On Feb. 5, a 3-year-old Quarter Horse mare in Pierce County, Wisconsin, tested positive for strangles after developing a fever on Jan. 29. Four additional horses are suspected positive. This case was just reported to the EDCC.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About StranglesStranglesin horses is an infection caused byStreptococcus equisubspeciesequiand spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that arent showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term.Infected horses can exhibit a variety of clinical signs:FeverSwollen and/or abscessed lymph nodesNasal dischargeCoughing or wheezingMuscle swellingDifficulty swallowingVeterinarians diagnose horses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with either a nasal swab, wash, or an abscess sample, and they treat most cases based on clinical signs, implementing antibiotics for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can prevent an infected horse from developing immunity. Most horses make a full recovery in three to four weeks.A vaccine is available but not always effective. Biosecurity measures of quarantining new horses at a facility and maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfecting surfaces can helplower the risk of outbreakorcontain one when it occurs.

10 emergencies to watch for in the hours after your mare foalsThe first few hours after foaling are critical for determining the future physical and mental health of your mare and her newborn foal. | iStockPhew! That baby is born. The past 11 months of waiting, monitoring, and hoping have ended, and that beautiful wet foal is now on the ground wondering what on earth just happened to her. Your mare, meanwhile, is back on her feetcurious and wondrous about that squirmy little ragamuffin that just came out of her.It might be tempting to assume that all is well, and you can finally get your own much-needed deep sleep. Unfortunately, though, your bed will have to waityouve only completed part of the complex process of successful foaling. The next few hours and days will be critical in determining the future physical and mental health of your mare and her newborn foal, says Christine Aurich, DVM, PhD, head of the Graf Lehndorff Institute for Equine Science, in Neustadt, Germany.So get your foaling night blankets and hot thermoses of coffeeand brush up on your smartphone stopwatch featuresas you keep a watchful eye out for these 10 red flags in the post-foaling period.1. Foaling Passes the 20-Minute and/or 45-Minute Mark.Careful breeders have their stopwatch apps open before they even see the foal, Aurich says. At the moment the placenta breaks, and the birth process is starting, you should really start your watch, she explains.If the foal isnt delivered within 20 minutes, theres certainly a problem that merits investigation, she says. If handlers have had training in managing difficult births, they can try to help resolve basic problems like a stuck shoulder or flexed knee. Otherwise, they should call a veterinarian immediately.Regardless, foals should be born within 45 minutes, Aurich cautions. Longer than that, and the foal is more likely to suffer from health issues such as general infections or neurological disorders due to lack of oxygen.Good prenatal care can help prevent or at least forewarn handlers about issues that could complicate foaling, so they can be prepared, says Quinn Gavaga, DVM, of Charles Ranch Equine, in Ashcroft, British Columbia, Canada. The health of the mare cannot be overstated, he says.2. The Placenta is Lateor Earlyand/or Isnt Y-Shaped.Mares should deliver the placenta within three hours of birth, says Aurich. Otherwise, a retained placenta could cause uterine infection and the resorption of endotoxins, provoking sepsis (a whole-body reaction to bacterial infection) in the mare, which could also lead to laminitis. This very dangerous and life-threatening issue can usually be quickly averted with oxytocin infusions that make the uterus contract and expel the placenta.But early placentas are red flags, too, she says. If the placenta and foal come out together, or if the placenta emerges before the umbilical cord is torn because the mare has gotten up, it was probably infected (evident as placentitis, or inflammation of the placenta). An early placenta is always an alarm, Aurich says. It means there was a problem already before the foal was born and that the foal was most likely infected in the uterus. These foals develop sepsis, requiring aggressive treatment.Mares with placentitis could also have a red bag delivery. This condition occurs when the placenta separates prematurely from the uterine lining andrather than normal translucent white or yellow membranesyoull see the bright red, velvety intact chorioallantois (the outermost layer of the placenta) at the vulvar lips. In these emergency cases the placenta must be opened immediately and the foal pulled out to halt asphyxiation.Lay the mares placenta out to ensure both uterine horns are present in their entirety. | Courtesy Dr. Alana King After every foaling, handlers should lay the placenta out flat and ensure its complete, in its typical Y-shaped form, she adds. An incomplete placenta means a piece has remained inside the mare, which poses the same risks as retaining the entire placenta.Handlers can also weigh the placenta while waiting for the veterinarian. It should weigh 10-12% of the foals weight; if the figure is less or more, it signifies a problem with the placenta.Be sure to save