Equine Newsletter Jan 2004

Horse Passports

The latest information from DEFRA is that the deadline date for obtaining a passport has been changed to June 2004. So the pressure is now off and one wonders whether it will be postponed again – Mr Blair seems to be doing quite a few ‘U-turns’ at the moment.

Worming

During the past few months you should have given a double dose of Strongid P to eliminate tapeworms, a course of Panacur Equine Guard for five days to deal with small and encysted redworms and a dose of Equest to remove Bots. If you haven’t it is not too late to carry out this comprehensive regime (although not all at once!). 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 Strongid P year. The Loyalty Plan horses and ponies will be supplied accordingly.

In February a five day course of Panacur Equine Guard should be given again to kill any encysted redworms that didn’t respond to, or escaped the dose in the autumn.

Herpes Virus

It was just as well we discussed this at length in the last newsletter. We saw quite a few runny noses and coughs in November and December. Many of you decided to start vaccinating as a result of the warning. Remember that it is better to vaccinate your horse when it is healthy and there is no sign of a cough on the yard. It is INADVISABLE to start the primary course of vaccination against Herpes virus in the face of a suspected outbreak on a yard, as it may not work at all or if it does it may predispose your horse or pony to the ‘neurological’ form of the disease which will cause paralysis. Giving boosters in the face of an outbreak should not be a problem.

Mud Fever and Rain Scald

These are probably the most important and commonest skin infections of the horse. They are characterised by exudation, matted hair and excessive scab/crust formation. They can be due to prolonged moist (and muddy) conditions but we also see both diseases in the summer months when there has been no rain and no mud is present! Sweaty skin and dust play a part here.

The areas affected are those subjected to moistening or wetting by rain or by sweating under rugs. The diseases are therefore most often seen affecting the head, neck, back and sides of the chest and belly and bottom of the legs. White haired skin is commonly affected but we see the infection in all coat colours.

Severely affected horses may become ill, lose their appetite and be depressed. Affected areas are often swollen and very sore to touch.

Treatment.

Affected areas on the body should be gently but thoroughly washed with dilute Hibiscrub or dilute Povidone Iodine. Gentle soaking of the skin will allow removal of most of the crusts and scabs and infected debris. The skin should be dried very carefully and VERY THOROUGHLY (possibly with a hair dryer). Following washing, the skin MUST be kept dry. Contact with wet bedding MUST be avoided.

Picking the scabs off is favoured by many vets but sometimes the areas are too sore to do this. Avoid oily ointments that matt the hair over the skin producing a warm airless environment which bugs love. If you use Vaseline as a barrier before turning out, wash it off and dry the legs on stabling. Useful topical ointments containing antibiotics and steroids are Fuciderm, Dermobion, and Vetsovate. Dermisol often works well as does Malaseb shampoo. If the disease has reached this stage then the horse or pony will have to be examined by a vet as these are prescription only products. Sometimes there is something else going on making the disease worse or preventing healing – for example mite infestation or photosensitization. A visit should enable the vet to determine whether or not this is the case.

If the disease looks severe or is not responding within a couple of days you must call us. Prolonged inflammation will result in scarring, weakened skin, and lameness. These animals will be increasingly prone to re – infection.

What else is in the vet’s car? Oral or intra muscular antibiotics and anti inflammatories such as ‘bute’ or steroids often quickly and effectively control rain scald and mud fever particularly if the affected area is very sore to the touch or if horsey is depressed and ill with the infection. A five day course often nips a potential problem in the bud!

Control and prevention.

Remove horses and ponies from contact with wet grass and stables. Keep them away from known ‘infected fields and woods’. Ensure bedding is clean, non irritating and dry. Keep sensitive horses out of the rain. Keep the pasture ‘clean and tidy’ and free from thistles and other scratchy plants. Control flies in the summer. Avoid over grooming of mildly affected horses and isolate cases. Clean all grooming kit and tack. You can soak it or sponge it with dilute Hibiscrub. In a yard outbreak consider disinfection with Trigene. Scrub tack and grooming kit with this disinfectant too. Don’t share grooming kits or tack – especially head collars.

Tip – a few people who hunt know certain fields seem to be infected. If they go thundering through these they wash their horses off thoroughly at the end of the day and then soak stable bandages in dilute Hibiscrub. They then loosely bandage all four legs overnight with the treated bandages and then remove them in the morning.

The legs are then thoroughly dried. It seems to prevent the infection.

Is your horse stamping his feet or itchy?

This time of year is classically the time for skin parasites. There are two main groups – lice (or ‘nits’) and mites.

Lice are visible with the naked eye so look very carefully at the mane and tail where the hairs join the body. Also part the hairs at strategic places over the body. Where would you go if you were a louse? Lice are usually dark in colour and run away
from the daylight when you part the hair. A nit comb will enable you to find eggs. Louse powder will usually deal with these but watch out ! Every year one or two owners proudly show off their tin of louse powder to us that they bought from a shop. Often these ‘louse powders’ are Soya extract plus a scented agent (usually herbal). You are actually feeding the lice if you use these !! A louse powder must contain an insecticide. In other words, buy a reputable product and preferably a licensed one from the vet!!

Don’t forget to treat rugs and tack as well.

Mites are microscopic and cannot usually be seen with the naked eye. There may only be a few in a particular area so often they can’t be found on skin scrapes. However, even one or two can cause intense irritation. Affected horses stamp their feet. Some will nibble areas of their bodies. Others just seem very irritable and ‘tickly’.

You must use an appropriate prescription product for these cases. ‘Louse powder’ will not work - mites are tough little creatures. Deosect spray can be used or an injection can be given, which is often simpler. Repeat treatments may be necessary as the eggs are often not affected by the chemical and more mites hatch out three weeks later. Pick up the phone and have a chat to us if your horse is itchy.