Bone Bruises In Young Equine Athletes

Horses engaged in athletic pursuits are at risk for skeletal damage. Bucked shins, bone chips, and fractures are commonplace in the world of high-performance horses, but other problems, like bone bruises, are less ordinary.

A bone bruise is an injury to subchondral bone, which is the bone layer that abuts cartilage in weight-bearing joints. Subchondral bone is rife with blood vessels, which not only ferry oxygen and nutrients to the bone but also to the underlying cartilage. Bone bruises are usually brought on by repetitive trauma and subsequent insult during racing or training. Inflammation associated with the injury causes degeneration of healthy subchondral bone, thus compromising its strength and integrity.

[Story Continues Below]

“In response to traumatic insult, the skeleton repairs itself by removing damaged bone and replacing it with more bone. Changes in bone are expected in response to training, but the difficulty lies in the fact that bones can only repair, and thus strengthen, themselves so quickly,” explained Laura Petroski, B.V.M.S., veterinarian at Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

“If insufficient time is afforded for healing, the remodeling process is disturbed, and over time the subchondral bone thickens and becomes less flexible. Repeated overloading of diseased bone results in bone bruises and pain. Damage may also occur to corresponding joint cartilage, which may compound soundness issues. As most horse owners know, destruction of cartilage leads to the development of degenerative joint disease, or arthritis,” she continued.

Bone bruises are most often diagnosed in horses trained at high intensity, such as Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, and problems manifest primarily in the fetlocks. High-impact work exposes the horse to the traumatic forces needed for a bone to become denser and then subsequently bruise. In Thoroughbreds, bone bruises usually occur in the front fetlocks, while in Standardbreds they affect hind fetlocks more frequently. Bone bruises are observed occasionally in knees. Subchondral bone disease at any site can put horses at risk for fracture.

Horses usually present as unsound, though the lameness might range from mild to severe. “Complaints of poor performance, where the horse is suddenly not performing at the same level, are also typical and alert owners and veterinarians of a problem. The pain is localized to the affected site by using nerve blocks, flexion tests, and palpation. At that point, we recommend radiography or advanced imaging,” said Petroski.

“In the past, veterinarians have diagnosed this disease using radiography; however, we've learned changes noted on radiograph tend to be permanent changes and the disease is quite advanced at that stage,” she remarked.

Today, veterinarians rely on nuclear bone scintigraphy and MRI to reveal early signs of this disease. “This technology has been revolutionary when it comes to diagnosing, treating, and managing these horses properly. The earlier the treatment begins, the better our prognosis for returning the horse to full work.”

Treatment of bone bruises involves primarily rest and recovery. Unlike certain soft tissue injuries, veterinarians often suggest that horses with bone bruises be turned out into a small field for several months and allowed to move.

Blood flow to this area is important for tissue healing, and free-choice exercise in a small paddock is encouraged. Any forced exercise is discouraged. Other treatments include anti-inflammatory drugs, intra-articular injection of steroids, pharmaceuticals to promote bone repair, and surgery. These treatments are not universal to all horses with bone bruises, so treatment plans are devised on a case-by-case basis.

Nutrition of horses with bone bruises begins with a well-fortified diet. Many horses with skeletal damage are involved in intense athletic pursuits, so they are likely fed high-quality forages and concentrates. Calcium is a critical nutrient in any well-fortified diet, but especially those of young athletes.

“While we cannot prevent bones from laying down more calcium, it would be wise to protect other bones from becoming weaker due to insufficient calcium intakes. The body tends to take calcium from other bones if there is not enough calcium available in the blood. The loss of calcium from other bones changes the structure of that bone and weakens it,” said Petroski.

Because young, growing racehorses are often affected by bone bruises, demand for calcium within the body is high. Once a bone bruise is diagnosed and rest instituted, the diet should be adjusted appropriately to reflect the change in workload, though a well-balanced diet is important at all times. Further, targeted nutritional supplementation may help these horses.

Triacton, a triple-action supplement designed by equine nutritionists, may be useful in these situations,” said Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutritionist for KER. Triacton contains a novel source of highly digestible calcium and other bone-building nutrients to increase bone quality. “In addition to its skeletal benefits, Triacton also provides buffering for gastric and hindgut health,” she continued.

In addition to promoting bone health, young horses in training benefit from receiving Synovate HA, a high-molecular weight sodium hyaluronate that has anti-inflammatory, lubricating, and shock absorbing properties for optimal joint health.

Injuries cause stress in horses, which predisposes them to gastric ulcers and possibly hindgut upset, explained Petroski. This may be further exacerbated by a change in routine as treatment protocols are established. “I believe in preventing problems rather than treating them, if possible. Because we know that changes in routine will often lead to distress and compromise to the gastrointestinal tract, especially in young horses, it is best to be proactive in protecting the stomach and hindgut.”

Article reprinted courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research (KER). Visit equinews.com for the latest in equine nutrition and management, and subscribe to The Weekly Feed to receive these articles directly (equinews.com/newsletters).   

