How do I get my horse's mane untangled?. Click for messy manes.

Allergies

My stallion has irregular bumps. He had them last year and my vet gave him a cortzine shot. The bumps went down but did not go away. My vet also says he many just be allergic to insects. I have used many sprays, fans, and I have kept him in a stable, but there are not changes. The last 2 days they have gotten worse, and I don't know what to do. The vet also told me that there are no good allergy testing for horses yet. If you have any suggestions, it would be appreciated. Thank you.

Melissa, Richmond, MO

Melissa:

This is a common problem that we see each year primarily during the spring and summer months. The primary focus of treatment is an eliminating the offending allergen/agen causing the allergies. However, this is noat as easy as it may seem. Rule out the obvious - insects, feed, drug reactions.. any changes in the horses' environment... If you cannot find out what the offending agent is then there are different steroids/antihistamines to try - both injectible and oral. These may need to be given daily or every few days... consult your veterinarian about this. Find the lowest possible dose that alleviates the syptoms - your vet will help develop a treatment strategy for you and your horse. Allergy testing in horses is commercially available.

Allergies

Our appendix quarter has developed a severe case of dermatitis on his three white socks. We have owned him since Feb. 15th. He lived March thru June in an uncovered stall with no bedding and only water based fly spray used maybe twice a week. Since July he now lives in a partially covered stall with pine shavings and an oil based fly spray used almost daily. The vet says it could be an allergic reaction to the sun, or something in the hay, (alfalfa three times a day) or the soil. I feel that the two major changes of shavings and fly spray might be the culprits. We have stopped using fly spray and we will be removing the shavings tonight. Our questio is what wood shavings or other type of bedding can we use that he might not be allergic to . I have read on the internet about pine and black walnet and they say they can cause problems. Do you have any suggestions as to what type of shavings or bedding might be ok to use? I was told when I bought him that he was allergic to citronella.

Vickie, Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Vickie:

I have seen a number of cases identical to what you describe. I have found no correlation with shavings/feed type/insect control... just the fact that severs scabbing occurs on the white legs of these horses. It ususally occures during the summertime and goes away on its own in the fall and winter. In the meantime I try to manage the severe cases with medicated leg bandages completely covering the white areas. Since there are many different formulas for the medication used on these legs it may not be the most important aspect of treatment. Applying medicated bandages to the legs and not allowing the horse out during the day has worked for me. The scabs will soften and fall off after about one week and then the lesions will heal. You may supplement the horse with some Axium (corticosteriod) daily (talk with your vet about this as he will need to be weaned off after a short period of time) to cut down on his allergic reaction.

Behavior

I have a 3 year old filly that is just green broken, she does not like having her ears touched or the inside base of them touched. She doesn't like her mane combed and the person who I bought her from says she has been like this from the beginning. Her mother had a strange neuro problem that looked kind of like narcolepsy. I have an appointment with the vet, but was wondering if there is a neurological reason for this.

Sandy,   Cookeville, TN

Sandy,
There is no neurological condition that I am aware of that would make your horse that sensitive. This may be more behavioral in nature and will require a lot of time with conditional therapy. Be patient. In my experience, as she becomes more broke and advances in her training, more often than not these problems will subside.

Biting/Nipping

I have a 6 year old paint horse that occasionally tries to nip or bite at me. How can I stop this from happening?

T.D. Big Springs, TX

T.D.:

This is most likely a vice that your horse has developed. I see this periodically in my practice when an owner for some reason is reding/exercising their horse less than they used to. Horses like to have a job and work - it is healthy for their minds and bodies. Sometimes the weather, injury, stall confinement...can induce this behavior too. If you are not able to exercise your horse more at this time you might consider taking him a professional trainer to be ridden for awhile.

Cardiac

I have an 18 year old Welsh section CX who keeps falling over. AT first I thought it was when we were going down hill, buth then she did it on the flat. She falls over in fields so its not just roads and she doesn't seem to stubmle she just collapses then gets up again. Its only occasionally some days she'll fall over 3 times, then she doesn't do it for a few weeks. I've had her over a year and she didn't do it in the winter so I thought it was the heat then she did it yesterday and it was quite cold. She stopped coughed then her knees gave way. I don't know what else it can be. She has been tested for a lot of things, and all have come back negative. She loves life and jumps and cx, she only falls over when walking. Do you have any ideas.

Lizzie, Saltash

Lizzie:

I would strongly recommend that you have your vet do an electrocardiogram on her. I he/she does not have the capability to do this then I would suggest that you refer your horse to a veterinary cardiologist. There are many cardiac abnormalities that mught cause an acute drop in blood pressure and subsequent fainting. This can be very dangerous to horse and rider. You mention that other tests have been done. What are they and what are the results? Good luck!

Collic

Can colic result from wind sucking?

Gigi, Canada

Gigi:

Yes it can for many reasons. Try to eliminate it with a humane cribbing collar.

Cribbing

Dear Dr. Pankau,
How can I keep my pony from cribbing on the wood fence? I have tried bitter apples, she likes it. I am a new 4-H member and love my pony very much. Thank you very much for your time and I hope you can help me.

