hands on christmas quiz answers part 2

A1. (c) Horses at pasture, when compared to stabled horses, spend considerably more time eating; this results in a constant flow of saliva which is alkaline and this counteracts the acid that causes ulcers in the horse’s stomach.

A2. No, ulcers cannot be diagnosed on a blood analysis.

A3. A faecal test can be done for this purpose but it is not reliable. The best and most reliable way of diagnosing ulcers is by using a gastroscope which effectively is a special type of elongated endoscope. A gastroscope is purpose designed and extends up to 10 feet in order to pass down the full distance into the horse’s stomach. The interior of the stomach can then be fully viewed and checked for the presence of ulcers.

A 4. Do not panic.

Apply pressure and padding and consult your veterinary surgeon. If the injury is to a leg, bandage or tape the padding into place and leave it alone.

Do not lift the padding for at least 15 minutes.

If the blood seeps through, add another level of padding on top of the first one and keep the pressure on.

Use clean, dry “non fluffy” dressings, which can be applied directly to the wound which can then be padded with gamgee or a clean towel and held firmly in place.

If the bleeding is from an injury on the horse’s lower leg, a tourniquet may be applied above it. But it is important not to apply a tourniquet for longer than 20 minutes at a time as it can cause permanent damage to the area; it may be reapplied for a further similar duration in some cases, i.e. where there is profuse haemorrhage

A5. Arterial haemorrhage is more difficult to stop. It is bright red in colour and has a ‘pumping’ action as it is coming directly from the horse’s heart. It is slower to clot due to the pumping action and spurting of the blood flow.

A6. Cannon bones.

A7. (b) Two-three monthly intervals depending on circumstances, e.g. intensively grazed paddocks.

A8. (b) Sycamore.

A9. (a), (b) and (d) which are in fact the different names used for the same causal agent.

A 10. (h) Recovery from this poisoning rarely occurs.

A 11. (c) Daisies and (f) Furze.

A 12. Yes, hay and silage are the most common sources of ragwort poisoning in horses as they do not tend to eat it when it is growing on pasture.

A 13. Yes and in most of these cases, horses develop a tendency to become addicted to acorns, causing consumption of large amounts of them.

A 14. (a) check that all vaccinations are up to date.

(b) check worm dosing records, feet, teeth, etc.

(c) to protect the horse’s airways and reduce risk of respiratory problems, coughing, etc, improve the environment with a routine thorough cleaning and disinfection of stables and yard. (Also include feeders and water troughs in paddocks).

A 15. (a) Supply feed in several small lots during the day to make sure the horse is without feed for as little time as possible.

(b) Alternatively, a foraging device could be used in the stable to release the hard feed over an extended period of time. In some cases, this may also help reduce cribbing by steadying the flow of concentrate into the stomach. However, some horses are extremely frustrated by such devices and only become worse so you must monitor your own horse’s response carefully.

(c) Allow as much access to a paddock as possible within the scope of the training programme.

(d) Creasote applied to the wooden surfaces that the horse grasps when ‘cribbing’.

A16. (a) Sweet Itch occurs during the summer months, not in winter.

A 17. This could be caused by the parasite Oxyuris Equi. It lays its eggs under the horse’s tail causing an itch in that area.

A 18. (a) Remove the animal from midge breeding areas.

(b) Consult your veterinary surgeon to confirm the diagnosis and receive expert advice. Apply solutions as advised by the treating veterinary surgeon, e.g benzyl benzoate diluted half-and-half with water, liquid paraffin or cod liver oil to the affected area. In severe cases corticosteroids may be used by the treating veterinary surgeon.

(c) Stable the animal from about 4pm to 8am as dusk and dawn are the periods of high activity for the midge.

(d) Use insect-proof mesh on the windows and stable doors.

(e) Use an effective insect repellent daily.

(f) Hang insect repellent strips in the stable.

(g) Use strong ceiling fans.

(h) Use a rug designed to reduce the area available for flies to bite.

(i) Clean water troughs regularly.

(j) Ensure that the manure heap is well away from where the affected horse is kept.

A 19A. Ringworm.

A 19. Ringworm, caused by a fungus, is highly contagious.

Sweet Itch is not contagious as it is an allergic reaction.

A 20. Yes.

A 21. No.

A 22. No, as ringworm is caused by a fungus it responds well to anti-fungal treatment. Antibiotics may exacerbate the condition.

A 23. Winter.

A 24. No. Horse lice are host specific, i.e. they live on horses only. They cannot live for more than 30 minutes when off of the horse or on the ground.

A 25. Yes.

A 26. Yes. It is administered under the horse’s upper lip.

A 27.

1. Pawing at the ground.

2. Getting up and lying down.

3. Kicking at the belly.

4. Sweating at rest.

5. Rolling.

6. Looking back at the flank.

A 28. Azoturia.

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