The differences between pioneer products, generics, medical devices and compounded products.

There are some important facts to consider when choosing a joint health option. Get the facts at nogenericadequan.com.

From AQHA Corporate Partner Adequan

When a horse or companion animal becomes sick or lame, you turn to your veterinarian for a diagnosis and the best, proven treatment to make your animal better.

But, just because a product is available for purchase doesn’t make it a proven product or the right product to treat the problem. So, do you treat with an FDA-approved innovator drug, an FDA-approved generic drug, a medical device or a compounded product?

In considering this question, Dr. Jeffrey Berk, a veterinarian at Equine Medical Associates in Lexington, Kentucky, says horse owners need to consider two things very carefully.

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Tips on avoiding illegal imposters of brand-name drugs.

From AQHA Corporate Partner Merial

Dr. April Knudson is an equine specialist with Merial Veterinary Services. She has a special interest in sport horse lameness and internal medicine. She holds a doctor of veterinary medicine from the University of California-Davis. Below, she answers a question about compounded equine drugs.

Q. Some of my friends at the barn were talking about compounded drugs and whether or not they are safe to use. What are they? Should I ever use them?

A. I’m glad you asked that question because the equine drug marketplace can be overwhelming. There are websites offering drugs for sale, products being sold at equine events around the country and opinions available from everyone who has ever owned a horse. It’s really important to sort through all of the information and consult with your veterinarian, if needed, before giving anything to your horse.

First, let’s clear up any confusion about what is meant by a “compounded drug.”

The American Association of Equine Practitioners defines a compounded drug as one that is created by manipulating an existing U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drug.¹ Examples include crushing a tablet to make a paste or gel or adding a flavor to a drug to make it more palatable.²

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Help keep this infectious disease from inhibiting your show season.

Many horse owners think their horse is immune to threat of infectious equine diseases, but they may want to think again. Journal photo.

From AQHA Corporate Partner Pfizer Animal Health

“It won’t happen to my horse.”

“The disease hasn’t been in my area.”

“It has affected horses in a different discipline than what I ride.”

Many horse owners think their horse is immune to threat of infectious equine diseases, but they may want to think again.

A year ago, in April 2011, news broke about horses attending an equine event in Ogden, Utah, who were exposed to equine herpesvirus-1. Three months later, the USDA Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service declared the outbreak contained, but by then, more than 2,000 horses had been exposed¹.

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Fly season is fast approaching. Keep flies away all summer with these helpful tips from AQHA Corporate Partner Farnam.

Use a fly mask this summer to give your horse protection against pesky flies. Photo courtesy of Farnam.

From AQHA Corporate Partner Farnam

Why Fight Flies?

Fly control keeps your horse comfortable. But that’s not the reason to minimize flies.

Flies and other biting insect pose a major health threat to your horse and you. Flies carry a number of dangerous diseases that become more of a problem as fly populations increase.

Flies live, feed and breed filth, where germs, bacteria and communicable diseases thrive. Good hygiene is critical to keeping flies and other filthy problems under control.

Start With a Strategy

Effective fly control means eliminating flies on all fronts, at all life stages in the fly life cycle. Eliminating immature flies reduces the number of biting, breeding adult flies you have to deal with.

No single fly product will solve your fly-control problem. You need an overall plan to get rid of flies where they live, feed and breed. For maximum effectiveness, attack flies on all fronts: on your horse, in the barn and around outdoor areas.

Help protect your horses against the EHV-1 virus by keeping them healthy. For a guide on common horse health issues, check out the Common Horse Health Issues report to help you better understand diseases and illnesses that horses can be faced with.

Farnam offers Centaura insect repellent for horses and riders.

FAQ: Farnam’s Centaura Spray

Q: What is the active ingredient in Centaura spray?

A: Centaura spray contains 20 percent Picaridin.

Q: What is Picaridin and how does it work?

A: The repellent evaporates from the skin into the air forming a layer that interferes with the insect’s ability to “see” the animal. This layer interferes with the blood-seeking arthropod’s attractant mechanisms. The layer of Picaridin camouflages the attractants emitted by the human and equine host and the arthropod cannot find this host because it cannot smell it.

Q: How is Centaura spray applied?

