Ed Boldt DVM - Performance Horse Complementary Medicine Services

08/30/2024

As cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are on the rise, it remains critically important that horse owners take steps to protect their equine friends (and their families) from mosquito bites. If you live in a region where mosquito populations persist well into the fall months, your veterinarian may recommend additional fall booster vaccinations against EEE/WEE and WNV (West Nile Virus).

If you don't know your horse's vaccination history or you are unsure whether they have received a certain vaccine, it's not too late to start from scratch with an initial series of inoculations followed by the appropriate boosters, as recommended by your horse doctor.

So, what is Eastern Equine Encephalitis?

EEE is a severe, viral disease affecting the central nervous system, and is transmitted to equids (and humans) by infected mosquitoes. There is no cure for EEE, and the mortality rate is 75-95% (in horses). Prevention through vaccination is key.

Contact your veterinarian for more information, or learn more about EEE with the following resources:

USDA Equine Arbovirus Dashboard: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/equine/arbovirus-dashboard

Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC): https://www.equinediseasecc.org/eastern-equine-encephalitis

AAEP EEE Guidelines: https://aaep.org/resource/eastern-equine-encephalitis-eee/

08/21/2024

As fall draws closer, many horse owners are busy securing their fall and winter hay supply. If you are considering purchasing round bales for your equine companions—due to their cost-effectiveness and greater convenience for feeding pastured animals— remember that there are a few things to consider when choosing between square or round bales.

• Are you equipped/prepared to store your hay correctly?
Improperly stored round bales can lose much of their nutritional value and are also more susceptible to mold, dust, and bacteria growth, which can cause respiratory issues and even colic.

• Are your horses protected from botulism?
Round bales provide an optimum environment for the development of the botulism toxin. This toxin is produced when "Clostridium botulinum" is exposed to the right environmental conditions — such as when forage materials are baled and stored while still damp, or when they include the carcasses of dead animals, like birds and mice.

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).

• Are round bales a good choice for your horse?
Horses prone to respiratory conditions usually have increased problems with round bales due to their higher dust content.

• Do you have a feeder to place your round bales in?
Round bales not placed in a feeder can create more waste, which means your horses may not be meeting their nutritional requirements.

• Can you secure high-quality round bales?
Not all hay is created equal. Be sure to choose high-quality hay to meet your horse's nutritional needs and minimize the risk of impaction colic, which increases with lower-quality, less digestible forage.

As always, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information and advice—consult your horse doctor on best practices when feeding hay this fall and winter!

For more information on botulism, visit our website at: https://aaep.org/guidelines-resources/resource-library/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEwcuRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHV5P3MHpvOoAOGsW2VwZTo-v_0pkILq8xN-reSg_yb3W01gGW_lfk0Nrnw_aem_Pp0WTnTG0S7pEH-BcTMV1g&_search=botulism

08/15/2024

Have you ever been told to not allow a hot, sweaty horse to drink cold water because it could lead to colic, founder or tie up?

This notion is actually a myth, and a dangerous one too, because it could lead to dehydration and very serious (and real) consequences. A sweaty, hardworking horse needs to be rehydrated without delay (i.e. don’t wait for the horse to cool down first).

The key, however, is to know how much water to allow at one time — because of the equine stomach’s relatively small capacity, offer small amounts of water every 20 minutes until the horse drinks his fill rather than letting the animal drink it all at once.

Remember that water is the most vital nutrient for a horse. A horse’s daily water requirements are influenced by many factors, but the average idle 1,100-pound horse in a cool environment will drink 6 to 10 gallons of water per day. That amount may easily double or triple in a hot environment! Therefore, it goes without saying that providing cool, clean water to your horses at all times is of paramount importance.

Source: Equus Magazine and AAEP member Dr. Anthony Blikslager. More information about offering a horse water can be found at https://equusmagazine.com/.../offering-a-horse-water...

07/08/2024

It's National Farriers Week! Let's celebrate the hard work that our farriers put in daily to partner with equine veterinarians and ensure the health and well-being of our horses. Proper hoof care is essential for a sound and happy horse, so it goes without saying that a skilled farrier is both a necessity and a tremendous asset.

Don't forget to give a shoutout to your farriers this week and show them your appreciation for their dedication to their craft!

07/05/2024

Should you be concerned if your donkey stops eating?

While any animal not eating is a worry, donkeys can face serious health risks if they go off their feed for too long. Here's why: donkeys efficiently convert food to energy, making them prone to obesity and increased fat stores. If they stop eating for a while, their bodies break down stored fat quickly which creates high levels of triglycerides in the blood. When triglyceride concentrations within the blood get too high, they are deposited into the liver causing damage and in severe cases, even life-threatening liver failure. This condition is called hyperlipemia.

How you can help: Hyperlipemia can result secondary to primary illness (ex. colic), stressful situations, or an increase in the body's nutritional requirements. Maintaining donkeys at a healthy weight, performing appropriate metabolic testing and care, and ensuring immediate veterinary care when they stop eating can help prevent this condition from starting.

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.

06/28/2024

The Fourth of July is almost here, and many horse owners are concerned about how their horses might react to loud fireworks. 🎆

In the graphic below are some tips to keep your pets and equine companions safe during the festivities.

If your horses are staying out overnight, now is a good time to check fencing and look for any hazards like rocks, branches, or holes that could lead to injury if an animal starts running. If you have a high level of concern about your horse's response, consult your veterinarian about the appropriateness of calming agents and sedatives in advance.

No matter what your plans are, please remember to practice safety and be considerate of the people and the animals living around you so everyone may enjoy the celebration.

