Behavioral Problems in Horses-- Part III

This is the third and final installment of a multi-part series outlining common equine behavior problems.

Unfortunately many horses have behavior problems - most often created by poor and inconsistent handling or physical abuse. Time and patience are required to correct these behavioral problems, and sometimes the problems cannot be corrected and instead must be managed.  Following are a number of topics that fall under the category of Behavioral Eating Disorders.


EATING DISORDERS
Coprophagia
Eating feces is mainly seen in foals during the first 8 wk of life. Foals usually consume the fresh feces of their mothers.  The behavior may also provide vitamin B and introduce normal intestinal flora. In adults, the behavior is mainly associated with a low-roughage diet.
Obesity

Decreased exercise and overfeeding a highly concentrated diet may lead to obesity. On pasture, horses spend about 8–12 hours grazing while moving from place to place; confined horses spend about 3–4 hours. Consider increasing exercise, social contact, and roughage to help maintain appropriate body weight.

Anorexia
Horses are herd animals.  Changes in their socialization can lead to stress which can increase the chance of anorexia.   Appropriate weaning of foals is also important to prevent anorexia. If previously attacked, submissive horses may not eat near aggressive horses.  if they have previously been attacked.  Management and/or correction should be directed toward the underlying problem. Increasing social contact and separating affected animals from aggressive horses can help.

FOAL REJECTION
There are three types of foal rejection:
1. avoidance—the mare will not attack the foal but will not allow suckling
2. intolerance of suckling, which may be due to a painful udder,  and
3. aggression toward the foal, in which mares exhibit stallion-like behavior and may kick and bite the foal.

NOTE:  Some mares paw at the foal to stimulate them to stand, and this should be differentiated from aggression.

The most important aspect of treatment is to protect the foal. In extreme cases, the foal should be supplied with colostrum within the first 12 hours and then bottle fed or cross-nursed.  Restraining a primiparous (bearing young for the first time) mare and letting the foal suckle may teach the mare that nursing is pleasurable and encourage her to let the foal nurse without restraint. A quiet environment with minimal disturbance is critical to successful nursing.  Any evidence of mastitis should be remedied. For an aggressive mare, appropriate restraints should be considered. Feeding the mare treats during nursing can help to desensitize her. In some cases, stimulating maternal behavior by separating the mare from the foal or faking a threat to the foal (e.g., other horses, dogs) can help. Medications may help; however, these drugs can enter the milk and affect the foal.
Behavioral problems  are often the tip of the iceberg.  Resolving these problems requires getting to the root cause,  and addressing the whys and wherefores.  Understanding behavior and behavior modification is a skill that every horse owner should want to develop.  The results are well worth the effort.

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This blog is brought to you by Diagnostic Imaging Systems.  Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Inc. (DIS) has been providing Quality Imaging products since 1983. The company combines industry knowledge with an understanding of the veterinary practice. For more information, go to Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Inc. website at: www.vetxray.com
All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The owner will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information. These terms and conditions of use are subject to change at any time and without notice.

S is for Snake

Looking for a pet that doesn't cramp your style?  No walks, no litter box, no barking in the middle of the night?  Consider a snake to be your sidekick.   Most first time snake shoppers will simply pick out the one that appeals to them the most, visually. Looks are important, but there are other factors to be considered when deciding which may be the best for you.

Simply put, here are our 5 favorites for the first-time pet owner:

Ø  Corn Snake

Ø  California Kingsnake

Ø  Rosy Boa

Ø  Gopher Snake

Ø  Ball Python

Let's examine some important factors:  cost, size, health, temperament, feeding issues, color and breeding success. Some of these factors, (i.e. cost and size) may be very important to you, while others (breeding success and color morphs) may not matter at all.

Cost – Depending on the species, gender, color and age of your pet, you can expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $100 for our Top 5 picks.  The more colorful the snake, the more it will cost.  $10-$100 is the cost of the snake only!  Be prepared to spend more on an appropriate container, bedding, heat source, places to hide, etc. We did a little research and discovered starter kits in the $30-$40 range.

Size – There is no good size or bad size of snake, just make sure to purchase one that will fit your preference as an adult.

Health – Two factors come into play here: 1--you provide all necessary requirements and, 2--you drop the ball once in a while.  Simply put, some snakes are easier to care for, and can handle wider swings of consistency than others. If you don't think you can provide your pet with the best,  both you and the snake would be better off apart. However, a hardy pet will be more likely to survive, should you temporarily lose focus.

Temperament –Some snake species are gentle and easygoing;  others can be fearful and fussy.  Regular handling of your pet will help it become “civilized” but, in the beginning, be prepared for the occasional attempt to bite, escape or relieve themselves while being held.  Do your research up-front when picking a snake that will best meet your needs.

