Leven Equine Veterinary Services

30/07/2024

An often overlooked cause especially for recurrent gastric ulceration is undiagnosed musculoskeletal pain.

HOW AND WHY DO HORSES GET ULCERS?

Equine gastric ulcers can affect any horse of any age. Up to 90% of racehorses and 60% of show horses, as well as non-performance horses and even foals are affected by equine gastric ulcers. Gastric ulcers result from the erosion of the stomach lining due to a prolonged exposure to the normal acid present in the stomach.

Unlike ulcers in humans, bacteria do not appear to cause equine gastric ulcers. Instead, this condition is often a man-made disease. Stall confinement alone can lead to the development of ulcers. A horse’s feeding schedule and high-grain diets can also contribute to the development of ulcers.

Stress, both environmental and physical, can increase the likelihood of ulcers, as can hauling, training, and mixing groups of horses. Strenuous exercise can decrease the emptying of the stomach as well as the blood flow, thus further contributing to the problem.

The treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers is directed at removing these predisposing factors, therefore decreasing acid production within the horse’s stomach. Prevention of ulcers is the key in helping your horse, as neutralizing the production of stomach acid is nature’s best antacid.

Please note that the only way to definitively diagnose ulcers is through a gastroscopy. An equine veterinarian should always be consulted in any case of suspected gastric ulcers to determine the best course of action and treatment for the individual horse.

03/05/2024

I have noticed an increase in demand for hay recently as many of us have started feeding out earlier than usual this year.

Here are some tips to help make your hay go further as we head into the cooler months.

🐴 Assess the body condition score of your horse NOW. It is easier to maintain weight than it is to put weight on a horse. If your horse already has a BCS of 2.5/5 (4/9) or less you will need to start supplementing feed now rather than later.
🐴 Whilst supplementing with hard feed/concentrates might be necessary, please remember that at least 2/3 of their diet should comprise of roughage and fibre to maintain gut health. Where possible, replace grain with super fibres such as beet pulp and soy hulls. Small frequent feeds are also more efficiently digested than one large feed.
🐴 Get your horse's teeth checked to ensure that they are able to chew appropriately to maximise efficiency of the feed
🐴 Determine gastrointestinal worm burden with faecal egg counts, deworm if required and rotate paddocks regularly to prevent over-grazing (if possible).
🐴 Rug strategically, especially against wind. Rugging to help maintain warmth may help with feed efficiency. Do remember to remove rugs on warm days.

Having some management strategies in place now may help get your horses through winter more comfortably.

❤️And lastly, please keep in mind the Quality Of Life of older horses. 🌈

13/04/2024

: Unlike humans, horses don’t have collarbones. Their shoulders are held to the rest of their skeleton via a sling of muscles and ligaments instead, often referred to as the “thoracic sling.”

Why is this important? We often ask our equine athletes to perform complex movements that require tremendous strength and coordination, and horses carry the majority of their weight in their front end. Therefore, it is imperative that the bulk of the muscles that support the front end are kept healthy and conditioned, and the horse is trained to use their “motor” — that is, engaging the large hind end muscles as much as possible to avoid excessive weight bearing on the front end.

If the front end of the horse is consistently overweighted or not at an appropriate level of fitness, repetitive biomechanical stresses get transferred down the leg to the smaller ligaments and tendons that were not designed to bear this weight, which can then lead to injury.
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Brough to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

02/04/2024

Dear Valued Clients,

I will be taking a break 🏝from the 8th-23rd April. During this period I will be unavailable to take any phone calls. If you want to get in touch in regard to a non-urgent matter, I will check text messages, FB business messages or emails periodically.
I will be back on deck on the 24th April, refreshed, recuperated and refocused. 🤞

25/03/2024

**Expressions of Interest**

Gastroscopy day early May, date and location to be determined.
PM if interested and for more information. Minimum numbers required to go ahead.
Register interest by 30th April.

