To soak or not to soak, that is the question….

Soaking your horse’s hay can be a helpful management strategy (and relatively easy) for owners of horses with certain medical conditions.  However, it is important to know the reasoning behind the soaking so that we are not causing any detriment to our four-legged friends.  Conditions that can benefit from hay soaking include the following:

Recurrent Airway Obstruction (aka RAO, heaves, or COPD):

RAO is a common respiratory condition of mature horses caused by severe inflammationwithin the respiratory tract.  Similar to human allergies, RAO is managed best with environmental control of allergens such as dust.  Researchers have found a decrease in as many as 88% of respirable dust particles after only 30 minutes of hay soaking.  This is enough to provide a big improvement for the old “heavey” horse. 

             Laminitis, Insulin Resistance, Equine Metabolic Syndrome, PSSM, and Obesity:

             The conditions listed above are similar in that horses affected by them are quite sensitive carbohydrate intake, specifically non-structural carbohydrates (NSC or more simply, sugars such as fructans).  Soaking grass hay for 15-30 minutes can decrease NSC levels to below 10-12% (the level recommended for these horses).  Most alfalfa hay is naturally below the 10-12% leveland therefore soaking would not be of any benefit.

              HYPP (Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis):

               Horses affected by HYPP have high levels of potassium within the blood which can lead to muscle twitching and paralysis.  Soaking hay can help to leach excess potassium out of the hay. However, soaking to leach minerals often takes longer (~60 minutes) and when leaching potassium, you will often leach other important minerals such as calcium or phosphorus.  If you are going to soak hay to help manage your horse with HYPP, it is really important to have your hay tested prior to and after soaking to calculate the need for mineral supplementation.   

               

Rules of Thumb for hay soaking:

1- Consult with your veterinarian to know if soaking hay would be beneficial for your horse and to have your hay analyzed to determine if soaking is necessary with your hay type. 

2-Soaking hay for short durations (15-60 minutes maximum) can be a helpful for certain equine conditions. Avoid soaking hay for prolonged periods because of the risk of excessive nutrient and mineral loss. 

3- Soaked hay should be fed immediately after soaking to reduce the chance of mold within the hay. 

4- The temperature of water used has little effect on the amount of nutrients leached or dust reduced during hay soaking. 

5- The liquid remaining after soaking your hay may contain a large amount of phosphorus (can be a pollutant) and should be disposed of properly (in random grassy areas, not close to water sources).

If you have any questions regarding hay soaking or for a nutritional consultation, don’t hesitate to contact us at Badger Veterinary Hospital (608)-754-1888.

References:

1-Martinson et al.  “Hay soaking: all washed up or a good management option?” University of Minnesota Extension, http://extension.umn.edu/agriculture/horse/nutirtion/haysoaking/

2- Hay Soaking” thehorse.com Fact sheet. The Horse:Your Guide to Equine Health Care.  Blood Horse Publications. Accessed online: 2013. 

3-Moore-Coyler, MJ>  Effects of soaking hay fodder for horses on dust and mineral content.  Journal of Animal Science. 1996;63: 337-42.

Just because it's common, doesn't mean it's harmless...

If you own horses, you have most likely heard of and/or used “Bute.” Bute (or Phenylbutazone) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (much like ibuprofen) that can be an incredibly useful tool to combat inflammation and help reduce pain in horses. It’s easy to administer, cheap, and quite effective. Since bute is so commonplace, it’s easy to forget that this drug is by prescription only from your veterinarian. The reason for this has to do with the risk for toxicity. A toxicity that can be fatal.

Horses affected by bute toxicity can exhibit signs of serious disease of the gastrointestinal tract and the kidneys. Signs can be subtle such as inappetance, depression, colic (pawing, lying down more frequently, rolling), soft to loose manure, or even an increased frequency in urination. Horses severely affected can become listless, severely dehydrated, have liquid manure, and can even have deep ulcerations on their tongue, mouth, and the rest of their gastrointestinal tract. Once horses have signs this severe, they require intensive hospitalized care and have a poor prognosis for survival.

Now, most horses that become affected by Bute toxicity have received doses that exceed the range of what is recommended, however toxicity can and will occur in horses receiving doses within the recommended range (with foals, ponies, and dehydrated horses being more susceptible). In fact, studies have shown that horses given the high end of the recommend dose range for 2 weeks will develop some degree of gastrointestinal ulceration. With the potential for these complications with its use, it is no wonder that this drug is by prescription only.

Ulceration of the Equine Stomach.

Bute can be a great drug for your horse and may be just what your horse needs to get him/her on the road to good health. Just remember, that any usage of Bute should be prescribed by a veterinarian so that the drug is used responsibly and toxicity avoided.

If you have any questions regarding Bute and its use, please contact Dr. Scott Spaulding or myself at Badger Veterinary Hospital (608)-754-1888.

