Equine Newsletter
www.struthers-scott.co.uk
Summer 2013
Tel: 01786 841304
How’s my condition? -
Diet is an important factor in recovery from injury or illness, and Struthers
and Scott are now pleased to be stocking Equitop Myoplast, which can be a useful tool in helping to build
condition, Patrick Day explains.
A period of rest and
recuperation is inevitable
during your horse or pony’s
career, for example, as the
result of lameness or colic, or
due to an illness or disease
such as laminitis or following
surgery.
Diet
plays
an
important role in supporting
both recovery from illness and
repair of tissues such as bone,
muscle or tendons following
injury. In order to do this, the
diet must provide a number
of different nutrients which
are needed to support the
healing process, or to fight
infection or disease.
When will your horse get the
most
from
Equitop
Myoplast?
-
-
-
-
Supplementing
with
the
Equitop
ration
Myoplast
delivers a high quality and
digestible
protein
source,
providing
essential
amino
During periods of intensive
training and competition
When your horse is in
training at the beginning of
the season or when you are
bringing horses in to work
after a period of rest
When you have a young
horse entering training
When you have an older
horse finding it difficult to
maintain condition
When
you
have
a
broodmare
with
an
increased need for protein
During rehabilitation –
when you do not want to
increase the amount of
calories, but want to
maintain muscle condition
acids to support the normal
Why should the level of
protein fed to older horses be
increased?
As your horse gets older, they
are likely to need a higher
dietary
protein
intake
compared to their younger
companions. This is because
you need to compensate for
the
reduced
efficiency
of
digestion, particularly with
respect to protein.
Why is muscle mass and tone
often
reduced
in
older
horses?
As horses grow older, they are
likely
to
undertake
less
exercise, and this combined
with age-related changes may
lead to a gradual decline in
muscle tone and mass.
recovery process and muscle
FREE CUSHINGS TESTED
turnover when exercise is
EXTENDED
resumed. This aids a rapid
recovery and return to work.
It is also an effective nutritional
support in older horses.
SPECIAL OFFER PRICE – For the month of August &
September, a 1.5kg tub of Equitop Myoplast (equivalent to 2
months’ supply for most horses) is only £75 (normally £90)
We are pleased to be able to offer
our
clients
Cushing’s
on-going
testing
to
free
help
diagnose new cases of Cushing’s
disease. This extended testing
period is available until the end
of August. Speak to one of the
vets for more info.
Tetanus and Flu –
Tom
Southall reminds us why we
should all be routinely
vaccinating our horses.
The horse is the most
susceptible of all domestic
animals to tetanus. This
usually fatal disease is caused
by a toxin that is produced by
the bacterium Clostridium
tetani, which is commonly
found in soil. It usually enters
the
body
via
wounds,
especially
deep
and
penetrating wounds such as
those caused by sharp objects
penetrating the sole of the
hoof.
The tetanus toxin attacks the
horse’s
nervous
system,
resulting
in
widespread,
violent muscle spasms and a
severe fever. Treatment is
both intensive and costly, and
is not always successful.
Clearly, prevention is better
than cure! We believe regular
vaccination of all horses,
ponies and donkeys against
tetanus is absolutely essential.
Vaccination is quick, simple
and highly effective. The
initial course of 2 vaccinations
approximately 4 weeks apart
only needs to be followed
with a booster every 3 years!
Equine influenza (‘flu’) is a
highly
contagious,
viral
disease of the respiratory
tract. Infection can result in a
persistent cough, a nasal
discharge, a fever, and general
malaise. Some cases can go on
to develop secondary bacteria
pneumonia.
Vaccination
against this disease is also
recommend routinely, and
certainly for any horses that
are in contact with other
horses (eg: at livery, at shows
and out on hacks). Again,
vaccination is an effective
control measure. After the
initial course of 2 vaccinations
approximately 4 weeks apart,
the first booster is given about
6
months
later
(‘third
vaccine’). Annual vaccinations
are then required after this.
All competing horses are
required to be vaccinated for
flu, and the most commonly
used guidelines are those set
by the British Horseracing
Authority (see box).
FLU VACC. PROTOCOL:
1st injection –from 5 months of
age
2nd injection –within 21-92
days after 1st injection
3rd injection –within 150 -215
days after 2nd injection
Booster
vaccinations
are
annual and MUST be given
within 365 days of the last
vaccination
If you are intending to compete at any
FEI event please refer to the FEI
FREE WEIGH TAPES! STILL
AVAILABLE – while stocks last!
We believe all horses should be
checked with a weigh tape
regularly. For clients requesting
Worm
Egg
Counts
at
the
practice, free weigh tapes are
available.
Please note: the practice does
send out vaccination reminders,
but it is ultimately the owner’s
responsibility to remember when
your horse is due his/her
vaccination.
A useful online
calculator can be found at:
www.britishhorseracing.com/mo
bile/vet/vaccs
FREE VISITS COMING SOON!
We are delighted to inform you
that we are currently arranging a
ZONAL VISITS SCHEME. More
news to follow, but clients can be
expected to be informed of their
vaccination guidelines at www.fei.org.
ZONE over the coming weeks.
Please note FEI guidelines differ from
Each ZONE will have a day on
the above vaccination protocol.
which routine visits can be prearranged free of charge!