after his overdose, reacting to bright lights and fast movement. He also had a decreased appetite. Within eight days of his overdose, the pony was back to normal.

Researchers concluded that the pergolide overdose resulted in only minor, temporary effects.

Just Like Humans: Chubby Horses Require Reduced-Calorie Diets

Though many horses thrive on unlimited access to pasture or hay, an obese horse cannot participate in the free-for-all food buffet and remain healthy. Obesity comes from overeating and not expending enough energy. Of additional concern is horses that suffer from glucose sensitivities like Cushing's disease. These horses must have both their sugar and starch intake controlled to remain healthy.

There are multiple claims in the equine world about how to best manage horses, but overweight equines are the exception. Some of these claims include:

Restricting forage makes a horse lose muscle, as well as increase hormone reactions and oxidative stress—it can even cause Cushing's disease or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID).
This has been no proof that any of the issues above are brought on or exacerbated by restricting forage intake. Restricting calories does not lead to an increase in any hormones or cause any oxidative stress. Additionally, horses won't begin to lose muscle because of restricted calorie intake unless all body fat has been burned.

Horses bodies are designed to ingest pasture or hay 24/7.
The only reason horses spend so much time ingesting grass is that it is nearly 80 percent water. Additionally, wild horses travel tens of miles each day to find food; a paddock or pasture cannot offer an obese horse exercise of that level.

Though drastic limitation of food isn't necessary to control weight, some reduction is required. The Equine Cushing's and Insulin Resistance Group (ECIR) and the National Research Council (NRC) recommends using the starting point of 1.5 percent of actual weight or 2 percent of ideal weight (whichever is larger) as the target daily hay intake. This target may have to be adjusted if the hay is high in calories.

To keep horses at an ideal weight, they should be exercised as much as possible, whether this includes turnout (possibly with a muzzle), hand walking or riding. Feeding horses in a slow-feed hay net can lengthen intake time and prevent boredom.

Keeping a chubby horse at a reasonable weight isn't fun, but it is imperative to keeping him healthy.