the placenta in a plastic bag or bucket in a cool place for several hours because it could offer important clues if problems arise later, Aurich says.3. The Foal Isnt Standing Within One Hour.Ideally, foals stand very quickly after birthoften within a matter of minutes, Aurich says. At the very latest, they should stand within an hour.Some foals squirm and struggle to stand but just cant succeed. Problems that could cause this range from contracted tendons and neonatal encephalopathy to sepsis.Foals that dont even try to stand within an hour are probably ill and need urgent veterinary care.When something goes wrong with foals, it usually happens pretty quicklyso dont wait for it to get better on its own, Gavaga warns. It almost never does.4. The Colostrum Doesnt Pass the Home Brix Test.Before mares foal, owners should purchase a Brix refractometer, Aurich says. This instrumentdesigned primarily for the food and beverage industryalso serves as an excellent breeding farm tool to test for density or specific gravity of colostrum. (Colostrum with high immunoglobulin levels has a greater density and, thus, a higher specific gravity.) Its a very easy and really cheap way to check your colostrum quality right away, she says.Handlers should squeeze a small drop of colostrum from the mares udderideally, just after the foal is bornand place it on the refractometer prism. If the Brix value is at least 25%, that means the colostrum quality is good. If its above 30%, its very good. However, if the Brix value is below 25%and especially if its lower than 20%then you know there arent enough antibodies for your foal, Aurich says. You have to call your vet to get frozen colostrum from a broodmare farm or the foal will likely need an intravenous (IV) plasma transfusion.5. The Foal Isnt Nursing Within 2 Hours.Healthy foals usually nurse within one hour of birth. | iStockAmong all the time-sensitive boxes to check, the intake of colostrumthe mares antibody-rich first milkprobably ranks No. 1 in importance, Gavaga says. Foals that fail to consume enough colostrum within the first few hours lack the antibodies that protect them from even the most common pathogens, he explains. That means they could easily fall sick, creating a domino effect of lingering health problems, including sepsis. Without rapid veterinary help, theyre likely to die within days. Sepsis is the leading cause of mortality in newborn foals, adds Aurich.Healthy foals usually nurse within one hour of birth, but some can take a little longer before they start searching for the mares udder. If theyve reached two hours without nursing, they absolutely need human intervention; call your veterinarian immediately.After informing their veterinarians of the foals missed milestone, handlers should milk the mare themselves, Aurich says. This involves gently drawing on her teats and collecting the colostrum in a clean bottle designed for human babies. Handlers should be careful not to spill or waste the colostrum. Its best to wait for veterinary assistance before offering it to the foal: Importantly, foals need to suckle and swallow on their own without being forced or having milk poured into their mouths, she adds.6. The Foal Isnt Getting Up to Nurse Every Half Hour, Suckles the Wrong Thing, or Gets Milk Head.Foals usually lie down to rest after nursing. But then they should get up after a short period, not longer than 30 minutes, and go again, Aurich says. They should also act alert and interested. Thats very important. If theyre not doing that, then something is happening. Something is wrong.The foal shouldnt have milk on his neck, ears, or face, either, Aurich explains. Milk-head occurs when the foal approaches the udder but fails to latch on to the teat, and the mares body releases the milk in response to the foals contact, spraying milk onto the foals head. It means the foal isnt nursing correctly and isnt getting enough nourishment, she says.Milk-head foals do not need training to nurse correctly, says Aurich. They need veterinary care. You have to check the foal because it most certainly has a problem, she says. Its not that the foal doesnt know how to nurse but, rather, she gets disinterested or too tired to drink once the milk is flowing. In most cases, this is a sign that the foal is getting sick.But it might also be a sign the foal was born with a slightly premature endocrine system, Aurich adds. Before birth, foals usually produce progestogen, then shortly before the mare goes into labor, they switch to producing cortisol instead. In certain cases foals that appear fully mature might still be producing progestogenwhich actually has a sedative effect, she explains. Therefore, they dont adapt well to life outside the uterus, they might suckle incorrectly and get milk-head, or they might even try to suckle the mares legs or the barn wall.Watching suckling behavior is the most reliable way to assess the health of newborn foals, because their body temperature and other vital signs are still naturally fluctuating, Aurich adds. Taking temperature isnt helpful, she says. But looking for normal behavior is.7. The Foal Is Retaining Meconium.The foals digestive system needs to clear the dark, tarry contents it accumulated during gestation, known as meconium. Currently, the recommended practice is to administer one or two enemas at birth to avert meconium retention.Foals that struggle to pass meconium tend to strain, lifting their tails and often standing as if they want to urinate, but to no avail. As