Dr. Erika M. Johnson, DVM

07/24/2024

HOW AND WHY DO HORSES GET ULCERS?

Equine gastric ulcers can affect any horse of 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. Gastric ulcers result from the erosion of the stomach lining due to a prolonged exposure to the normal acid present in the stomach.

Unlike ulcers in humans, bacteria do not appear to cause equine gastric ulcers. Instead, this condition is often a man-made disease. Stall confinement alone can lead to the development of ulcers. A horse’s feeding schedule and high-grain diets can also contribute to the development of ulcers.

Stress, both environmental and physical, can increase the likelihood of ulcers, as can hauling, training, and mixing groups of horses. Strenuous exercise can decrease the emptying of the stomach as well as the blood flow, thus further contributing to the problem.

The treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers is directed at removing these predisposing factors, therefore decreasing acid production within the horse’s stomach. Prevention of ulcers is the key in helping your horse, as neutralizing the production of stomach acid is nature’s best antacid.

Please note that the only way to definitively diagnose ulcers is through a gastroscopy. An equine veterinarian should always be consulted in any case of suspected gastric ulcers to determine the best course of action and treatment for the individual horse.

07/12/2024

The summer heat and sun won't be letting up any time soon, so make sure your equine friends are adequately protected from harmful UV rays. ☀️

Hot summer weather puts horses at risk not only for dehydration and heat stress but also the skin damage and discomfort that accompany a sunburn— just like humans.

A lot of equestrians love some chrome on a horse, but it's important to remember that those beautiful white markings and the non-pigmented pink skin underneath are more likely to suffer from sunburn, especially in areas where the skin is more sensitive — like around the eyes and the nostrils.

In addition to the pain and discomfort, horses that are prone to recurrent sunburn may also face other long-term consequences, like the increased likelihood of developing squamous cell carcinoma (a common cancer).

If your horse is susceptible to sunburn, contact your veterinarian for more information about sun damage and recommendations to keep your horse protected this summer.

06/05/2024

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has issued revised Internal Parasite Control Guidelines to help minimize the risk of parasitic disease and maintain the effectiveness of current drugs for as long as possible by delaying further development of anthelmintic resistance. The guide...

05/16/2024

This! Most horses do not NEED grain.

If you believe that horses need grain in their diet to meet their nutritional needs, you are not alone. However, horses should get most of their nutrients from a good quality forage source such as grass, hay, hay pellets, or a complete feed.

Horses generally eat between 1.5-2% of their body weight each day, so an average size 1,000 lbs horse should eat 15- 20 lbs of hay daily. To help fill any nutrient gaps such as essential vitamins or minerals, a ration balancer may be beneficial. Depending on breed, body condition, and exercise level, concentrates may be added in to provide additional energy but are often not needed.

When deciding on what to feed your horse, it is best to invest in high quality forages as the foundation of your feeding plan. You can even have your hay tested to see exactly what nutrients it is providing. Please consult with your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist about your horse's diet before making any major changes, and remember that any changes should be made gradually over time to avoid GI upset.
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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!

03/02/2024

10/23/2023

With winter quickly approaching, it’s a good time to have our horses’ teeth evaluated if they haven’t been already! Also, we are available for other preventative and maintenance veterinary services such as vaccinations, sheath cleaning, and nutritional counseling. Here are a few other helpful reminders before winter:

Check your tank heaters and make sure they are working. You don’t want to find out when it’s -5 degrees and the water in your trough is frozen solid. By that time your horse is dehydrated!

Make sure your horses have adequate shelter to get out of the weather. If they do not, they should at least have a water repellent blanket they can wear for severe storms. Horses lose a lot of body heat when winds and precipitation are both high. Consider blanketing older horses or those with difficulty maintaining weight in the winter.

Make sure your horses are adequately dewormed! There are many antiparasitics on the market so it’s best to have a f***l sample evaluated to make sure we are targeting the correct parasites.

