Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary MedicineHoof Prints is a publication of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences’ Equine Field Service March, 2011

Greetings from the Equine Field Service (EFS) group. We hope you enjoy this issue of “Hoof Prints.” Our intent is to provide you with information about “hot topics” in the news, services we offer, success stories about cases, and additional information about EFS.

Mission statement of EFS: Our mission is to provide our patients with state of the art equine veteri-nary care both on the farm and in the clinic. By utilizing advanced training and technologies, we will provide care and expertise ranging from preventive health to specialty services. Our equine patients and their owners are considered foremost in our treatment plan. We also understand the importance of training the next generation of dedicated and compassionate professionals and as such we are committed to the education of our students.

Hoof Prints

Services we offer:Our goal is to provide state-of-the-art equine veterinary care for your horse on your farm or, in some cases, in the clinic. We routinely schedule calls from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and provide 24-hour emergency service. Services include:• Preventive health care (Wellness Program, vaccinations, deworming, nutrition, dentistry)• Podiatry• Reproductive care (Theriogenology)• Chiropractic care• Acupuncture• Lameness/performance care/ prepurchase exams • Neurology• Foal care (Neonatology)• Geriatric care

We also have the ability to perform ultrasound exams, take radiographs, give shockwave treatment, and perform endoscopy on your horse, all on the farm. Please visit our website for additional information about these services.

Please call EFS at 540-231-9042 or visit our website: http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/vth/la/equine.asp

She’s Having a Baby! What to Expect When She’s Expecting

VMRCVM, VCE, VT, and VHAHost AFA Pre-Certification Workshop

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On Jan. 8, Travis Burns and Dr. Scott Pleasant worked with the Virginia Horseshoers Association (VHA) to host a workshop for regional farriers. The purpose was to help local farriers prepare for certification tests offered by the American Farriers Association (AFA). Information on the requirements of the certification tests may be found at www.americanfarriers.org. 21 farriers from three states (VA, WV, and NC) were on hand to learn from clinicians Scott Collier, Butch Hockaday, and John Kern. These three gentlemen have achieved Certified Journeyman Farrier certifica-tion from the AFA and volunteer their

Spring generally means a lot of activity for horse owners: annual check-ups and spring vaccinations, the beginning of the new show season, and for many horse owners who breed their horse(s) - babies! This article will review general mare care during the last stages of preg-nancy, the foaling process, and what to do after your foal is on the ground.

When is she due? A mare’s gestation length (the amount of time she carries a baby in her uterus) is approximately 335 – 343 days. This due date is calculated from her ovula-tion date, which is not necessarily the

Please see She’s Having a Baby: page 2

Please see Farrier: page 4

Please call EFS at 540-231-9042 or visit our website: http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/vth/la/equine.asp

She’s Having a Baby: continued from page 1

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day she was bred. Some external factors may influence how long a mare carries her baby. Mares that are due to foal in late winter or early spring tend to carry their foals 5-10 days longer than mares that are due to foal later in the breeding season (late spring or summer). If a mare foaled a “little early” or a “little late” last year, there is a good possibility she will do the same this year.

Do I need to give my mare any special vaccines or dewormers? Preventative health care measures recommended for pregnant mares include a regular vaccination schedule and an appropriate deworming program. During pregnancy, it is recommended that a mare be vaccinated against equine herpesvirus type 1 (“rhino”), a virus that has been associated with abortion in addition to respiratory disease in foals and adults. This vaccine is generally given during the fifth seventh and ninth months of gestation. Depending on the area of the country your pregnant mare is being kept and the risk factors associated with her housing situation, it is often recommended that her routine “spring vaccinations” be administered approximately one month before her due date. This allows her body time to make antibodies and for them to be secreted into the colostrum (the mare’s first milk) to provide maximal protection for the foal against diseases. The mare’s deworming protocol doesn’t need to be significantly altered when she is preg-nant with the exception of needing to be dewormed on her foaling day. On the day of foaling, it is recommended she be dewormed with an ivermectin product to minimize her parasitic load of Strongyloi-des westeri, which can be transmitted to new born foals. The infective larvae of this parasite are transmitted to the foal via milk beginning very soon after the foal is born.

