Standard Operating Procedures for Clemson University Equine Center

Transcription

1 1 Table of Contents Section 1 General Guidelines, Records, and Daily Care Observations and Record Keeping... 2 Daily Care & Feeding Routine....2 Grooming... 5 Shortening Manes....7 Stall Cleaning...7 Section 2 Horse Health Evaluation and Treatment of a Lame Horse...9 Open Wounds-Laceration, Incision, Puncture or Abrasion...10 Colic Vital Signs Containment of Infectious Disease Coggins Tests Body Condition Score (BCS) Identification and Freeze Branding Castration Restraint Critically Injured or Sick Horse Dental Care Vaccinations Deworming Procedure for performing intravenous injections..20 SMZ dosage Domperidone dosage Acquiring Veterinary Assistance Emergency Euthanasia...23 Section 3 Breeding, Foaling, and Mare Care Breeding Insemination of Mare Regumate Pregnant Mare Care Milk Strip Testing Foaling Colostrum Test Passive Immunity Test Orphan Foals Weaning Foals Handling Suckling and Weanling Foals Halter Training Section 4 Biosecurity Visitors to Equine Center Employee/Student Foot Wear & Disinfecting Transport vehicles entering main farm Cleaning and Disinfecting..36 Section 5 Miscellaneous Horse Donations Horse Sales..37 Electric Fences Mechanical Equipment Emergency Situations, Extreme Weather, Loss of power or water Feed policy Fishing in ponds Drug inventory Procedures not covered in the SOP

2 2 Section 1 General Guidelines, Records, and Daily Care Observations and Guidelines 1) Horses held at the main farm will be evaluated at least twice daily seven days a week for any sign of problems. These problems may include but are not limited to lameness, colic, injury, sickness, and inadequate body condition. 2) All daily treatments, procedures, feedings and routine horse health observations are recorded on the Daily Check-off Sheet. Individual daily follow-up veterinary care is recorded on the Daily Check-off sheet then transferred onto the Illness/Injury/Treatment (IIT) Report by the Manager. 3) Any treatments and all follow-up care, per the University Veterinarian s instructions, performed on any horse will be recorded on an individual IIT Report. Any phone consultations with the University or contracted veterinarian will be recorded on the IIT Report. 4) IIT Reports will be kept in the Active Veterinary Treatment clipboard until horse is released from treatment. After horse is released from treatment, that record is moved to the horse s individual file. 5) All vaccinations, deworming, dentistry, and hoof care will be recorded on the individual horse s medical record. The current year s medical record is kept in the Medical Records notebook. At the end of each year that record card is moved to the horse s individual file. Daily Care & Feeding Routine Daily care consists of feeding grain and hay, checking water and salt/minerals, cleaning stalls and examining each horse for any abnormalities, injuries or illness. Groups of horses are listed on the grain chart in the feed room with the individual grain rations listed with each group. The pasture number and number of horses in each pasture group are also listed on the grain chart. Horses housed in the barn or barn area: The barn group is the first group fed in the morning and the last group fed in the afternoon. Each horse currently housed in the barns is listed on the feed chart on an area listed as barn horses. All horses in the barn are given hay and water at least 3 times a day (AM, Noon, PM). Each horse is given 1-3 flakes of hay in accordance with the individual horse and the time of day. If a horse is not eating all the hay that is being fed then the amount of hay will be decreased. All water will be changed at the morning feeding, refilled at the other feedings, and replaced during the day if it appears to be dirty

