Equinevet June 2014

The Modern

Equine Vet www.modernequinevet.com

Vol 4 Issue 6 2014

Colic surgery Geriatric vs. mature horses

Preventing superficial digital flexor tendon injuries Foaling mares relaxed? Totally.

Technician Update: 12 tips for active box rest

Table of Contents

Cover story:

4 Colic surgery: geriatric vs. mature horses Cover photo by Bob Langrish boblangrish.com

Orthopedics

Preventing injury in racehorses.......................................................................................... 3 Reproduction

Are foaling mares relaxed? Totally......................................................................................8 Four foals from cryopreserved embryos born in Europe....................................10 Technician Update

Tips for active box rest..........................................................................................................15 News

Equine specialists warns about EHV-1.....................................12 New EQStable app available from Zoeitis...............................12 Three surgeons join Cornell Ruffian .........................................16 Folks with dementia benefit from horse therapy...............17 advertisers Shank's Veterinary Equipment............................. 3

AEVT.................................................................... 14

The Modern

Equine Vet Sales: Robin Geller • newbucks99@yahoo.com Editor: Marie Rosenthal • mrosenthal@percybo.com Art Director: Jennifer Barlow • jbarlow@percybo.com Published by PO Box 935 • Morrisville, PA 19067 Marie Rosenthal and Jennifer Barlow, Publishers percybo media  publishing

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Issue 6/2014 | ModernEquineVet.com

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Orthopedics

Preventing injury in race horses Up to 30% of Thoroughbred racehorses and other elite athletes suffer from superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries, resulting in long periods when they cannot work.

SDFT injuries also force them into early retirement. Prevention would be the optimum strategy. Researchers and industry gathered in 2012 at the University of Glasgow.

Their focus: • Useful, practical prevention information for trainers, • Technologies that could assist in detecting the problem earlier with a goal toward prevention, and • What the laboratory could do to aid prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Here’s what they discussed: One of the biggest obstacles to accomplishing the research is the racing industry itself. It just is not practical to do the necessary field research in this high-pressure environment. Trainers come at this problem differently and are unlikely to standardize training regimens to “test” their effects. However, modern technologies, such as global positioning system (GPS) and portable monitoring devices could provide accurate measurements.

Another difficulty is what potential risks should be targeted. A large contributor to the problem is the type of racing the horse does, e.g. National Hunt vs. flat racing. Other contributors are age, “types” of horses, and the natural pathology of the injury.

Then there are the potential risks that are hotly debated. These include surface conditions at the track, faster racing speeds, the horse’s fitness and its conformation.

Quite a few complex horse and management factors interact with external conditions, for instance the SDFT core becomes warmer during galloping. Core hyperthermia of the SDFT in relationship to environmental temperatures and limb insulation has not been measured.

Would something as simple as an ice boot help the horse?

Training and racing history could be a factor, but it is difficult to relate tendon injury risk to previous training and racing.

There could be accumulative microdamage to the tendon during racing. Training might not be intense enough to induce the adaption and remodeling needed to prevent serious injury. However, the literature does not address how intense the training should be.

A key problem in all research approaches is detecting subclinical pathology as early as possible, and time was devoted to good imaging.

Significant work is needed to link factors responsible for lesion development with measures to prevent their further progression or to reverse the pathology. These might include changing training regimens, optimal surface choices and how often a horse races.

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Cheryl Ann Quigley / Shutterstock.com

Lifting Large Animals Since 1957

For more information: This is based on an open source article with much more information, and is available here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.12269/abstract Rich T, Patterson-Kane JC. Science-in-brief: What is needed to prevent tendon injury in equine athletes? A conversation between researchers and industry stakeholders. Equine Vet J . 2014;46:393-398. Article first published online: 9 JUN 2014. DOI: 10.1111/evj.12269.

www.shanksvet.com • info@shanksvet.com ModernEquineVet.com | Issue 6/2014

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Colic surgery:

Geriatric vs. mature Geriatric horses do not

Gazzerro presented data from a retrospective study she did while at the New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania. Gazzerro and her colleagues reviewed the medical records of 78 geriatric horses that were 20 years or older and compared those with the medical records of 156 mature horses, which were between 4 and 15 years old looking at post operative complications after colic surgery.

