Jett Equine, Inc.

04/05/2024

Hitting the road with your horse, either for pleasure or for business/competition?

Most horse owners know that a negative Coggins test is a must-have for crossing state lines or entering competitions (or even boarding at someone's barn). But let’s not forget that even homebodies need it!

A "Coggins" is a blood test that checks for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), a serious blood-borne disease. EIA is transmitted by biting flies, particularly horseflies, so your horse is at risk even it never leaves the property or lives in a closed herd.

The clinical signs of the disease can vary dramatically, from an acute infection to an inapparent form that presents mild to no symptoms. No treatment or vaccine exist for EIA at the moment, and infected horses become lifelong carriers. Therefore, to ensure that large outbreaks of the disease don’t take place, horses that test positive for EIA must be quarantined and isolated for the rest of their life or humanely euthanized.

Get your horse tested annually, regardless of travel plans. To learn more about EIA, consult your veterinarian or visit our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-infectious-anemia

04/03/2024

Remember when your parents used to tell you to wait 30 minutes after eating before going for a swim? Unlike us, horses can actually benefit from eating forage before they exercise, as it may help reduce the risk of gastric ulcers.

While a variety of things can contribute to the development of stomach ulcers (medications, diet, stress, etc.), one train of thought is that these areas of irritation result as a consequence of the acid of the stomach splashing against unprotected parts of the stomach lining. When a horse eats forage, the hay can help absorb some of that acid and thus reduce the risk of ulcer formation.

It is important to note that a forage meal (one comprised of hay or grass) provides the most benefit, while eating large volumes of concentrate feeds (such as oats, corn, or other cereal grains) can actually increase the amount of acid within the stomach.

As always, please be sure to consult with your vet regarding further diagnostics and treatments if you have concerns that your horse may have gastric ulcers.
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

12/21/2023

Water remains as important for your horse in cold weather as it is in the summer. As a matter of fact, decreased water consumption in the winter is thought to be the primary inducing factor for impaction colic — although there are other predisposing factors such as poor hay quality, lack of exercise, internal parasites and dental problems.

Impaction colic is essentially constipation and most often includes the accumulation of hard, dry f***l material in the colon. The usual signs of impending impaction colic are depression, a decreased appetite, and decreased production and dryness of manure.

Studies demonstrate that you can increase your horse's winter water consumption if you provide access to heated water, but ONLY if that is the only source of water available. As always, if you have any questions about preventing colic in your horse, your local veterinarian remains your best source of information!

12/14/2023

When you're a horse doctor and/or a horse person, every day is . But even so, are we really going to turn down an easy excuse to celebrate our favorite animals and the many ways they make our lives better?!

Here’s to horses, and to the professionals who dedicate their body (literally!) and soul to keeping our equine friends healthy!

11/15/2023

11/14/2023

DID YOU KNOW?

Strangles is one of the most commonly contagious diseases of the horse (worldwide) and in 2017 it became a nationally monitored disease. This condition is caused by bacterial infection with "Streptococcus equi subspecies equi" (referred to as "S. equi”), which typically infects the upper airway and lymph nodes of the head and neck, and is highly contagious in horse populations—particularly affecting young horses.

Transfer from horse to horse usually involves direct face-to-face contact, or exposure to things such as contaminated feed, water, hands, veterinary instruments or grooming tools. A stall or van recently used to house or transport a horse that is shedding the organism may also be a source of infection.

WATCH OUT FOR ASYMPTOMATIC CARRIERS!
It is not uncommon for strangles infections to recur on a farm with previous outbreaks of the disease, and the primary source of recurrent infections are most likely asymptomatic carrier horses—animals who display no clinical signs but may continue to shed the bacteria for months to even years, serving as a continual source of new infections.

If you suspect a strangles outbreak, be sure to involve your veterinarian right away to determine the diagnosis and the best control practices for your particular farm. Without control and biosecurity measures, a strangles outbreak will ultimately affect all susceptible horses, last longer, and have a greater chance of leading to complications.

**Please note that strangles is a reportable disease in some states.**

To learn more about strangles, visit our website at https://aaep.org/issue/understanding-equine-strangles
And as always, contact your veterinarian for more information as they remain the best source of advice!

