Nic Howell farrier

05/01/2025

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas to all my lovely loyal clients and friends, I hope you have a great Christmas with those that matter most. 🎅🎄 🍻

20/12/2024

30/10/2024

Exciting news! Our latest review article, “SGLT2 Inhibitors: Exploring the Effects in Humans and Horses,” has just been published in Equine Veterinary Education.

This global collaborative effort brought together my co-authors who are experts in human and equine medicine, as well as equine nutrition, to explore the use of SGLT2 inhibitors—such as ertugliflozin, canagliflozin, and dapagliflozin—in both species. While these medications have been extensively researched and used in human healthcare for nearly a decade, their application in horses is still evolving.

In the article, we highlight both the therapeutic potential and the possible side effects of these drugs in horses. Drawing from human medicine, where SGLT2 inhibitors have shown significant benefits for managing diabetes and cardiovascular disease, we also discuss how these lessons might help us mitigate risks and optimize their use in equine medicine.

https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/eve.14071

🩺 Contact us on 0427 072 095 or book an appointment online: https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

06/10/2024

Many horse owners turn to supplements in hopes of reducing insulin levels and preventing laminitis, especially for horses diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Syndrome. However, it’s important to note that no supplements have been scientifically proven in peer-reviewed studies to reduce insulin or prevent laminitis. Despite the abundance of products marketed for this purpose, these claims are often based on anecdotal evidence or poorly controlled studies.

Insulin dysregulation is a complex condition that is best managed through careful dietary adjustments, including low-sugar feeds and reducing overall calorie intake, particularly for overweight horses. While some supplements claim to help regulate insulin levels, these have not been rigorously tested or shown to provide consistent, measurable benefits across a wide population of horses. The unwillingness of companies to share their raw data and lack of large-scale, peer-reviewed studies leaves many questions about their true efficacy and safety.

In addition, products like Founderguard contain an antibiotic called Virginiamycin. There is no evidence that Founderguard reduces insulin levels in horses. This product has been banned in countries such as the UK, and the use of such antibiotics in animal products raises concerns about contributing to antibiotic resistance. This highlights the need to be cautious when considering products that may have unintended consequences beyond their intended use.

While a strong marketing campaign can make some products appear compelling, it is important to remember that relying on supplements may delay proper treatment and prolong suffering in a laminitic horse.

� Contact us on 0427 072 095 or schedule an appointment online: https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

22/09/2024

Pasture high in non-structural carbohydrates has been shown to exacerbate hyperinsulinaemia in ponies and strategies to restrict pasture intake should be implemented in animals with ID (Treiber et al. 2006).

Horses with hyperinsulinemia-associated laminitis should be removed from pasture immediately; but long-term management of horses with hyperinsulinaemia may include some grazing, as long as the ID is under control (Durham et al. 2019). Access to pasture is desirable as it allows the expression of normal horse behaviour, but it is important to note that pasture intake is very difficult to estimate (Rendle et al. 2018).

Grazing in the early hours of the morning when sugar content of grasses is at its lowest and removal from pasture by mid-morning has been recommended previously (Geor 2009). However, stress factors such as frost, application of herbicides and low soil fertility restrict pasture growth resulting in the accumulation of sugars within plants (Geor 2009).

Gradual introduction to pasture is advised but restricting access has been shown to increase intake over a short timeframe (Ince et al. 2011). When first re-introducing the horse to pasture, it is recommended that insulin concentrations are measured after 1-2hrs of grazing in order to determine the insulinaemic response to grass (EEG 2022).

For more information please call 0427 072 095 or book an appointment online https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

28/07/2024

🐴 A new study (Oliveira et al. 2024) has developed a predictive formula for determining the clinical significance of sand accumulation in horses.

🐴 This study is the first to demonstrate a weight-associated cutoff for determining clinical significance of sand observed on abdominal radiographs of horses.

🐴 Given that sand can be an incidental finding, this formula involving simple measurements from abdominal X-rays can help in diagnosing and managing clinically significant sand accumulation.

To schedule an appointment for your horse with our mobile X-ray service, please contact us on 0427 072 095 or book an appointment online https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

29/05/2024

09/05/2024

SAND COLIC

The long dry spell in WA means many horses have likely been ingesting sand for a number of months. Here are a few tips to help prevent colic this season ...
1. Avoid grazing very sparse pasture. Lock your horses off these areas and only graze once a good ground cover has been established
2. Provide access to plenty of good quality roughage in the form of hay.
3. Ensure your horses are drinking!! Some horses don’t drink as much in the cooler weather which can lead to impaction colic. Add some electrolytes to their feed which will encourage more water intake.
4. Consider feeding psyllium husks/epsom salts to help remove sand from the horses gastrointestinal tract, but do not feed psyllium if your horse is showing signs of colic.
5. Provide feed in elevated feeders or hay nets to reduce the chances of horses ingesting sand while consuming feed.
6. Place rubber mats or feeding pads under hay and feeders to create a barrier between the feed and the ground, preventing direct contact with sand.

Signs of sand colic include abdominal pain, discomfort, pawing, rolling, and reluctance to eat. These signs can vary in severity.

X-rays are very useful in determining how much sand your horse has accumulated so we can tailor a treatment plan for your horse. The image below is from a horse with a very large sand burden. X-rays are quick, easy and non-invasive! They can be performed on your property with our mobile x-ray service.

For more information please call 0427 072 095 or book an appointment online https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

10/04/2024

It is important to always check liver and kidney markers PRIOR to starting treatment with SGLT2i. The use of these drugs in horses with compromised kidney or liver function has not been investigated.

It is also important that horses are closely monitored as some will have increased liver enzymes shortly after starting treatment. Without pre-treatment testing it’s impossible to know whether the increases in liver enzymes are related to the drug or underlying liver disease. Many horses with EMS can also have elevated liver enzymes without any clinical abnormalities (Dunkel, 2013).

Given that many breeds at increased risk for EMS are also susceptible to a serious condition called hyperlipemia, it is VERY IMPORTANT to stop the medication if signs of reduced feed intake, colic or dullness are observed or feed is being withheld.

For more information please call 0427 072 095 or book an appointment online https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

19/03/2024

I don’t understand why some treat an issue without confirming what it is and the extent of it.

Gastroscopy is the only way to determine whether your horse has gastric disease. For the stomach to be examined properly it needs to be empty. A 3-metre-long fibre-optic video camera (or gastroscope) will be passed up one nostril and down into the stomach. Most examinations take approximately 10-15mins.

Many horses owners are reluctant to fast their horse for gastroscopy as they feel this will cause ulcers to develop. This isn’t true as we scope many horses, who have been fasted overnight and have completely normal stomachs.

For more information or to enquire about our mobile gastroscopy service please call 0427 972 095 or book an appointment online https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

11/03/2024

Important information that everyone should know

The glandular mucosa is used to living in an acid environment (this is the part of the stomach where the acid is produced) and usually has good defence mechanisms against it. However, for reasons we don’t fully understand, these defence mechanisms breakdown leading to disease in this part of the stomach. What we know about squamous disease cannot be extrapolated to glandular disease – they’re entirely different diseases, and we need to treat them as such. One important difference is that In this part of the stomach, the lesions we see are more inflammatory rather than ulcerated.

Glandular disease is NOT believed to be a disease of diet however, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that behavioural stress as well as frequency of exercise plays a large role in the development of this condition.

Management:
• Reduce exercise to

08/03/2024

A follower asked a few weeks ago if I could make some lists about horse handling. I will do "what a handler expects from the farrier" for my next one.

These are in no particular order. Can you think of any additions?

01/03/2024

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