6/ AUGUST 2019 THE RIDER The Way of Horses: Summer Sores


adequate exercise and turn-out time with her friends; vaccina- tions were kept up-to-date, the farrier came on a regular schedule, fecal egg counts were conducted to check for internal parasites and an owner who was at her beck and call. So how did she end up


with a summer sore on her fet- lock?


It all started with a little


By Eleanor Blazer Copyright @ 2019


Summer Sores The mare lived in the perfect home –


balanced diet, access to good quality for- age, fresh clean water always available,


bump which quickly turned into an ugly wound. The wound was not just a


scrape – it was an ulcerative cutaneous granuloma. Which means the wound was inflamed and a mass of cellular tissue was developing in response to the infection. The cause was a stomach


worm gone astray. Summer sores are caused


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by the abnormal depositing of the Habronema or Draschia stomach worm larvae (imma- ture worms) into a skin abra- sion, or on the delicate skin around the mouth, eyes, geni- tals, ears and mid-line. House, stable and face flies are the car- riers – transporting the worm larvae from the manure pile to the horse. The larvae cannot mature outside of their normal incubation location – the equine stomach, but they can exacerbate an existing abra- sion, resulting in a sore that is hard to heal. The mare acquired a sum-


mer sore on her fetlock – a lo- cation that is prone to small cuts and abrasions. Other


prime lower leg locations for summer sores are the coronary band and under the fetlock (be- hind the pastern) where they can be hard to detect. When the sore is discov-


ered a veterinarian should be consulted as several serious diseases present the same symptoms. Tumors, proud flesh (excessive growth of tis- sue on a wound), fungal infec- tions or allergic reactions have to be ruled out – and treated ap- propriately. The veterinarian may need to conduct a biopsy to detect the presence of larvae. Treatment starts with de-


worming the horse with a lar- vicide which


contains


ivermectin or moxidectin. Studies have shown marked clinical improvement within seven days of a single treat- ment, with complete healing in approximately five weeks. Some horses may need multi- ple doses due to inadequate re- sponse or reinfection. The veterinarian may also recom- mend some of the deworming agent be applied directly to the sore, which will help kill the larvae. Other deworming agents are not effective against the Habronema or Draschia parasite. Along with deworming


the veterinarian will recom- mend a topical treatment of a glucocorticoid and DMSO mixture applied directly to the sore.


If possible, the area


should be bandaged to protect the wound. Corticosteroids


may be prescribed if the horse won’t leave the area alone due to itching and rubbing. Second- ary infections may warrant the treatment with an antibiotic or antimicrobial. Severe cases may require


the sore to be frozen with liq- uid nitrogen. Proud flesh may also have to be surgically re- moved if it develops. Prevention takes the form


of fighting on three fronts – controlling the stomach worm, controlling the flies and treat- ing wounds immediately. All horse owners are


aware of the resistance stom- ach worms have developed against deworming agents due to overuse of those products. The practice of regularly checking fecal egg counts and not deworming unless war- ranted is the current recom- mended deworming protocol. Unfortunately the Habronema or Draschia stomach worms are hard to detect with a fecal egg count test. The American Association of Equine Practi- tioners (AAEP) recommends one or two yearly treatments with ivermectin or moxidectin to target Habronema spp. and Draschia


spp.


https://aaep.org/sites/default/fil es/Guidelines/AAEPParasite- ControlGuidelines_0.pdf The old schedule of deworm- ing every six weeks is not rec- ommended. Consult your veterinarian for a deworming program designed for your in- dividual horses based on need.


Controlling flies starts


with manure management. Fly breeding sites must be elimi- nated by removing manure and soiled material several times a week. If the stable uses a com- post pile the internal heat must be high enough to kill the eggs.


Creating a barrier be-


tween your horse and the flies by using insecticides, repel- lents, masks, sheets and leg protection is will help protect open wounds and sensitive areas from infestation. The AAEP also suggests a feed- through insect growth regula- tors be used to deter the growth and development of flies in the manure. Releasing parasitic wasps, which eat immature flies, will also aid in the fight to control flies. Be vigilant on detecting


and treating wounds – no mat- ter how small. Cleaning and applying a protective coating


Yor coplete equine soutios patne since 1987 Booking fencing installations now through the summer!


will aid in preventing flies from depositing worm larvae in the wound. But don’t think it can’t


happen to your horse - even with all three of the preventa- tive measures in place the mare still ended up with a summer sore. Her owner spotted the sore immediately so it was treated, remained small and healed quickly. Once the sore is healed do


not relax. Studies have shown a horse that has battled a sum- mer sore has a high chance of reoccurring summer sores.


* Earn Professional Certifica- tion as Horse Trainer, Stable Manager or Riding Instructor. All courses are online. Visit www.equinestudiesinstitute.org for information.


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