“We eliminated the 16- to 19-year-olds from the study to re-

necessarily do worse than mature, non-geriatric horses after colic surgery, according to results presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Equine Practitioners in Nashville.

“I do not think we should be reluctant to pursue surgery for colic in the geriatric horse,” said Deanna M. Gazzerro, VMD, a surgical resident at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

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ally differentiate between geriatric and non geriatric group,” Gazzerro explained.

They reviewed the records for history, signalment, examination findings and blood work on admission, intraoperative findings, surgery time, findings during surgery, type of lesion, whether the small or large intestine was involved and any postoperative care, such as treatments and complications, as well as whether they were alive at discharge and duration of

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cover story

hospitalization.

“As far as postoperative complications go, we pretty much looked at everything you could look at, including postoperative reflux, diarrhea, fever, problems with the incision, colic, need for second surgery, pneumonia, appetite and laminitis,” she said.

The most common lesion type in the geriatric horse (60% ) was the small intestinal strangulating lesion. In mature horses, about 40% had a large intestinal simple

obstruction or displacement.

“The difference in the lesion distribution among the two groups was significant, and we found that the geriatrics had a significantly increased odds ratio of having an intestinal strangulating lesion—about six times more than mature non-geriatric horses,” she explained.

This was an important statistic, because when they looked at complications, the type of lesion, rather than the age of the horse was

the most significant risk factor.

Postoperative reflux is an important complication following surgery for a small intestinal strangulating lesion. Thirty-five percent of geriatric horses vs.

17% of mature horses had postoperative reflux, so on the surface, it looked like geriatric horses fared worse from surgery. However, when they did a statistical analysis of the data, they found that a similar percentage of mature horses who had a small intestinal stran-

Photos courtesy of Dr. D. Gazzerro

horses

Lesion type, not age most important factor in outcome.

Inraoperative view of the small intestine.

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cover story

Lesion Categories Type of lesion

Geriatric (> 20 years)

Mature (4-15 years)

4 (5%)

13 (8%)

Small intestinal strangulating

47 (60%)

30 (19%)

Large intestinal simple

19 (24%)

63 (40%)

Large intestinal strangulating

8 (10%)

46 (30%)

0

4 (3%)

Small intestinal simple

Other P<0.00 lesion category differences

gulating lesion had postoperative reflux, according to Gazzerro.

Forty-seven percent of mature and 47% of geriatric horses with small intestinal strangulating lesions had postoperative reflux.

“When we did a multivariable analysis, age was not associated with reflux, instead, we found the reflux was due more to the type of lesion than the horse’s age,” she explained. Other postopera-

Shutterstock/WOLF AVNI

Veterinarians should refer geriatric horses for surgery sooner rather than later because they are more likely to have small intestinal strangulating lesions. tive considerations attributable to the small intestinal strangulations were the need for IV lidocaine and promotility agents after surgery, a higher peak heart rate and persistent tachycardia.

Twenty-three percent of the geriatric horses had inappetence after surgery, which was a concern. “Overall inappetence was

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about four times greater in geriatric horses compared with mature horses, particularly for geriatric horses that had small intestinal lesions.”

The researchers were unsure of the pathophysiology of the inappetence, which could be due to some metabolic derangement, pain or ileus shock or “any number of things.” However, nutritional support for geriatric horses after colic surgery should be an im-

and hand grazing them.

In the long-term, most of the geriatric horses did well with 68 (87%) of the geriatrics surviving to discharge vs. 144 (92%) of the mature horses.

She said in all the horses, complications such as post operative reflux, fever, diarrhea, colic, a second surgery and laminitis were all associated with decreased survival.

Because a high proportion of geriatric horses have small intestinal strangulating lesions, this should prompt veterinarians to have this high on their differential list and to refer to a surgical facility sooner rather than later.

Regardless of age, small intestinal strangulation was associated with postoperative reflux, and owners should be advised of this potential complication pre-operatively.

When talking with owners about the horse’s options, keep in mind, “these guys don’t necessarily do worse,” Gazzerro said.

