sepsis | Horse Racing Free Tips

The Glen Ellen Vocational Academy, Northern California's oldest horse retirement and rehabilitation facility, has overcome so many daunting challenges — from severe drought to threatening wildfires and a global pandemic — since its founding 26 years ago. The non-profit foundation has survived despite rounds of increases in the cost of veterinarian care, feed, hay and other farm supplies.

But the picturesque 8 1/2-acre ranch, nestled in the rural Sonoma Valley hills near Jack London State Park in the heart of the Sonoma County wine region, could be facing its biggest obstacle yet.

The farm's 77-year-old founder and proprietor Pamela Berg is struggling to regain her strength following recent hospitalization with a bout of sepsis, which developed from an infection. Berg, who has faithfully maintained the facility and handled the daily care for GEVA's equine residents — mostly retired Thoroughbreds — with minimal volunteer assistance, is slowly recovering. But she is too weakened by her illness to perform the activities required to keep such an operation going.

Sepsis happens when an infection triggers a chain reaction throughout the body and attacks internal organs such as kidneys. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.

“I'm home and happy to be alive, but have a long and slow road ahead of me,” Berg, a former California Horse Racing Board steward, wrote in an email.

She added that meeting unexpected expenses and more volunteer help are at the top of GEVA's list of needs. There are about 30 horses currently on the farm.

These needs will be “continuing since I won't be able to pick up where I left off,” Berg wrote. “We would welcome any and all donations for the horses and new help, which is hard to find.”

“She's a fierce bundle of energy in a small package who never quits in her fight for the welfare of her horses,” wrote Jack Shinar. “She's someone I greatly admire.”

People wishing to donate or volunteer may do so through GEVA's website at www.glenellenfarms.com/geva. The farm may be reached directly by phone at (707) 509-9110.

The post Pamela Berg, Founder Of Northern California’s Oldest Equine Retirement Facility, Slowly Recovering From Hospitalization appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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An international group of researchers recently proposed a theory to explain the cellular pathways involved in the development of laminitis, including the role of apoptosis, a normal process of self-destruction that helps eliminate damaged, superfluous, or unwanted cells. Unfortunately, their data showed that apoptosis did not influence the development of laminitis. Had their hypothesis held, however, targeted treatments for laminitis may have followed.

Laminitis is the painful separation of the lamellar layers of the hoof, which often results in profound lameness, prolonged and expensive supportive care, and possible euthanasia. Despite extensive research in this field, many of the underlying mechanisms associated with the development of laminitis remain unclear.

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The abovementioned theory proposed that sepsis-related laminitis, such as that induced by carbohydrate overload and black walnut exposure, involves apoptosis of cells that bind the lamellar layers of the hoof. The integrity of those cells helps suspend the third coffin bone inside the hoof. Researchers suggested that apoptosis occurs early in the disease process, even before signs of lameness manifest. Specifically, they proposed that exaggerated inflammation occurring with the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream could serve as a source of free radicals, which are known to induce apoptosis.

To test their theory, the researchers used hoof samples from horses subjected to carbohydrate overload or exposed to black walnut extract. Both models induce lamellar inflammation and sepsis. “When the researchers counted inflammatory and apoptotic cells microscopically, no increase in apoptosis was observed during either the development phase of laminitis or at the time of lameness onset,” relayed Whitehouse.

Though disappointing, these results sent researchers back to the drawing board in search of other mechanisms that contribute to the development of laminitis.

Meanwhile, horse owners must continue to employ management and nutritional strategies that keep horses safe from the ravages of laminitis. “In addition to avoiding management triggers, ensure horses have adequate nutrients to support the well-being of all body systems, including the integumentary system, which includes skin, hair, and hooves,” explained Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutrition advisor for Kentucky Equine Research.

“To dodge potential nutrient shortages, all horses should receive a fortified feed suitable for their energy needs,” she said. This feed may come in the form of a traditional textured or pelleted concentrate or it may come as a balancer pellet, which is often useful for horses that can maintain their weight on forages alone.

Horses with compromised hooves may require additional support in the form of a high-quality hoof supplement. “A comprehensive hoof supplement provides more than just biotin to foster hoof growth and integrity. In addition to diet, routine management such as trimming or shoeing plays a vital role in maintaining and achieving hoof health that will also serve the horse well in the face of a laminitis episode,” Whitehouse explained.

Chronic inflammatory conditions, like laminitis, often respond to supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA and EPA. The omega-3s found in certain marine-derived products, like EO-3, are more available to horses than those found in plant-based sources.

^*Catunda, A.P.N., G.E.S. Alves, F.O.P. Leme, A.M. Carvalho, B.S. Leise, P.J. Johnson, and R.R. Faleiros. 2021. Apoptosis in epithelial cells and its correlation with leukocyte accumulation in lamellar tissue from horses subjected to experimental sepsis-associate

Reprinted courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research. Visit ker.com for the latest in equine nutrition and management, and subscribe to Equinews to receive these articles directly.

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