Fox Run Equine Center

Cryptorchidism in the Horse Brian S. Burks DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board-Certified in Equine Practice Cryptorchidism is a congenital condition (i.e., the individual is born with it) in which one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) of the testes fail to descend from the abdomen into the scrotum. Several common terms have been used to describe cryptorchids, including "rig," "false rig," and "ridgling." ...Continue reading

Good night! (724) 727-3481 We’re for the horse.

Equine Vaccinations Brian S. Burks DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board-Certified in Equine Practice Did you ever wonder why your and others’ horses do not get sick from the flu or West Nile Virus? This is due to vaccination. Just as in the human field smallpox and polio are no longer or only very seldom seen. Compare disease rates in North America and Europe with those of poor, developing countries. This is largely due to adequate vaccination and hygiene. There is a lot of talk about ...Continue reading

White Line Disease in Horses Brian S. Burks DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board-Certified in Equine Practice The white line is visible on the ground surface of the hoof capsule. It is a lighter, softer ring of horn at the boundary of the sole and hoof wall. The white line is actually yellow. White line disease may extend further proximally to the white line, making the term somewhat misleading. This is a progressive keratinolytic process within the deep layers of the stratum internum r...Continue reading

Texting for horse people! OOH - out of hay LAS - lost a shoe FOMHL - fell off my horse laughing ... FTC - forgot the carrots HBS - horse being stubborn IPTI - I'll pick up tennis instead LWW - lesson went well MSMBO - mud sucked my boot off HSIH - horse snot in hair HAO - hay all over PIHH - poop induced half halt UD - unplanned dismount TT - tack trouble PTTDG - prayed to the dirt God MMM - master manure mucker OOM - out of money MHTS - more horses than sense BAHHFDP - bought another horse husband filed divorce papers GBBF - got board bill, fainted GFBF - got farrier bill, fainted HRHCF - husband realized horse costs, fainted SLH - smell like horse DQFOY - Dressage Queen fell off - yipee! HTNHFH - Hiding the new horse from hubby WWFNS - will work for new saddle AROGC - arena rained out - going crazy SSB - saddle sore butt NTLGR - Nasty trainer left - good riddance ALIGAR - at least I got a ribbon NLT - no lesson today HGR - have a great ride ATD - at the doctor’s ATV - at the vet’s HJBM - horse just bit me R2R - ready to ride OGAHGH - on the ground and my horse is gone. HELP! www.foxrunequine.com Fox Run Equine Center (724) 727-3481 Your horse's health is always our top priority.

Prevention of Disease in Horses- Part 2 Brian S. Burks, DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board Certified in Equine Practice Reduction of disease exposure then requires isolation of new arrivals for at least 14 days to allow for disease manifestation, and any sick animals from healthy animals. Contamination of feed and water should be reduced by proper manure disposal and keeping feed in rodent proof containers. Rodents can be controlled by removing nesting sites such as old refrigerators an...Continue reading

Prevention of Disease in Horses Brian S. Burks, DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board Certified in Equine Practice Most people are familiar with vaccination in humans and animals. There are many different vaccines available, some of which are essential (rabies) and others that do little (EPM). Most of them are useful tools to help prevent disease. They are not, however, the only tool in the arsenal of disease prevention....Continue reading

Winter Hoof Care Brian S. Burks, DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board Certified in Equine Practice Winter is here and it is important to remember the hooves that are between your horse and the snowy and icy ground. Although growth is reduced from about a quarter inch per month to half that rate, hooves still require care. Keeping hooves trimmed and balanced helps to prevent cracks and chips; it also keeps the angle of the hoof-pastern axis correct....Continue reading

Good night! Fox Run Equine Center www.foxrunequine.com... (724) 727-3481 We're for the horse.

SHOCK WAVE THERAPY FOR THE HORSE Brian S. Burks, DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board Certified in Equine Practice High energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy is a non-invasive technique used for a variety of musculoskeletal disorders. This modality has been extrapolated from its use in human medicine to similar ailments in the horse and small animals. Focused shock wave therapy results in accelerated, improved healing, and the attenuation of pain in equine musculoskeletal disorders. T...Continue reading

Head to the barn! Fox Run Equine Center www.foxrunequine.com... (724) 727-3481 We're for the horse.

Hepatic Disease in Horses- Part 2 Brian S. Burks DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board-Certified in Equine Practice Laboratory testing is used to detect liver dysfunction before failure occurs. There are several serum enzymes used to assess hepatic disease, but they do not provide information about function. Tests of hepatic function are useful diagnostic and prognostic tools and provide a guide for the modification of drug-dosing regimens....Continue reading

Sweet dreams! Fox Run Equine Center www.foxrunequine.com... (724) 727-3481 We're for the horse.

