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Vet Rap R-ZRabies vaccineNo contraindications (for the rabies vaccine) that I know of- aside from the standard procedure of only vaccinating a healthy animal to start with. The approved vaccines are all killed/inactivated. Actually, there is *one* contraindication--never vaccinate a previously unvaccinated animal which has been exposed. Most states make this practice illegal, as it can interfere with the incubation period. Horse RacingYou can't even have a tube of Banamine paste on the backside without an Rx label on it. Compare that to the virtual pharmacy in the tack trunk of many a "riding horse" owner. RainrotRainrot does have some resemblance to a fungus but it is *not* a fungus. It is a bacterial infection. Dermatophilus congolensis, a filamentous bacterium is the causative agent. Clean and DRY. DRY is very important. Use betadine scrub, lather, pick off the crusts, let it sit for 5 minutes, rinse and *dry*. Use a blow drier if need be. Severe cases benefit from a short course of systemic antibiotics, either penicillin or TMP/SMZ works well for me.. The crusts one peels off contain vast numbers of organisms, and are best disposed of in the trash rather than the horse's immediate environment. Browse Dr. Newell's article on this topic from her ftp server. Red MapleActually, *fresh* red maple leaves are harmless. The wilted leaves ... cause a hemolytic anemia and subsequent kidney failure secondary to massive dumping of hemoglobin into the kidneys. Treatment is supportive--transfusions and massive amounts of IV fluids. The specific toxin has not, to my knowledge been identified as yet. Saddle PadsEqualizer, made by Skito. Good. Very good. SalmonellaFor detailed information, go to your library and check out a decent microbiology text. Major sign in affected horses is fetid and profuse diarrhea. Fever, anorexia, and a significant neutropenia are also present. Origins--the bacterium Salmonella spp. (there are over 2200 serotypes, most of them potential if not documented pathogens) Transmission is by contamination of food by feces from an acutely affected animal, or by an inapparent carrier, some previously affected animals continue to shed the organism long after remission of clinical signs. Confirmation of infection is usually by fecal culture. Any disease which severely compromises the lining of the GI tract can resemble Salmonella. You need professional help if you think you're dealing with this bug. SaltFree choice salt is the optimum way to feed it. BTW, for those of you who have this quaint idea that horses will eat what minerals they need to balance their diet, this has been tested, and it has been determined that it is true only for salt (sodium chloride), not for other trace minerals. As long as a horse has free access to plenty of potable water, whether stalled or turned out, he will not damage himself by consumption of salt. Scratchesmud scratches/greasy heel In my experience, Gentocin (Topical Spray) works just dandy without adding the Tribrissen. Though in a nasty case, I sometimes put the animal on oral TMP/SMZ for 5-7 days. Shaker foal/botulismCausative agent is Clostridium botulinum. Produces seven different toxins, which act by binding irreversibly to presynaptic neurons. Horses either ingest the toxin from foodstuffs, or absorb it from organisms producing it in contaminated wounds or in damaged gut tissue. Sources of ingested toxin are commonly rodent carcasses in cured hay, silage, or improperly cured hay. Signs: rapidly progressing flaccid paralysis, tremors, hindlimb weakness, progressing to paralysis of pharyngeal area, tongue, etc. Often an inability to swallow is the first sign noted. Animals become recumbent, there is paralysis of respiratory muscles. Therapy: administration of antitoxin; however, this will not help neurons where toxin has already bound. Supportive care. Horses which receive antitoxin before reaching the stage of recumbency have a better prognosis. Vaccination of pregnant mares with botulism toxoid may be employed in endemic areas to prevent the development of "shaker foal" syndrome, which is caused by ingestion of spores and subsequent growth of organisms and toxin production in the gut. Shot ReactionsNeither phenylbutazone nor penicillin have any efficacy in treatment of allergic reactions. Bute may decrease inflammation, but it does not treat anaphylaxis. Injectable penicillin can cause a fairly dramatic amount of swelling and discomfort, not to mention the occasional anaphylactic or procaine reaction. DMSO is used intravenously in cases of ischemic damage. you have to dilute it to avoid hemolysis of red cells which occurs if it is infused full-strength. Shrubs Around ArenaStay away from yew and all members of the rhododendron family. (rhododendron, Japanese andromeda, mountain laurel, etc.) Sickle HockSickle hock is a term used to describe a conformation fault in the hindleg--an overaly forward curve to the hocks, so the leg ends up set under thehorse more than is desirable. A reining horse friend of mine says reiners find a slight sickle hock to be good. StranglesStrangles - Bacterial Streptococcus equi. Spread by direct contact with nasal secretions or pus from draining submandibular abscesses. These can be indirectly spread via buckets, pitchforks, stomach tubes, hands, etc. Signs-- usually occur 3-4 days after exposure, initially, fever, anorexia, swollen submandibular lymph nodes, which rupture