Ask the Expert -- Equine Management

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My horse's hind leg locks up. Could it be an abnormally locking patella?
Can a horse with anhydrosis (lack of sweating) still be ridden?
Can antibiotics cause loose stool?
What causes a horse to drool excessively?
My horse lost an eye. How do I get started with her again?
Can I use something other than pharmaceuticals to prevent gastric ulcers?
My horse has a poor hair coat, is this a nutritional issue?
What causes headshaking?
What is the best way to manage heaves without steroids?
What is HYPP? Should bananas be fed to horses?
How effective is acetazolamide in the treatment of HYPP?
Do horses get Lyme disease?
I think my horse has a neurological problem. Can you help?
How do I get rid of rain rot?
What is ringbone or sidebone?
How can I tell if my horse has ringworm?
How do I treat scratches?
My horse just passed a stone! Does he need more water?
How do I get rid of a stubborn case of thrush?
How do I prevent ulcers in a race horse?
My horse has high blood levels of Vitamin E; is this a problem?
How do I treat white spots on a horse’s face?

My horse’s back leg sometimes gets so stiff that when he walks he looks like a person trying to walk with a cast on one leg. Why is this?

This sounds like a horse with an abnormally locking patella (knee) or “intermittent upward patellar fixation”. There are three ligaments that go around the patella in the stifle of the horse (the joint above the hock in the hind leg, similar to a human knee). These ligaments around the patella are used to lock the horse’s leg in place so they can sleep standing up. Usually the locking mechanism can unlock itself very rapidly when needed, e.g. if the horse spooks. However, sometimes there is a problem where the lock gets stuck and the horse will be unable to move its leg for a period of time.

There are three main causes of this locking problem: 1) a horse that is unfit might not have enough muscle tone in its hind limbs to trigger the unlocking response, 2) horses with unusually upright hind limb confirmation are more prone to abnormal fixation, and 3) some horses have ligaments that are longer than average, so the locking mechanism gets stuck more easily in them than in most individuals.

My horse, a 22-yr. old Arab, has recovered rather well after founder and a few nasty abscesses. We’re back to a regular exercise program, but recently, during a stretch of very hot and humid weather, he lost the ability to sweat, and at the same time, showed signs of dehydration. I have started him on a supplement designed specifically for this condition. Could you please describe anhydrosis? Can anhydrotic horses be worked as long as they are cooled down properly? Is it a good idea to give them electrolytes, or not?

Anhydrosis – the absence of the ability to sweat – is a big problem in all disciplines. However, it is more prevalent with endurance-type horses. Supplementation with an electrolyte replacement after the horse has worked hard will also help. Unfortunately, not much is known about how to prevent the condition. There is only one other supplement that is proven to help decrease the severity and incidence of anhydrosis; just do an online search for “anhydrosis supplement” and it will pop up.

As for your specific question, horses that do not sweat can still be ridden. Just be careful not to overdo it. If you are too hot and miserable to enjoy the ride, he will probably be as well.

It is extremely critical that you take care in the cooling out process and monitor your horse’s vital signs. Lots of shade and ventilation are necessary when cooling anhydrotic horses out. Hosing under the belly, chest and between the legs is also crucial.

More information on horses undergoing heat stress is available in our fact sheet on stress; it covers a bit on anhydrosis as well.

My 16-yr old Quarter Horse mare has a runny, snotty nose, a temperature of 100.5, and her appetite is a little off. Her runny nose got worse over a 3-day period. My vet put her on an antibiotic for a couple of days. I mixed the medicine with feed and corn oil to make it stick together. She is eating better today, but has loose stools. Do I need to worry about the loose stools? Is the medicine causing them?

Antibiotics can cause loose stool. They kill the bad bacteria causing the sickness, but also kill good bacteria that are used in the digestive process of the horse. It is sometimes recommended to feed a probiotic along with the antibiotic to help replace the good bacteria that are being killed by the antibiotics. You can continue the probiotics after the antibiotics are finished and monitor the stool. Over the course of a week or so the stool should get back to normal and the probiotics can be discontinued. If the stool does not get back to normal you should consult with your veterinarian. However, if a horse is under veterinary care and its condition changes such that it develops new clinical signs (develops diarrhea) the veterinarian should be made aware of the situation. While antibiotics can cause diarrhea, the diarrhea may also be a sign of a progression of the horse’s illness and the horse may need more than a probiotic.

Answer provided by Carey Williams, Ph.D., Equine Extension Specialist, Rutgers Cooperative Extension and reviewed by Shari C. Silverman V.M.D., Senior Veterinarian, Division of Animal Health, New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

Several questions regarding drooling horses have crossed my desk in the last month, such as:

“Slobbering Horse Syndrome,” “slobbers,” and “excessive drooling” are all terms for a disorder that results in the spring and summer when horses eat legume forages, particularly clover, which have been infected by the fungus Rhizoctonia leguminicola. This fungus produces an alkaloid called slaframine, which is responsible for the excessive drooling and slobbering. Slaframine stimulates the salivary glands and smooth muscles.

