Horse Care | Horse Racing Free Tips

Cellulitis: A Challenging Condition To Cure

Cellulitis is a sudden, painful skin infection that requires aggressive, immediate care. Most commonly affecting the hind legs, many horses recover readily, but complications are possible, and chronic flare-ups are a possibility.

Cellulitis occurs when bacteria penetrate the epidermis of the skin and multiplies in the subcutis, which is made up mainly of fatty and connective tissues. Primary cellulitis has no specific point of origin and exactly how it penetrates the skin is often unknown. Secondary cellulitis occurs when bacteria enter tissues through a known route, like a wound or surgical incision.

Cellulitis can be caused by a variety of bacteria and needs to be treated promptly. Left untreated, the infection can affect bone, tendon or synovial structures. Sepsis and laminitis can also occur.

Signs of cellulitis include:

Dramatic swelling that comes on rapidly and feels firm
Heat
Pain that tends to appear when the horse is asked to step forward rather than bear weight
Fever
Wetness: the swelling can progress rapidly to the point where fluid leaks from cracks in skin that is overstretched

A vet may take X-rays or do an ultrasound to rule out other possible issues like a joint infection or fracture. He or she may also culture the fluid weeping from the leg; this will help determine what bacteria is involved so that the proper antibiotic can be administered.

The primary treatment for cellulitis is intravenous antibiotics, as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories to help with pain and swelling. Cold hosing or ice boots or bandaging can also help.

Horses with secondary cellulitis tend to recover more rapidly. Though some cases of cellulitis can be managed at home, severe cases may need to be referred to an equine hospital.

Horses that have had even one episode of cellulitis become susceptible to chronic cellulitis, specifically in the same limb, whether the skin was permanently damaged from the extreme swelling or because circulatory and lymphatics systems have been damaged to the point that they are unable to mount an immune response. Horses that have had cellulitis even once should be monitored carefully as even the tiniest wound may initiate a new round of cellulitis.

Tips to avoid cellulitis recurrence:

Turn out the horse as much as possible in dry condition
Use shampoo sparingly when bathing
Avoid sharing grooming tools and sterilize them regularly

U.S. Trotting Association Announces Study To Uncover Genetic Causes For Birth Defects

The U.S. Trotting Association announced a collaboration this week with the University of California-Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory to learn more about birth defects in Standardbreds.

The USTA is urging owners and managers to submit data and DNA samples to the lab from stillborn foals born in 2021 or those demonstrating obvious defects resulting in euthanasia or surgery. Those defects could include: wry nose, cleft palate, contracted limbs/shoulders, microphthalmia (a disorder where one or both eyes are unusually small), missing or additional limbs, cyclops, or other obvious issues that are not typical in a healthy foal.

The goal of the project, if genetic anomalies can be identified for particular conditions, will be to help guide future breedings to reduce the risk of these conditions, which cause economic and welfare hardships for all involved.

Owners are assured that their horses' identities will remain confidential in the course of the study. Statistical results may be published without identifying a particular animal, owner, or breeder and any published results will be released to the public via the USTA.

The USTA released the following guidance for sample submission:

To participate in the study, a submission form, consent form, blood or hair samples and photos of the foal should be submitted to the USTA. To obtain or get further information on the forms or a DNA test kit, contact Gabby Fleming from USTA Member Services at gabby.fleming@ustrotting.com or by calling toll free (877) 800-USTA (8782).

The forms are also available online at http://bit.ly/Geneticform and http://bit.ly/UCDavisConsent.

Blood samples are preferred; however, hair samples may also be submitted. For hair samples, 20-30 hairs with roots attached should be pulled from mane or tail (no cutting of hair) and placed in a Ziploc bag.

Samples and photos with identification should be sent to:

United States Trotting Association
6130 S. Sunbury Rd.
Westerville, OH 43081
Attention: Gabby Fleming

All samples will be sent to UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Lab for genetic testing.

Participation in the study is voluntary and any participant has the right to withdraw from the study at any time. There is no financial obligation on the part of the participant.

The post U.S. Trotting Association Announces Study To Uncover Genetic Causes For Birth Defects appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Why Do Horses Chew More Wood In Winter?

Even horses that don't typically chew wood may start nibbling wooden surfaces in winter, when temperatures drop. Studies have shown that some horses may chew on trees and fences in cold wet weather, perhaps because of an instinctive urge to ingest more roughage as temperatures dip.

Horses that pick up this habit should be evaluated by a veterinarian to rule out any nutritional deficiencies. If nothing is found to be wrong, wood chewing is considered a behavioral issue and these steps can be considered to correct it:

Eliminate access to wood sources. Though replacing fences and cutting down trees usually isn't an option, stringing an electrified wire inside the top board of fencing can prevent horses from chewing on fence boards.
Offer more hay. Providing more forage is the most effective option to stop wood chewing. Using a slow feeder can make hay last longer.
Make wood taste bad. Coating wood surfaces with a product that makes it taste bad discourages horses from chewing.
Increase exercise. Encouraging horses to move more, whether in a planned exercise regimen or on more-casual rides, can burn up extra energy that may go toward chewing.

Study: Psoriasis And Supporting Limb Laminitis Show Similar Immune Response

For many horse owners, laminitis is one of the worst diseases a horse can get. Triggers for the condition are varied; laminitis can occur on its own or it can be triggered by another serious issue, like colic or a retained placenta–which are emergencies in themselves. To add insult to injury, supporting-limb laminitis can devastate a horse that is already favoring another leg.

Supporting limb laminitis is extremely painful and is generally a complication of orthopedic injuries and infections. Horses with the condition are often euthanized.

A horse that is experiencing supporting limb laminitis has an increase in cytokine production that promotes inflammation. Drs. Lynne Cassimeris, Julie Engiles and Hannah Galantino-Homer sought to locate the specific cells in the immune system that secrete cytokines; it's hoped that this discovery would help them find therapeutic interventions for the disease.

The research team focused on the proinflammatory Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) pathway. IL-17A is generally activated when the horse experiences a cutaneous wound or pathological skin condition; this response is similar to how humans react to a wound or skin disease—specifically psoriasis.

To test their hypothesis, the team used lamellar tissue from Thoroughbreds that had been euthanized because of naturally occurring standing limb laminitis. They compared these samples to euthanized horses that didn't have laminitis.

The scientists found IL-17A and the target genes in the tissue of laminitic horses, especially when compared to the tissue of non-laminitic horses. They report that finding a way to block the activation of IL-17A could lead to the development of a therapeutic treatment for supporting limb laminitis.

The team notes that this will not be as simple as applying human therapies to horses, as successful psoriasis treatments in humans use monoclonal antibodies to block IL-17A activation. These antibodies may not work in horses for a variety of reasons, including that they may not bind to the equine receptor. In addition, this treatment would most likely be cost prohibitive.

With more research, local inhibition of the IL-17A expression may be possible.

Read the full study here.