Kentucky Performance Products | Horse Racing Free Tips

Ask Your Veterinarian Presented By Kentucky Performance Products: Why Are Broodmares So Prone To Colic?

Veterinarians at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital answer your questions about sales and healthcare of Thoroughbred auction yearlings, weanlings, 2-year-olds and breeding stock.

Question: Why are broodmares so prone to colic, and what colic causes are most common for them?

Dr. Katy Dern, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital: According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1.4 percent of human delivery hospitalizations in the United States in the year 2014 developed what are characterized as severe maternal morbidities. This means that, even in closely supervised and intensively managed births, 1.4 in every 100 women developed potentially life-threatening complications. Parturition (birth) has potential consequences for the mother, and broodmares are no exception to this biologic reality.

Dr. Kathryn Dern

When we discuss colic (abdominal pain) in the broodmare, the cause of the pain can be broadly divided into two categories: pain originating from the gastrointestinal tract and pain originating from the reproductive tract.

Colic signs attributable to the gastrointestinal tract are a common phenomenon in the broodmare, and can be further subdivided into those conditions seen prior to foaling and those seen in the post-parturient time period (after foaling). Prior to foaling, causes of colic include mild discomfort due to expanding uterine size and fetal movements, as well as displacements or abnormal motility of the large colon, cecum, or small intestine. Mares exhibiting colic secondary to fetal movements or impingement of the gravid uterus on the gastrointestinal tract will usually not have dramatic changes in their vital parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, mucous membrane color), and will respond to analgesics (pain management). If the mare's colic signs do not respond to pain management or increase in severity, she may have a gastrointestinal issue which can be life threatening to her and/or the foal. In either case, veterinary evaluation is important to differentiate between mild and more severe forms of colic, and to ensure that more aggressive medical and surgical interventions can be instituted if necessary.

After foaling (and sometimes before foaling), gastrointestinal causes of colic can include large colon volvulus (twist) or displacement, cecal dysmotility or rupture, small intestinal incarceration, mesenteric tears leading to loss of intestinal viability, or rectal prolapse. Of these the most discussed and by far most common cause of colic is large colon volvulus. Broodmares are largely overrepresented in the large colon volvulus (LCV) caseload: one study evaluating the distribution of surgical LCV cases at a large referral hospital in California found that half of the admissions were broodmares that had foaled less than 60 days prior to admission. This association between foaling and subsequent development of colonic displacement or LCV has been mirrored in multiple studies across various geographic areas and additional risk factors such as increased hours of stabling, increased feeding of concentrates, decreased dry matter intake, or a recent change in pasture have also been discovered.

Although our research has clearly shown that post-foaling broodmares are likely to develop large colon volvulus, we unfortunately have not yet determined exactly why they are prone to this disease. Common sense dictates that the presence of additional “room” in the abdomen post foaling must play a role, but this unfortunately does not account for the LCV cases we see in geldings, show horses, or preparturient [pregnant] mares.

Recent investigations into the role of intestinal microbiota in the development of colic suggest that significant changes in the fecal microbiota precede the development of colic. The changes in the bacterial population observed in the fecal samples of mares that developed colic are consistent with changes seen in both dysbiosis (imbalance in gastrointestinal bacteria) and inflammatory intestinal disease in other species, including humans. Further investigation into the role of intestinal microbiota in the development of large colon volvulus will hopefully allow us to not only fully characterize the disease process, but eventually identify at-risk mares and intervene prior to development of colonic displacement or volvulus.

Other gastrointestinal causes of post-foaling colic are usually more directly linked to the parturition itself. Cecal bruising or rupture can occur when the foal traumatizes the base of the cecum. These mares commonly present with abdominal discomfort within the first few days of foaling and then progress to signs of septic peritonitis (abdominal infection) if the wall of the cecum becomes devitalized to the point of rupture. Tears in the mesentery of the small colon or small intestine can subsequently trap segments of the small intestine, causing pain from the entrapment itself and, if prompt surgical intervention is not undertaken, these small intestinal segments can become devitalized, endangering the mare's life, necessitating resection (removal of the devitalized area). If the small colon mesentery is affected, the tear itself can often affect the blood supply to the small colon, causing a gradual necrosis (death) of a segment of the small colon requiring surgery.

Reproductive causes of colic are also common in the broodmare, and determining whether colic signs are gastrointestinal or reproductive in nature is one of the primary goals of the colic exam. In the pregnant mare, colic signs attributable to the reproductive tract can range from mild, medically manageable colics due to fetal shifting and increased fetal size, or abdominal discomfort can be a sign of more life threatening conditions such as uterine torsion or preparturient uterine artery hemorrhage. As with all signs of colic, evaluation by your veterinarian is indicated if your mare's colic signs do not resolve or increase in severity. On the farm, your veterinarian may perform a physical, rectal, and/or ultrasonographic exam to determine if referral is indicated.