When I feed my mare, do I need to feed for “two”? Though the focus of this article is not nutrition, proper nourishment is a vital part of a pregnant mare’s care. A mare should be in good body condition while she is pregnant (body condition score of 6-7 is recommended based on a scale of 1 (emaciated) –4-5 (ideal for a non-pregnant horse) - 9 (obese)) This score

will also improve her odds of becoming pregnant again if it is decided to breed her back on her foal heat. A pregnant mare’s dietary requirements for the first eight months of gestation remain the same as those for maintenance when she is not pregnant. Additional nutrition during the last three months of preg-nancy is required because 60-65% of fetal growth occurs during this period. In general, pregnant mares in late gestation require more protein and calcium in their diet. This can be achieved by feeding a concentrate product designed for pregnant mares, a good quality vitamin mineral supplement, and high quality hay.

I’ve heard fescue is bad. What does this mean?If your pasture and/or hay contain fes-cue, your pregnant mare should not be fed this this source during the last three months of her pregnancy. Fescue, com-mon in this region, is often contaminated with an endophyte (fungus) that pro-duces a toxin called ergovaline. This toxin inhibits certain hormones in the mare that may cause her to not produce milk at the time of foaling; have a retained or thickened placenta; increase the gesta-tion length (up to as long as 13 months!); or lead to the birth of a weak foal. Many pastures in this area contain fescue so removing a mare from this grass may mean that she needs to be placed in a dry lot and be fed only hay (fescue free, of course!) and concentrate.

How do I know my mare is getting close to foaling? During the last month of the mare’s gestation, she should be monitored fre-quently for physical changes that indicate

nearness of delivery. Physical changes that occur as parturition (birthing) nears include the development of vulvar laxity and edema (slight elongation and/or ‘plumping’ of the lips of the vulva), re-laxation of the pelvic ligaments (‘soften-ing’ of the ligaments/muscles on either side of the tail head), and a change in the amount and character of mammary (udder) secretions. The most reliable indicator is udder development. Udder growth usually becomes most apparent in the last month of gestation, especially in the last two weeks. Maiden mares may not show udder development until immediately before foaling. Generally, a waxy secretion accumulates on the teat ends as the mare gets close to foaling; this typically occurs one to four days before parturition, but may occur as early as two weeks prior to foaling. Monitoring milk secretions can be a valuable tool for predicting the nearness of parturition. As parturition approaches, milk changes from thin and straw-colored to milky and white. Eventually, a thick sticky fluid that is yellow to orange in color becomes apparent as colostrum forms. Test kits are available that measure electrolyte (typically calcium) concentrations in prefoaling udder secretions. These measurements may help predict when a mare will foal. Testing requires that a small sample of milk be obtained once or twice daily from the mare. Samples are added to test kits. These test kits tend to be fairly reliable and are easy for owners to perform themselves. Also, if your mare has a caslick’s in place, it should be opened approximately two weeks before her due date.

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Please call EFS at 540-231-9042 or visit our website: http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/vth/la/equine.asp 3

How do I prepare a comfortable, clean place for my mare to have her baby?When the time for foaling grows near, the mare should be placed in a large stall or a small paddock with a dry, adequately sized, shelter. The stall (or shelter) should be well bedded. Straw is preferred to shavings because shavings tend to stick to everything, especially given all the fluids released during the foaling process. As shavings tend to absorb more liquid, one option is to bed the stall/shelter with shavings and place straw on top. A “foaling kit” should be assembled (see list at end) and be kept in close proximity to the mare. How long does it take for a foal to be born, and what can I expect? The foaling or labor process is divided into three stages. The first stage generally lasts 30 minutes to 4 hours (shorter and less obvious signs may occur in mares who have had several babies). During this first stage, mares become restless and may exhibit signs similar to those of colic (flank watching, raising and swishing of the tail, small and frequent urinations, sweating, constantly getting up and down, pawing, etc). This period is associated with uterine contractions (cramps) and dilation of the cervix. Dur-ing this stage the foal rotates into the proper position for it to be born (it moves from lying on its back to lying on its stomach). These contractions eventually push the foals muzzle and forefeet into the dilating cervix. When it is noticed that your mare is the first stage of labor, her tail should be wrapped and her peri-neal area (skin surrounding the vulva/rectum) cleaned with a gentle detergent and water and then dried. Late in stage one of labor the mare will likely lie down, roll from side to side and get up. This activity is very important in helping the fetus reposition itself and shouldn’t be discouraged. Eventually the placenta ruptures and several gallons of allantoic fluid (“water breaking”) will escape from the vulva.