Let’s try to get it all done before the snow flies and give our horses the advantage! ❄️

08/09/2023

This is excellent information for anyone with a light skinned horse! It’s very important to give them some protection from the sun.

Hot summer weather puts horses at risk not only for dehydration and heat stress but also the skin damage and discomfort that accompany a sunburn— just like humans.

Equestrians love some chrome on a horse but we need to remember that those beautiful white patches and the non-pigmented pink skin underneath are more likely to suffer from sunburn, especially in areas where the skin is more sensitive — like around the eyes and the nostrils. In addition to the pain and discomfort, horses that are prone to recurrent sunburn may also face other long-term consequences, like the increased likelihood of developing squamous cell carcinoma (a common cancer).

If your horse is susceptible to sunburn, contact your veterinarian for more information about sun damage and recommendations to keep your horse protected this summer.

More information about sunburn and photosensitization is available on our website at https://aaep.org/issue/sunburn-photosensitivity

08/09/2023

Summer is one of the best time of the year to be a horse owner but let's not forget that heat, aggressive insects, and drought-hardened pastures can really impact the health and comfort of our equine friends.

One of the side effect of the heat for some horses is the inability to sweat properly. This condition, called anhidrosis, is potentially dangerous for horses because it compromises their ability to thermoregulate even in weather that doesn’t seem that hot, and therefore puts them at higher risk of heat stress.

Anhidrosis is not fully understood yet; it is widespread in the hot and humid regions of the southeastern United States and the Gulf states, but it is also widely reported elsewhere during the summer and particularly during heat waves. Studies have revealed no age, s*x, breed or color predisposition and this condition can affect any horse in varying degrees.

If your horse has a high respiratory rate and does not seem to tolerate turnout on hot days, be sure to discuss it with your veterinarian. Remember that administering unnecessary medications without consulting your horse doctor first could do more harm than good, as it puts your equine friend at risk of developing harmful side effects!

01/06/2022

This is excellent information for anyone with a broodmare expected to foal!

FOALING SEASON IS UPON US!

Are you ready to assist your broodmare when her time comes?
 Here are some tried and true guidelines to remember during foaling:

• Unless there's an emergency, allow the foal time to break the fetal membranes. Once the foal breaks through, be sure it’s breathing.


• Generally, it’s not recommended to cut or break the umbilical cord. If it has not broken during delivery, it will usually break when the mare or foal gets up.


• Encourage the mare and foal to rest as long as possible. Give them an opportunity to bond undisturbed.


• Following birth of the foal, the mare and her newborn should be monitored for normal breathing, brightness and alertness. The mare should be non-aggressive, curious and accepting of the foal.


• Foal should stand and nurse within two hours of birth. If the foal has not nursed within three hours, call your veterinarian. The foal may be weak and in need of assistance or medical attention.


• Once the placenta has been expelled, examine it to make sure it is intact, particularly at the tips of the horns. The afterbirth will be Y-shaped and should have only the hole through which the foal emerged.


• A foal must receive colostrum (the mare's first milk) within the first eight to 12 hours of life in order to absorb the antibodies. If a foal is too weak to nurse, it may be necessary to milk the mare and give the colostrum to the foal via a stomach tube.

Contact your veterinarian to learn more so you can be prepared to help the new mother and foal get off to a great start!

Additional information is also available on our website:
Foaling Mare & Newborn: Preparing for a Safe & Successful Foal Delivery | https://aaep.org/horsehealth/foaling-mare-newborn-preparing-safe-successful-foal-delivery

Equine Reproduction From Conception to Birth | https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-reproduction-conception-birth

08/06/2020

Really good info! Hay evaluation is something we often overlook but is so important.

EVALUATING HAY FOR YOUR HORSE

Horse are herbivores by design and foragers by nature. As such, they have evolved to utilize grasses and other forage plants as their primary source of nutrition.
Horses are most content when they can nibble almost constantly. Though it's not always possible to let them graze to their heart's content, feeding high-quality hay is a good way to satisfy their urge to chew and provide essential nutrients at the same time.

