***FEBRUARY DENTAL SPECIAL***

FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL DENTAL MONTH!!!

 

We will be running a dental special for the entire month of February!

Your horse will get sedation, a full oral exam, a performance float, and correction of mild abnormalities for only.....

$95!

Call us today at 918-827-7300 to schedule your appointment. 

Spots are filling up quickly!

Tuesday Trivia Answer

And the answer is.....

C!!!

All registered thoroughbreds have a birthday of January 1st, regardless of the day they were born.

Check back next week for more fun trivia questions.

TUESDAY TRIVIA - ENTER TO WIN A PRIZE!

It's the last Tuesday of January so its time to give away another great prize!  Everyone who submits a correct answer to today's trivia question will be entered into a drawing and one lucky winner will receive a gift certificate for $25 to be used on goods and services here at the hospital.

Here's your question for today!

What is the official birthday for registered Thoroughbreds?
      A: The day they were born, duh!
      B: Derby Day, the year they were born
      C: January 1st, the year they were born
      D: June 1st, the year they were born

Answers will be accepted until 6pm tonight so make sure to post your guesses here or on our Facebook page before time runs out!  The answer and the winner will be post tomorrow, Good Luck!!! 

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

WE HOPE EVERYONE HAS A FUN AND SAFE WEEKEND!

GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY THE GREAT WEATHER!

Decemer Case of the Month

Check out our Case of the Month from December!

This gelding tore his deep digital flexor tendon in his front right leg while on stall rest from a previous injury. His owner noticed that he was pointing his foot and favoring it a bit, but he was only minimally lame. When she brought him to us for examination the next day, he was very lame and his tendon sheath area was very hot and swollen. Upon ultrasound examination, a severe tear in his deep digital flexor tendon was found in the pastern. He was sent home on anti-inflammatories and discharge instructions:
- strict stall rest for 2 weeks
- ice right front for 20 minute twice daily for 5 days
- keep both front limbs in a standing wrap
- monitor for increased lameness or swelling
- apply a wedge shoe to the injured foot
A long term sedative was discussed with the owner as the gelding is more hot natured. It was decided to try him on Platinum Gentle (magnesium supplement). Some treatment options included: ACP (Autologous Condition Plasma) and shockwave therapy. He would return in 1 month for a recheck. A wedge shoe was placed on the affected foot. This allows pressure to be relieved from the deep digital flexor tendon to encourage healing with less tension. One month later at his recheck there was minimal change in the tear, but the swelling was much improved and he was not as lame as he was upon initial presentation. ACP was injected into the tear in the pastern to help promote healing (to learn more about ACP please visit: http://www.legacyequinehospital.blogspot.com/2014/09/new-treatments-available.html). A thick supportive bandage was placed on the limb and he was sent home with discharge instructions:
- Stall rest for 24 hours, then handwalk for 10 minutes once daily gradually working up to 40 minutes over a period of 6 weeks (straight lines only, no hard stops or sharp turns)
- ice right front for 15 minutes after handwalking
- monitor for any increased lameness or swelling
- reset wedge shoe every 6 weeks
- continue anti-inflammatories
He is expected to make a full recovery and return to his career of barrel racing

If you have any questions regarding this case, please post them here and we will be happy to answer them!

CAUTION: THESE PHOTOS MAY CONTAIN GRAPHIC MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER AUDIENCES.

  

 
 

TUESDAY TRIVIA ANSWER

This is an example of a sarcoid.  Sarcoids are the most commonly diagnosed tumor in horses and represent 20% of all tumors and almost 40% of skin tumors.  These tumors are thought to be caused by a bovine papillomavirus with an underlying genetic predisposition also possible.  These tumors can range from flat, hairless areas to large ulcerated masses anywhere on the body.  Treatment can be varied including but not limited to surgical removal, injectable chemotherapy, topical chemotherapy, and chemotherapy beads.  Unfortunately the majority of these tumors return and will require further treatment.  Below are a few more examples of how sarcoids can present.