The fungus most commonly affects clovers (red, white, and alsike) and alfalfa, and increases when these forages become drought-stressed or are exposed to prolonged wet conditions. It forms a black patch which may be visible on the leaves of the plant, hence the common name "black patch." Pastures can vary in species composition from year to year due to environmental conditions, grazing pressure and management. White clover will increase in a pasture when conditions are favorable. If pastures are overgrazed, and the more productive cool season grasses such as timothy, brome, and orchardgrass are eliminated, white clover becomes very competitive. White clover will also increase if adequate soil fertility levels are not maintained and if warm temperatures in spring restrict the growth of cool season grasses. Change in pasture management (i.e. fertilizing, resting, and rotating pastures) can reduce the amount of white clover in a pasture. Change in environmental conditions, cool spring temperatures and drier summers with adequate rainfall will reduce the growth of the fungus on the plants. This is not a problem that occurs in all pastures every year.

Hay made from contaminated forages is also suspect, and the fungus can maintain toxicity while baled for several years. Your veterinarian or Extension agent can confirm the presence of "black patch" in your pasture or hay. Horses are most commonly affected, although cattle, sheep, goats and swine are also susceptible. Along with excessive salivation, symptoms include tearing, difficulty breathing, increased urination and feed refusal. In severe cases, diarrhea may also occur, though horses do not usually dehydrate or develop more serious health problems. It is not uncommon for some horses in a pasture to be more severely affected than others. This might be related to whether or not they prefer clover over the other forages available in the pasture or have different levels of sensitivity to the toxin. Some horses may get ulcerations and scabs on the face and areas of the legs that come in close contact with the infected clover, as an allergic reaction to the fungus in the clover.

To help eliminate salivation and skin lesions, remove horses from pastures with high clover concentrations, and begin mowing pastures until the Rhizoctonia is no longer observed on the leaves. Most cases don't require treatment, and most animals recover within a couple of days after the fungus is removed. Severe cases that do not clear up within a day or two should be seen by your veterinarian.

Clover can be suppressed by using a variety of herbicides such as Ally¹. Ally is relatively safe and has no grazing restrictions. Fertilizing pastures in spring, summer (if conditions warrant pasture growth), and in fall with 40-50 pounds of nitrogen per acre will provide the grasses with a competitive advantage over the clover. If pasture grasses do not receive nitrogen fertilizer, the competitive advantage shifts to the clover, which is able to fix nitrogen and quickly take over, especially if the pastures are overgrazed.

¹Before using any pesticide, always read the label. Use pesticides only at recommended rates and time. Where trade names are used, no discrimination or endorsement is implied.

Answer provided by Donna Foulk, former Senior Agriculture Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Bill Sciarappa, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agent, Sarah Ralston, VMD, PhD, Rutgers Cooperative Extension. (Some information by Mark A. Crisman, DVM, “Slobber Syndrome” from “The Mane Points” website, copyright © 2001-2003)

Due to a boarding accident, my young horse lost an eye. I was wondering what the next steps in helping her cope and riding her again would be. She is 4 years old and has been broke. Is there any literature or courses available to help me help her get adjusted in her new surroundings and with her new life?

I don't happen to know of any literature on horses with one eye, but I can tell you that trusting you will be the biggest help for her! The more she hears your comforting voice the better she will feel, even when she can't see you. Get in the habit of talking to her constantly. You might even be doing this already.

I can also say that I know a few horses with one eye that seem to be doing just fine. I have seen a horse with only one eye compete in a steeplechase over timber, I believe. It seemed that having one eye wasn't a handicap at all. I also a have a friend that has a stallion with one eye. He is still used for teasing, breeding and a little riding, and he does much better when the main handler works him and talks to him a lot. It is hard to say whether your horse will still be able to become the athlete she could have been. I recommend that you first get a strong bond between you and then continue with her training. She will tell you what she is capable of and comfortable with.

My 20 year old horse has colicked 6 times over the last year. He has responded well to pharmaceutical treatment the last three times. We assume that his colic is due to ulcers and have since added oil, beet pulp, and lots of alfalfa to his diet and put him on a daily 1/4 tube of a pharmaceutical treatment. He seems to have bloomed both with muscle and coat since we've made the changes (and no more colic - fingers crossed). While I'm relieved and pleased with the results, the cost is killing me. Are there any other ways of dealing with his ulcer issues?

The cost of pharmaceutically treating and preventing ulcers is considerable! However, with some horses there is no alternative treatment. You might consider trying papaya supplementation, although there is no research supporting its efficacy against ulcers in horses. Some people feed papaya pills (the human variety) to their horses, others try the pulp, and some give a whole fruit a day.

Stress is a very common cause of ulcers. One management practice you can employ to reduce stress is to keep ulcer-prone horses outside as much as possible. This is the best way to decrease their stress. Some horses can develop ulcers as soon as 24 hours after being stalled if they are used to being kept outside.

Another cause of ulcers is excess gastric acid in the stomach. Unlike humans, horses produce gastric acid 24 hours a day, not just when eating. Feeding hay free choice will help buffer gastric acid. Alfalfa hay has been shown to have good buffering ability due to its high calcium content; however, you do not want to feed free choice alfalfa. Continue feeding “lots of alfalfa,” but make sure the rest of the hay in the diet is good quality grass hay. Try these management changes once the horse is clear of ulcers, as he might not want to consume free choice hay if he currently has ulcers.

