Grossenbacher Equine Services

15/08/2024

A different type of patient this afternoon 🐎

18/07/2024

It’s a beautiful morning at Woodbine TB’s

13/07/2024

Epiglottic entrapment is a relatively common upper airway issue in racehorses, occurring either intermittently or permanently. With this condition, the soft tissue beneath the epiglottis (aryepiglottic membrane) folds over it, thereby reducing the diameter of the airway and potentially causing damage to the epiglottis.

Some horses develop respiratory noise, poor performance and/or coughing, while others show no symptoms.

Permanent entrapments can be readily diagnosed through standing endoscopy. However, diagnosing intermittent entrapments may require the use of a Dynamic Respiratory Endoscope.

Sometimes the entrapped membrane and epiglottis become thickened and ulcerated requiring antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatments prior to surgery. In some cases, the entrapement will reoccur after surgery, especially if the horse has a smaller than normal epiglottis. Prognosis aftery surgery is generally good for all types of entrapment.

29/06/2024

26/06/2024

During a Dynamic Respiratory Exam; this rare condtion presents with the horse’s epiglottis elevating off the soft palate and retroverting into the aireway with each inspiratory breath. The epiglottis then returns to normal postion with each expiration.

19/06/2024

Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP), commonly known as “flipping the palate”, presents as a prevalent upper airway issue in racehorses, often necessitating the use of a Dynamic Respiratory Endoscope for definitive diagnosis.

Although upper airway inflammation and immaturity may contribute to the condition, it's noteworthy that many mature horses experience palate flipping or instability without signs of inflammation. Particularly during high-speed exertion, the soft palate tends to billow and lose stability, potentially flipping on top of the epiglottis, thereby partially or fully obstructing the airway.

The obstruction is typically accompanied by a distinctive choking or gurgling sound, prompting the horse to suddenly decelerate. However, in most cases, the palate returns to its normal position with a swallow, and by the time the horse is examined with an endoscope upon returning to the stable, the airway may appear normal.

There are several treatment options for patients diagnosed with DDSP. Conservative management strategies, such as employing a tongue tie, figure-eight noseband, or altering the bit, can often prove successful in addressing DDSP. Surgical treatment options include a Sternothyrohyoideus Myectomy (Llewelyn Procedure), and/or a Tie Forward.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram as we take a closer look the equine upper airway through dynamic respiratory endoscopy and the conditions that can now be diagnosed; as well as some of the treatment options.

18/06/2024

Want to understand how horses accumulate and dissipate heat?

Here's a good overview (free article)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10267279/

Heat stress in horses: a literature review.
Kang H, Zsoldos RR, Sole-Guitart A, Narayan E, Cawdell-Smith AJ, Gaughan JB.
Int J Biometeorol. 2023 Jun;67(6):957-973

17/06/2024

An important reminder from OAHN Equine! Please read and share!

Ontario will be experiencing a HEAT WAVE this week!

HEAT STRESS can affect any horse but particularly affects equine athletes.

The BEST way to COOL a horse with HEAT STRESS is with the continuous application of COLD water by hose or bucket.

Don't stop to SCRAPE.

COLD water will NOT cause a horse to tie-up!

Signs of HEAT STRESS in horses include:

• High re**al temperature (>40⁰C or 104⁰F)
• Rapid, shallow breathing with flared nostrils
• Unpredictable (sometimes aggressive) behaviour
• High heart rate
• Dark or “muddy” mucous membranes
• Colic due to ileus (intestines stop moving)
• Poor performance / slow recovery from exercise
• Sudden weakness / collapse
• Dark urine / reduced amounts of urine

If you suspect HEAT STRESS, immediately cool your horse and and contact your veterinarian.

17/06/2024

It's getting warmer!

And that means mosquitoes reproduce faster and seek blood meals more frequently!

Is your horse vaccinated against West Nile Virus?

12/06/2024

Recurrent Laryngeal Neuropathy (RLN) is a prevalent upper airway disease in horses that is commonly referred to as 'roaring.' While the exact cause remains incompletely understood, it typically involves the degeneration of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve, resulting in partial or complete paralysis of the left arytenoid cartilage within the larynx. This paralysis leads to an obstruction in the upper airway, resulting in diminished performance and the characteristic sound of whistling or roaring.

This patient presented with a history of a resporitatory noise during exercise and finishing poorly. The Dynamic Respiratory Endoscopic Examination revealed: Image #1: partial paralysis of the left arytenoid at rest - Image #2: partial paralysis of the left arytenoid during the warm up - Image #3: full paralysis of the L arytenoid with a prolapse of the R and L vocal cord during high intensity exercise.

Patients with a diagnosis of RLN typically undergo a tie-back procedure; this patient inparticular had a tie-back together with ventriculectomy and vocalcordectomy.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram as we take a closer look the equine upper airway through dynamic respiratory endoscopy and the conditions that can now be diagnosed; as well as some of the treatment options.

