Equine

Question 1

How do horses communicate?

Answer 1

Facial expressions, body position, vocalization

Question 2

What type of weather do horses tolerate?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What fencing is good for large enclosures vs small?

Answer 3

Wire for large

wood, metal pipe for small

Question 4

How does an equine stable housing look like?

Answer 4

Horse’s height x 2.5 = stall width
Needs a horse proof latch, maintained sides, regular cleaning

Question 5

What is required for optimal GI health?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What is the most important nutrient?

Answer 6

WATER
5L / 100kg/day (25L for average horse)

Snow not acceptable is most cases

Question 7

Describe reproductive characteristics about stallions? 2nd sex characteristics, penis type, etc

Answer 7

2nd sex chara: lrg jowls, crest neck musculature, deep vocalization, unpredictable
Seasonal influence: sperm prod + libido
Musculocavernousus penis: erection via inc blood flower

Question 8

What type of breeders are horses?

Answer 8

Longday breeders - spring

Have poor fertility - bred for performance, not fertility

Question 9

Describe reproductive characteristics about mares

Answer 9

Estrous - 21 days
Estrus - 5 days (known by posturing, urinating, exposing clit, vocalizing)
light exposure (longday breeders): 16 hr light, 8 hr dark

Question 10

What is pasture breeding? risks?

Answer 10

natural cover

risk of injury to horses, not guarantee stallion bred every mare

Question 11

What is hand breeding? risks?

Answer 11

natural cover. Mare restrained and stallion led to handler to cover, then removed

risk to handlers, ensures mares properly bred

Question 12

What is AI breeding? Benefits?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What is the average pregnancy? Placenta type? Average litter size

Answer 13

340 days +/- 20
diffuse cotyledonary placentation - minimal transfer of maternal antibodies to fetus
twin conception rare

Question 14

How can you prepare for parturition? How can you tell impending parturition?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What are the 3 stages to equine parturition? How long? What happens?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What is the correct position a foal should be for birth?

Answer 16

Dorsal-sacral

Question 17

Describe the neonate period. What should we monitor in dz?

Answer 17

Colostrum within 6hr
IgG snap test

Monitor for diarrhea, pneumonia, umbilical infection, septic arthritis

Question 18

What are the values for an IgG snap test?

Answer 18

adequate test >800 mg/dL
incomplete transfer 400-800 mg/dL
Failure of passive transfer <400 mg/dL

Question 19

How can you ID horses?

Answer 19

microchip (in withers)
lip tattoo
freeze brance
face and limb markings

Question 20

How should you handle a horse safely?

Answer 20

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!

Question 21

What are different types of restraint you can use?

Answer 21

halter/rope
chain shank
stocks
twitch (nose, shoulder, ear)
madigan squeeze - foals
chemical

Question 22

What are different chemical restraints used. For what purposes?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What are some routine equine procedures?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What do you check for a physical exam?

Answer 24

Cardiovascular, GI, MM, digital pulses, Temp, feces/urine

Question 25

What are core vx for equines? how often?

Answer 25

Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Western Equine Encephalitis
Tetanus
West Nile Virus
rabies

Annually may/june

Question 26

What are anthelmintics?

Answer 26

Drugs and tx for parasites

Also for Fecal egg count to ID high shedders and for strategic dewormer selectio

Question 27

When should we euthanize?

Answer 27

unmanageable pain
condition with poor outcome
unsafe behavioural issues
unfit for human consumption
unwanted

Question 28

What are ways equines are humanely euthanized?

Answer 28

Lethal dose of IV barbituates (burial or rendering)
gunshot or captive bolt
intrathecal 2% lidocaine
IX MgSO4 or KCL
Exsanguintation - safe for wild life scavenging