Decreasing any other stressors affecting your horse would also help. Once you have taken steps to reduce his stress, try implementing some of these changes and see if they help with decreasing the severity or incidence of ulcers. These changes should be made after consulting with your veterinarian and discussing the risk factors in discontinuing the pharmaceutical treatment.

Last year I bought an off-the-track Thoroughbred. He had a super short, sleek, silky coat. This year he is on a low carb diet due to his past history of liver congestion. Now his coat has changed. It looks slightly fuzzy, and the ends curl upward just a little. Is this a nutritional issue or something else?

I suspect that it is diet-related. When he was at the track they probably had him on a high fat, high energy diet. The low carb diet he is on now might not have the same fat content he was used to at the track. If you can get his dietary history from his past trainer that will help you get a sense of what he used to eat. However, since he is not racing anymore he no longer needs that level of fat.

I would recommend adding at least a small amount of a fat supplement to his diet. Without knowing his dietary history I can't make any exact recommendations -- but you can try a coat conditioner or just rice bran or corn oil. He would not need much, just 1/4 cup oil or 1 cup of rice bran. This should help his coat condition.

I read recently that a horse that tosses its head around frequently may have a medical condition. My 2 1/2 year old Halflinger filly has been tossing her head almost constantly in the past week. She's always tossed her head around when she's excited or "frisky". I don't see any other changes in her. Three weeks ago, I moved her from a barn where she was pastured with three other horses to my own property where she lives alone. Could the head tossing be from boredom?

Head tossing or shaking in horses can be caused by multiple things. It could be a behavioral vice (possibly caused by boredom); done out of nervousness due to lack of companionship, in response to pain or irritation to flies; or caused by an allergy. Typically, if it is caused by an allergy, you will see it occur more often starting in spring and continuing through fall but almost non-existent in winter months (especially in a freezing climate). Some affected horses have more severe head shaking at rest and others during exercise. In the latter, the problem is generally exacerbated during exercise and thus renders some horses practically useless for riding, depending on the rider's tolerance level. However, take note if this behavior occurs only when riding or being handled; this may be more of a behavioral protest. If the horse shakes her head in the field even when fly population has decreased (in fall or very early spring), it may indicate an allergy-related cause. There really isn't any consistent pattern in how the problem begins; in some, head shaking arises spontaneously with no apparent change of season, ownership, barn, country or discipline.

In horses with a seasonal affliction there may also be symptoms suggestive of an allergy: nose rubbing, a watery ocular and nasal discharge, low head carriage, sneezing, snorting, head pressing, and pressing the muzzle into the ground. Head shaking has also been reported to worsen in bright sunlight, on warm and humid days or when the wind blows into the horse's face. Some affected horses will actively seek out shade. In some instances, allergens such as pollen, oilseed rape volatiles, dust, etc. can get into the horse's nose. The horse may appear to be having a reaction to an unusually irritating stimulus in the nasal passages. Horses affected with mild clinical signs of head shaking may simply exhibit mild, periodic head movements and low-grade twitching of muscles in the face, but may be rideable. Moderately affected horses may be rideable with some difficulty under special circumstances (cooler weather, protection from bright sunlight, and on non-windy days). More severely affected horses are difficult to control, uncontrollable or unrideable.

To eliminate allergy as a possibility in your horse it would be best to contact your veterinarian. There is also the possibility that a prescription allergy medicine will cure the head tossing or at least decrease its severity.

I have a 19-year-old gelding. He is kept in good shape with frequent dressage training and trail riding. During past summers we would only ever experience one episode of heaves, triggered by humidity. Treatment would prevent reoccurrence until the next summer. This summer he had quite a few episodes of coughing and a lot of vet calls. The vet put him on daily doses of steroids. Every time we tried to wean him off, we ended up right back where we started. What is the best way to manage heaves without steroids?

Respiratory issues can be caused by a variety of things, including internal parasites, bacterial infections, viruses, and allergies. One of the common causes of breathing issues in horses is called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), more commonly referred to as “heaves.” There are a variety of ways to treat COPD, ranging from internal medications to changes in the environment to an entire change of diet.

COPD occurs when a horse has an allergic reaction to particles found in hay, or other types of dust. The most common allergens are certain types of bacteria, fungi, feces, animal dander and pollen. A horse with COPD will have an overactive defense mechanism to these inhaled foreign particles, which causes more inflammation in their airways than in those of a normal horse. The increased inflammation in the airways decreases the horse’s ability to get adequate air intake and causes the wheezing sounds that are associated with COPD. Some of the external symptoms associated with heaves are nasal discharge, ongoing cough and difficulty with breathing which results in abdominal breathing.

