Obesity in Donkeys – Why is it a big deal?

Possibly the most significant threat to the health and longevity of donkeys in the US is obesity. We love our long-eared friends and sometimes we dote on them too much with delicious, high-quality treats that donkeys are not equipped to metabolize.

My donkey’s fat? But he barely eats anything!

Donkeys are adapted to live in semi-arid environments, like the deserts of Nevada and Arizona. Because of this, their metabolism is significantly different than that of horses – think of them as the world’s easiest keepers. Donkeys are incredibly efficient at digesting tough fibrous plants and have a much lower energy requirement than horses. To put it in perspective, ponies and horses need 2-2.5% of their body weight in dry matter daily, whereas donkeys only need 1.3-1.8%.

The high fiber, low energy diet that donkeys have evolved to eat can be mimicked by feeding mainly straw (wheat, oat, or barley) along with a forage balancer to avoid micronutrient deficiencies. As an aside, you want to stay away from rice straw – for some reason it is the one type of forage that donkeys seem to have absolutely no interest in eating. If the only option is hay, it is recommended to soak the hay for at least an hour before feeding to your donkeys to remove most of the simple sugars.

So my donkey’s fat – what’s the big deal?

Adipose tissue – or fat – is not just a cosmetic issue. It is a very active tissue that produces inflammatory molecules that circulate throughout the bloodstream and can propagate multiple disease states, including metabolic syndrome and laminitis. Another life-threatening sequela of obesity is the increased risk of developing fatty liver. Fatty liver occurs when an obese animal goes through a period of anorexia – this could be a simple as a bout of gas colic that results in your donkey not eating his whole breakfast. When the body doesn’t get its normal amount of energy through food, it rapidly mobilizes and breaks down adipose tissue to use for energy instead. The resulting fat molecules (triglycerides) get filtered through the liver and overwhelm it, resulting in a liver that is clogged with fat. This can lead to liver failure, as well as damage to and failure of other organ systems. Donkeys are especially predisposed to this process, which is a major reason why we always recommend a call to your veterinarian for any donkey that goes off food, even if they don’t seem to be in overt distress.

Okay I’m convinced, my donkey’s fat – now what?

As discussed above, sudden reductions in feed intake can lead to life-threatening disease, so having a conversation with your veterinarian about safely putting your donkey on a diet is paramount. It may even be necessary to test the levels of triglycerides in the blood as a monitoring tool while your donkey loses weight. As with all our equine friends, a slow systematic approach to dietary change is the best way to reduce risk.

What is Cellulitis?

Last night when you fed your horse you didn’t notice any issues as you performed your quick “once over” before rushing back out the barn door. But this morning they have a severely swollen leg, and they are hobbling around.

What happened? 

The list of possibilities isn’t terribly long, but there are serious things on it: fractures, hoof abscesses, laminitis, joint infections, and cellulitis.  Of course, fracture is the one that no one wants to hear and has significant ramifications.  Laminitis and abscesses typically don’t have the significant swelling described in the “case” above.  Joint infections would likely have been associated with trauma or a recent joint injection, and the swelling would likely be associated with a particular joint, not the entire leg.  That leaves this horse with a likely case of cellulitis. 

If you haven’t ever seen a case, they can be impressively swollen, and this can happen relatively quickly (overnight)! See below for an example.

What is cellulitis

Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layers of the skin and the subcutaneous spaces.  The pressure and inflammation make it extremely uncomfortable for the horse.  They are usually very painful to the touch (maybe not everywhere they are swollen, but some portion of the swelling), and there is a lot of heat. Severe cases can have serum oozing from the skin. The horse may have a mild to moderate fever as well.

What causes cellulitis?

The infection can initiate from an obvious recent wound, bed sore, “scratches”, or other minor scrapes. It could also be a result of a more significant laceration from days before that seemed to be healing in the right direction.  Another common route that these can begin is secondary to a hoof abscess.  The infection begins in the hoof and then in the right set of circumstances, manages to take hold and cause further infection higher up the leg.

How is cellulitis treated?

If you notice the swelling before it is as extreme as the picture above, getting medical attention could prevent it from becoming such an advanced case.  Medical attention usually consists of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories systemically.  On occasion, a “regional limb perfusion (RLP)” may be justified.  An RLP is a way for the veterinarian to get very high concentrations of antibiotics to the area of concern using a tourniquet and antibiotics directly infused into the affected limb.  Hydrotherapy (cold hosing) is also often indicated. 