A: Hold 4-6 inches from body while spraying, keeping nozzle pointed away from face. Slightly moisten skin or hair coat with a slow sweeping motion. Excessive amounts or frequent reapplication are not necessary. Do not spray directly on face. Apply on face by first spraying small amounts in palms of hands and spreading on face and neck, avoiding eyes. Do not apply to the hands of small children.

Q: How many applications will one 15-ounce can of Centaura spray provide?

A: One 15-ounce container of Centaura spray will treat eight to 15 horses/applications. Excessive amounts or frequent reapplication is unnecessary.

Q: How efficacious is Centaura spray, how long does it last?

A: Centaura spray provides long-lasting, 12-hour effective protection from flies, mosquitoes and ticks.

Q: Does Centaura spray kill flies, mosquitoes and ticks or is it only a repellent?

Have you ever worried about issues with your horse’s health? If so, Common Horse Health Issues is what you need. This report will help you understand the common health issues that horses face.

A: Centaura spray is a repellent only.

Q:Can I use Centaura spray on my horse’s face?

A: Yes, Centaura spray can be applied to areas of the horse’s face and ears but not by spraying. Apply by spraying small amounts in the palms of your hands and spreading on the horse’s ears and face, avoiding the eyes. Do not apply to the hands of small children.

See more FAQs about Centaura spray.

For more information about Farnam products, visit www.farnamhorse.com.

Insight on vaccination decisions and vaccine-manufacturer support.

Provide the best possible disease protection for your horse. Journal photo.

From AQHA Corporate Partner Pfizer Animal Health

As a horse owner, you make important health care decisions for your American Quarter Horses on a daily basis. Everything from what to feed your horse to a training regimen is dependent on your plans for the horse and the horse’s overall condition. Similarly, your veterinarian reviews many factors when administering preventative health care, such as vaccinations, for your horse.

When vaccinating horses, veterinarians consider many factors, such as diseases that may be circulating in a specific region, the potential exposure to new horses and whether the horse will travel to shows and other events where unfamiliar horses are present. Obviously, the top priority for any veterinarian is to help provide the best possible disease protection for each horse, so the efficacy and safety of the vaccines used weigh heavily on a veterinarian’s decision to use specific products.

Learn more about your horse’s health with the Common Horse Health Issues report.

Manufacturer support is demonstrated by the Equine Immunization Support Guarantee from Pfizer Animal Health, which provides up to $5,000 for reasonable diagnostic and treatment costs if a horse properly vaccinated by a veterinarian contracts the corresponding equine disease.

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Merial offers tips to help horse owners sort out the different types of equine medicine.

From AQHA Corporate Partner Merial

Dr. April Knudson is an equine specialist with Merial Veterinary Services. She has a special interest in sport horse lameness and internal medicine. She holds a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of California-Davis. Below, she answers a question about how to evaluate the products available to horse owners.

Question:

There are so many different versions of drugs available to purchase for my horse. How do I know which ones really work and are safe to use?

Answer:

As with any other area of equine health care, it is always best to consult with your veterinarian about providing the best possible medicine, including the risks and benefits of any product before giving it to your horse. There are many companies out there making claims that their products are “just like” others you may have used, but this is often just not the case.

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Is your horse protected from mosquito-borne diseases?

Protect your horse by ensuring that they receive their spring vaccinations. Journal photo.

From AQHA Corporate Partner Pfizer Animal Health

Spring has sprung early in many regions of the country. With the cherry blossoms, green grass and tulips also comes April showers and mosquitoes. In 2011, there were 65 cases of eastern equine encephalomyelitis reported in 11 states throughout the northeastern and southeastern regions, as well as mid-western regions such as Wisconsin and Michigan¹. There was also one case of western equine encephalomyelitis reported in Arizona in 2011¹. Is your American Quarter Horse at risk of contracting one of these mosquito-borne diseases?

The risk of exposure and geographic distribution of eastern equine encephalomyelitis varies from year to year with changes in distribution of insect vectors and reservoirs important to the natural ecology of the virus2.  However, unvaccinated horses may be at serious risk of contracting mosquito-borne illnesses, even in areas where the disease may not be common.  Eastern equine encephalitis is considered to be endemic in all areas of North America by the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and all horses should be vaccinated against it.

