Rood & Riddle Report 2014 Issue 2

Page 1

News from Your Equine Health Care Provider | Vol. 2 |2014

Medical Reasons for Poor Performance By: Bonnie Barr, VMD DACVIM

IN THIS ISSUE EQUINE HEALTH

Medical Reasons for Poor Performance Demystifying the Lameness Exam NEWS

2014 Hats Off Day 2014 Kentucky Experience 2014 National Horse Show 2014 TOBA Sport Horse of the Year Around the Practice

The most common reason for poor performance is lameness, but performance issues can also result from medical problems. Problems of the lower respiratory tract, such as inflammatory airway disease, can result in poor performance. Inflammatory airway disease (IAD) is characterized by poor performance, exercise intolerance, coughing, and nasal discharge. Any age can be affected but this is a syndrome of predominately young horses. IAD is probably due to several factors such as low-grade persistent infection, inhaled allergens or reaction to blood in the airways secondary to exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). Diagnosis is best made by ruling out other causes of respiratory disease. Endoscopic examination of the trachea is used to identify increased mucoid airway secretions. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is then recommended for all horses with suspected IAD. This procedure can be performed in a sedated horse, using a 2 or 3 meter endoscope or special BAL tubing. The endoscope or BAL tubing is passed through the nasal passage, into the trachea and into to the airways. Warm saline is placed into the lungs, then immediately drawn out for analysis under the microscope. Horses with IAD will have increased inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils, eosinophils and mast cells, but no evidence of an infection. Treatment involves environmental alterations to decrease exposure to allergens and administration of anti-inflammatory agents. Fig 1:ECG/EKG of Atrial Fibrillation. Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) is a condition affecting all horses during intense exercise. Common presenting complaints include poor performance and bleeding from the nostrils (epistaxis). The development of EIPH is believed to be due to rupture of blood vessels deep in the lung resulting in blood in the airways. The usual method of diagnosis is endoscopic detection of blood within the trachea shortly after a race or strenuous exercise. Another indicator of bleeding is the presence of red blood cell breakdown product (hemosiderin) in inflammatory cells within the lungs when a transtracheal wash or BAL has been performed. There are many proposed treatments for EIPH although none are universally successful. Often, after an episode, horses are rested and monitored Fig 2: Gastric Ulcer. for secondary complications. Administration of furosemide (also known as Lasix™ or Salix™) is the most common method of prevention, although this is not without controversy. Abnormal heart rhythm can also result in poor performance and exercise intolerance. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common abnormal heart rhythm affecting performance. During AF, the heart’s upper chambers beat irregularly and out of coordination with the lower chambers, which results in poor blood flow to the body. The diagnosis of AF is by listening to the heart with a stethoscope and noting the characteristic irregularly irregular heart rhythm. An ECG/EKG confirms the diagnosis. AF can be caused by electrolyte abnormalities, infection or underlying heart disease. Occasionally the AF will be transient and resolve in 24-48 hours. Persistent AF treatment includes administration of medications or electrical stimulation to coordinate the heart chambers. Treatment is usually successful and recurrence is low. Gastric ulcers are a common medical condition in performance horses. Numerous publications have identified that up to 60% of show horses have ulcers and up to 90% of racehorses may develop gastric ulcers. Clinical signs associated with gastric ulcers are numerous and often vague. Typical symptoms include poor performance, poor hair coat, picky eating and colic. The gold standard of diagnosis is gastroscopy, which is visualization of the stomach with a 3 meter endoscope. The endoscope is inserted through the nose into the esophagus and then into the stomach. If gastroscopy is not available therapy can be started if gastric ulcers are strongly suspected and improvement suggests that the horse had gastric ulcers. Several risk factors have been identified that make a horse more prone to the development of gastric ulcers including confinement to the stall, feeding high grain diet, intermittent feeding, strenuous exercise and administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ie Bute or banamine). The primary goal of treatment is to suppress gastric acid. The most commonly used product is omeprazole (GastroGard™), which is administered by mouth daily for 28 days. Other medications that are used to treat gastric ulcers include H2 blockers (ranitidine or cimetidine), antacids and gastric protectants. Environmental and dietary modifications may also be beneficial to facilitate ulcer healing and in prevention of gastric ulcers. Management changes include increasing the amount of roughage/forage in the diet, decreasing the amount of grain in the diet, feeding frequent small meals, increasing turn-out and limiting stress. Fig 3: Nasal Blood Excretion due to EIPH. So keep in mind if your horse is performing poorly it may not be due to lameness!


