Dentistry
Kirby Penttila
What happens to wild horses that don't get ...

As many of you are aware, one of Dr. Butters’ special interests is equine dentistry.  Knowing this, one of our fantastic clients generously provided us with a wonderful and very interesting skull specimen that we wanted to share.

This skull is from a stallion that lived in a wild/feral state west of Cochrane.  Our client knew the stallion, and relayed that he died during the very cold, deep snow winter we experienced several years ago.

Dr. Butters believes she knows what may have contributed to this early death.

What happens to wild horses that don't get dental care?
Wellness
Kirby Penttila
Saying Goodbye: a discussion about euthanasia

Euthanasia is a term that comes from the Greek language and translated into English means “good death.”  The most common method of euthanasia is via a lethal injection of a barbituate drug, but other methods may also produce a “good death.”  There are many reasons for an owner to choose euthanasia and the decision to euthanize a horse is often a difficult and deeply personal for the owner.

Saying Goodbye: a discussion about euthanasia
Vaccines
Kirby Penttila
What's in my vaccine?

What is in a “3-Way” vaccine?  A “4-Way?” “5-Way?” “6-Way?”

              We get a lot of questions about these confusing terms!  The “3-Way” vaccine has long been used to describe the combination vaccine containing Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE), Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (WEE), and Tetanus.  For a “4-Way,” add influenza to those three vaccines just listed.  A five way provides protection against EEE, WEE, Tetanus, Influenza and Equine Herpesvirus (“rhinopneumonitis”), and a “6-way” contains all 5 components of a 5-Way, plus West Nile.  Although there is a combination vaccine that includes EEE, WEE, tetanus, and West Nile, the combination of EEE,WEE, tetanus, and influenza was on the market for years prior to the introduction of the combination with West Nile, so the “4-Way” term is usually reserved for the vaccine containing influenza and not West Nile.  Clear as mud?

Contact the clinic and we can help you determine what vaccinations are appropriate for your horse.  Stay tuned in the coming days for more information on these diseases and why we vaccinate against them, as well as more answers to your frequently asked vaccination questions.

What's in my vaccine?
Breeding
Kirby Penttila
Breeding Your Mare: A behind-the-scenes look at ...

Whether this is your first adventure into the world of mares and foals, or you have been down this road before, you may be wondering what happens between the time you say your farewells at the clinic and the time you get that wonderful news. Well, wonder no more! In this article I will explain all of the techniques, technologies, and tricks we have at our disposal to make the process as reliable and smooth as possible.

Breeding Your Mare: A behind-the-scenes look at the science of mare reproduction
Lameness
Kirby Penttila
New Technology in Lameness Diagnosis

Wireless inertial sensor-based technology is at the forefront of lameness evaluation research today, and we are excited to now be incorporating this cutting edge diagnostic tool into our lameness examinations! The Equinosis Lameness Locator is the result of over twenty years of gait analysis research, and it allows objective quantification of lameness during a routine clinical exam.

New Technology in Lameness Diagnosis

Vaccines

Vaccination FAQ - Potomac Horse Fever?

Vaccination FAQ - Potomac Horse Fever?

  Potomac Horse Fever can cause very serious diarrhea, and other symptoms may include fever, laminitis, and colic.  It is caused by Neorickettsia risticii, a bacteria found in freshwater snails that is believed to be transmitted to horses via inadvertent ingestion of infected aquatic insects.  It is usually seasonal, seen most commonly in the hot summer months or early fall. If Potomac Horse Fever has occurred in a particular geographic area, it is likely that additional cases will occur in future years. However, vaccination against this disease has been controversial.  Evidence of protection against clinical disease is lacking, possibly because the vaccine may not stimulate a protective immune response, or potentially because multiple strains of the bacteria may exist, whereas only one strain is present in the available vaccine.

Vaccination FAQ - Is it better to give multiple vaccines on one date, or split them into different visits?

Vaccination FAQ - Is it better to give multiple vaccines on one date, or split them into different visits?

                This is a difficult question to answer, and there is little scientific data to guide recommendations.  It is very convenient to have all vaccinations given all at once to save time and money, and it is very commonly done with little adverse effects.  There are no studies examining the safety or efficacy of the vaccines when multiple different ones are administered together.  This does not mean they are not safe or not effective if given in combination, just that this has not been proven.  It does appear that there is a higher rate of adverse reactions if multiple vaccinations are given at one time, however, the overall rate of adverse reactions is still very low.  If your horse has experienced an adverse reaction in the past, it may be wise to split up his or her future vaccinations, both to decrease the risk of an adverse event as well as to determine if a particular vaccination is the culprit causing the horse to react.  If multiple vaccinations are given on the same date, it must be considered that modified live vaccinations should not be given close to the site of a killed vaccination, as the adjuvant in the killed vaccine may interfere with the activity of the modified live vaccine.  Seek your veterinarian’s advice if this is a concern.

Vaccination FAQ - My horse needs his hocks injected, and while you are here, could we vaccinate him as well?

Vaccination FAQ - My horse needs his hocks injected, and while you are here, could we vaccinate him as well?

         We get this question quite often, and it would be convenient to combine the treatments to save on an additional call fee.  However, we generally recommend against this for a few reasons.  One of the drugs we typically use in joint injections is a steroid anti-inflammatory such as triamcinolone or methylprednisolone acetate.  These are very potent anti-inflammatory agents, and can cause immune suppression even in the small amounts used in joints.  This means that the immune response to a vaccine could be dampened by the steroids injected in the joint, and the horse may not be adequately protected by the vaccine if it is administered at the same time as intra-articular injections.  Also, in the case of the intranasal Strangles (Strep equi) vaccine, we are very careful not to have contamination of any injection sites with the snorting of the vaccine after the horse is given this vaccine.  If this modified live bacteria is inadvertently injected, it can set up a nasty abscess and this would be particularly devastating if this infection were to occur in a joint.

Why We Vaccinate - Strangles

Why We Vaccinate - Strangles

Most horse people have heard of Strangles, and many have had the unfortunate experience of dealing with an outbreak.  The disease, sometimes referred to as “distemper,” is not new—it was first reported in 1251.  The disease is highly contagious.  Young animals (weanlings, yearlings, and other young stock) are particularly susceptible, however any age of horse can be affected.

Vaccination FAQ - Is it okay to ride my horse immediately before or after he or she is vaccinated?

Vaccination FAQ - Is it okay to ride my horse immediately before or after he or she is vaccinated?

               This is a very interesting and common question, and there is a little bit of research available to help guide recommendations.  The first thing to consider is that sometimes, unpredictably, a horse will have a severe, immediate response to the vaccination such as anaphylaxis.  Obviously, being ridden when this occurs can worsen the situation, and would put the rider at risk if the horse were to become weak or wobbly, or even fall.  If you are going to ride the horse after a vaccination, wait at least 30 minutes to ensure these immediate adverse effects are not seen.  Some clinicians feel that if the horse is ridden lightly after a vaccination, they develop less stiffness at the injection site.  However, it has been shown that extreme exercise (for example, galloping sets or race training) in close proximity to a vaccination can reduce the horse’s ability to respond to the vaccine appropriately, therefore the vaccine may be less effective.  It seems the exercise essentially acts as a form of stress that reduces the horse’s immune response to the vaccine.  The bottom line—while it may be safe (or potentially beneficial) to exercise a horse lightly a little while after a vaccination is given, avoid strenuous exercise.

Why We Vaccinate - West Nile Virus

Why We Vaccinate - West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus was first reported in Canada in 2001, and first detected in a horses in Canada in 2002.  West Nile Virus in horses hit the peak of its prevalence in 2003 with 170 cases reported in Alberta alone.  Since then there have not been as many cases of the disease in Alberta, and so the question is often raised—do we still need to vaccinate our horses against West Nile Virus?

Vaccination FAQ - Can I have my horse vaccinated if (s)he has a mild “cold?”

Vaccination FAQ - Can I have my horse vaccinated if (s)he has a mild “cold?”

    If a human arrives for an influenza vaccination from a vaccine clinic or pharmacy, one of the first questions asked is, “Are you feeling well today?”  If the immune response is actively engaged fighting another virus or bacterial process, the response to a vaccination might not be optimal.  Therefore, if your horse demonstrates a nasal discharge, has a mild fever, or is recovering from another medical issue, we usually delay vaccination until their immune system is better able to respond to the vaccine reliably.

Why We Vaccinate - Eastern & Western Equine Encephalitis (“Sleeping Sickness”)

Why We Vaccinate - Eastern & Western Equine Encephalitis (“Sleeping Sickness”)

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) are both neurological diseases spread to horses and humans from infected wild birds and rodents via blood sucking mosquitos. The disease typically culminates in a profound depression that characterizes these diseases in the late stages, and gives them the common name of “sleeping sickness.” The American Association of Equine Practitioners considers vaccines against EEE and WEE to be "core" vaccines, recommended for all adult horses.

Vaccination FAQ - My horse is vaccinated—why did it still get a cold?

Vaccination FAQ - My horse is vaccinated—why did it still get a cold?

  An upper respiratory tract infection or “cold” in a horse, like in a human, can be caused by many different viruses or bacterial infections—adenovirus, herpesvirus (Type 1, 2, 4, 5), influenza virus, rhinitis A or B virus, Strep equi (“Strangles”)—or even a combination of these agents.  Horses can be vaccinated against some respiratory pathogens, namely herpesvirus Type 1 and 4, Influenza, and Strangles, but many other viruses especially are not included in the routine vaccinations (much as humans can be vaccinated against influenza but not the common cold).  Additionally, each horse’s immune system will respond differently to a given vaccine, and a small percentage of horses will be “non-responders.” These horses do not mount an adequate immune response following even properly administered vaccinations.  If your horse develops an upper respiratory infection even when they have received their yearly vaccinations, they could be infected by one of these other viruses (adenovirus, other herpesvirus types, rhinitis virus), or their immune system simply did not respond to the vaccine as well as some other horses.