Muriah, 12 years old

Muriah,
Cribbing is considered a vice and can threaten your horse's health. There are several things you might try to minimize or eliminate cribbing.
1. Move your pony to a large pasture or pen.
2. Put your pony in with another horse in a large pasture or pen (keeps him company)
3. Exercise your pony more so he is less bored.
4. Apply creosote or similar products to the fence if available in your state.
5. Replace wood fencing with pipe fencing
6. String new wire above the fence boards to prevent access.
7. String a hot wire (electric) over the fence area in question.
Hope this helps and good luck.

Cribbing

I have a thoroughbred that is having cribbing problems, he is under weight and hen a saddle is put on and the girth is tightened the horse puts his ears back and tries to take a bite. He takes a bridle well. I groom my horse often, and I'm sure that there is nothing under the skin irritating him. Is there anything else it could be?

Kathleen,   Lake Charles, LA

Kathleen,
Based on my experience, I would classify this as a behavioral problem until proven otherwise and get a professional trainer to examine the horse. You may have to leave the horse with the trainer for a while though. If the horse still exhibits the problem then I would have the veterinarian do a thorough physical exam on him. Cribbers can be temperamental at times so I would apply one of those miracle collars so he can gain some weight.

De-Worming

Is there any easier way to de-worm a horse, or a way to calm them down?  I have a 17Hn gelding that won’t let me worm him; he just drags me around.  What can I do?

Stacy

Stacy,

There are many oral wormers that you can place in the feed (i.e. a really nice bran mash – wet with chopped carrots… or sweet feed) such as Panacur, Strongid or Invermectin.  There is a compounded, powdered form of Acepromazine that is available from your veterinarian that can be mixed in the feed as well.  Most medications are available in oral form now.

Frog

My horses hooves dip down ½” to 1” from the edge, like someone’s scooped out his hoof with a spoon, and his frog is falling off. I thought it was normal twice a year, until only a part of it fell off and the other part has not fallen off for several weeks. I know his hooves need to be trimmed, but is this a serious problem?

Megan,   West Salem, OR

Megan,
It is normal for the frog to slough periodically so I would not worry too much about this. You can remove the dead and sloughing frog as needed because new healthy frog will replace it. If I understand the “hooves dipping down” part of your question I am assuming that you are speaking of the hoof angle form the coronet down as viewed from the side of the horse. If that is the case then the horse has a tendency to be mule footed or club footed depending on the steepness of the angle. Proper hoof care and not letting the interval between corrective trimming go beyond 6 weeks (sooner in some cases) will prevent the toe form chipping off and the angle becoming steeper. Consult your farrier on this as he will be able to determine what interval your horse needs to be shod or trimmed and whether shoes might help him for a while.

Frog

I have a 4- year old horse that stepped on a nail in the frog area of the hoof.  It has been a week since this happened.  The hoof is now infected with puss coming out.  He was given a tet. Shot with 10cc of penicillin g.  The area was also cleaned with iodine.  Do you suggest anything else being done?  How long do you think it will take to heal up?

Greg, TX

Greg,

This can be a very serious career ending injury and needs to be evaluated clinically and radiographically by an equine veterinarian.  The navicular bursa and deep digital flexor tendon are very vulnerable to infection and injury as a result of a nail penetration in this area.  The horse should be on 30cc Pen G 2x / day IM and 30cc Gentocin SID IM if this is a 1100# horse.  He should have the area opened so as to establish good drainage and soak his foot in a warm Epsom salts footbath with a touch of Betadine in it… Anti-Inflammatory (i.e. Bute) 2x / day.  Tetanus shot too.  Call your vet on this one as an emergency.

Frog

What are the causes of an atrophied frog? What medicinal products are used to either prevent, correct, or treat this? My new farrier said both of my horses have atrophied frogs and to apply a product call REDUCER twice weekly. Is this correct? Neither horse is lame. We just moved from the North down to Virginia. The horses were stalled mostly during the winter and gained a considerable amount of weight. I am trying to figure out how their feet ended up that way and what I can do to prevent this getting worse. Thank you for any help you can give.

Colleen, Rochelle, VA

Colleen:

Atrophied frogs in my experience are due to narrow heels and long hooves. I believe the product you refer to is Reducine which in years past was applied to the coronet band as a mild irritant which would increase hoof growth. I really do not know if it made a difference but it was popular in the 70's and 80's to use it. I would lower the heels and thin out the bars to the point the heels can expand. Once they expand the frog will have a better chance to grow out. In the meantime you will need to remove all the dead frog.

Girth Rub

A horse I bought this summer had a small sore on his belly, when I bought it I was told that it was girth rub.  After three months it still hasn't gotten better, and I haven’t even ridden the horse wit a saddle because I didn't want to make it worse.  It isn't infected, but it does look a little crusty.  What do you think I should put on it?

Maria, CA

Maria,

It is not uncommon for horses to have a little raw or roughened spots on their bellies during the summer months.  Flies with irritate this area and may be the source of “dryland distemper” (pigeon fever, corynebacterium abscesses…) so I recommend the you put Zinc Oxide on these areas thereby acting as a physical barrier to the flies… during the summer months.  They will usually resolve themselves during the winter months.

