Equine Flashcards
How do horses communicate?
Facial expressions, body position, vocalization
What type of weather do horses tolerate?
Tolerant of many climates barring appropriate acclimatization
hot weather - sweating, inc respiration, nostrils flaring
cold weather - shivering, heat prod from hindgut
Blanketing - geriatric, sick, non-acclimated horses only
What fencing is good for large enclosures vs small?
Wire for large
wood, metal pipe for small
How does an equine stable housing look like?
Horse’s height x 2.5 = stall width
Needs a horse proof latch, maintained sides, regular cleaning
What is required for optimal GI health?
Constant grazing - 1.5-2% of body weight
Hind gut fermenters so prod most own trace minerals + fiber to stimular motility
They need quality grass hay and small amounts of alfalfa
Concentrated/pelleted feed is for geriatric, performance or immunocomp horses
mineral blocks good
What is the most important nutrient?
WATER
5L / 100kg/day (25L for average horse)
Snow not acceptable is most cases
Describe reproductive characteristics about stallions? 2nd sex characteristics, penis type, etc
2nd sex chara: lrg jowls, crest neck musculature, deep vocalization, unpredictable
Seasonal influence: sperm prod + libido
Musculocavernousus penis: erection via inc blood flower
What type of breeders are horses?
Longday breeders - spring
Have poor fertility - bred for performance, not fertility
Describe reproductive characteristics about mares
Estrous - 21 days
Estrus - 5 days (known by posturing, urinating, exposing clit, vocalizing)
light exposure (longday breeders): 16 hr light, 8 hr dark
What is pasture breeding? risks?
natural cover
risk of injury to horses, not guarantee stallion bred every mare
What is hand breeding? risks?
natural cover. Mare restrained and stallion led to handler to cover, then removed
risk to handlers, ensures mares properly bred
What is AI breeding? Benefits?
stallion mounts a live or phantom mare for semen collection.
Then evaluated for fertility (fresh, cooled, or frozen)
Stallion to sire more foals. Closely monitor mares w/ dec fertility, dec disease transmission
What is the average pregnancy? Placenta type? Average litter size
340 days +/- 20
diffuse cotyledonary placentation - minimal transfer of maternal antibodies to fetus
twin conception rare
How can you prepare for parturition? How can you tell impending parturition?
Prepare by grassy pasture or well-bedded foalin stall
impending by hollowed gluteals, relaxed vulva, complete mammary development, colostrum on teats
DO NOT INTERVENE UNLESS NECESSARY
What are the 3 stages to equine parturition? How long? What happens?
1) 1-4 hrs - early labor, weak uterine contractions, foal move to dorsal-sacral position, choroallantois becomes visible at vulva
2) 15-30m - Rupture of membranes to delivery of fetus
3) <3 hr - detachment of fetus
What is the correct position a foal should be for birth?
Dorsal-sacral
Describe the neonate period. What should we monitor in dz?
Colostrum within 6hr
IgG snap test
Monitor for diarrhea, pneumonia, umbilical infection, septic arthritis
What are the values for an IgG snap test?
adequate test >800 mg/dL
incomplete transfer 400-800 mg/dL
Failure of passive transfer <400 mg/dL
How can you ID horses?
microchip (in withers)
lip tattoo
freeze brance
face and limb markings
How should you handle a horse safely?
safest @ shoulder
Stand same side as person working on horse(so butt swings away not towards)
never kneel or sit
person at @ in charge of everyone’s safety!
What are different types of restraint you can use?
halter/rope
chain shank
stocks
twitch (nose, shoulder, ear)
madigan squeeze - foals
chemical
What are different chemical restraints used. For what purposes?
Alpha 2 agonist - short minimal invasive + painful procedures
Alpha 2 Agonist + Opiod - longer more invasive procedures
Acepromazine - mild long-term effects
Diasepam +/- Alpha 2 agonist - for foals <1 mo
What are some routine equine procedures?
Castration - most common. Most complications
Dental care - yearly checks for uneven wear/fractures/abcess teeth, float molars
Hoof care - regular trimming 6-8 wks, check for laminitis/navicular syndrome
What do you check for a physical exam?
Cardiovascular, GI, MM, digital pulses, Temp, feces/urine
