Diagnosed 30 years ago in Old Lyme and Lyme Connecticut.

Caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a spirochete bacterium.

B. burgdorferi is hosted by Ixodes species of ticks (also known as deer ticks) which transmit the infection to humans, horses, and other mammals.

Ixodes ticks have a two year life cycle from egg to adult requiring a blood meal at each life stage:

• Egg laid in decaying leaves in the spring.  Adult female tick dies after laying eggs.
• Larval form is hatched and feeds on small mammals such as mice or birds.
• Once fed, the larvae molt into nymphs and remain dormant until the following spring.
• Next spring, the nymphs feed on mice and other mammals.
• The ticks molt again and develop into adults. 
• The adult ticks feed on large mammals, especially deer, then they mate and lay eggs.

The ticks become infected with B. burgdorferi after the first or second blood meal as larvae or nymphs. Ticks often acquire B. burgdorferi from white-footed mice. Ticks must be involved for transmission to mammals. Ticks must be attached for at least 24 hours to transmit disease. The nymph stage is most likely to transmit disease because they are small and less likely to be seen.

Clinical signs in horses:

• Low-grade fever
• Stiffness or multi limb lameness
• Swollen Joints
• Lethargy and behavioral changes

 Diagnosis if the horse has clinical signs of Lyme disease:

• Rule out other diseases
• Blood test for antibodies  (>300 Kela units) and a positive Western Blot
• PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing on joint synovial tissue - INVASIVE

Reasons for a low titer:

• Not infected
• Infected in past but cleared infection
• Infected but hasn’t mounted an immune response yet (takes 40-60 day)

We don’t know how long it takes for a horse to develop clinical signs after being bitten by an infected tick. Could be days to weeks – every horse is different.

Treatment:

• Prolonged – one month or more
• Tetracycline – must be given intravenously once daily
• Doxycycline – Must be given twice daily orally (not absorbed well)

The number one killer of horses is colic.  Colic is not a disease, but rather a combination of signs that alert us to abdominal pain in the horse.  Colic can range from mild to severe, but it should never be ignored.  Many of the conditions that cause colic can become life threatening in a relatively short period of time.  Only by quickly and accurately recognizing colic – and seeking qualified veterinary help – can the chance for recovery be maximized.

 While horses seem predisposed to colic due to the anatomy and function of their digestive tracts, management can play a key role in prevention.  Although not every case is avoidable, the following guidelines from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) can maximize the horse’s health and reduce the risk of colic:

1.    Establish a daily routine – include feeding and exercise schedules – and stick to it.

2.    Feed a high quality diet comprised primarily of roughage.

3.   Avoid feeding excessive grain and energy-dense supplements. (At least half the horse’s energy should be supplied through hay or forage.  A better guide is that twice as much energy should be supplied from a roughage source than from concentrates.)

4.   Divide daily concentrate rations into two or more smaller feedings rather than one large one to avoid overloading the horse’s digestive tract.  Hay is best fed free-choice.

5.    Set up a regular parasite control program with the help of your equine practitioner.

6.    Provide exercise and/or turnout on a daily basis.  Change the intensity and duration of an exercise regimen gradually.

7.    Provide fresh, clean water at all times.  (The only exception is when the horse is excessively hot, and then it should be given small sips of luke-warm     water until it has recovered.)

8.    Avoid putting feed on the ground, especially in sandy soils.

9.    Check hay, bedding, pasture, and environment for potentially toxic substances, such as blister beetles, noxious weeds, and other ingestible foreign matter.

10.  Reduce stress.  Horses experiencing changes in environment or workloads are at high risk of intestinal dysfunction.  Pay special attention to horses when transporting them or changing their surroundings, such as at shows.

Virtually any horse is susceptible to colic.  Age, sex, and breed differences in susceptibility seem to be relatively minor.  The type of colic seen appears to relate to geographic or regional differences, probably due to environmental factors such as sandy soil or climatic stress.  Importantly, what this tells us is that, with conscientious care and management, we have the potential to reduce and control colic, the number one killer of horses.

As a horse owner, you play an important role in controlling your equine companion’s weight. Sound nutrition management, a regular exercise program and veterinary care are key to keeping your horse fit and healthy. Maintaining the ideal weight is not always easy, however.

When implementing a weight loss program for the overweight horse, it’s important to do it gradually and under the supervision of an equine veterinarian.  Follow these guidelines from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) to get you started:

1.      Be patient.  Weight reduction should be a slow, steady process so not to stress the horse or create metabolic upsets.