Hair Loss

My horse has very thin hair, and is starting to lose it towards the middle of his neck.  There is no sign of fungus or any bacteria.  Could it be from the chafing of a blanket?  Is there a remedy that can be used to make it grow back in?

Julie, PA

Julie,

Usually, the horse is rubbing the mane if it is losing hair in the middle of the neck.  He might be placing his head through a fence or under a tree branch and rubbing it.  Look for allergies of some sort, i.e.…biting insects…. and treat for that.

Hair Loss

I have a 5yr old Paint. I have noticed within the last month that he has what looks to be rub marks on both sides of his cheeks and a line mark on both sides that sit just above his cheek bones (they all are in the same spots). There is hair loss on both sides liek he has rubbed and it is somewhat dry. Do you know why all the sudden he is doing this. What may be causing it and a medication to use to heal it. He was recently moved into a different area with another gelding, but has since been moved back. Possibly stress? Any clues would be great.

Chris, Kent, WA

Chris:

It sounds like the horse is rubbing his head and the fact that it is on both sides could mean that he has an insect allergy or that there might be an onchocerca (worm) problem. Try using some approved fly wipes for his head. Keep him in a stall with a fan on at night as this is when insects do their feeding on your horse. Turn him out during the day. Us a fly sheet at all times if he is really allergic. You might want to talk to your veterinarian about administering some anti-inflammatories or antihistamines to your horse to give him some immediate relief. Also consider moving him to another area if the problem persists.

Hair Loss

I went to see my horse yesterday and noticed that he has spots only on one side of his body, and his face and mane has lost hair. He seems aggravated with it and is constantly trying to turn and bite at it. What could this be from?

Judy, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Judy:

Can you describe the spots? If they are hives or bumps in the skin then I would think he is reacting to something (allergic reaction) either internally or externally. It might have been an insect or spider bite. It many be some sort of contact irritant too. I would recommend that you have your veterinarian examine your horse before he aggravates the problem by biting the area.

Hair Loss

My horse has a skin fungus. His skin is flaky and hair is falling out in spots. How do I treat it?

Davina, Duncan, OK

Davina:

It sounds like a fungus from your description but there are other possibilityes. I treat skin generalized skin fungus infectiosn with many antifungal/antibacterial shampoos on the market. Make sure you remove all the scabs and if need be body clip the horse. Fungi love dampness and darkness and this is why they make their own scabs. It is necessary to remove all the scabs and allow exposrue to the sun. For severe infections you might have your horse intubated with DMS and Fulvicin (Schering) or feed it daily in the feed. I have made solutions of the above for spot treatment as well.

Hives

I have just started using Cost-So-Soft and my horse’s hives cleared up in 5 days, after 3 months with the problem. I am hoping you can advise me on how to clear up the scratches that began this spring. Per the vet’s instruction and some research from the Horse Journal I have gotten it under control but it just wont go away. Daily I have to loosen the scabs, then an iodine soap soak for 10 minutes rinsing completely drying the legs then applying spray liquid Lotrimin from the drugstore. From reading about this condition I understand that wetness worsens the problem, but I have to cold hose his arthritic hocks following exercise as well as hosing him just to cool down. Our weather has been very hot and humid. Can you suggest something that will end this cycle?

Elizabeth,   Novelty, OH

Elizabeth,
Scratches or Equine Pastern Dermatitis has many predisposing factors that need to be discussed before appropriate treatment can begin. There are Genetic (photoactivated dermatitis on the white areas of the legs, feather on pasterns…), Environmental (climate, moisture, sand, stall moisture), Iatrogenic (topical irritants applied, training devices, poor grooming practices). Primary factors may include type of shavings used in the stall, contact allergies, Immune medicated causes (photosensitization, vacuities i.e. purpura hemorrhagica, pemphigus complex), Infectious causes (fungal infections…), Parasitic causes (mange), Neoplastic causes (sarcoids). There are many perpetuating factors that need to be considered as well as bacterial infections (staph), pathologic skin changes such as trauma, insect bites and environmental changes as clod and UV light exposure.
As you can see it can be a rather complex disease. Treatment involves identification of the factors above and in general avoiding water… stalling during wet weather, use of alternate sources for bedding, clipping off excess hair, use of anti microbial shampoos, such as benzoyl peroxides twice daily for 10 days and then tapering. Topical treatment with a DMSO/ Thiabendazole/ Sulfa ointment might be helpful. The treatment list is extensive but depends on a proper diagnosis. I hope this helps you get started.

Hock Problems

I have a Thor. gelding 12yrs old and about eight weeks ago he fell and scraped the left scapula and his whither on a stall latch. He was never lame before this accident and I have been giving him time off but it doesn't seem to be getting better. Last week I rode my horse for the vet, he was bucking and not trotting with his head down to show his front injury, all the vet said was that he thought it was his back left hock and if he didn't get back into shape he would give him an injection. I also had the farrier out to do his feet and he said his left hock was stiffer than the right one. Well this week I was trying to get him to trot and he's acting like he is in pain. He didn't even want to canter out, which is not normal. I gave him Bute the first few days and he hasn't had any stall rest. Please let me know if you think I should have the vet out again or if there is anything else I should be looking at.”

