OSTEOPATHIC EXPLORATION OF THE PELVIC ROOM FOR VETERINARIANS

As many of you already know, we evaluate horses using Osteopathic Technique. Osteopathy takes the scientific knowledge of anatomy and physiology that veterinarians have already obtained, and trains their hands to interpret minute restrictions of the fascia that cause the stasis of blood and fluids in the body. This stasis compromises the external and internal anatomic structures of the horse. Compromised structure leads to disturbed function and disturbed function leads to compromised structure. We are holding a two day class to explain to veterinarians how the osteopathic technique can be used to release visceral restrictions that impact the external muscles, bones and ligaments. Classes are open to any veterinarian who might be interested in knowing more about how to release restrictions in the pelvic room that impair the function of the hips and stifles of horses.

Call us for the next upcoming Exploration of the Pelvic Room class dates:

The Whole Horse Veterinary Clinic
6448 SH 71 Garwood TX 77442
Course includes: classroom lectures with power point, and a wet lab for hands on practice.

THE WHOLE HORSE VETERINARY CLINIC
DEWORMING PROGRAM FOR ADULT HORSES

Horses with a good immune system will have less trouble with parasites. Make sure your horse has good nutrition above everything else. Whole Food Vitamins like blue green algae and chlorella promote healthy immune systems. Always give the horse a sufficient amount of dewormer for his weight. Giving less dewormer than the amount the horse weighs will make all the worms sick and resistant to the dewormer, but will kill zero worms. If the horse weighs more than the 1250 lbs that come in the tube, buy two tubes and give one tube plus a partial tube to make up the proper weight. The American Association of Equine Practitioners has recommended that we do fecal tests to evaluate which horses are shedders and only deworm them, due to the developing resistance of the intestinal parasites to de-wormers. I think this is a great protocol for most of the country, however when we tried to implement this in Texas, I had horses developing a large number of L4 larvae and strongylus vulgaris infestation. The only weather that seems to kill L4 larvae is a tremendous dry heat, like they have in places like Arizona. I am continuing to recommend deworming horses every 2 months if horses are grazing in small pastures and some of the horses are shedding parasite eggs. My clients who have negative fecals on all of their horses are backing off on giving de-wormers. If you have horses in Texas, you must still do some deworming in order to avoid L4 larvae from large strongyles infestation. Below is the recommended protocol if your horse is shedding parasite eggs:

Rotate: changing the active ingredient, not just the brand name, giving a dose every two months

Because we see a lot of bot flys in Texas in the summer, I like to use a dewormer that will kill bots during the summer and early fall. Always make sure you are giving a sufficient dose of dewormer. If you give less that the horse’s weight, you will make all the worms sick, kill none of them, and make the worms more resistant to the dewormer!

Below is a sample deworming schedule:

  • Jan: oxibendazole (Anthelcide EQ) give a double dose, meaning give double the horse’s weight
  • Mar or April: double dose of pyrantel pamoate (Strongid)
  • May, June or July: ivermectin
  • Jul, August, or Sept: Moxidectin Plus (Quest Plus) make sure you give sufficient amount, but don’t overdose.
  • Sep, Oct, or Nov: moxidectin/praziquantel (Quest Plus)
  • Nov, Dec, or Jan: Oxibendazole double dose (Anthelcide EQ)

To kill L4 larvae at the anterior mesenteric artery in a horse that is already on a good de-worming schedule; we will give a Panacur PowerPak (must be name brand), wait ten days, give a Quest or a Quest Plus depending on the condition of the horse; and then repeat with another Quest or Quest Plus after an additional ten days. If there is resistance on your farm to the ingredient in Panacur, fenbendazole; then use two tubes of Anthelcide EQ (Oxibendazole) for five days in a row instead of the Panacur PowerPak. We like to give FastTrack Equine while we are deworming for intestinal support. We also give Colloidal Silver during the de-worming process for it’s antibiotic and scavenging effects.