The post Bone Bruises In Young Equine Athletes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Study Examines Prevalence of Quarter Cracks in High-Performance Horses

Like equine athletes in all disciplines, Thoroughbred racehorses face hoof-related challenges, including quarter cracks. In an effort to better understand this hoof wall abnormality, researchers investigated the incidence, clinical presentation and future racing performance of Thoroughbreds with quarter cracks over a nine-year period.*

A quarter crack is a full-thickness failure of the hoof capsule between the toe and heel that may extend the entire height of the hoof, from coronary band to ground. The separation often results in unsoundness due to instability of the hoof wall or infection of the deep dermal tissue, though many horses remain free of lameness despite the presence of a quarter crack.

[Story Continues Below]

Quarter cracks are thought to arise for many reasons: innate hoof weakness; improper hoof balance; injury or trauma to the coronary band; or infection of the corium, part of the internal vascular network of the hoof. Poor farriery may contribute to hoof imbalance, which could contribute to crack formation. A common finding among horses with quarter cracks is sheared heels, an unevenness of the heels that causes unequal weight-bearing on the bulbs and creates a shearing force absorbed by the hoof capsule.

During the nine-year study period, just over 4,500 horses in a training center were followed. Seventy-four horses had at least one quarter crack during the study period. Twenty horses had two or more quarter cracks. Almost half of all horses with quarter cracks were lame at the onset of the defect.

An overwhelming number of cracks occurred in the front hooves and there was a proportional difference in the number of cracks in the left rather than right front hooves. Most of the cracks came about on the inside of the hooves.

The quarter cracks identified in this study were treated in various ways, though the principle treatments included corrective shoeing with a heart-bar shoe, wire stabilization, and the use of epoxy or acrylic. Treatment goals centered around correcting the hoof imbalance and eliminating uneven movement.

Racing performance following treatment was available for 63 of the 74 horses. Of the 63 horses, 54 horses had at least one start after treatment. When compared to control horses, there was no significant difference in the number of career races, career wins and career placings for horses with quarter cracks.

As mentioned previously, horses genetically predisposed to weak hoof walls might be susceptible to quarter cracks. Racehorses are generally well-nourished, as trainers know the importance of sound nutrition in conditioning an athlete. Aside from high-quality forage and fortified concentrates, horses inclined to poor-quality hooves should be given a research-proven hoof supplement. Biotin should be a primary ingredient in the supplement, but other ingredients will further support hoof health. A high-quality hoof supplement also contains methionine, iodine and zinc.

*McGlinchey, L., P. Robinson, B. Porter, A.B.S. Sidhu, and S.M. Rosanowski. 2020. Quarter cracks in Thoroughbred racehorses trained in Hong Kong over a 9-year period (2007-2015): Incidence, clinical presentation, and future racing performance. Equine Veterinary Education 32 (Suppl. 10):18-24.

Read more here.

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.

The post Study Examines Prevalence of Quarter Cracks in High-Performance Horses appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Study: Though Gnarly-Looking, Orbital Fractures In Horses Often Heal Well

A horse with a broken orbital bone can be a sight to behold – the horse's head is often massively swollen and he may be unable to open the eye on the affected side. It can be impossible to imagine a horse with this type of injury ever being able to go back to “normal,” but a study has shown that most horses with occipital fractures have a good prognosis for both retaining their sight and returning to work.

A study from North Carolina University, led by Dr. Joseph Gerding, used 18 horses referred to the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine clinic for orbital fractures. The horses were injured by rearing in a confined area, running into a stationary object, or by being kicked. Fifteen of the horses had surgery to stabilize the bone.

Horses that had received kicks to the occipital bone had higher risk of trauma to the eye, vision loss or eye removal. Horses with this type of injury also had a likelihood of having fractures in other bones as well, possibly involving the sinuses and creating a massive nosebleed. If other bones were involved, the favorable outcome from occipital bone surgery becomes more guarded.

Horses that were injured from rearing may have additional complications that require more aggressive treatment. Sinus and skull X-rays and CT scans can help diagnose orbital fractures and assess if any other bones are involved.

The study team found that surgery to stabilize a broken occipital bone was often successful in restoring function and appearance, as 13 of the 18 study horses returned to their previous level of use.

Read more at EQUUS.

The post Study: Though Gnarly-Looking, Orbital Fractures In Horses Often Heal Well appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

$50,000 Research Grant For Studies Investigating The Effect Of Horses On Humans Who Have Experienced Trauma

Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF), a 501(c)3 organization, announces this request for proposals to investigate the possible effects horses have on humans who have experienced trauma. Deadline for submission proposals is June 30, 2021.

All proposals undergo a four-tier review process completed by the Scientific Advisory Council. Preference will be given to investigators with solid credentials and research experience. The maximum award is $50,000 for up to eighteen months. The winning proposal will have scientific merit, scientific and clinical significance, and relevance.

On behalf of the HHRF Board, our past board members, supporters and our Scientific Advisory Council, we are pleased to offer this opportunity. Through this call, which reflects the need to address the gaps in knowledge in equine-assisted services, HHRF strives to support true leaps in research. Through peer reviewed research we all benefit from knowledge, application, and dissemination.

Information for applicants, including the recently updated application and review guidelines, previously funded projects, and more are available at horsesandhumans.org.

Contribute to HHRF today and help ensure that this important research, and education about research on horse-human interactions continues. For more information about HHRF, visit the website horsesandhumans.org or contact Pebbles Turbeville, Executive Director, exec.director@horsesandhumans.org.

Read more here.

The post $50,000 Research Grant For Studies Investigating The Effect Of Horses On Humans Who Have Experienced Trauma appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights