Summer Newsletter 2019

Summer eye conditions in horses

Though June has been a bit of a wash out, July could well herald fly season, and some horses really suffer with eye conditions. Sometimes these are relatively straightforward to manage; however damage to the eye can quickly become serious - a mild but itchy conjunctivitis can lead to self-trauma and a corneal ulcer or a catastrophic injury. Conjunctivitis and blocked tear ducts are a common sequel to flies and dust carrying bacteria into the eye. You may notice tears overflowing the eye initially that can progress to swelling of the eyelids and a thick mucoid discharge. With chronic inflammation, the tear ducts may block, stopping drainage of any fluid from the eye and chronic tearing of down the horse’s face. After staining the eye to check for ulceration, conjunctivitis management is usually with antibiotic eye drops, whereafter the condition should resolve quickly. Blocked tear ducts require a slightly more involved process of inserting a catheter to flush them clear. Corneal ulcers, damage to the clear part of the eye, are usually due to trauma – grass seeds, rubbing of the eye etc. This removes the protective surface of the cornea and can allow bacteria to invade, which along with a very poor blood supply means it is slow to heal. These cases usually present with a closed and swollen eye, and sometimes you may see “blueing” or discolouration of the cornea. These cases require prompt veterinary attention and management; as if left untreated, this can lead to a “melting ulcer” and rupture of the eye, which necessitates removal. Last year, we saw a few cases of “eosinophillic keratitis” where large number of white blood cells invade the cornea and need advanced treatment. General management Fly masks are a very useful management tool, as they act as protection from both flies and the sun, However, they can hide injuries, so must be checked twice daily to ensure they are fitting properly and not rubbing on the eye itself. Horse’s tend to prefer to be in the shade or a field shelter through the hottest part of the day, away from flies. Additionally, allowing them to stand nose to tail with a companion allows them to swish flies away from each other’s heads. Fly repellents should be carefully applied on a sponge around the head and avoiding application to the eye itself. If in doubt, contact us for advice and a visit. Eyes are delicate and precious, so any swollen, closed or painful eyes need prompt veterinary attention to help prevent long term damage.

Staff News

Marie Claire Bal DVM Cert ESM MRCVS joined us in June. She has worked in Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands and more recently a large practice in Buckinghamshire. In 2015 she gained a Graduate Certificate in Equine Sports Medicine (poor performance) and has a special interest in reproductive work including embryo transfer.

Ashlee Ferguson MRCVS started with us in April. Ashlee has worked locally for the last few years, though originates in Australia, and has a keen interest in reproduction medicine.

Thorough eye examination

Eosinophillic Keratitis

Fly Irritation

Summer Newsletter 2019

Other summer conditions Sunburn and photosensitivty - horses with bare pink skin on their muzzle are prone to sunburn, so using suncream/zinc oxide cream and full face fly masks can prevent sunburn. However, if your horse suffers from burns and peeling skin on haired areas such as a white blaze or legs, this may mean they have a condition called photosensitivity. This can be caused by ingestion of photosensitising chemicals found in many plants at this time of year or liver issues, so should be investigated. Equine Asthma - some horses suffer with asthma like conditions when pollen counts increase or dust levels go up. So if you notice your horse is short of breath or coughing during exercise, it is advised to have this investigated and treated to prevent the condition becoming chronic and more severe. Case Study - Papillary renal adenocarcinoma General Windsor (GW) presented at the hospital at the end of January 2016 with a history of weight loss and had been noted to be drinking and urinating more than normal. A routine blood test hadn’t shown any abnormalities but abdominal scans showed a mass in the region of the left kidney. A laparoscopic (keyhole surgery) biopsy was performed which showed the potential for a tumour involving the kidney. Further tests followed to determine that the right kidney was functioning normally and that there was no obvious spread of the tumour to the chest or liver. Once these were clear General Windsor underwent surgery under a general anaesthetic which involved removing the last rib on the left side to access the kidney and tumour. This was removed successfully and was found to be extremely large! (approx. 11 inches). General Windsormade a good recovery from surgery and was discharged from the hospital to be reintroduced to his normal routine. The mass was sectioned and analysis showed it to be a peri-renal carcinoma which carried an unknown prognosis as they are so rare. Now nearly 3.5 years later General Windsor is back competing and enjoying ridden work with the only visible side effects being a small scar and dent where the rib was removed.

In his owners words GW, remains as charismatic and cheeky as ever and has been amazing since his operation. He lives a very happy and healthy lifestyle where his zest for life and eagerness to please is inspiring. His level of fitness and attitude to life is outstanding and we believe he embraces everyday. We will always be incredibly grateful to Three Counties Equine Hospital and the outstanding team there, along with all of the people that have been a part of GW’s journey.”

Tumour following removal Tumour following removal