Animal Mechanics

23/10/2023

09/08/2023

Interesting tid bit

A recent study demonstrated that measuring the concentration of a specific protein found in the saliva of horses is an efficient indicator of the presence of gastric ulcers.

A study by Muñoz-Prieto, A., et al (2023) showed that the level of Calprotectin in the saliva of horses "had a high ability to differentiate between healthy horses and those with EGUS (equine gastric ulcer syndrome)".

Calprotectin tests are commercially available to date.

14/06/2023

“Ohhh this horse just has a little arthritis in his left hock, it doesn’t seem to bother him too much.”

Horses are prey animals and therefore great compensators; they will create alternative locomotive patterns to continue movement.

So, say this little bit of osteoarthritis causes a reduced range of motion of the tarsal joint. In an attempt to maintain stride length and hide this dysfunction to potential predators (because you never know when a lion could be waiting around the corner... or a flapping plastic bag!) the tarsal (hock) joint is rotated medially (inwards) during the swing phase of the stride. This results in asymmetrical & medial weight bearing through the digit (hoof). This places additional stress through medial hamstring muscles, resulting in muscle tension and trigger points. And this is all something that is potentially going on in the affected hindlimb.

A hip hike/drop can occur at corresponding phases of the stride, placing the sacroiliac joint under stress, resulting in paraspinal and asymmetrical gluteal tone/pain.

Decreased impulsion from the left hindlimb leads to increased weight bearing through the right forelimb diagonal. This can create tension and hypertrophy to the right pectoral muscles and related fascial planes.

The spiral of compensation could continue on further, affecting cervical muscles that become hypertonic as a result of weight shifting, digit shape and size, TMJ pain, head tiling, hyoid dysfunction, asymmetric tail holding...

Check ligaments may strain on the overloaded limb, saddles may slip, mouths may open, head shaking may happen. And that doesn’t mean we have to put on a flash noseband, non-slip saddle pads and wear spurs to get more impulsion from the left hind that is through and through p a t h o l o g i c a l.

Often it can be the case where I see a horse that is a chronic stage of compensation and it can be difficult to find the true cause especially when the horse may appear just overall “stiff”.

I liken the rehabilitation of chronic cases to peeling the layers off an onion; one layer at a time and piece by piece to unravel and rewind the compensation spiral. 🐴

If this sparks a thought in anyone’s mind that actually, their horse may be suffering with this kind of pain presentation — follow your gut, trust that you know what is best for your horse and have your vet, physio, farrier, nutritionist, saddler, trainer all work with you and your horse to improve their comfort 🥰

19/05/2023

Rythmic auditory stimulationin humans showed improvement in gait. Extrapolate this to training horses,posssibly it could be useful. I know from my experience at liberty with 3 horses they all started to move in rythm with one another. undersaddle with it also worked that the 3 horses were on the same lead and same rythm. there are other studies on humans that different types of auditory stimulation can help with chronic pain.
PMID: 10519837 DOI: 10.1093/jmt/35.4.228
Abstract
Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) was studied in a frequency entrainment design and as a therapeutic stimulus to facilitate gait patterns in 8 traumatically brain injured individuals (5 male/3 female; mean age 30 +/- 5 years) with persisting gait disorder, 4-24 months postinjury. During entrainment, with RAS frequency matched to baseline cadence, velocity and stride symmetry both increased by an average of 18%. Increases contributing to the velocity improvement were seen in both stride length (7%) and cadence (8%). With RAS accelerated 5% over the fast walking step rate of the patients, 5 patients could entrain to a higher step frequency. The 2 patients with the slowest baseline gait velocity could not entrain to faster RAS frequencies. After 5 weeks of daily RAS training, 5 patients' mean velocity increased significantly (p

08/05/2023

She was constantly staying near the fish market and watching people come to buy fish. She took a leaf that fell from the tree and came to the owner. On the first day, surprised, he took her "money" and gave her a fish. From that day on, every morning she comes with a leaf to "buy" fish.

