Equine Passports - February 2005:

AS OF 28th FEBRUARY 2005 IT IS NOW LAW THAT ALL HORSES, PONIES AND DONKEYS MUST HAVE A PASSPORT INCLUDING "SECTION IX" - DECLARATION BY THE OWNER THAT THE ANIMAL IS OR IS NOT INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.

This Passport must be produced at every examination performed by a vet and when the drugs are dispensed at the surgery. Where a horse is declared to be for human consumption it is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that any drugs administered to this animal are recorded in its Passport.

If the horse does not have a Passport (or if Section IX is not signed it will be assumed that it may be slaughtered for human consumption and a list of drugs administered must be kept for each individual horse (and a Passport applied for!)

There are now many drugs which are either banned in horses which are to be slaughtered for human consumption or carry very long withdrawal times (eg: 6 months) and may not be suitable for use in these horses.

If you require any further help or information we have more detailed leaflets available at the surgery or ring and speak with one of the equine vets.

New Strangles Vaccine:

There have been a large number of strangles cases in our area over the past two years - so it is exciting that a new vaccine is being released at the beginning of November.

We haven't had one in this country before.
Before rushing to use it there are several facts you should know:

- The vaccine is about 75% effective and is reported to reduce the symptoms in those horses that do become infected.
- It is a live vaccine injected into the underside of the top lip.
- Horses need 2 doses, 4 weeks apart before they are protected
- Booster vaccines are needed every 3 months for high-risk horses and every 6 months for medium risk
- The vaccine causes local swelling for up to 3 weeks and may cause a slight rise in temperature
- Vaccination is not helpful if an outbreak is present - it needs 2 doses 4 weeks apart to work
- Vaccination is recommended by the manufacturers for:

A. High risk horses - in an area known to have a lot of Strangles in the population, or when your horse is introduced to a large number of horses of unknown source.

B. Medium risk horses - in stables with other horses where there are no new horses introduced on a regular basis or horses travelling to shows and competitions regularly.

It will be interesting to see how useful this vaccine is once a number of horses have been vaccinated.

For Further Information On Equine Passports

From the end of December 2003 all horses and ponies must have a DEFRA-approved passport obtained from one of over 50 passport issuing organisations.

These will contain a page saying whether the animal will ever be used for meat. If you sign to say that it will never do so this cannot subsequently be changed.

If you do not wish to sign this statement, you must record every medication that the horse has during its lifetime. Some medicines cannot be used on horses intended for food production and, unless the disclaimer has been signed, we will have to treat every animal as if it is intended for food.

Similarly, if you do not have a passport we must assume that the horse may go for meat and only use a restricted list of approved drugs.

You must consider the financial, as well as any ethical, implications and decide whether you wish to sign or not.

If you are a member of the BHS or a Breed Society, NPS etc please ask about updating your passport. If not, you can obtain a passport application form and identity chart from the British Horse Society, one of the other agencies or from our surgery in Barnard Castle.

You will be sent an application form with an equine identity chart, which you should fill in very accurately. Some forms may need to be completed by a vet.

The charges for an approved passport vary from one organisation to another. For example, the BHS charge £22 per horse for members and £27 per horse for non-members. The Horse Passport Agency charges £14 per horse.

Information On Equine Backs

David Peat has had a special interest in the assessment and treatment of Back Problems in horses for more than 10 years and is happy to see horses from outside the Practice, providing that they are referred via the owner's own vet.

A typical consultation consists of:
- a discussion of the horse's history and the reasons why a problem is suspected by the owner
- an assessment of the horse's action in hand and/or under saddle and at different paces
- a visual assessment of posture, hoof alignment, muscle wastage etc
- a manual assessment of the sensitivity along the horse's back and, where appropriate
- the use of manipulative techniques to alleviate painful problems

Great emphasis is put on an overall clinical examination, especially as in many cases back pain is associated with other problems elsewhere. For example, a low-grade lameness, an ill-fitting or damaged saddle or unsuitable training techniques.