time goes on, they can show signs of foal colicacting restless and lying down as if theyre trying to keep pressure off the abdomen. In addition to the obvious welfare concerns, meconium constipation can cause foals to stop nursingwhich prevents them from consuming the colostrum and nourishment they need to stay healthy.Foals should poop approximately every half-hour for the first hours until all the meconium has passed, and yellowish milk feces appear. However, foals younger than 3 or 4 days old should never have diarrhea, Aurich adds. If they do, this is most likely septic diarrhea.The first urine comes later. If they are drinkingand drinking enoughthey will certainly start urinating within 12 hours or so, Aurich says. Colts typically urinate within eight to 10 hours, whereas fillies start within 12-14 hours.Notably, owners should not assume an empty udder means the mare isnt producing enough milk, Aurich adds. As long as the foal is nursing regularly, the udders always appear empty even though they might be producing abundant quantities of milk.8. The Mare Seems Disinterested, Colicky, or Sick, or Has Bloody Manure or Urine.Healthy mares show an interest in eating hay and pay close attention to their foals, Aurich says. They should be passing feces and urine within five or six hours of foaling.Sick mares might act lethargic or depressed and could appear sweaty. Rectal temperatures above 38.5 C/101.5 For a resting heart rate higher than 50 beats per minute is cause for alarm. In a septic mare laminitis can start quickly, so handlers should check for signs of sore feet.While mares might have mild abdominal discomfort for a few hours after foaling, they should not experience significant levels of pain, Aurich says. Importantly, pain should improvenot worsenover time. Handlers should be concerned if the mare is getting up and down frequently, rolling and/or thrashing, or showing increasingly more severe facial expressions of pain such as tightening around the eyes, clenching the jaws, or pursing the lips. Blood in the urine or feces is another critical red flag.Such signs could point to serious issues such as uterine prolapse, a retained placenta, damaged intestine, uterine rupture, or a burst artery with bleeding into the abdominal cavity. These are real emergencies that have to be attended by a veterinarian, she says. Haul the mare and foal to a clinic immediately if a vet cannot come right away.Better to transport her with hope of saving her, than just waiting at home until shes dead, Aurich adds.9. The Foals IgG Levels and/or WBCs are Out of Range.Veterinarians recommend testing every newborn foals blood in the first six to eight hours of life to check IgG concentrations.Infographic: Recognizing and Preventing Failure of Passive TransferAn IgG reading under 8 grams per liter is a critical red flag showing the foal did not receive a sufficient transfer of antibodies. A white blood cell (WBC) reading outside the normal range of 5,500-12,000 cells suggests the beginning of sepsis.Remember that 85% of antibodies from colostrum is transferred in those first eight hours. So, if youve tested within that window and the IgG is low, you still have time to feed colostrum (whether from the dam or a donor) nasogastrically and get adequate transfer; the foals intestinal tract cannot absorb these vital antibodies past 24 hours.Beyond that eight-hour time frame veterinarians can provide the foal antibodies through IV plasma infusion.As for other measurements, a particularly low or very high WBC count reveals an immune system reaction, our sources say. Practitioners can also run a serum amyloid A (SAA) test. The reading should be under 100-150 to verify the absence of bacterial activation of the acute-phase protein SAA, which is produced by the liver.10. The Foal and Mare are More Interested in Anyone Besides Each Other.Mare-foal bonding is critical for good physical and mental development of the foal as well as the welfare of both animals.While handlers should not hesitate to care for their foals, especially when they need help, human interactions with foals should remain as minimal as realistically possible, Gavaga says. Concentrate on the mare and make her feel as relaxed as you can, he says. Do what you need to help, but dont try and force a bond with you and the foal. Respect the mares relationship with her foal.Red Flag? Do Not Wait.If you see any of these red flags, contact your veterinarian immediately. I dont think people miss the signs that often, Gavaga says, based on his own clinical experience. I think owners wait too long to react.Post-foaling is certainly not the time for taking the wait-and-see approach, or to let nature work things out, Aurich adds. Nature can be cruel, she says. Nature helping means the wolf or the lion comes for the weak foals that cant get up and run away.For optimal post-foaling success, breeders should maintain a very good relationship with their veterinarians, Gavaga says. They will often then go above and beyond in supporting their clients in all the phases of horse breeding.Take-Home MessageMares and foals can appear healthy at foaling but quickly go downhill if they develop complications in the post-foaling period. Knowing the red flags and acting quickly can make a dramatic difference in the outcome of these scary situations, our sources say. You cant be prepared for every scenario, Gavaga says. But you can try to get as much knowledge as you can beforehand to be prepared for the main problems that can happen.