Kelly,   Windsor, CT

Kelly,
I would suggest that you exercise your horse daily for 7 days with or with out Bute if needed so your veterinarian can get a good look at him. The scapula/wither injury does not sound as if it is causing him problems if your farrier and veterinarian feel he is off behind. However, look at him directly from the front to see if he has less muscling over the left scapula (any muscle atrophy) and have someone walk him directly to you to see if his left shoulder is dropping any. If so he may have a condition called "Sweeney". If he is sore behind it is not uncommon for him to have a sore back secondary to the hock problem. Clear the hock problem up and then re-look at the back.

Hooves

My horse’s hooves were dry and brittle recently, so I bought a bottle of Hoof Fix.  It worked for the last four weeks and his hoof walls are healthy now, and the cracks up the coronet band are growing out, but my farrier just told me that under the hoof wall his sole is “soft and sloppy”.  Recently I noticed the cracks are starting to reopen.  What would cause his hooves to change this much in the last four weeks?  What would you recommend doing to harden his hoof walls and sole?  How often should I treat the hooves?

Michelle, TX

Michelle,

I am not familiar with Hoof Fix.  Actual hoof strength and quality starts at the coronet band.  Factors that come into play are diet, ground conditions, moisture contents in the soil, shoeing… It sounds like this horse is housed in damp or wet conditions (stall, pasture, mud…) He needs to be kept in a dry environment, shod to keep his sole surface level so the cracks can grow out evenly (can even give them some relief if he is shod).  Hoof Stix or Hoof Manicure can be applied topically.  Feed him a supplement containing Biotin, sulfur containing amino acids, Zinc and Manganese.

Hooves

I have a 2.5 year old mare and just recently her hooves started looking weird. Between her hoof and hairline there is this weird skin. I am not usre what it is. It is kind of soft but kins of hard and it goies for probably half an inch and then her hoof starts. Any advice you could give me and soon would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Atheena, Moberly, MO

Atheena,

It sounds like you are describing the periople area of the corium. It can be hard, soft and anywhere in between in my experience. This band you describe reflects the degree of hoof growth and the moisture content of the ground on which the horse stands. This should not be associated with any pain or lamenss.

Hooves

My horse died two years ago. Three days before he died I had him shawed by a new guy. He cut my horses from hoof to short, but there was ne bleeding. I get home and find a note left by the farrier saying his hind hoof had an old abscess and htat he put a pad on it. Cracker had no abscess. Three days later my horse is down. The same hind leg was so swollen with no visible injuries. He died before the Vet made it out. Do you think the farrier cut his hoof to short and covered it up by using a pad causing an infection that could not drain? I saw my horse the day after he was shawed, I could tell his feet were sore but he always seemed to have sore hooves after being shawed. The infection was so bad the swelling went right up to his rump.

Jamie, Valley Springs, CA

Jamie:

It sounds like your horse had an overwhelming infection. It would be hard for me to say what caused the infection at this point but it sounds like it might have been a Clostridial (type of organism) infection to spread that rapidly. They can spread very rapidly and horses with these types of infections have a guarded prognosis for recovery.

Hooves

My horse stepped on an insulator with a nail that goes throught the center of it. The insulator was wedged into the back of her foot with the nail just puncturing the hoof. I removed it and there was no blood or drainage of any sort. I have been soaking it in Epsom salts everday and packing it with Ichthamol, covering it with cottom and a bandage. She had it break on the back of her heal where the insulator was pressed against. I have been flushing it with hyrogen peroxide. It seems to go in this hole and out the one in the bottom. She did go lame. Am I treating this the right way? What else can I do for it. I hvae contacted the Vet when it happened, he gave her a tetanus shot and some Penicillin. Its like she had gravel also, and it broke at the heal. The nail didn't go into her foot more than 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch. Thank you for your time.

Heidi, Johnsburg, NY

Heidi:

These kinds of punctures can be a cause for concern if the lameness persists. It sounds like you have done everything I would have done. However, I would recommend that you keep her on Pen G for 5 days (25cc 2X/day in the muscle) and then switch to SMZ-TMP (potential sulfas - your vet can help you with the dosages) for an additional period of time depending on if she is still lame. It is normal for the infection to drain and the heel is the softest and most immediate area to relieve the infection. However, if the lameness persists then I would recommend x-rays of the foot to see if the infection is in the bone or any supporting structures. If that is the case then surgery will be required to remove the source of infection. Remember that is the next step if the lameness persists.

Insects

I have an 18 year-old mare, and she is rubbing her belly on the ground. All I see is gnats around her. I have sprayed her and put Vaseline on her girth area and utters. Bugs have now eaten her hair off. Please, I need some help!

Barbara,   Deer Park, WA

Barbara,
How are the bugs getting through the Vaseline? I would suggest keeping her in a dry lot and off pasture. Keep her in an insect proof stall at night, and keep fans on in the stall to deter the insects. You can also use flysheets. If her health is good and you have tried all the usual methods of insect deterrents to no avail, I would start her on Azuim Powder (steroid), or give her a long acting shot of Vetalog (steroid).

Insects

I have a quarter horse that is “bothered to death” with blood sucking gnats in his ears.  Fly away has been tried, as well as a number of other products, but they only work for a day or so.  Is there any solution that you know of that will help?  Do you know of any alternative solutions instead of spray; may be a wipe or something? 