Where appropriate, Castle Vets will carry out further investigations or the horse will be referred back to the ‘home' vet with recommendations based on our findings.

Brood Mare Scheme:

The scheme for 2006 will cover all routine gynaecological procedures to achieve and maintain a pregnancy with the mare carrying a single foal up to 42 days gestation.

It will include:

• Endometrial swabs/smears
• Pre-breeding monitoring of follicles
• Post-covering antibiotic wash out +/- oxytocin Prostaglandin injections
• Caslick operations
• Scanning and re-scanning at approximately 20 and 30 days
• Scanning and squeezing twins
• Chorulon or Receptal to aid ovulation

Owners Responsibilities are:

• Each mare should be protected against Tetanus as a minimum.
• Each mare unless resident at the stud, should arrive with a clean 2004 CEM Certificate for a clitoral swab. 
• To provide the stud manager with an honest previous breeding history.

Not included in the scheme are:

• Regumate 
• Foalings 
• Scheme is to be limited to four consecutive oestrus periods only.
• Emergency and other procedures unrelated to the mare conceiving.
• Foal blood / ID / Identichip 
• Sick Foals 
• Sedative drugs to enable difficult mares to be covered without endangering the stallion.
• Uterine Biopsies (see below).

Mares which will not be acceptable to the scheme will be those over 20 years of age unless they have a foal at foot, and those that have been covered and remained barren for the previous two years. In these cases a satisfactory uterine biopsy at the owners cost may be required before acceptance onto the scheme.

The scheme is available at: Mr A Spalding's Hedgeholme Stud, Tel No. 01325 730209 Contact Hedgeholme - click here

The scheme costs £147 plus VAT (£172.73) for 2006 and must be paid to Castle Veterinary Surgeons before any work will commence.

Equine Dentistry:

Many factors affect the way in which the teeth wear:

1. Horses at pasture usually wear their teeth evenly and have less sharp spikes as grit taken in with the grass helps to wear down the enamel. In contrast, stabled horses do not take in grit and spend less time chewing. This results in less wear on the teeth and very little wear on the enamel leaving sharp spikes on the teeth.

2. Teeth which do not fully meet their opposing tooth have areas with nothing to grind against and so there are areas which continue to grow but are not ground away leaving steps and spikes in the arcade of teeth.

Abnormalities of wear produce abnormal tooth arcades, which results in discomfort in the horses mouth and inability to eat normally.

The horse relies on its teeth to begin preparation of the food it eats in order to get enough nutrition to survive. Consequently changes or abnormalities of the teeth which result in the horse being unable to prepare food adequately before it reaches the gut result in a number of problems:
1. Weight loss or failure to grow and thrive.
2. Colic. The gut is unable to cope with the food presented to it which in turn results in digestive upsets which include impaction or diarrhoea
3. Growth related abnormalities in young horses.

Because of the use of bits and the way in which we ask horses to work we rely on the horse being comfortable in his mouth. Any abnormalities that cause discomfort in the mouth can result in further problems:
1. Poor performance
2. Reluctance to 'work on the bit'
3. Headshaking
4. Rearing
5. Abnormal head carriage
Other clinical signs may also be seen which are associated with primary dental problems -
1. "Quidding" or dribbling feed
2. Feed packing between incisor teeth
3. Large pads of partially chewed feed pack info the space between the cheeks and the teeth causing a ‘hamster-like' appearance. The pads are sometimes found where the horse feeds
4. Swellings particularly on the jawbone, the side of the face and within the associated lymph nodes.
5. Nasal discharge
6. Back and/or neck pain as a result of abnormal head and neck carriage
7. Bleeding from the mouth or gums
8. Swelling in the mouth or gums
9. Bad breath!!

Recently an increase in awareness of equine dental problems has lead to better diagnosis and treatment.