On March 12, a 23-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse mare in Fauquier County, Virginia, tested positive for strangles. The mare developed clinical signs on March 10, including fever, nasal discharge, inappetence, and lethargy. She is now recovering, and five additional horses are exposed.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About StranglesStranglesin horses is an infection caused byStreptococcus equisubspeciesequiand spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that arent showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term.Infected horses can exhibit a variety of clinical signs:FeverSwollen and/or abscessed lymph nodesNasal dischargeCoughing or wheezingMuscle swellingDifficulty swallowingVeterinarians diagnose horses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with either a nasal swab, wash, or an abscess sample, and they treat most cases based on clinical signs, implementing antibiotics for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can prevent an infected horse from developing immunity. Most horses make a full recovery in three to four weeks.A vaccine is available but not always effective. Biosecurity measures of quarantining new horses at a facility and maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfecting surfaces can helplower the risk of outbreakorcontain one when it occurs.

On March 11, a 10-year-old Friesian gelding at a boarding facility in Fauquier County, Virginia, tested positive for equine herpesvirus-4 (EHV-4). The horse developed a 104.7-degree fever on March 6 and was admitted to the isolation unit at an equine hospital.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.EHV 101Herpesvirus is highly contagious among horses and can cause a variety of ailments in equids, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and EHM.In many horses, the first or only sign of EHV-1 infection is fever, which can go undetected.In addition to fever, other common signs of EHV-1 infection in young horses include cough, decreased appetite, depression, and a nasal discharge. Pregnant mares typically show no signs of infection before they abort, and abortions usually occur late in gestation (around eight months) but can be earlier. Abortions can occur anywhere from two weeks to several months following infection with EHV-1.Horses with EHM usually have a fever at the onset of the disease and might show signs of a respiratory infection. A few days later, neurologic signs such as ataxia (incoordination), weakness or paralysis of the fore- and hind limbs, urine retention and dribbling, loss of tail tone, and recumbency (inability to rise) develop.Herpesvirus is easily spread by nose-to-nose or close contact with an infectious horse; sharing contaminated equipment including bits, buckets, and towels; or clothing, hands, or equipment of people who have recently had contact with an infectious horse.Routine biosecurity measures, including hygiene and basic cleaning and disinfection practices, should be in place at all times to help prevent disease spread.Current EHV-1 vaccines might reduce viral shedding but are not protective against the neurologic form of the disease. Implementing routine biosecurity practices is the best way to minimize viral spread, and the best method of disease control is disease prevention.

On February 7, 16 horses in Meadow Lake No. 588, Saskatchewan, tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA). The horses had been tested by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as part of an ongoing disease investigation, and no clinical signs of disease were noted at the time of sampling.The infected horses have a history of commingling with free-roaming horses in an area where the disease is endemic.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About EIAEquine infectious anemiais a viral disease that attacks horses immune systems. The virus is transmitted through the exchange of body fluids from an infected to an uninfected animal, often by blood-feeding insects such as horseflies. It can also be transmitted through the use of blood-contaminated instruments or needles.ACoggins test screens horses blood for antibodiesthat are indicative of the presence of the EIA virus. Most U.S. states require horses to have proof of a negative Coggins test to travel across state lines.Once an animal is infected with EIA, it is infected for life and can be a reservoir for the spread of disease. Not all horses show signs of disease,but those that do can exhibit:Progressive body condition loss;Muscle weakness;Poor stamina;Fever;Depression; andAnemia.EIA has no vaccine and no cure. A horse diagnosed with the disease dies, is euthanized, or must be placed under extremely strict quarantine conditions (at least 200 yards away from unaffected equids) for the rest of his life.

