Michael J. Suit, DVM, LLC

Michael J. Suit, DVM, LLC Equine ambulatory veterinarian servicing Berthoud, Loveland, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Johnstown, a
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Now is the moment you've been waiting for!!!It is time for us to announce the three winners of our August contest and gi...
09/01/2021

Now is the moment you've been waiting for!!!

It is time for us to announce the three winners of our August contest and giveaway!

First Place Winner: Jenelle Kemper

Congratulations! You have won a t-shirt featuring a picture of Jasper, the naughty donkey from the James Herriot novels AND a ball-cap with the practice logo.

Second Place Winner: Annette Kerns Marshall

Congratulations! You have won a t-shirt featuring a picture of Jasper, the naughty donkey from the James Herriot novels.

Third Place Winner: We had a tie between 3 of our entrants, so we put their names into a bowl and drew a name at random, and the winner is... Meaghan Fuller Hanes!

Congratulations! You have won a ball-cap with the practice logo.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our August contest and giveaway. We loved seeing so many pictures of you guys enjoying the James Herriot novels and having fun with your horse(s)!

If you were one of the three prize-winners, please send an email to: [email protected] with your current mailing address so we can ship you your prize and if you won a t-shirt, please include your t-shirt size as well.

08/30/2021

Our August contest and giveaway closes tomorrow at 11:59 PM MDT!

Make sure to get your entries in!!!

Please see previous posts for a description of rules and prizes.

Only five days left to enter our August contest and giveaway! Entries will close on Tuesday, August 31st, at 11:59 PM MD...
08/28/2021

Only five days left to enter our August contest and giveaway!

Entries will close on Tuesday, August 31st, at 11:59 PM MDT. Please see previous posts for contest rules and a description of the prizes.

Best of luck and thank you to everyone who has already entered. We have loved seeing your wonderful posts!

What is the Henneke Body Condition Scoring System?That is a great question! The Henneke body condition scoring system wa...
08/26/2021

What is the Henneke Body Condition Scoring System?

That is a great question!

The Henneke body condition scoring system was developed by Don Henneke, PhD, and is a standardized system for evaluating the horse’s body condition. It evaluates 6 parts of the horse, the neck, withers, shoulder, ribs, loin, and head of the tail by pressing on them gently and giving each part a score from 1-9. The scores for each section are then added together and divided by 6 to give the horse’s overall body condition score. When using the Henneke BCS system, it is important to understand that because it is a standardized system, it does not take into account conformational differences that occur across different breeds of horses, or body changes that occur during different stages of the horse’s life, such as pregnancy. Thus, this tool should be used as a general guide only. If you have questions about whether or not your horse is at a healthy weight, you should consult with your veterinarian before making changes to its feed or exercise regimen.

Below is a description of each of the BCS scores. Scores between 4 and 7 are considered acceptable, while a score of 5 is considered ideal.

BCS of 1 (Poor) - The neck, withers, shoulder, ribs, loin, and tail-head are easily discernible and protrude prominently.

BCS of 2 (Very Thin) - The neck, withers, and shoulder have a bit more of a fat covering, but are still faintly discernible. The ribs, spinous processes of the loin, and tail-head are still prominent.

BCS of 3 (Thin) - The neck, withers, and shoulder are accentuated but less prominent. The ribs are discernible but have a bit more of a fat covering. The spinous processes of the loin are still discernible but have fat accumulation ~halfway up, and the transverse processes are not palpable.

BCS of 4 (Moderately Thin) - The neck, withers, and shoulder are no longer prominent. The ribs have a faint outline but are mostly covered. The loin has a slight peak to it but the spinous and transverse processes are not easily palpable, and a small amount of soft fat can be felt around the tail-head.

BCS of 5 (Moderate) - The neck, withers, and shoulder blends smoothly into the body. The ribs can be felt but not seen. The back is flat and there is a bit more of a fat buildup around the tail-head.

