Lindsay Helvey, DVM
Equine Veterinarian at Northwest Equine
Lindsay Helvey with a patient.
NW Equine.
Please explain your job as an equine veterinarian. What type of care do you give horses in a typical day? What are some common problems you see in horses?
"My job as an equine veterinarian includes scheduled appointments as well as emergencies. The scheduled appointments include performing treatments for preventative care which include: vaccinations [performed twice a year for the most common diseases: influenza, rhinopneumonitis (herpesvirus), West Nile, tetanus, Streptococcus equi (strangles)], dentals (float the teeth once a year with removal of retained baby teeth or old teeth that are decaying), breeding, foal exams and discussions about management issues (deworming, weight management, supplements, metabolic and endocrine diseases). Other examinations involve discovering causes of lameness and treatment, prepurchase exams, and follow up exams. Emergencies range from mild to life threatening circumstances: bodily injuries (for example caused by fencing or trailer accidents), laminitis (founder), exposure to a toxin (including ingesting too much grain) and colic."
In the late 1800s, horses were generally worked most of the day and had a lifespan of only two years. What is the maximum in a given day in which a horse can be worked and remain healthy? Why?
"Compared to the 1800s horses are not typically kept out of necessity. As you are probably aware machines have taken the many jobs horses would previously have in terms of pulling carriages or plows. There are still many working ranches that rely on horses for their daily management of cattle, but the larger populations of horses are kept for pleasure and competition. The amount of time a horse can be worked in a day is determined by many factors including the level or demand of work, and the condition, age and ability of the horse. Some ranch horses work all day sorting cattle, but they have been conditioned to withstand that type of labor and are typically rotated with other horse so they receive several days of rest. If worked daily too hard any horse will develop problems such as arthritis, tendon and ligament issues, stress fractures, concussive laminitis and other injuries. These problems arise from improper conditioning, poor footing, inadequate shoeing or tack, or the weakening of muscles, tendons and ligaments from overuse or previous injuries. Though I cannot give you a set number of hours that a horse can be worked, the best guideline is to listen to your horse. A very mild trail ride can be for multiple hours to a whole day depending on the horse’s condition, compared to a very vigorous dressage workout that should only last 1-2 hours. In the 1800’s I would also like to believe that horses were not kept in as good condition as they are today. Yearly preventative care, advancements in medicine and a better understanding of management allows horses to live into their late 30s."
What kinds of diseases can horses get from unsanitary and crowded conditions?
"Overcrowded and unsanitary conditions lead to diseases that are contagious. Diseases that arise may involve external and internal parasites, fungal, bacterial and viral infections. External parasites depend on which state they are living in but include: lice, ticks and mites. Internal parasites are easily passed in poor conditions as the horses will ingest the eggs shed in the poop from infected horses. Fungal and bacterial skin infections arise due to scratches, skin abrasions and moisture caused by dirty, wet and unsafe conditions. A disruption in the skin barrier caused by these conditions allows opportunistic bacteria and fungus to grow. Viral infections may occur due to horses being unvaccinated, stressed or unhealthy and the conditions having poor ventilation or overcrowded."
What kind of diseases could be spread to humans by horses and their manure?
"Diseases that are spread between animals and humans are called zoonotic diseases. There are not many zoonotic diseases that are passed from horses to humans but may include rabies if the horse is infected and shedding the virus in its saliva. An infected horse would be showing symptoms that would indicate infection. Antibiotic resistant bacteria can be transferred to humans from horses, but the human’s health has to be compromised in order for it to be infectious. In terms of manure, humans are not very good hosts to internal parasites from horses. Most internal parasites are species specific. There are some exceptions such as roundworms and hookworms that are carried by dogs and cats that can infect very young children, but for the most part horses are not part of that cycle. There are some types of bacteria that in manure that a horse may be shedding without showing any signs of illness. One example is Salmonella."
Helvey, Lindsay. Email. 2 December 2011.
"My job as an equine veterinarian includes scheduled appointments as well as emergencies. The scheduled appointments include performing treatments for preventative care which include: vaccinations [performed twice a year for the most common diseases: influenza, rhinopneumonitis (herpesvirus), West Nile, tetanus, Streptococcus equi (strangles)], dentals (float the teeth once a year with removal of retained baby teeth or old teeth that are decaying), breeding, foal exams and discussions about management issues (deworming, weight management, supplements, metabolic and endocrine diseases). Other examinations involve discovering causes of lameness and treatment, prepurchase exams, and follow up exams. Emergencies range from mild to life threatening circumstances: bodily injuries (for example caused by fencing or trailer accidents), laminitis (founder), exposure to a toxin (including ingesting too much grain) and colic."
In the late 1800s, horses were generally worked most of the day and had a lifespan of only two years. What is the maximum in a given day in which a horse can be worked and remain healthy? Why?
"Compared to the 1800s horses are not typically kept out of necessity. As you are probably aware machines have taken the many jobs horses would previously have in terms of pulling carriages or plows. There are still many working ranches that rely on horses for their daily management of cattle, but the larger populations of horses are kept for pleasure and competition. The amount of time a horse can be worked in a day is determined by many factors including the level or demand of work, and the condition, age and ability of the horse. Some ranch horses work all day sorting cattle, but they have been conditioned to withstand that type of labor and are typically rotated with other horse so they receive several days of rest. If worked daily too hard any horse will develop problems such as arthritis, tendon and ligament issues, stress fractures, concussive laminitis and other injuries. These problems arise from improper conditioning, poor footing, inadequate shoeing or tack, or the weakening of muscles, tendons and ligaments from overuse or previous injuries. Though I cannot give you a set number of hours that a horse can be worked, the best guideline is to listen to your horse. A very mild trail ride can be for multiple hours to a whole day depending on the horse’s condition, compared to a very vigorous dressage workout that should only last 1-2 hours. In the 1800’s I would also like to believe that horses were not kept in as good condition as they are today. Yearly preventative care, advancements in medicine and a better understanding of management allows horses to live into their late 30s."
What kinds of diseases can horses get from unsanitary and crowded conditions?
"Overcrowded and unsanitary conditions lead to diseases that are contagious. Diseases that arise may involve external and internal parasites, fungal, bacterial and viral infections. External parasites depend on which state they are living in but include: lice, ticks and mites. Internal parasites are easily passed in poor conditions as the horses will ingest the eggs shed in the poop from infected horses. Fungal and bacterial skin infections arise due to scratches, skin abrasions and moisture caused by dirty, wet and unsafe conditions. A disruption in the skin barrier caused by these conditions allows opportunistic bacteria and fungus to grow. Viral infections may occur due to horses being unvaccinated, stressed or unhealthy and the conditions having poor ventilation or overcrowded."
What kind of diseases could be spread to humans by horses and their manure?
"Diseases that are spread between animals and humans are called zoonotic diseases. There are not many zoonotic diseases that are passed from horses to humans but may include rabies if the horse is infected and shedding the virus in its saliva. An infected horse would be showing symptoms that would indicate infection. Antibiotic resistant bacteria can be transferred to humans from horses, but the human’s health has to be compromised in order for it to be infectious. In terms of manure, humans are not very good hosts to internal parasites from horses. Most internal parasites are species specific. There are some exceptions such as roundworms and hookworms that are carried by dogs and cats that can infect very young children, but for the most part horses are not part of that cycle. There are some types of bacteria that in manure that a horse may be shedding without showing any signs of illness. One example is Salmonella."
Helvey, Lindsay. Email. 2 December 2011.