Paula, TN

Paula,

I believe I have seen some fly masks that are made commercially that incorporate netting that covers the ears for instances like this.  You might try Vitamin E cream or ointment, which will act as a physical barrier as well- flies don’t like landing on something real sticky.  Panalog, which is a prescription item from your veterinarian, will heal the lesions in the ears as well as act like an anti- inflammatory.

Lameness

I have a 15 year old gelding, quarter horse, palomino, that is lame in the front legs, which the vet did a nerve block. It will be x-rayed to confirm if it is a navucular issue. If that is what it is what therapy do you suggest? Are there any more resources for more information on this? Thenk you for your help.

Star, Los Angeles, CA

Star:

There are numerous resources on the internet to gain information on Navicular Disease. You might try myhorsematters.com which is sponsored by the AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners) or just do a google search on navicular disease. There are many theories on the treatment of navicular disease and many different options depending on the severity of the disease.

The simplest and usually the first treatment is to elevate the heel and roll the shoe in front encouraging break over. Ask your farrier about this as there are many shoes available on the market that will accomplilsh this goal. Your veterinarian might prescribe Isoxuprine which is a blood thinner. He may recommend shock wave therapy or in severe cases nerving. There are many over the counter products (feed additives) that claim that they help navicular horses too. Each veterinarian will have recommendations based on the severity of the disease.

Lameness

I recently purchased a horse that was on its way to the slaughter house. He is a big, beautiful Thoroughbred, 18 yrs old and about 16 plus hands. He was very thin and in poor health, but in the short time I have had him he has improved in health and doing much better. I recently had his hooves trimmed, they were in very bad shape and ing need of a good trim. The farrier said that the coronet band seems to be disturbed due to the long amount of time the previous owner didn't shoe or trim him. The farrier said in time hee will out grow this. Recently he has started to limp on his front legs. What should I do? Is there any product you recommend? Should I bute him? If you can help I would really appreciate it. Thank you for your time.

Denise, West Jordan, UT

Denise:

I am not sure what "disturbed coronet bands" are? Can you elaborate? If he was sound before you trimmed him and not sound now I would recommend shoeing him in order to get his soles up off the ground. Bute for a few days is a good idea as well. Check the pulse in his feet to see if they are inflamed. If so he might have a touch of laminitis. If the above fails contact your veterinarian to eleminate other causes of lameness and to institute sppropriate treatment.

Mane

I have a 5- year old Palomino.  He recently started scratching his mane with his hoof until it was down to bare skin.  He seems to get mad when I am trying to look and the raw skin.  Is there anything that can be done, or is there any reason that this is happening?

Jessica

Jessica,

I would look for some sort of insect hypersensitivity that is making the horse itch.  If the horse scratches the wound to the point of bleeding… then it is very difficult to heal without treating the affected area as this will attract insects on its own.  As a result you will need to treat the horse both systematically and topically to affect any sort of control.

Mane

Dear Dr. Pankau,
I was hoping you could answer a question I have about my horse's mane. Both his mane and tail have always been very long and full, but just this year, his mane has gotten thin and very short. His tail is the same as ever. I have seen him rubbing his neck against trees in pasture before, and I think he might have rubbed it all off. What is the cause of this, and how can I get his mane to grow back?
Thank You,

Anna

Anna,
It sounds like your horse has a hypersensitivity reaction to biting insects. You need to keep him from itching and then the mane will grow back. This will take some time. As you approach the winter it will not be so much a problem for you. I would do the following:
1. Bathe him with oatmeal based shampoo.
2. Use some of the Freedom fly repellent on him weekly. You may have to spray him as well.
3. Keep him off pasture at night (this is when the mosquitoes...feed) - stall at night.
4. Clean up the manure
5. If this does not help then I would consult your vet about giving him a Vetalog injection (steroid) to cut down the horse's reaction to biting insects.
6. Make sure the areas that he has rubbed are kept clean and you apply some sort of soothing lotion to keep the flies off.

Overweight

I just started doing the green pony hunters on my large pony mare at the "A" rated shows. She's pretty fat and even though my trainer put her on a diet, she isn't losing any weight. Some people say the judges like chunky ponies but I was jsut wondering what your opinion is?

Unknown

Unknown:

Fat Ponies spell trouble from a heatlh standpoint. What does her diet consist of and how much of it are you feeding? How much exercise is she getting? Reducing her caloric intake and increasing her exercise regimen are the best ways to pull the fat off of otherwise healthy ponies. However, there are conditions such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome, Pre cushingold sydrome, Hypothyroidism...that can make it more difficult to reduce your pony's weight. If you try cutting the groceries and increasing the exercise and are still not having any luck then ask your veterinarian to check for the above conditions.

Saddle Rubbing

After riding a horse for about an hour it was noticed that everywhere the saddle touched, the horse was rubbed down to the skin. The owner says she barely pulls on the hair and it comes out all the way down to the skin. She says the saddle was not to tight, or anything like that, and nothing she knows of could have irritated him like that. If there is anything you know of that could help she would appreciate it.