A mature horse will eat 2-2.5% of its body weight per day; roughage should contribute to at least half of this percentage. For a 1,000-pound horse, that means at least 10 pounds of hay each day.
Not all horses are made equal, so a horse's total protein and energy requirements will ultimately depend on the individual's age, stage of development, metabolism and workload.

When purchasing hay, you should evaluate how it looks, smells, and feels. However, remember that no matter how good hay may look, its actual nutrient content can only be determined through chemical analysis; a forage laboratory can determine the percentage of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), and minerals including calcium, phosphorous, potassium and magnesium.

Consult your veterinarian for more information on formulating a balanced and cost-effective diet that meets your individual horse's dietary requirements!

For more horse health resources, visit our website at aaep.org

07/15/2020

I’ll add to the top of the list: It’s been a year or more since the last examination!

ARE DENTAL EXAMINATIONS CONSIDERED PREVENTATIVE EQUINE HEALTHCARE?

The answer is YES. Routine dental examinations qualify as preventative equine healthcare just as much as foot care, nutrition, parasite control, and vaccinations. Like in humans, dental care and early recognition of dental disease in your horse could prevent major treatments and surgery. That is why dental healthcare is the most cost effective when the patient is examined by an experienced healthcare professional, such as a veterinarian.

Equine dentistry should not be confused with just tooth "floating." Dentistry is a veterinary discipline concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mouth, teeth, and associated head structures. The goal of equine dentistry is to:
• improve mastication (the chewing process by which food is crushed and ground by teeth);
• provide comfort and pain relief;
• promote general health, productivity and longevity.

Horses over 5 years of age should be examined at least once a year to maintain correct dental alignment and to diagnose dental problems as early as possible. Senior horses (17+) are a greater risk for developing periodontal disease, and horses 20+ years old should receive dental evaluation and nutrition counseling at least annually in order to maintain their conditioning and quality of life.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has been causing the delay of non-essential appointments such as dental procedures, be sure to not skip your horse's dental examination this year. Just because your horse is not showing any obvious symptoms of dental disease, it does not automatically mean all is well with your animal's mouth health. Horses simply adapt to their discomfort and most horses with dental problems will show no noticeable signs at all, until the disease is severe.

07/08/2020

HEAT STROKE IN HORSES ☀️🐴

A horse’s body maintains its normal temperature in hot weather by moving heat through the muscles and out through the skin. Exercise is a major source of body heat, and horses that cannot sweat will usually overheat very rapidly, even in cooler weather with a small amount of exercise.

When outside temperature + relative humidity = 150 or above, it's hard for a horse to keep cool because their ability to sweat is compromised — especially if the humidity contributes over half of the 150.

Signs of heat stroke may range from mild to severe and life-threatening. Foals usually cannot take as much heat as adult horses. A mare may be fine, but her foal may be getting sick from being out on a hot day. Horses with heavy muscling or excess fat or in poor condition will have more problems. Keep in mind that strenuous exercise on a hot, humid day can lead to problems in a short period of time for even the best-conditioned horse.

Does this mean you should not ride on a hot day? Not necessarily. It just means you should take precautions and use your common sense. Remain vigilant for dehydration and signs of heat exhaustion, as heat exhaustion can advance to heat stroke quickly. Above all, be kind and attentive to your equine partner’s need. If you feel hot, they feel hotter. So if they look tired, it’s time for a drink, a cold bath, and a break in the shade.
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Source: Heat Stroke | https://aaep.org/horsehealth/heat-stroke

05/22/2020

Every horse needs good nutrition! Here are a few good things things to know...

10 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT EQUINE NUTRITION, courtesy of UC Davis Center for Equine Health.