There are a variety of treatments that can help suppress the symptoms of COPD. Some of the most widely used are corticosteroids (such as dexamethasone) that help reduce the inflammation that occurs in the airways. These medicines can be given orally, intravenously, or inhaled. Although this treatment works well, there are side effects that can be detrimental to the horse if it is kept on steroids for long periods of time. A bronchodilator can also be used to treat the symptoms; these are drugs used to relax the smooth muscles in the airway and decrease the obstruction. These are safer than steroids, but generally only work better for less severe cases of COPD. These drugs can be administered orally, intravenously, or inhaled as well.

If one does not want to treat a horse with any type of drug a change in environment and diet may be attempted. One of the most important things to change is the horse’s exposure to hay. You can start by soaking the horse’s hay at each feeding for about 30 minutes. This will decrease the amount of dust. However, this might not be enough for some COPD horses. Hay cubes can also be soaked and may provide less dust than long stem hay. An all-pelleted diet of a complete feed may be the best option for a horse with severe cases of COPD. This would eliminate the need for a long stem hay or cube; however, make sure you are feeding the correct amount daily. It is best to feed these horses in multiple smaller meals daily. Feeding should also be done at shoulder level to decrease the amount of dust from the ground that can get into the food or be inhaled into the airways. However, it is also important not to place the feed too high, so that hay or feed particles do not fall into the nasal passages and get inhaled.

It is also best to minimize the amount of time that the horse spends in a stall since this is where there are high concentrations of allergens and low ventilation. If possible, leave the horse at pasture full time. This is the healthiest option for a horse with COPD. If possible, make sure that bedding is not excessively dusty. The best types of bedding are paper and peat moss. Shavings can be wet down to prevent dust. Typically, straw and sawdust are the dustiest products and should be avoided. Is it important to only clean out the stalls when the horse is not in the barn since cleaning will cause the dust particles to circulate in the air.

These practices can all be done to help decrease the symptoms of COPD before resorting to drugs; however, in some severe cases, COPD must be managed with the use of pharmaceuticals. The decision as to whether of not your horse’s condition can be managed without the use of steroids or other pharmaceuticals should be made in consultation with your veterinarian.

Answer provided with the help of Lisa Restine, Rutgers University, Animal Science Research Student and reviewed by Shari C. Silverman V.M.D., Senior Veterinarian, Division of Animal Health, New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

An exceptionally beautiful Quarter Horse eats a banana, goes into uncontrollable muscle spasms and paralysis, suffers irregular heartbeat and obstructed airways, then topples over and dies. What was wrong with the banana?

What was wrong with the horse? It had a defective gene--the same one responsible for its beautiful musculature--giving it "Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis". Evidence suggests these horses inherited the gene from one particular Quarter Horse stallion, Impressive, used as a stud in the 1970s and 1980s. Impressive was famed for his outstanding musculature, and since this trait was passed to his offspring, he became a popular stud. Unfortunately it is now known that the disease HYPP has passed through his genetics as well, affecting 50,000 horses, or .25% to .4% of quarter horse bloodlines. The defect is found in the DNA coding for the protein that regulates the concentrations of sodium and potassium on either side of cell membranes. Also called a sodium-potassium pump, this mechanism keeps sodium in high concentrations outside the cell, and high potassium concentrations inside the cell. When the pump opens to allow the passage of these two elements, the rush to balance the concentrations on either side of the cell causes an electric charge, which in turn allows for muscle contraction. Unfortunately in horses with HYPP, the sodium leaks into the cell at a faster rate, which alters the time it takes to build up voltage for a muscle contraction. During an attack, the blood is saturated with potassium in an effort to maintain the equilibrium.

The effects of this defect are apparent in the most common symptom of the disease: muscle trembling. Other signs are: prolapse of the third eyelid, stiff jaw, increased respiratory rate, generalized weakness or specifically weakness in the hind end (dog-sitting), complete collapse, and an abnormal whinny. These symptoms are visible only during an attack. The high potassium concentration is exclusive to an attack as well, and under normal conditions an afflicted horse would show regular blood potassium levels. Tests can be done to identify the gene, so it could be eliminated in a single generation. Horse owners, however, may not want to get rid of the gene, which adds to the muscling of the Quarter Horses, raised as much for show as for racing. Alternatively, the disease can be controlled via diet and diuretics (see "How effective is acetazolamide in the treatment of HYPP?")

Question and answer provided by Bill Sones, co-author of “Strange but True”. Answer edited by Carey Williams, Ph.D., Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

How effective is acetazolamide in the treatment of HYPP? I have a 9 year old Quarter Horse who has had increasing numbers of HYPP attacks over the past several months, and my veterinarian recommends that we put him on acetazolamide to help regulate the HYPP and his potassium levels. Would he have to be on it for the rest of his life, or just during the attacks?

Acetazolamide is “a potent carbonic anhydrase inhibitor” also known as a diuretic. Common uses of this drug are to control fluid secretion, treat convulsive disorders, and increase fluid secretion from the kidneys. It is recommended for the treatment of HYPP during an attack because it quickly and efficiently lowers the potassium concentration in the blood through urination. Some handlers also find it useful to keep acetazolamide in the horse’s diet constantly. It has a history of reducing the frequency and severity of the attacks. It does not have any negative affects on the horse, and is fairly inexpensive. However, it is not necessary to keep acetazolamide in the diet unless the horse is prone to severe attacks. Acetazolamide is forbidden under AQHA and AHSA regulations, so the alternate drug hydrochlorthiazide is sometimes substituted.

