Stocking up is a familiar term to many horse owners and often is used to refer to a horse that exhibits leg swelling. The exact cause of the swelling can be variable and with this, so can the prescribed treatment course. The more we understand, often the better we can assist these patients, but it is a complicated problem in the equine industry.
Stocking Up and Cellulitis in the Horse; A Pain in the Leg Read More »
Happiness and an end to suffering. That is the goal for almost all of mankind. We want it, crave it and desire it on many levels. Disease occurs on many levels and impacts all of us either directly or indirectly. The perception of that disease, whether if it affects us our pets or our horses, can vary from person to person. One may say it is acquired or there is a genetic predisposition to that condition. On the other side of the coin, another person may say the disease is a reflection of our environment, diet and other factors…essentially implying we created it. It is all relative, in my opinion, but one thing is for certain and that is that with a complete understanding of what is occurring, we stand a better chance of prevention as well as management.
When we think of carbohydrates, we think sugar and we also think energy, as the two are often interconnected. We all need energy and our equine companions are no different, thus carbohydrates are an essential part of the diet, but in excess and dependent on the form ingested, problems can develop and impact overall health. In order to gain a better understanding of carbohydrates and feeding in the horse, we have to understand some basic principles. Utilized properly, carbohydrates can be a useful means of gaining and sustaining energy needs for every horse.
Carbohydrates; Intakes & Considerations in the Horse Read More »
When we think of fats in the horse’s diet, the first few things that come to mind are to improve the shine in a hair coat or to put weight on a horse in need. Although these are both true, there is much more to fats that what meets the eye and thus, a better understanding is needed. Fats are valuable sources of energy and calories, but there are potentials downfalls as they impact health on many levels, and not every horse is in need.
How to feed a horse is one of the most popular questions that I get as a veterinarian. There are many things to consider, mainly being macro and micro nutrient provisions, which include proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Protein is essential for the body in a variety of ways, from building muscle mass to regulation of metabolic function. How much protein is needed is dependent on each horse and the demands present. Exact recommendations are hard to make, generally speaking, but in most cases, we have to look at each individual horse, demands, existing health problems and dietary sources.
Probiotics are common in today’s equine industry and even human health. They are heavily marketed for supporting gastrointestinal health on many levels, but are they really needed and are they really beneficial? There are many types of probiotics promoted in various products, but unfortunately, they are all lumped together and promoted as being beneficial, which can further muddy the waters. So how do we know if we need to use them and if so, what types are most beneficial? The answer to this question lies not only within research but also through clinical experience.
Probiotics and Prebiotics in the Horse; Which One is Necessary? Read More »
The term ‘supplement’ can either be a noun or a verb, implying something that completes or ehances something else, or in the case of a verb context, to add an extra element. In the health industry, we really use the term in both contexts or sometimes both at the same time. We may supplement our horse’s or even our own diet with a supplement, using both the noun and verb, which is commonplace. However, what are we really doing and what are we trying to achieve? Through a better understanding, we may be able to arrive at that goal a little sooner and even reduce end costs in the long term.
Supplementation: What is the Goal and How to Achieve it. Read More »
Respiratory conditions in the horse are very common, but present in many forms. As horse owners, you may be familiar with terms including allergies, inflammatory airway disease (IAD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These terms get tossed around quite often and in many cases, despite the final diagnosis, we fail to see the connection between all of them and the possibility that one can progress to another over time.
Joint disease is a common manifestation of life, aging and often a result of many contributing factors including conformation, deformities and repetitive overuse. In horses, joint pain is common not only with aging due to deterioration, but is also present in the younger group secondary to high levels of stress to the areas associated with training and competition. In all groups, we have an often daily dependence on pain medications, but in horses, this progresses one step further to include repetitive joint injections to help keep the athlete competing. In many respects, we have come to accept these therapies as the only means of management, but are they really helping and is there more that can be done? Is it also possible that some of these therapies, despite good intentions, may be creating more harm in the end? With further knowledge, we can understand better and consider different options.
Joint Dysfunction; Are Injections the Only Solution? Read More »
