High Desert Veterinary Service
Chrysann Collatos VMD,PhD,DipACVIMLA
775-969-3495 (Office) 742-2823 (Cell)
HighDesertEquine.com
Building Healthy Partners
Spring 2017 News & Notes
Ø Clinic
Schedule
Ø Spring Hormonal Confusion!
Ø Some Advice on Drying Out
What a winter! Many of our
horses have been unusually inactive due to environmental conditions. As the
weather improves pay careful attention to your horse’s feet and haircoat.
Mother Nature’s generous gifts of moisture and warm temperatures provide the
perfect environment for infectious organisms that cause thrush, subsolar
abscesses and “rain rot”. Please read this newsletter carefully and be
proactive in keeping your animals healthy this year.
Amanda and I look forward to
seeing you on one of our clinic days in March,
Dr. Chrysann
Spring Clinic Schedule
Routine Spring
exams include EWT, West Nile, and flu/rhino
vaccination plus deworming or fecal examination, dentistry consult and sheath
cleaning. To reserve an appointment,
call 775 969 3495 with:
- Your Name, Phone # and Clinic Date
- Number of Animals, and Services requested.
We will return
your call three days before your clinic with an estimated time of arrival
at your address. Please be sure horses
are caught and haltered 30 minutes beforehand!
Location Date
Rancho Haven/Sierra Ranchos1 Sat
Mar 4
Rancho Haven/Sierra Ranchos2 Fri Mar 10
Red Rock North/Silver Knolls 1 Sun
Mar 5
Red Rock North/Silver Knolls 2 Sat
Mar 18
Span Springs/Palomino Valley 1 Sat
Mar 11
Span Springs/Palomino Valley 2 Fri
Mar 17
Antelope/Golden/Lemmon Valley 1 Sun Mar 12
Antelope/Golden/Lemmon Valley 2 Sat Mar 25
Sierra Valley Sun Mar 26
South & West Reno Fri Mar 24
Discounted prices ONLY AVAILABLE Clinic
Day
Farm Call (per location) $9.00
Wellness Exam (mandatory) $14.00
West Nile $32.00
FluRhino $29.00
Rabies $21.00
Tetanus/
Encephalitis $18.00
Ivermectin
Deworm $14.00
Coggins
Test $27.00
Sheath
Clean w/sedation $45.00
Fecal
parasite exam $18.00
Pre-registered
microchip $35.00
Dentistry
Consult No Charge
Spring
Transitional Period
(aka Crazy Mare Time)
Last
week a client called about a performance mare who kept posturing to urinate and
looking back at her left flank, but had a great appetite and normal manure. Another trainer called because a normally cooperative
mare was kicking out when asked to canter. Upon investigation, I
discovered that both these mares’ problems were related to the seasonal nature
of the equine reproductive cycle.
Seasonal variation in daylight has a profound influence on the mare’s reproductive performance. Increasing day length improves the mare's reproductive efficiency while shortened days disrupt reproductive regulation. Daylight stimulates the production of melatonin by the brain’s pineal gland, which in turn starts a complex cascade of hormonal events which influence the ovaries to develop and release follicles. For successful conception to occur, an egg must ovulate, be fertilized, and arrive in a uterus which is ready to accept and nourish it. No simple task.
The transition from the short days of winter
when most mares stop cycling all together, to the long days of June, when fertility
is at its highest, is a gradual process. During the spring and fall,
mares enter a period of anovulatory
receptivity, or the transitional period. At this time,
they often exhibit erratic estrus behavior, and while they appear to be in
standing heat and accept a stallion, there often is not an associated ovulation
of a mature follicle. When a transitional mare does ovulate
appropriately, if the hormonal sequence necessary to maintain the critical early critical of pregnancy is
unbalanced, the embryo may be
lost. Particularly in the spring, this transitional period is
characterized by long, erratic heat cycles without ovulation.
No
wonder mares may act whacky in Feburary! Not only are they dealing with hormonal
imbalance, they also may experience ovarian pain associated with large,
non-ovulating follicles.
Mares with placid dispositions may not seem affected by the ups and downs of hormonal transitions while others are truly distressed during these phases. Some performance horses exhibit irritable behavior and are difficult to train. Trainer’s may seek ways to stabilize reproductive activity and help these troubled mares achieve behavioral balance. There are many oral supplements available over the counter which claim to improve the demeanor of irritable mares,and subcutaneous cattle hormonal implants have been used, but none of these methods have any scientific basis. Compounded injectable progesterone in olive oil can be used intramuscularly but the injections are irritating and yield variable results. There is a well researched long acting altrenogest injection manufactured by BET Pharm, however the cost is prohibitive for many clients.
The gold standard for preventing
cycling remains the daily administration of oral Altrenogest, a synthetic progesterone
(Regu-Mate or Altresyn).
Once the transitional period is over and mares
are cycling regularly, reproductive efficiency rapidly improves. Performance
horses exhibit improved behavior and brood mares conceive successfully. The
"normal" mare has a 21 day heat cycle. She is not receptive for
14-15 days (diestrus), then comes into heat for 4-7 days (estrus), ovulating
12-24 hours before behavioral signs of estrus disappear.
So, when your mare is acting like a maniac this month, remember that her behavior may be due to "raging hormones"! Speak with me about management practices that may improve your breeding success or help your mare's disposition.
Some Advice on Drying Out
As the flood waters and ice recede,
we are eager to get back in the saddle. Whatever your riding discipline, consider
the consequences of this wet winter and get proactive!
Hoof Care First and
foremost: feet! I see lots of shedding frogs, low heels and long
toes in the spring. This winter environmental cleanliness has been a
real challenge, and many horses are standing in manure that goes through
repetitive freeze/thaw cycles. Hooves develop callouses in response to
harsh ice. When the surface thaws, fecal bacteria seep into small
defects in the thickened sole and frog, creating the perfect setup for thrush
or subsolar abscessation.
Preventive measures that MAKE A
DIFFERENCE:
1) Get a hoof pick and wire brush and thoroughly pick you horse’s feet every
day!
2) Remove accumulated manure and
organic material from pens and turn outs
3) Schedule a trim and consultation
with your farrier!
Body Conditon As you get
your horse’s feet in shape, start grooming! Get that winter hair
loose, check for any skin conditions and feel your horse’s back and barrel – is
their body condition what you hope for? Many horses gain or lose
unnoticed weight under winter hair coats and blankets. Your spring clinic
appointment is a good time to ask Dr. Chrysann about your horse’s
nutrition program.
Horses and humans alike, let’s dry
out, get out, get moving, and look forward to a spectacular spring flower
season in our high desert piece of heaven!
Call
us today to schedule your
Spring
Clinic Appointment.
I believe that education is the key to evolution. I believe that animals are the key to compassion. I believe the learning never stops.