On March 7, a 3-year-old filly in Clinton County, Michigan, recently tested positive for strangles. The filly developed clinical signs on March 6, including nasal discharge, lethargy, and inappetence. She is under quarantine, and 11 horses are exposed.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About StranglesStranglesin horses is an infection caused byStreptococcus equisubspeciesequiand spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that arent showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term.Infected horses can exhibit a variety of clinical signs:FeverSwollen and/or abscessed lymph nodesNasal dischargeCoughing or wheezingMuscle swellingDifficulty swallowingVeterinarians diagnose horses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with either a nasal swab, wash, or an abscess sample, and they treat most cases based on clinical signs, implementing antibiotics for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can prevent an infected horse from developing immunity. Most horses make a full recovery in three to four weeks.A vaccine is available but not always effective. Biosecurity measures of quarantining new horses at a facility and maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfecting surfaces can helplower the risk of outbreakorcontain one when it occurs.

As of March 11, the United States Department of Agriculture has confirmed 52 cases of contagious equine metritis (CEM) in Orange County, Florida. The initial case was a mare bred by live cover to a pony stallion, who also tested positive. Most positive cases in this outbreak are geldings at the stallions facility who were infected via sheath cleaning.In addition to the 52 confirmed cases, another 145 horses are potentially exposed.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About Contagious Equine MetritisContagious equine metritis (CEM) is a venereal disease of horses caused by the bacteriaTaylorella equigenitalis. It can impact fertility in both mares and stallions. The United States is considered to be CEM-free. Therefore, CEM is a foreign animal disease that is reportable at both the federal and state level. The U.S. horse industry could suffer significant economic losses if the disease became established here.CEM is spread during breeding or through contact with contaminated objects.It is highly contagious among horses and can be difficult to detect and control. Signs of illness in infected mares may not be obvious, and stallions carry the bacteria without showing any signs at all. In some cases, mares may also become carriers. Foals born to infected/carrier mares can also become long-term carriers of the bacteria.

Abscesses are a common lameness cause. What if your usual fix fails? A horse that is three-legged lame can be alarming, but the cause is often a hoof abscess. | Courtesy PhotoWhen your horse comes up three-legged lame, youll be forgiven for having a moment of panic. Chances are, its just an abscess. Youll get it to rupture or drain, and your horse will be sound soon.A hoof abscess typically consists of a pocket of infection located between the sole and underlying sensitive tissues in the hoof. Clinical signs include lameness (sometimes severe), heat in the affected hoof, and a strong or bounding digital pulseas felt in the digital arteries at the back of the fetlock.Why is it so painful? There are nerve endings in those sensitive tissues, of course. And everything is surrounded by a hard hoof wall. When the horse puts weight on the hoof, the infection has nowhere to go, and it hurts.How Hoof Abscesses FormThe infection arrives by way of the hoof. Poor hoof quality is an abscess risk factor.If theres a crack or crevices that bacteria can get up into, thats a great way for abscesses to start, says Craig Lesser, DVM, CF. Lesser, who trained as both a farrier and a veterinarian, completed a podiatry fellowship, and is a shareholder at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.Stone bruises, thin soles, or hot nails during shoeing are other known causes of abscesses. Hot or close nails are when a farrier drives a nail too close to sensitive tissues.Often the infection occurs in the white line, where the hoof wall and sole meet, says Richard Mansmann, VMD, PhD, hon. Dipl. ACVIM-LA of Equine Podiatry & Rehab Consult Practice, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.Muddy, wet conditions can soften hooves and make them easier to penetrate. During abnormally wet summers, we see a lot more abscesses, notes Steve Kraus, BS, CJF, head of farrier services, senior lecturer, and section chief at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, in Ithaca, New