Although it was not part of the study, after her presentation, one veterinarian asked about recovery from anesthesia, which can

Issue 6/2014 | ModernEquineVet.com

portant consideration when moving forward.

She recommended more supportive care in the postoperative period, making sure they get good pain management and keeping an eye on metabolism, specifically monitoring triglyceride levels and providing intravenous nutritional supplementation if necessary. She also suggested taking them out

be a concern. Gazzerro said that recovery is not necessarily harder on a geriatric horse. “Unless they have a significant lameness or severe orthopedic problems, I don’t generally feel like we see any worse recovery compared with mature horses,” she said. “They might sleep a little longer because they like the soft mats we use in the reMeV covery stall.”

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Equine Vet

Reproductive Medicine

Are foaling mares

It is often assumed that giving birth is both stressful and painful for the mother. This may be the case for humans but does it also apply to horses or are we transferring human experiences to the animals?

Scientists at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna (Vetmeduni) have investigated the stress associated with birth in horses and other domestic animals.

The findings show that contrary to expectations horse mares appear to be completely relaxed when foaling. The results are published in the journal Theriogenology.

Equine foaling is typically quick. Labor and the active part of foaling, resulting in delivery of the foal, take 10 to 20 minutes and is considerably shorter than giving birth in humans or in cows. Is this brief period stressful for the animals or are horses more relaxed than humans when giving birth?

This issue has been addressed by Christina Nagel, MSc, PhD, and colleagues, who closely observed 17 foalings at the Brandenburg State Stud in Neustadt (Dosse), Germany, as well as recording 8

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electrocardiograms before, during and after foaling.

The researchers also took samples of saliva and blood to analyze the levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol and epinephrine. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Normal foaling appears to cause just the opposite of a stress response,â&#x20AC;?

Nagel said.

Surprisingly, during labor the heart rate of mares does not increase. On the contrary, the mares even miss some individual heart beats due to delayed stimulus conduction in the heart. In humans, such second-degree atriventricular (AV) blocks often require medical treatment but many healthy horses show AV blocks at rest.

On physical activity, e.g. when the horse is ridden, the heart beat becomes regular and the beat frequency increases.

The finding of AV blocks during foaling suggests that mares are strongly influenced by the parasympathetic nervous system, which usually causes a state of rest and relaxation. Its antagonist, the sympathetic nervous system, would prepare the organism for a stress response but does not seem

Photo courtesy of Vetmeduni Vienna

Relaxed?

Totally! to be active while the animals are giving birth.

The level of stress hormones remains low in foaling mares and the researchers did not find an adrenaline rush at any point. Foaling clearly does not evoke a stress response. The need to care for the newly born foal was also not perceived as stressful: contact between the mare and the foal was associated with a further state of relief and relaxation.

Horses experience giving birth

very differently from human mothers. They need a safe environment to give birth: all the foals in the study were born at night, when the stable was quiet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Parturition in horses requires a state of relaxation in the mare.

This is an advantage in wild horses

because mares can postpone labour until they perceive the environment as calm and safe. Once this is the case, foaling proceeds within a very short time,â&#x20AC;? explained Christine Aurich, DVM, PhD, Diplomate of the European College for Animal Reproduction

(ECAR), who is the head of the research group.

The study was conducted at the Graf Lehndorff Institute for Equine Science, a joint research unit of the Vetmeduni Vienna and the Brandenburg State Stud Farm at Neustadt (Dosse), Germany.

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The need to care for the newly born foal was also not perceived as stressful. Contact between the mare and the foal was associated with a further state of relief and relaxation.

For more information: Nagel C, Erber R, Ille N, et al. Parturition in horses is dominated by parasympathetic activity of the autonomous nervous system.

Theriogenology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.04.026 ModernEquineVet.com | Issue 6/2014

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Genotyping allows scientists to choose the embryos they want to use based on different criteria: sex, like in this experiment, the absence of known genetic disorders, or, perhaps in the future, other traits that are tied to behavior, such as emotivity or sociability.