It is in every equestrian’s best interest to have a basic understanding of equine nutrition and be able to identify sources of essential vitamins and minerals in a horse’s diet. Dietary deficiencies and excesses can both cause health issues and affect performance. This becomes even more important for the care and management of horses with disorders such as equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM).
Be sure to work with your veterinarian and/or equine nutritionist to formulate diets appropriate for your horses’ needs to keep them feeling and performing their best!

Produced by UC Davis's CEH, you can read "The Nutrition Issue" in its entirety at:https://ceh.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk4536/files/inline-files/Horse_Report_Spring_2020_web_final_2.pdf

05/19/2020

WHY IS TICK CONTROL IN HORSES IMPORTANT?

Ticks are becoming an increasingly significant parasite of horses across the United States. Ticks cause localized tissue irritation, which can result in the horse constantly rubbing on trees or fences; hair coat damage; and anemia due to blood loss. Ticks also transmit a number of serious diseases including piroplasmosis, lyme disease, equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (ehrlichiosis) and equine infectious anemia. Ticks are not species-specific, so the same ticks that feed on your horse can also feed on your dog or you.

Tick prevention requires diligence to locate them on your horse and remove them; application of tick-specific repellents; and environmental controls such as reducing unmanaged ares where weeds can flourish.
Whichever repellent you choose to use, the labels should be checked to make sure they are effective against ticks, as many insect repellents are not. Products containing permethrin seem to be the most effective at tick repellency. Apply the repellent to the horse's mane, tail head, chest and underbelly before riding or turning your horses out on pasture. Don’t mix and match products without checking with your veterinarian first to make sure that they can be used together!

Mark your calendar on the day you find any ticks, as knowing the approximate time of exposure may be important in the case that your horse shows signs of illness. As always, if you have questions on tick control or the diseases they can transmit to your horses, talk to your local horse doctor!
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Source: https://aaep.org/horsehealth/tick-control-horses

05/15/2020

What scientists are learning about equine parasite resistance to dewormers and how to curb it.

03/11/2020

IS YOUR MARE CLOSE TO HAVING HER BABY?
In the excitement of birth, it is important to remember some tried and true guidelines:

• Unless there's an emergency, allow the foal time to break the fetal membranes. Once the foal breaks through, be sure it is breathing.
• Generally, it is not recommended to cut or break the umbilical cord. If it has not broken during delivery, it will usually break when the mare or foal gets up.
• Encourage the mare and foal to rest as long as possible. Give them an opportunity to bond undisturbed.
• Following birth of the foal, the mare and her newborn should be monitored for normal breathing, brightness and alertness. The mare should be non-aggressive, curious and accepting of the foal.
• Foal should stand and nurse within two hours of birth. If the foal has not nursed within three hours, call your veterinarian. The foal may be weak and in need of assistance or medical attention.
• Once the placenta has been expelled, examine it to make sure it is intact, particularly at the tips of the horns. The afterbirth will be Y-shaped and should have only the hole through which the foal emerged.
• A foal must receive colostrum (the mare's first milk) within the first eight to 12 hours of life in order to absorb the antibodies. If a foal is too weak to nurse, it may be necessary to milk the mare and give the colostrum to the foal via a stomach tube.

Nature has provided an efficient system for the mare to deliver and care for her young. Contact your veterinarian to learn more so you can be prepared and informed when your mare's time comes, and you will be able to help the new mother and foal get off to a great start!
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Sources:
Foaling Mare & Newborn: Preparing for a Safe & Successful Foal Delivery | https://aaep.org/horsehealth/foaling-mare-newborn-preparing-safe-successful-foal-delivery

Equine Reproduction From Conception to Birth | https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-reproduction-conception-birth
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03/10/2020

Get 10 easy-to-follow expert recommendations from equine nutrition specialist Emily Smith to help prevent horse colic from occurring. Read now.

02/21/2020

Some good info!

DID YOU KNOW?