In the post foaling broodmare, causes of colic signs attributable to the reproductive tract include mild colic signs due to normal uterine contraction and involution, or more severe colic signs secondary to uterine artery rupture, uterine tears, invagination of a uterine horn or uterine prolapse. In the case of uterine artery rupture, the mare will often show signs of abdominal pain if the hemorrhage is limited to the broad ligament (soft tissue structure which suspends the uterus within the abdomen), as the hematoma dissects through the ligament itself. If she is bleeding freely into her abdomen however, she may not show signs of colic, rather exhibiting a high heart rate, anxiety, and increased respiratory rate consistent with blood loss. In these cases, a thorough physical exam, rectal palpation, abdominal ultrasonography, and abdominocentesis (analysis of a sample of the abdominal fluid) can be critical in determining whether or not the mare is actively hemorrhaging.

Uterine tears can present a diagnostic challenge, as they occur during foaling but do not necessarily cause signs of abdominal pain until the leakage of uterine fluid into abdomen causes signs of abdominal infection (septic peritonitis). In these cases, the mare often presents within the first few days after foaling for dullness and depression, fever, and high heart rate. The diagnosis of septic peritonitis is made using abdominal ultrasonography and abdominocentesis. Prompt surgical repair of these tears, often found at the tip of the uterine horn, limits the continued contamination of the abdomen and allows for intraoperative lavage of the abdomen with drain placement for post-operative lavages. Cases of invagination of the uterine horn are often diagnosed and treated on farm, but if they progress to uterine prolapse may necessitate referral for replacement under general anesthesia.

Lacerating or tearing the cervix during foaling is usually not painful and is commonly found later when the mare is spec'ed or when she is cultured. Manual examination of the cervix is required to definitively diagnose a cervical tear, which are usually repaired after the initial swelling from foaling has subsided (approximately three weeks after parturition).

It is important to note that just because a mare had an uneventful foaling does not mean that the foal didn't damage segments of the reproductive or gastrointestinal tract during parturition. In all cases of broodmare colic, evaluation by a veterinarian experienced in broodmare disorders and timely referral, if necessary, are critical to survival of both mare and foal.

Dr. Katy Dern is originally from Colorado and Montana. She attended Washington State University for her undergraduate work, and Colorado State University for her veterinary degree. Following graduation from CSU in 2012, she completed an internship at Peterson and Smith Equine Hospital in Ocala, followed by an internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. After her internships, Dr. Dern completed a three-year surgical residency at The Ohio State University, while also earning a Master's of Science Degree. She became board certified in equine surgery in 2018 and has been the surgeon at Rood and Riddle's Saratoga hospital since 2017.

The post Ask Your Veterinarian Presented By Kentucky Performance Products: Why Are Broodmares So Prone To Colic? appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Ask Your Veterinarian Presented By Kentucky Performance Products: When Stall Rest Isn’t So Restful

Veterinarians at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital answer your questions about sales and healthcare of Thoroughbred auction yearlings, weanlings, 2-year-olds and breeding stock.

Question: Sometimes stall rest is part of a horse's recovery program but some horses don't tolerate it well and may even self-injure. What makes them do this, and what can be done about it?

Dr. Lindsey Rings, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital: Stall rest can be a very important and necessary part of your veterinarian's treatment plan for your horse and finding ways to make this time less stressful for you and your horse can be a challenge. Stall confinement can lead to the development of unwanted behaviors such as cribbing, weaving or stall walking. To help to avoid these behaviors, efforts to keep your horse engaged or entertained throughout the day should be utilized.

As herd animals, horses benefit from the companionship of other equids. Stall rest can make this difficult to impossible. Placing a calm companion animal within eyesight of a stall-rested horse can be of benefit and can help to reduce the stress in the stall confined horse. If a companion horse in an adjacent stall is impractical or impossible to provide, the placement of a shatterproof mirror in the stall may be of benefit. Horses that engage with their reflection are found to have reduced stress and anxiety.

Dr. Lindsey Rings

Toys placed in your horse's stall can occupy their down time. Commercial horse toys are available on the market and some even dispense treats or feed to your horse. The addition of stuffed animals, traffic cones, or make-it-yourself stall toys can also engage your horse's mind during confinement.

Adjustments to your horse's diet should also be implemented while maintaining a horse on stall rest. A stall-rested horse may not require the same caloric intake as they did while being more active. Therefore, reductions in concentrate/grain intake should be implemented. The use of a slow feeder or nibble net can extend the amount of time a horse spends consuming their hay and this can help to reduce their unoccupied time.

