PERFORMANCE HORSE STALLIONS
Performance Horses, Stallions and product promotion online marketing!
Tom Hutchins DVM submitted the following articles in 2015 he has since joined forces with Craig Sweatt DVM of Mobile Veterinary Services and formed what is now North Texas Veterinary Hospital, PLLC. Dr. Hutchins’ primary focus is on the diagnosis and treatment of performance issues. See more about North Texas Veterinary Hospital at www.NTXVetHospital.com
PREPARING FOR DELIVERY
By Tom Hutchins DVM
The average length of pregnancy in the mare is 338-343 days. However, normal gestation can range from 320-380 days. You needn’t become overly concerned if your mare is past due. Prolonged gestation is not generally associated with problems or extra-large foals unless the mare is grazing endophyte-infected fescue grass. If your mare’s pregnancy extends much past 340 days or you’re concerned, ask your veterinarian to examine her to determine if the mare is still pregnant and confirm that all is well. Read more...
EQUINE CUSHING'S DISEASE
By Tom Hutchins DVM
The average age of Cushing’s horses is late teens with an age range from 7 to 40 years. There is no sex predilection; mares, geldings and stallions seem to be at equal risk. Incidence in ponies appears increased compared with horses but population analysis hasn’t been done. No specific horse breed appears to be affected more than another.
Because of the slow onset of the disease and the complex metabolic changes that occur, a wide variety of clinical signs are seen. Hirsutism or excessive hair growth is the clinical sign most commonly noticed. Approximately 85% of affect-ed animals exhibit coat abnormalities, including the classic thick, long, curly coat that is some-times not shed. Less striking coat changes are also seen, including slightly heavier than usual winter hair coat; shedding later in the spring and regrowing winter coats earlier in the fall than other animals housed under similar conditions; and patchy, slow shedding sometimes associated with transient patchy hair loss. Early in the course of the disease, many animals do not exhibit striking coat abnormalities. Read more...
THE GUTTURAL POUCH INFECTIONS
By Tom Hutchins DVM
Guttural pouch infections are either introduced directly through the pharyngeal opening or by the lymphatic system. Accumulation of purulent material (empyema or pus) is considered to be a secondary, chronic, localized manifestation of a more generalized ascending respiratory infection. Empyema is usually on one side and is often a sequel to an infectious respiratory disease, especially infection by Streptococcus equi. Typically a horse with guttural pouch infections display continued nasal discharge after recovery from streptococcal infection. Rupture of retropharyngeal abscesses into the guttural pouch is known to occur, suggesting that strangles or other upper respiratory tract infections may have an important role in the development of guttural pouch infection in horses. Read more...
EQUINE VIRAL RHINOPNEUMONITIS
By Tom Hutchins DVM
Serious outbreaks of upper respiratory tract disease can ruin a racing season, a show season and foaling season. Administrators of boarding and training facilities have become increasingly authoritative about vaccination requirements. Most of these outbreaks are caused by equine viral influenza. But when equine viral rhinopneumonitis is implicated, it can be devastating for the horseman and the facility itself. The problem is greatest where horses are housed semi-permanently in accommodations provided at the facility. In other circumstances where horses are in respiratory contact only on the day of training or competition, the outbreaks are much less serious. Read more...
EXERCISE INTOLERANCE:
THE UPPER AIRWAY - Part 1
By Tom Hutchins DVM
The respiratory system is second only to the musculoskeletal system as a cause of lost training in racehorses. Multiple body systems may be responsible for exercise intolerance. Many horses have more than one body system affected, making determination of the relative contribution of each system difficult. Upper respiratory sources of exercise intolerance are common in all breeds of horses. The frequency of specific conditions, the degree to which each condition limits performance, and the method of treatment and corresponding success vary with the breed, age, and intended use of the horse. As a general rule, horses engaged in racing have the highest requirements for airflow and show exercise intolerance with lesions that may be inapparent during examinations performed at rest. Horses engaged in less strenuous activities require more airway obstruction before performance limitation is apparent. These lesions are usually apparent at rest. Read more...
EXERCISE INTOLERANCE:
THE UPPER AIRWAY - Part 2
By Tom Hutchins DVM
As mentioned in the previous installment, second to musculoskeletal disease, respiratory disease is the most common cause of poor performance, interruption in training, and premature retirement among performance horses. Inflammatory airway disease (IAD) and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorhage (EIPH) are the most common conditions originating from the lower respiratory tract associated with poor race performance. Low-grade chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common source of exercise intolerance in middle-aged performance horses. The young racehorse population is frequently exposed to viral respiratory pathogens that impair pulmonary defense by damaging mucociliary clearance mechanisms, destroying bronchial-associated lymphoid tissue, and impairing pulmonary macrophage function. Regeneration of the mucociliary apparatus requires approximately three weeks after recovery from viral respiratory disease, and racehorses are rarely permitted sufficient time for convalescence after overt disease. Strenuous exercise and long distance transport impair pulmonary immunity and promote deep inhalation of dust particles. The presence of blood within the lung tissue, as occurs with EIPH, initiates an inflammatory response resulting in bronchiolitis and airway inflammation. Inflamed airways are fragile and are predisposed to further hemorrhage with exercise. Therefore, repeated episodes of EIPH appear to create self-perpetuating lower respiratory tract inflammation and hemorrhage. Impaired pulmonary defense, irritant exposure, and episodes of pulmonary hemorrhage not only predispose racehorses to develop chronic IAD, but promote development of fulminant pneumonia and pleuropneumonia which may result in prolonged recovery, permanent pulmonary damage, premature retirement, or even death. Read more...
A NEW LIFE WITHOUT MOM
By Tom Hutchins DVM
One of the most traumatic times in a young horse’s life is when he is separated from his mother at weaning time. From birth, he has been dependent on the mare for sustenance and protection. At weaning time that changes and the youngster must cope with the world, minus his mother’s protective presence.
True, the youngster has become less and less dependent on the mare’s milk for a food supply, turning to hay or grass and supplemental grain in-stead. As the foal matured and independence grew, the youngster romped off with other foals or by himself no longer glued to his mother’s side.
However, when danger threatened or he was traumatized in any way, the foal normally fled back to the mare’s side, often nursing on arrival. The nursing appears to be as much a security blanket as a need for nourishment. Now, all of that is about to change, because it is time for permanent separation. Read more...
THE INFLAMMATORY PROCESS
By Tom Hutchins DVM
When people hear of inflammation, the first thought that usually comes to mind is pain, heat and tissue damage at the site of the injury. Before you can start treating inflammation, you have to know what it is, understand the process behind it, and determine whether or not it is harmful. The term inflammation literally means “burning”. The characteristics of inflammation are pain, heat, swelling, and redness. Inflammation is the response of tissues to irritation or injury.
Inflammation is one of the most important and vital protective mechanisms in the body. Inflammation allows defense factors, such as antibodies and white blood cells, to gain access to sites of bacterial invasion or tissue damage. The inflammatory process is a union of the responses that promote healing and repair. Read more...