Managing cases of cellulitis early is paramount to preventing long term ramifications such as lymph damage (lymphangitis), or laminitis.  Lymphangitis is an inflammatory process in the normal lymph drainage of the limb, and can leave the limb permanently swollen.  If there is enough swelling in the leg during the cellulitic process, it could cause enough vascular alterations to damage the laminae of the foot, causing laminitis. 

If you find your horse with a sudden non-weight bearing lameness (or barely weight bearing), we would always tell you that it is justification for a phone call to your veterinarian, and most likely a visit.

Street Nails – Call your vet immediately

No matter how safe their environment may be, horses will always manage to find trouble. Unfortunately, a not-so-uncommon equine emergency is a sharp object that has penetrated through the bottom of the hoof, also known as a street nail. Any penetrating injury to the bottom of your horse’s foot is an emergency, and timely assessment is essential for the best outcome.

The number one rule for the horse owner is NEVER REMOVE THE NAIL before talking with your veterinarian! The exact location of the nail is crucial for determining the best treatment for your horse. ALWAYS call your vet first! Sometimes a photo can help your vet offer the best advice before evaluation.

Nail prior to removal

In general, foreign objects to the back third of the foot present the highest risk because of the position of important structures and the consequences of infection.

Nail Prior to Removal

Your vet will take radiographs of your horse’s foot prior to removal of the nail to determine its exact location. If the nail has been removed or fallen out, special dye can be injected along its tract that will show up on the radiographs, but it is more informative to leave the nail in place if possible! If the nail falls out prior to evaluation, save it and mark the depth of its tract if possible.

Dye injected along nail tract

The next step is beginning treatment, depending on the location of the nail. If the nail is well embedded, temporary numbing of the horse’s foot enables non-painful removal. The nail tract will then be flushed to remove dirt and debris. A bandage, sometimes including a drawing poultice, is applied to ensure the tract remains clean during healing. Sometimes a hoof abscess can develop during healing. Depending on the nail location, a technique called a regional limb perfusion may also be used.

Performed on the sedated horse, a regional limb perfusion involves the placement of a tourniquet on the limb above the hoof, allowing for antibiotic injection into a vein below the tourniquet. The tourniquet is left in place for up to 30 minutes to allow a higher concentration of antibiotic in the limb below the tourniquet.

If the location of the nail is in a critical location, such as through the center of the frog or potentially involving the tendon sheath or navicular bursa, prompt surgical flushing at a referral hospital is the best treatment to minimize the risk of fatal or career-ending infection.

Timely treatment of any penetrating wound to the foot is imperative for the best outcome!

The Problem with “Lay Dentists”

You want the best for your horse, and your horse deserves it. Advances in equine preventative care and sports medicine enable our horses to live longer and healthier lives than ever before. In addition to semi-annual wellness exams, vaccinations, and good hoof care, your horse may receive veterinary chiropractic care, veterinary acupuncture, and massage therapy, all to ensure your horse is as healthy and happy as can be.

Good dental care is a critical piece of this “whole horse” approach, vital for your horse’s health and longevity. Unfortunately, more horse owners are encountering equine tooth floating services provided by what are often referred to as “lay dentists”.  Horses – especially our athletes – benefit from the collaborative efforts of professionals, such as veterinarians and farriers. So you may ask, why not between veterinarians and “lay dentists”?

While these individuals promote themselves as equine dentists, the term ‘dentist’ is inaccurate. These individuals may have had some prior experience “floating teeth.” However, they do not have a medical education in the mechanics, physiology, or pharmacology involved. They are not permitted to diagnose or treat disease, as this is the practice of medicine. Additionally, there is no governing body to certify the education or training that these individuals have (or have not) received. Therefore, if an adverse event occurs, the horse owner is left with little recourse. In the state of Colorado, the practice of dentistry may be delegated to veterinary personnel but only under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

Equine dentistry is so much more than just floating sharp edges from cheek teeth. A comprehensive understanding of anatomy as well as the ability to perform a complete and thorough oral examination is essential.

There are five requirements to perform a complete oral examination.