BCS of 6 (Moderately Fleshy) - Fat deposits aren’t obvious but are beginning to form along the neck, withers, shoulder, ribs, and tail-head, and the loin has a slight dip or downward crease to it.

BCS of 7 (Fleshy) - More noticeable fat pads along the neck, withers and shoulder, in between the ribs, and around the tail-head. Pressure must be applied in order to feel the individual ribs, and downward crease may be present along the loin.

BCS of 8 (Fat) - Very noticeable fat deposits have formed along the neck, withers, shoulder, and tail head. The ribs can barely be felt, and there is a definite downward crease along the loin.

BCS of 9 (Extremely Fat) - The amount of fat deposits give the neck, withers, shoulders, and tail-head a bulging appearance. Fat patches can be felt across the ribs, and there is a definite downward crease along the horse’s back.

We hope you have enjoyed learning about the Henneke Body Condition Scoring system, and make sure to check our page next week for another educational post!

Sources:

https://www.habitatforhorses.org/the-henneke-body-condition-scoring-system/ (Description of Henneke BCS System)

https://www.vitaflex.com/the-arena/conditioning/body-condition-scoring (Image)

08/24/2021

Only one week left to enter our August contest and giveaway!!!

Make sure to get your entries in and remember that every picture you post of the James Herriot novels or you having fun with your horse counts as an entry, so you can enter more than once to improve your chance of being one of the three prize-winners!

Please include the hashtag: findingjamesherriot in your posts so we can keep track of them.

Fun facts about horses for your Friday!!!1) A "cow kick" is when the horse strikes forward or out to the side with its h...
08/20/2021

Fun facts about horses for your Friday!!!

1) A "cow kick" is when the horse strikes forward or out to the side with its hind leg. Because horses have a fixed pelvis, they can't kick as high or as hard in the side-ward direction as they can straight back.

2) Horses can have blue eyes! This is referred to as "wall eyes" and is caused by a lack of pigmentation in the horse's iris.

How do I know if my horse isn’t feeling well? You are probably familiar with the signs of illness or injury in a person,...
08/18/2021

How do I know if my horse isn’t feeling well?

You are probably familiar with the signs of illness or injury in a person, but how familiar are you with the signs of illness or lameness in a horse? In today's post we are going to discuss some of the signs of illness or lameness to help you better identify when your horse may not be feeling well. Please note that this is a general list and does not account for every situation. If you are ever concerned that your horse may be ill or injured, you should always consult with your veterinarian even if it isn’t presenting the signs on this list.

10 Signs That Your Horse May Be Sick or Lame:

1) Rolling Repeatedly - it is normal for a horse to roll occasionally, but excessive rolling can be a sign of colic.

2) Lack of appetite - this can be a sign that the horse needs its teeth floated, is feeling colicky, or has an infectious disease such as influenza or West Nile virus.

3) Eyes that are cloudy, dull, or have excessive discharge - this could be a sign of many different conditions, such as a scratch or an ulcer, but issues involving the horse’s eyes are not something to mess around with and are always a reason to call your veterinarian.

4) Excessive amounts of white or yellow discharge coming from the nostrils - A small amount of clear discharge is relatively normal, however, if you notice large amounts of white or yellow discharge, in particular if the horse also has a fever, this could be a sign of an infectious disease.

5) Abnormal body condition - ideally, your horse should be between a 4 or 5 out of 9 on the Henneke body condition score. A horse that is either too thin or overweight is much more predisposed to health issues than a horse with a normal body condition.

6) Dull hair coat or that may fail to shed during the summer - this can be a sign of malnutrition, parasites, or an endocrine condition such as Cushing’s disease.

7) Abnormal vital signs - normal vital signs are as follows:
Heart rate: 28-44 beats per minute.
Respiratory rate: 10-24 breaths per minute.
Capillary refill time: 1-2 seconds
Mucous membranes: should appear moist and a healthy pink
Intestinal sounds: These should be audible when your veterinarian listens with a stethoscope.

