Category: EQUINE

What is colic?

Colic is the term used to describe ‘abdominal pain’ in horses. Fortunately, most colic cases we see are medical colics in particular spasmodic/gas colic. Other forms of medical colic include impaction colic and colon displacements to name but two. Luckily, less than 10% of colic cases we see require surgical intervention.

What are the signs of colic?

• Restlessness
• Pawing at the ground
• Rolling
• Kicking and/or looking at belly
• Lying flat out
• Sweating
• Stretching/unusual posture
• Poor appetite
• Reduced droppings
• Lip curling
• Teeth grinding

What should I do if my horse is colicking?

• Remain calm and keep safe
• Remove food
• Walk in hand ideally in a sand paddock provided it is safe to do so
• Call your vets for advice
• Do not give any pain-relief or other drugs unless instructed to do so by your vet

What is impaction colic?

Impaction colic is a form of colic we see more commonly at this time of year and occurs when gut contents become ‘stuck’ in the colon. Horses generally present with low grade signs of abdominal discomfort but with a history of a reduced appetite and reduced/absent faeces.

How is impaction colic diagnosed?

The diagnosis is based on a combination of historical information, symptoms and veterinary examination. A rectal exam is required to definitively diagnose the impaction.

What is the treatment for impaction colic?

• Fluids!
  • Water and electrolytes are the best way to help soften and shift impaction colic. These are usually delivered via a nasogastric tube which is passed up your horse’s nose and down into their stomach.
  • Water buffet – ensure your horse has plenty of water to drink
  • Depending on the severity of the impaction repeat tubings is often required at 2–4-hour intervals. Therefore, hospitalisation is required in some cases.

• Starve!
  • The vet will ask you to remove any hay/haylage/grass. This will stop the impaction getting larger in size.

• Pain relief
  • Your vet will give your horse injectable pain relief to keep them comfortable whilst we attempt to clear the impaction.

What can I do to prevent impaction colic?

• Keep up to date with routine dentistry
• Ensure your horse follows a worm control plan
• Ensure any dietary changes are made gradually over a 10-14-day period
• Monitor water intake to ensure your horse is drinking plenty
  • In winter ensure your horse’s water is not frozen. Warm water can be added to your horse’s bucket to help increase the temperature.
  • Consider adding warm water to your horse’s bucket feeds to increase intake.
  • A salt lick should also be provided to stimulate thirst.

If you are concerned your horse is showing signs of colic, please do not hesitate to contact the team. At least two of our Oakhill Equine Vets are on call 24/7, 365 days/year.

Clinical signs of equine asthma, formerly known as COPD or RAO, occur when a genetically susceptible horse inhales an allergen to which they are allergic.

This results in airway spasm and an increased production of mucus and inflammatory cells within the airway resulting in a cough, increased respiratory rate and effort and decreased performance to name but a few. The severity of clinical signs vary from mild to severe.

Dust is commonly implicated, but some horses present during the summer months when pollen levels are high.

Diagnosis is frequently based on compatible clinical signs but can be confirmed through airway endoscopy and laboratory analysis of airway fluid samples.

In the past, treatment of asthma relied heavily on bronchodilators and steroids in addition to environmental modifications.

Recently, nebulised alpha-2-macroglobulins has shown promise in the treatment of asthma cases and equine vet Leona has treated a number of our own patients in addition to referral patients using this product.

Alpha-2-macroglobulins are a natural anti-inflammatory molecule which can be harvested from a patient’s own blood, meaning it is a benign and natural product.

In addition to its use in the treatment of joint disease, it can also be nebulised to treat inflammation associated with equine asthma.

Suitable candidates for treatment include those patients where steroids need to be avoided, patients who have not responded to conventional treatment methods or competition horses who require maintenance therapy.

In summary, a really exciting addition to our toolbox for treating equine asthma!

For more information and to see if your horse could benefit from alpha-2-macroglobulins as a treatment for asthma call 01772 861300 to speak to Leona.

Alpha-2-macroglobulin is a large protein that circulates in the bloodstream of our horses. Its job is to bind inflammatory enzymes and remove them from the site of injury.

At Oakhill, we have invested in a special centrifuge which enables us to collect blood from your horse and create a concentrated plasma full of this anti-inflammatory protein. This plasma can then be injected into joints in cases of osteoarthritis and can even be used to treat soft tissue injuries too. Wherever there is inflammation this substance can be safely injected into the area, without the risk of laminitis which is often a concern related to the use of corticosteroids in horses.

There is no withdrawal time from competition to worry about either, and often no need for long periods out of ridden exercise depending on the underlying issue being treated.

This procedure takes around four hours to be performed so can be done at the clinic on a half-day appointment.