Infectious Dental Disease Brian S. Burks, DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board Certified in Equine Practice Horses of all ages commonly experience infections of dental tissues. Unfortunately, horses often do not show any clinical sign until disease is advanced, making the oral examination mandatory on at least an annual basis, using sedation and a dental speculum....Continue reading

National Horse Day Brian S. Burks, DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board Certified in Equine Practice National Horse Day is celebrated every December 13, as a day to remember the economic, historic, and cultural contributions horses have made. Currently, there are about 9.2 million horses in the United States. Horses have served as companions for humans for thousands of years....Continue reading

Contracted Heels in the Horse Brian S. Burks, DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board Certified in Equine Practice A contracted foot is one where the foot is more narrow than normal, especially in the heels. It is most common in the front feet, and is most often bilateral, but it can be in only a single foot. Donkeys and mules have a more narrow foot that in a horse would be called contracted. Tennessee Walking Horses and American Saddlebreds may have contracted heels when placed in show pl...Continue reading

Hepatic Disease in Horses- Part 1 Brian S. Burks DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board-Certified in Equine Practice Hepatic disease is common in horses. Increases in serum hepatic enzymes and bile acid concentrations may indicate dysfunction, insult, disease, or failure. Fortunately, most horses do not progress to hepatic failure....Continue reading

Appy Halloween! Fox Run Equine Center www.foxrunequine.com... (724) 727-3481 We're for the Horse.

Mycobacterial Infection Brian S. Burks DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board-Certified in Equine Practice Mycobacteria come from the family Mycobacteriaceae, a group of aerobic bacterial rods. Their growth in the laboratory is difficult and may take several weeks; special media is required. They are the cause of human and feline leprosy, Johne’s disease in cattle, and tuberculosis in people. These are all separate species, e.g. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. bovis. Mycobacterium avium...Continue reading

Happy hoofaween! Fox Run Equine Center www.foxrunequine.com... (724) 727-3481 We're for the Horse.

Urinary Tract Infections in the Horse Brian S. Burks DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board-Certified in Equine Practice The body produces many wastes and byproducts of energy production that must be regularly eliminated. The lungs dispose of gaseous wastes and carbon dioxide, and the digestive tract takes care of the solid wastes from feed. The urinary system excretes the liquid wastes containing nitrogen, salts, excess sugars, and other substances that are filtered out of the bloodstream....Continue reading

Flying past the moon! Fox Run Equine Center www.foxrunequine.com... (724) 727-3481 We're for the Horse.

Equine Proliferative Pododermatitis Brian S. Burks, DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board Certified in Equine Practice Introduction...Continue reading

Trick or Treat! Fox Run Equine Center www.foxrunequine.com... (724) 727-3481 We're for the Horse.

Staphylococcal Infections of the Horse Brian S. Burks DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board-Certified in Equine Practice The genus Staphylococcus consists of approximately 50 different species and subspecies of gram-positive cocci. Many are commensals on mucosal and skin surfaces, and as such are opportunistic pathogens in the horse. The name comes from Greek staphule- bunch of grapes; and kokkos- grain, berry, seed. The two most important species in horses are S. aureus and S. intermediu...Continue reading

Good night! Fox Run Equine Center www.foxrunequine.com... (724) 727-3481 We're for the Horse.

Lyme Disease in Horses Brian S. Burks DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board-Certified in Equine Practice Lyme disease (please, not lymes) is caused by the Gram-negative spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The organism was first identified in Lyme, Connecticut, and is common in areas endemic for the Ixodes spp. ticks. It is frequently the cause of disease in humans and animals, especially dogs and cats, and less commonly in horses and cattle. Large mammalian hosts such as deer are ...Continue reading

Good night! Fox Run Equine Centerr www.foxrunequine.com... (724) 727-3481 We're for the Horse.

Miniature Horse Facts In most ways, caring for Miniature Horses is similar to caring for their full-sized counterpartsthey need proper nutrition, housing, farriery, and veterinary care. Because these tiny equids do require some special considerations, here are some things for you to remember when managing them. Size: The average Miniature Horse stands 32 to 36 inches tallas measured at the highest point of the withersand weighs, on average, 150 to 300 pounds.... Housing: Not surprisingly, Minis require less living space than full-sized horses. One acre of pasture suitable for a large horse can easily accommodate four to six Minis. In the barn, a Mini can be housed comfortably in a 6-by-6-foot stall. Turnout: A kick from a full-sized horse can do a lot of damage to a miniature horse. Make sure that they can reach the water source. Vaccination and Deworming: These do not change for miniature horses. Deworming should be based upon weight, but the vaccines are designed to elicit an immune response so the dose does not change. Hoof Care: Miniatures have thin walls, and like other horses, require trimming every 6-8 weeks. Obesity: This is very common in Miniature Horses, putting them at risk for numerous health problems including insulin resistance, hyperlipemia, colic, and laminitis. Miniatures require 1.5% of ideal bodyweight. Most do not require concentrates, unless they are working hard, being ridden or pulling a cart. Placental Separation: Sometimes the placenta will detach early from the uterus, which compromises the blood flow and oxygenation of the fetus. Monitor carefully for signs of infection during gestation that can cause placental separation. Foaling should be attended to assist in case of a red bag presentation. Fetal Membranes: It can be difficult for the foal to break through the placental membranes, and may need help. Clear the nasal passageways, if necessary. Hyperlipidemia: Stress, feed changes, pregnancy, injuries, etc. can cause this life-threatening condition. Massive amounts of fat may be released into the blood stream, overwhelming the liver, interfering with its normal function. Early treatment is necessary to save its life. Conformation Defects: Miniature Horses are prone to upward fixation of the patella, angulation of the limbs, nasal passage way and oral defects. They may have over or under-shot jaws. They may retain caps more commonly than other horses. Dwarfism: These miniatures are especially small and may have conformational defects. Mildly affected animals may have a normal life, but some severe defects can be quite crippling. Fox Run Equine Center www.foxrunequine.com (724) 727-3481 Your horse's health is always our top priority.