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Volume
II, Issue IX September 2006 IN THIS ISSUE •
Easily Preventable
Cancer in Dogs & Cats •
Vaccinations for
Pregnant Mares • Founder & Laminitis in Horses (reader requested) |
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Easily Preventable Cancer in Dogs & Cats
Mammary tumors have been
found in dogs as young as two years of age, but mammary cancer occurs most
often in dogs between five and ten years of age. A female dog has ten mammary glands, each
with its own nipple. Mammary tumors in
dogs can develop in any of the glands / nipples, but it develops most often
in the four glands / nipples closest to the tail. When mammary tumors first appear in dogs,
they feel like small rocks under the skin.
They feel hard to the touch and do not move around easily. Tumors may also feel like diffuse
swelling. These tumors can metastasize
and spread to the lymph nodes. Tumors
that have spread to the lymph nodes can also be palpated (palpated means felt
and detected by the hand). The lymph
nodes most often involved are those at the top of the legs, the axillary and inguinal lymph nodes. Think of the dog as having armpits, and
this is where you will find the lymph nodes in question. Owners can palpate the mammary areas and
lymph node areas of dogs and cats periodically to check for the presence of
tumors, but it is also helpful to have your veterinarian palpate the pet
during routine wellness screenings. The treatment for mammary
cancer is surgery. If surgery is performed early in the course of the disease, the
cancer can be fully eliminated in over 50% of the cases having a
malignancy. Mammary cancers can grow
and spread rapidly. The promptness of
surgery greatly affects the prognosis.
If you suspect
mammary tumors in your dog or cat, call Healing Springs right away – this is
not a wait and see problem. Veterinary oncology is
changing rapidly, and new therapies are becoming available at an impressive
rate. For this reason, the vets of
Healing Springs usually recommend a consultation with a board certified
oncologist once a cancer diagnosis is made. This usually involves a trip to Carolina Veterinary Specialists or NC State in Raleigh. If the oncologist recommends chemotherapy
or other treatments, the vets of Healing Springs can coordinate with the oncologist and administer and monitor the treatments
locally. Mammary Cancer in Cats: At 1 in 4,000, mammary cancer in cats is
far less prevalent than mammary cancer in dogs. Unfortunately, when mammary cancer develops
in cats, it is far more likely to be an aggressive, malignant variety with a
poor prognosis. Up to 65% of mammary
tumors surgically removed from cats will reoccur within 12 months. Cats who receive aggressive treatment on
small tumors that were caught early sometimes live
two to three years. As with dogs,
spaying cats before the first heat cycle greatly reduces the chance of
mammary cancer. |
At the Animal
Shelter, Adoption Equals Rescue The Twin Counties
Euthanize 2,653 dogs and cats in 2004 |
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Semi-Annual Membership
Meeting & Brunch Davis-Bourne Inn will provide brunch from 10AM to 1PM November 4th The cost of only $30 per person includes your 2007 membership,
all-you-can-eat brunch, tax, and tip. Please
mark your calendars now and plan to join us for fun and fellowship. Send checks to Twin County Humane Society
at Visit the Davis-Bourne Inn online |
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Vaccinations for Pregnant Mares The vaccination needs of
pregnant mares differ from the vaccination needs of mares without foal. As disease prevalence and environmental conditions
vary from region to region, the vaccination schedule you might see in a book
or magazine can be slightly off from what will be best for your horse. Here is the vaccination schedule currently
recommended by the vets of Healing Springs for horses in southwest |
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At Five
Months: ·
Rhinopneumonitis At
Seven Months: ·
Rhinopneumonitis At Nine
Months: ·
Rhinopneumonitis 4-6 Weeks
Before Due Date (Yearly Boosters): ·
Eastern / Western Encephalitis ·
Tetanus ·
Flu ·
·
Rabies |
For more
information on these vaccinations and the diseases they prevent, see the
Animal Health Bulletin on Foal
Vaccinations. |
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To begin vaccinations for
your pregnant mare, simply call Healing Springs at (276) 236-5103. A veterinarian can travel to you (click
here to see the large animal service area covering VA & NC), or you
can save a trip fee by bringing your horse into our large
animal receiving facility. |
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Founder & Laminitis in Horses Founder and laminitis occur most
often in the spring, but as some readers are well aware, founder can strike