Four foals

from genotyped, cryopreserved embryos born in Europe

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Reproductive Medicine

Researchers from the Institut Francais du Che-

val et de l’equitation (IFCE) and the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) announced that, for the first time in Europe, four foals were successfully born as the result of the transfer of genotyped and cryopreserved embryos. The goal of this work is to better understand embryonic development, control livestock reproduction and maintain breed genetic diversity. Furthermore, it is advantageous for the horse industry to be able to determine the traits of a future foal.

Credit: INRA/C. Maitre

What were the steps leading up to the birth of these foals?

Seven days after fertilization, embryos were collected from Welsh B ponies that are part of INRA’s livestock. The embryos were genotyped: scientists sampled some of the embryos’ cells to analyze their genomes. In this experiment, embryos were selected based on sex, the idea being to use sex-based selection to test the technique’s feasibility. The embryos were then cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen (at -196°). Last summer, they were transferred into saddlebred mares at the Haras du Pin center.

After an 11-month gestation period, the foals were born in May. They were of the expected sex: two females and two males.

This is the first time that such an event has taken place in Europe, and it is the product of more than 10 years of various types of embryonic research carried out by INRA and IFCE scientists.

What made it so difficult to apply this technique to horses?

Although embryo preservation techniques are already well developed for bovines, small ruminant species, and even humans, preserving horse embryos is a complex process. For instance, horse embryos vary greatly in size: 7-day-old em-

The INRA Val de Loire center at Nouzilly is where the technology to maintain embryo viability following genotyping and cryopreservation was honed, and then, last summer, the transfer of several embryos took place at the IFCE Haras du Pin Stud Farm, located in the French department of Orne. The partnership between the two institutions has now been cemented by the birth of the healthy foals.

The press departments of the institutions released this question and answer interview about the process.

European researchers announced that four foals were successfully born after the transfer of cryopreserved embryos. Here, the institutes involved talk about the significance for the horse industry.

bryos range in diameter from 200 to 700 µm. It is difficult to cryopreserve the largest embryos because the liquid inside them forms ice crystals when the embryos are frozen at very cold temperatures. What’s more, horse embryos are surrounded by a capsule that interferes with successful cryopreservation.

What is the significance of this event, which is the first of its kind in Europe?

There are several reasons why being able to successfully cryopreserve embryos is important. For example, it allows us to maintain breed genetic diversity,

particularly that of breeds with small population sizes, such as the Landais or the Poitevin Mulassier. Furthermore, the factor that currently limits the use of embryo transfer is its cost: the transfer center has to maintain a team of recipient mares that are reproductively synchronized with the donor mares.

Cryopreservation means that the transfer doesn’t have to take place immediately; it can wait until a recipient mare becomes available to receive the embryo.

Finally, it may now be possible to directly repopulate horse herds that have experienced losses as a result of various issues, such as disease-related problems, instead of having to use the indirect technique of crossbreeding.

Why genotype the embryos?

Genotyping allows us to choose the embryos we want to use based on different criteria: sex, like in this experiment, the absence of known genetic disorders, or, perhaps in the future, other traits that are tied to behavior, such as emotivity or sociability. It is advantageous for the horse industry to be able to determine the traits of a future foal. We will next aim to simplify the process—to make this technology more accessible and user friendly for those in the horse industry.

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news notes

EHV-1 reported in several states Equine herpesvirus (EHV) has been reported in multiple states throughout the country.

Belmont Park in Nassau County, New York, instituted a precautionary quarantine in late June after a horse showed signs of EHV-1. An unraced 2-yearold colt was experiencing fever and neurological symptoms. There were 51 horses in that barn under quarantine.

Another quarantine was in place at Suffolk Downs in Boston following the death of one horse stabled there. The horse, which was transferred to Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, with neurological signs, was diagnosed with equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Another horse came down with fever.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture reported that a horse in northeast Kansas had been confirmed positive with a wild type of non-neurotropic case of EHV-1. The horse had been at a large barrel-racing event in Lincoln, Neb. Another horse from Wisconsin, which was at the same barrel-racing event, had been confirmed positive with EHV-1.

At least nine horses displayed EHV signs in Min-

Inset: Electron microscopy of EHV-1.

Microscope photo by the late Dr. George Allen.

