Leopards Hill Veterinary Services

05/10/2024

Sm**ma Pearls - not as Pretty as they Sound

Most of you horse owners are probably going ”what the heck is that”…. I’ll help you with a definition -

“Sm**ma (from Ancient Greek σμῆγμα, smêgma, 'soap')[1] is a combination of shedskin cells, skin oils, and moisture. It occurs in both male and female mammalian genitalia. “ and pearls - hard round things that form by accumulation of layers…

So male horses … and especially geldings often accumulate sm**ma in the folds of their p***s and sheath. Sometimes as the sm**ma accumulates its dessicates and hardens, and more and more layers adhere.

And our poor equine fellows having no hands; are unable to remove these deposits. As they grow they can cause discomfort, trap dirt, and make urination uncomfortable, and in severe cases horses may even show colic signs.

This leads us to the next important topic - W***y Washes
The only way to prevent sm**ma pearls forming is an occasional W***y wash. Especially older geldings accumulate a lot of scabby flakey skin in the area, as well as sm**ma and will need a W***y wash once in a while (once a month probably more than adequate).

You’ll have to wait until your horse is nice and relaxed and letting it all hang loose, grab a firm hold - and don’t let go until you’re done. Warm water and some soap (normal body soap, or baby wash) will do the trick and give a good rinse. Pay careful attention to the folds around the urethra opening on the end of the p***s - this is where a sm**ma pearl sometimes hides - and a hard spherical mass can
be felt letting you know it’s there and needs to be squeezed out.
While some horses will tolerate this - do be careful as bending over you could get kicked if he swipes forward with a back foot to bat off the irritation. If your horse seems to take offense then - take advantage of the sedation used when we perform dental rasping. It’s a perfect time after the dental when your vet moves on to the next horse - the sedation will make it much easier to achieve a W***y Wash.

Moreover - if you think your horse has a problem in this area then let us know so we can sedate him for a W***y wash and a good check. Related problems are squamous cell carcinomas (cancers) , ticks accumulated, and infections or wounds on the sheath.

Recently I’ve found two very large sm**ma pearls from very small ponies!
One owner admitted that “she thought it was weird that he always twisted round to look at his back end when urinating but didn’t know why”… while one groom proudly said “yes he was urinating like sprinkler.”

25/09/2024

SEPTEMBER –WORLD RABIES MONTH
HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW? Here are some of the facts to help you understand:
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic, viral disease that affects the central nervous system. According to W.H.O. in up to 99% of the human rabies cases, dogs are responsible for virus transmission. Rabies spreads to people and between animals via saliva, usually through bites, scratches, or direct contact with mucosa (e.g. eyes, mouth, or open wounds). Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal.

Children between the age of 5 and 14 years are very often the victims (and succumb as sometimes the bite is not reported).
All species of mammals can be infected with rabies, including dogs,
cats, livestock and wildlife. ARE YOUR PETS ALL VACCINATED? By
law in Zambia dogs must be vaccinated, by a veterinarian, ANNUALLY. If you have cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, horses, donkeys they should also be vaccinated!

The global cost of rabies is estimated to be around US$ 8.6 billion per year including lost lives and livelihoods, medical care and associated costs, as well as uncalculated psychological trauma.
Rabies occurs on all continents except Antarctica. Globally there are an estimated 59 000 deaths from rabies annually; however, especially in Africa, many cases go unreported/documented. Although effective human vaccines and immunoglobulins exist for rabies, these are often inaccessible or unaffordable to those in need.

In Zambia the cost of post exposure prophylaxis (vaccination after a bite) range from k350 to k1000 per vaccine; of which 3-5 vaccines are required, plus in severe bites from known rabid animals,
immunoglobulins are required to be injected into the bite site which is even more costly. The post exposure prophylaxis can be a huge financial burden on those of low socioeconomic status.
The incubation period for rabies is typically 2–3 months but may vary from one week to one year, depending on factors such as the location of bite site (virus entry) and the viral load of the animal. Initial symptoms of rabies include generic signs like fever, pain and unusual or unexplained tingling, pricking, or burning sensations at the wound site. As the virus moves to the central nervous system, progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord develops. Clinical rabies in people can be managed but very rarely cured, and not without severe neurological deficits.
There are two forms of rabies (in animals and people):
 Furious rabies results in hyperactivity, excitable behaviour,
hallucinations, lack of coordination, hydrophobia (fear of water)
and aerophobia (fear of drafts or of fresh air). Death occurs after a
few days due to cardio-respiratory arrest. This is why the dog
rabies stereotype is ‘aggression and salivation.’
 Dumb/Paralytic rabies (less common form). This form of rabies
runs a less dramatic and usually longer course than the furious
form. Muscles gradually become paralysed, starting from the
wound site.