  1. Sedation: Even if it is light sedation, your horse/donkey/mule must be sedated (and still!) to facilitate a complete examination of the oral cavity. Ensuring your horse’s cooperation and comfort allows the veterinarian to provide dental care more efficiently, while minimizing the amount of time your horse spends with his mouth open.
  2. Dental speculum:  This device keeps the horse’s mouth open, allowing the veterinarian to examine all the teeth. Without a speculum, the cheek teeth at the back of mouth cannot be evaluated.
  3. Light: Examination, floating, and dental procedures require light- just as your own dentist needs light to see what he/she is doing!
  4. Mirror: A mirror is needed to assess all surfaces of the teeth and gums.
  5. Dental probe and/ or a dental explorer: Like us, horses can suffer from periodontal disease, cavities, fractured teeth, and other conditions where a probe and explorer to assess depth and severity are needed to formulate a treatment plan.

Equine dentistry has evolved so much. Even in the field, complex procedures involving extractions, radiographs, or even restorations are possible. A non-veterinary “float” is a disservice to your horse- at best, incomplete, and at worst, potentially harmful.

If having a non-dentist work on your own teeth is unimaginable, why should the case be any different for your horse?

Common Eye Conditions and When to Call Your Veterinarian

The eyes are arguably some of the most complex organs in the body. They are responsible for the incredible ability to process light into visual stimuli. So, naturally, eye problems are very common in horses!

The conditions we see most frequently are intimately related to the regions in which our horses live. In moist environments, such as the southeastern United States, it is far more common to see fungal infections, while here in Colorado, our dry climate and intense UV exposure fosters a different host of issues.

Here is a brief list of eye abnormalities that we often see here in our practice in Colorado:

  1. Corneal ulcers. A corneal ulcer is a defect in the outer later of the eye, the cornea. Ulcers can be caused by a variety of things, most commonly trauma. Other causes may include irritation related to “dry eye” caused by lack of eyelid or tear duct function or infections such as equine herpesvirus. Corneal ulcers can range from superficial to deep depending on how many layers of the cornea are affected. Luckily for us, most simple, superficial corneal ulcers heal in 3-7 days with topical antibiotic ointment, systemic NSAIDs, such as banamine, and protection of the eye with a fly mask. In some cases, corneal ulcers can progress and become infected, which can be characterized by cloudiness and discoloration of the cornea and require more intensive treatment.
  2. Conjunctivitis. We’ve all seen it at one point or another: goopy, watery, red eyes and swollen eyelids. Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the soft mucosal tissue surrounding the eye and beneath the eyelids. This condition is commonly caused by environmental irritants, like dust, feed particles, or insects. It can also be caused by foreign bodies (grass awns, pebbles, etc) or infections. To treat conjunctivitis in horses, we turn to topical ointments and environmental management, like putting on a fly mask, watering dusty areas, and utilizing insect control.
  3. Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU). Also known as moon blindness, ERU is the most common cause of blindness in the horse. This condition is characterized by intermittent inflammation of the anterior (front) chamber of the eye. There are three types of ERU – classic, insidious, posterior, which vary in their severity and recurrence. While an exact cause of ERU has not been identified, there are several genetic and environmental factors that contribute to this disease. The inflammation from ERU can be painful and often requires long term management. Topical ointments and systemic NSAIDs are used to reduce pain and inflammation in the eye, and it is critical to protect the eyes from irritants, such as dust and UV exposure to prevent flare-ups.

When to Call the Vet

Eyes are fragile, vital organs. Issues involving the eye should almost always be considered a veterinary emergency and addressed promptly. If you notice any of the following signs, your horse’s eye condition should be assessed by a veterinarian:

  1. Swelling of eyelids or conjunctiva
  2. Eye pain – characterized by squinting, sensitivity to light, excess tearing, resistance to touching or handling
  3. New cloudiness (or blueness) in the eye
  4. Any injury to the globe
  5. Excessive discharge – watery, mucousy, or colored

Please Remember: do NOT apply any ointments, rinses or medications to an eye before it has been assessed by a veterinarian. Administering an incorrect medication to a compromised eye can worsen the condition!!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your horse’s eyes, please do not hesitate to contact any of the veterinarians here at MVS!