The second stage of labor begins when the foal moves into the birth canal. The time for actual delivery may be 20-60 minutes. During this time the foal’s feet and nose will appear in the vulva and should be covered in a white, thin, glistening membrane called the amnion. If a red, velvety membrane is apparent instead of a thin, white one, a veterinar-

ian should be contacted immediately. This means the placenta did not rupture properly and is prematurely separating from the uterus. Premature membrane separation impairs how much oxygen the fetus receives and can result in death of the foal. If the thin, white membrane is still covering the foal’s muzzle once most of its body is outside of the mare, it should be gently broken and removed. Once the foal’s hips pass through the mare’s pelvis, the mare will often rest for about 15-20 minutes. During this time, as long as the foal’s muzzle is free of the amnion and it appears to be breathing normally, the mare and foal should be left alone. Under most circumstances it is acceptable to let the umbilical cord break naturally when the mare stands or the foal attempts to rise. Once the foal is completely out of the mare, clean towels may be used to dry the foal. If the mare and foal are doing well, they should be monitored, but left alone to bond for periods of time. If at any point during this stage it seems that forward progress of the birth has halted or if you are at all worried, a veterinarian should be contacted.

The third stage of labor encompasses expulsion of the placenta. The placenta is usually expelled within 30 minutes to three hours after foaling. If it has not passed by this time, treatment may be necessary to speed up this process to prevent uterine trauma and infection. When the mare rises after foaling, the placenta may be tied to itself in a knot so it hangs just above the mare’s hocks – this will prevent it from getting stepped on until it is passed. Please do not try to remove the placenta yourself as it may tear and a piece may remain in the mare. This can cause her to develop a uterine infection. Once it is passed it should be placed in a garbage bag and then kept cool until a veterinarian can examine it. This examination is done to ensure all the placenta has passed.

When do I call the vet? Feel free to call your veterinarian for advice at anytime. If you see a red membrane, instead of a thin white one, as the foal exits the vulva, call right away. Once you see feet and a nose, a little bit more of the foal should exit the vulva with each contraction. If you see only one foot and the head, two feet and legs

and no head, or what appears to be a hind leg, please call your veterinarian because the foal may be in the wrong position and may need assistance. In general, a foal should appear bright and energetic after birth, particularly once they learn to get up and down on their own. The foal should be up with the mare nursing it three hours. Foals typically get up to drink several times each hour with bouts of napping in between. Things to watch for that warrant examination by a veterinarian include milk dribbling from the nose after drinking, coughing, strain-ing to defecate/urinate, signs of colic (foals often show signs of colic by lying on their backs with their front feet tucked up with their head extended), urine dribbling from the umbilicus (‘belly but-ton’), extreme lethargy or a disinterest in drinking. Problems that we sometimes see in mares post foaling include uterine trauma, bruising/tearing of the birth canal, uterine infection or colic. Signs to watch out for in the mare that may warrant examination by a veterinarian include colic, no passage of the placenta within three hours after foaling, lethargy, anorexia, signs depression, white/yellow discharge from the vulva and/or a fever. General Timeline Mare and Foal Events• Month 5 of Gestation – Rhino vaccine• Month 7 of Gestation – Rhino vaccine• Month 9 of Gestation – Rhino vaccine• One month before due date (Month 10 of Gestation) – Pre-foaling vaccines, remove from fescue, assemble foaling kit• Two weeks before due date – open caslicks in the vulva• Day of foaling – deworm mare with ivermectin• Within 1 hour post foaling – foal stands• Within 2 hours post foaling – foal drinks from mare • Within 3 hours post foaling – placenta is passed• Approximately 18 hrs-24 hrs post foaling – new born foal wellness exam o Uterine discharge from the mare may be evident (a slight amount of reddish-brown tinged fluid is normal) and is typically no longer evident by 24-48 hours post partum. • Approximately 4-14 days post partum – mare has her “foal heat” o A thorough post partum exam (including an ultrasound exam of the uterus and ovaries) is typically

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Please call EFS at 540-231-9042 or visit our website: http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/vth/la/equine.asp 4

recommended 3-5 days post partum, especially if you plan on breeding a mare on her foal heat.