11/03/2023

Great practical information courtesy of the horse doctors at Barrow Veterinary Service:

NORMAL: NOT JUST A SETTING ON THE DRYER!
If your horse seems a little "off," do you know what his "normal" is? One of the best ways you can determine if your horse is ill is to know his normal vitals—temperature, breaths per minute, heart rate, and capillary refill time. If they are outside the normal range, a call to your equine veterinarian is definitely warranted! Any refusal to eat a meal or to get up from a recumbent position is also a clue that you and your equine friend need assistance.

10/20/2023

Fall is officially in full swing! Now is the time to crack down on housing, nutrition, and preventative health strategies suitable for the arrival of winter.

The graphic below lists some essential items on the horse owner's fall to-do checklist, but there is much more that needs to be done—like having your horse rugs repaired and waterproofed; securing and storing hay properly; assessing your shelters for safety and soundness; etc.)

Your equine veterinarian is one of your greatest allies this season: be sure to give them a call soon to discuss vaccination and deworming protocols appropriate for your horse’s situation; use this opportunity to chat about recommended changes in nutrition and exercise program as well!

10/05/2023

While it’s a common equine emergency, espophageal obstruction (“choke”) can look alarming, especially if you've never seen it before. Unlike in human medicine, where choking refers to a tracheal (or windpipe) obstruction, choke in horses refers to an obstruction of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

Most commonly, choking occur when horses eat concentrated feed too quickly without chewing it appropriately, which results in a firm bolus lodged in the animal's esophagus. However, esophageal obstruction can also occur with hay or straw, hard treats, carrots, or nonfood objects. Poor dentition, which leads to inadequate chewing, is also a frequent cause of choke.

While common, chokes can have serious consequences so be sure to call your veterinarian as soon as you notice signs of choke. A bad choke is fairly obvious to both veterinarians and horse owners, but a mild choke could be confused with an upper respiratory tract infection or colic.

Read more about this condition on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/understanding-choke-horses

09/27/2023

07/22/2023

WHY DO HORSES GET ULCERS?

Equine gastric ulcers can affect any horse at 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, which are the result of the erosion of the lining of the stomach due to a prolonged exposure to the normal acid in the stomach. Unlike ulcers in humans, bacteria do not appear to cause equine gastric ulcers and this condition is often a man-made disease.

Please note that the only way to definitively diagnose ulcers is through gastroscopy, and that a qualified equine veterinarian should be consulted in any case of suspected gastric ulcers to determine the best course of action and treatment for the individual horse. Prevention of ulcers is the key in helping your horse, as neutralizing the production of stomach acid is nature’s best antacid.

Contact your veterinarian for more information, or read more on equine gastric ulcers on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-gastric-ulcers-special-care-and-nutrition

07/21/2023

Your courtesy of the horse doctors at -Rivers Equine Centre:

One of the most common mistakes horse owners make when their horse presents with colic symptoms is administering Banamine as the initial treatment. Although this may seem like a quick and easy solution to relieve the horse's pain, it is essential first to perform vital checks of the horse's temperature, heart rate, and respiration and to note the reading. This step is crucial because it allows you to share these important readings with your primary care veterinarian before Banamine alters them.

07/12/2023

Horses travel every day for a number of reasons—to be bought and sold, for competition, for breeding purposes, etc. Whatever the reason, horse owners should be aware of the complications that may occur due to transportation, including traumatic injuries, diarrhea, muscular problems, respiratory problems, overheating, colic, and even laminitis (in the case of overweight horses).

Following are a few tips to help your equine friend maintain good health and welfare during transport. This list is by no means complete and we encourage you to reach out to your veterinarian for additional advice when it comes to traveling with your horse!

• Be aware that inadequate management of feed and water intake during travel could cause colic, gastric ulceration and heat stress. Food and water should be provided prior to transport, during regular rest breaks and upon arrival at destination.

• Ensure your horse’s immunizations are up to date against respiratory pathogens to protect your animal from these diseases.

• The horse should be rested before the journey, given rest stops during travel, and have time to recover on arrival at the destination.

