Equine August 2012
2
24 hour emergency service Lifelong care for animals providing clinical excellence, knowledge and experience NEWS PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP Visit us at: www.paragonvet.com and please ‘like’ us on our FACEBOOK page www.facebook.com/ParagonVets.Equine Mud Fever - or is it? When faced with swollen pasterns, scabs and crusty sores, it’s easy to assume it’s mud fever. But at this time of year? Well, aſter all the rain we’ve had - possibly yes. But if it’s non-responsive to treatment - it could be something else entirely. Classically, mud fever is due to a bacteria dermatophilus which multiplies in moist areas particularly under scabs, but is fairly sensitive to most topical antibacterials once the scabs are removed. An un-responsive case may be due to any of the following causes: a) Other bacteria - eg Streptococci or Staphylococci which produce a more deep-seated and oſten painful infection. b) Parasites such as chorioptic mite, especially in heavily feathered horses; harvest mites or larval forms of certain nematodes. c) Fungi, including ringworm or soil-based infections (mycetomas) d) Non-infectious physical causes - eg scalding from urine/faeces; irritant medications; a secondary to wire cuts; following eruptions from foot infections (quittor) or following photosensitisation. e) Neoplasia - eg sarcoids or squamous cell carcinomas. August 2012 Contact us: CALDEW VETERINARY HOSPITAL Carlisle House, Townhead Road, Dalston, Carlisle CA5 7JF Tel: (01228) 710208 [email protected] TOWNHEAD VETERINARY CENTRE Newbiggin, Stainton, Penrith, CA11 0HT Tel: (01768) 483789 [email protected] LONDON ROAD SURGERY 87 London Road Carlisle CA1 2LG Tel: (01228) 591005 f) Immune mediated causes eg pemphigus, causing a vasculitis triggered by immune complexes, producing a life-threatening condition controlled only by corticosteroids. Such cases may require a skin biopsy or blood test to make a definitive diagnosis. But don’t panic! Common things are of course common, but it is worth being aware of the weird and wonderful in an unresponsive case. Pastern Dermas by Sarah Lewin
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Transcript of Equine August 2012
24 hour
emergency service
Lifelong care for animals providing clinical excellence, knowledge and experience
NEWS
PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP Visit us at: www.paragonvet.com and please ‘like’ us on our FACEBOOK page www.facebook.com/ParagonVets.Equine
Mud Fever - or is it?
When faced with swollen pasterns, scabs and crusty sores, it’s easy to assume it’s mud fever. But at this time of year? Well, after all the rain we’ve had - possibly yes. But if it’s non-responsive to treatment - it could be something else entirely.
Classically, mud fever is due to a bacteria dermatophilus which multiplies in moist areas particularly under scabs, but is fairly sensitive to most topical antibacterials once the scabs are removed.An un-responsive case may be due to any of the following causes:
a) Other bacteria - eg Streptococci or Staphylococci which produce a more deep-seated and often painful infection.
b) Parasites such as chorioptic mite, especially in heavily feathered horses; harvest mites or larval forms of certain nematodes.
c) Fungi, including ringworm or soil-based infections (mycetomas)
d) Non-infectious physical causes - egscalding from urine/faeces; irritant medications; a secondary to wire cuts; following eruptions from foot infections (quittor) or following photosensitisation.
e) Neoplasia - eg sarcoids or squamous cell carcinomas.
August 2012
Contact us:
CALDEW
VETERINARY HOSPITAL Carlisle House, Townhead Road, Dalston, Carlisle CA5 7JF Tel: (01228) 710208 [email protected]
TOWNHEAD VETERINARY CENTRE Newbiggin, Stainton, Penrith, CA11 0HT Tel: (01768) 483789 [email protected]
LONDON ROAD SURGERY 87 London Road Carlisle CA1 2LG Tel: (01228) 591005
f) Immune mediated causes eg pemphigus, causing a vasculitis triggered by immune complexes, producing a life-threatening condition controlled only by corticosteroids.
Such cases may require a skin biopsy or blood test to make a definitive diagnosis.
But don’t panic! Common things are of course common, but it is worth being aware of the weird and wonderful in an unresponsive case.
Pastern Dermatitisby
Sarah Lewin
Preventative approaches to
Pastern Dermatitisby
Kelly Smith BSc (hons) Equine Sports Science
Dermatitis is a broad term describing inflammation of the skin. Mud fever is probably seen most commonly but there are many other forms.
* Ideally keep your horse in a dry field with short grass or in a dry, cleanly bedded stable. Where possible remove horses from overly muddy fields and try to prevent them from ‘poaching’ around in muddy gateways to reduce the risk of mud fever. * Keep legs as clean as possible and dry thoroughly after washing. * Applying barrier cream such as Vaseline or Vetsalve will reduce excess wetting of the skin during turnout in wet and muddy conditions. This must be applied to dry and healthy skin.* It is also important to clean legs thoroughly after exercise, especially in sand arenas as the sand can cause abrasion to the skin.* As parasites can cause pastern dermatitis, clipping the legs of heavily feathered horses may reduce the chance of chorioptic mange infection. * Photosensitisation can cause problems on white legs and the pink skin underneath. Using sun block/ cream should reduce the risk of irritation.* Preventing fly irritation will reduce sensitivity and the risk of infections spreading.* Treating dermatitis early is important as it can quickly spread and become infected. To enable effective treatment it is best to seek veterinary advice as different treatments are available dependent on the type of dermatitis.
NURSE CLINIC
STAFF NEWS
Congratulations to Veterinary Nurse Lucy Hindmarsh who married Dale Shaw on saturday June 30th ...
...and to Newbiggin Centre Manager Julie McCamish who marriedPeter Potts on May 26th - pictured here with some of her Paragon colleagues - as you may not have seen them before!
...and to Liz Mitchell (nee Jackson) on the birth of Oliver Hart Mitchell - a little brother for Shona.
WEIGH DAY
Paragon hosted a successful weigh day with Sarah Rushby (Equine Nutritionist) from Dodson and Horrell. Clients were given information on how to condition score their own horses and were able to discuss feeding based on the horse’s individual needs. Feedback was excellent and we look forward to holding a talk on Equine Nutrition with Dodson and Horrell during the winter.Thank you to everyone involved.
Vet Sam Harding competed in the Birkett Trophy on Ullswater. The open sailing event now in its 50th year attracted more than 200 boats. Sam and sailing partner Richard Sealby came second on the saturday - and then triumphed on the sunday with a win to take the Hunter Europa class title and 26th placed boat overall!