Foaling Kit - A plastic tote to carry all items - Vet wrap (or other material for a tail wrap) - A clean bucket - Mild detergent soap to clean the mare’s perineum (Ivory works well) - Roll cotton or paper towels to clean the mare’s perineum - Clean towels to dry the foal - Umbilical dip (tincture of iodine/glycerin combination or dilute chlorhexidine (1 part chlorhexidine to 10 parts water) - Container to hold umbilical dip (a 12 cc syringe case works well) - A regular “Fleet” enema - Petroleum jelly (for lubricating the enema tip, if needed) - A garbage bag to put the placenta in - Flash light - Small scissors (to cut the membranes over the foal’s muzzle, if needed) - Latex exam gloves to keep your fingers clean while examining the foal or touching the umbilicus - A clean shoe string or umbilical tape (available from a veterinarian) to tie the umbilical cord if it is bleeding signifi- cantly after being broken - A rubber bulb syringe to aspirate fluids from the foal’s mouth/nose

time to work as testers for the organiza-tion. The workshop was conducted in the Alphin-Stuart Arena at Virginia Tech. The arena provided a wonderful work area and much needed shelter from the winter weather! The first half of the workshop consisted of the clinicians working together to shoe a horse to the standards required for AFA certification. Samples of the shoeing modifications required for certification were also on display while the clinicians provided insight on how to make the modifications and also how they would be judged. After lunch (provided by Virginia Cooperative Extension, [VCE]), farriers divided into groups to work on different aspects of certification. The Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences provided horses for the attendees to shoe while the clini-

cians spent time with each individual to discuss how each aspect of the trim, shoe fit, and finished feet would be judged for certification. Farriers worked towards Certified Farrier (CF) status by shoeing a pair of feet with manufactured shoes, while others worked toward Certi-fied Journeyman Farrier (CJF) status by hand forging all four shoes from steel bar stock and then shoeing the horses with them. Another group of farriers spent the afternoon working the forging aspects of the tests. Some worked on a display of shoe modifications (rocker toes, clips, trailers, etc) that are required for the CF level and others worked on hand forged straight bar shoes that are required for the CJF level. This workshop was one of a series of farrier education programs hosted by the VMRCVM and VCE.

Several clinicians from the veterinary teaching hospital attended the annual AAEP meeting December, 2010, in Baltimore, MD. This is one of the more popular meetings to attend for con-tinuing education. Dr. Scott Pleasant presented an abstract titled “Estimated Operator Exposure for Hand Holding Por-table X-Ray Units During Imaging of the Equine Distal Extremity” which outlined the research project that was performed

Everyone should have recently received the information on our 2011 equine wellness program. The equine wellness program is designed to provide optimum, yet complete preventative health care for your horses.

We currently have three levels: gold, silver, and gold plus geriatric. All plans offer considerable savings when compared with the cost of each service individually. If the outlined programs do

Farrier: from page 1

Update from American Association of Equine Practictioner’s Meeting 2011:

at the VMRCVM (Tyson R, Smiley D, Pleasant RS, Daniel GB). He also moderated the “Barefoot vs. Shod” Table Topic with Dr. Mike Pownall (McKee–Pownall Equine Services, Camp-bellville, ON). Other veterinarians that attended the meeting included Dr. Dana Reeder-Cook (EFS), Dr. Linda Dahlgren and Dr. Julie Settlage from LACS and Dr. Dave Hodgson (Large Animal Department Head).

Equine Wellness Program 2011:

not meet your needs, we are happy to work with you to design an individual program for your horse.

If you did not receive the email with the information and/or have any questions, please call Leslie Betterton, our equine field services technician, at 540-231-9042.