I really cannot say anything about this case and cannot imagine what is occurring from your description of the problem. As usual, we need much more information before a tentative diagnosis can be made. If your regular equine veterinarian cannout figure it out, I would recommend a skin biopsy and a consult with a veterinary dermatologist.

Scabs

I noticed a rough feeling under the hair on parts of my horse last week.  It feels like a “prickly heat” when I rub on it.  Do you have any ideas what this is, or what I can do?

Rose, AL

Rose,

I really have no idea how to treat this without a good physical description and history (diagnosis).  I would be shooting in the dark without more information.  You might try bathing the horse to remove any scabs that have formed and get a closer look.

Setting Mares

My outside mare isn't getting settled. She has a good heat cycle, she comes in every 21 days, accepts stallions even on her very last day of heat. But 21 days later she is back in heat. We have bred 10 mares this year and the stallion has settled all of them except for this mare. She is 12 years old and has never had a baby. I bred her twice, 2 heat cycles, once in May and once in June and still 21 days later she came in. She was in 7 days in May and 5 days in June. Here conformation back there is perfect. Any help you can give would be appreciated.

Valerie,   Newville, AL

Valerie,
Have you cultured her? Is her vulva sutured? Have you palpated her to see if she develops a good follicle and that the ovaries are normal size? Have you checked to make sure her cervix is competent? If all of the above is done then I would try post-ovulation uterine treatments for two days followed by Regumate orally until ultrasounding her at 16 days post ovulation.

Setting Mares

I have a 5 year old Quarter Horxe X Thoroughbred mare. I recently bred to a Paint Show stud, about 39 days ago. I am no t sure if she is bred or not. I rode her down the road where the stud lives, and she started showing signs of being in heat. This was her first breeding. My question is, how do I know if she is bred or not?

Darcy, Springtown, TX

Darcy:

Have your veterinarian palpate your mare. He will be able to tell you if she is in foal at 39 days.

Sheared Heel

My horse was just diagnosed with a sheared heel on his right front hoof.  What would your recommendations for a proper treatment of this condition?

Becky, TX

Becky,

I would recommend that a corrective shoe be placed on the foot.  First balance the front foot to back and side to side, set the shoe back a little so it stands the horse up more (a steeper angle) and then apply a bar shoe for a couple of shoeings.  The bar shoe will make the heels work together instead of independently.

Showing Heat

I need help getting cows to show heat.  Even when we use Lutalyce we don’t see any sing of heat, what can I do?

Daphne

Daphne,

I am assuming that the cows are in good flesh, are on a flushing diet (gaining weight), and a good worming and vaccination program.  If the cows are not healthy they won’t cycle.  If they are pregnant they won’t cycle either… You might try some gonadotrophin-stimulating hormone (GNRH or GSH) which will help with the development of follicles.  Do you have a method of detecting heat i.e… a marking bull? Next use the Prostaglandin and repeat in 10 days.

Sweeny

I have a 2004 colt that has a sweeny shoulder. He kind of limps when it is cold out. The vet said it happened at some point in the womb. I really don't know anything about it and would like any advise on it if you could. Thank you for any help!

Sweeny is a neuromuscular disorder caused by injury to the suprascapular nerve at the level of the shoulder blade. This causes shrinkage (atrophy) of the supraspinatus muscle (upper shoulder blade muscle) thereby making it more difficult to advance the affected leg on that side as compared to the opposite leg. It is usually caused by direct trauma to the nerve or from pressure to the nerve. It should not be painful but more of a mechanical lameness. If you think there is pain involved then it might be worth having an x-ray taken of the shoulder area to see if there is some deeper trauma i.e. to the shoulder joint...

If diagnosed quickly and treated with anti-inflammatory drugs there is a chance that it will improve. However, some cases, depite treatment initially never get better. If he is not better after 3 months from the date of the injury then the chance of him recovering is poor. Hope this helps.

Tail Fungus

My horse’s tail just keeps getting shorter and shorter.  I think she rubs it against the fence or something.  I am worried she will lose her whole tail.  Do you have any advice or procedures I need to take so she will have a long healthy tail?

Shannon, NM

Shannon,

There are many reasons that a horse will rub its tail- worms, infection (bacterial/ fungal), and allergies… I would suggest that you shampoo the tail with an antifungal shampoo, try Equine Shampoo and get it very clean.  Braid what is left.  Apply a tail bag.  Your local pleasure horse trainer can help you with this.  You may need to talk with your veterinarian to see if your horse needs to be placed on cortisone or antihistamines to keep the inflammation down and keep her form itching it.  Worm your horse.  Open wound on the tail attract different insects so you will need to keep them away as they will aggravate the situation.  It is basically a shotgun approach and it might help.  If this seems too much of a tackle for you consult your local veterinarian.

Thoroughpins

My 14yr old gelding’s previous owners were neglectful and over worked him. He has something in his back leg that looks like windpuffs. The owner’s farrier called them Thoroughpins. They are fluid bumps in the hollows of his hocks on the outside of the leg just above the joint. They aren't sore to the touch, and there is no heat. One side is bigger than the other, and my horse has a full range of motion in both legs and doesn't seem to catch or anything like that. Can you give me any ideas of what this is and how to treat it?