08/03/2024

In anticipation of a blisteringly hot long weekend, just a couple of reminders to ensure our horses and ponies do not become unnecessarily dehydrated or suffer from heat stress.
☀️ ensure all water troughs have fresh water
☀️ add a couple of tablespoons of salt to their feed to encourage drinking
☀️ ride in the cool of the day. If you have riding activities planned for the middle of the day, ensure that your horse receives adequate electrolytes and water to replace losses from sweating.
☀️ if you are out trail riding, ensure that you have water/water source for your horse during or after your ride.
☀️remove all heavy, or waterproof rugs.
☀️ horses also lose fluids during travel. The longer the trip, the more they lose. So ensure your horse/pony is well hydrated before and after travelling.

💥 signs of dehydration include lethargy, loss of appetite, colicky signs and other vague signs of unwellness.
💥 if you are worried about your horse or pony, please do not hesitate to contact a vet as conditions can deteriorate and become more complicated.

Enjoy the weekend. Stay safe and stay cool 😎

01/03/2024

Our new website is live!
www.levenequinevet.com.au
More content and resources will be added so stay tuned!

21/02/2024

A worthwhile read

Do you suspect your horse is lame? Here we'll show you how to fine-tune your riding senses to recognize lameness when you're on your horse.

30/01/2024

Colic is not a disease, but rather a combination of signs that alert us to abdominal pain in the horse. Colic can range from mild to severe but it should never be ignored, as many of the conditions that cause colic can become life threatening in a relatively short period of time. Only by quickly and accurately recognizing colic – and seeking qualified veterinary help – can the chance for recovery be maximized.

Virtually any horse is susceptible to colic, so management practices can play a key role in prevention. And although not every case is avoidable, the guidelines listed in the graphic can help you maximize your horse’s health and reduce the risk of colic.

As always, remember that every animal is different depending on age, breed and other health conditions, so be sure to work with your veterinarian to address any concerns specific to your situation!

24/12/2023

Dear Valued Clients,
Thank you for your support throughout the year.

19/12/2023

Wishing you and your horses a safe and uneventful Christmas.

06/11/2023

Are we listening when they whisper? Or do they have to shout to get our attention?

Horses are generally content and compliant animals—unlike humans, they don’t typically have “bad days” that negatively affect their personalities due to emotional duress. Furthermore, as a prey animal they are cognitively designed NOT to show stress or injury, or else they will be recognized as a target by a predator, or bumped down the herd hierarchy.

If a horse is acting differently, it is almost undoubtedly due to a medical issue. We can appreciate this as lameness, but typically the behavioral signs preclude an obvious gait abnormality. Sometimes these behaviors seem chronic (e.g., “He/she always pins their ears when we tighten the girth, or bites at my leg when I ask for more effort.”), but it is important to remember that many horses live with chronic pain. It is rare that a horse is angry or cranky as a result of its genetic nature. Admittedly, some horses “train” their people to back off if they demonstrate a particular behavior, but pain absolutely should be ruled out before coming to this conclusion.

Therefore, if your horse is acting differently, or comes out stiff or lame, it is necessary to consider medical reasons for this behavior, even if your equine friend “works out of it.” As pain is generated, the horse’s body releases pain modifying agents in order to perform its job—which once again goes back to being a prey animal.

As the guardians of these magnificent animals, it is imperative that we “listen” to what the horse is trying to tell us and at the very least get a medical expert’s non-biased opinion about what could be going on, in order to rule out injury or illness as a contributing factor. We owe it to the horse.

Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee
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Want to learn more? Watch the documentary based on Dr. Sue Dyson’s groundbreaking work on signs of pain in the ridden horse here: https://equimanagement.com/news/dr-sue-dyson-featured-in-new-equine-documentary-on-the-24-behaviors-of-the-ridden-horse-in-pain/

03/11/2023

Contact me to intergrate high powered laser (Class IV) therapy into your horse’s recovery from injury, performance and wellness plans

Learn more about Class IV laser treatments, the current research, and opportunities for further advancement.