Emerging Infectious Diseases: What you need to know

Ten years ago, it was quite uncommon to order diagnostic testing for Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) in horses demonstrating signs of neurologic disease in Colorado.  Additionally, it was rare to evaluate equine patients for Lyme Disease in Western states.  That all appears to be changing. 

Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease is a tick transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Borellia burgdorferi, and to a lesser extent, Borellia mayonii.  Historically, only the tick species Ixodes scapularus and Ixodes pacificus(black legged ticks)were known to carry these bacteria, and neither of these species were found in Colorado.  While there have only been seven cases of Lyme Disease reported to the CDC in Colorado since 2019, there is a high probability that a lack of biosurveillance and underreporting have resulted in an underrepresentation of Lyme Disease in the state.  According to the CDC, all seven cases of Lyme Disease in 2019 originated from outside of Colorado.

Black Legged (Deer) Tick

The black legged tick resides mostly along both coasts of the United States, as well as all Midwestern states from as far north as Minnesota and as far south as Texas.  Many of these ticks have been found in Utah as well, Colorado’s most immediate western neighbor.  As our climate begins to change so too will the tick populations within the western states.  The most important thing horse owners can do to protect their horses from tick borne disease is to perform thorough examinations of your horse’s legs and underbelly, neck, armpits, and chest for any evidence of ticks.  Initially they may feel like a small growth or skin tag, but upon further examination, it will become apparent that it’s actually an external parasite.  Care should be exercised when removing these creatures from your horse’s skin to ensure that the head is grasped tight enough to facilitate removal along with the body but not too tight to cause premature squishing of the tick prior to detachment.  Tick bites usually result in a local inflammatory response so evidence remains even after natural detachment in the form of a small scab. 

Testing for Lyme Disease is via a simple blood test which is then sent to Cornell University.  The current test in use is called a Lyme MultiPlex Assay and enables us to differentiate between acute and chronic infections.  This information in turn is used to pursue the optimal treatment option for each individual case.  Horses can never be cured of Lyme disease, but through prolonged treatment regimens, clinical symptoms can often be put into remission.  Patients with previous exposure to Lyme disease are always susceptible to relapse.  Symptoms of Lyme disease include lethargy, a history of poor performance, ventral limb edema, shifting leg lameness and a multitude of other nonspecific clinical signs.

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is another disease that is associated with a varying array of clinical signs.  Mild symptoms can be as vague as a history of poor performance.  More severe signs are associated with neurologic deficits and can even progress to recumbency.  EPM is found in the feces of opossums infected with the protozoa parasites Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora hughesi.  When horses ingest the feces of infected opossums, there exists a significant risk of the establishment of infection with the protozoa in the horse’s central nervous system.  Currently, the opossum population in Colorado does not carry the protozoa responsible for EPM, but, horses that travel outside of Colorado into EPM endemic areas are at an increased risk of exposure and development of EPM. 

Like Lyme Disease, horses infected with EPM will always have a risk of relapse of clinical symptoms, even after extensive therapy.  There is no permanent cure.  Diagnosis is achieved through blood testing as well as the acquisition of a sample of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF).  CSF is more specific than blood in confirming a diagnosis of EPM but the risks associated with the collection of a CSF sample are far greater.  Treatment of EPM does not offer a cure for the disease but instead aims to decrease the severity of clinical signs.  Usually, we anticipate an improvement of one grade of ataxia on Mayhew’s grading scale for ataxia after completion of a therapeutic regimen.  As such, if a horse has a starting ataxia grade of 1/5, the prognosis for return to work after treatment is optimistic.  If a horse is starting at an ataxia grade of 3 or 4/5 prior to treatment, the prognosis for a full return to work is much more grave. 

While we are seeing an increase in both Lyme disease and EPM in our patients, the risk of contracting either disease if your horse never leaves Colorado is still quite low, but not impossible.  We as equine practitioners will continue to think outside the box and ensure that all possible explanations for your horse’s clinical signs have been pursued and ruled in or out. 

Pre-Purchase Exams

You have been combing through Facebook feeds for months looking for the perfect horse.  Then, when all seems lost, you find the one that checks all of the boxes… he’s the right color, age, and temperament and of course, he is “guaranteed sound!”  What’s next?  Run out the door hook up the trailer… no wait, someone said that you should do something else.  Oh yeah, you come to your senses and call or email to see if your veterinarian can fit you in for a Pre-Purchase Exam. 