Prevention – WHAT CAN YOU DO?

1. Vaccinating. Make sure your own dogs (and other pets) are
regularly vaccinated. Help educate and remind your staff who have
dogs, and assist them with transport and funds to access
vaccination for their pets. LHVS do have welfare rates, and
sometimes sponsorship from willing clients; for underprivileged
individuals who would like to access basic veterinary care. Making
sure that all dogs are vaccinated helps to prevent human rabies.

2. Population control for dogs. Reducing stray/uncared for dog
populations is integral. Stray/unvaccinated dogs are at risk of
infection and subsequent transmission to other animals and
people.

3. Donate to organizations and private vets who have programs
helping with mass vaccination and sterilization of stray and rural
dogs.

4. Awareness - Public education for both children and adults on dog behaviour and bite prevention. Do not chase or approach unknown animals unless you have ad pre exposure prophylaxis. What to do if bitten or scratched by a potentially rabid animal; immediatey wash the wound vigorously with water and antiseptic or soap.
Rabies virus is very labile (doesn’t survive in the environment
easily and can easily be inactivated using normal soap – so for
rural people without antiseptics– just a good old scrub is often
adequate). Responsible pet ownership is an essential component
of rabies prevention. Have these conversations with those around
you. Join the fight. There is a global commitment to end rabies by
2030.

5. Vaccinating people. Effective vaccines are available to immunize
people both before and after potential exposures. If you feel that
you are a high risk individual – ie a vet, or an avid animal rescuer;
get a series of pre-exposure vaccines. If you or a family member or
friend have an encounter with an unknown or suspicious animal
(bite or saliva into the eyes or mouth); immediately wash the
wound/mucosae THEN seek post exposure vaccination. Rather be
safe than sorry! There is NO treatment once signs begin.

26/05/2024

There is a hot debate currently going on among equestrians in the aftermath of The Koninklijke Nederlandse Hippische Sportbond (KNHS – Royal Dutch Equestrian Sports Federation) Banning Bandages on competition venues in Holland for vaulting, dressage, jumping and driving from March/April 2024.

To help you understand the facts -
Horses as you know – or go and have a look - have evolved to have long tendons in the lower limb, coupled with strong, tendinous muscles positioned on the upper leg, thus enabling the horse to achieve highly efficient locomotion.
The tradeoff is, that the tendons in the lower limb have little blood supply and are left unprotected and prone to injuries.
So – you as a horse owner and rider want to prevent injury – and do what you think is best put on boots and bandages.
Its true that boots and bandages do protect from minor blunt force trauma, scratches, knocks, over reach injuries.

However – these insulate the limbs and cause hyperthermia in the underlying tendons.
Moreoever – tendons have poor blood supply (thats why they heal so slowly), AND this means they can not dissipate heat….
The actual mechanism for the degeneration of tendons is currently unknown, but damaging temperature increases during strenous exercise is suggested as a possible cause. Biochemists – there is a whole chemical cascade involved here with inflammatory cytokines.

This study ( CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE OF THE EQUINE SKIN SURFACE UNDER BOOTS AFTER EXERCISE Solheim, T. N., Tarabová, L., Faixová, Z. (2017)) compared the skin temperature of the tendon regions of the front and hind limbs after exercise with various types of boots and bandages — primarily tendon boots, leather boots and fleece bandages. Several horses were measured before and after the completion of a standard exercise test. The boots or bandages were removed immediately after the exercise and the temperature was measured at 3 separate places with A Testo 850i infrared thermometer. The differences in temperature increases between the various kinds of boots were compared. The results showed a significantly higher average temperature increase in horses wearing boots or bandages compared to the bare limb. The fleece bandages seemed to accumulate the highest amount of heat (more than 16 degrees higher than the temperature of tendons without a bandage), followed by the tendon boots (14 degrees higher).

