Whidbey Island Farm Animal Assistance Program

08/25/2023

Hello everyone! We've had some messages regarding donations for some of the horses seized in the on-going Island County animal cruelty case. Direct donations can be mailed to PO Box 402, Coupeville, WA 98239, made out to WIFAAP or Whidbey Island Farm Animal Assistance Program. We are still checking with suppliers and farm stores about setting up accounts to accept donations that route as well. We are touched by all the people who have been reaching out to help these animals. Thank you all!

07/29/2022

This is an excellent chart depicting the normal intake/output of a 1,000 lb horse. 🐎❤️

07/19/2022

We are receiving reports of a loose horse running in the road near Patmore Rd and SR 20, the only descriptor is "brown/yellow" in color. If this is your horse or you know whose it might be, please call ICOM Dispatch at 360-679-9567.

06/30/2022

With it finally warming up but still damp out, and people putting hay up, this is a timely article!!

Often, victims of barn fires learn that while they thought they were prepared with insurance and safety measures, it turns out they weren't.

05/14/2022

05/10/2022

Well, it looks like the deadly avian flu has made it to Washington. I've been tracking this because I worry about my flock, and it just made the jump last week (reported) from ID all the way to the coast. Keep an eye on your farm fowl for symptoms, read below for more information.

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) have confirmed the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) – also known as bird flu – in a non-commercial backyard flock ...

01/27/2022

When you are working and happen to drive by and confuse everyone by calling from a strange car 🤣

01/13/2022

Do you know the top tricks in getting horses to drink more water in the winter? You might if you've already read this month's Horse Health Editorial!

Comment below if you've already read our article on winter horse care and tag a friend who still needs to read it!

Read Here: https://cur.lt/kpwe236yc

01/11/2022

Ever had an escapee get into the feed room or hay barn? Read on...

Your first step should be to get the horse away from the source of feed and assess how much and what he’s eaten; horses can suffer adverse effects from eating as little as a few extra pounds of grain if they are not accustomed to it. Then call your veterinarian.

01/01/2022

Starting 2022 off with some loose piggies... These yours?

12/24/2021

Just in case you didn't hear, we are possibly/probably getting very cold winter weather this weekend. Maybe not a white Christmas, but below freezing temps. Helpful tips for cold weather is to be sure to provide unfrozen water somehow, whether you are (safely) using tank heaters or bringing out hot water to mix with water at the barn, and remember to provide extra hay as horses and many farm animals generate heat through digestion of forage. Stay warm and Merry Christmas!

12/06/2021

Remember to provide access to warm water and give extra hay, as warmth is generated by digesting forages, not "hot" cereal grains like corn etc.

Anyone else COLD right now?! Our sweet alpaca patient was hypothermic and colicky with all this rain and sleet. A heated exam room and warm IV fluids is doing the trick! ♥️

11/24/2021

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) on the other hand 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

11/22/2021

Looks like more rain this week and it's already been so wet ☹️ This week I'm thankful for water resistant boots, rain coats, and warm beanies! Remember to check on your critters and your fencing, lots of trees down last week.

Here's a look at the next 5 days including the holiday! Lowland rain & mountain snow is expected Monday into Wednesday, with a warmer & more rainy system arriving Thursday into Friday. Stay tuned for more forecast updates.

11/19/2021

There was also a case in Sno Co last week. Be aware of biosecurity measures!

11/14/2021

Uh oh! Be sure to check shelters and fences!

Rain and winds will increase this evening with breezy winds through Monday. Power outages and localized tree damage is possible. Rain will be heaviest Sunday night into Monday for the area.

11/10/2021

Do you have a preference? I have had both and I only prefer concrete now in case a horse pees in the crossties - annoying regardless, but can create a hole in a dirt floor!

Concrete or dirt floors in a barn?

Do you prefer to sweep, or rake?

10/29/2021

Something to keep in mind right now, my animal loving friends :(

10/09/2021

Casual research appears to show this is not near here, but this is STILL of tremendous importance and horse owners should read it thoroughly and absorb what this equine medical professional is saying.

09/28/2021

Just for info, no outbreak is reported nearby!

DID YOU KNOW?

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 — 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.

The organism that causes strangles is a bacterium called Streptococcus equi. 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.
Classic signs of the disease include sudden onset of fever as high as 106 degrees F, thick yellow nasal discharge, and swollen lymph nodes under the jaw.

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

As always, your veterinarian remains the best source of information and advice!

09/03/2021

A good farrier + veterinarian team can help you manage club foot; read on for more information!