HYPP attacks fall into two categories: mild and severe. Mild attacks occur when there are muscle tremors, but the horse can stay on its feet. In this instance the best treatment is to walk the horse to stimulate adrenalin production. Again, acetazolamide can be administered to help the animal lower its blood potassium levels through urination. An alternative treatment is feeding grain in an attempt to boost production of insulin through carbohydrate metabolism. In the case of a severe attack (when the animal is down), veterinarian assistance is required to help the horse regulate its blood potassium concentration. This is done by administering dextrose (a sugar) or calcium intravenously. Sometimes a shot of insulin will boost the intake of potassium into the cells. Veterinarians have used epinephrine to help during an attack because, like insulin, it promotes the absorption of potassium out of the bloodstream and into the cells. As with mild attacks, it is also common for veterinarians to give acetazolamide to the animal in an additional effort to expel potassium.

Like many genetic diseases, the severity of the affliction varies with the individual. Some horses may test positive for HYPP and never show signs of an attack. Others my have severe attacks more frequently. If a horse doesn’t show signs of HYPP, there is no need to change how you manage that horse. For a horse with symptoms, a simple control of diet and exercise can help reduce attacks. Attacks are triggered by stress, dehydration, extreme temperature, intense exercise, anesthesia, foods high in potassium, sudden dietary changes, and transport. Therefore, an established feeding schedule with feeds that are low in potassium (grains, oat hay) and little or no high potassium feeds (molasses, alfalfa, timothy hay) is effective. The horse should be fed about three small grain meals per day, and like all horses have constant access to a salt block and water. Acetazolamide could also be administered twice a day. Daily and nightly turnout is preferable in order to give the horse constant access to pasture. A constant exercise schedule is also favorable. Also, informing the veterinarian of the horse’s condition will help if the animal is ever put under anesthesia, which often triggers attacks. Most HYPP attacks are never treated, and the animals are able to recuperate on their own. However, with these few guidelines in management, a horse owner could minimize his animal’s discomfort and continue to enjoy all the pleasures that horsemanship provides.

This answer was prepared with the help of Cara Allen, Animal Science Research Student at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University, with references from Sharon J. Spier, University of California.

Do horses get Lyme disease? I am constantly pulling both deer and dog ticks off of my pastured horses. Frequently, there is a swelling at the site where the tick was. However, my horses have no health problems. Should I be concerned?

Like humans and general house pets, horses can get Lyme disease from deer ticks. The bacterium which causes Lyme disease, Borrela bungdorferi, gets transferred to the animal through a bite usually in the spring and early fall periods. One of the most obvious symptoms of Lyme disease is a bulls-eye rash that surrounds the bite area, which can appear between 3 and 30 days after the tick bite. Some other symptoms have included fever, depression or other behavioral changes such as increased irritability, swollen legs, lameness, skin lesions, and stiffness. However, later stage Lyme disease can include more serious symptoms such as arthritis and neurological as well as cardiac abnormalities. Sometimes the horses might not even develop signs of Lyme disease but still have it.

Diagnosing Lyme disease in horses is difficult because a lot of the symptoms associated with Lyme disease can also occur from other problems, or from lameness. Even if blood test results come up positive for Lyme, it may only mean that the horse has been exposed to the bacterium over the years but its symptoms are not due to Lyme at the present time.

Antibiotics such as tetracycline can be given successfully via an intravenous line. This treatment can help alleviate symptoms after the first day. However, oral and intramuscular medications can also be used. All of these treatments may need to last for a few weeks, depending on how well the animal is responding to the medication. During the first few days of treatment, monitor your horse to make sure its symptoms do not turn into true laminitis.

There are some steps you can take to help prevent Lyme disease. Use a tick repellent on your horse, and keep pasture grasses low. Regularly groom your horse during peak tick seasons, and immediately remove any ticks you find. Ticks need to attach and feed for 12-24 hours before they can transmit the bacteria. A licensed, effective vaccine for Lyme disease has not yet been made available in New Jersey. There is a vaccine available to all 49 other states, but its efficacy has yet to be determined.

This answer was prepared with the help of Erin Rockhill, Animal Science Research Student at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University.

I just purchased a 5-year-old Hanoverian mare. She has a very strange way of standing. Most of the time, she has her left forefoot directly in front of her right fore. When she is nervous, or you attempt to pick up a rear hoof, she taps on her right front toe with her left front hoof, actually scuffing her right front hoof. She is also able to totally cross her left leg over the right leg, placing it on the ground on the outside of her right leg. She will stay like this for more than a minute, and appears totally comfortable. Also, she refuses to give her rear hoof for cleaning and is uncomfortable when I ask. If I succeed she trembles in front and sways. I worry that she might collapse or go down suddenly if I were to ride her.