“This use of diagnostic analgesia allows the veterinarian to localize the problem to a specific region of the leg.”

“Once this has been accomplished the veterinarian may elect a course of therapy or employ diagnostic imaging modalities to obtain a specific diagnosis.“

Demystifying the Lameness Exam By: Jennifer C. Jordan, V.M.D. Dip. ACVS

E. Ashley Embly, D.V.M.

Like any professional athlete, horses of all disciplines and levels can suffer from musculoskeletal infirmities and injuries. Indeed, even our equine “couch potatoes” can come in from the field limping. In the absence of a visible traumatic injury, it is the veterinarian’s job to identify the reason for the horse’s discomfort. While this at times can E. Ashley Embly, D.V.M. be accomplished through palpation and manipulation of the affected limb, frequently a thorough lameness exam is indicated to identify the problem. What constitutes a lameness exam? Where a basic physical exam generally entails detailed observations made of the horse at rest, a lameness exam is a dynamic exam where the horse is observed in motion. Typically horses are observed at a walk and a trot in hand over a smooth, hard surface. While there are many detailed lameness grading systems, lameness is most commonly scored on the 0-5 scale defined by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (see Box 1). Once the baseline lameness grade has been established, additional dynamic tests can be employed to better define the gait deficit. These may include flexion tests, observing the horse on a circle or on different types of surfaces, and observing the horse under tack. After the gait deficit has been localized to a specific limb, the next step in the diagnostic process is to identify the region of this limb from which the problem originates. Although traditionally certain gait deficits have been associated with specific joint infirmities (ex. a stabbing gait associated with tarsal (hock) pain), diagnostic analgesia (aka blocking) provides a far more accurate way to localize lameness to a specific region of interest. What is diagnostic analgesia (blocking)? Diagnostic analgesia involves the use of a short acting local anesthetic (similar to Novocaine ® that is administered in the dentist office) to desensitize specific sensory nerves (aka a nerve block) or a joint (a joint block). Most commonly the veterinarian starts by desensitizing the nerves at the bottom of the leg (a palmar digital


nerve block or heel block) and then works upward. After each nerve block the area is confirmed to have lost skin sensation and the horse’s lameness is reevaluated. Once the area that is causing pain has been desensitized the horse’s gait deficit will be abolished. This use of diagnostic analgesia allows the veterinarian to localize the problem to a specific region of the leg. Once this has been accomplished the veterinarian may elect a course of therapy or employ diagnostic imaging modalities to obtain a specific diagnosis. Although veterinarians are frequently asked to make a diagnosis based on x-ray or ultrasound images alone, imaging abnormalities are not always correlated with a clinical manifestation of pain. The use of the lameness examination and diagnostic analgesia to localize lameness to a specific region of interest markedly improves the clinical sensitivity of all imaging modalities.

Box 1: American Association of Equine Practitioners Lameness Scale: 0: Lameness not perceptible under any circumstances. 1: Lameness is difficult to observe and is not consistently apparent, regardless of circumstances (e.g. under saddle, circling, inclines, hard surface, etc.). 2: Lameness is difficult to observe at a walk or when trotting in a straight line but consistently apparent under certain circumstances (e.g. weight-carrying, circling, inclines, hard surface, etc.). 3: Lameness is consistently observable at a trot under all circumstances. 4: Lameness is obvious at a walk. 5: Lameness produces minimal weight bearing in motion and/or at rest or a complete inability to move.

“Although veterinarians are frequently asked to make a diagnosis based on x-ray or ultrasound images alone, imaging abnormalities are not always correlated with a clinical manifestation of pain.”

“The use of the lameness examination and diagnostic analgesia to localize lameness to a specific region of interest markedly improves the clinical sensitivity of all imaging modalities.“

www.roodandriddle.com


“TimeToRide, an initiative developed by the American Horse Council, with support from the NTRA, Keeneland and the Jockey Club, sponsored free horse rides, with over 1000 people taking advantage of this great opportunity.”