8) Loose stool or lack of stool production (horses should produce a bowel movement roughly 8-12 times per day) - this is also a sign of colic.

9) Dehydration (horses should drink between 5 and 10 gallons of water each day) - not drinking enough water puts a horse at risk of overheating, colic caused by an impaction, and many other health issues.

10) Heat/swelling in the horse’s legs or feet, sawhorse stance where the horse shifts its weight onto the back legs, or favoring one front leg - these are all signs of lameness, and the sawhorse stance can be a sign of laminitis.

Source: https://aaep.org/horsehealth/signs-healthy-horse

Enter our August contest and giveaway for your chance to win a t-shirt featuring a picture of Jasper, the naughty donkey...
08/16/2021

Enter our August contest and giveaway for your chance to win a t-shirt featuring a picture of Jasper, the naughty donkey from the James Herriot novels, a ball-cap with the practice logo, or BOTH!

To enter, post as many pictures as you can of yourself reading the James Herriot novels, or pictures of you and your horse out having fun. Prizes will be awarded to the three people with the greatest number of photos! Please include the hashtag: findingjamesherriot in your posts so we can keep track of them.

Entries will close on Tuesday, August 31st, at 11:59 PM MDT. Best of luck everyone and thank you to those of you who have already entered our giveaway. We have loved seeing all of your wonderful posts!

Have you been missing our Fun-Fact Fridays? If so, then don't worry! Today we are bringing them back with two fun facts ...
08/13/2021

Have you been missing our Fun-Fact Fridays?

If so, then don't worry! Today we are bringing them back with two fun facts about horses!

1) Horses are able to sleep standing up thanks to a system of tendons and ligaments called the "stay apparatus," which is found in both the front and hind limbs and allows the horse to lock its joints in place so they don't collapse while it is sleeping.

2) While humans only have 3 muscles in their ears, horses have 10. This allows them to rotate their ears nearly 180 degrees and move each ear independently of the other. This is shown in the image below, where one of the horse's ears is pointing forward, while the other is pointing to the side.

Source: https://spca.bc.ca/news/fun-facts-about-horses/

Basic anatomy of the horse’s hoof The saying, “no hoof, no horse,” certainly has a lot of truth to it, so much so that i...
08/11/2021

Basic anatomy of the horse’s hoof

The saying, “no hoof, no horse,” certainly has a lot of truth to it, so much so that in today’s post we are going to discuss three parts of the equine hoof so you can better understand its composition and how it protects the many other structures that lie inside it.

3 parts of the horse’s hoof:

1) Wall – this is a hard structure made of keratin that encases the front and sides of the third phalanx (coffin bone). It is devoid of nerves and blood vessels and is visible when the horse is weight bearing. It is further divided into multiple parts, including the toe (front of the hoof), quarters (side of the hoof), and heel (these lie on the underside of the hoof). In the front hooves, the toe is thicker than the quarters and heel, whereas in the hind hooves the toe, quarters, and heels have the same thickness. Because the wall grows continuously throughout the horse’s lifetime (roughly 3/8 of an inch per month), it must be trimmed regularly to prevent it from becoming too long, chipped and cracked, and posing issues for soundness.

2) Sole – this structure is located on the underside of the hoof and can be seen by picking up the hoof and looking at the bottom. Despite its location, it is not considered a primary weight-bearing structure. The three main weight bearing structures are the wall, bar of the wall, and the frog.

3) Frog – this structure is also located on the underside of the hoof and is shaped like a wedge. It is softer and more elastic than the wall and sole, and works in conjunction with the digital cushion (located inside the foot) to absorb shock and increase circulation by forcing blood back up the leg.

Source: https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g2740

Don't forget to enter our August contest and giveaway! Entries will close on Tuesday, August 31st, at 11:59 PM MDT! To e...
08/09/2021

Don't forget to enter our August contest and giveaway! Entries will close on Tuesday, August 31st, at 11:59 PM MDT!

