Equine Newsletter April 2004
Worming
In February five days of Panacur Equine Guard should have been given to deal with small and encysted redworms.
In March you should have given a double dose of Strongid P to eliminate Tapeworms. If you haven’t it is not too late to carry out this comprehensive regime. Ring us for advice, particularly if you have recently acquired a new horse or pony.
In our three year rotation of wormers this year is a Pyratape P or Strongid P year. The Loyalty Plan horses and ponies will be supplied accordingly. Essentially it should be administered monthly.
Routine Vaccinations
This visit is a good time for a complete health check of your horse or pony. It is routinely performed by all of us and can take quite a time. It is well worth doing. Recently, at a routine vaccination, we found a heart problem which the owner was completely unaware of. The pony was used for the grand children so we (and the owner) were somewhat concerned as to the significance of the rhythm abnormality. An ECG and a blood sample put everyone’s mind at rest and the pony is still safe for the little ones to ride and enjoy. Whilst doing another routine vaccination a few weeks ago the vet looked up into the groin area of a male horse and spotted a small sarcoid which had gone unnoticed by the owner. It was photographed and the pictures sent to Derek Knottenbelt at Liverpool University Veterinary School and treatment of this nasty disease has been started before the flies get too bad.
Many of you have questions and queries that can be dealt with at these visits whilst we check the back and perform a physiotherapy examination as well as look at the teeth and assess the gait of your horse. We will usually examine the heart, lungs and eyes and quite often find un noticed skin problems such as lice and collagen necrosis. Of course, the vaccine will be administered eventually and the book signed (if you have remembered it!)
Sheaths
Whilst mentioning the groin area we thought we ought to discuss this object which causes some of you great concern.
The horse’s sheath houses and protects the penis. It is an invagination of skin. Like all skin, including ours, it has a normal bacterial flora and various glands which produce a secretion (just like sweat glands). This secretion is called smegma and contains dead skin scales, hairs and oily substances to keep the area supple. Consequently the penis, quite naturally, does get covered with smegma.
A penis and sheath covered in smegma is PERFECTLY NORMAL. It may look dirty but it does not reflect the standard of cleanliness of your home or your own personal hygiene habits! Please DO NOT WASH IT OFF or scrub it with lotions and potions etc. The build up of smegma is normal. Washing will disturb the normal bacterial flora and enable nasty bugs to proliferate. These will irritate and inflame the area, causing excessive smegma production. If this happens then the horse or pony really will end up with a problem which is extremely unpleasant and difficult to treat.