It sounds as if your mare may have a back or hip problem or perhaps a neurological deficit affecting her proprioception (ability to maintain her balance and "know" where her feet are). The signs you describe are not "classic" for wobbler’s syndrome, but she could well have a spinal lesion affecting her balance. If she drags her hind feet when asked to back up I would be more suspicious of wobbler’s syndrome. It is a good idea to ask her previous owner about any history of head/neck trauma – did she exhibit this behavior before the purchase? I strongly suggest that you have an equine veterinarian with experience in neurological problems give her a thorough physical. From what you describe, I would recommend not riding her until you find out what the problem is.

Answer provided by Sarah Ralston, VMD, Ph.D., dACVN, Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

I have an Appaloosa that has encountered problems with rain rot on his back/rump area this past spring and again this fall. We've treated it with iodine shampoo and ointment. It seems to work, but it takes four to five weeks for healing to occur. During that time he is very sensitive, to the point where he can't be ridden. Is there a better, quicker treatment? Better yet, what are some preventive steps to prevent this from happening?

Rain scald (aka “rain rot”) is a condition similar to mud fever, except it affects the back, flanks and hindquarters. It is a bacterial (Dermatophilus congolensis) infection of the hair follicle resulting in scabby lesions, hair loss, and inflamed, irritated skin. In extreme cases it can result in severe pain and loss of body condition. In its early stages, small bumps are felt when a hand is run over the infected area. These bumps enlarge into scabby and painful lesions.

Rain rot occurs most commonly in horses turned outside full-time, usually during humid and persistently wet seasons. Repeated exposure to moisture softens the skin and washes away the natural oils that protect the hair follicle, allowing bacteria access to the site of infection.

It is important to treat rain scald as soon as it is detected, as this will speed up the healing process and help prevent more severe or secondary bacterial infections that can become persistent and difficult to treat. In mild cases, simply keeping the skin dry, removing the scabs and gentle grooming should take care of the infection. Dermatophilus congolensis is an anaerobic organism (one which thrives in the absence of oxygen), so removing the scabs is important. Be thorough but gentle when removing scabs, as this process may be uncomfortable to the horse.

With more severe or persistent infections, scabs should be removed and a medicated shampoo used to thoroughly cleanse the infected area. The clean open sores should be kept dry; only large gaping sores should be treated with an antibiotic ointment to help prevent secondary infections. There are several over-the-counter medicated or iodine shampoos that work for mild to moderate infections; however, a prescription medicated shampoo and possibly a systemic antibiotic should be obtained from a veterinarian for severe or persistent infections. The afflicted areas should be washed daily until the infection is resolved. Consult an equine nutritionist or your veterinarian if your horse shows signs of losing body condition. They can help you safely and effectively adjust your horse’s diet to counter this.

There are situations where bathing the horse is not an option (such as in extremely cold weather). Anecdotal reports indicate that daily spot treatment (following the removal of scabs) with anti-microbial agents such as chlorhexadine or povidone-iodine helps remedy the infection. This process tends to be tedious and messy, however, and generally results in a longer healing time.

In any case, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, disinfect your grooming tools, and wash halters, saddle pads and blankets after every exposure to infected skin to prevent re-infection or transferring the bacteria to other animals. A 5 - 10 % bleach solution will do the trick. If keeping horses out of the elements is not an option, use of a fitted rain sheet or blanket can help keep the skin dry in inclement weather. Be sure that your blanket is truly waterproof before use, otherwise it may work against you by trapping moisture against your horse’s skin instead of keeping it off. As always, proper nutrition, regular grooming, and keeping pastures and facilities clean can help prevent rain scald.

Specifically for your case, I would recommend consulting with your veterinarian. He or she will probably suggest discontinuing the ointment as it may be working against you by providing a moist, anaerobic environment that the organism thrives in. Additionally, it may not have strong enough antibiotic properties to completely kill the organism. I would recommend gently picking those scabs and getting some prescription medicated shampoo from your veterinarian and using that daily for at least a week or until the infection is resolved. In my experience it works very well and in most cases clears an infection up faster than other spot treatments. If the infection is severe or persistent enough, you might want to discuss using an oral antibiotic with your vet. As for prevention, make sure you clean and disinfect anything that comes into contact with the infected skin to prevent re-infection. Keeping your horse clean and dry will allow the natural oily skin secretions to protect against infection. This is probably the best defense against rain rot.

This answer was prepared with the help of Emily Lamprecht, Rutgers University, Doctoral Graduate Student in Animal Science and reviewed by Shari C. Silverman V.M.D., Senior Veterinarian, Division of Animal Health, New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

Ringbone in horses is a calcification of the bone or cartilage in the pastern and coffin bones. High ringbone is calcification which occurs on the lower part of the large pastern or the upper part of the small pastern. Calcification which occurs on the lower part of the small pastern or the upper part of the coffin is known as “low ringbone.” Ringbone typically causes arthritis and new bone growth, which will sometimes fuse pastern bones and cause a decrease in flexion as well as lameness. Sidebone is a calcification of the lateral cartilage of the coffin bone inside the hoof. Here calcification turns to bone and subsides to a blemish that might not ever cause lameness.