Elsie,   Franklin, ME

Elsie,
From your description they sound like thoroughpins, which are swellings of the flexor tendon sheaths above the hock. They are for the most part non-painful and do not cause lameness. In acute cases they may be drained and injected followed by rest. In the more chronic cases this does not appear to have the consistent good results. Regardless, if they are chronic and the horse is sound then I would continue using him and just note if they become acutely inflamed.

Thrush

What would you do to cure a very bad thrush problem?

Denise, CA

Denise,

Make sure the horse is shod or trimmed properly.  Clean out the frog sulcus thoroughly and extend it all the way through the heel area so it drains properly.  Place the horse in a dry corral or stall.  Apply tincture of iodine (after cleaning out the sulcus thoroughly) for a week.  Then try Hoof Stix and Hoof Manicure to help maintain a healthy hoof.

Trailering

I have a horse that has a problem trailering himself.  If he is with another horse then he does great, but when he has to go by himself he paws and cries out.  My horse is herd bound to any horse that comes his way.  He also has problems getting out by himself.  What should I do?

Carol, WA

Carol,

I suggest taking the dividers out of the trailer (or at least tie them over) and allow the horse more room when trailering.  Some will quiet down if they are allowed to face backwards (like the polo people tie in trailers).  Stock trailers work best for hauling.  You just have to experiment with different trailering options but usually more room helps.  You should keep this horse separate from other horses on the farm so she doesn't have to go through the “weaning” process every time she trailers

Trailering

I have a beautiful Dutch warmblood that I rescued last year and gave to a friend. She did not keep him very long, now I have him back. Anyway, when I take him in the trailer with my other horse, I would hear loud noises like stomping and slipping. At first I thought Dtuch was being a pain, until I rode in the back of the trailer with him. This 17 hand horse is falling down part way in a straight load trailer. Dutch is tearing up his rump about 4 inches from the top of his tail. Both horses go out to our weekend house every weekend. Would a sling be possible? I need help A.S.A.P. please.

Gina, Yorba Linda, CA

Gina:

Some horses are not used to being hauled in a straight trailer. I have found that these horses need to stand at an angle and not have a divider in the trailer. I think they need to be able to see behind them. You have a large horse so I would recommend that you remove the divider and tie him at ana angle or tie him backward if necessary. I have found that given the room to turn a little they will not scramble in the trailer.

Training

My Morab mare is having problems slowing down after loping, and I wasn't sure if you would have any tips.

Cheri,   Burlington, WI

Cheri,
This is most likely not a medical problem but a training problem. Find a trainer that you feel comfortable with and leave the horse there for a time so they can evaluate him.

Vision

I am getting ready to purchase a horse and had a pre-evaluation done.  It showed “small lens opacity” in the upper part of both eyes.  The horse does not seem to have any visual problems in terms of performance, but I am worried about progression. Should I have further tests done?  The x-rays also showed a “slight enlargement of both front navicular bones and vascular change”.  Do you think the x-ray finding warrant further evaluation of the horse?  The vet did not seem to think that any of this was cause for alarm.

Connie, CA

Connie,

I would have the purchaser or your veterinarian try to get more history on the lens opacities.  The horse is fairly young to have recurrent uveitis (moon blindness) which will have lens opacities as a residual effect in some horses.  If this is the case then this may be progressive in nature- not good.  You may have a board certified ophthalmologist look at the eyes to see if there are any more findings consistent with this disease.  Since they are bilateral then they may have been congenital.  Hard to say.  The navicular findings are subjective.  They would have to be interpreted with the size of the horse, work intended, shape, size and conformation of the foot, previous x-rays, any history of previous lameness in mind… before a recommendation could be made.

Vision

Dear Dr. Pankau,
Good Morning. Is there a nutrition supplement that will reduce the progression of cataracts in my 7-yr old pony? They are very small and do not interfere with vision at this point.

Robin

Robin,
There are many causes of cataracts in horses. Some are congenital, some are inherited, some are traumatic, some are associated with uveitis (moon blindness). Treatment would depend on the cause (surgical or medical management) but In general I would suggest that you try some aspirin daily in the feed (30-60 grams) to help reduce any inflammation in the eye. Keep your pony on a good worming program that would include the use of an ivermectin wormer. This class of wormer will kill a worm called Onchocerca which has been implicated in moon blindness which can lead to cataracts. There are some neutriceuticals (feeds or feed additives like arabinogalactins) that claim to have anti-inflammatory properties as well.
I hope this helps.

Vision

Please can you help, I'm hoping to buy a horse who has just been vetted and found that he might have a condition called stella? cataracts, he has to get a 2nd opinion but I really want to know how this will affect him, I've heard its a frosted vision? Will this limit him to do things? He has just started to do some shows and is well in himself, he also has a misshapen pastern bone. Any infor would be great and your opinion, should I buy this horse?

I have never heard of the term "stella" so this needs to beclarified. Cataracts of the other hand are "opacifications or instability of the lens" and are common sequella to inflammatory eye conditions. The most common cause of cataracts is "mmon blindness" or recurrent iridocuclitis. However, they can result from blunt trauma to the eye. They can be surgically removed if glaucoma is a problem but the prognosis for full recovery is guarded. So before you buy him, find out why he has cataracts, if they are in one eye or both, how long they have been there and are they getting more opaque. I would need more info on the "misshapen pastern bone."