08/05/2023

2007 New Mexico working on a Smarty horse out of smart little Lena that was world champion in the states- who would have thought nearly 20 years later I would be working on one of his relatives in FNQ

08/05/2023

so many articles on vitamin C for equines. Most demonstrate vitamin c orally has poor bioavailability in horses and they make enough of their own in normal situations. I did find several that recommended it as an adjunct but the dose rates were reasonably high. Humans have great bioavailability and research I have read shows in times of stress vitamin C is needed at a higher dose. In times of infection, other papers I have read show it enhances the immune system in high doses. (in people)

08/05/2023

Extract from the America Farriers journal Hoof Nutrition Intelligence

April 1, 2018 | Posted in Clients, Education, Nutrition

Q: What can you tell me about the role of Vitamin C in the equine diet?
By Eleanor Kellon, VMD

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) comes in and out of equine supplement headlines. As with many nutrients, exaggerated claims end up being made and when these eventually prove to be unwarranted, the pendulum swings too far in the other direction.

There is no question that vitamin C plays a pivotal role in equine health. While the horse’s body can manufacture vitamin C, fresh grass is a rich source and blood levels drop off in the winter when the horse is on hay.

Just about everyone thinks of vitamin C in terms of the immune system and resistance to infections and “colds.” It actually protects the immune system and other tissues from free radicals that are generated when the immune system cells are activated. As a result, it ends up moderating friendly fire from immune system activity rather than actually preventing infection. Another antioxidant function is the regeneration of “used” vitamin E back into an active form.

Vitamin C is also an important antioxidant found in muscle cells and all body tissues. High levels of free radicals are generated by exercise and exposure to pollutants. Horses with chronic lung disease have been documented to have low levels of vitamin C in lung fluid. Supplementation has been shown to support normal lung function.

In addition, vitamin C promotes the creation of normal connective tissues throughout the body. This includes the integrity of blood vessels, structural framework of bone, joint cartilage, ligament and tendons. It also helps with the restoration of wounds and injuries.

Most mammals, including horses, can manufacture vitamin C from glucose in their livers. But unlike other water-soluble vitamins, there can be a limited storage of vitamin C in the body. Yet we don’t know much about the production and storage of vitamin C in horses.

While their bodies don’t manufacture enough vitamin C to undergo full blown deficiency (scurvy), we don’t know whether they can store the vitamin, whether production decreases with age or how much they can ramp up production in times of increased need, such as with an injury or infection. This uncertainty, along with the observation that blood levels drop in stabled horses and during the winter months, suggests some supplementation may be optimal.

Vitamin C has a low toxicity, with the major issue being gastrointestinal irritation and diarrhea at high doses (typically 20 grams/day or more). Caution should be used in insulin-resistant horses or other horses known or suspected to be iron overloaded. Vitamin C increases the bioavailability of inorganic iron by changing its electrical charge and directly stimulating absorption. A daily dosage of 4.5 grams or less is best and has been shown to increase blood levels of vitamin C over time.

Supplementation is reasonable in horses with chronic lung irritation, musculoskeletal issues, infections or wounds to support the body's inherent antioxidant defenses and maintain vitamin C supplies for normal functions under conditions of high demand.

Vitamin C may be supplemented alone or in combination with plant and/or nutritional antioxidant ingredients such as bioflavonoids, grape seed and skin, vitamin E, berries, glutamine and N-acetyl-cysteine.

Dr. Eleanor Kellon, a staff veterinary specialist for Uckele Health & Nutrition, has been an established authority in the field of equine nutrition for over 30 years. The owner of Equine Nutritional Solutions in Robesonia, Pa., she is a founding member and leader of the Equine Cushings and Insulin Resistance (ECIR) group, whose mission is to improve the welfare of horses with metabolic disorders via integration of research and real-life clinical experience. Prevention of laminitis is the ultimate goal.

02/05/2023

02/05/2023