You will be able to see or feel ringbone in horses just above the hoof in the area of the coronet band or pastern. It will feel like a hard lump or a ring of excess bone. If the problem is not causing lameness, nothing needs to be done; it is just a blemish and will not detract from the use of the animal. However, in cases where lameness occurs due to ringbone, and assuming that the horse’s feet are consistently and adequately trimmed, using a shoe that provides an easy breakover or making the toes shorter may help with the animal’s comfort.

In the short term after diagnosis, rest and anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. Bute) will probably be prescribed. Cold hosing the area for 15 to 20 minutes twice a day is also a good way to alleviate swelling and maximize comfort. Depending on the severity, or if it has already progressed into arthritis, your vet might recommend corticosteroid injections or a regimen of joint injections to prevent chronic inflammation.

The best chances for a sound recovery are early detection and proper treatment, so it is advisable to work with an equine veterinarian to properly treat the ringbone and/or sidebone and find the option that is best suited for your horse.

I have a horse that may have dry seborrhea or possibly ringworm. How can I tell the difference, and what treatments should I use? The symptoms are small dime-sized circles of hairless areas where the skin has crusted off and taken all the hair with it. These areas are mainly on the neck and shoulder. They are not oily; they are completely dry. The area on the shoulder is much broader and less defined in its shape. The horse does not seem to be itchy. There seems to be dandruff on his body when brushing other areas.

From your description, it sounds like ringworm. The nice dime-sized round circles of scabs that remove the hair are the key. Depending on when the scabs are removed they may have a yellowish pussy layer under them, or they may leave the skin dry and scaly. The best treatment for this is to first clip the hair away from around the infected area (don't need to clip the whole neck, just extend the shaved area so there's a 1/2-inch margin of unaffected skin around each lesion). This will remove the fungus' main food source: keratin, the protein in the hair. Then wet the shaved area with a sponge and wash with an antifungal antiseptic solution like Betadine, Novalsan, or dilute bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water). Make the spot lather up and leave for 10 min to kill the fungus, then rinse thoroughly with water. After the rinse you can apply a vinegar solution (2 tablespoons white vinegar in 1 quart of clean water) to affected areas with a sponge or spray bottle. This solution creates a slightly acidic environment, which the fungi don't like. Dry the wet area well, especially in cold weather. After this step you can apply an antifungal dressing (Betadine ointment, or athlete's foot product) obtained at your local pharmacy or tack shop to kill any remaining fungus on the skin. Repeat this process daily for a week then every other day until the lesions are shiny with new hair growth. It is very important to keep the lesions clean, dry, and exposed to air and sun. Do not blanket him if you can help it. The lesions need the air to heal, plus the blanket could be aiding in spreading the fungus. Also, ringworm is contagious to humans, so you need to disinfect EVERYTHING that has come in contact with the lesions, including any sponges, brushes, clippers, blankets, gloves, fingers, etc.

If this treatment does not work, there may be another problem, or the fungus has infected the area more severely and you should consult with your vet. Keep an eye on the area for healing progress and/or any new lesions developing; you may need to continue treatment if they start to reappear.

How would you treat scratches (the scabby, greasy condition some horses get on their fetlocks)? A Quarter Horse in our barn has had a very bad case. He was treated with various remedies with some (but not total) success.

Scratches can be tough to beat and is painful for the horse. The main thing to do is control moisture so that healing will take place. Depending on the severity of this case, it may be best to have a veterinarian examine the horse. If the horses leg(s) are warm and/or edema (swelling) is present, the horse may have developed a more severe infection or cellulitis (bacterial infection of the skin).

I have a homemade remedy that I use for a variety of “scratches”-type problems. I mix equal parts of furacin ointment with baby diaper rash cream (zinc oxide). The bacterial action of the furacin works on the infection and the zinc oxide keeps the moisture out to promote healing. I use a generic creamy diaper rash cream which mixes easily with the furacin.

Answer provided by Karyn Malinowski, Ph.D., Director, Equine Science Center and reviewed by Shari C. Silverman V.M.D., Senior Veterinarian, Division of Animal Health, New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

My horse just passed a stone in his feces. I think it was because I switched him with a neighbor's horse and therefore he didn’t have a regular supply of clean water. He won't drink water unless it is clean. Can you help?

If there was only one stone and it was in his stool, I wouldn’t worry. If it was fairly round and smooth, I'll bet that if you cracked it open you'd find something like a nail or a piece of metal at its center. The horse's intestine is a bit like an oyster - if something irritating is ingested it will cover it with layers of mineral like a pearl, creating what is called an enterolith (intestinal stone). (This is especially likely if the horse is on a high mineral feed like alfalfa.) If the "environment" in the intestine is right, sometimes even minor irritants like sand can cause multiple stones which can be a real problem. These stones usually have multiple "facets" due to rubbing together and are fairly small. A single stone will be round, and, if passed, as your horse's was, solves the problem. Enteroliths can get so big that they cause intestinal blockage (colic) but it sounds as if your horse has "solved" the problem on his own!

Answer provided by Sarah Ralston, VMD, Ph.D., dACVN, Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

My friend's horse has a stubborn case of thrush. She has tried numerous products, a prescription from the vet, peroxide, etc. Despite all the different products, and keeping his stall dry, the hooves will not dry out. What is the best way to eliminate the thrush and prevent its return? Could it be caused by something in the feed, or a vitamin/mineral deficiency?

