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• A Good First Aid Kit
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• What is the 'Normal' Horse
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DEAR DR. BHUYAN: I work at a camp in the summer with a riding stable and about 30 horses. All of which, have Lepto. I don't know much about the disease except that it is spread through urine. Is this disease passed from sire/dam to foals? There is a beautiful grey QH mare, 3 or 4 years old and I think she would make an excellent show hunter. Is there a way to get rid of the disease and would she be allowed to show? -Mug ANSWER: Dear Mug, Thank you for your question. Leptospirosis in horses can be hard to get rid of, and if treated, it is difficult to ascertain whether the disease has truly left the body. Diagnosis may involve repeated blood tests over a period of time, examination of the urine under the microscope, and ocular (eye) swabs to be sure that the organism is not living in the blood, kidneys, or eyes. Because the organism can live in the blood stream, I believe that it is possible for the organism to be transmitted to a fetus, and the organism also may cause abortion in the last trimester of pregnancy. Good News! I just returned from the Michigan Veterinary Conference, where I presented your question to one of the clinicians from Michigan State University who was there. He said that when he was practicing at Washington State he had some experience with lepto and that first, it was unlikely that the whole herd was infected, and second, if you wanted to take a horse out of the herd and show it, he would recommend testing it, but if it did not have a high lepto titer (antibody level in her blood), then he would show her and not worry about it, since the risk of spreading the disease is so low in his experience. Also, lepto can be treated with streptomycin, which is available in an over-the-counter form as "Combiotic", at least here in Michigan. I hope that you get this in time for it to help you. Dr. B.

How to Be Your Own Veterinarian (Sometimes : A Do-It-Yourself Guide for the Horseman)
by Ruth B. James

Midwest Book Review :

Horse owners will find How to Be Your Own Veterinarian a fine do-it-yourself guide which differentiates home care from when it's time to call for professional help. From horse management, safety, and foaling to treating common injuries and recognizing skin, eye and digestive problems, this should be on the shelves of any horse owner.

List: $19.95
Our Price: $15.96
You Save: $3.99 (20%)

Availability: This title usually ships within 24 hours

Paperback, 360 pages
Published by Alpine Pr
Publication date: June 1985
Dimensions (in inches): 1.01 x 11.03 x 8.65
ISBN: 0961511400

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DEAR DR. BHUYAN: Is it better to use polo wraps or sports medicine boots on barrel horses.? - Kila ANSWER: Dear Kila, Thanks for the question. I believe that sports medicine boots provide much better support for the stresses that barrel racing puts on horses because they are a bit stiffer, and also can be put on more consistently than polo wraps. With polo wraps, the tension and location of support will vary every time they are put on. Bear in mind that it is very important that your sports medicine boots fit your horse well and are in good condition. If there are tears in the boot, or if the velcro is torn or worn to the point that it does not stick well, you are not going to be giving your horse as much support as he may need and also may expose him to risk of injuring the skin in the areas in which a boot is torn. Dr. B. DEAR DR. BHUYAN: What are windpuffs? ANSWER: Windpuffs are a puffy swelling found above the fetlock on the back of either a front or hind leg, caused by an accumulation of fluid brought on by stress. In acute cases, these should not be ignored, especially if you notice associated lameness or heat in this area. Once a horse has wind- puffs, they may be present indefinitely and not be associated with any lameness once the initial injury has healed, so many older horses with windpuffs are perfectly sound, and their condition should be considered a blemish, not an unsoundness. Dr. B.