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Gallop Poll
A Newsletter from Lodi Veterinary Hospital & Madison Equine Clinic July 2008
Our Equine Staff Problems with Clover and Horses
Becky Burcalow, D.V.M Because of the cool, wet spring we are experiencing, we
may see an increased growth of clovers in our pastures. A
Dave Kolb, D.V.M few clovers that grow in our area can cause problems in
Michelle Krusing, D.V.M horses.
Alsike Clover (15-30” tall, small
Kristin Kultgen, D.V.M pink flower formed at the ends of
R. Dean Meyer, D.V.M secondary branches from the main
stem, solid green leaves) Alsike clo-
Molly Rice, D.V.M
ver can cause 2 syndromes, photo-
Jennifer Thompson, D.V.M sensitization and big liver syndrome.
Photosensitization occurs when horses have had short-term
exposure to the plant. Photosensitization affects the white-
Contact Us haired or pink-skinned regions of the horse. It is charac-
Lodi Large Animal 608-592-7755 terized by sensitivity to sunlight leading to reddening and
inflammation of the skin. Horses with this syndrome re-
www.lodivet.com
cover quickly once the clover is removed from the diet and
lodivetla@charter.net the horse is kept away from sunlight for a period of time.
Madison Equine 608-831-4326 Horses with the photosensitivity will occasionally have sores
www.madisonequine.com in their mouths and mild diarrhea or colic.
Horses that have been eating the clover for a longer period
staff@madisonequine.com of time will have “big liver syndrome”. This is a more seri-
ous condition because it can lead to irreversible liver damage
or cirrhosis. Symptoms of liver damage are highly variable.
Ser
Equine Services These horses can also be photosensitive. They may have a
General Health Care yellow tint to the mucous membranes. They may have more
severe symptoms such as neurologic problems, immune
Reproduction
system problems, weight loss, chronic diarrhea or bleeding
Embryo Transfer tendencies.
Lameness Slaframine Poisoning (Slobbers) (Caused by a fungus
which infects red clover, white clover, alsike clover and
Digital Radiography alfalfa during wet conditions)
Surgical Horses eating clover infected with the fungus, Rhizoctonia
leguminicola in pasture grasses or hay will drool excessive-
Medical
ly. This is not life -threatening but owners are often alarmed
Dentistry when they find their horses wallowing in large puddles of
Acupuncture saliva! This fungus can occasionally cause the eyes to tear,
colic or diarrhea. The symptoms appear 1-3 hours after
Chiroadjustment ingesting contaminated forage. No treatment is necessary.
In-Hospital Care Symptoms subside 48-72 hours after stopping consumption
of the feed. Michelle Krusing, DVM
Small Animal & Food Animal Services Available
Becky Burcalow, DVM
Electrolytes In Horses
As we head into the hot, humid weeks of summer, a question we are often asked on the farms and in the
clinic is the need for electrolytes in horses. Just like humans, horses cool themselves by sweating. Not only is
water lost at this time, but also many very important minerals needed for proper body function.
The horses body is about 65% water (1200 lb horse has about 87.5 gallons of water). During steady exercise
at a temperature of 60-70 degrees F horses will lose about 1.5 gallons of water per hour. When it is very hot this
increases to almost 4 gallons per hour.
Electrolytes regulate fluid exchange between the body’s cells and therefore help regulate body temperature,
this is especially necessary during strenuous exercise. These minerals help the horse from becoming dehydrated
(as long as water is also supplied). Electrolytes also establish proper electrical gradients across cell membranes
for proper muscle and nerve function.
What can happen if electrolyte levels are too low? Dehydration, muscle cramping and tying-up, poor nerve
and muscle function (fatigue), lowered electrolytes levels can also decrease feed and water intake. When the
body looses between 4-5% of water weight (1 hour of hard exercise in hot weather) body temperature will in-
crease at a faster rate leading to possible heatstroke or stroke.
What should be in the electrolytes I use for my horse? There are no hard fast
rules, but in general an electrolyte product should contain 25-35% salt, and
relative to the amount of sodium should have twice as much chloride and a
little less potassium.
How do I know when and if my horse needs an electrolyte? The more the
horse sweats the more electrolytes the horse needs. The better balanced the
base ration of the feed, the less likely you will need electrolytes for a horse
in light work. Horses at maintenance or low levels of work do not generally
need electrolytes if they have a balanced diet and are consuming the correct
levels of salt (2 oz per day).
Horses in training or competition in high heat and or humidity should receive electrolytes 24 hours before
work and continued daily thru the heat and humidity. This includes horses in endurance or 3-day eventing com-
petition or any other strenuous training and work. Make sure that water is available at all times.
Electrolytes can be administered in feed form; salt based which is top-dressed on top of the grain mix. This is
usually very palatable with little resistance. This is the ideal form.
Sugar based products which dissolve in water are added to the drinking water. Refusal rate is a factor, be-
ware many of these are high sugar and have low mineral levels. This can also cause horses to refuse their water
source so this can be a real problem. Some people will also mix these forms with applesauce or yogurt, and
paste forms are available.
You need to know how much water your horse is consuming per day. Water your horse with a bucket if you
are unsure. Horses should consume 10-15 gallons per day with a minimum of 5.5 gallons of water per 1000 lb
horse.
