Be Careful About Tackling Corrective Shoeing With Foals 

Olin Balch urges you to carefully explain the risks to owners who ask you to perform corrective shoeing or trimming on young foals. You may be do more harm than good, maintains the Washington equine veterinarian. While you may correct a turned out or turned in hoof, these corrections may end up twisting the joints above the fetlock to abnormal angles. Balch says this could lead to an incorrect hoof angle that will cause undue stress on the entire limb due to unnatural torque that is applied with each step that the foal takes.

Cushing’s Disease Can Create Many Health Concerns

Data summarized from a half dozen international investigations with 161 horses suffering from Cushing’s disease indicates equines are affected in different ways. David Rendle, a researcher at Scotland’s University of Glasgow, found 84 percent of the affected horses had excessive hair growth. Some 55 percent of the horses were lethargic, 53 percent had laminitis, 39 percent lost weight, 39 percent had excessive urination, 29 percent sweated excessively, 24 percent suffered from fat redistribution and 15 percent had noticeable neurological signs.

Cushing’s disease occurs when the horse’s adrenal gland produces excessive amounts of hormones such as cortisol. In addition, Rendle determined that horses suffering from Cushing’s disease are at increased risk for infection.

White Vinegar, Earplugs And Hearing Loss

While those old-fashioned earplugs that cost about 50 cents a pair will work well in helping farriers reduce hearing loss, Dr. Jamison Starbuck…