In a horse that is behaving in an unsafe manner towards either itself or its human care takers or whose behavior has remained retractable to management changes, the use of pharmaceuticals should be considered. Medications such as acepromazine, reserpine or fluphenazine have classically been used to reduce anxiety or induce long term sedation in stall confined horses. The use of trazadone orally is relatively new and seems to offer a safe and effective means to facilitate confinement and enhance calmness. Other products such as alpha-casozepine (Zlykene), magnesium sulfate and herbal combinations are also available and can be effective when used appropriately. Always consult with your veterinarian prior to starting treatment with any of these medications or supplements.

While stall rest is never easy for the horse or its human caretakers, there are several key areas of consideration that can help to make this event much less stressful on all involved.

Dr. Lindsey Rings aspired to be a veterinarian since she “could ride around in a car” with her mother, Marylou, who has a farm animal ambulatory practice and her father, Mike, an Internal Medicine Specialist himself.

After graduating from The Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012, Rings, a Columbus, Ohio native, interned in New Jersey before completing an internship in 2014 at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. After completing the internship, Rings returned to her alma mater and completed a three-year residency in Equine Internal Medicine while earning her Master's degree in Comparative and Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Rings practices at Rood & Riddle in Saratoga hospital as an internal medicine specialist working heavily with ambulatory veterinarians and other veterinary specialists.

The post Ask Your Veterinarian Presented By Kentucky Performance Products: When Stall Rest Isn’t So Restful appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Ask Your Veterinarian Presented By Kentucky Performance Products: Equine Chiropractic Therapy

Veterinarians at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital answer your questions about sales and healthcare of Thoroughbred auction yearlings, weanlings, 2-year-olds and breeding stock.

Question: It seems chiropractic care is becoming more popular and accepted in the veterinary community in recent years. What types of issues can this therapy address well, and when is it not a good fit?

Dr. Heath Soignier: “Chiropractic” therapy is very common in the human world and it is beginning to be accepted in the veterinary world. Veterinary spinal manipulative therapy, or more commonly known as “chiropractic” care, is a holistic approach as treatment for injuries, body soreness, etc. and should also be considered a preventative therapy. Documented science backs the effectiveness of manipulative therapy. Spinal manipulation is a safe and effective treatment modality for animal patients. It can and does affect the nervous system directly and indirectly which allows the therapist to think about neuro-anatomical function of the patient. As integrative therapies are being sought after more often, it is important to remember that complete workups of a patient and a common-sense approach to treatment is advised.

A common misconception is that a bone is “out of place.” It is better described as a lack of mobility or restricted motion of a joint through normal range of motion. The goal of a manual chiropractic adjustment is to bring motion into a joint that has not been moving correctly or effectively throughout its entire range of motion.

These joints (motion units) are palpated and evaluated for motion or lack thereof, as well as heat and tenderness. An adjustment is defined by experts as a “high velocity, low amplitude thrust into a specific direction of a specific joint.” When an adjustment is made, there are a few things happening to the specific joint that is being manipulated. These include breaking up adhesions, releasing of synovial folds and stimulation of receptors in and around the joint. It is important to realize that these joints are being manipulated by mere millimeters. By stimulating muscle receptors, the tone of muscles, tendons, and surrounding tissues are also affected. This can help in preventing some tendon injuries where an equine athlete may have some tightness in a muscle that is not clinically showing any pain, but the added tension under stress can lead to an injury.

This treatment modality is most commonly looked into after conventional veterinary care has not resolved pain or discomfort for the patient. Some common indications for this therapy could be unresolved lameness, sudden behavioral changes, sports injuries, or it may be used as a complimentary therapy. Some patients are evaluated for overall conditioning and any signs of pain or discomfort to areas over the body such as temporomandibular issues. Muscle pain and tone can be indicative of signs of joint restriction/dysfunction.

A major contraindication of treatment would be a fractured bone within a joint segment. Other contraindications would include neoplasia, pyrexia (fever), sickness, or hemorrhage. Being able to perform any adjustment will always depend on patient cooperation. Safety for the patient as well as the therapist must always be a priority.

Spinal manipulative therapy is more commonly being sought after now due to increasing drug regulations in equine athletes. A more holistic approach is becoming widely accepted in the equine industry. These therapies can help our equine athletes and offer a safe and effective treatment.

Dr. Heath Soignier was raised on a small farm in Bosco, La. After working at a mixed animal veterinary practice during high school, he decided to attend Louisiana Tech University to pursue an Animal Science undergraduate degree. He earned his degree in 2006 and continued his schooling at St. George's University School of Veterinary Medicine and completing a clinical year at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. Dr. Soignier completed his ambulatory internship with Rood and Riddle in 2013 and Rood and Riddle as an associate. Dr. Soignier's special areas of interest include reproduction, neonatal medicine, and dentistry. In 2019, he became a certified veterinary spinal manipulative therapist.