Nasal discharge in a weanling foal with febrile EHV-1 respiratory tract infection.

Photo by Peter Timoney. http://www2.ca.uky.edu/gluck/TimoneyPJ.asp

Version 3.0 of the EQStable™ app from Zoetis offers new features “EQStable app users spoke and the Zoetis Equine Team listened,” said Kate Russo, marketing manager, U.S. Cattle and Equine Marketing, Zoetis. “The EQStable app updates are a direct result of the feedback received through the app, to offer the organization and health care information users want to provide the best possible care for their horse or herd.”

The updated EQStable app is available for free at the Apple App Store. Among the new features is a deworming questionnaire to help determine their horse’s parasite risk profile and create an Individualized Deworming (ID) plan.

“The new AAEP Parasite Control Guidelines support that deworming paradigms have changed from the same rotation for every horse to a strategic approach with consideration to each horse’s individual risk factors. The Individualized Deworming Questionnaire was developed to assist horse owners in developing a current deworming approach,” Russo said. “Each situation is different so it important to work with your veterinarian to determine the appropriate seasonality and duration of all deworming products.

The calendar reminders don’t stop with deworming. The app 12

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allows users to set specific dates and customize reminders healthcare, events and trips.

The new version also offers a tutorial video for using the app.

It’s broken down by chapters so you can find sections of the video that are most useful to you.

Users can enjoy all of the updates the app has to offer: • Deworming questionnaire: Changes are within the My Stable/ Events/Deworming sections. This new questionnaire helps determine an ID plan for a horse or herd.

• Tutorial video: Simply tap the breakdown times to jump to sections of the video.

• Set specific dates for events: Changes within the My Stable/ Events/Shoeing and Dentistry sections. Enter specific dates and customize reminders.

• Other events: Changes to the My Stable/Events/Other sections. Add other events from different sections; previously, it was pulled from the calendar only.

“The Zoetis Equine Team hopes that version 3.0 of the EQStable app delivers all of the improvements that users were asking for,” Russo said. Now owners can work with the veterinarian to develop and maintain an individualized deworming program, as well as never miss an important appointment, Russo added.

Check out version 3.0 of the Zoetis EQStable app at www.zoetisUS.com/EQStable.

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nesota and four of those tested positive for EHV-1.

Two of the horses had to be euthanized. The others appeared to be recovering.

There were also reports from Colorado, North Carolina and Virginia.

Beth Davis, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, professor and section head of equine medicine and surgery at Kansas State University's Veterinary Health Center, said horse owners should check their horses for symptoms, especially if they have recently been to an equine event. Veterinarians in these states should warn their clients to be vigilant.

“If a horse has been at an event where there are a large number of horses and there was a case of equine herpes myelitis, keep an eye on that horse to make sure it is doing what it normally does,” Davis said.

Take its temperature twice a day to make sure it is normal because the first sign of the virus is a fever greater than 101.5° F. “The horse may then resolve that fever, but in another day or two the horse will have another fever spike,” Davis said. “Those may be the only clinical signs that the horse shows.”

Equine EHV-1 can cause respiratory and neurological symptoms, abortion in mares, and neonatal foal death. EHM, the neurological form of the virus, has a high morbidity and mortality rate.

EHV-1 spreads easily through direct horse-tohorse contact, but can also be spread by fomites on physical objects, such as tack and grooming equipment, as well as feed and water buckets. Biosecurity is essential to protect unaffected horses.

Incubation is between 2 and 10 days. Respiratory shedding of the virus generally occurs for 7-10 days but may persist longer in infected horses. For this reason, the isolation period recommendation for confirmed positive EHM cases is 21 days. Clinical signs of EHM in horses may include nasal discharge, incoordination, hindquarter weakness, recumbency, lethargy, urinary incontinence, and diminished tail tone. The prognosis for EHM positive horses depends on the severity of signs and the period of recumbency. Employing supportive treatment with intravenous fluids, anti-inflammatory drugs, antiviral drugs, and other

Lessons learned from EHM in VA Virginia was fortunate with the recent case of EHM in April, according to Richard Wilkes, DVM, State Veterinarian with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).