2.      Make changes in both the type and amount of feed gradually.  Reduce rations by no more than 10% over a 7- to 10-day period.

3.      Track your horse’s progress by using a weight tape.  When the horse’s weight plateaus, gradually cut back its ration again.

4.      Step up the horse’s exercise regimen.  Gradually build time and intensity as the horse’s fitness improves.

5.     Provide plenty of clean, fresh water so the horse’s digestive and other systems function as efficiently as possible and rid the body of metabolic and other wastes.

6.     Select feeds that provide plenty of high quality fiber but are low in total energy.  Measure feeds by weight rather than by volume to determine appropriate rations.

7.      Select feeds that are lower in fat since fat is an energy-dense nutrient source.

8.     Switch or reduce the amount of alfalfa hay feed.  Replace with a mature grass or oat hay to reduce caloric intake.

9.     Feed separate from other horses so the overweight horse doesn’t have a chance to eat his portion and his neighbor’s too.  In extreme cases of obesity, caloric intake may also need to be controlled by limiting pasture intake.

10.    Balance the horse’s diet based on age and activity level.  Make sure the horse’s vitamin, mineral and protein requirements continue to be met.

Once your horse has reached its ideal body condition, maintaining the proper weight is a gentle balancing act. You will probably need to readjust your horse’s ration to stabilize its weight.  Exercise will continue to be a key component in keeping the horse fit.  Because obesity can affect a horse’s health, communicate regularly with your veterinarian.  Schedule regular check-ups, especially during the weight reduction process.

 If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to confront a medical emergency.  From lacerations to colic to foaling difficulties, there are many emergencies that a horse owner may encounter.  You must know how to recognize serious problems and respond promptly, taking appropriate action while awaiting the arrival of your veterinarian. 

Preparation is vital when confronted with a medical emergency.  No matter the situation you may face, mentally rehearse the steps you will take to avoid letting panic take control.  Follow these guidelines from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) to help you prepare for an equine emergency: 

1.  Keep your veterinarian’s number by each phone, including how the practitioner can be reached after hours.

2.  Consult with your regular veterinarian regarding a back-up or referring veterinarian’s number in case you cannot reach your regular veterinarian quickly enough.

3.  Know in advance the most direct route to an equine surgery center in case you need to transport the horse.

4.  Post the names and phone numbers of nearby friends and neighbors who can assist you in an emergency while you wait for the veterinarian.

5.  Prepare a first aid kit and store it in a clean, dry, readily accessible place.  Make sure that family members and other barn users know where the kit is.  Also keep a first aid kit in your horse trailer or towing vehicle, and a pared-down version to carry on the trail. 

First aid kits can be simple or elaborate. Here is a short list of essential items:

·         Cotton roll

·         Cling wrap

·         Gauze pads, in assorted sizes

·         Sharp scissors

·         Cup or container

·         Rectal thermometer with string and clip attached

·         Surgical scrub and antiseptic solution

·         Latex gloves

·         Saline solution

·         Stethoscope

·         Clippers

Many accidents can be prevented by taking the time to evaluate your horse’s environment and removing potential hazards.  Mentally rehearse your emergency action plan.  In an emergency, time is critical.  Don’t be concerned with overreacting or annoying your veterinarian.  By acting quickly and promptly, you can minimize the consequences of an injury or illness.

Owning a horse can be a big investment in time, money and emotion.  Unfortunately, horses seldom come with a money-back guarantee.  That’s why it is so important to investigate the horse’s overall health and condition through a purchase exam conducted by an equine veterinarian.

Whether you want a horse as a family pet, a pleasure mount, a breeding animal, or a high performance athlete, you stand the best chance of getting one that meets your needs by investing in a purchase exam.

Purchase examinations may vary, depending on the intended use of the horse and the veterinarian who is doing the examination.  Deciding exactly what should be included in the purchase examination requires good communication between you and your veterinarian.  The following guidelines from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) will help ensure a custom-tailored exam:

• Choose a veterinarian who is familiar with the breed, sport or use for which the horse is being purchased.
• Explain to your veterinarian your expectations and primary uses for the horse, including short- and long-term goals (e.g., showing, then breeding).
• Ask your veterinarian to outline the procedures that he or she feels should be included in the exam and why.
• Establish the costs for these procedures.
• Be present during the purchase exam.  The seller or agent should also be present.
• Discuss with your veterinarian his or her findings in private.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions or request further information about your veterinarian’s findings in private.

