16


Summer Sores Ask the Vet


by daniel h. grove, dvm S


ummer sores are a big problem for horses in climates that are warm and moist. We discussed them a few years


ago, but I think it is time to revisit them. I am seeing them very frequently, and so are many other practitioners. Let’s delve into what they are, some treatment strategies and prevention.


Habronema and Draschia are the names


of the nasty litle parasites that causes this sometimes-challenging-to-deal-with dis- ease. They are two of the stomach worms of horses. and in their normal life cycle, do not seem to cause much harm. When the parasite gets deposited in an area of the skin or other external area, they can wreak havoc. They cause a non-healing wound that oſten times increases in size. It can be bor- dered by a layer of scar tissue that makes it challenging to get drugs to the source of the problem to kill them off. Oſten times, small granules are associated with the lesions. If in doubt, a simple biopsy of the lesion can oſten diagnose the problem. This can be an important part of the diagnosis, as some lesion can mirror other problems.


A monthly column By Daniel H. Grove, DVM


The most common places I see them are: 1. The eyes 2. On the sides of the face, oſten times fol- lowing the path of the tear ducts down to the nostrils


3. On the lips 4. On sheaths and tips of the penis 5. On the legs aſter there was an initial wound


So, how do we treat them? Oſten times,


the animal needs to be dewormed; iver- mectin products work well. Your veterinar- ian will have to assess the best course of action based on location. Ones in the area of the eye, oſten times need to be manually removed. This can be a tedious process and may require multiple debridement sessions to get all of the granules. Ones that are on the skin oſten times need to be debrided to remove the majority of the lesion or even the entire lesion if possible. Whichever treatment is done, oſten times for me a com- bination of deworming, debridement and topical medication yield the best results.


While treatment will most likely require assistance from your veterinarian, preven-


tion is always something the owner can par- ticipate in. Ways you can prevent this nasty infection are: 1. Fly control is a must. The parasite


infests flies and is transmited to these areas most oſten by flies. There are many fly control strategies that can be employed, but cleaning up manure as frequently as possi- ble is an excellent start. Some people will use fly sprays and fly control systems and fly traps. Others prefer more natural strategies such as fly predators and citronella. Physical barriers such as fly masks and fly sheets are very useful. Whichever your choice, keep the flies under control 2. Get wounds covered as soon as possi-


ble. The physical barrier of the bandage will keep the wound from coming into contact with the parasite. If the parasite is not deposited there, a summer sore cannot form.


3. Consider your parasite control program and discuss with your veterinarian what can help you best to prevent this disease. Sometimes different deworming strategies that vary from the current guidelines are required.


Hopefully, you never have to deal with one


of these. But if you do, do not wait. They can grow very rapidly in just a few days. Many times, I get clients say they were treating this and just a few days ago, it was a small litle insignificant wound that has blown up overnight. If you are not sure, get your veter- inarian out to help you decide if you have a Summer Sore!


Summer sore on lip


ROPE SORT


SPIN TURN BEND


D Summer sore near eye –Dan


DEVENPORT TRAINING at San Pasqual Valley Ranch RIDING LESSONS, TRAINING & SALES a


R IN BUSINESS FOR 40 YEARS a


BEGINNERS to WINNERS


FROM M ALL AGES


BE A PART OF OUR RODEO TEAM! • Training • Lessons


• Sales • Tune Ups


Lynn Devenport a 760-805-5381 a


• Rodeo Horses • Cow Horses


• Barrel Horses • Cattle Available


www.SanPasqualValleyRanch.com a ESCONDIDO, CA


927148-2501A


WEEKLY & DAILY LESSONS


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36