Tag: #BeAware

Does Your Horse Cough?

Clare MacLeod MSc RNutr Independent Equine Nutritionist has issued this warning to TAKE ACTION if your horse is coughing:
If your horse has a cough – even if it’s just a couple as you start trotting – take action.
Horses can have significant lung inflammation before they cough, so once they actually cough, there is a problem.
Any persistent cough needs veterinary attention, since its cause needs to be determined. If the cough is due to a dust/forage allergy, your horse may need medication as well as an environment change, and nowadays more effective inhaled medication is available, compared to the oral medication used in the past.
If your horse has dust/forage allergies (RAO, or recurrent airway obstruction, which used to be called COPD):
  • šŸ“ Consider the amount of turnout (ideally maximise) and ventilation in the stable
  • šŸ“ Ensure dust-free stable bedding and clean out the stable (including any banks) daily (no deep litter). Clean the walls and ceiling of the stable regularly
  • šŸ“ Consider the forage both in the stable and outside in the pasture. Soak hay for at least 10 minutes, totally submerged, or feed haylage
  • šŸ“ Add water to dampen dust in bucket feed
  • šŸ“ Consider an antioxidant-rich respiratory supporting supplement

Never ignore a cough!

Photo: ‘Enzo‘, Natalie Frampton.

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Monensin Toxicity In Dogs

Charter Veterinary Surgeons have issued this warning:

ā€œMONENSIN TOXICITY IN DOGS

A warning from one of our Vets.

Last weekend we said good bye to Inca, our 3 year old ā€˜dog of a lifetimeā€™ Labrador (photographed). Out on a local walk on a well trodden footpath (one weā€™ve walked for 10 years +) she picked up a kexxtone bolus containing monensin. Even though we managed to get it off her within seconds of her picking it up, she started vomiting and seizuring after 20 minutes of ingesting the toxin. After a long 48 hours of intensive treatment and the worst weekend of my life, she lost her battle and ended up passing away.

Please see photo of the boluses below. A kexxtone bolus is administered to a cow to release monensin in order to avoid certain metabolic diseases and to increase milk yield.

The boluses are meant to stay in the cows stomach for the duration of itā€™s life. Unfortunately some cows regurgitate the boluses so they end up on farmland. This leaves them open to dogs to pick them up.

We have since been to the farmer, who we know, to discuss what happened. We are not blaming the farmer as it was pure bad luck. But we want to prevent it happening to anyone else in the future. The farmer had NO clue that monensin is toxic to dogs, horses, wildlife etc. We have since asked our local farming community and had similar responses.

So hereā€™s my advice:

FARMERS: please be aware of the toxic effects these can have on dogs, horses and wildlife. If using them then PLEASE keep an eye out for regurgitated ones or have warning signs up on footpaths where they might be present. Even if the cows are housed 24/7, the regurgitated boluses can end up being spread in the muck on fields. You also need to be aware of the risks for your own farm dogs so make sure they were well out of their reach.

DOG WALKERS: if walking on footpaths that go through farmland please keep an eye out for these. Theyā€™re not very commonly found but the consequences on your beloved pet are not worth the risk. If you see your dog with one then get them to drop it as soon as you can and take them to your vet IMMEDIATELY.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. We are also contacting the drug company to try and get more obvious warnings on the packaging and the things themselves. Although it breaks my heart to have to write this and nothing will ever prepare you for the sudden loss of such a huge part of your life, if we can stop it from happening to any other dogs in the future then itā€™ll help.ā€

Please feel free to share this post to pass on the message to others.

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