3 All stalls with horses will be mucked out at morning and afternoon feedings. All areas around stalls will be raked or swept to be kept clean and neat in appearance. Stallions and Stallion Pens: The stallions are also fed at the beginning of the morning feeding and the end of the afternoon feeding. The stallions will be fed hay and grain and the automatic water will be checked at each feeding and cleaned once a week at a minimum. The water will be checked for cleanliness each feeding and changed as needed. Each stallion will receive hay each feeding. The stallion stalls and pens are cleaned once a week when weather permits. The stallion barn is raked after each feeding and all hay strings thrown away. Left and Right Alleyways: The alleyways will be fed at each feeding in accordance with the feed chart. Horses are counted in each pasture prior to feeding grain. Any pasture group in need of an additional round bale will be noted on the daily sheet. Water tubs will be checked for cleanliness, all tubs will be cleaned once a week. Salt/minerals will be checked in all fields at each feeding. Pregnant Mares: Any mares in their last 45 days of pregnancy will be monitored closely at each feeding to be checked for udder development, relaxation of the pelvic area, and relaxation of the vulva. Any mares showing enlarged udders or excessive relaxation will be reported to the management immediately. Milk testing will be done at the PM feeding (unless already tested that day) on any mares showing signs of impending parturition. All results of milk tests will be recorded on the chalkboard and on the mare s foaling record. Any mares testing 3 or above on the milk test will be brought into the barn for overnight observation. No mares will be left alone in a pasture or in the barn, due to stress caused by separation, which can affect foaling. At the morning feeding, any mares appearing close to foaling will be monitored all day. New Born Foals: At each feeding all new born foals will be checked for swelling in the joints (a sign of toxemia), dampness of the umbilical cord, hydration and general attitude. The mare s udders will be checked to make sure that the foal is nursing. Newborn foals and their dam will be turned out in an individual paddock area for the first day and then moved into an appropriate mare/foal pasture. The first day in the pasture will be a half day of turnout, which will gradually be increased to a full day of turn out over a few days time. Foals can be handled with a figure 8 foal rope for moving from stalls to pasture, leading the mare and allowing the foal to follow, unrestrained, or the foal may be led by a leather halter once halter trained. Mares after Weaning: After weaning, mares will be monitored for mastitis or any abnormal behavior. During the first three days of weaning, the mares will receive hay only and no grain to help decrease milk production. After the three days of weaning, mares in good weight - 3-3

4 will be moved to a remote pasture to complete the weaning process. Any mare showing low body condition will begin to receive grain after the milk has dried off, and will be monitored until the desired body condition is attained. 4 Veterinary Care Schedule: The veterinary care schedule is completed after all the feeding of the main farm has been accomplished unless an emergency has occurred, where the Farm Manager will be contacted immediately. All veterinary care will be recorded on the daily sheet and then transferred once a week to the individual horse s IIT records. Employees in Training: Workers in training will always be paired with an experienced worker to explain the proper daily care and safety procedures to be followed. Summary of Daily Feeding Schedule: Morning: Feed barn horses (water, hay, grain, salt, check for injury/abnormal behavior, check newborn foals, check pregnant mares) Feed stallions (water, hay, grain, salt, check for injury/abnormal behavior) Feed alleyways (water, grain, salt, count & check horses for injury/abnormal behavior, check pasture and hay supply, check pregnant mares) Complete veterinary care schedule Complete stall and barn cleaning (research barn, old barn, stallion barn) Prepare grain per the feed chart posted in the feed room (weigh all rations) for evening feeding Sweep feed room Check all gates to ensure they are closed Lunch: Fed grain to any horses listed on the lunch area of feed chart Give hay and water to any horses in pens and/or stalls Evening: Feed alleyways (water, grain, salt, count & check horses, check pasture and hay supply, check pregnant mares) Feed stallions (water, hay, grain, salt, check, rake barn) Feed barn horses (water, hay, grain, salt, clean stalls, check for injury/abnormal behavior, check newborn foals, check pregnant mares) During foaling season -- run any required milk strip tests, bring in pregnant mares that are close to foaling Complete veterinary care schedule Complete stall cleaning, barn raking, and sweeping Prepare grain per the feed chart posted in the feed room (weigh all rations) for morning feeding Sweep feed room Make sure all gates are closed - 4 -

