Ask the Vet - Kissing Spine, Over and Underweight horses, Hoof Abscesses, and more! - April 2016

You asked, we answered! In this episode of our monthly series, Ask the Vet, Dr. Lydia Gray and SmartPaker Sarah answer your questions about what is “kissing spine,” how to tell if your horse is overweight, tips and tricks for putting weight on a hard keeper, preventing hoof abscesses, and how to decide what and how much to feed your horse.
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Questions answered in this episode:
1. A few of the horses at my school have kissing spine. What is it and can it be treated/can they still be ridden?
2. How do you actually know if your horse is overweight? Specifically in the case of my horse, she is ridden six days a week (and has been consistently for the last three years) and so she is fit, but yet I hear from people (usually not anyone credible like a vet) that she is fat based on her aesthetic appearance!
3. My horse has a lot of trouble gaining weight. Do you have any tips or tricks?
4. The horse I lease always has problems with abscesses. She goes outside for about 12 hours a day normally, but she's on stall rest because she has another abscess. Is there any precaution I can take to help prevent more future abscesses?
5. I wanted to get my horse off of sweet feed and was immediately overwhelmed by the amount of choices. How do you decide on a feed and what happens when the recommended amount is too much feed at once? How much is too much? How much should I be giving my horse per feeding if he gets fed twice per day?

[@sticksgreen3740]

this helps me we believe my moms horse has kissing spine. Thank u for telling me what the specific things.

[@dominiquematos9575]

My horse is a non-sweater and we have been putting him outside at night when it's cooler and keeping him inside with a fan during the day when it's hotter. He is full body clipped and he still seems to get terribly overheated and its becoming hard to manage. Any tips would be much appreciated :)

[@cinben9325]

Gidget has DSLD (Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Disease). While I have found a great deal of information citing there isn't anything we can do to manage the disease, I haven't been able to find anything telling us what, if anything, will make things worse. Gidget has lots of energy and enjoys being active. She is not allowed to jump anymore, and it's clear she misses it. If her DSLD is going to follow its own course no matter what, maybe that's something we can give back to her, to enjoy while she can.

[@alyssa-ch6zq]

Wow this was very educational thank you very much!!

[@Livieirened]

Is it April already? That flew past! I will have to tell my friends grandparents about that because their horse has a lot of pains in her spine so this could be a cause. 😄

[@alayamcgill7166]

Should I buy first cut or second cut hay? Which cut is better for the horse and has more nutrition? Or is there really not a difference at all between first and second cut?

[@brigidziegler4705]

my pony that I am leasing, a 850 pound Morgan cross, red mare that is 5yrs. and her owner says that she is like 20 pounds underweight, but she gets a handful of food, per meal. I was wondering why.

[@kelliedoyle6119]

My question is could you explain the difference between hay stretcher and extender and forage replaces. Is it companies using different names or is there an actual difference? #askthevet

[@flashmc6682]

Is alfalfa pellets food or forage? I want to take my high strung Arabian off of sweet feed and wondering if it would be okay to switch to that as feed.

[@hunterclassy8815]

#askthevetvideo Is Joint supplement for my 18y/o Gelding a good choice? He has clicking joints.

[@mollyhead1942]

#askthevetvideo I have an ottb and she's never been tested for ulcers. She never really shows any signs of discomfort besides being a bit irritated when I tighten her girth, but should I have her tested just to be safe?

[@mayac218]

I was watching a vet tv show and a horse's throat seemed plugged up and he couldn't swallow anything. He stopped eating so the vet put a tube down his throat and he pushed the blockage through. The blockage was (as the vet said) from the beet pulp. Is this true? He said it absorbed all the moisture, preventing proper swallowing and causing it to plug in his throat. #askthevet

[@mollyhead1942]

How often should a horses teeth be floated? My horse shows no signs of pain or discomfort but should I still get them floated? #askthevetvideo

[@hollie1599]

#askthevetvideo One of our ridden show horses (23years old) is worked regularly and is on a supplement for cushions and has had problems with his liver. He was doing well yet went angular on his bum and gained fat pads on his saddle area, what do you suggest to make him equally proportioned and does it have anything to do with cushions ,what food do you suggest we feed him and do we need to do any specific exercises. please help as we want him to stay happy and healthy.

[@kjequine_1145]

#askthevetvideo I ride at a riding school where there are lots of stones wedged into the ground and 3 of the horses have really tender feet and get lame really easily. They cant have shoes on for some reason so what can be done to strengthen their feet. Also do you have any hoof boot recommendations and fitting tips.

[@PumpedhorsesLeos]

My horse is pretty thin but we are feeding him a lot and he eats a lot of folder but he can't gain any weight. We did worm him and he did not have any problems with his teeth. How can I help him gain wait! Please help

[@listenup9940]

Pumpedhorses Leos If he is not old or stressed and healthy other wise (vet should assess)... but he is still too thin *you are probably simply not meeting his feed requirements.* In other words you are not feeding him enough quality feed. Also do not work him hard or too often until the weight is on. This is another reason they don't gain weight. Light work only maybe 3 or 4 days a week. Leave *quality* hay at all times for him and suppliment with grain. You should see weight gain. Pasture access everyday for mental well being and appitite increase is also beneficial. Good luck.

[@sticksgreen3740]

one question can a horse with kissing spine be breed

[@hidemoisty5788]

In early Feb my mare had a pasturn injury which thankfully didnt cut a tendon or ligament but needed 3 needles every day for a week and we've been changeing banadges every second day since. only yesturdaydid the vet say that we could finnally let it air heal, but we have to clean it every day, its still quite pink and 'fleshy looking'. there a lady at my barn that had ahorse that had a different paturn injury but now the horse wheres bell boot 27/7. should i get bell boots for my horse to keep more dirt and that out or incase she knocks it, that what im most worried about? she is 24/7 in a pasture, never in a stall. is there something else i could do while it completely heals?

[@indianola594]

I am breeding my mare for the second time this year, as last year her foal passed at birth due to placentitis. Are there any things that I can do to help ensure my pregnant mare has a better pregnancy? She is a 10 year old appendix quarter horse mare and is out on pasture during the day, and comes in to a foaling stall with a run at night. Thanks, Gretta #askthevetvideo

[@MosaikHorse]

+indianola594 I would always suggest sending a mare to stud. You show know her ancestry and test for as many diseases and issues before breeding. Giving your mare some rest from breeding is nice too. I'm not saying this directly at you, just in general; just because she has a uterus, doesn't mean she needs to be bred; there are too many backyard breeders and horses with terrible conformation/ diseases and people who don't always know the complications so you're taking a big risk if you decide to not seek out professional help and consultation.

[@indianola594]

Thank you for your input. Fortunately, my mare has excellent conformation, temperament, and movement. I am constantly in check with my local vet, and have developed a plan for her pregnancy. She had a year off of "pregnancy mode" as we felt both us and her needed a break from the traumatic and depressing experience that had occurred.

[@MosaikHorse]

+indianola594 That's great! I sympathise for the terrible events and I should state I'm not a doctor or professional, and it sounds like you've done the right thing and maybe it's was just chance and you might have better experience next time, for you and the horses sake.

[@indianola594]

+Drachen Einhorn I hope everything goes better this time around.We'll see... trying not to get my hopes up.

[@MosaikHorse]

+indianola594 Best of luck. Maybe you could post a video of her because she sounds lovely. If it's too emotionally damaging, maybe it'd be better to just buy or adopt a foal who needs a mare like yours?

[@dominiquematos9575]

#askthevetvideo

[@megnemo6403]

Maybe the horse a draft horse and not overweight at all.

[@Stargurl-hb1sg]

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