Hats Off Day Celebrates Kentucky’s Horse Industry with over 14,000 people A big thanks to the over 14,000 people who attended the tenth annual Hats Off Day: A Day to Celebrate Kentucky’s Horse Industry! The gates opened at 4:00pm on July 26th to big crowds ready to take advantage of the only free day at the Horse Park all year thanks to Central Bank. Equine businesses from the area provided inflatables, pony rides and other activities for families and people of all ages to enjoy. This year Hats Off Day was very pleased to welcome TimeToRide to the day’s free activities. TimeToRide, an initiative developed by the American Horse Council, with support from the NTRA, Keeneland and the Jockey Club, sponsored free horse rides, with over 1000 people taking advantage of this great opportunity. TimeToRide is designed to connect American families to horse opportunities in their local area, while encouraging participation, ownership and support of the horse industry. More information can be found on www.TimeToRide.com . For the second year the Hats Off Day Equine Exclusive Book Fair was held. The featured author was Kate Tweedy, daughter of Secretariat’s owner Penny Chenery, who signed her book, Secretariat’s Meadow. Other authors included Ed Bowen, Jamie Nicholson, Milt Toby, Barbara Bach, Lou Sahadi, David Shew, and Jamie Corum. Famed artist Jamie Corum also generously donated a beautiful original oil painting of the Triple Crown winners of the 1970s, Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed. Proceeds from the sale of this painting went to support the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and the Kentucky Equine Humane Center.

“The true climax of the night, however, came when Ramiro Quintana won the Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix aboard Whitney in front of a huge crowd in Rolex Stadium.”

This year’s featured exhibition was a gorgeous four-horse team of Dutch Harness horses from James and Misdee Miller’s Hillcroft Farm in Paris, KY. With Todd Draheim in the driver’s seat, the team thrilled the crowd with a spectacular demonstration of a modified cross country marathon. The day was capped off by great attendance at the $50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix. The opening ceremonies for the Grand Prix wowed patrons with a combined driving demonstration as well as a tribute to the Triple Crown winners of the 1970’s. Kate Tweedy, Jean Cruguet, Triple Crown winning jockey of Seattle Slew, along with Dr. Tom Riddle of Rood & Riddle received the honor of placing the last rail of a world class Grand Prix course. The true climax of the night, however, came when Ramiro Quintana won the Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix aboard Whitney in front of a huge crowd in Rolex Stadium. Riders and trainers were thrilled with the attendance calling it the best attended class at the Horse Park all year. The Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix has quickly become one of the premier events in stadium showjumping due to the level of competition and the great crowd interaction.


The Kentucky Experience offers a Free Way to Experience Kentucky and the National Horse Show A partnership of the Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation, Phelps Media Group, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and the United States Hunter Jumper Association are pleased to offer an exciting way to experience the National Horse Show and Central Kentucky’s horse country. The Kentucky Experience will include free tours of famous Bluegrass area horse farms, a free tour of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, free admission to all sessions of the National Horse Show, a free reception at the USHJA Museum, including an opportunity to meet some of the star riders of the hunter jumper world before the ring events on Friday night! This exciting experience will give anyone who signs up at www.roodandriddle.com/kyexperience a free opportunity to experience everything that Kentucky’s horse country has to offer as well as general admission tickets to the National Horse Show for the duration of the show.

Rood & Riddle Again Partners with the National Horse Show

The National Horse Show, announced that Rood & Riddle has, once again, been named the Official Veterinarians, Farriers and the Official Veterinary Pharmacy for this year’s event, scheduled for the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky on October 28 – November 2, 2014. “Rood & Riddle is extremely pleased to once again serve as the Official Veterinarian, Veterinary Pharmacy, and Farrier for the upcoming Alltech National Horse Show,” said Dr. Tom Riddle. “Rood & Riddle’s support of the National Horse Show underscores our practice’s commitment to the sport horse and our community.” Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America’s oldest indoor horse show, firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars. The National Horse Show Association’s primary activity is the annual production of the National Horse Show and all ancillary events. Over the years, the National Horse Show has provided financial aid to many worthwhile charities. www.roodandriddle.com


THOROUGHBRED EVENTER HOUDINI IS DECLARED 2013 ROOD & RIDDLE THOROUGHBRED SPORT HORSE OF THE YEAR. Owner Katie Ruppel to accept the award at the Thoroughbred Owner and Breeder Association’s annual Awards Dinner.

“Houdini had a banner year in 2013 including qualifying for the 2014 Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event. Houdini and Ruppel seemed a match made in heaven after she saw him walking in the shed row at Charles Town Race Track..”