York.If we have a very dry summer, we see less of them because the feet are tougher, Kraus says.Conformation flaws such as toeing out can predispose a horse to abscesses because they place uneven forces on the hoof, he adds.In this article well focus on steps to take when faced with an abscess, especially one that lingers beyond typical treatment times.Step 1: Treat the Initial AbscessOPTION A: Manage It Yourself When experienced horse owners know theyre dealing with an abscess, many choose to treat it themselves. Theyll soak the hoof in warm water containing Epsom salts and follow by wrapping the hoof.Lesser suggests applying an Animalintex poultice pad to the sole, then a roll of Conform (absorbent stretch bandage), a cohesive bandage such as Vetrap, and duct tape.After the abscess rupturesand youll know when it does because it stinks, plus the lameness improves almost immediatelyLesser recommends a few days of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs while continuing to soak and pack the foot. He says he continues to pack with an Animalintex pad until drainage stops, then switches to packing with povidone-iodine.Lesser is adamant NSAIDs should come after the abscess ruptures, not before. What these do is they shrink and consolidate the abscess and actually make it a lot harder to find, he says. Though you might want to give your horse pain relief, he urges you to think of the big picture. That anti-inflammatory actually will shrink the abscess and just make it slower to rupture.Your vet might advise you differently.OPTION B: Get a Professional Out Some horse owners prefer to have a vet or farrier look at the hoof before attempting to pack and soak it. Both will try to pin down the precise location of the abscess.Kraus uses a thermal scanner to compare heat in the sound and unsound feet. During a visual inspection of the hoof, hell look for black spots or other obvious signs of where pathogens (disease-causing organisms) might have entered. Mansmann says he uses a wire brush or a hoof rasp to clean the hoof, making it easier to identify these spots.Farriers and veterinarians often squeeze the hoof with hoof testers, which look like tongs, to see if the horse reacts. Kraus says he goes around the clock of the horses sole three times to see if the horse jerks his foot every time in the same place.When they find a crack or entry point, professionals have various tools, including hoof knives, to open the abscess. Opening the abscess can get the drainage started. However, Mansmann and Lesser both discourage digging any further into the horses sole.I want to investigate that abscess up the wall because the wall is nonpainful, Mansmann says.After the vet or farrier gets the drainage started, its time to soak the foot and pack it for a few days to help it heal.If your horse wont leave his hoof in a bucket to soak, you might try Kraus trick: cutting off the top of a used IV bag, filling the bottom with an Epsom salts solution, putting the horses hoof into the solution, and then taping the bag around the leg to soak. The idea is to clean out the drainage site of pus and debris.Step 2: Your Horse Is Still Lame. Now What? Call the Vet.If youre diligent about keeping the site clean and dry, abscesses typically heal quickly.You can see this thing heal up right before your eyes, Kraus says. Relief can sometimes be immediate, though other horses might need a few days before theyre noticeably moving more soundly.(By) that three-day mark of not making consistent forward progress, I start worrying that maybe theres something else going on, Lesser explains. He defines progress as the horse being mostly sound at the walk within three days, with drainage being minimal to none.The three-day deadline isnt strict. As long as every day were making progress in the right direction, Im okay with giving us more time, Lesser says.If your horse isnt improving and is still lame four or five days after the abscess first rupturesor if the abscess never rupturesour experts say you need to call your veterinarian and get some radiographs. Laminitis is the big fear. This happens when the lamellae (or laminae)the Velcro-like tissues that hold the coffin bone in place within the hoofbecome damaged and inflamed. In severe cases these tissues can separate, causing the coffin bone to rotate downward or sink.Here you can see an abscess on the dorsal aspect of the coffin bone and where it exited at the coronary band. | Courtesy PhotoStep 3: Hoof RadiographsA horse thats still lame even after a ruptured abscess needs radiographs. The images help the veterinarian ensure the problem isnt something else, such as a coffin bone