Winter Health Hacks – how to keep your horse in top health!
As the nights draw in and we have to routinely pull out the thermals and break the ice in our horse’s water buckets, it’s important that we monitor our horses for common Winter health issues. Some of the most common problems are listed below and our veterinary team has divulged their best knowledge and advice so owners can help prevent these issues before they start!
The increased risk of colic Particularly in the colder months, we tend to change our horse’s routine more regularly. This can vary from feeding more hay, changing hard feed to help your horse’s condition, moving from Summer to Winter grazing and also stabling for longer periods due to weather and turnout conditions. All of these are factors which can increase the risk of spasmodic and impaction colic. Spasmodic colic is most common in the Spring and early Winter months where horses have been moved between different pastures. The grass tends to be richer and ferments quicker in the hindgut, causing irritation to the lining of the digestive tract. This can also be the case with a sudden change in forage or hard feed and you oſten see horses suffering from spasmodic colic pawing the ground, lip curling, flank watching or dull in themselves.
managed by supplementing hay.
l Ensuring that your horse is up to date with their worming also helps to reduce their parasitic burden, which will result in a healthier gut.
Common skin conditions Pastern dermatitis, commonly known as mud fever, is a skin infection caused by the bacteria that results in scabbing, pain, localised swelling, eczematous discharge and ulcerated areas of the skin, typically at the back of the pasterns. More severe cases can progress to lameness and lower limb swellings which will need veterinary treatment. Mud fever is caused by damage to the surface of the skin and can affect any horse. It should be noted that heavily feathered horses will trap moisture under the hairs which will soſten the skin and predispose them to infection. The diagnosis of mud fever is usually done through obvious visual clinical signs, however hair plucks and skin scrapings can be done to first rule out mites.
Impaction colic is where there is a blockage within the horse’s gastrointestinal tract, usually made up of solid material or partially formed faeces. The most common causes are a sudden change in management, for example reducing the turnout your horse has access to, as well as a drop in exercise or a horse bingeing on a large ration of food. Clinical signs that your horse may be affected with an impaction are a reduction in faecal output, a change in droppings (firm and ‘pellety’), pawing at the ground and rolling. If you notice these signs you should call your vet immediately.
To reduce the risk of your horse suffering with colic, take a look at the following management tips to start using now: l Ensure your horse has access to plenty of forage and feed them little and oſten to avoid them bingeing.
l Make sure they have a fresh supply of drinking water. If you struggle to get moisture into your horse, soaking their hay and hard feed will help. Alternatively, encourage them to drink by providing them with a salt lick.
l If you know your horse is prone to impaction colic, leaving them out at grass as much as possible will help reduce the risk.
l Exercise is necessary to reduce the risk of impaction colic. If turnout is limited and you’re not planning on riding, try walking them in hand or on a horse walker.
l If you have a greedy pony that likes to eat their straw bedding, changing them to shavings or wood pellets will help reduce the likelihood of them getting an impaction.
l Changes to new pasture should be done gradually and restricting time your horse has with the lush grass should be
14 THE WINTER SPECIAL 2019
The treatment of mud fever can be lengthy but the most essential part of the treatment plan is to keep the leg dry. To begin with, the leg should be clipped and all scabs removed using very dilute hibiscrub and swabs or an antibacterial shampoo. If they are stubborn it may be worth applying a cream to soſten the scabs before wrapping in a bandage and leaving for 24 hours as this will make them easier to remove. Once all the scabs are gone, the leg needs to be completely dried which is best done using paper towels and, for those well-behaved horses, a hair dryer! Your vet will be able to supply you with the most appropriate treatment depending on the severity of the case, but these are often a topical anti- inflammatory cream with dressings and systemic (typically oral) antibiotics/anti-inflammatories for more severe cases.
To prevent your horse suffering from mud-fever this Winter try to keep them avoiding deep mud! We know this is easier said than done, so if this is impossible with your turnout, ensure that there is somewhere dry your horse can stand before then brushing away the mud. Always ensure your horse’s legs are leſt dry aſterwards and ensure that their bedding is kept clean and dry and daily checks are done to help catch the condition early.
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