Weight Loss

I have a 15-year old gelding, who has lost a lot of weight.  His coat is good and his eating habits are normal (hay and grain plus mineral supplements).  The vet took blood samples and fecal samples, no worms and no indication of liver or kidney problems.  Is there anything else that I should be looking for?  I am in the process of getting a urine sample.

Shaunna

Shaunna,

I have seen a number of horses with this history.  Assuming all the testing procedures and lab work come back normal, I would check the horse’s teeth.  Have a thorough dental examination done by a veterinarian or equine dentist.  Just a feel of the front molars is not sufficient.  You will need to have a veterinarian or veterinary dentist come out, flush the horse’s mouth out, apply a good mouth speculum and visualize the last molar (back of the mouth) with a strong light source.  Normal teeth floating may miss this problem.  Horse’s teeth continue to grow throughout their life.  If there is a hook on the first molar then there will be a spike on the last molar.  This molar spike will continue to grow and cause pain resulting in slower eating and weight loss.  Treatment is to cut or grind the spike off.   Your horse will regain his weight in dramatic fashion over the ensuing months.

Weight Loss

I have a 5 year-old gelding that has lost a lot of weight this past winter, and nothing I do seems to help. I've tried worming him, protein and mineral supplements, and high protein hay. His eating habits haven’t really changed any, and now he has dandruff really bad and is scratching a lot. Any advice that you cold give me would rally be appreciated. Thanks a lot.

Mike,   Idaho Falls, ID

Mike,
Start with a general physical and history. Next I would recommend a thorough floating on his teeth as there could be some large hooks on the back molars. You might request a complete blood workup as there maybe an underlying infectious cause.

Weight Loss

I had a horse wander into my yard a few days ago. He is very thin ( I can see his ribs well and his hipbones are very prominent). I contacted his owner and they have not come to get him. What can I do about his condition and care and what do I ened to buy for basic care? He is not fit to be ridden at this point. He is a stallion 4-5 years old. What process would I need to go through to get ownership of this horse? What is the best feeding for him? Thank you for any information you can give me and for your time.

Danielle, Reynolds, MO

Danielle:

It sounds like his body score is about 2 or 3 (see body scoring on the internet for starving animals) in which case you should satrt by feeding alfalfa hay and forage/oat hay. Assuming he eats this he will gain weight. If he does not eat or does not gain weight he may have soem toher problem such as parasites (worms) or he may need his teeth floated. Basically I would keep the food in front of him for a couple of weeks and if he improves then worm him and have his teeth floated. Once he is stable, I would recommend castration if he is not to be used for breeding.

As for the legal question I would recommend you contact your local sheriff department. They should be able to fill you in on the abandoned animal law.

Windpuffs

I have a 13-year old QH that has acted lame two times this month, but for only one day at a time.  A raised hard lump was found on the fetlock joint on the horse’s front leg.  I presume it’s a Windpuff of some kind.  What can I do to treat a Windpuff?  Do they go away?  Is there anything I can do to prevent the horse from becoming lame from the Windpuffs?

Heather, CA

Heather,

If he was only lame two times in a month you might not be able to attribute the lameness to the lump.  How old is the lump – soft or hard – painful or not?  When you flex the fetlock in question does he trot off lame?  How old is the horse?  Other joints involved?  Shod or unshod?  Sensitive to hoof testers?  Pulse or heat in the affected foot?  As far as the Windpuffs are concerned, they do not cause lameness by themselves and are purely cosmetic.  Windpuffs are distensions in the flexor tendon sheath just behind the fetlock joint.  They are associated with most types of strenuous work, i.e. performance….  They usually do not go away once they have been there a period of time.  If cosmetics are a concern or if this is a young racehorse, we drain and inject them followed by ice/wraps and rest.  Where is the lump?  Front or back, inside or outside, above or below the fetlock joint?

Windpuffs

My 13yr old gelding has a severe windpuff on both sides of the right front leg. It gets worse and bigger. Bigogel, DSMO, and Thermaflex have been used on it, to no avail. He has good shoes of 50angle. The windpuff is also hot and sore to the touch. What can I do? What could be used for it?

Pem,   Los Osos, CA

Pem,
If the windpuff is hot and sore to flexion it needs to be attended to immediately- especially if it is infected. I have seen fetlock joint and tendon sheath filling called windpuffs. Try to distinguish between the two as it affects diagnosis and prognosis. Is there a history of strenuous exercise or fatigue? Try giving him some Bute orally and applying cold water therapy to the leg. If no improvement have it seen by your veterinarian. He can properly diagnose the “windpuff” and might recommend x-ray or ultrasound to determine the extent of the injury. He then can prescribe anti-inflammatories/ physical therapy and/or needle drainage of the affected area.

Wolf Teeth

I have a 12 year old QH gelding. How do I know if he has his wolf teeth or not? How important is it to have them removed and why?

Donelda

Donelda:

Wolf teeth, if they are present, are located just in front of the first upper cheek teeth on each side. They should be removed if you are using a bit.