• The vehicle should be well-ventilated to help prevent respiratory problems or overheating.

• Drive slowly and carefully (NO TEXTING, avoid driving when fatigued or eating while driving, etc.) to provide a comfortable journey for the animal and reduce the risk of injury and fatigue.

Happy trails!

05/26/2023

VECTOR CONTROL AROUND HORSES: WHY IT MATTERS

’Tis bug season! Besides being very irritating, it's important to remember that some of these insects can spread infection and disease to your horse (and, in some cases, to you as well). Therefore, a smart strategy is to control the problem before it gets out of hand and minimize populations from the beginning.

The attached infographic contains some suggestions to get you started. Please keep in mind that there are many variations of these suggested programs that will still meet the same goals and follow the same principles.

If you’re interested in reading more about external parasites and vector control, comprehensive guidelines are available on our website at https://aaep.org/guidelines/external-parasite-and-vector-control-guidelines. As always, reach out to your veterinarian for recommendations suitable for your horse’s specific situation!

04/11/2023

This time of the year sees a lot of traveling horses, either for pleasure or for business/competition. Most horse owners know that a negative Coggins test is a document required to be able to transport their animals across state lines and enter them in a competitive event (or even board at someone's barn); if, however, you’re thinking that your horse does not need an annual Coggins test because it doesn’t travel, you might want to reconsider.

A "Coggins" is a blood test that can only be performed by USDA-approved laboratories and checks for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) antibodies in the horse's blood. EIA is a potentially fatal blood-borne infectious viral disease that produces a persistent infection—which means that infected horses become a lifelong source of disease transmission, as there is no vaccine and no treatment.

EIA is transmitted by biting flies, particularly horseflies, so your horse is at risk even it never travels or lives in a closed herd. If a horse becomes infected, the clinical signs of disease can vary dramatically, from an acute infection to an inapparent form that presents mild to no symptoms. And once a horse tests positive for EIA, the owner can only choose between quarantine and isolation for the rest of the horse's life or humane euthanasia, to ensure that large outbreaks of the disease don’t take place.

So while a Coggins test is a necessary travel document, don’t forget that it's also first and foremost a way to identify and remove EIA carriers to keep the disease under control.

To learn more about EIA, visit our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-infectious-anemia

02/17/2023

February is Veterinary Dental Health Month - here is your reminder about the importance of having a veterinarian check your horse’s teeth at least once a year!

Contrary to what you may think, equine dentistry is not just about “floating” teeth and dental diseases can have an impact on your horse's body that go beyond the mouth alone. Remember: just because your equine friend is not showing any obvious symptoms of dental disease, it does not automatically mean that all is well. Horses simply adapt to their discomfort and most horses with dental problems will show no noticeable signs at all, until the disease is a serious source of pain and infection that can affect the animal’s overall health.

If you don’t already have a plan in place, be sure to contact your veterinarian today to discuss your equine friend’s dental health and prevent more painful and costly problems later!

02/14/2023

Today and every day, all you need is love and a horse. Or several.

Happy ! ❤🐴
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02/09/2023

With spring only a few weeks away (🙌), it’s not too early to start thinking about a deworming plan for your horses.

If deworming is something you’ve been doing the same way for as long as you can remember, this year we encourage you to break tradition and work with your veterinarian instead. Thanks to tools like the f***l egg count, your horse doctor can help you devise a treatment tailored to the needs of your equine friend plus monitor the efficacy of the dewormer used last. And before you dismiss this notion because you’ve been “doing it for years,” you should know that the old-school approach to deworming is quickly becoming outdated—not only a waste of money but it also builds drug resistance in the parasitic fauna of equines, which means we are running out of drugs that can effectively help us control parasite infections.

For more information, the AAEP Parasite Control Guidelines can be found on our website at https://aaep.org/document/internal-parasite-control-guidelines
As always, consult your equine veterinarian to learn more and for questions specific to your horses!

01/26/2023

If your horse has a cough that persists into exercise or is heard while your equine friend is at rest in the barn, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about evaluating your horse for respiratory disease. It could be a problem with the upper airway (the nasal passages and throat) or the lower airway (the lungs).