    
     

TUESDAY TRIVIA

More lumps and bumps for today's trivia question!

What's your diagnosis for the growth around this horse's eye?

 

The answer will be posted at the end of the day, Good Luck!

TUESDAY TRIVIA ANSWER

This is an example of a cancer called squamous cell carcinoma [SCC].  We will see this in white areas (areas where there is no pigment) around the eyes, nose, and on the penis of male horses.  Prevention is key in horses with predisposing white areas; there are even special fly masks available that block UV rays (a predisposing cause of SCC).  Having questionable areas checked out by your veterinarian is also a good idea as most SCC growths are easier to treat when they are diagnosed early.  

Check back next week for another fun trivia question!

TUESDAY TRIVIA

Continuing on the topic of skin tumors/cancer, here's your question for today!

What's your diagnosis for the growth around this horse's eye?

The answer will be posted later today, Good Luck!

Tuesday Trivia Answer

While grey horses can certainly develop any skin tumor, the one most commonly found is a melanoma.  Melanomas develop from the cells that produce pigment (melanocytes), which results in dark pigmented masses with the skin.  The most common place for these tumors to develop is  the base of the tail and the perineum, however they can also be found on the lips, eyelids, throat latch, and prepuce.  You can also see them as indistinct raised patches anywhere on the body.  These tumors are most often benign (don't spread to other areas) but will continue to grow over time.  The masses that form in the perineum can be especially problematic if they become too large as they can block the passage of the manure.

        

Thanks to everyone who participated, be sure to check back next week!

Tuesday Trivia

It's January!  This month's topic for our trivia questions will be skin tumors.  We thought this would be a helpful topic for late winter because it's a good time to get those lumps and bumps looked at and taken care of before the fly season begins in the spring.

So here's your first question of the month:

What type of skin tumor are grey horses most prone to?

The answer will be posted at the end of the day, Good Luck!

Happy New Year!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We want wish everyone a happy and healthy 2015!

Just a reminder, the clinic will be closed Dec. 31st - Jan. 2nd.  

We can be reached for emergencies by calling 918-827-7300.

We will resume normal business hours on Jan. 5th.

Tuesday Trivia Answer

Pergolide mesylate, marketed under the brand-name Prascend, is the only labeled treatment available for horses diagnosed with PPID.  Pergolide acts like the neurotransmitter Dopamine, which we've learned is deficient in horses suffering from PPID.  While this is not a cure, treating your horse with Prascend can alleviate the clinical signs associated with PPID and help your horse live a longer and more comfortable life.

   

Thanks to everyone who participated, make sure to check back tomorrow to see if you're the winner!

Tuesday Trivia!

It's the last Tuesday in December (and in 2014!) so it's time to give away another awesome prize!

This month we've been learning about endocrine diseases and how we diagnose them.  Today's question focuses on what comes next, the treatment.  All correct answers will be entered into a drawing for a FREE PPID Test [Resting ACTH] which is valued at ~$150.  We want to thank our friends at Boehringer Ingelheim for donating our prize this month!

So here's the question:

How do we treat PPID?

Answers can be posted on the blog or our Facebook page (only 1 entry per person).  We will accept answers until 6pm today at which time the answer will be posted.  The winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon so be sure to check back and see if you won.  Good Luck!

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!

All of us here at Legacy Equine want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

We will be closed December 24th, 25th, and 26th.  We will resume normal business hours on December 29th.  

As always, we will be available for emergencies 24/7.

TUESDAY TRIVIA ANSWER

There are several different tests available today that can give some insight into whether or not your horse is suffering from Equine Metabolic Syndrome [EMS].  It is usually beneficial to run several of these tests together on a horse so that you can come to a more accurate diagnosis for your horse.