Veterinarians and farriers can work together to help club-footed horses lead productive lives.

08/29/2021

Don't be scared to do a little math, your hauling safety depends on it!

Whether you’re towing a trailer for work, hauling rock for a weekend project, or heading out on a camping trip, it’s important to know how much your SUV or truck can tow and haul. Here’s how you can quickly estimate your payload and towing capacity and stay within your limits for added safety ...

08/15/2021

Stumbled across this "hack" and what a great idea! Horses, cows, pigs, etc, a quick, cheap trick for extra air in the summer when traveling.

08/04/2021

Interesting!

Boots and legwraps are commonly used to protect the lower legs of the horse from trauma during exercise. However, previous research suggests they can result in increased leg temperature that may be detrimental to underlying tendons. This study, conducted at Middle Tennessee State University, was designed to explore lower leg surface temperature during and after exercise when common leg protections were applied.

Six clinically-sound, mature horses were used to test six boots or wraps: a neoprene boot, a perforated neoprene boot, an alternative neoprene boot, a cross country boot, a combination fleece and elastic wrap, and a polo wrap. The covered leg was selected randomly and the other leg served as a bare leg control. A data logger recorded temperature and humidity every minute during a 20 minute exercise test and for 180 minutes post-exercise (e.g., recovery) during moderate conditions (73°F; 53% humidity).

The bare leg temperature was lowest (82°F), then peaked and plateaued (91°F) during recovery. Conversely, covered legs increased during exercise from 90°F (minute 0) to 97°F at minute 15, then plateaued during recovery. The polo wrap was hotter and more humid than all other covered legs. All covered legs failed to return to baseline temperature and humidity after 180 minutes post-exercise.

The results support the thought that convection cooling is impaired by boots and wraps during exercise and suggests covered legs may reach damaging temperatures. Interestingly, no covered or bare leg returned to baseline temperature within 180 minutes, necessitating further research into the time required for passive cooling of the equine lower leg during exercise and recovery.

08/04/2021

Wowie they seem worse this year? Especially the face flies... Here is an article on some methods for controlling flies around the farm. Geared toward horses, most of these can be used around other livestock as well, however ask your veterinarian first if you have questions!

Here are some helpful tips to help you decrease the flies, thus decrease their negative impact on you, your horses and the people around your facility.

07/20/2021

I try my best! How about you? Sometimes schedules are hard

10 TIPS FOR PREVENTING COLIC

Colic is a term used to describe a symptom of abdominal (belly) pain, which is usually caused by problems in the gastrointestinal tract. As horse owners we must be aware of the combination of signs that alert us to abdominal pain in the horse. Colic should never be ignored, and can become life threatening in a relatively short period of time. Seek veterinary help so that the chance of recovery can be maximized.

Any horse is susceptible to colic; while the anatomy of the horse's digestive system predisposes them to colic, management plays a key role in prevention.

07/12/2021

Good info after the unseasonably hot weather and early dry season (drought) this year.

These 5 considerations for managing horses on drought-stressed cool-season grass pastures in the Midwest can help ensure horse health and pasture longevity.

1. Consider annuals. Planting warm-season (e.g. teff) or cool-season (e.g. winter wheat) annuals can provide emergency forage. Annuals have been shown to effectively provide short-term forage for horses when planted between mid-August and early September. However, in cases of extreme drought, annuals are not a good option as some rainfall is needed to support germination and plant growth.

2. Maintain and use a dry lot (pictured). Housing horses in a dry lot will help avoid over-grazing and provides an ideal place to feed hay.

3. Be aware of nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) content. Cool-season grasses average 12 to 16% NSC during summer months; however, NSC content can exceed 20% during dry periods. This is because grasses tend to accumulate NSC to help buffer the negative impacts of stress, including drought. While elevated NSC concentrations may not negatively impact healthy horses, these levels are likely to cause issues in horses with a history of laminitis, obesity, Equine Metabolic Syndrome, and other diagnoses requiring a diet lower in NSC.

4. Know the risks associated with nitrate toxicity. The potential for nitrate toxicity, especially if grazing weedy pastures, warm-season grasses, or their early regrowth, is elevated during dry periods. A forage nitrate test can determine the risk for nitrate toxicity. Horses should not consume forages with nitrate concentrations over 4,600 ppm.

5. Watch horses. Dry pastures tend to be sparse with shorter grasses which can increase the likelihood of ingesting soil, especially sand, and parasites. Watch for signs of sand colic and ensure horses are current on deworming.

07/05/2021

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