Do I really need a PPE?

In the uncertain world of horses, you have to hedge every bet that you can.  While a PPE isn’t a guarantee in any way, it is a way to help ensure that this perfect horse you are ready to fly out the door for is in fact somewhere close to perfect (for you).  Having a veterinarian go over this potential purchase with a careful eye is the best way for you to make an informed decision about whether your desires align with the horses’ abilities. 

What is a PPE?

It is NOT a pass/fail exam.  A PPE is a moment in time of the health of that horse.  As veterinarians, we are looking to help understand not only what is currently going on with the horse, but also trying to give you (the buyer), some understanding of what may come with that horse.  It is no way a look into a crystal ball, but it can give us hints as to problems that are in the future of that animal.  This information along with your expectations of the horse will help to make the most informed decision you can.

What to Expect?

There are many parts to a PPE, and each exam is a bit different, depending on the expectations of the horse and the buyer.  A companion horse’s exam may be entirely different than one that is expected to jump/run/slide for the next 10 years.  Three essential components to a PPE are:

1) Conformation and its application to function (can the horse physically do what he is supposed to do). The conformation of a horse is how it has been put together.  Certain “body types” or conformations lend themselves to better performance in certain disciplines.  What makes a good jumper doesn’t necessarily make a good cow horse!  

2) General Physical Examination (all of the inside and the outside, and do these things work right). This includes examination from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail.  A quick (and certainly not complete list) might include:  Auscultation of the heart, lungs and gut sounds, eyes, lymph nodes, ears, teeth, jugular veins, any scars present, lumps/bumps and swellings, palpation of the back and neck and limbs (including range of motion). In other words, a pretty detailed checkup. 

3) Dynamic Exam (lameness, flexions and associated observations of the horse in motion).  A lameness exam is the evaluation of how a horse uses their limbs.  What is their “normal” way of going and how does that play into what they are to be used for (a “baseline”).  A flexion is a “stress” test, where a joint or set of joints is stressed for a given amount of time, and then the horse is asked to trot (usually), and they are evaluated if a painful response has been induced.  If the veterinarian does create pain from the flexion test, it may be an indication of an issue that we don’t see on baseline exam.  This positive response to flexion may be justification for an x-ray, ultrasound or both… or it may be enough to just end the exam and say that this isn’t the horse for you.  Always keep in mind that a PPE is a fact-finding mission — to help you make the best choice you can!

Beyond these basics, the sky is the limit as to what might be included in the exam (and your expectations).  Under saddle exam, radiographs (x-rays), ultrasound, breeding soundness exam, sedated dental exam, upper airway exam, blood work, genetic testing, and drug testing to name a few!! 

I usually prepare my clients for a routine exam (the three essential components) to take somewhere around an hour, and if we are going to add other parts to the exam, that time can easily double or even triple!  Each veterinarian or clinic will likely have a different pricing structure, but again, a Pre-Purchase Exam is a data-finding mission, to help you make the most informed decision that you can. 

One other piece of advice that I offer to clients is that when performing a PPE is this… Perfect horses are hard to come by… so understand what your tolerances might be and be prepared for a “these are the pros and these are the cons kind of discussion!” 

Happy Horse Hunting!

Equine Strengthening Exercises and Pitfalls to Avoid

Wait!  Come back!!  Even though your horse is currently sound and healthy, many of the topics in this blog are still applicable to you and your riding partner!!

My purpose in writing this blog is to broaden the minds of my readers into better understanding what modalities are available as it pertains to building a stronger and sounder equine partner.  Just because your horse is currently sound, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be pursuing additional exercises outside of the saddle to help preserve soundness and prevent lameness.  From basic hill work to raised trot poles and the EquiCore system, many of the modalities below will help you to build the strongest horse possible.  The stronger your riding partner, the lower the risk of injury while on the trail or in the arena. 

Stretching

Please oh please don’t extend your horse’s leg out in front of them without providing ample support to the knee!  In doing so, the knee becomes hyperextended, and you could injure the small collection of carpal bones that comprise the horse’s knee.  Instead, hold the limb behind the knee and ask for forward stretch from the knee, not the hoof or the fetlock.  There are no muscles below the knee so why try to stretch what isn’t there?  This is one of the most common mistakes I see when clients are trying to stretch their horse’s limb, when in reality, this stretch is really geared toward stretching the muscles of the shoulder and upper limb.  