Thank you to our Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.

06/20/2024

06/10/2024

"Cool" hot weather tips! ☀️

The notion that a hot, recently exercised horse needs to walk until they are completely cooled off is a myth. A 2020 study found that out of the five methods tested, the quickest way to return to normal body temperature was stationary with continuous tap water application. This doesn't mean that you should abruptly stop exercise—finish your ride or training session with a slow walk to allow your horse's heart rate and breathing to gradually return to normal, but after that your sweaty, hardworking horse should be offered a cool shower and drinking water (small but frequent amounts) without delay.

Overall, enjoy your summer rides but be aware of signs of heat stress in your horse. When heat and humidity soar, even moderate exercise can push your equine friend's body temperature beyond safe limits! Be sure to contact your veterinarian for more information about heat stroke and for recommendations tailored to your horse's individual situation.
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Information brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

05/09/2024

Respiratory health is essential to horse performance, yet it's often under-appreciated or misunderstood. The equine respiratory system is much different than the human’s and it has some limitations, to the point where even a little bit of inflammation or obstruction anywhere in the respiratory tract has a big impact on your horse's performance.

Conditions on the equine asthma spectrum have different manifestations and degrees of severity, so much so you may not even recognize that your equine friend's poor performance issues are related to respiratory health. For example, "feeling heavy,” lack of energy, and slow recovery times are all symptoms that could indicate a condition in the milder end of the equine asthma spectrum.

Reducing dust in the horse’s environment (including bacteria, endotoxins, mites, mold, and fungal spores) is the priority when it comes to both prevention and treatment. Some sources of respirable dust are very predictable (e.g., hay), but things like chickens or chemical spray on nearby fields are also among the many possibilities that could trigger an allergic respiratory response in a horse.

Identifying asthma triggers requires veterinarians and owners to work together, so be sure to consult your veterinarian to learn more about improving your horse’s environment and respiratory health!

04/02/2024

Keeping your equine friend healthy at horse shows starts with biosecurity! The Equine Disease Communication Center and US Equestrian have teamed up to create FREE biosecurity how-to videos for horse owners.
Watch to learn:

• Pre-competition prep: Learn essential steps to take before you even leave home.
• Staying safe during the show: Discover practices to protect your horse while competing.
• Post-competition care: Ensure a smooth transition back home.

Plus, get tips on developing an isolation plan!

Click the link to access the videos and safeguard your equine partner: https://equinediseasecc.org/news/article/Biosecurity-How-To-Videos

03/27/2024

03/27/2024

TODAY is LSU GIVING DAY! Please help support LSU Vet Med!
Any donation helps!
Please go to:
https://givingday.lsu.edu/pages/school-of-veterinary-medicine

03/26/2024

LSU Giving Day

03/25/2024

It's almost LSU Giving Day! Please consider donating even $5 to support LSU Vet Med!

03/20/2024

LSU Giving Day a Week Away!!

03/13/2024

Does require free registration!

02/07/2024

02/06/2024

What is Equine Herpesvirus (EHV)? You've probably heard it called Rhinopneumonitis, a respiratory tract disease that results in "snotty noses," but EHV is more than that. Depending on the strain, this virus can also cause abortion in broodmares, and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) — the often deadly neurologic form of the disease.

Because EHV is endemic in many equine populations, most mature horses have developed some immunity through repeated natural infection. However, they remain a source of infection for other susceptible horses, like weaned foals and yearlings, who usually display symptoms of the respiratory form of the disease in autumn and winter. Performance and show horses are also more vulnerable to the disease, as they commingle with unfamiliar equines in close quarters while under stress from travel and competition.

Proper biosecurity protocols can help reduce EHV outbreaks and other disease transmission. A variety of vaccines are also available for protection against both the respiratory and abortive form of the disease, but there is no equine licensed vaccine at this time that has a label claim for protection against the neurologic form (EHM).

Consult your primary equine veterinarian to learn more about this disease, and work with them to determine the optimal vaccine protocol for your horses.

01/12/2024

As a storm threat of freezing rain and snow marches across the U.S. and Canada ❄️🌨🫧🌬, below are some tips for keeping your horses safe during extreme winter weather events:

1. While lots of hay is ideal for horses to eat to keep warm, now is NOT the time to introduce a round bale if they’ve never had access to one before. It may be more work, but keep throwing them their normal hay source—just more frequently.

2. Similarly, if your horse is not used to being locked up in a stall now is NOT the time. The stress of a major change and the decreased activity can be risk factors for colic. Be sure your animals have access to shelter, hay, and drinkable water but let them move around if they choose to do so.

3. Horses that are thin, older, or fully body clipped are those most at risk in extreme weather.

4. Well fitting blankets are great but be sure horses do not get sweaty under them or that the blankets don’t soak through if snow or rain covered. Wet, cold, and covered is worse that dry, cold, and naked.

5. Some of the highest risk times are when the temperatures hover right around freezing, as that can result in sleet/freezing rain/ice that can make horses wet and therefore colder. Slippery footing is a concern, too.

6. If using electric water heaters, be sure they are functioning and not shocking horses. Take your gloves off and stick your hand in the water (briefly!) to double check.

7. “Trick” your horses into consuming extra water by flavoring a bucket, adding electrolytes to their meals, or soaking their meals in warm water. If you’ve never fed beet pulp before, be sure to add LOTS of warm water. Dry beet pulp is a common source of choke.

8. Tips of ears can be at risk for frostbite. Putting a jumper-style ear bonnet or other ear cover can protect them from wind chills.

Stay safe, friends!