Conditions of the Miniature Horse

Although a mere quarter of the size of your average horse, the miniature horse lacks none in the size of his personality.  In fact, these little guys can act so "big", you may want to treat them just like a big horse.  However, it is important to recognize that a miniature horse has some special veterinary needs that don't pertain to the big guys.  Here is a short review of some special conditions that are specific to miniature horses.

Obesity

Probably the most common health issue that miniature horses face is obesity. Obese miniature horses are at much higher risk for acquiring different diseases such as osteoarthritis, laminitis, and metabolic diseases.  In particular, obese miniature horses can be affected by a metabolic disorder called "hyperlipemia" where the body mobilizes an excessive amount of fat in the bloodstream.  Excess fat in the blood can cause fat to build up in the liver and lead to liver failure.

Because wight control can be very difficult in miniature horses, work with your veterinarian to monitor your miniature horse's weight frequently and devise a "mini-specific" nutritional plan to keep him or her at a healthy weight.

Dental Issues

 A miniature horse has the same number of teeth as the average sized horse. With their tiny dish shaped skulls, miniature horses are prone to having teeth that are crowded, deformed, misaligned, or even rotated.  These dental abnormalities without proper dental care or floating can lead to sharp spikes, infections of the tooth root, or ulceration of the cheeks and soft tissues within the mouth.  For this reason, it is critical to have a complete dental examination performed early in life when the teeth are erupting (before age 2) and frequent regular exams (every 6-12 months).

Reproductive Issues

The breeding process of the miniature horse can be much different than that of their large counterparts.  Detection of pregnancy frequently occurs later (approximately 6 weeks after being bred versus 14-17 days) due to the fact that rectal palpation and ultrasound can be difficult to perform in such a small animal. Additionally, miniature horses have a much higher chance to experience a dystocia (or difficult delivery) than big horses.  If your miniature is expected to foal soon, it is extremely important to provide excellent monitoring and to call your veterinarian immediately if trouble occurs.

All these conditions certainly make life seem bleak for our short little mini horse friends, however, there is hope!  Working closely with your veterinarian for wellness examinations, nutritional counseling, and regular dental work can help prevent many of these diseases, allowing your miniature horse to thrive for many years longer than the average horse.

References:
Lyons, D.J. Carey "Maximizing Mini Health" The Horse. Vol XXX, No. 7July 2013, pp. 18-22.

Roots

Hello Everyone! I am the newest addition to the Badger Veterinary Hospital team. I joined the practice on June 16th of this year and I am more than thrilled to be here! My biography on the website is the nuts and bolts of what I have done and where I’ve been. I’m hoping this blog entry can give you a little more insight into my roots and the story behind why I became a veterinarian.

I was born and grew up in Rice Lake, Wisconsin (1 hour north of Eau Claire). I know that anything north of Highway 8 can seem like worlds away from South Central Wisconsin… and civilization. However, I will be the first to inform you, that Rice Lake and Barron County are great areas and surprisingly rich in horse culture. Ever since I was a tiny girl, I was horse-crazed. Luckily, my parents accepted and encouraged my obsession and the community was well-equipped for children like me. I was enrolled in riding lessons and started learning the ins and outs of becoming a horseperson by the time I was 8 years old. The more I got into horses, the more active I became in the 4-H horse project, Open Saddle Club shows, and the AQHA. These projects taught me so much about handling and caring for horses, confidence, humility, competition, and led me to some great friends. I was lucky enough to get my first horse at age 11. Stormy Skippa Dee or “Stormy” was a sorrel quarter horse gelding who was my inspiration to become a veterinarian. Most horse owners will recognize that owning a horse is probably the fastest way to get to know the veterinary profession. For example, Stormy introduced me to abscesses, stone bruises, scratches, strangles, corneal ulcers, grain overload, and finally acute renal disease (Amazingly, I never really thought of Stormy as being particularly accident prone). His trials with renal disease led me and my parents to trailer Stormy over to the University of Minnesota - College of Veterinary Medicine. While we were there, the clinicians, residents, and students came up with an excellent diagnostic and treatment plan. Stormy underwent blood-work, a biopsy, and treatment with IV fluids and was on his way to good health in a few days. After a recovery period, Stormy and I went back to showing and earned a Grand Champion in the Wisconsin 4-H State Horse Expo that fall. This experience really allowed me to realize the power of veterinary medicine. From then on, I was committed to the profession. Below is Stormy and me in the early days.

Of course, that was just the beginning. To learn more about me and meet me face to face, please join us at Badger Veterinary Hospital on Wednesday September 4th from 5:30 PM until 7:00 PM at our Janesville location (3113 E. McCormick Drive) for a Welcome Reception. Hope to see you there!