To enter, post as many pictures as you can of yourself reading the James Herriot novels, or pictures of you and your horse out having fun. Please include the hashtag: findingjamesherriot in your posts so we can keep track of them.

Once the giveaway closes, the entries will be tallied and prizes will be awarded as follows:

1st Place: The person with the greatest number of posts will win a t-shirt featuring a picture of Jasper, the naughty donkey from the James Herriot novels AND a ball-cap with the practice logo.

2nd Place: The person with the second-most number of posts will win a t-shirt featuring a picture of Jasper.

3rd Place: The person with the third-most number of posts will win a ball-cap with the practice logo.

Best of luck to all of our wonderful clients. Thank you for supporting the James Herriot novels and we look forward to seeing pictures of what you and your horse are up to this summer!

Keep Your Horse Hydrated!Hydration is important year-round, but especially when high temperatures are causing the horse ...
08/06/2021

Keep Your Horse Hydrated!

Hydration is important year-round, but especially when high temperatures are causing the horse to sweat more, it is important that it drinks plenty of water to replace the amount that is lost. In case your horse tends to be a finicky drinker, below are five tips to help encourage your horse to drink.

5 Tips to encourage your horse to drink more water:

1) Make sure your water troughs/automatic waterers are clean and that the water is as fresh as possible.

2) Make sure the water is easily accessible. If your horse lives in a large pasture, put water troughs in different places so that your horse can easily find water regardless of where it chooses to graze.

3) Provide a salt block or talk with your veterinarian about adding an electrolyte powder to your horse’s feed to help stimulate thirst.

4) If you will be traveling for an event, consider bringing containers of your own water since water that is sourced from a different area may have a different taste depending on its mineral concentration, and this unfamiliar taste may deter your horse from drinking.

5) Try adding some soaked feed or mash to your horse’s diet if you horse doesn’t tend to drink enough on its own.

Educational Post on Plants that are Toxic to HorsesColorado is home to some beautiful landscape, and while this landscap...
08/04/2021

Educational Post on Plants that are Toxic to Horses

Colorado is home to some beautiful landscape, and while this landscape is perfect for grazing your four-legged friend(s), it is important to know which plants are safe for your horse to eat, and which ones are toxic. In today’s post we are going to categorize 19 of the most common types of toxic plants into 6 groups based on their associated symptoms. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list but covers some of the more common ones found in Colorado.

Group 1:

A) Leafy Spurge
B) Field Bindweed
C) Yellow Sweet Clover
D) Alsike Clover

Symptoms: Colic and increased skin sensitivity to light - horses will exhibit an increased susceptibility to sunburns.

Additional notes: These plants tend to be less palatable so most horses will opt for other types of forage when available, however, they grow very rapidly and will quickly outcompete other types of plants and take over the pasture if prompt action is not taken to get rid of them.

Group 2:

A) Curly Cup Gumweed
B) Penstemons
C) Prince’s Plume
D) Saltbush
E) Woody Aster
F) Certain species of Milkvetch

Symptoms: Development of abnormalities and/or breakdown of the horse’s hooves and decreased quality of the horse’s hair and coat. Horses who consume these plants for a prolonged period of time may develop permanent damage and even become crippled.

Additional notes: These plants leach selenium from the soil and thus are very high in concentration of this mineral. When ingested by the horse, the selenium replaces the sulfur that is naturally found in keratin, the building block of the horse’s hair and hooves, and thus leads to degradation of keratin containing structures.

Group 3:

A) Senecio
B) Houndstongue

Symptoms: All of the symptoms associated with selenium accumulators, plus diarrhea, red urine, photosensitivity, pacing in a circle, loss of body condition, and liver disease.

Additional notes: These two plants are more commonly found in Colorado pastures and can have permanent side effects.

Group 4:

A) Russian Knapweed
B) Yellow Starthistle

Symptoms: Paralysis of the facial muscles accompanied with a drooping appearance of the face and lips and inability to drink or chew, excessive salivation, and loss of body condition.