5 5 Grooming Of the Horse Grooming horses is for the health and maintenance of their coats as well as enhancing their relationship with humans. Some horses have very thin skin and harder or stiff bristled brushes may not be appropriate. Always pay attention to any reactions of discomfort from the horse. While grooming, examine for injuries. Hoof Pick To be used for cleaning feet. To use, run hand down the back of the horse s leg and cup fetlock; apply pressure to back of fetlock and lift hoof. In older horses the back of the leg will be squeezed gently while the hand runs down the leg and the educated horse will pick up his foot from that pressure. Once the hoof comes off the ground the hand will slide around to the front of the hoof to support the weight. On the hind legs, the handler may step past the hind quarter of the horse and support the hind leg by resting it on the upper thigh of the handler. This gives both the handler and the horse the most comfortable position for cleaning the hind hooves. The hoof pick will be used in a downward (heel to toe) motion away from the heel area of the horse. The clefts of the frog will be cleaned and then the sole of the hoof. Care will be taken in the area of the frog. If the frog appears to be moist, have a black appearance or a foul smell, then Management will be notified so that the horse can receive treatment for thrush. (This is most common in wet seasons of the year.) If a horse is wearing shoes, special attention will be given to the condition of the shoeing. If a shoe is loose, if there is hoof growing over the edge of the shoe, or if the toes appear long this will be reported to the management and the horse s name will be put on the farrier list. After the hoof is clean, then the hoof will be released and the horse will place it back on the ground unassisted. The handler will step back as the hoof is released to avoid being stepped on. Curry Comb There are two kinds of currycombs, hard plastic and soft rubber. Both kinds are used for dislodging dirt and hair. The hard curries are only to be used on the areas with thick muscle covering. The very soft curries may be used on the areas of thin skin such as the head and lower legs. The currycombs will be used in a circular motion against the grain of the hair growth to lift the dirt off the skin of the horse. Body Brush The body brush is a medium stiff brush or a short bristled brush. It is used for lifting and removing the dirt loosened by the curry comb. The bristles of the body brush are for cleaning the skin of the horse. The brush is used in the same direction of the hair growth in short brisk strokes. This brush may be used on all parts of the horse. Finishing Brush The finishing brush is a soft bristled brush that is used for taking the top dust and dirt that has been brought to the surface by the body brush. It is also used with the grain of the hair growth and in short brisk strokes. This brush will bring the sheen out in the horse s coat. This brush may be used on all parts of the horse

6 6 Mane Comb The mane comb is used to comb out the mane and the tail of the horse. The mane can be combed out daily but the tail should be left alone unless there is something lodged in it or the horse has been bathed and there is conditioner in the tail to allow the comb to slide smoothly to prevent tail hairs from breaking. If the tail is being combed out then the handler will start at the bottom of the tail and work their way up clearing the knots with your fingers first. The tail will not be yanked on or pulled on roughly at any time while combing it out. If a large knot is found in a horse s tail, the management will be notified before it is combed out. Sometimes very big knots in a horse s tails are signs of a bigger problem such as the horse rubbing his tail due to a skin condition that needs attention. If large areas of mane appear to be getting rubbed out, the handler will notify farm management immediately. Rub Rag Used at the end of grooming to put a shine on the coat. The rag will remove the last of any remaining dust to allow the sheen of the coat to glisten; mostly just a finishing touch to a good grooming job. It can also be used just before entering the show ring to remove any dirt from the warm up area. Sweat Scraper Used after rinsing horse with water to remove excess water from skin. Use in the same direction of the hair coat. After Exercise, Care and Grooming: All horses must be walked until breathing is back to normal. Horses will be checked for any injury that might have occurred during exercise. If any injury is found it must be reported to the management immediately. Once all equipment is removed from the horse and it is in a halter, then the horse will be either brushed or hosed down depending on the weather. In hot weather, the horse will be hosed down with cold water to help the body temperature return to normal. Cold water must first be applied to the legs of the horse so that the horse will adjust to the temperature. After hosing, the excess water will be removed with a sweat scraper. In cooler weather, the horse can be hosed with warm water if it is extremely sweaty and dirty from exercise. Once again the excess water will be removed with a sweat scraper. A wet horse will be kept out of any direct cold winds and a cooler may be used. If the weather will not permit hosing then the horse will be groomed. In grooming, the hair should be ruffled up by brushing against the hair growth direction in order for the skin of the horse to dry. A curry comb and/or a body brush are best used for this procedure. Wet dirty hair left against the horse s skin can encourage the growth of bacteria and fungus that causes skin irritation in horses. Horses will be returned to the pasture or stall after all vital signs have returned to normal and they have recovered fully from exercise