In the USA there are now veterinary surgeons who spend all their time working in horses' mouths! Because of the time that they have spent researching these problems they have come up with new ways to treat problems which before we may not have been able to treat or may not have even recognised.

We are now able to make a great deal of difference to the comfort of horses affected by problems such as wavemouth, stepmouth and shearmouth. Using grinding equipment and more advanced "floats" or "rasps" we are able to improve dental occlusion and so improve mouth comfort. This results in improved weight control and performance.

The system we have adopted at Castle Vets is to perform a complete mouth check on all horses presented for dental checks. A record card will be completed for each animal. Once the mouth has been fully examined the problems and corrective work will be discussed with you and carried out if required.

For the most part the more severely affected mouths are seen in older horses and in some of these cases treatment can be difficult as too much concussion on old teeth can cause loosening and sometimes premature removal of loose teeth.

However, it is nearly always possible to improve the comfort and function of the mouth using motorised grinding tools which are not as concussive as regular rasps. (In some situations other diseases may prevent corrective work being possible e.g. horses with concurrent infection, liver, heart or kidney problems.)

It is also important to assess the mouths of young horses as many problems of abnormal wear begin at times of new teeth eruption, e.g.

1. Sometimes the deciduous ("milk") tooth fails to be pushed out by the permanent tooth causing displacement of the permanent tooth. If this is spotted early enough the deciduous tooth can be removed allowing the permanent tooth to continue erupting unhindered into its normal position.

2. The deciduous molar teeth are pushed out by the permanent teeth erupting beneath them. The deciduous tooth is referred to as a cap as it is pushed out of and above the gum margin. Occasionally the deciduous tooth is retained later than normal, delaying eruption of the permanent tooth. This can cause mismatches in the growth of the opposing teeth and is thought to be a cause of tall teeth and wavemouth.

These retained caps can be removed allowing the permanent molar to erupt normally.

It is therefore extremely important to examine the mouths of horses of all ages from yearling to aged granny! Problems recognised early in life can sometimes be corrected and if not can at least be managed with a minimum of effort.

Most horses will accept a mouth examination including the use of a full mouth speculum (Haussman gag) with very little, if any, stress. However, owing to the extent of the work needed, the use of motorised equipment and the nature of some horses we find we often need to use a mild sedative to make the experience safer and less stressful for the horse.

Please be aware that at present there are no dental technician qualifications, which are recognised by British authorities. Most "equine dentists" therefore have no qualifications and have very 1ittle or no training (a handful of dental technicians have trained for long periods in the USA and are highly skilled. To our knowledge no one in this area has this training.)

Be very careful whom you ask to rasp your horse's teeth - you may be putting his and your own safety at risk. Make sure that a complete examination of your horse's mouth is carried out, small problems missed at routine checks can become big problems later.

Equine Reproduction:

At this time of year, those of you involved in breeding mares, or considering sending your mare to stud will be looking forward to the start of the breeding season. Although the majority of mares undergoing breeding will be Thoroughbred, this information should be essential reading for everyone interested in sending their mare to stud-this season.

THE BARREN MARE -
There are a number of reasons why a mare may not hold after covering. These can be divided into three main groups: stallion problems (not all stallions are fertile); management of the mare and stallion at covering (e.g. a common mistake is covering a mare at the wrong time) and finally mare problems.

Hopefully the stud will have a fertile stallion with good libido and be able to determine when covering is suitable so for this article we will concentrate on what we can do to correct problems with mares opposed to stallion and stud management:

Firstly, if a genuine problem exists with your mare then you need to know what the problem is and then treat accordingly. As part of a package in the investigation of the barren mare, a number of simple tests are performed. First and foremost an internal examination including an ultrasound scan of the uterus (womb) and ovaries is carried out. This can show if the mare’s ovaries are functioning (i.e. producing eggs) and the scan can also detect the presence of fluid build up or small cysts in the lining of the uterus, both of which would prevent the fertilised egg from implanting and growing into a healthy foal.