any time of year, regardless of grass conditions. Vets and horse owners alike often use the
terms founder and laminitis interchangeably, but this is not technically
correct. Laminitis refers to problems
with the laminae (the tissue inside the hoof
walls). Founder is an old sailors’
term meaning “to sink.” The original
meaning of founder was specific to the sinking of the foot bones to a lower
position. Therefore, technically
speaking, laminitis causes founder, and they are not the same thing. Acute founder or laminitis
is an emergency. A difference of 30
minutes can change the outcome for your horse. Horse owners should know the signs of laminitis,
so they will be able to call Healing Springs promptly. |
Do you know
about the Iron Mountain Trail Riders Club? • • Two Positive
Coggins in Pulaski County, VA Track
Your Horse’s Vaccination Status with Healing Springs’ Pet Portals Feature |
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Understanding the
Anatomy: The bottom bone of a
horse’s leg is the coffin bone. The
hoof surrounds the coffin bone, but does not attach directly. A tissue called the lamina connects the
coffin bone to the hoof (the plural form of lamina is laminae). The lamina connects the coffin bone to the
hoof walls but not to the sole. This
connection strategy helps the horse distribute percussive force over the
whole of the strong hoof walls and protects the sensitive soles. When the lamina is damaged, it can no
longer hold up the whole weight of the horse, and the coffin bone begins to
sink (founder). A strong tendon
connects to the back of the coffin bone, the deep digital flexor tendon. As the coffin bone tries to sink downward,
the tendon holds up the back of the coffin bone, and the coffin bone rotates
forward. Horses find the pressure on
the soft tissues extremely painful. In
severe cases, the horse can walk out of its hoof or the coffin bone can
penetrate the sole. |
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The Causes of Laminitis: Laminitis can result
from a variety of causes. However,
some horses develop laminitis for no discernable reason. ·
Eating too much carbohydrate-rich grass clippings,
lush pasture, or grain: People often
use the term “grass founder” to refer to the laminitis and founder that
develops from over-consumption of lush pasture. In these cases, the over-eating of grass or
grains changes the microbial environment in the intestines. These changes lead to the release of
bacterial toxins into the bloodstream.
The toxins disrupt the normal blood flow to the hoof, and laminitis
results. Too much grass consumption
serves as the most common cause of laminitis and founder. ·
Horses getting into feed bins and eating too
much grain at once ·
Reproductive difficulties in mares including
retained placenta ·
Excessive concussion of the feet (often
called “road founder”) ·
Cushing’s Disease ·
Equine Metabolic Syndrome (popularly referred
to as peripheral Cushing’s): this
refers to insulin resistance. Horses
with insulin resistance can develop grass founder at any time of year, even
when the pasture is far from lush. The
unusual blood chemistry negatively affects circulation, especially at the
feet. At the owner’s request, Healing
Springs can conduct blood testing to confirm the presence of Equine Metabolic
Syndrome. Horses with insulin
resistance require a low-sugar diet.
This situation is analogous to diabetes in humans and a diabetic’s
risk for poorly healing pressure sores on the feet. ·
Prolonged use of high dose corticosteroids ·
Stressful conditions including colic ·
Any illness that causes a high fever or
diarrhea such as ·
Standing on black walnut shavings Preventing Laminitis: ·
Don’t let your horse get overweight. The weight puts extra stress on the lamina,
and gaining weight may be a sign that your horse is getting too much grass or
grain. ·
Avoid lush pastures. When pastures are lush, used paddocks
and/or limited turnout time. ·
Double protect grain. Keep it in closed bins and in a room with a
closed door. If your horse gets into grain and consumes an
unusual quantity, do not wait for signs of laminitis to appear. Call Healing Springs immediately. Veterinarian administered treatments of
mineral oil through a nasogastric tube, anti-inflammatory / toxin binding
medication, and antibiotics can prevent laminitis from occurring. ·
Avoid stress.
When routines need to be changed, change them gradually. ·
When feeding needs to be changed, especially
where grass is involved, make changes gradually. If you are moving a horse from a low grass
environment or an unknown environment (i.e. buying a new horse), keep the
horse in a small paddock to graze before releasing it suddenly to a grassy
pasture. ·
When cooling down a hot horse, do not allow
it to drink too much cold water too fast.