fracture, unilateral laminitis (in one foot of a pair), or another type of infection that can occur in the horses hoof, Lesser says (more on this in a moment).If its not an abscess and you delay treatment, the problem can get very expensive, he adds, and some of the problems can be life-threatening.For radiographs, he takes four views. This allows him to evaluate the entire coffin bone, checking for rotation and looking for subsolar abscess space beneath the coffin bone or going up the dorsal wall.The X ray can show an abscess if bacteria within are producing gas. If it just contains pus, the abscess wont show up because the fluid is the same density as the sole, Lesser says. If the X ray does show evidence of the abscess, that can guide treatment.Step 4: Possible Post-Radiograph Diagnoses in the Horses HoofRadiographs allow the veterinarian to rule out other painful hoof conditions such as, again, laminitis; septic pedal osteitis, which is a coffin bone infection; keratomas, which are benign tumors; a sequestrum, where the body treats a dead, broken-off bone piece as a foreign object; or an actual foreign object in the horses hoof. Keep in mind that metal will show up on hoof radiographs but wood wont.Quittor, an infection in and around the collateral cartilage, found on either side of the coffin bone and believed to aid in hoof expansion and shock absorption, often gets blamed on being a recurrent foot abscess as well. It will show above the coronary band, Lesser says.The most common nonabscess finding in situations like these is septic pedal osteitis. Radiographs will show a lucencya dark spoton the horses coffin bone.The best news comes when the vet finds absolutely nothing.You know, 90% of the time the vet is going to take radiographs and say, Hey, there are no changes on the bone, I think were okay, Lesser says.Step 5: Treatments and Rehab for the HorseAssuming your horses diagnosis didnt change and the problem is still an abscess, youre likely going to be soaking and packing again. At this point, Lesser switches the poultice hes using.I reach for what we call an overnight poultice, which is a bran-mash-based poultice we can leave on the horse for 24 hours. That really helps us get drainage, he says.The overnight poultice helps get the horses foot extra wet so the abscess can rupture on its ownpreferably not through the coronary band, Lesser says. But the important part is the abscess ruptures. If it happens in the coronary band, youre likely going to have a defect thats going to have to grow out.It takes a year for the hoof to fully grow out, but the horse should be sound while thats happening, Lesser says.Your veterinarian or farrier might suggest shoes and/or pads while the horse recovers. Its just like a wound anywhere else, except its a place thats very dirty, Lesser says.After the abscess stops draining, Lesser packs the site with povidone-iodine to dry out the tract and encourage the hoof to cornify (harden) quickly and prevent bacteria from entering. Some veterinarians prescribe antibiotics after the lingering abscess ruptures, though Lesser says he does that only with bone changes.Step 6: Preventing Hoof AbscessesAbscess prevention begins with good basic hoof care. It starts with consistent trims, says Lesser, who also suggests shortening the trim cycle could prevent hooves from cracking.Mansmann agrees. When in doubt, shorter is better on the cycle, he says.Shoes and pads might help protect the bottom of the foot.Consider, too, how you might adjust the horses routine to help keep abscesses from developing in the first place. In those wet, nasty environments, sometimes avoidance is the best thing, Lesser says. That could mean making sure horses hooves have a chance to dry out and also trying to avoid those deeper muddy areas.Take-Home Message Any hoof abscess in horses can be frustrating to manage. One that wont heal can be even more trying. Involve your vet and farrier to get an accurate diagnosis, and be prepared to treat the horse for as long as it takes. Time, patience, and dedication can all help resolve that aggravating abscess.This article is from the Spring 2025 issue ofThe Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care. We at The Horse work to provide you with the latest and most reliable news and information on equine health, care, management, and welfare through our magazine and TheHorse.com. Your subscription helps The Horse continue to offer this vital resource to horse owners of all breeds, disciplines, and experience levels. To access current issues included in your subscription, please sign in to theAppleorGoogleapps ORclick herefor the desktop version.