At the same time, a vaginal examination is also performed and a swab of the lining of the uterus taken. In some cases a small piece of tissue would also be removed form the lining of the womb and this biopsy sent for analysis.

With this information we have an accurate idea of whether the mare is likely to hold a foal (saving money on stud fees) and if she can, what action may need to be taken before she gets to the stud.

PRE-STUD MANAGEMENT
The are published guidelines (Available free of charge from the Thoroughbred Breeders Association or the British Horse Society) for the prevention and control of a number of diseases including a condition known as contagious equine meritis (CEM). This is a very serious sexually transmitted disease that causes infertility and a vaginal discharge. There is no vaccination to prevent the disease and control involves taking a swab from the clitoris before the mare goes to stud.

Most studs will ensure that all mares visiting the premises will have been swabbed and you certainty should not be sending your mare (whether pony mare Thoroughbred, or Clydesdale) to a stud where the owner does not insist on swabbing the mares and their stallion. The stallions will show no signs of the disease but could be carrying it and will pass it on to your mare at covering.

The swab results can take up to a week to come back to the practice and because of the delays in the post over the weekend, we insist that all mare swabbing is done on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

If you are breeding Thoroughbreds, then the stallion at the stud may also have been tested, and possibly vaccinated, for Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA). Even if your mare is only being inseminated (artificial insemination or Al), she must be swabbed prior to AI and you must insist that the stallion has also been swabbed.

Those of you who want to know more about AI should contact the practice and we can discuss your requirements, whether you should use chilled as opposed to fresh semen etc

PREGNANCY
There is nothing more satisfying than knowing your mare is in-foal. Over the past few years conception rates have gone up and the incidence of twinning has come down, resulting in more live foals than ever before. This is partly due to better stud management including ultrasound scans for pregnancy.

This can be done as early as 14 days after ovulation (when the egg is released from the ovary), although in most cases it is better to do it a little later. Having her scanned at about 19 -- 21 days and, if possible, again before day 30 is most useful.

If your mare is carrying twins this needs to be dealt with at the earliest opportunity, and certainly before day 30, otherwise she will lose both foals and because of the way the mares breeding season works, she will not come back into season that year. (Did you know you could even insure your foal while your mare is still carrying him?).

The alternative to scanning is blood or urine testing for pregnancy, from 100 days post-covering (certificates of pregnancy can only be issued after a blood test).

During pregnancy, the very minimum veterinary attention your mare should receive is tetanus vaccination. A tetanus booster about 6 weeks prior to foaling (flu booster vaccination can also be given at this time) will insure that the foal gets a high level of immunity in the colostrum when he or she is born.

There are a number of other vaccinations that you can have administered to your mare and to some extent these will depend on the value of the mare, the potential value of the foal and how much the stud fee is/was. (Did you know stud fees are actually calculated in a number of ways, either per-covering, or in foal 1st October, or production of a live foal, are the most common. You may even be able to negotiate).

You can also vaccinate your mare against Herpes virus abortion the most common infectious cause of abortion. Having a mare abort is very distressing. If this happens please call us, as in most cases we will need to examine the mare, the dead foal and the afterbirth to ensure that no disease is present which will infect other pregnant mares this may involve taking some samples from the dead foal.

Another disease, which you can vaccinate against, is rotavirus infection. The vaccination is administered to the mare to provide protection to the foal. This is a cause of diarrhea in young foals, however it is more common on large studs where there are many foals being produced. Unless you have had problems in previous years then there is probably no reason to vaccinate unless you feel you want to do everything.

Please contact the practice if you wish to know more about which vaccinations would be most appropriate.
FOALING
The best bit. The average pregnancy will last 335-342 days, however normal, healthy foals have been born as late as 400 days! Only in very few circumstances will we attempt to induce a mare, it is always better to leave the mare to decide when it is best to foal. She will, of course, only foal when it is quiet and generally when she is alone - the more attention she receives from you, the longer she’ll hang on. Predicting when a mare will foal can be very difficult. Usually they will run colostrum (first milk) for 24 - 48 hours prior to foaling, but some mares will leak milk for a week and maiden mares may not leak any at all.

