MEDICAL LINKS

               MEDICAL INFORMATION                  

Brite Decision & Arturo First

May 07, 2005

Kimzey Leg Saver Splint

The splint that helped Save Barbaro's life*!

  The Kimzey Leg Saver Splint is designed to stabilize severe injuries including fractures of the sesamoids, fractures of the long and short pastern bones, fractures of the cannon bone, and failure of the suspensory ligament system.  

  *The Kimzey Leg Saver Splint was applied to Barbaro's right hind leg at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD Saturday [May20, 2006] to stabilize the leg until he went into surgery on Sunday at New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, PA. 

  Kimzey Leg Saver Splints are not only an aid in emergencies but can also be used as additional support after a fiberglass cast has been applied, or left on a horse with broken sesamoid bones,  or a suspensory injury until the injury is completely healed.

In my opinion, every barn should have this splint on hand for emergencies.  It's not an expensive product to purchase, but it may be a product that can help save your horses life.

For more information on the Kimzey Leg Saver Splint, visit their web site, www.kimzeymetalproducts.com

New Web site: Vet Pet MD

www.vetpetmd.com is a new site created for people with pets.  It has great information about pet care and maintaining your pet's good health presented in an easy to understand format.  They have established a section whereby you can send a get well card to Barbaro (free service).  They also have links available so that individuals may make a donation to a non profit organization (we are listed on their site).  The site offers tips to help you communicate more clearly with your vet, and heart warming stories that will make you smile.  The site is well thought out and easy to navigate. 

Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (EPSM)

EPSM is a relatively old disease, but was only recently diagnosed and named in 1992.  The symptoms mirror those of tying up, shivers, EPM and chronic arthritis, to name a few.  It is prevalent in many breeds of horse and we only found out about EPSM when we took Victor, one of our beloved Gelderlanders to Ohio State University for what we thought to be chronic arthritis.  They accurately diagnosed the disease upon careful observation and confirmed their diagnosis with a simple biopsy test which was done on the premises. 

A change in diet is crucial to a healthy horse, and the key is to reduce the intake of sugars and starch (if a feed has any grain at all in it - it's too high in polysaccharides and you should stop feeding it at once) and increase the fat content and provide ample forage.  There are several sources of dietary information on the links within the site below. 

Beth A. Valentine, DVM, PhD has written a number of informative books/articles on EPSM as the result of her research and experience with the disease.   Please click the link below and scroll to the center of the page to find a number of links with very good information on EPSM and what you can do for you horse if you suspect he/she has it.

http://www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic/

Cushing's Disease

Equine Cushing's Disease is caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland that causes the gland to release the wrong amount of hormones.  The pituitary gland not only produces hormones, but also regulates them.  And Cushing's Disease causes the pituitary gland to malfunction, often releasing more hormones than the horses' body can handle effectively.  If not managed properly, it can cause the death of the horse.  If caught early and managed properly (and monitored - key in managing the disease), the horse can live a normal life for many years to come.

Our Ali was drinking excessively and his foster parent noticed that and called the vet out immediately.  His Cushing's, fortunately was caught early and we have been able to manage the disease quite well. 

Symptoms include excessively shaggy coat, inability to shed the coat in the spring, excessive water intake (you need to know how much water intake is "normal" for your horse), excessive urination, laminitis, a tendency for recurring infections in the foot (abscesses), wounds that take longer than normal to heal, laminitis, loss of muscle mass, especially in the top line and rump.

Medication and a special diet can effectively combat Cushing's disease if caught early, and if you monitor your horse for changes in appearance and behavior daily.  Pergolide (medication) has worked well for Ali, and you can purchase it at a very reasonable price through Veterinary  Pharmacies of America at 1-877-VET-RXRX or www.vetrxrx.com

Additional information can be found through a web search for: Equine Cushing's Disease.  Many  links from the UK, and stateside.

New Information Site for De-worming

While Bright Futures Farm has looked at each and every link we are sharing with you, and we personally know the people involved with many of them, and we also regularly shop many of the links we have listed, we must also offer a disclaimer to protect ourselves.   We cannot control the quality of the product that may be offered on any link we list, or it's availability.  We cannot control the content of any of our links, or verify the accuracy of the information each of these links provides.  We merely wish to offer you the opportunity to connect to sites that may be of interest to you, and that you may not find any other way.