Additional notes: These two plants are more commonly found in Colorado pastures and can be fatal.

Group 5:

A) Purple Locoweed
B) White Locoweed
C) Wooly Locoweed

Symptoms: Abortion, loss of body condition, depression, lack of energy, and acting easilty startled/excessively spooky.

Group 6:

A) Sand Sage
B) Fringed Sage

Symptoms: All of the symptoms associated with the locoweeds, plus the addition of a sage smell to the horse’s breath and f***s.

Additional notes: These two species of sage are commonly found in Colorado pastures.

Sources of information and great resources for descriptive images and additional reading:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd490809.pdf

https://www.wgcd.org/toxic-weeds-and-horses/

08/02/2021

August Contest and Giveaway!!!!

Do you like contests and giveaways? If so, then get excited because for the entire month of August, our practice will be hosting a contest and giving away a prize to three lucky winners!

Below are the contest rules:

Between now and August 31st, post as many pictures as you can of yourself reading the James Herriot novels, or pictures of you and horse out having fun. Make sure to include the hashtag: findingjamesherriot in your posts. The giveaway will close at 11:59 PM MDT on August 31, 2021.

Once the giveaway closes, the entries will be tallied and prizes will be awarded as follows:

1st Place: The person with the greatest number of posts will win a t-shirt featuring a picture of Jasper, the naughty donkey from the James Herriot novels AND a ballcap with the practice logo.

2nd Place: The person with the second-most number of posts will win a t-shirt featuring a picture of Jasper.

3rd Place: The person with the third-most number of posts will win a ballcap with the practice logo.

Best of luck everyone! We look forward to seeing all of your amazing posts and please remember to include the !

Jump for joy because today is Friday!!!Do you and your horse have any fun plans for the weekend? If not, don’t worry!We ...
07/30/2021

Jump for joy because today is Friday!!!

Do you and your horse have any fun plans for the weekend? If not, don’t worry!

We have you covered with the following list of summer activities that you and your horse can do together:

1) Go on a trail ride. Colorado is home to some beautiful scenery and what better way to enjoy it than on the back of a horse?

2) Take advantage of the warm weather by giving your horse a spa day.

3) Enter your horse in a competition such as a schooling show, gymkhana, or barrel race.

4) Sign up for a clinic. This is a great opportunity for you and your horse to work on technique and improve your skills.

5) Try something new! Sign-up for a lesson that focuses on a different type of riding than you are used to. Practicing other disciplines of riding can be a fun way to build versatility and strengthen the bond between horse and rider.

Do you and your horse have a fun summer activity that’s not on this list? If so, tell us what it is in the comments section.

Educational post on joint disease Joint disease is a relatively common condition that affects many horses as they age. E...
07/28/2021

Educational post on joint disease

Joint disease is a relatively common condition that affects many horses as they age. Even the most well-cared for horses may begin to show signs of discomfort in their joints as they become older. In today’s post, we are going to discuss some of the different types of joint disease, as well as some treatment options that are available for managing this condition.

A few of the different types of joint disease:

1) Synovitis: Inflammation of the membrane that produces synovial (joint) fluid. Synovial fluid plays an important role in lubricating and protecting the joint.

2) Capsulitis: Inflammation of the fibrous capsule within the joint.

3) Fragmentation of bone or articular cartilage (smooth white tissue that is found at the end of bones where they come together to form joints).

4) Tears to the ligaments that support and stabilize joints.

5) Degenerative joint disease (DJD) - also referred to as osteoarthritis (OA): degradation/degeneration of the articular cartilage in a joint.

Some treatment options available for managing horses with joint disease

If left untreated, joint disease is a progressive condition that will get worse over time. Thus, the majority of treatment options are designed to slow down the disease progression and help reduce pain and inflammation in the joints.

Examples of these treatments include:

1) Intra Articular injections (injections directly into the joint) of hyaluronic acid (HA). In healthy joints, HA is naturally produced by synovial cells in adequate amounts to lubricate the articular cartilage. However, in diseased joints, this production has decreased, thus supplementing with injections of HA can be an effective method of treating certain cases of joint disease.