So… while we do understand the need to protect your horses legs, please only use boots and bandages when necessary, and MOST importantly get them off ASAP after exercise eg inbetween chukkas of polo/polocross, as soon as you finish your jumping or dressage test. And cool those legs off using cold water or ice. Heat induced damage is cumulative.

26/05/2024

https://eqlifemag.com.au/issues/issue-99/bandaging-tendons-is-it-all-bad-news/ #:~:text=The%20recent%20banning%20of%20bandages,cause%20overheating%20of%20the%20tendons.

18/04/2024

Another community outreach program in the greater Sinoma area. Today we vaccinated (rabies to adults, rabies and 5in1 to pups) and dewormed and tick treated 66 dogs and 2 cats. We were also able to provide a small bag of dog food, some pet forte vitamin tablets, and proper collars with a rope lead to most of the dogs that attended. Here are some of the grateful attendees!
Thank you to the residents of Leopards Rock Road who sponsored the costs of this campaign, and to amazing helpers Jemma Beardsall, Jayne Reynolds, Jessie (AARC), Brian, Kelvin and Robert. We have more than 30 dogs signed up for neutering surgery - we will do these in small groups over the next few weeks. Please let us know if you can contribute in any way to the ongoing support of the dogs in this rural area.

20/03/2024

https://www.facebook.com/100077384327343/posts/437752768814197/?mibextid=l2hJJHjNVOBSwHk4

14/03/2024

PARVO
Puppy Owners …. And Potential Puppy Owners looking to import pups please read -

Parvo in puppies is caused by the canine parvovirus. This virus is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with an infected dog or by indirect contact with a contaminated object.
Exposure to parvovirus is usually when pups sniff, lick, or eat infected f***s, as well as indirect exposure via a person who has recently been exposed to an infected dog or an object(toys, food/ water bowls, grooming apparatus, and clothes contaminated by parvo virus.)

Puppies from six weeks to six months are the most susceptible to parvo. Puppies younger than six weeks old still retain some of their mother’s antibodies, assuming that the dam received her full series of parvo vaccinations.

Puppies are vaccinated against parvo at approximately 8, and 12 weeks of age. (If the mother was not vaccinated then they can be vaccinated early at 6 weeks of age but will require 3 vaccines). They are vulnerable to the disease until they have received all shots in their vaccination series, which means owners need to take extra precaution during this time to prevent their puppies from contracting the virus.

The virus mostly targets the stomach and small intestines, where it destroys cells, impairs absorption, and disrupts the gut barrier. Parvo in puppies also affects the bone marrow and lymphopoietic tissues, and in some cases can also affect the heart.

A puppy with parvo very quickly becomes a very sick dog so you should call your vet any time your puppy is feeling under the weather, but you should also be aware of the specific symptoms of parvo in puppies:
Inappetence
Bloody diarrhea
Vomiting
Fever
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Weakness
Dehydration
Depression

Parvo is a potentially fatal disease. The survival rate of dogs treated by a veterinarian is documented to be 68 to 92 percent, and most puppies that survive the first three-to-four days make a complete recovery. Recovery times vary depending on the severity of the case, but it usually takes approximately one week for puppies to recover from parvo.

The severity of parvo cases varies depending on many factors including the level of immunity Ie if vaccinated once or twice the partial immunity is possible, parasites, nutritional status and stress. The stress of weaning can lead to a more severe case of parvo in puppies. A combination of parvo and a secondary infection can also lead to a more severe case of parvo in puppies. And, most importantly - travel. It has been our recent experience that puppies who are vaccinated, weaned and immediately traveled long distances eg from South Africa , are highly susceptible and succumb to parvo despite intensive treatment under hospitalized conditions. Please take note of this, and if you are considering importing a puppy then perhaps request that the pup remains with the breeder and mother for an extra few weeks, or even better until the second vaccination - we know it’s exciting to get a young puppy and that we all want them when they are still tiny and cute, but seriously - the suffering endured by pups with severe parvo, and the heart ache involved for vet and owner alike for those that don’t pull through - isn’t worth it.
Moreover - “the black and tan phenomenon” exists - that breeds such as Dobermans, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, and Dachshunds seem to be more susceptible and less likely to survive.