Beginning Carrot Stretch

Personally, I am a huge fan of carrot stretches.  These are so helpful for helping to alleviate muscle tension in the horse’s neck while also bringing flexibility through the bones, muscles, and ligaments of the neck.  There is also the added bonus of abdominal strengthening once your horse builds up flexibility and starts really getting deep into their stretches.  I stand with my back towards the horse’s shoulder and ask the horse to stretch around the front of my body back towards the levels of the stifle, hock and hoof, aiming to hold a stretch at each zone for a minimum of five seconds.  Some horses will try to cheat and move their haunches away to avoid stretching through the neck and thorax.  Standing with the horse against a wall can help eliminate this form of cheating.  Personally, I use carrot stretches five days a week, asking my mare to stretch both directions multiple times, multiple zones.  After a few weeks of consistent stretching, you’ll be amazed at the increased range of motion. 

Advanced Carrot Stretch

Sure Foot Pads®

Once your horse becomes proficient at the carrot stretches, Sue Foot pads are a fantastic way to increase the intensity of the exercise.  The pads come in varying densities.  The harder the pad, the higher the stability, the softer the pad, the higher the dynamic instability.  This is the same concept as performing yoga or pushups on a Bosu ball.  By increasing the instability of the surface the horse is standing on, we increase the workload of the tiny, stabilizing muscles of the limb while also applying small amounts of stress to the ligaments supporting the joints of the lower limb.  Both processes work to increase the strength of the soft tissue structures supporting the limb which then decreases the risk of injury in a performance setting.  I will also use the soft, squishy Sure Foot pads in my patients suffering from chronic foot pain like laminitis.  By providing them a soft surface to stand on during farrier appointments and follow up exams, I improve the quality of their experience while also increasing their overall comfort.  I do not recommend these pads for use in horses recovering from acute soft tissue injuries as the dynamic instability of the exercise can potentially worsen the injury. 

www.surefootequine.com

Raised Trot Poles and Hill work

Assuming your horse is sound, raised trot poles and riding up hills will help to engage the muscles of the back and haunches.  Keep in mind that you’re not using trot poles to increase the length of the stride, but instead, you’re aiming to increase the height of the step taken over the pole.  As such, increasing the distance between your poles will be counter productive as it will result in a hollowing of the horse’s back and excessive extension of the lumbosacral joint.  Aim for a slower trot with a higher step over the pole. 

As for riding hills, many horses want to traverse hills with their head held high and their back in extension (hollowed out).  (We are after all asking them to carry us on their backs while climbing hundreds if not thousands of feet in altitude.  Why would they want to work harder than necessary?)  A horse will build better musculature climbing hills if asked to climb at a slightly slower pace with their head in a very slight frame (versus giraffe pose).  Same can be said for descending hills and mountains. 

http://www.equicoreconcepts.com

The Equi-Core System

If you have spent any time in my truck, you have heard me reference the Equi-Core system at least once a day.  Seriously, I should earn a commission with the number of sales my recommendations have resulted in! This system consists of one to two, wide, flat resistance bands that go around the horse’s haunches and under their belly.  You can use one band at a time to isolate an area of work, or both bands simultaneously.  The benefit of this system (above all other training systems out there) is that it never contacts the horse’s mouth.  The mere presence of a loose band around the haunches can instantly increase the level of engagement of the horse’s pelvic muscles. 

By engaging the pelvic muscles, we tilt the pelvis towards the forelimbs which brings the hind limbs further under the horse’s belly, elongates the muscles of the back and engages the abdominal muscles, all without having to be a Grand Prix dressage rider!  The bands can be used at certain portions of a training ride or throughout the entire ride.  They can be used on a trail ride or during a beginner’s riding lesson to build topline musculature in the horse, without the rider having to do a thing.  You’ll want to introduce the bands slowly, one at a time, so your horse doesn’t feel trapped by them, and you’ll want to slowly increase the amount of time your horse spends in them so he doesn’t get sore.  After several weeks working in the Equi-Core system, you should see an increase in topline and gluteal musculature. 