Salt is also very important for the horse to ensure adequate water consumption. Horses require 1.5-2 oz of
salt per day. The horse is a smooth tongued animal. The commercial salt blocks that are commonly made avail-
able to horses do not allow them to consume the requirement for salt. These blocks were designed for cattle or
other rough tongues livestock. Loose salt is available at most feed suppliers and can easily be top-dressed on
the horses feed or be left out free choice for them to consume. Salt blocks can be used but loose salt must also
be top-dressed to ensure adequate consumption.
Please call your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about your horse’s water consumption or
the need for electrolytes and let’s hope for a cool fall!
R. Dean Meyer, DVM
Respiratory Problems in Foals
It was Wednesday morning and I had just treated pneumonia in a foal for the second time. In my mind I was
considering how far we have come in preventing these respiratory problems in foals from previous years. This
not only decreases veterinary and drug expenses, but it can also prevent deaths in some chronically ill foals.
There are several management practices that can be implemented to help prevent and sometimes eliminate
respiratory problems in foals. I like to begin with a good vaccination program. If the broodmare is on a good
program they will pass the immunity to the foal in the colostrum (first milk). This will help protect them during
a critical stage in their life. If the horses on the farm are also on a good vaccination program it will help prevent
outbreaks on the farm decreasing the risk to the foals. The vaccination schedules for foals have been revised
by the AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners) over the last year so
you should check with your veterinarian on current recommendations. They have
discovered that the immunity the foals receive from the colostrum will block the im-
mune response received from the vaccine so they have recommended delaying vac-
cinations in foals until 6, 7, and 9 months of age, if the foal is born to a vaccinated
mare. We have implemented this later vaccination protocol for foals in our practice
and it seems to be working well.
Another important step in preventing foal respiratory diseases on your farm is to
implement a quarantine system. Any new horse that comes in should not be allowed
contact with your foals. This will help minimize exposure to any foreign virus or
bacteria your foal has not previously been exposed to.
A good ventilation system is also important in preventing foal respiratory problems. Many times when a foal
is weaned it is isolated in a separate barn. Make sure these barns have good ventilation. If the foal already has
a respiratory problem it is very important he receive the flow of good fresh air. My number one choice would
be to have the foal outside with a three-sided shelter. If this is not possible, have the foal outside as much as
you can.
Nutrition plays a very important role in maintaining healthy foals. The foals should be started on a quality
creep feed and be eating well prior to weaning. This will be one less stressful factor if they are already eating
when they are weaned. If the foal has any developmental orthopedic disease a good nutrition program will help
with this. Many of these developmental orthopedic diseases will cause pain to the foal. When a foal is in pain
it can be easily stressed and become more susceptible to respiratory disease.
We have found a good deworming program to be the most beneficial in preventing foal respiratory diseases.
At two months of age, a foal will begin picking up round worm (ascarid) eggs. The eggs live in the soil. If you
have had horses on a property the soil is usually heavily contaminated with round worm eggs. The foals ingest
the eggs, the eggs hatch, and the larvas migrate thru the foal’s lungs. The larva will then cause inflammation
and irritation in the lungs. The lungs become much more susceptible to infection. In our practice we worm
foals every month while they are on the mare alternating with a bendazole product and ivermectin until 7-9
months of age and then begin every eight weeks or using a daily dewormer (pyrantal tartrate), i.e. Strongid C.
We put the daily wormer in the creep feed and continue to add it to the foals feed after weaning. By prevent-
ing the round worm larva from migrating thru the lungs we have cut foal respiratory infections in our practice
considerably. We have a big breeding farm that used to have a real problem with respiratory infections in foals.
Since the farm has begun using the daily wormer the problems have been virtually eliminated, much to their
delight. We recommend the daily wormer to all foals; it not only decreases respiratory problems, but the foals
gain and look better due to increased feed efficiency. Some of our clients have been so pleased with the results
that they have continued the product the entire animal’s life.
Call your veterinarian with questions or concerns regarding your foals respiratory system.
R. Dean Meyer, DVM
Radiographs with Shoes
The idea for this article was born because we have been taking a lot of radiographs
of feet. The 2 main reasons for this are that we have been seeing the usual oc-
currences of spring laminitis (founder). The second reason is horse owners are
getting their horses ready for summer riding after a long winter off! This means
lameness evaluations and radiographs for those horses that came out of winter
“not quite right”. We want to make you aware that for some radiographic views
of the foot, we need to have the horse barefoot. Knowing this in advance can al-
low you to plan ahead. If you are planning a lameness evaluation it would be best Figure 1
not to have your horse shod or reset just before as we may need to pull the shoes
to take radiographs. The basic lateral view to evaluate a foundering horse can
be taken with shoes on the foot (see figure 1). Some of
the other views we take would be useless with a shoe in
place. Compare the skyline navicular views in figures 2
and 3. The shoe in figure 3 completely obscures the na-
vicular bone. We would be most likely to want the horse
barefoot for the radiographs if we suspect heel pain,
navicular syndrome or a fracture.
Michelle Krusing, DVM
Figure 3
Figure 2
WHAT’S INSIDE
*Clover
*Electrolytes in Horses
705 N. Main Street
*Respiratory Problems in Lodi, WI 53555
Foals
* Radiographs with Shoes
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