2) Intramuscular (IM) injection of HA via a medication such as Legend. For more information about this particular treatment, please read the following educational Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/1443229405968389/photos/a.1870505946574064/2751636408461009/.

3) Intramuscular injection of Adequan, a form of Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG) that can be used as a regenerative method to help repair or rebuild damaged cartilage.

4) Oral administration of Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).

5) Intra-articular injections of corticosteroids. This treatment is designed to reduce inflammation and restore the ability for synovial cells to begin reproducing HA.

6) Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as Phenylbutazone (Bute). NSAIDs can be an effective short-term treatment for managing joint pain and inflammation. However, it is not recommended as a long term solution as it can lead to gastrointestinal and kidney issues.

We hope you have enjoyed this post. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Suit via phone at: (970) 218-7947.

Reference for written post: https://aaep.org/horsehealth/lameness-joint-medications

Source of image showing the basic structure of an equine joint: https://www.dodsonandhorrell.com/news/all-you-need-to-know-about-joint-health

Five reasons why you should add Dr. Suit’s Novels to the top of your summer reading list!!!Do you love to read? If so, t...
07/26/2021

Five reasons why you should add Dr. Suit’s Novels to the top of your summer reading list!!!

Do you love to read? If so, then we have two great book recommendations for you: "Finding James Herriot" and "Finding James Herriot - Monkey Bars" by Dr. Suit.

Below is a list of 5 reasons why readers have enjoyed these two novels and why we think you will enjoy them too!

1) They're packed full of action and adventure and guaranteed to have you clinging to the edge of your seat, begging for more.

2) They're funny! Be prepared to burst into laughter with every turn of the page.

3) They're based on true events and real-life situations.

4)They’re heartwarming. If you’re looking for a feel-good novel, this is one that can’t be beat.

5)They’re written for everyone. Even if you don’t have a background in veterinary medicine, you will still be able to understand and enjoy these novels.

Both of these novels are available for purchase on Amazon. To purchase a copy, please click on the following links:

Link to purchase the first book: “Finding James Herriot” - https://www.amazon.com/Finding-James-Herriot-Michael-Suit/dp/1530320887/ref

Link to purchase the second book: “Finding James Herriot - Monkey Bars” - https://www.amazon.com/Finding-James-Herriot-Monkey-Bars/dp/1098366336/ref

It wouldn't be Friday without a game of horsey trivia!!! Today we are going to describe a part of the horse's body and e...
07/24/2021

It wouldn't be Friday without a game of horsey trivia!!!

Today we are going to describe a part of the horse's body and encourage you to name what this part is. The correct answer will be posted below in the comments section.

Best of luck everyone!

Trivia Question:

This body part is found in the horse's hind legs, not in the front legs. It is located in between the stifle and the hock, is largely muscled, and functions similar to a human's calf. Which body part is this?

Source: http://horsehints.org/HorseAnatomy.htm

Knowledge for your Wednesday: Educational post on Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS)Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGU...
07/22/2021

Knowledge for your Wednesday: Educational post on Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS)

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is a common condition that affects roughly 25-50% of foals and 60-90% of adult horses. In today’s post, we are going to discuss the anatomy of the horse’s stomach and the areas that are most susceptible to ulceration, factors that increase the horse’s risk of developing EGUS, how EGUS is diagnosed, and how to treat/manage horses with this condition.

1) Anatomy of the horse’s stomach and areas that are most susceptible to ulceration (a diagram of the horse's stomach is shown in the image below. Source of image: https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/articles/gastric-ulcers-in-performance-horses/):

The horse’s stomach is divided into two regions, the esophageal region which comprises ⅓ of the stomach and the glandular region which comprises the remaining ⅔. These two regions are separated by a cuticular ridge called the margo plicatus. In both foals and adult horses, ulcers are more common in the esophageal region because it is non-glandular and thus does not secrete protective substances such as bicarbonate, and mucus, leaving the squamous cells of this region exposed to irritation and degradation by hydrochloric acid (HCl). Ulcers can occur in the glandular region of the stomach near the pylorus, but this is typically seen in horses with pre-existing medical conditions, or if they are given NSAIDS such as Bute or Banamine for longer than a couple of days. In addition, foals in particular can develop ulcers in the duodenum as a result of delayed gastric emptying.