Thoroughbred owners and breeders from throughout the United States and Canada will be on hand to congratulate Houdini, the 2013 Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse of the Year Award recipient during TOBA’s Awards Dinner Friday, September 5 at the Lexington Downtown Convention Center.

Houdini, a 10 year old eventer by Hot Rock and out of Nancy’s Star, was bred and raced by Cecil F. Foster and Hilda Louise Foster. Houdini (Registered name: Rocky Bottom (WV)) had five starts in his Thoroughbred racing career and ran third in his second to last race in a maiden claiming race at Laurel Park. Now owned by Katie Ruppel, Houdini had a banner year in 2013 including qualifying for the 2014 Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event. Houdini and Ruppel seemed a match made in heaven after she saw him walking in the shed row at Charles Town Race Track. Without even seeing him trot, she took a chance on a gut feeling and purchased him as an eventing prospect. Many times after Thoroughbreds have completed their race careers, they are ideal candidates for another vocation. To call attention to these horses’ second career possibilities, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital has created an award to be presented to the top Thoroughbred sport horse each year. Since 2009 Rood & Riddle has partnered with the United States Equestrian Federation and TOBA to sponsor this award which is presented at the annual TOBA Awards Dinner. This award is presented to the best Thoroughbred in a sporting vocation other than racing. The winner is selected by a committee formed by the chef d’equipe of each of the top 4 disciplines (Show Jumping, Hunters, Eventing and Dressage) with a fifth vote given to celebrity Thoroughbred trainer Michael Matz who has had a standout career in both Thoroughbred racing and equestrian sport. “These awards are a wonderful way to heighten awareness so that we may broaden Thoroughbred horses’ careers beyond the racing world,” comments TOBA President Dan Metzger. “By spotlighting their successes in second careers, we hope the awards will encourage people to rehabilitate and retrain Thoroughbreds after they have retired from racing.”


Around the Practice...

Dr. Michelle LeBlanc will be inducted into the University of Kentucky’s Equine Research Hall of Fame on October 9th, 2014. Most recently with Rood & Riddle, LeBlanc’s career extended over 35 years and included teaching, administration and mentoring. She was a theriogenologist, reproductive specialist, with interests in mare infertility, embryo transfer, placental infections in mares and acupuncture in infertile mares. LeBlanc was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Equine VeterinaryAssociation in 2011 and was named 2000 Theriogenologist of the Year by the American College of Theriogenologists. She died in April 2013 after a battle with ovarian cancer. According to the nomination letter from Wayne McIlwraith, university distinguished professor at Colorado State University, and Ed Squires, professor at the UKGluck Equine Research Center, LeBlanc “led research in the development of innovative equipment and the development of novel research and treatment techniques in mares and foals. Her contributions as a teacher, administrator and mentor defied quantification. Her passion for the horse and for equine research up to her untimely passing makes her a very worthy recipient.”

Dr. Tom Riddle was elected an honorary member of the American College of Theriogenology at the Theriogenology Conference in Portland, OR July, 2014. This honorary status is only offered to those individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of Theriogenology. Dr. Riddle, a past president of both the Society for Theriogenology and the Theriogenology Foundation, received the John D. Steiner Award for Excellence in Practice at the 2012 Theriogenology Conference.

The Thoroughbred Club of America (TCA) will honor Dr. Larry Bramlage at its 83rd testimonial dinner at Keeneland Race Course, in Lexington, Kentucky, Sept. 28. “These distinguished honorees are legends in equine veterinary medicine,” TCA president Happy Broadbent said in a release. “Through their respective accomplishments as a surgeon, reproductive specialist, and racetrack veterinarian, these three pioneers have all improved the welfare of the Thoroughbred. Bramlage has distinguished himself as a teacher, researcher, and leader within his profession but is best known as an orthopedic surgeon. Among his best known cases was repairing Personal Ensign’s fracture, which had appeared to be career-ending. After surgery, Personal Ensign returned to continue her unbeaten career, culminating in a dramatic victory in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. A native of Kansas, Bramlage graduated from Kansas State University and taught at Ohio State University before joining Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, in Lexington, in 1989. He became a partner at Rood & Riddle in 1992. www.roodandriddle.com


2150 Georgetown Rd

www.RRVP.com

859.246.0112

Accuracy in every product, every time. You can trust us. www.rrvp.com

dark horse photography


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.