When not seeing patients, Dr. Soignier enjoys spending time with his wife Catherine and his daughter Lucia on their small farm in Georgetown, Ky. He also is an avid sports enthusiast and outdoorsman.

The post Ask Your Veterinarian Presented By Kentucky Performance Products: Equine Chiropractic Therapy appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Ask Your Veterinarian Presented By Kentucky Performance Products: Seeing The Light With LASER Therapy

Veterinarians at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital answer your questions about sales and healthcare of Thoroughbred auction yearlings, weanlings, 2-year-olds and breeding stock.

Question: What is LASER therapy?

Dr. Daniel Devis, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital: The word LASER is actually an acronym of the expression “light amplification by stimulated emissions of radiation.” In other words, a LASER is a machine capable of producing a high and focused energy beam from a light or energy source. When talking about LASER therapy, we talk about the use of light energy that will focus in a specific area of the body to promote healing, repairs soft tissue injuries, and can even have some level of analgesia and anti-inflammatory response.

You should know that laser therapy is controversial and its results can be inconsistent, and of course it does not work instantly. On the contrary, the results from LASER therapy can take time to be noticed. You should always consult your veterinarian before deciding to use this type of treatment in your horse.

Dr. Daniel Devis

There are four different types of LASER levels, also known as “classes.” Each class represents a different amount of energy strength, and each class will tell you how harmful they can be to the naked eye.

LASER Class I can be found within your typical household and office equipment, such as laser printers, CD players, DVD players, etc. They produce a low level of energy that can cause very little damage to the eye.

LASER Class II are also widely used in daily life, and you can find them inside the bar code scanners at the grocery store and are commonly used during presentations as “laser pointers.” This type of laser represents a low risk of damage but it can be harmful if pointed to the eye for prolonged periods of time.

LASER Class III and IV are the ones used within human medicine and veterinary medicine, and the only difference between the two is the amount of power they produce. While Class III will go up to 500 milliwatts, Class IV lasers will go from 500 to thousands of milliwatts. Direct exposure to the eye with one of these lasers can be very dangerous and cause severe damage to the retina.

In veterinary medicine we encourage our clients to use regenerative laser therapies, like a Class IV type LASER, to help with non-healing or chronic wounds, as well as soft tissue injuries like ruptured tendons and ligament tears. LASER therapy can also be used post-surgery to speed up the healing process from the incision. It can also be used to repair fiber pattern and break scar tissue from old chronic injuries. LASER therapy can even be used in horses with joint damage (arthritis) by stimulating collagen regeneration.

What does LASER therapy do?

LASER therapy helps three important mechanisms that aid with tissue healing:

Increases blood circulation by interacting with water within the body, creating pressure gradients that will stimulate the capillary blood flow to increase and enhance the perfusion of red blood cells into the tissue treated.
Promotes oxygenation by increasing the blood circulation. It also increases the amount of red blood cells within the area, which will then interact directly with the hemoglobin to increase the amount of localized oxygenation brought to the tissue.
Produces metabolic stimulation by interacting with the cellular mitochondria to enhance and promote the efficiency at which cells create and utilize adenosine triphosphate ATP, also known as “chemical energy.”

If you remember your high school biology classes, you will notice that there is no difference between LASER therapy and the natural healing process of the cells — so why use it? The answer is time. Regenerative laser treatments will basically mimic the healing response of the body, but will accomplish it faster and more efficiently, thus reducing the amount and time of rehabilitation a horse will need to return to normal exercise.

Who can perform LASER therapy?

The LASER beam produced by the device is not only harmful to the eye, but because the main source is light and thus heat, it can also burn the skin of the animal. This is why it is important to be properly trained while doing therapy with a LASER machine. It is, after all, a source of radiation that can cause a lot of damage to the user as well as to the patient receiving it.

Regenerative LASER therapy can be performed by a veterinarian or by a trained veterinary technician. The LASER technology has advanced significantly, and now we have mobile LASER units. This means that your animal can be treated not only at the hospital, but also at your farm. Contact your personal veterinarian for more information.

Dr. Daniel Devis was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. He acquired an interest in horses at a young age at his parents' farm, where his dad taught him everything about the traditional Colombian cowboy style riding, herding cattle and roping. He attended San Martin University in Bogotá, and received his veterinary medicine and animal husbandry degree in 2012. Daniel completed a year and a half rotating internship in surgery and anesthesia, followed by a two-year fellowship in equine lameness and diagnostic imaging, both at Lexington Equine Surgery & Sports Medicine. Devis obtained his American veterinary license in 2017. His areas of interest are show horses, pre-purchase exams, and basic ambulatory work.

The post Ask Your Veterinarian Presented By Kentucky Performance Products: Seeing The Light With LASER Therapy appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post