Foaling can be divided into 3 stages: Stage 1 is the preliminary stage and the mare will gradually become more uncomfortable, restless, she may look at her flanks and will develop patchy sweating. When the water breaks this is the start of stage 2, the mare will get up and lie down repeatedly and within 20 minutes, or so, the foal should have been born, if it is taking longer than this then you should call us.

Other reasons to call us, as an emergency, include only hind feet showing or the head and one or no feet showing. If at any stage a large red, velvet like membrane is showing, then this should be burst immediately - the pressure from a finger is usually enough, this represents early separation of the placenta and the foal will be starved of oxygen unless you do so.

When the foal is born, the mare will be lying down and you should leave her alone for the moment. Do not break the umbilical cord as blood will be passing from the mare to foal and if it broken too early, the foal will lack blood. Allow the mare to break it herself, only get involved if the cord is tangled up in the foal or the foal’s nostrils are covered in membranes preventing him from breathing.

Stage 3 is the passing of the afterbirth (sometimes called the cleansing or placenta). During this stage, the mare may show mild signs of colic, including sweating and pawing the ground. The afterbirth should be passed within 3 hours, in most cases. If it hasn’t appeared within 4 hours, then you should call us - this is an emergency particularly in draft mares. Retained fetal membranes the condition where the afterbirth is retained can kill a mare. If you find the mare is uncomfortable during this period then take her for a very short walk, keeping her within sight of the foal.

The foal should be standing within an hour. Ensure you have treated the navel after the foal is on its feet and that it has been observed suckling.

Veterinary checks on the neonatal foal include blood testing for immunity levels and examining the foal for any congenital abnormalities. Most vets will also administer anti-tetanus just to be on the safe side.

Good luck to all of you who are breeding your mare this year, please feel free to contact us for any further information.

Equine Herpes & Virus Infections:

An outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus in a racing yard in Gloucestershire recently caused paralysis in two racehorses. Two other possible outbreaks have been reported in the South of England. Equine Herpes Viruses are widespread in the horse environment. There are four virus types associated with a variety of disease syndromes but the most common are: - EHV1, which causes respiratory disease in foals & yearlings, which can lead to pneumonia. It can also cause abortions or the premature birth of weak or dead foals. A third presentation is of paralysis of the legs. - EHV4 is a common cause of coughing and loss of performance in racehorses and can also be associated with abortion. Treatment of affected horses. No specific treatment is available for infected horses. Symptomatic treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics may help. Isolation of infected animals is essential to limit the spread of the disease. Vaccination is possible against EHV1 & EHV4. Vaccination may not completely prevent individual horse becoming infected but will reduce the risk of infection, the spread of infection and the severity of clinical signs. All pregnant mares should be vaccinated and stud farms, which board mares for foaling, should not accept pregnant mares who have not been fully vaccinated. If you want to know more about EHV or vaccination, please contact us.

Resistant Worms In Horses:

A recent survey of worms in horses showed that many are now resistant to Fenbendazole.

It would make sense not to use wormers containing Fenbendazole but to use a more modern wormer.

For further advice contact one of the equine vets.

Direct Debit Payments:

We are now able to offer you the opportunity to pay you account by Direct Debit.

Direct Debit will make collecting payments more efficient and reliable and will help us to maintain our costs at a minimum. It provides more security than cash or cheques and means you don't have the bother of writing and posting a cheque or visiting the surgery to make a payment.

You will still receive a monthly invoice, as now, and payment will be taken on or soon after 25th day of the month following the invoice date, giving plenty of time for any queries to be resolved.

Direct Debate mandates are available now from the surgery - contact Bob for more information.

Links To Other Websites

- DEFRA

- RSPCA

- 'British Horse Society' Website

- 'Horse Passport Agency' Website

- 'Missing Pets Bureau' Website