2) Factors that increase the horse’s risk of developing ulcers:

Ulceration occurs when the balance between the concentration of degradative substances that digests food and the concentration of protective substances that line the stomach is disrupted. Factors that tend to disrupt this balance include: fasting for long periods of time in between meals, diets high in grain and low in roughage which can cause delayed gastric emptying, decreased gastric motility, and increased production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and stress such as from traveling, competing, moving to a new location, changes in environment, changes in feed, etc. This is by no means an exhaustive list but some of the more common factors that can lead to EGUS.

3) How is EGUS diagnosed?

EGUS is diagnosed based on the presence of clinical signs and an endoscopic exam.

In foals, clinical signs may include:

*Taking frequent breaks in between meals and appearing colicky after meals
*Poor appetite
*Diarrhea
*Frequent dorsal recumbency (lying on its back with its legs in the air)
*Bruxism - grinding of teeth
*Ptyalism - excessive salivation
***Note: bruxism and ptyalism are often a sign of pyloric obstruction

In adults, clinical signs may include:

*Poor appetite
*Weight loss
*Rough hair coat
*Frequently laying down
*Dullness, lack of energy, and decreased performance
*Mild episodes of colic

If any of these signs are present, the next step would be to perform an endoscopic exam. This allows the veterinarian to image the stomach and duodenum and look for the presence of ulcers and also to determine the grade or severity of ulcers.

4) Treatment for horses with EGUS:

Treatment of EGUS focuses on inhibiting gastric acid secretion to allow the ulcers time to heal. Currently, GastroGard (Omeprazole), manufactured by Merial Limited, is the only FDA approved treatment for gastric ulcers. Treatment via GastroGard consists of a 28-day course of this medication (administered once a day). In addition, GastroGard can also be given daily at a lower, maintenance dose as a means to prevent ulcers.

5) Management strategies for horses who are prone to EGUS:

*Feeding small meals frequently throughout the day. Horses are periodic grazers and don’t tend to function well when they go long periods of time in between meals.

*Feeding a diet that contains plenty of forage and being mindful of the amount of grain the horse is getting as too much grain can increase the production of VFAs.

*Incorporating a hay that is higher in protein and calcium, such as alfalfa to help buffer the stomach.

*Taking preventive measures. If you know your horse will be in a potentially stressful situation such as traveling, competing, moving to a new barn, moving to a different climate etc, talk to your veterinarian ahead of time to formulate a plan for warding off ulcers.

We hope you have enjoyed this post and please feel free to reach out to Dr. Suit if you have any questions.

Source of information: https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-gastric-ulcer-syndrome

Do you know what time it is???It's time for a game of horsey trivia!Test your knowledge on the different breeds of horse...
07/16/2021

Do you know what time it is???

It's time for a game of horsey trivia!

Test your knowledge on the different breeds of horses by answering the question below. The answer and a great resource to learn more about this breed are posted in the comments section.

Trivia question:

This breed is distinguished by a relatively small head, long arched neck, a short back, and high tail carriage. It has evolved to have a large lung capacity and great stamina. The Bedouins bred these horses to use as war mounts and historical figures such as Napoleon and Alexander the Great also rode these horses. In the 7th century A.D., the prophet Mohammad helped increase the popularity of this breed worldwide by claiming that Allah created this breed and that anyone who took care of them and treated them with kindness would be rewarded in the afterlife. Today, this breed is used for a variety of disciplines including endurance riding, cross country, and dressage.

What type of breed is this? Hint: the horse shown in the image is this particular breed.

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