While waiting for your appointment, try decreasing your horse’s exposure to dust, as that is a primary trigger for lower respiratory disease such as asthma or heaves. Some simple things you can do include avoiding straw bedding; feeding hay on the ground and/or soaking it; not using a leaf blower on barn aisles; not storing hay or bedding above your horse’s stall. Last but not least : While us humans may be more comfortable with all the barn doors closed up on a cold winter day, your horses’ lungs will appreciate open doors/windows and good ventilation!

As always, if you have questions or would like to learn more about preserving your horse’s respiratory health, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information!
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

01/19/2023

Last Kiss ❤
I'll never forget the day my Mom called me in a panic "Janna, you've got to convince your daddy to get rid of that horse, it's gonna kill him!". Major (AKA "Major Deal" as mama named him) was a young and vicious stallion when dad bought him. He "couldn't be broke". The men who owned him previously had used a technique to break horses that involved beatings and tying his head tightly between two posts where they left him standing without food or water for 4 weeks. Major stood strong. When dad brought him home, he barreled through five strands of fence within minutes of arriving and he'd Bite and strike at anyone within distance.
My dad never broke him.... he earned his heart. Every single day, for hours and hours dad, worked to earn that abused horse's trust. Love won and after two full years, Major allowed my dad to ride him. When dad would go out, Major would kiss him on the head over and over. They had a bond that only horse people could ever understand. It seemed only fitting to let Major say goodbye.
This is Major's last kiss. ❤
Credit: Act Biggy

01/19/2023

On average horses drink 7-10 gallons of water a day and this remains as important in cold weather as it is in the summer because reduced water intake can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as the dreaded impaction colic.

Studies demonstrate that horses will drink more if provided access to heated water and that most water consumption happens within three hours of feeding. How can you use this information to your advantage? Refill buckets at feed time with warm water to maximize your horse’s water intake—especially in the winter when water is more likely to be freezing or close to freezing.

As always, if you have any questions or would like to learn more about preventing colic in your horse, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information!
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

01/06/2023

Foaling season is upon us! Is your foaling kit stocked and ready to go?

If this is your first foaling or you don’t know where to start, the graphic below lists a few essentials for you to include. Having these items ready several weeks before your mare’s due date will mean less stress and scrambling at the last minute trying to acquire what you need.

As always, your veterinarian is your best source of information. Consult your horse doctor for additional recommendations and for training on how to properly use these tools to assist your mare during and after delivery!

12/16/2022

CHEW ON THIS! Another valuable reminder about the importance of having a veterinarian check your horse’s teeth at least once a year, courtesy of AAEP horse doctor .christinestaten:

“Did you know that horses don’t really need their incisors to eat? Yep, even pasture. But if their incisors are a mess, it affects their ability to appropriately grind their food with their molars and pre-molars.

Dental work in horses is not just about floating teeth to get off points. It’s about balancing the mouth so that they can get the most nutrition out of their food without pain.

Shearing hay in the mouth is necessary to get the nutrition out. The guy in the picture was skinny because he could not move his jaw laterally enough to shear his food, but his health and body condition score improved significantly once the incisors were balanced.”

11/10/2022

The term "fat leg" is pretty self-explanatory, but do you know the difference between stocking up and cellulitis?

Many horses will "stock up" with subcutaneous edema (fluid swelling) in two or more legs (usually the hind limbs). Stocking up generally results from a significant decrease in exercise and usually resolves as the horse starts exercising again.

Lymphangitis (or vasculitis, big leg disease, staph infection, or cellulitis), however, is a bacterial infection and a dramatically different condition. While its causes may vary, it’s easy to spot once it sets in: the swelling will be extreme, hot and very painful to the touch, and the horse will be depressed due to the fever and discomfort.

If you think your equine friend has cellulitis or even if you're not sure, we encourage you to seek professional help promptly. Your horse doctor will make the best treatment recommendations, both to reduce swelling and to address any sort of bacterial infection that might be active or that could occur due to the edema in the soft tissue.

