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Equine Health Products Click Here for information on Mud Fever
Herbal Suppliers:
Links to Health Record Keeping Files: Classified Adverts:
NB. A Probiotic adds new bacteria to the intestine, usually a mix of up to 10 common strains of the 400 or so species of bacteria naturally occurring in the horse's gut. A Prebiotic feeds the population of bacteria that is already present in the horse's intestine thus increasing the numbers naturally and in the ratios already present in the individual horse.
TIP - to protect sensitive muzzles from sunburn place a piece of dishcloth tubing over the muzzle and attach to the headcollar. FREE booklet Equine Industry Welfare Guidelines Compendium for Horses, Ponies and Donkeys. Contact the Home of Rest for Horses tel: 01494 488464, email: info@homeofrestforhorses.co.uk. FREE booklets "The Owner's Guide to Mud Fever" and "Living with a Headshaker, the Owner's Guide" can be obtained from Equilibrium Products, Tel: 01442 828228. Explaining Laminitis and its Prevention, £13.80, is available from the BHS Bookshop tel: 08701 201917. FlyAway Ltd (tel no: 01785 714009, email info@flyaway.ltd.uk) is looking for owners of horses and ponies that suffer from Sweet Itch and Laminitis to help with nationwide surveys. The Veteran Horse Society (tel no:01926 511666, email welfare@veteran-horse-society.co.uk) is appealing to owners of horses or ponies suffering from Cushing's disease to contact them. A new fat scoring podcast offers owners the opportunity to have an expert with them while they fat score their horses. From World Horse Welfare (ILPH) as part of its Right Weight campaign. Useful web sites:
Cushing's Disease/Syndrome (hyperadrenocorticism) Laminitis
Sweet Itch
Grass Sickness Headshaking Allergies
Endotoxemia
Signs of Horse Health:
Click on the picture below to buy A Modern Horse Herbal by Hilary Page Self, Carole Vincer (Illustrator), Tim Couzens BVetMed MRCVS VetMFHom
Price: £14.41 (list price:£16.95)
Dentists Farriers Feed Healthcare Therapies Insect Repellents Vaccinations Veterinarians Wormers Worming
Disclaimer
Laminitis & Cushing's Support Group
Contact: Anna Bradley, Old Red House Farm, Dipton Mill, Hexham, Northumberland, ME46 1XY Email: anna.bradley@ukonline.co.uk Web Address: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/anna.bradley
About
the group: Anna's beloved horse Oscar was diagnosed in 2000 with Cushing’s syndrome and associated laminitis and she felt totally isolated. It was this that prompted her to set up the support group and to use this as a forum to meet other similar minded people. She aimed the organisation to be a forum to view the latest techniques and products and advice/research to battle both diseases. now has many contacts worldwide who have benefited from each other’s shared advice and is delighted about this. Laminitis is a constant battle and it is important to check digital pulses everyday and watch what the horses/ponies eat, you can easily become paranoid! Fortunately over the past few years there have been great advances in the understanding of laminitis and its treatment and this is what Anna aims to inform people about. Abandoning the feelings of isolation many owners face with both problems is also a very important factor which she aims to address. Although the organisation is predominantly web site based (see above for details/e-mail) she does not wish to exclude those without computer access! In response to demand, she has produced a short booklet on both diseases (LAMINITIS & CUSHING'S SUPPORT, PREPARE FOR SPRING-SUMMER 2001, LATEST RESEARCH BOOKLET OUT NOW £1.50 incl. p&p Will ship to the USA ($3)), detailing the underlying mechanisms of each and most importantly latest research, management routines (turnout etc.), feeding suggestions to minimize laminitis risk, and conventional and alternative veterinary advice for dealing with both problems. To those who purchase a booklet, Anna promises to keep them up to date with all the latest research advice/new products etc. that she adds to the booklet since theirs was produced. Anna is there for anyone suffering with these diseases, to answer their questions and to put them in touch with others about certain issues. The aim is to provide a support network so that we can all benefit from each other’s help. So if you have any questions or need help or advice, please do not hesitate to contact her. What is Mud Fever (Cracked Heels)? Mud Fever varies in it's severity and is usually found around the coronet, heels and pastern but as been known to affect higher on the leg or belly. The skin becomes inflamed and cracks developing weepy sores and scabs. The cracks in the skin may allow bacteria to enter and cause infection. In severe cases the leg(s) may swell and lameness may follow. The organism involved in common mud fever is Dermatophilus Congolensis. It can only grow and survive in anaerobic conditions (absence of air). Why does Mud Fever occur? Mud Fever can occur in both grass and stable kept horses, in clipped legs and heavily feathered legs. Ideal conditions for Dermatophilus Congolensis are under clotted mud and matted wet hair on warm horses' legs. It thrives in wet conditions (the skin may be damaged by prolonged wetness, mud then irritates the skin) and is therefore more common during the winter months. Horses/ponies with white legs and pink skin are more prone to Mud Fever. Some horses are affected by some soil types. How do I treat Mud Fever? The treatment is aimed at reducing any inflammation and getting rid of any infection. The grass kept horse or pony should be brought in to a dry stable and the affected skin cleaned and kept dry. Brush the dried mud off the horse's legs and then swab the legs with surgical spirit at least twice daily. The surgical spirit displaces the water and evaporates to leave a clean, dry skin surface. For severe cases it would be advisable to seek a vets advice as antibiotics may be necessary. For mild cases clean with a dilute iodene solution and apply an anti bacterial cream to any scabs to soften them. Dermobion is very effective. Exercise will improve the circulation in the legs and speed the healing. Ideally the exercise should be on dry roads, not wet grass or wet arenas. On return the legs should be swabbed again with surgical spirit. If you are turning your horse/pony out in wet/muddy conditions it is best to use a cream which will provide a barrier to the water. Udder salve is good for covering non infected areas of skin and is reasonably priced. Be careful not to use this type of cream over any infected areas as it will trap any infection in. If you do wash your horses legs when they come back in make sure you dry them thoroughly. A good way to clean and dry the legs is to use an old sweatshirt - put the lower part of the horse's leg in the body of an old sweatshirt, rub vigorously. The mud and a lot of the water is removed quickly and easily. |
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