We have seen zero side effects related to the use of this product to date. The great news is that surplus plasma can also be frozen to be used at a later date (within a year). We are happy to store it in a sterile manner at Oakhill. If you are interested in finding out more about alpha-2-macroglobulin plasma for the treatment of joint disease, please do not hesitate to give one of our lameness vets a call.

We’ve got the kit, you’ve got the ponies!

Whilst our state-of-the-art clinic at Goosnargh is still the gold standard for investigating lameness, Oakhill recognises that travelling to the clinic is not always an option for our horses.

Over the last four years we have been investing in our staff and equipment and now have five vets with special interest and expertise in lameness investigation ready to bring top-level care to your yard. We have two digital x-ray machines and an ultrasound scanner to rapidly and accurately diagnose a range of orthopaedic conditions in horses.

If you have two or more horses with a lameness or poor performance issue and suitable facilities, we can now organise a lameness clinic at your yard. Here we will provide two orthopaedic vets, a full set of equipment and the ability to provide treatment and expert support for many common issues.

If you would like  to find out more about our on yard lameness clinics, speak to our team on 01772 861300.

Insects are more than just a nuisance for horses – they can spread disease, cause discomfort and can lead to skin and health problems such as conjunctivitis, sweet itch and aural plaques. Implementing a comprehensive insect control programme is essential for equine well-being, especially during peak fly seasons. Here are our key strategies to help you and your horse this summer.

Environmental Management

Control begins at the source. Removal of droppings from pasture at least once daily will help with reducing fly numbers (and of course, is all part of good worm prevention)! Proper drainage around stables and pastures helps reduce numbers of midges, and muck heaps should be kept at as far a distance away from your stables as possible.

Physical Barriers and Repellents

Fly masks and sheets provide a physical defence against biting insects. For our horses that suffer with sweet-itch, wearing a fly sheet during all hours of the day is essential, starting early in the season before the midges come out to play! Topical sprays and ointments containing DEET or natural oils (e.g. citronella) offer short-medium term protection. We can also prescribe topical solutions or tags containing cypermethrin (typically used to treat lice) which can be used as fly repellents where appropriate for your horse.

Vaccination

A sweet itch vaccine is available and may help reduce sweet itch symptoms in some horses. Whilst this vaccine is for ringworm, it has been used off licence and been reported to assist in managing clinical  of sweet itch. The vaccine is administered as a two injection course, prior to the start of midge season (typically around March).

If you would like to learn more, feel free to contact our office on 01772 861300 to speak with one of our vets.

Jack is a 15-year-old Morgan horse gelding, owned by our vet Roisin, who started with a moderate right hindlimb lameness noticed during schooling exercise. He was admitted to the clinic and had nerve blocks performed which isolated the lameness to the upper cannon region.

In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s been a bit warm outside recently. Therefore we thought we would re-share our top tips to keep your horses cool in this weather:

• Try to ride very early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the worst of the heat
• The average horse will not lose much fitness from a day or two off, so if they’re struggling in the heat give them a rest day
• If your stables are cooler than outside, consider turning out overnight and bringing in during the day
• Similarly,  if your stables are like a sauna, consider leaving horses out 24/7 if appropriate
• Always have multiple sources of water available so that if one gets knocked over there is still some left
• If competing,  ensure you pack plenty of water (for drinking and washing off), try to park in the shade, create as much airflow in your lorry/trailer as possible, and be sensible about how many classes you do, or whether you go at all
• If your horse is a ‘fussy drinker’ away from home try adding some pony cubes, sugarbeet or grated fruit and veg to your water to encourage them to drink
• Electrolytes can be added to feed to encourage drinking and replace those lost in sweat
• If washing your horse off with the hosepipe, check the water is running cool first. It can heat up in the hosepipe and be almost boiling if left in the sun
• Use copious amounts of cool water for washing hot horses off with, and do not panic about scraping it off
• Apply lots of sunblock to delicate pink noses, or use a fly mask with a nose net
• Avoid oily grooming lotions and potions as these can heat up and cause burns
• Consider clipping any hairy Cushing’s patients who are still holding onto their coats
• Agree to never moan about our normal Lancashire weather again!

If you have any concerns at all, please contact us on 01772 861300.

Tilly was seen by our vet Kai during a routine yard visit for her annual vaccination. During this visit it was noted that Tilly had a very irregular heart rhythm. Tilly was consequently bought to our clinic for further investigations including blood tests and an ECG to measure the electrical activity of the heart.

The ECG showed Tilly had a condition called atrial fibrillation. This is where the upper chambers of the heart (the atrium) beat abnormally fast and erratically. You can observe from the ECG traces how Tilly’s heart compares to that of a normal horse (Figure 1).

Atrial fibrillation can cause symptoms including poor performance, exercise intolerance, weakness and collapse. Amazingly, in Tilly’s case she had none of these symptoms at the time, so it was very fortunate we picked up the abnormality early!