12/10/2023

📣 LAMINITIS ALERT 📣

With the increased moisture in the environment 🌦 over the next couple of days, please please be vigilant and keep laminitis prone 🐴 horses & ponies off the grass. Monitor for classical signs of laminitis such as reluctance to move, frequent weight shifting between feet, unusually short choppy gaits. More serious episodes may also present with laying down more frequently, inappetence and sweating. Note that these symptoms may also be present in a horse with colic.

It is also a good time to practice feeling for a digital pulse in your horses' feet. Please refer to my previous post for some tips on how to do so.

Please ring your veterinarian if you are concerned about your horse/pony displaying any of these signs.

05/10/2023

Simple yet very useful to know! Practice feeling for a digital pulse in your horse or pony and get to know what is normal.

02/10/2023

🪱What does your deworming program look like?
🪱Are you deworming routinely every X number of weeks?
🪱Are you getting faecal egg counts done before deworming?
🪱What do faecal egg counts tell you?
🪱What do the faecal egg counts NOT tell you?
🪱 What is the current recommended use of anthelmintic products?

04/09/2023

How do you know if your horse is feeling good?

28/08/2023

“Membership is an indication to the profession and the general public of an advanced practitioner with knowledge, competence and experience in a specific area of veterinary practice “

The discipline of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation integrates knowledge on internal medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, clinical pathology, pharmacology, pain management, nutrition, exercise physiology and diagnostic imaging. It also includes an understanding of complementary disciplines including acupuncture, manual therapies and rehabilitation.

All that studying has paid off!

28/06/2023

Today the focus is on my favourite subject! FEET!
Looking at a horses' feet tell me a lot, about how they may be moving, their general well being, and it gives me a timeline to significant events in the last 10-12 months that may have affected or is affecting their health.

The ability to stand comfortably and balance the rest of the body when in motion is an important influence on the soundness of a horse. You have all heard it before "no hoof no horse". But have you really thought about what it really means, and how it applies to each horse?

PODIATRY RADIOGRAPHS
The photo on the right is 6 months after the one on the left.

What are the changes you can see?

It is not perfect but it is a large improvement. I have seen it many times over, how correcting the feet affects behaviour, performance, body shape and muscling.

Contact me if you want an assessment of your horses' feet and hoof health which will include podiatry radiographs. Let me help you help your hoof care professional in taking better care of your horses' feet.

I'll leave you with a thought to ponder:
🐴 Why does the foot have such an impact on the rest of the leg and body?

16/06/2023

It has been a wet start to winter up here in NW Tassie. And it is about to get colder! Geriatric or aged horses are our focus today, and here are a few reminders to ensure your old companion goes through winter relatively comfortably.

📌 body condition score - monitoring the body condition of your old horse to make sure he is not losing too much weight or too quickly over the colder months. Their thick coat or rug may hide their true body condition if you only look at them and not put your hands on them. A quick and simple way is to run your hands along their ribs (even under their rug) and feel how much or how little flesh covering there is over the ribs. Losing some weight over winter (especially towards the end of winter) is normal, but you don't want to feel like you are strumming a guitar over their ribs especially this early in the season. It is especially important to monitor their body condition closely mid to late winter as that is usually when they would have depleted any little reserve they have and will drop condition quickly.

📌Frosty mornings - if you live in an area that is prone to frosts, always check your horses' water troughs in the morning for a layer of ice.

📌adequate nutrition - ensure you have lots of forage for your old horse over the cold months. The colder it is the more they will consume. Older horses tend to require higher quality source of proteins to maintain condition so good quality hay is a good way to go. If you do need to supplement their diet to meet their caloric demands, or your old horse is unable to eat hay (eg due to poor dentition) talk to your regular vet and local feed supplier to discuss your feeding and supplement options.

📌hoof care - maintain a regular trimming or shoeing cycle even through winter! It may be a slightly longer (ie 2 weeks) interval between trims or shoeing but they should not be left for the entire season. Having regular hoof maintenance is not only about getting their hooves trimmed, but it is also a regular check-up on the overall condition of the foot. Pathologies detected early are easier to deal with!