That's right -- horses can catch the flu, too. Equine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory condition, and is one of the most common infectious diseases of the respiratory tract of horses. Influenza is endemic in the equine population of the United States, which means it's always around.

Equine fu spreads rapidly through groups of horses in aerosolized droplets dispersed by coughing, and the severity of clinical signs depends on the degree of existing immunity within the affected individual, among other factors. Any horse showing signs of respiratory disease (cough, nasal discharge, persistent fever) should be isolated immediately until the cause can be determined by your veterinarian.

Contact your horse doctor for more information on how to prevent this disease through an appropriate vaccination protocol and biosecurity practices. Read more about equine influenza athttps://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Outside%20Linked%20Documents/DiseaseFactsheet_EquineInfluenza_FINAL-Cobranded.pdf
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10/10/2019

DID YOU KNOW FALL IS A RISKY TIME FOR LAMINITIS?

Most horse owners know that spring grass is very high in sugar, and therefore could cause some horses to develop laminitis. What you may not know, however, is that managing laminitis risk is more than just managing access to spring pasture. As a matter of fact, fall is an equally tricky time of the year for this condition, which can be triggered by insulin dysregulation due to metabolic issues and seasonal hormonal imbalances.

What is laminitis? Laminitis results from the disruption (constant, intermittent or short-term) of blood flow to the sensitive and insensitive laminae, which are the structures within the horse's foot that secure the coffin bone to the hoof wall. In severe cases, the bone and the hoof wall can separate altogether. This may cause rotation of the coffin bone within the foot, until the bone eventually penetrates the sole. Laminitis can affect one or all feet, but it is most often seen in the front feet concurrently. While laminitis is one the most studied diseases of horses, there is still much we do not fully understand.

[The terms "laminitis" and "founder" are used interchangeably. However, founder usually refers to a chronic (long-term) condition associated with rotation of the coffin bone, whereas acute laminitis refers to symptoms associated with a sudden initial attack, including pain and inflammation of the laminae.]

If you suspect your horse is showing signs of laminitis, consider it a medical emergency and notify your veterinarian immediately -- early intervention is critical! Contact your horse doctor to learn more about this crippling condition, and how you can prevent it.
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04/14/2019

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada agriculture officials say horses that competed at an equestrian center in Las Vegas earlier this month may have been exposed to an equine herpes virus.

01/25/2019

You may see red, orange or even brown colored spots left behind after your horse urinates. No need to worry! Color change is a natural occurrence that happens when proteins in the urine, called pyrocatechines become oxidized after urine is passed. This is something that happens all year long but becomes more prevalent when visualized on snow and at times can be mistaken for “bloody” urine. Normal horse urine will appear anywhere from yellow, colorless, to even cloudy when passed.

08/15/2018

Just another reminder!

From the basics of incisors and cheek teeth to the effect of abnormal chewing patterns, learn about the unique dental structure of the horse.

07/20/2018

Veterinarians weigh in on the do's and don'ts of wound care, from discovery to recovery.

07/19/2018

http://www.wisconsinequineclinic.com/ Dr. Nadia Czajkowski explains the importance of having an oral exam and floating your horse's teeth.

06/24/2017

Find out who to call when your horse needs dental care.

05/26/2017

This is a good article to read for anyone with horses....young or old!
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/13410/year-by-year-tooth-by-tooth

Many elements must remain within a normal range for a horse's mouth to stay healthy.

09/07/2016

Has your horse been vaccinated this year?

Officials say six horses in Northern Nevada have tested positive for West Nile Virus.

07/22/2016

Just a friendly reminder: The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) recommends all horses receive yearly dental exams. Have you had your horse's teeth checked this year?

Are your horse's teeth bothering him? Here are some common signs to watch for.

04/27/2016

This time of the year is when horses get the coldest! Horses have lost most of their winter coat by now, yet we still have quite a bit of winter weather and this makes it more difficult for horses to stay warm. Make sure your horse has shelter to get out of the blowing rain/snow and blanket your horse when needed!