A horse in Fauquier was diagnosed with EHM and euthanized on April 10, but no other horses showed signed of illness at that farm or from a steeplechase event in which the horse participated prior to becoming ill. This was due both to good luck as well as a good response.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to the farm’s stable manager,” said Wilkes. “He recognized immediately that something was wrong with the horse because it was not eating and had a fever. He called the veterinarian as soon as the horse began to have neurological signs, and the veterinarian quickly submitted samples to the VDACS laboratory to be tested for EHM. Due to the positive test result and the severity of the clinical signs, the owner chose to euthanize the affected horse the same day the diagnosis was reported by the lab, which minimized the chances of further spread of the virus. This particular farm already practiced excellent biosecurity but stepped that up.”

Wilkes suggested veterinarians provide this advice for owners, trainers and others around the stable.

• P ractice biosecurity routinely. Do not share tack among horses and minimize direct contact among assembled horses whenever possible.

People can spread the disease, too, if their hands, clothing, shoes or vehicles are contaminated, so wear coveralls, boot covers or use disinfectant baths if feasible. Isolate and closely monitor horses that are returning from a show, trail ride or competition for a minimum of 14 days.

• B e aware. Horse exhibitors and event goers should monitor their horses for early signs of infection by taking their temperature twice a day while at shows and report an elevated temperature to their veterinarian. Look for neurologic signs indicative of EHM - wobbly gait, hind-end weakness and dribbling of urine - and call your vet early if you are concerned. Don’t wait.

You know your horse and if you are concerned, call the vet now.

In many states, EHM is a reportable disease, so veterinarians should report suspected cases to the state veterinarian.

supportive measures may be beneficial, since there is no specific treatment for EHM, according to ProMedMail, an e-mail infectious disease alert service.

Currently, no EHV-1 equine vaccine has a label claim for protection against the neurological strain of the virus.

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EHV-1 Clinical signs

Photo by Peter Timoney

• Fever commonly precedes other clinical signs • Respiratory Disease • Fever, coughing, nasal discharge • Abortion • Fetal death

• Neurologic signs • Hind-end weakness and incoordination • Difficulty with balance • Urine incontinence or inability to urinate • Down and unable to stand

Equine fetus aborted as a result of infection by EHV-1. The fetus is still attached to the placenta and enclosed in its amnion.

Source: Gluck Equine Research Center. http://www2.ca.uky.edu/gluck/

ModernEquineVet.com | Issue 6/2014

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AAEVT Membership

AAEVT* membership is open to US and international equine veterinary technicians, assistants, practice managers, and support staff employed in the veterinary industry. It is also open to students of AVMA/CVMA accredited programs

AAEVT Membership • • • • • • • •

Bi-Annual Newsletter Weekly “HoofBeats” email NEwsblast Full access to www.aaevt.org, including the Career Center and the Library Up-to-date information on the AAEVT Discounted registration for AAEVT Regional Meetings and the annual AAEP/AAEVT Convention NTRA, Working Advantage and Platinum Performance Benefits The opportunity to participate in the AAEVT Online Certification Program or to become a member of the AEVNT Academy-Specialty in Equine Veterinary Nursing • Scholarship opportunities.

• AAEVT’s Equine Manual for Veterinary Technicians (Blackwell Publishing 20% discount on purchase price) • Subscription to THE HORSE Magazine, compliments of Intervet Schering/Plough Opportunity to attend Purina’s Annual Equine Veterinary Technician Conference All Expenses paid!

AAEVT Objectives • • • •

Provide opportunities for CE, training, communication, and networking Educate the equine veterinary community and the public about our profession Inform Members of issues affecting our profession Assist in providing the best medical care to improve the health and welfare of the horse