7 Clipping the Horse 7 The horses will be introduced to the sound of the clippers as young horses and will be trained to become accustomed to them being used on their face, muzzle, eye whiskers, ears, under the jaw, bridle path, legs and body. The insides of ears will only be clipped out on horses going to horse shows or being sold. The muzzle, eye whiskers, bridle path, outsides of ears, under the jaw, and legs can be clipped on any horse. Full body clips may be necessary for horses exercising in the winter, those being shown or sold, or for any horse with medical reasons requiring a full body clip. Shortening Manes The mane can either be pulled or shortened with a blade but it is not to look cut. To shorten a mane with a blade, start by combing out the entire mane. Grasp the mane at the desired length and use the blade to push up or tease the extra hair out of the way. You only want to trim around 10 to 20 hairs at a time. Once the hair is teased up, use the blade to cut the hair in your grasp with a downward stroke. Repeat this 10 or more times before combing the mane. Continue the process until the entire mane is shortened. To pull the mane to shorten it, start by combing it out. Grasp the mane at the desired length and tease the rest of the mane up away from your fingers. Pull the remaining mane hairs out. Only pull 10 to 20 hairs at a time. Repeat the process until the entire mane is shortened. Some horses do not mind having their manes pulled, but if the horse is acting uncomfortable use the blade method. All manes should look natural after they have been shortened. A properly shortened mane will not appear choppy or too straight, and should lay flat. Stall Cleaning All stalls will be cleaned two times a day if horses occupy them. If a horse goes out for part of the day then the stall will be cleaned when the horse goes out so it will be ready for the horse s return. Three types of bedding are used for the horses at the CUEC: straw, shavings, and sand. The large run-in stalls in the old barn require bedding only in the front (under the shed). Cleaning a stall bedded in shavings: Using a manure fork, pick up all the manure piles and loose balls of manure and place in wheelbarrow. Avoid picking up excess clean shavings. Rake through the shavings looking for hidden manure piles. Rake back shavings looking for dark areas which indicate a wet spot where the horse has urinated. Pick up all dark shavings that have a wet or damp appearance. Lime may be spread over wet spots (bare dirt) once cleaned to neutralize odor and kill bacteria. Rake clean shavings back over area to cover floor. Rake entire stall area flat still looking for - 7 -

8 any missed manure. Empty the manure wheelbarrow into manure pit behind the main barn. 8 Cleaning a stall bedded in straw: Using a manure fork, pick up all the piles of manure that are visible. Rake through the straw looking for more manure and pick out. Rake back straw looking for wet straw and remove. Remove any matted straw. Rake straw so that it covers floor. Cleaning a stall with both straw and shavings: Often, for mares and foals, there is a combination of shavings and straw used. In this case use the same method along with piling the straw up against the walls of the stall to be able to examine the shavings for the wet spots. Once shavings area is clean of manure and wet spots, rake the straw bedding back over the top of the shavings. Check for any missed manure as the straw is being raked. Cleaning a sand stall: In sand stalls, first pick out any piles of manure and rake up any loose hay. The wet spot filters down through the sand and does not have to be removed. After removing all manure and old hay rake the sand smooth. Shavings or straw can also be put over the sand. Clean the shavings or straw as listed above. Horse bedding is expensive; care should be taken not to remove an excessive amount of clean bedding when removing the dirty bedding. Stalls will need to have old bedding stripped out and new bedding added when there is not enough old bedding to absorb the moisture or if the old bedding appears excessively dirty. When adding new bedding the floor of the stall should have a covering of approximately 6 to 8 inches to insure enough padding for when the horse is lying down. Do not drive the skid steer into any stall with mats