1.  Baseline Insulin: Horses suffering from EMS are considered to be 'insulin resistant', meaning that the insulin circulating in their system doesn't have the effect that it should; this is very similar to Type 2 diabetes in humans.  EMS horses will have an elevated baseline insulin on bloodwork due to their body's overproduction and inability to use the hormone.  Other conditions can cause an elevated insulin level including pregnancy, stress, illness, and concurrent PPID positive status.  This means that this isn't a great test to run by itself because it doesn't give you a definitive diagnosis

2.  Baseline Leptin: Leptin is a hormone that is produced by adipocytes (fat cells).  Horses suffering from EMS will have a higher measurement of this hormone than unaffected horses due to their increased amount of body fat deposits.  Running this test along with baseline insulin can help more accurately diagnose those affected by EMS.     

3.  Oral Sugar Test (OST):  This is a more sensitive method of testing than just running a single insulin measurement.  Horses must be fasted at least 8 hours prior to performing this test.  A baseline blood sample is taken and then an oral dose of Karo syrup is given; blood samples are then taken 60 and 90 minutes later.  This test allows us to see how a horse's body handles blood sugar and can distinguish elevated insulin due to EMS from other causes.

4.  Baseline ACTH:  While not a test for EMS it is recommended to test your horse for PPID [Equine Cushings] at the same time you test for Equine Metabolic Syndrome.  This is because these conditions can often exist together and a diagnosis of PPID may be overlooked if the clinical signs of EMS are more prominent.

We hope you enjoyed this week's edition of Tuesday Trivia!  Remember to check back next week for the last question of December and enter for a chance to win an awesome prize!

TUESDAY TRIVIA!

Last week we learned about the clinical signs/physical appearance of a horse affected by Equine Metabolic Syndrome [EMS].  Most of the time these findings are enough to make a diagnosis or at least put it at the top of the list.  But what about when we want to absolutely sure or if we're judging if our treatment is working at the level of the hormones involved?  So here is today's question!

What is a test we can perform to confirm that a horse has Equine Metabolic Syndrome?
 (hint: there's more than one correct answer)

Feel free to post your guess here or on our Facebook page.  The answer will be posted at the end of the day, Good Luck!

Tuesday Trivia Answer

This horse fits the clinical picture for an individual affected by Equine Metabolic Syndrome [EMS].  Hallmark clinical findings include a high body condition score with increased fat deposition (adiposity); specifically in the crest of the neck, behind the shoulder, and around the tail head.  You can also usually find evidence of acute or chronic laminitis in horses affected by EMS.  Horses affected are usually middle aged [8-16 years] with ponies, Saddlebreds, Tennessee Walking Horses,Paso Finos, Morgans, Mustangs, and Quarter Horses most commonly affected.

Check back next week for another question relating to EMS!

Tuesday Trivia

Sorry for the delay in posting our trivia question for the day, the whole Legacy Team spent the morning at the Salvation Army preparing gifts for Angel Tree children.

We've learned a lot about PPID/Equine Cushing's over the past two weeks so now we are going to turn our focus to another commonly encountered endocrine disease.

What endocrine disease/condition does the horse in the picture below most likely have?

We will take guesses for the rest of the day and the answer will be posted tomorrow morning. Good Luck!

Tuesday Trivia Answer

Great guesses everyone!

The gold standard of testing used to be called the Dex Suppression Test, which involved administering a dose of corticosteroids (similar to cortisol) and measuring whether or not the body's natural production of these hormones was decreased.  However with new testing methods available, this test is falling out of favor with most veterinarians.

The two tests used most commonly today are baseline ACTH and the TRH Stimulation test.  Both tests involved measuring the level of ACTH in the blood with some differences as to how the test is performed.

Baseline ACTH testing simply involves pulling a blood sample and sending it out for testing, no additional steps for preparation are needed.  The downside to this test is that results can be affected by the season.  Normal horses can have an increased level of ACTH production during the Fall, so it can be hard to differentiate the normal from the abnormal during this time.

The TRH [Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone] Stimulation Test is not as greatly affected by the seasons, and accurate reference values have been established for different times of the year.  The downside of this test is that it requires an injection of TRH with blood samples taken before and after injection.  This test will normally carry a slightly higher cost as well due to the TRH compound and second sample testing.

Check back next week for another question about PPID!