Thrush is a common infection horses can develop in their hooves under wet conditions. Because thrush is caused by anaerobic bacteria that love moisture, it can be difficult to prevent if a horse does not have some sort of dry footing available to stand on. Other common causes are abnormal hoof growth, poor circulation to the hoof area and the surrounding tissues, a lack of care or exercise, and poor diet. Symptoms of thrush are a strong odor and a black sticky substance in the hoof.

Thrush is easily treatable, but success depends on how early the infection is caught. One popular treatment for mild cases recommends packing the hoof with sugardine at least once a day and keeping the horse’s footing as dry as possible. Sugardine is a mixture of 10% povidone iodine and sugar. Use double the amount of sugar than liquid to create a paste. Many people have success with sugardine because it does not damage the healthy tissue that remains on the infected hoof. It also helps draw the infection to the surface more easily and allows the hoof to harden again. Using a diluted bleach solution several times a week can help treat mild cases as well as prevent thrush from coming back but care should be taken to not get the bleach on the horse’s skin or coronary band. If a case is serious enough it is suggested that a farrier remove all of the infected or soft tissue and then treat the area with an antibiotic prescribed by a veterinarian and wrap the entire foot.

In extremely stubborn cases, determining if the horse is getting proper nutrition can assist in solving the thrush problem. There is really no one vitamin or mineral deficiency that leads to thrush, but poor nutrition in general is damaging to hooves. Biotin, a water-soluble B vitamin, can help with dry, cracked, or tender hooves and bad-conditioned feet. Many horses may benefit from biotin supplementation, although deficiencies in biotin are rare. Biotin can be found in high concentrations in alfalfa, in slightly lower concentrations in oat, barley and soybean meal, and in lower concentrations in corn.

Other nutrients that are important for hoof health include zinc (for keeping the immune system strong), manganese (for the composition of the skeleton), copper (for bone and connective tissue formation) and vitamins A and D (for bone re-absorption and the properly regulating calcium and phosphorus).

Answer provided with the help of Mia Lombardo, Rutgers University, Animal Science Research Student and approved by Shari C. Silverman V.M.D., Senior Veterinarian, Division of Animal Health, New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

I know that most racehorses get stomach ulcers. How can I prevent ulcers without using a pharmaceutical product?

The best way to prevent ulcers is by changing management practices. Two key practices will help:

My horse is a 15-year-old Quarter Horse gelding that is used for English riding and light jumping. About a year ago he had muscle soreness, stiffness, poor performance under saddle, and difficulty with his hind legs while being shod. He was looked at by a vet using Nuclear Scintigraphy, with no significant findings. He has also tested negative for Lyme disease on multiple occasions.

We recently tested him for levels of vitamins E, A and Selenium. The results showed an elevated E level, a low A level, and a selenium level within normal range.

We made some adjustments to his saddle and initiated a high fat diet with a high vitamin E supplement. The horse is currently doing extremely well, looks very good clinically, and has substantially improved with his hind legs. However, we are concerned regarding the high E level. Should we specifically supplement this horse with vitamin A?

It all depends on what level of E you are giving. I usually recommend that horses with muscle problems be given a 5000 IU/day supplement of E. (Watch that selenium is not increased this much as well.) Studies have shown that groups of horses given vitamin E supplements of 10,000 IU/d had decreased beta-carotene levels compared to groups of horses given a lower (5000 IU/d) dose and control groups (not given a supplement). The levels of beta-carotene were not shown to be deficient (as no deficiency level has been determined), but they could eventually affect vitamin A levels.

I would try to see if your horse could go with 5000 IU/d and still maintain his soundness without muscle problems. If your horse needs 10,000 IU/d of vitamin E, I recommend making sure he consumes good quality pasture or gets a beta-carotene or vitamin A supplement.

I would also consider asking your vet to take a muscle biopsy and test for Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM). It sounds like he might have a mild case since he responded so well to the high fat and high E supplementation.

My 3-year-old Quarter Horse developed "bleach spots" on her face. A friend of mine saw them and said that this was some type of mineral deficiency which is easily corrected with a supplement. I'd like to get the color back in these spots. Do you know what this supplement might be?

Loss of pigmentation sometimes does respond to supplementation with copper and zinc, though there are several other causes that are not nutritional. If your horse is on a good commercial concentrate and has a trace mineral block I would doubt if it were a copper/zinc deficit. Loss of pigmentation also is more common in Arabians than Quarter Horses. There is a genetic disorder in some breeds, of which the Quarter Horse is one, that can cause a "spidery" loss of pigment on the body, but that is not usually restricted to the face. If the horse is on only minimal grain and locally grown hay or pasture (southern New Jersey's sandy soils tend to be deficient in certain minerals), you could try using a trace mineral supplement. There are lots of supplements out there-read the labels and pick one that would provide 15 to 30 mg copper and 60 to 100 mg zinc per day for a few weeks to see if it helps.

Answer provided by Sarah Ralston, VMD, Ph.D., dACVN, Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

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