AAEVT Online Equine Certification Program

• A three course, 10 module, equine-only online program offered through ACT • Geared toward Credentialed Veterinary Technicians, Assistants, Support staff, & Students • Areas of study include: equine medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, parasitology, laboratory, diagnostics, equine basics (breeds, wellness, husbandry,) diagnostic procedures, emergency medicine, restraint, pharmacology, surgical assistance and anesthesia, equine office procedures • A certificate of completion is awarded to those who: Successfully complete required courses Complete the list of required skills (per a supervising DVM who is an AAEP member) Attend an AAEVT regional CE symposium and participate in the we labs • Those individuals who successfully complete the programs will be recognized as AAEVT Certified Equine Veterinary Technicians / AAEVT Certified Equine Veterinary Assistants depending on their current designation. The certificate is recognized by the AAEVT and the AAEP but does not grant the credentialed status by the AVMA • For more information go to www.aaevt.4act.com or call 800-357-3182

AAEVT Mission Statement: To promote the health and welfare of the horse through the education and professional enrichment of the equine veterinary technician and assistant.

For more information visit www.aaevt.org

*American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians and Assistants

technician update

Twelve tips for active box rest

By Sue Loly, LVT, VTS-EVN The days of closing the stall door and walking away are gone. Horses are thinking animals, and thinking animals must be engaged. Engagement keeps them happier and makes them better patients.

Help a horse stay engaged during times of restricted activity with an active box rest regime. It takes effort to put all of these ideas to action but the end results will be a happier, healthier horse that can return back to work faster and stronger.

Always keep the original injury in mind as well as the restrictions that might be necessary for healing which requires working closely with the veterinarians when designing engagement activities, but many of the tips here can be modified to accommodate the horse’s needs.

Happy Feet. Start with deep bedding to help reduce bed sores for those that spend increased time down off their feet. The increased bedding will also provide some dryness which can help avoid thrush when also combined with twice a day cleaning.

Room with a view? Overlooking nearby paddocks with a window, a view of the arena or even

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the farrier stall? It’s reality TV for horses and may help keep them entertained for hours.

Food for thought. Reduce calorie/energy rich pelleted feeds with a basic ration balancer will keep hot heads a bit more level and help prevent unnecessary weight gain. .

Rock out feed time. Use several large rocks in the grain bin to slow down the consumption of grain or pellet feeds. This will make reduced rations go a bit further while working them around the bucket to get every last piece.

Making the best of meals. Nibble hay bags have smaller holes than traditional hay nets or bags. This makes a tougher task of chow down hay rations in the blink of an eye. For the truly talented speedy eaters, try a double nibble bag.

Quality Time. Take time to work on basic ground manners or even learn a few tricks. Spending extra quality time will both strengthen the bond between horse and rider and keep idle minds active.

Continue a diligent grooming routine. Sitting idol in a stall can result in increased dust particles building up in the hair coat. Daily brushing will help reduce the dusts and circulate the healthy oils in the coat.

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Horse playing with a Jolly Ball by Jolly Pets • Horsemen's Pride, who provided these pictures. http://www.jollypets.com

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technician update 8.

Consider companions. Since horses are herd animals, the stress of being separated could create new problems like gastric ulcers or developing stall vices. Consider having other horses take turns being a buddy for the day. If a buddy horse is not an option, consider other species

Toys for Tots. A quick trip down the little tots toy section of your local toy store will reveal a variety of stimulating musical toys that have large buttons that are easily pushed by a muzzle and made of heavy plastics that can withstand the torment of a horse when mounted up in a stall.

Mind benders. Jolly ball®, Amazing Graze®, and Uncle Jimmy’s Hangin ball® are just a few of the toys designed specifically with equid entertainment in mind.

Or just hand an empty 2 L pop bottle or milk jug on a twine with a few rocks for some homemade maracas that are fun to crush and shake!

Stretch & strengthening exercises. Stretching is a great way to help maintain flexibility, strength and mobilization of joints not affected

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by injury. There are a variety of lateral stretches that can help maintain and even strengthen the muscles in the head, neck and core of the horse without causing excessive movement of limbs. Manual manipulation of limbs including subtle flexions, protraction, abduction and more can help maintain strength and muscle tone.

