Towcester Veterinary Centre Equine, Clinic Plum Park Farm, Watling Street, Paulerspury, Towcester, Northants NN12 6LQ

Tel: 01327 811007 • www.towcester-vets.co.uk • equine@towcester-vets.co.uk

NEWSSUMMER 2012

Plum Park Farm, Watling Street, Paulerspury, Towcester, Northants NN12 6LQ

☎ 01327 811007

Spring laminitis myths!

It is a common belief that laminitis in the spring is caused by access to lush pasture, especial-ly if the horse or pony is overweight1. However new research has demonstrated that 90% of laminitis cases are the result of an underlying hormonal condition2,3, namely Cushing’s disease (PPID) or Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). Unless one of these conditions is present, graz-ing alone is unlikely to cause laminitis.In order to correctly diagnose and treat such laminitis cases, it is important that horses and ponies with an underlying hormonal disease are identified. Laminitis has the potential to cause extensive damage to the feet even before clinical signs are evident. Early diagnosis and intervention are critical if the crippling changes that are seen in the disease are to be avoided4. If your horse or pony is within the 90% that do have an underlying hormonal disease, then a clear diagnosis will enable us to treat the laminitis appropriately and help to prevent future painful episodes.

Cushing’s disease (PPID) and EMS can be easily diagnosed by blood tests. The practice is supporting the “Talk About Laminitis” initiative, which will help us to test laminitis-prone horses and ponies for underlying hor-monal diseases. From April to June the laboratory fees for the blood test which detects Cushing’s disease will be free, so spring into action now and talk to us about laminitis.

Please call the practice on 01327 811007 to discuss how your horse or pony can benefit from this scheme and to book an appointment. For more information and to download your free blood test voucher visit – www.talkaboutlaminitis.co.uk.

Opening HoursMon to Fri: 8.30am – 6.00pmSaturday: 9.00am – 12.00pmAll other hours an equine vet will be available to answer any incoming calls or equine emergencies.

Our diagnostic van shall be out on tour visiting yards to give free demonstrations and advice on general first aid and dealing with emergencies. Check our website for updates and visits in your area also email us on equine@towces-ter-vets.co.uk to keep in touch on all the latest news.

Practice News

Don’t forget we can keep you up to date by email so please ensure

we have your correct email address.

Diagnostic Van on Tour

ReferencesBoehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica horse owner survey. 222 horse owners. January 2012. Donaldson et al. (2004). Evaluation of suspected pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in horses with laminitis. J Am Vet Med Assoc;224:1123–1127.Karikoski et al. (2011). The prevalence of endocrino-pathic laminitis among horses presented for laminitis at a first-opinion/referral equine hospital. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 41 111–117Walsh (2010). Field Treatment and Management of Endocrinopathic Laminitis in Horses and Ponies. Vet Clin Equine 26 379–390Produced by the makers of Prascend. Further in-formation available from Boehringer Ingelheim Vet-medica, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8YS, UK. Date of preparation: March 2012. AHD 7125. Use Medicines Responsibly (www.noah.co.uk/responsible)

This Newsletter is provided as an education service to our clients. All news and other items in this newsletter are for information only and should not be treated as a substitute for specialist veterinary advice. For all images, the copyright is the property of the photographer.

Many owners report severe behavioural and management problems linked to the oestrous cycle ranging from poor performance to being unmanageable. It is important to establish whether the unwanted behaviour is actually hor-mone related, or if it could be due to pain or a schooling/behavioural problem.

If the problem is directly relating to oestrous then the behaviour should be seen for 4-7 days out of every 21 day cycle (can be more frequent in spring transition) and should stop in winter. The behav-iour should also be abolished by Regu-mate (a synthetic progesterone) which prevents the mare from coming

into season. We often use a trial period of this hormone to establish if there is a hormonal component to the issues you are having. We also do an ultrasound examination of the reproductive tract to ensure there are no reproductive abnormalities.

Once we have established that your mare’s issues are genu-inely due to normal oestrous cycles then there are a variety of treatment options;

1) Regumate is the gold standard to prevent your mare coming into season but is relatively expensive for long term use. It can be cost effective if used intermittently for impor-tant events.

2) Intrauterine marbles are effective in about 50% of mares and are inexpensive. The marble is inserted through the cervix when the mare is about to ovulate and the marble mimics a pregnancy in the uterus.

3) Intrauterine almond oil inserted 10 days after ovulation has a similar success rate to marbles. This was found in a study done in 2011. No side effects have been document-ed and like the marble it is inexpensive. We will be using this treatment this year.

4) ‘Double dose’ Ovuplant (an ovulatory drug) will increase the time between ovulations but works out at a similar price to Regumate which is more effective.

5) Ovary removal is a drastic option but the solution for some owners. Although occasionally mares can maintain oestrous behaviour due to hormones from the adrenal gland!

6) Mare supplements will occasionally help some mares but their effect is limited so unless there is a noticeable change when your mare is on the supplement then it is probably not worth continuing.

Dealing with Unwanted Oestrous Behaviour

This is a new service we are able to offer.Acupuncture involves the placing of needles into various specific points on the body to varying depths following careful examination and palpation of the whole of the animal. The needles used a very fine (most would fit down the middle of the smallest needles we regularly use) and flexible and generally well tolerated, although the benefits are also observed if the horse is sedated (but not if local nerve blocks are in place).

Treatments last for between 30 and 40 minutes and are cumulative – 2-3 sessions every week or fortnight, with gradually increasing intervals thereafter.

The mechanisms underlying pain relief from insertion of needles are unknown, but it has been suggested that it may involve recruitment of the body’s own pain reduction

system, possibly by causing an increased release of naturally occurring pain killers within the individual’s central nervous system.

It is particularly useful in the treatment of muscular discomfort secondary to arthritis elsewhere in the body (eg back spasm secondary to hock pain).

It has also been suggested that acupuncture can positively affect wound healing, the immune system and autonomic function.

Our acupuncture service is provided by Mark who is a member of the Association of British Veterinary Acu-puncturists and the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. If you feel that your horse or pony has a condition that might benefit from acupuncture then please give the clinic a call in order to discuss further.

Acupuncture

Check out our new look website on www.towcester-vets.co.uk