The veterinarian’s job is neither to pass nor fail an animal.  Rather, it is to provide you with information regarding any existing medical problems and to discuss those problems with you so that you can make an informed purchase decision.  Your veterinarian can advise you about the horse’s current physical condition, but he or she cannot predict the future.  The decision to buy is yours alone to make.  But your equine veterinarian can be a valuable partner in the process of providing you with objective, health-related information.

A healthy foal will grow rapidly, gaining in height, weight and strength almost before your eyes.  From birth to age two, a young horse can achieve 90 percent or more of its full adult size, sometimes putting on as many as three pounds per day.  Feeding young horses is a balancing act, as the nutritional start a foal gets can have a profound affect on its health and soundness for the rest of its life.

 At eight to ten weeks of age, mare’s milk alone may not adequately meet the foal’s nutritional needs, depending on the desired growth rate and owner wants for a foal.  As the foal’s dietary requirements shift from milk to feed and forage, your role in providing the proper nutrition gains in importance.  Following are guidelines from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) to help you meet the young horse’s nutritional needs: 

1.      Provide high quality roughage (hay and pasture) free choice.

2.      Supplement with a high quality, properly balanced grain concentrate at weaning, or earlier if more rapid rates of gain are desired.

3.      Start by feeding one percent on a foal’s body weight per day (i.e., one pound of feed for each 100 pounds of body weight), or one pound of feed per month of age.

4.      Weigh and adjust the feed ration based on growth and fitness.  A weight tape can help you approximate a foal’s size.

5.      Foals have small stomachs so divide the daily ration into two to three feedings.

6.      Make sure feeds contain the proper balance of vitamins, minerals, energy and protein.

7.      Use a creep feeder or feed the foal separate from the mare so it can eat its own ration.  Try to avoid group creep feeding situations.

8.      Remove uneaten portions between feedings.

9.      Do not overfeed.  Overweight foals are more prone to developmental orthopedic disease (DOD).

10.  Provide unlimited fresh, clean water.

11.  Provide opportunity for abundant exercise.

The reward for providing excellent nutrition and conscientious care will be a healthy foal that grows into a sound and useful horse

If your mare has made it through 11 months of pregnancy, you’re almost home free. Labor and delivery, while momentous, are generally uneventful.  In most cases, you will simply need to be a quiet observer – if, that is, you are lucky enough to witness the birth.  Mares seem to prefer to foal at night in privacy, and apparently have some control over their delivery.  Because most mares foal without difficulty, it is usually best to allow the mare to foal undisturbed and unassisted.

 What you can do, however, is prepare your mare for a safe and successful delivery.  Follow these suggestions from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) to help the new mother and baby get off to a great start:

·      Write down your veterinarian’s phone number well in advance of the birth and keep it by all phones.

·     Keep a watch or clock on hand so you can time each stage of labor.  When you’re worried or anxious, your perception of time becomes distorted.  The watch will help you keep accurate track of the mare’s progress during labor.

·     Wrap the mare’s tail with a clean wrap when you observe the first stage of labor.  Be sure that the wrap is not applied too tightly or left on too long, as it can cut off circulation and permanently damage the tail.

·     Wash the mare’s vulva and hindquarters with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly.

·     Clean and disinfect the stall area as thoroughly as possible and provide adequate bedding.

·     If a mare is taking longer than 30 minutes to deliver the foal, call your veterinarian immediately.

Horses with dental problems may show obvious signs, such as pain or irritation, or they may show no noticeable signs at all.  This is because some horses simply adapt to their discomfort.  For this reason, periodic dental examinations are essential to your horse’s health.

It is important to catch dental problems early.  If a horse starts behaving abnormally, dental problems should be considered as a potential cause.  Waiting too long may increase the difficulty of remedying certain conditions or may even make remedy impossible.  Look for the following indicators of dental problems from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) to know when to seek veterinary attention for your horse:

 1.      Loss of feed from mouth while eating, difficulty with chewing, or excessive salivation.

2.      Loss of body condition.

3.      Large or undigested feed particles (long stems or whole grain) in manure.

4.      Head tilting or tossing, bit chewing, tongue lolling, fighting the bit, or resisting bridling.

5.      Poor performance, such as lugging on the bridle, failing to turn or stop, even bucking.

6.      Foul odor from mouth or nostrils, or traces of blood from the mouth.

7.      Nasal discharge or swelling of the face, jaw or mouth tissues.

Oral exams should be an essential part of an annual physical examination by a veterinarian.  Every dental exam provides the opportunity to perform routine preventative dental maintenance. Mature horses should get a thorough dental exam at least once a year, and horses 2 –5 years old should be examined twice yearly.