Some horses might need vitamin E supplementation if their diet is lacking in the nutrient. | The Horse StaffVitamin E is an important nutrient for your horses health because it supports muscle health and protects cell membranes. This nutrient is an essential vitamin, meaning your horse cannot synthesize it and it must be provided in the diet, and it is fat-soluble.Vitamin E is perhaps best known for its antioxidant properties. When the horse metabolizes oxygen, free radicals are produced, which can overload the body and cause oxidative stress. For horses, vitamin E is the most popular antioxidant (among horse owners), it will scavenge the free radicals to reduce any cellular damage, says Carey Williams, MS, PhD, professor of animal sciences at Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Green pastures are great sources of vitamin E but, when this is not available, how do we ensure the horse is consuming the amount he needs?How Much Vitamin E is Recommended for Horses?The National Research Councils (NRC) Nutrient Requirements of Horses, published in 2007, provides a recommended vitamin E intake level based on your horses body weight and workload to prevent deficiency. An average size horse that is not in work is going to require about 500 IU (international units) of vitamin E daily; however, I recommend 1,000 IU for the average horse as this level to help to accommodate any deficiencies, says Williams. Horses in heavy exercise or breeding have increased requirements for vitamin E.There isnt a true known optimal amount for all horses, says Rachel Mottet, PhD, an equine nutritionist and the owner of Legacy Equine Nutrition, in Ocala, Florida. There is an established requirement that is recommended to prevent deficiency, yet optimal, especially as it relates to equine athletes, needs more work.Further research is required to fully elucidate the optimal vitamin E dose for equine athletes. When a horse exercises, there is exercise induced oxidative stress. This is due to increased amounts of free radicals. Therefore, feeding these animals more vitamin E is thought to be beneficial due to its antioxidant qualities. However, the ideal supplementation amount to optimally support equine athletes has yet to be determined.Horses metabolize vitamin E at different rates, Mottet adds, so research into optimal supplementation levels is challenging. I periodically see horses getting the recommended amount of vitamin E (yet), based on their serum samples, are still deficient, she says. Part of the widespread deficiencies I see may be in part attributed to nonviable forms of vitamin E in different supplements, as the vitamin itself is prone to quick degeneration.How to Evaluate Your Horses Vitamin E StatusEnsuring your horses daily ration is meeting the NRC requirements for vitamin E is a crucial first step in evaluating your horses vitamin E status.Because it is not realistic to measure the vitamin E content in pasture and hay, look at what the horse gets in the rest of his daily rationration balancer, concentrate, and any top-dressed supplementsespecially if hes on a primarily hay diet or has period of the year where pastures are scarce. Talk to an equine nutritionist or your veterinarian about what you find.If you are concerned about your horses vitamin E status have the veterinarian pull blood to evaluate, says Mottet. As long as the sample is handled properly and submitted quickly, this is a great (and the most accurate) way to determine if your horse is getting an adequate amount.If there is a deficiency detected via blood serum, then your horse likely needs additional vitamin E supplementation. 10,000 IU doses are used short term (to rectify a deficiency) as it can interfere with beta carotene absorption (at sustained levels), says Williams. Normally, it is not toxic, but you can get to a point that you interfere with other fat-soluble vitamins.Mottet adds that it is unnecessary to supplement your horses vitamin E intake if blood serum tests do not detect a deficiency.Best Sources of Vitamin E for HorsesAgain, pasture is the best source of vitamins for horses. Sun-cured hay is inevitably vitamin-deficient. I personally like to make sure that my ration is providing my horses daily vitamin E requirement and whatever I get in pasture or hay is a bonus, says Mottet.If its clear the horse needs vitamin E supplementation, work with an equine nutritionist to be certain your horse is consuming a high-quality bioavailable vitamin E source.When evaluating vitamin E in a product, there are two main typesnatural and synthetic. The synthetic form of vitamin E is known as dl-alpha-tocopherol, and the natural form is d-alpha-tocopherol. Both natural and synthetic sources work, however, the natural vitamin E is more bioavailable (usable) to the animal, says Williams. About 20 years ago my lab looked at heavily exercising horses and if greater vitamin E supplementation would decrease oxidative stress. It was shown that intensely exercising horses that were not housed on pastures would benefit from 5,000 IU per day for a 1,000-lb horse; the synthetic form was used for this research, therefore, if you were using the natural form, you could likely get by with 2,500 IU instead.The NRCs recommendation is a helpful starting point, but it is important to remember that more is not always better. If the horse has adequate serum vitamin E levels, there isnt strong data that says more is better, says Mottet. However, as a potent antioxidant its possible that additional vitamin E could provide benefits to equine athletes.More research is needed to confirm the efficacy of this supplementation method, she adds. Additionally, although toxicity risk is low, there is a potential for interference with other fat-soluble vitamins when significantly over-supplied to the horse.Take Home MessageVitamin E is an important antioxidant for horses. Equine athletes in heavy work, broodmares and breeding stallions, or those without daily pasture might need additional supplementation. Natural and synthetic forms of vitamin E are available and, while both are effective, the natural form (d-alpha-tocopherol) is more bioavailable to the horse. Therefore, if your horse has a deficiency, your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist might recommend supplementing him with a liquid form of natural vitamin E from a reputable company. Before adding a supplement to your horses diet, consult your veterinarian for blood serum testing, which can help you obtain accurate information about your horses vitamin E status.