Proud Flesh- What is it and how can you treat it?

As horse people, wounds and wound management are unfortunately a common part of our lives! A common complication of wound healing in the horse is “proud flesh”.

“Proud flesh” is the common term for exuberant granulation tissue that may develop in relation to a wound. Granulation tissue is the body’s natural way of filling in defects left behind after an injury. While granulation tissue is a normal and beneficial part of the wound healing process, if there isn’t appropriate pressure from the surrounding skin or if the wound area is being irritated or stretched during healing, it can overgrow the bounds of the wound. We often see this as pink, lumpy tissue that is elevated from the level of the skin. This makes it very difficult for the skin edges of the wound to contract down and properly close.

So, how do we manage proud flesh? The biggest component of proud flesh management is debridement, or removal of the extra tissue, then placing an adequate bandage. There may be several rounds of debridement and bandaging before the proud flesh contracts enough to let the skin close over it. Keep in mind that since granulation tissue is a part of the healing process, it has a lot of blood flow and bleeds like crazy! But don’t worry, there is very rarely nerve supply in proud flesh, so the horses do not feel a thing. We also have several dressings and materials that we can use to help with the reduction of the proud flesh, such as steroid cream and antimicrobial dressings.

If you are dealing with a wound with proud flesh, it is important to prevent the horse from over using the area where the wound is, which may mean no riding while the wound is healing. Excess motion may lead to irritation, which will lead to more proud flesh.

If a wound is not healing, there are a number of other things that may need to be considered, such as a potential foreign body or metabolic disease in the horse. If there is no progress in the healing of a wound for a couple of months, consider calling your veterinarian to pursue further diagnostics.

How to Keep Donkeys and Mules Healthy

Donkeys and mules are readily recognizable by their distinguished large ears. These equids frequently have the reputation of requiring less veterinary attention. Although they are certainly more stoic (and perhaps smarter!) than horses, they still need—and deserve—the same preventative veterinary care and routine farrier work.

Image by Marzena P. from Pixabay

The long-eared can fall into a few categories, so here are the basic definitions:

Donkey: Like the horse, the donkey is in the Equidae family. The donkey is derived from the African wild ass and was likely domesticated about 5000-6000 years ago in Africa. Male donkeys are called jacks, female donkeys are called jennys.

Mule: mare/jack cross. Mules are sterile.

Hinny: stallion/jenny cross. Hinnys are sterile.

Image by Ralphs_Fotos from Pixabay

Donkeys and mules are thrifty, able to work hard and survive in barren conditions. Donkeys in particular are adapted to digest fiber of poor nutritional quality and they have lower daily intake requirements to maintain body weight. This heartiness is especially problematic in our non-working donkeys, as they tend to be easy keepers prone to obesity and related conditions, such as laminitis.

The stoicism of the donkey also means that health issues are frequently not observed as quickly as in horses. Donkeys can become extremely ill when health conditions cause them to stop eating, leading to high levels of fat mobilization within the bloodstream, or hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia can be fatal unless treated aggressively. Signs of illness or pain in a donkey can be easily overlooked. Typically, the first sign of a problem is decreased water or food intake, but signs can also be as subtle as less interest in the surrounding environment and decreased social behavior with other donkeys. In addition, donkeys and mules can suffer from all the same ailments as horses, including colic, respiratory disease, hoof abscesses, and gastric ulcers.

Image by Christine Sponchia from Pixabay

Other considerations

While they have the reputation for being stubborn, frequently this behavior is due to a donkey taking time to assess a new situation. Donkeys are less likely to panic than horses, and more likely to protest- fight instead of flight! They also form strong bonds with other donkeys, so for travel or hospitalization, a donkey companion is a great way to minimize additional stress.

free day womens burro race” by ken ratcliff is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Recommended veterinary care for donkeys and mules includes the recommended yearly core vaccinations (rabies, tetanus, eastern and western encephalitis, and West Nile) as well as routine veterinary dental care and targeted deworming. Although most donkeys in our community are non-athletes, many Colorado donkeys participate in burro racing, the official sport of Colorado! This is a great way to bond with your donkey and help keep him fit. Whether your donkey or mule is a backyard companion or burro racing champion, don’t forget to ensure he has access to the same care as your horses!