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Spa Day. Staying on top of the strain that supportive limbs can endure will go a long way in the creature comfort. While deep penetrating muscle massage should be reserved for the professional, even a horse owner can help provide relief with some superficial informal massage. Massage helps promote circulation to surrounding tissues and provide tension relief. MeV

About the Author

Sue Loly, LVT, VTS-EVN, is the technical supervisor at the Leatherdale Equine Center at the University of Minnesota. She is a member and secretary for the Academy of Equine Nursing and is the current Regional Director for the American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians.

news notes

Three surgeons join Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists Expanding its capacity to offer emergency and specialty care for horses, Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists (CRES) has hired three new equine veterinarians. As surgeons and emergency clinicians they will help build the new referral and emergency care practice, which opened in spring 2014 near the Belmont Racetrack backstretch in Elmont, NY as an extension of the Cornell University Hospital for Animals.

Kyla Ortved, DVM, DACVS, joins CRES as an assistant clinical professor in the department of clinical sciences at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Based in Elmont at the CRES facility, she will serve as equine surgeon and emergency clinician starting July 15.

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Issue 6/2014 | ModernEquineVet.com

Samuel Hurcombe, BSc, BVMS, MS, DACVIM, DACVECC joins CRES as a clinical associate professor and specialist in Equine Emergency Surgery and Internal Medicine, and will manage emergency and critical care as well as internal medicine cases starting July 21.

Gabriel Cook, DVM, DACVS, part time, conducting surgeries on Fridays. Cook completed an internship at the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, and a large animal residency at North Carolina State University in 1996. He served as a staff surgeon at a private practice in the San Francisco Bay area before joining New England Equine Practice in 1998.

news notes

In the first study of its kind, researchers have deOnce a week, eight of the clients would remain at termined that spending time with horses eases sympthe center and pursue other activities while the other toms of dementia due to Alzheimer disease. eight took a bus trip to the Field of Dreams Equine A collaboration between The Ohio State University, Education Center in Blacklick, Ohio. There, they visan equine therapy center and an adult daycare center ited with horses under the supervision of National found that people with Alzheimer were able to safely Church Residences caretakers, as well as faculty and groom, feed and walk horses under supervision, and students from the College of Social Work and the Colthe experience buoyed their mood and made them less lege of Veterinary Medicine at Ohio State. likely to resist care or become upset later in the day.

The clients visited the farm once a week for a The small pilot study, which appears in the journal month, so that every participant had four total visits.

Anthrozoös, suggested that equine therapy, a treatThey groomed and bathed the horses, walked them, ment used today for children and teens who have and fed them buckets of grass. emotional and developmental disorders, could work for adults, too.

Holly Dabelko-Schoeny, associate professor of social work at Ohio State, said that equine therapy could supplement more common forms of animal therapy involving dogs or cats and provide a unique way to ease the symptoms of dementia without drugs.

"We wanted to test whether people with dementia could have positive interactions with horses, and we found that they can — absolutely," Dabelko-Schoeny said.

"The experience immediately lifted their mood, and we saw a connection to fewer incidents of negative behavior."

In addition to memory loss, people with Alzheimer's often experience personality changes, In addition to memory loss, people with Alzheimer's often experience personality changes. They can become depressed, withdrawn she explained. They can become — even aggressive. In the first study of its kind, researchers have determined that spending time with horses eases symptoms of depressed, withdrawn — even agAlzheimer's dementia. gressive. As researchers look for a way to prevent or treat the disease, today's therapies The four horses were chosen for their gentle disare becoming more focused on how to ease the emopositions and calmness when facing new people and tional burden for patients and their families. new situations.

At the adult daycare center, a National Church The researchers saw obvious signs that the clients Residences Center for Senior Health in downtown enjoyed their time on the farm: they smiled, laughed Columbus, clients normally partake in crafts, exercise and talked to the horses. Even those who normally actand other activities to manage their dementia. For this ed withdrawn became fully engaged in the experience. study, 16 of the center's clients volunteered to break There was a clear improvement in dementia-related bewith their regular routine. havior among the clients who visited the farm. MeV

Photo by Johnny Runciman Photography, courtesy of The Ohio State University.

Caring for horses eases symptoms of dementia

For more information: Dabelko-Schoeny H, Phillips G, Darrough E, et al. Equine-assisted intervention for people with dementia. Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals, 2014; 27 (1): 141 DOI:10.2752/175303714X13837396326611 ModernEquineVet.com | Issue 6/2014

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