and drain infectious material, purulent nasal discharge, confirmation by culture of abscess material or nasopharyngeal swab. Horses showing the early signs of infection (fever, depression) should be promptly isolated. If caught before lymph node abscessation has progressed to any marked extent, these animals can be treated with penicillin. Horses which have already developed abscesses are better left off antibiotics in uncomplicated cases, as antibiotics tend to prolong the course of the disease. Mature abscesses should be lanced and warm compresses and flushing hasten their resolution. Exposed but asymptomatic horses *may* benefit from preventative treatment with antibiotics, but this is of benefit *only* in cases where they will not still be exposed after antibiotics are discontinued. Most cases of strangles are messy and gross and so forth, but not usually fatal. Strongid CBag the tube worming. Use Ivermectin paste, and start the Strongid C the day after paste worming. An effective dose of wormer is the dose to use. Not an underdose, not an overdose. Follow the directions. Surgical ScrubsPovidone iodine or chlorhexidine surgical scrub for cleaning. Use any Bacitracin-like topical ointment if you have an overwhelming urge to smear something on afterwards. Teeth Floating TipIt is a good idea to hook your little finger through the halter ring while holding the tongue. That way, if the horse pulls back, your hand will go with him, and not pull excessively on the tongue. Otherwise, you risk damaging the nerves. Tetanus ShotIMHO, once a year is adequate, with the proviso that if I repair a horse which has been vaccinated more than 6 months previously, I give it another (tetanus toxoid, that is.) The standard "tetanus shot" is tetanus toxoid, which induces an immune response from the host. Active immunity. Tetanus antitoxin, usually given to animals with no or unknown vaccination history, is the purified antibody taken from a hyperimmunized animal, and is called "passive immunity." I avoid TAT as much as possible, because of the occasional occurrence of Theiler's Disease (serum hepatitis) following its administration. ThumpsSynchronous diaphragmatic flutter. The diaphragm contracts in the rhythym of the heartbeat. Usually due to an electrolyte disturbance, which presumably alters the membrane potential of the phrenic nerve, causing it to depolarize along with the electrical impulse which is propagated during cardiac muscle depolarization. In my experience, low calcium in distance horses is the most common presentation. Thymus Gland(Located) in the thoracic inlet/cranial mediastinum. "Cranial" in the context of anatomic description means towards the head, as opposed to "caudal", which is, surprise, towards the tail. In the above example, the cranial mediastinum is the portion nearer the head. (The Coloring Atlas of Horse Anatomy is, BTW, excellent.) Thymus gland shrinks as the horse ages. TwitchesHmm. I think the chances of a wreck are far lower with the judicious use of a twitch than with a bunch of ropes and surcingles. As far as tying up a leg goes, I suspect that there is a fair chance of the horse falling down and damaging a knee compared to the same horse grimacing and rubbing his nose a bit after I remove the twitch. While I occasionally have need to resort to some of the more exotic methods of restraint previously posted, I find neuroleptoanalgesia and twitches to be the most useful in day to day practice. Often, the less restraint, the better. Tying UpBrowse Dr. Newell's article on trail horse problems at her ftp server. Vertebra triviaFor those who are enamored of counting vertebrae for whatever arcane reasons, here is some interesting trivia from a study on racehorses necropsied in California. "Of 36 horses examined, 39% had either one less lumbar or one extra sacral segment" DVM Newsmagazine, December, 1996 VomitingThe cardiac sphincter, at the junction of the esophagus and stomach, doesn't open for things to work in reverse, and two--the stomach is almost entirely within the ribcage, making the requisite muscular effort which accompanies vomiting in other species almost impossible. (Think about the last time you blew lunch--most of the effort was from your abdominal musculature and your diaphragm compressing the stomach.) The very occasional spewing of food material from the stomach out the mouth of a horse is accompanied by a quick departure to the Hereafter. WindpuffsWindpuffs are a filling of the joint capsule of the fetlock. Winstrol/steroids(Winstrol) is a synthetic anabolic steroid. The therapeutic use of these compounds is to help build lean body mass and to inhibit the breakdown of muscle protein in debilitated animals. Their common use is a quick "training" tool. Witches MilkNever heard it used in an equine context, but goats sometimes come into milk without having been bred, and the term is used to describe that condition. White Willow Bark/Herbal aspirinWhite willow Salix alba. Bark contains a fairly high level of tannin (~13%), and a small quantity of salicin. Astringent and tonic. I doubt it does much in the way of systemic anti-inflammatory activity. If I recall correctly, acetylslicylic acid was synthesized because the straight extract of willow bark was rough on the GI tract. This may or may not hold true for powdered bark, but I personally wouldn't want to feed significant quantities of tannins to my livestock. |
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