• Is your horse an absolute dream in-hand or on the lunge? Then as soon as the tack comes out, you see it in their eyes and off to the back of the stable they go!!
• Do they buck when you sit to ask for canter?
• Do they periodically shoot off under saddle which is pretty damn terrifying?
• Do they plant their feet? Refuse to go forwards and vocalise their distaste when you squeeze with your leg?
• Every time your physiotherapist visits, do they say that your horse is sore through his/her spine, but you’ve had your saddle checked and that is fine??

These amongst many other signs could indicate that your horse has pain coming from the spine. This can be from the underlying bone structures, nerve pain or pain coming from the many muscles and ligaments which interact with the spinal column. This includes pain coming from the sacrum, pelvis and sacroiliac joints too!

These cases can be extremely frustrating for you as an owner to overcome. However, we deal with these cases every, single day. We have developed a thorough, systematic approach to the investigation of these cases, so that no stone is left unturned.

Spinal imaging is performed through a combination of X-ray and ultrasonography assessments. From an X-ray perspective, due to the size of the horse, a lot of powerful radiation is required which comes from a large X-ray machine in a controlled setting! These are not images that can ever (or should ever) be obtained in a yard situation, it’s simply not possible!

To visualise the soft tissue attachments of the pelvis and spine you also need powerful ultrasound machines that have a lower frequency and a specialised probe very different from a musculoskeletal ultrasound machine. The soundwaves need to penetrate much deeper tissues without losing detail and believe me these machines are very expensive and must be kept within a clinic setting.

At Oakhill Equine Vets, we can confidently boast that we have the best imaging equipment for visualising pathology of the equine spine. We also have an arena to observe the horse ridden, with or without a rider dummy on board to help us understand the kind of symptoms your horse is displaying without putting you or anyone else in a potentially dangerous situation.

Once the problem has been identified, then we can create an appropriate, specific therapeutic approach. This may consist of conservative management through a combination of physiotherapy, injectable or anti-inflammatory medication, acupuncture with Equine Director Rosie and hydrotherapy. In the unlikely event that surgery is required you can be safe in the knowledge that we have two European Specialist surgeons on hand to perform the latest surgical techniques proven to help relieve the symptoms of spinal pain in the horse. The most common techniques are interspinous ligament desmotomy (ligament snipping) and dorsal wedge ostectomies (bone shaving). Our surgeons have all of the latest knowledge to be able to discuss these options with you depending on what your horse needs.

We are proud of the fact that we can perform all investigations and start treatment in your horse within a few days of your horse’s arrival at our clinic in Goosnargh, no waiting around for test results or for the next steps to take place. We can do it all and do it all well!!

We have no preference as to whether your horse holds an insurance policy or not, we treat all horses exactly the same. There is transparency with costings throughout regardless of your insurance status. If your horse is insured, our insurance team are on hand to make the process as stress-free as possible for you.

If you simply want to start the dialogue with regards to how we may be able to help you and your horse, just give our team a call and ask to speak to one of our spinal experts.

Several months ago equine vet Jess was called out to see one of the worst fetlock injuries we as a practice have ever seen. Poor ‘Boo’ had somehow managed to do this to herself in the field, causing such a deep wound to her left fore fetlock that the joint capsule was exposed leading to a septic joint. She had also damaged some of the supporting ligaments nearby.

Her lovely owners were distraught and keen for us to do whatever we could to help Boo and give her a chance of surviving despite the odds not being in her favour. She was admitted to our clinic for further assessment of the joint and to perform life- saving surgery under general anaesthesia. Rosie, one of European Specialists in Equine Surgery, had her work cut out but as you can from the final photo below, see she did an amazing job! Over several hours she was able to flush the infected joint with many litres of fluid and somehow suture all the tissues back together.

Our next challenge was to immobilise Boo’s limb to support the wound and sutures following surgery and give her the best chance of healing. This was particularly important during the recovery phase of her general anaesthetic where she needed to be able to stand without damaging the wound. The decision was made to place a cast on her lower limb whilst she was still in the operating theatre, preventing her flexing the limb and weakening the sutures.

Boo recovered uneventfully from her surgery and general anaesthetic. Post-operatively, Boo had several casts placed to keep her limb as still as possible. Cast removal followed 2-weeks post-operatively and after this Boo’s distal limb was placed in a 2-layer bandage. After each bandage change, we were all quietly optimistic as her wound was holding together well and Boo remained comfortable.

We were absolutely thrilled that after 5-weeks Boo had made a complete recovery and was able to go back out in the field with her friends. This was down to the commitment of Boo’s wonderful owners supported by our veterinary team. Thank you so much to Boo’s owners for allowing us to share her story.