To protect your little darlings - do not allow puppies to come into contact with unvaccinated dogs until they have received all of their parvo vaccines. Make sure all dogs in your household are vaccinated (adult dogs should receive a 5in1(which includes parvo) annually). Be very careful when socializing your puppy. Communal meeting areas and public places can be a potential source of parvo. Feel free to request your veterinarian to vaccinate your pup in your vehicle. All vets make the best effort to disinfect their premises, and to keep parvo pups isolated, but of course we can’t verify the footsteps of every coming and going…

30/10/2023

https://thehorse.com/features/equine-internal-parasites/

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

23/10/2023

23/10/2023

Today we did our annual rabies and deworming drive at the Sinoma area (end of Chifwema road). The numbers of dogs being brought for vaccines is growing which is great. In addition we have had many more requests for help neutering(spay/castrate) their dogs. It seems the community is realizing the benefits of population control as well as the benefit to each individual animal of being neutered. Whilst we would love to offer this service for free to the underprivileged people in this area, we can’t afford to sponsor it all: if you are in a position to sponsor a dog for the drugs and consumables required for neutering surgery please let us know. Here are some of the recipients of our vaccine drive and hopefully surgeries in the future.

07/10/2023

We are seeing a fair number of cases of sarcoids in Zambia.. Equine Medical Solutions have a very nice summary on what sarcoids are... We have made use of their services and products for the treatment of sarcoids in horses in Zambia, and will continue to do so. Please have a read and keep an eye on your horses for these type of lesions...

Sarcoids   Sarcoid is a common disease in all types of horses with 2-8% of horses being affected. Sarcoid is a form of skin cancer. Sarcoids can occur anywhere on the skin, although some parts of the body are more likely to develop sarcoids than others. If a horse has had a sarcoid before they are ...

25/09/2023

Social media for dogs

24/09/2023

If your dog suffers from tear staining - please read about it below… we do have BrightEye (k65) in stock which is a tear stain cleanser specifically for dogs.

😿Tear Staining😿

Tear stains are those reddish-brown marks that can appear on the fur around your pet’s eyes. These stains can be unsightly and noticeable, especially on pale fur. Dog and cat tears naturally contain high amounts of porphyrins – these are iron containing compounds derived from red blood cell breakdown in the body. When tears sit on the skin the porphyrin staining will intensify in the presence of light.

Not only that, when tears sit on the skin around the eye, they make it damp which favours local bacterial growth – some bacteria can produce their own porphyrins therefore contributing to tear staining. Tear staining is more likely to occur in certain breeds where tears find their way onto the face more easily, rather than draining normally down the tear ducts. For instance, this may be due to the shape of the face, abnormalities of the tear ducts, or small hairs around the corners of the eye that wick tears onto the face. In most cases tear staining is largely a cosmetic problem and your pet will lead an otherwise normal life, however some patients with tears stains may have underlying eye problems which mean they overproduce tears due to ocular irritation. These tears can then spill over onto the face resulting in tear staining. It is important to ensure underlying reasons for tear staining have been ruled out by a vet as, if ignored, the underlying problem may progress and be harder to treat.

We are taking part in in partnership with

Some breeds that can be more prone to tear stains:

22/09/2023

TOILETING TROUBLES
House training or potty training a puppy or even an older adopted dog is often time consuming, frustrating and messy.

The way this is taught can make all the difference between success or ongoing mishaps which sometimes continue right through to later life.

Successful toilet training is not the responsibility of our dogs – it is our responsibility, our commitment and consistency to train this in the right way.

So many owners use punishment to try to teach their dog that going inside is not acceptable.
Punishment is often the main reason why toilet training fails, creating more problems than it solves.

Methods like shouting, smacking, being locked outside or rubbing their nose in the mess only results in fear, anxiety, stress, mistrust and confusion.

When a dog is punished for eliminating inside or in the wrong place, they often associate the punishment with the action and not the location of where it is done.

I imagine their thought process would go something like this - “Peeing or pooing is something that makes this person really angry because I get punished when I do it” - “Next time I have to go, I need to make sure that they’re not watching or find somewhere to go where they won’t see it”.

Maybe you then keep taking your dog outside and wait for them go, but nothing happens. They then come back inside and do it behind the couch, making you even more angry!

Punishment has now created a fear of elimination, whether it’s outside or inside. If you think about this from a dog’s point of view, it really does make sense.

High value rewards and praise for going in the right place, supervision, routines and schedules, the products used to clean up mess and even the surfaces your dog prefers to use are all important factors for successful training.