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If your horse is exhibiting these signs, it might be time to call your veterinarian.

Changes in hair coat is a sypmtom of PPID. Photo courtesy of Dr. Patrick McCue.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

Question:

Now that the days are getting longer, and warmer, most of my horses are shedding, except for my older gelding. Last year, he kept a really long hair coat, too. My friends have mentioned that he may have Cushing’s disease – how can I tell if he does?

For our answer, we turned to the April 2012 issue of The American Quarter Horse Journal and its feature, “Unharmonious Hormones.”

Answer:

Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction is a hormonal disorder affecting the pituitary gland. Formerly known as Cushing’s disease, which is a similar disease that affects humans and dogs, it has been renamed to more accurately reflect the condition in equines.

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How a manufacturer’s program supports disease protection.

Protect your horse from disease. Journal photo.

From AQHA Corporate Partner Pfizer Animal Health

With the plethora of vaccine choices available today, horse owners have a wide range of options when vaccinating their American Quarter Horses. To help provide the most ideal disease protection based on regional risks and activities, horse owners should consult with their veterinarian to develop a thorough vaccination schedule. Utilizing the veterinarian-client relationship also has benefits beyond the initial vaccination. Manufacturer Pfizer Animal Health offers an Equine Immunization Support Guarantee.

With the Equine Immunization Support Guarantee, Pfizer Animal Health provides up to $5,000 for reasonable diagnostic and treatment costs if a horse properly vaccinated by a veterinarian with a Pfizer Animal Health vaccine contracts the corresponding equine disease. Disease protection backed by the Equine Immunization Support Guarantee includes infection from West Nile virus, equine influenza virus, tetanus, eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus, western equine encephalomyelitis virus and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus. Vaccinations must be provided and administered by a licensed veterinarian with an established client-patient relationship to be eligible.

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Let’s talk about toothaches.

Equine dental care is a must-do. Journal photo.

By MaryAnna Clemons in The American Quarter Horse Journal

With 36 to 44 chances for a toothache, equine dental care isn’t just a should-do but a yearly must-do – and picking the right dentist for your horses is a delicate matter not to be taken lightly. As your mother (or father) used to say, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

A horse’s teeth literally begin to erupt in the first few days of life, and a horse should be seen for problems at any age, as young as 6 months old. Horses’ teeth are called hypsodont teeth (having high or deep crowns and short roots, as in the molar teeth of a horse) that continue to erupt throughout a horse’s lifetime until the teeth are worn down to nothing. Taking care of a geriatric horse is a challenge unto itself, involving mashes, supplements and vigilance.

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Beat mosquito season and keep your horse’s vaccinations up to date.

From AQHA Corporate Partner Pfizer

Journal photo.

Spring Shots

Keep your equine vaccinations schedule current with a vaccine booster before mosquitoes can have their say.

In many regions of the United States, the winter of 2012 has been unseasonably warm. Signs of spring are everywhere, from horses starting to shed their winter coats to daffodils beginning to sprout. Warmer temperatures also mean that mosquitoes will be back before we know it. Therefore, now is the time to talk with your veterinarian about what vaccines your horse may need before the mosquito season hits.

According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners vaccination guidelines, core vaccinations are those “that protect from diseases that are endemic to a region, those with potential public health significance, virulent/highly infectious, and/or those posing a risk of severe disease.” Every horse should be vaccinated against the core diseases, which include West Nile virus, eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis, tetanus and rabies.

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The risk of barn fire increases significantly in winter.

Search your barn for fire risks and correct them. Journal photo.

By Dr. Thomas R. Lenz for The American Quarter Horse Journal

When the weather grows cold and horses are moved indoors, the risk of barn fires increases dramatically. In the summer, lightning and spontaneous combustion of hay are primary causes of fire. In the winter, fire usually results from faulty heaters, electrical wiring problems or rodents chewing through wires.

Generally, a fire involving combustible materials such as wood, hay, straw and shavings doubles in size every minute – meaning you have about eight minutes to get your horses out of a burning barn. Even if the horses escape, smoke inhalation could cause permanent lung damage or even death. Prevention is paramount.

Search your barn for fire risks, correct them and keep them corrected.

11 Barn Fire Trouble Spots:
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