Read more on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/lymphangitis-frustrating-condition

10/24/2022

Espophageal obstruction, or “choke,” is a common equine emergency but can look alarming, especially if you've never seen it before. Unlike in human medicine, where choking refers to a tracheal (or windpipe) obstruction, choke in horses refers to an obstruction of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

Most commonly, choking occurs when horses eat concentrated feed too quickly without chewing it appropriately, which results in a firm bolus lodged in the animal's esophagus. However, esophageal obstruction can also occur with hay or straw, hard treats, carrots, or nonfood objects. Poor dentition, which leads to inadequate chewing, is also a frequent cause of choke.

While common, chokes can have serious consequences so be sure to call your veterinarian as soon as you notice signs of choke. A bad choke is fairly obvious to both veterinarians and horse owners, but a mild choke could be confused with an upper respiratory tract infection or colic.

Read more about this condition on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/understanding-choke-horses

10/21/2022

A nutritionist explains the importance of hydration, fiber, and caloric intake during the winter months.

09/29/2022

September 28 is . While the number of confirmed equine cases every year is low, talking about this disease remains important because of the potential for human exposure—which does NOT have to involve a bite from an infected horses, as contact of skin or mucosa with the horse’s saliva could be enough to transmit the disease.

Rabies has many faces but they are all deadly—once a horse shows clinical signs, the animal invariably dies within a few days as there is no treatment.
The good news is that modern vaccines are highly effective and current AAEP recommendations list rabies as one of the “core vaccines” that should be given to all horses annually to maintain immunity (read the full AAEP vaccination guidelines here: https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines)

Equine rabies is a real risk for all horses, and a public health concern as well. Be sure to set up a regular vaccination schedule with your veterinarian if you haven’t already done so, and remember that strange behavior on behalf of your equine friend is always a valid reason to check in with your horse doctor!

Read more about rabies on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/rabies-has-many-faces

09/02/2022

As the rush for pumpkin spice everything begins and you're making plans for the colder weather ahead, you may be considering purchasing round bales for your horses due to their lower cost and greater convenience for feeding pastured animals.

While well-harvested and properly stored round bales can still be an option for your horses, there are a few things you should be aware of—in particular, the increased risk of colic and of botulism, a rapidly progressive neurologic disease with high mortality caused by the toxins produced by the bacterium "Clostridium botulinum.” Prevention of this disease through vaccination is critical, especially in areas where the condition is prevalent (such as Kentucky, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, California, and Tennessee).

As in all horse health issues, your local veterinarian remains your best source of information. Consult your horse doctor on best practices when feeding hay this winter to best meet your needs and your horse’s nutritional requirements; ask your veterinarian about botulism prevention and treatment, too!

More information on botulism is available on our website at https://tinyurl.com/vx8uxdh9

08/31/2022

Grooming your horse can be a therapeutic activity—both for the equine in question and its owner!

Don't believe us? Here are some courtesy of the horse doctors at :

Grooming is an essential component of horse care. It's more than just brushing your horse. It requires attention, knowledge, and care.

A quick grooming every day helps increase blood circulation. It also gives you the opportunity to check your horse's body, especially the parts of the body that will come into contact with tack.

Grooming increases the human-animal bond! Engaging your horse in an activity where you are not requiring him/her to actually perform any work is a release from the demands we push on our riding mounts. This is your chance to let your horse relax.
For those just starting a relationship with a new horse, this is the best way to build a bond.
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08/18/2022

Has your horse been seen by his veterinarian for a dental exam this year?

Contrary to what you may think, equine dentistry is not just about “floating” teeth. Dental diseases can have an impact on the rest of your equine friend’s body and therefore all horses should have a veterinarian perform an oral and dental examination at least annually (or more frequently based on the needs of the individual horse.)

Remember: just because your horse is not showing any obvious symptoms of dental disease, it does not automatically mean that all is well with your animal's oral health. Horses simply adapt to their discomfort and most horses with dental problems will show no noticeable signs at all, until the disease is a serious source of pain and infection that can affect the animal’s overall health.

If your horse has yet to have his teeth checked this year, be sure to contact your horse doctor today to discuss a dental examination for your equine friend and prevent more painful and costly problems later!