Happy Foal Friday (or soon-to-be foal!). One of the best parts of the recommended 30 day pregnant mare ultrasound is seeing the embryos heartbeat! The embryo is visible on the line separating the pregnancy into two halves. If you look closely, you will see the tiny flicker in the center of the embryo shown in the video below!
What the heck is this?
These creepy crawlies were removed from one of our equine patients today—what body area do you think they’re from and what condition(s) do they contribute to?
Whew! It’s getting chilly out there! If your horses aren’t good drinkers, especially in the cold weather, you can try to add some Horse Quencher - in a separate bucket of water than their regular plain water - or apple juice, or molasses, or senior grain to get them water while it’s frigid out! Here is a video of one of our patients enjoying his horse quencher water ❤️ (Make sure to make this a tasty amount, but not too sugary and typically not more than twice a day if they like it as much as this guy!)
Why might Dr. Dugan be drawing 55 ml of blood on this sports medicine patient? 🤔
For those of you that guessed shock wave on yesterday's post, knuckles!
Shock wave (sometimes known as extracorporeal shock wave therapy/EST) is commonly used in equine sports medicine. It serves to increase blood flow and increases production of natural growth/healing factors in the treated areas. This improves speed and quality of healing of injured structures, including tendons, ligaments and bone.
One of its most effective uses is for desmopathies, which are injuries in which the attachment of ligament to bone is compromised; this includes conditions like suspensory ligament and collateral ligament injuries. These are naturally slow to heal and so shock wave can be very advantageous.
Another effective use in horses is for back, muscle, and neck pain. Did you know it's FDA-approved in humans for tennis elbow and plantar fasciitis?
Horses are generally sedated for treatment sessions as it's a bit uncomfortable (not to mention loud); we usually prescribe three treatments at two-week intervals, but that can vary depending on what we're treating.
This particular horse is being treated for an injury to its medial collateral ligament of the distal interphalangeal joint (aka "coffin joint").
We have a very special story and video to share with you! A little over a week ago, a newborn orphan Ochocos mustang foal was found frantically running the road near a ranger station. Her mother was nowhere in sight and she was clearly in distress and in trouble rapidly becoming dehydrated, exhausted and very, very hungry. Many hours were waited to see if her mother would return to no avail. Mustangs to the Rescue stepped in and picked up the filly and brought her to BEMC for 36 hours of ICU care. After making it through the night in tough little mustang style, we knew this little one needed a mama. In comes Honey.
Honey has had many babies and loves being a mama. She was given some hormones over the next few days to bring her back into milk while little Q was given milk replacer at home. Then this Monday, just one day after Mother's Day, Honey was grafted with little baby Q. We bring to you that special moment when she accepts the foal and little Q goes to vigorously nursing. Tears were welling up in everyone's eyes, we assure you! They are now happily in the loving foster care of our technician Anne and continue to be supported by Mustangs to the Rescue.
You may notice that Honey is a bit sweaty and seems a bit crampy. She was given a hormone just before grafting was attempted that simulates a much tamped down birth-like experience and promotes bonding with the foal. Don't worry, she felt better a short few minutes later!
EDITED: We are amazed at how this little foal's story has touched so many people! Thank you for being part of her and Honey's community! If you would like to help Mustangs to the Rescue with Baby Q's ongoing care, please visit: https://mustangstotherescue.networkforgood.com/projects/160204-rescued-orphaned-foal-care-fund