06/06/2024

Why do a DYNAMIC RESPIRATORY ENDOSCOPE:

A dynamic respiratory endoscope on a horse is performed to evaluate the function and health of its upper airway while the horse is exercising. This procedure is essential for several reasons:

- Assessment of Functionality: It allows veterinarians to observe the movement and function of the structures within the upper respiratory tract, such as the larynx, pharynx, and soft palate, during exercise. This is crucial because abnormalities or dysfunction in these structures can affect the horse's breathing and performance.
- Diagnosis of Respiratory Conditions: Dynamic respiratory endoscopy helps in diagnosing various respiratory conditions that may not be evident during resting evaluations. Conditions such as laryngeal hemiplegia (roaring), dorsal displacement of the soft palate and an epiglottic entrapment can be identified through this procedure.
- Tailored Treatment Plans: By accurately identifying the specific respiratory issue a horse is experiencing, veterinarians can develop targeted treatment plans to address the problem effectively. This may include surgical interventions, medical management, or adjustments to the horse's training and management regimen.
- Performance Optimization: Identifying and addressing respiratory issues can significantly improve a horse's athletic performance. By ensuring proper airflow and function of the upper airway, horses can breathe more efficiently during exercise, leading to better stamina, endurance, and overall performance.

Overall, dynamic respiratory endoscopy is a valuable diagnostic tool for assessing and managing respiratory conditions in horses, particularly those involved in athletic activities where optimal respiratory function is crucial for performance.

05/06/2024

Dr. Shannon E. (Pratt) Phillips studied equine nutrition and exercise physiology for both her Master of Science (from the University of Kentucky) and her Doc...

29/05/2024

Understanding the anatomy of the airway will help in understanding the individual condtions of the upper airway.

NOTE: when looking at an endoscopic image, the L side is the horse is on the R side of the image as we look at it and visversa

Good airway function includes:
- full abduction of arytenoids cartilages while the vocal cords and aryepiglottic folds remain stable
- the epiglottis retains a curved shape
- soft palate and pharyngeal walls also remain stable
- this gives a wide opening for air to enter the lungs

27/05/2024

Culex pipens, the mosquito that transmits West Nile Virus in Ontario, breeds in standing water located .....well .....anywhere.

Remove the Source and Vaccinate your Horse!

23/05/2024

Did you know that there is a website that is a dedicated directory for equine research in Ontario?

It's called ResearchONEquine.ca and was created by the Ontario Animal Health Network Equine Network.

Check it out! I

Keep coming back to see the updates!

21/05/2024

Andrew Peregrine obtained his DVM and PhD from the University of Glasgow, Scotland. He then worked for 9 years as a research scientist at the International L...

11/04/2024

CARM: CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management project. Services, benefits and timelines of the agency's accounting and payment system

27/03/2024

07/03/2024

No hashtag needed …

06/03/2024

Dr Grossenbacher was lucky enough to do two of his favourite things this morning - stitching up a laceration and castrsting one!

27/02/2024

Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) Neurologic Disease, also known as equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM)

There are in fact three genotypes of EHV-1; non-neuropathogenic / N752, neuropathogenic / D752 and, the new variant, H752.

Because both the non-neuropathogenic and neuropathogenic genotypes can cause neurologic disease (EHM), and to avoid confusion, the genotype is not generally included in disease reports.

In our experience in Ontario, when there is a cluster of horse deaths near the beginning of the outbreak, the neuropathogenic / D752 genotype is usually involved.

Both of these genotypes can also cause abortion and neonatal death.

All three genotypes can cause respiratory disease.

23/02/2024

EHV-1

Did you know that Jan to March is when we generally see the highest percentage of positive EHV-1 PCR test results in Ontario? This may be due to stress related to sudden changes in weather or to long-haul transport of competition horses returning home or arriving at training facilities for the upcoming season. It is also breeding season and EHV-1 circulates in broodmares as in other horses.

This is also the time when there are horse SALES and other events occurring. Remember to practice good biosecurity and, especially for SALES, to QUARANTINE the horse for at least 14 days before mixing with your resident herd. Monitor the horse for signs of:

• fever (> 101.3⁰F or 38.5⁰C)
• edema of the limbs
• snotty nose
• abortion (if a broodmare), and/or
• neurologic signs such as a wobbly gait behind

Call your veterinarian if any of these signs occur!

21/02/2024

Everyone was excited to see this horse become a gelding!

31/01/2024

again and the emasculators are ready! -thinglastsforever

09/01/2024

You may wonder why we pull back into the syringe when giving injections in the vein. This picture explains why. We don't pull back to make sure we're in the vessel, we do it to make sure we're in the RIGHT vessel. Today I went to give an injection and pulled back and saw blood brighter than I wanted. I decided to go and get a new dose of sedation and once again pulled back and then gave my dose of sedation. The syringe on the left was my first injection and the syringe on the right was my second injection. Does anyone know why I shouldn't have injected that first syringe? And had I injected that first injection, what would have happened?

03/01/2024

The harness racing community pays tribute to some of the people and horses that passed away in 2023.

04/08/2023

A beautiful way to start the day!

08/07/2023

Handling your Veterinarians hunger so he can handle, well… anything!