Control water intake when the horse is hot. However, giving horses free access to
clean, fresh water at all other times can prevent colic. ·
Understand that large draft breeds, ponies,
horses with thick, cresty necks, and horses with a
history of laminitis are those most prone to laminitis. Be especially careful with these
horses. Lines around the hoof walls
may be a sign of chronic laminitis in horses. Recognizing Laminitis: Know the signs of laminitis listed
below. When you identify signs of
laminitis, call Healing Springs
immediately and request an emergency visit. Some horses exhibit high pain tolerance and
do not show these antalgic (away from pain)
behaviors until laminitis is advanced. ·
Sore front feet. Laminitis can affect the back feet, but the
front feet bear 60% of a horse’s weight while the back feet bear only 40% of
the horse’s weight. Laminitis most often
affects both front feet at the same time. ·
“Founder Stance”: when standing, the
horse will extend its front legs forward and push on the heels while leaning
on its rear legs. The horse does this
to reduce pressure on the front feet and to reduce pain. ·
Steps shorten and become slower, making the
horse look stiff. ·
The horse voluntarily soaks its front feet in
cold, running water. ·
The horse frequently shifts weight from one
foot to another. ·
The horse spends a lot of time lying down. ·
Reluctance to walk ·
Begins turning by leaning back and pivoting
in the rear legs. ·
The horse pulls both front legs and back legs
in towards each other, under the center of its body. This sign indicates that both front and
back feet are involved. ·
Heavy breathing and glazed eyes due to pain ·
The feet feel hot. ·
The digital artery, which you can find over
the fetlock joint, has a pounding pulse. ·
Rings on the hooves may indicate chronic
laminitis. ·
In advanced stages of laminitis, blood or
serum may ooze from the coronary band (the place where hair meets the hoof
wall). Treating Laminitis: 1. When you notice signs
of laminitis, call Healing Springs immediately. Many laminitis experts believe that most of
the damage done by laminitis occurs within the first few hours of onset. 2. Most cases of
laminitis are treatable, but outcomes are highly variable. Even horses that seem to be recovering can
take a turn for the worse. A
veterinarian will only be able to give you a prognosis (tell you the odds)
after a thorough evaluation. The degree
of rotation of the coffin bone and the rate of change serve as the primary
prognostic indicators. Healing Springs
uses portable x-ray machines to evaluate the position of the coffin bone. A rotation of greater than 12 degrees
generally correlates with a poor prognosis.
A rotation of greater than six degrees correlates with a low
likelihood of return to athletic activity.
Some horses affected by laminitis eventually require euthanasia. 3. If the vet instructs
you to do so, or if you are not in the Healing
Springs emergency service area and a vet consult is not available, it may
be beneficial to provide bute
– up to 2 grams per 1,000 lbs twice daily.
Do not attempt to treat laminitis on your own when veterinary care is
available. There are too many
treatment options that you will not be able to provide without ongoing
veterinary evaluation. 4. While waiting for the
veterinarian to arrive, you may want to encourage your horse to walk. Some authorities suggest that walking
reduces pain and increases circulation to the tissues that desperately need
circulation. Others express concern
that walking adds pressure to tissues that need rest, and the issue is debatable. If you choose to walk your horse, let the
horse’s pain be your guide. Encourage
your horse to walk, but do not force your horse to walk. 5. Medical treatment may
include mineral oil, anti-inflammatory / toxin binding medication,
antibiotics, pain relievers, fluids, draining of abscesses, and radiographic
evaluation. 6. After verifying the
exact problem affecting your horse (some other hoof problems can mimic
laminitis), your vet can recommend a farrier or work with your preferred
farrier. Expertly applied heart bar
shoes or other shoe strategies may prove beneficial. 7. Keep laminitis horses
on a soft surface such as sand or shavings. |
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The Animal Health Bulletin is a FREE service of Healing (276) 236-5103 Visit our website at www.HealingSpringsAnimalHospital.com |
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Administrative: Request an article topic. Click
Here. To ask questions about a
specific pet, call Healing Springs at (276) 236-5103. You have permission to forward this bulletin in its
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