Toilet training doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time, patience, commitment and consistency.

There will be mishaps, there will be messes to clean, there will be frustration, but as long as there is progress, you are on the right track!

09/07/2023

Lets talk about Feline leukemia virus (FeLV);
with adaptations from Merck Veterinary Manual

Over the past year, LHVS has seen an increase in the number of cats with FeLV virus. This is undoubtably related to increased testing....but it still means its around...

FeLV is one of the most important infectious diseases of cats worldwide. Affected cats can develop anemia (a low red blood cell level), cancers, and/or suppression of the immune system. The disease worsens over time and is usually fatal. The virus can infect domestic and wild cats (such as lions).

In the first world; widespread testing and vaccination efforts have helped to reduce the prevalence of the disease over the past 30 years. There is increased risk for the disease among outdoor cats, unneutered males, and cats with other diseases.

Sadly we don't have any idea what the prevalence is of FeLV in Zambia, the closest data to relate to is Mozambique 14.5% infected, South Africa 32% infected (antigen positive) (Tchamo et al 2019), while a study in Addis Abbaba did not find any cats positive for FeLV.

Feline leukemia virus is transmitted between cats via infected saliva and urine. Direct contact with these body fluids, mutual grooming, shared litter boxes and food dishes, and fighting (bite wounds) all expose uninfected cats to the virus. To become infected, cats typically require prolonged, repeated exposure to the virus. Mother cats can also transmit the virus to their kittens while they are in the womb and through nursing. It is likely that the transmission from a mother to her kittens is the greatest source of infection. Young kittens have the highest risk for catching the virus, whereas adults may have some inherent protection. However, cats of all ages can catch the virus and develop the disease.
Cats infected by feline leukemia virus can develop a number of different disorders, including:

anemia
cancer (especially lymphoma and leukemia)
suppression of the immune system (increasing the risk of other infections)
immune-mediated disease (in which the cat's immune system causes damage to its own cells)
reproductive problems (loss of pregnancy and "fading kitten" syndrome)
intestinal inflammation, neurologic disorders (including nerve dysfunction and blindness)
stomatitis (severe inflammation in the mouth)

Feline leukemia virus is diagnosed with a quick blood test. These tests became fairly readily available in Zambia about 18 months ago. We recommend the test when you first adopt a cat from a shelter or the street (especially if you have other cats at home), before vaccinating against the disease, and after exposure to the virus (for example, after a cat bite wound), or if your cat is ill. The test may need to be repeated in 30 days if the risk of infection is high.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for feline leukemia virus. Some positive cats can live without major complications for years with routine veterinary care, proper feeding and care, minimal stress, and avoidance of secondary infections. Ideally infected cats should be kept strictly indoors to reduce the risk of other infections and to prevent spreading the virus to other cats; however this is a very difficult situation to manage and probably impractical for most, as well as compromising the quality of life for your cat.

In the past year FeLV vaccines have become available in Zambia, although they are sometimes limited in supply. Vaccines against FeLV are not considered core vaccines (even in first world countries) and are intended to protect high risk cats against FeLV infection or to decrease the likelihood of persistent viremia.

Vaccines are indicated only for uninfected cats because there is no benefit in vaccinating an FeLV-positive cat.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) 2020 Feline Retrovirus Management Guidelines include the recommendation that all kittens should receive the two-dose FeLV vaccination as a component of the routine initial vaccination series and should also receive a booster vaccination 1 year later. Although this comes at an additional cost to the core vaccines (3in1 and rabies), if you think your cat is high risk - ie has contact with stray cats, is an outdoor cat, or if you have an FeLV infected cat at home, we recommend that you consider testing and vaccinating. Uninfected cats in a household with infected cats should be vaccinated; however, vaccination is not universally protective, and other means of decreasing transmission to uninfected cats, such as physical separation, should also be used.

Its not an emergency so please don't all rush in - but something to consider and discuss with us on your next visit. We will endeavour to stock tests and vaccines - but please do check with us first - if the sole purpose of your vet appointment is for FeLV test and vaccine.

The adult cat’s risk of exposure to FeLV-positive cats should be determined annually, and vaccines used only for those cats at risk becasue vaccines for FeLV have been associated with development of sarcomas (a type of cancer) at the vaccination site, although the risk of tumor development is very low.