❤️ quality of life - lastly, it is never easy having older horses. It is our responsibility to assess how our old companions are going through a winter and reflect on their quality of life. If you have any concerns about your horses' health or well being, have a chat to you regular veterinarian.

09/06/2023

Expecting a foal this spring?
It is a good time to make a check list to manage your mare through the last stages of her pregnancy and prepare her for foaling.
✅make sure her Tetanus vaccination is up to date
✅Monitor her body condition score - not too fat, not too thin. Her ribs should not be visible but should be able to be felt with slight pressure.
✅Some pregnant mares may develop transient insulin dysregulation resulting in laminitis. Monitor insulin levels to ensure appropriate steps to prevent laminitis and manage her diet as needed.
✅ Adequate plane of nutrition - Pregnant mares have changing planes of nutrition as gestation progresses. Appropriate amount of calories, vitamins and minerals are important to ensure development of a normal and healthy foal.

Consult your regular equine veterinarian if you have any concerns and to receive appropriate advice for your pregnant mare.

*second photo is of test kit displaying extremely high insulin levels in a pregnant mare*

22/05/2023

18/05/2023

LEVS is turning 5! It hasn’t always been rainbows and sunshine, but it has been worth the ride.
To mark this milestone, we’ll be celebrating with a couple of friends and everyone is invited. Stay tuned!

06/04/2023

24/01/2023

Great advice and what one can expect from a poor performance or gait/lameness assessment.

Catching and diagnosing equine lameness early, when you first notice something is “not quite right,” gives your horse a better chance for a quick recovery.

05/01/2023

A good write up on an increasingly common diagnosis.

BACK PAIN is a common issue in riding horses (one study estimated 94% of ridden horses demonstrated signs of back pain!).

But did you know that back pain is commonly a SECONDARY problem to distal limb (lower leg) lameness?

And distal limb lameness often results in some symptoms under saddle that riders may not automatically associate with orthopaedic pain such as:

🦴 Reduced LATERAL BEND

🦴 Increased rigidity or “STIFFNESS” in the back

🦴 REDUCED FLEXION and increased extension of the back (the opposite of the posture most riders work towards)

🦴 Persistent BACK PAIN

This is why our veterinarians will always recommend a full orthopaedic examination when assessing a horse for back pain or other symptoms of poor performance such as struggling with lateral bend, or failure to develop topline.

Did you know a recent study published last month in the Equine Veterinary Journal showed some very interesting findings? The study collected electromyographic data from horses with induced, reversible forelimb and hindlimb lameness. This data included:

💥 Assymetric lateral thoracolumbar bend seen in horses with hindlimb lameness meaning the horse struggled to bend particularly towards the lame side

💥 Reduction in thoracolumbar flexion in horses with forelimb lameness

💥 Reduction in thoracolumbar flexion and increased in thoracolumbar extension with hindlimb lameness

💥 Abnormal increases in activity in the muscles running the length of the spine in both forelimb and hindlimb lameness - this often leads to significant back pain in our clinical experience

Not only is this information important for vets and other equine health professionals - it is also very relevant to coaches, judges and horse owners/trainers. All things to look out for as we work towards high horse welfare standards!

If your horse is demonstrating any of these symptoms we would recommend an examination from your equine veterinarian or give us a call at the clinic!

31/12/2022

What a whirlwind of a year it has been! And just like that, its a wrap for 2022!
Thank you to the amazing horses and ponies and their dedicated humans for the year that has been. Thank you for keeping me focused, passionate and committed to what I do.

It has been a year of learning and exploring the expanding world of equine biomechanics, locomotor pathology, musculoskeletal diagnostic imaging and rehabilitation. And not to forget the addition of a treatment modality in my brand spanking new therapeutic laser!

I am quietly excited for what 2023 might bring, as the new year steams full on ahead for me.

Here is to a thrilling year ahead, more ups, downs and turnarounds.

Have a wonderful start to the new year!

24/12/2022

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

☀️ Stay cool and hydrated over the coming days 😎

12/12/2022

This 👇

Diagnostic imaging results are clearer than ever, but how they will affect a horse's performance career isn't always evident.