Feeding issues – Just like people, snakes demonstrate different eating habits.  Maybe you have the big eater, who think s that every time they see you, the mouth opens and it's dinner time.  Or maybe you've got the "gourmet" who stops eating altogether for a period of time.  Most of these issues resolve over time...don't panic!  

Colors – This one is pretty self-explanatory.  Using the above Top 5 list, we'd suggest Corn Snakes and Ball Pythons for the greatest variety. This factor may be important if you plan to breed your snakes at a later date.

Breeding success – Most of us buy a pet for companionship, but some of us have bigger plans.  Breeding can be a tough, especially if you have snakes that would rather eat each other than mate. Perhaps you have snakes that simply aren't interested.  Or breeding has produced eggs and now the babies won't eat!  We said it before and we'll keep saying it...Do The Research.  In this case, find the snake type that's noted for easy breeding. 

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This blog is brought to you by Diagnostic Imaging Systems.  Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Inc. (DIS) has been providing Quality Imaging products since 1983. The company combines industry knowledge with an understanding of the veterinary practice. For more information, go to Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Inc. website at: www.vetxray.com

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The owner will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information. These terms and conditions of use are subject to change at any time and without notice.

So Your Vet Suggests X-Rays...

When your vet suggests an x-ray examination for your dog, you will probably have some questions and concerns. Your vet is the best person to answer your questions; however it is a good idea for dog owners to get a basic understanding of this very important diagnostic procedure.

What can x-rays do?

X-rays are one of the most basic diagnostic tools at your vet’s disposal and even the very smallest of practices will have their own x-ray machine and staff qualified to use it. It is often veterinary technicians rather than vets that perform and develop the x-rays. However, the images are always examined by the vet for diagnosis.

X-rays are a fast way to see internal problems, and can be used in a variety of circumstances. In some cases, other examination tools can be more valuable, such as in cases where soft tissue needs to be examined, as this does not always show up well on x-rays.

As a rule, x-rays can provide shots of bone, foreign bodies, internal organs and tissue. In some cases they may be used to detect tumors or other abnormal growths, and the spread of cancers. X-rays are not fool-proof, and some tumors may be virtually invisible to x-ray if they blend in with the tissue of the body. Plastic will not show up well on x-rays, meaning that foreign bodies of this type may go unnoticed.

In order to examine the internal structure of organs such as the heart or lungs, MRI scanning or computer tomography are a better choice, and in some cases, a barium test may be needed alongside of an x-ray.

Are x-rays safe?

X-rays, of course, generate radiation, which is something that can concern people. Too much exposure to x-ray radiation can be harmful, which is why veterinary staff need to limit their exposure to x-rays by means of lead tunics and masks.   But what about your furry friend?

The key to x-ray safety is limiting exposure. One x-ray, or a carefully controlled series of repeated x-rays are safe for your dog, and even used sometimes to scan pregnant bitches. Your vet should keep a record of your dog’s x-ray history to ensure that their exposure remains within safe levels.  Used in moderation and only when needed, x-rays are not a health risk for your dog.

Does the dog need to be unconscious for an x-ray?

Whether or not your dog needs to be sedated for their x-ray depends on a number of things. The size and shape of your dog, the area that needs to be examined and how cooperative your dog is will all contribute!  For some dogs that will keep still in one position for their x-ray, sedation may not be needed. But for dogs that squirm a lot, won’t stay in one place, or that need to be placed in an odd position for their x-ray, sedation may be required.

What determines the cost of canine x-rays?

There is no simple formula to determine the cost of an x-ray exam; every examination is different, and prices can vary between different practices, locations, etc.

Some of the factors that determine price include how many images need to be taken to get the right shot, and how easy or difficult it is to arrange. It may mean that just one vet tech is needed to complete the procedure and attain one image, or several staff may be needed to help with positioning, angling and keeping your dog still.

Sedation is an added cost.  Something overlooked by pet owners--the fee does not just cover the process of getting the image itself, but the assessment of the image and what it shows. Second opinions, the opinions of a specialist and other considerations are also factored into the cost if needed.

Your vet should be able to explain to you in advance their pricing structure for x-rays, and how their ultimate fee is reached.

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This blog is brought to you by Diagnostic Imaging Systems.  Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Inc. (DIS) has been providing Quality Imaging products since 1983. The company combines industry knowledge with an understanding of the veterinary practice. For more information, go to Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Inc. website at: www.vetxray.com

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The owner will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information. These terms and conditions of use are subject to change at any time and without notice.