9 9 Section 2 Horse Health Evaluation and Treatment of Lame Horses Mild Lameness: If a horse demonstrates reluctance to bear full weight on one or more limbs, the manager will be informed of the problem and the horse will be evaluated by normal lameness procedures. If the affected limb is not obvious then the horse will be walked and trotted on hard ground both straight and in a circle to determine which limb is affected. Upon determining which limb is affected, the horse s leg will be manually palpated for any signs of heat, swelling, or tenderness. If heat, swelling, and/or tenderness are found the leg would be cold hosed and wrapped daily if necessary. The University Veterinarian will be contacted if the lameness persists. The horse will be confined to reduce exacerbation of the problem if necessary. The horse can administered a low dose regime of Bute (1gram two times per day) to reduce pain and swelling if needed. If no swelling or heat is present, a flexion test will be utilized to determine if the problem lies in any joint. The flexion test is administered as follows: 1) Each joint is flexed individually for approximately a minute 2) the horse is immediately trotted off in a straight line on a hard surface 3) observation for gait deviation is made 3) gait deviation may include head bobbing, hip dropping, shortened stride length, and/or shortened stance phase on affected limbs. If the horse exhibits sensitivity to a joint and there are no outward signs of injury or trauma, then the horse will be confined to reduce stress to the joint and the University Veterinarian will be contacted for further treatment instructions. Severe Lameness: If a horse is found to be extremely lame, unable to bear weight or extremely reluctant to bear weight on a limb, and there is no signs of a hoof abscess, the University Veterinarian will be immediately consulted. The veterinarian will determine what course of treatment is appropriate and if it is determined that the horse cannot be saved or it is too costly to do so, the veterinarian will proceed with euthanasia of the horse. The horse will be disposed of at the approved burial site at the university cattle farm. Lameness in the Hoof: Lameness in the hoof can be determined by the use of the hoof testers or by the presence of heat in the hoof. Management will first evaluate the lameness severity and determine if the lameness is present in more than one hoof. Hoof testers will be used to isolate pain. A hoof knife can be used to pare away at the surface sole to determine if there is an abscess in the hoof. The hoof should be soaked in Epsom salts two to three times daily until cleared. If an abscess is found, the abscess may be cut out by a qualified person to allow for drainage. If necessary, an Ichthammol wrap may also be used as a drawing agent. The horse can be administered 2 grams of Bute two times per day for two days and then decreased to 1 gram two times a day for 3-4 days or until no longer sore. The horse may be confined until sound. If the horse does not significantly improve within fortyeight (48) hours, the University Veterinarian will be contacted concerning the lameness

10 If there is heat in more than one hoof and the horse is having difficulty walking, then the University Veterinarian will be contacted immediately for further treatment instructions. Treatment of Lameness with Open Wound If a horse is found to be lame due to an injury that breaks the skin, then the Farm Manager will assess the joint and consult with the University Veterinarian if necessary. If the cut is superficial, i.e., only loss of hair or through surface tissue, then the wound will be cleaned with a surgical scrub and evaluated further. If lameness is slight and the injury is determined to be minor, the wound will be cleaned daily until it is healed and the horse will be confined. If the degree of lameness is moderate, the University Veterinarian will be contacted. Daily Bute doses can be given to reduce pain and/or swelling at a rate of 2 grams twice a day for two days then 1 gram twice a day until pain is reduced or alleviated. Any lameness and all treatments will be recorded on the IIT Record. Open Wounds Laceration, Incision, Puncture or Abrasion If a horse is discovered to have an open wound, management will evaluate the wound and determine the appropriate action. If the wound is superficial and not bothersome to the horse or causing any lameness, it will be cleaned daily and a topical dressing applied until healed. If the wound is located at a joint and is superficial and the horse exhibits no signs of lameness or tenderness then the wound will be managed as stated above. If a wound on a joint is severe, the University Veterinarian will be consulted. If the wound is severe or covers a substantial area then the University Veterinarian will be consulted. If the injury is found to include a puncture wound then the University Veterinarian will be consulted. If at any time any wound or injury is not responding to treatment or appears to be infected, the University Veterinarian will be consulted immediately. No horse will be given any penicillin or oral antibiotic without the University Veterinarian prescribing its use. Any significant injury will be recorded on the IIT record. If sutures are required, the approximate number will be recorded. 10 Nitrofurazone Cream Nitrofurazone Cream (NFC) is used routinely on cuts and will be handled with gloved hands to avoid skin exposure to the cream. The NFC containers will be labeled use with gloves so any person using this substance will be aware of proper use

11 Colic 11 Any horse exhibiting colic-like symptoms such as: off-feed, depression, lying down, rolling, abdominal discomfort, kicking at stomach, and/or biting at stomach will be evaluated by the Farm Manager or their designee and the University Veterinarian will be contacted. The horse s vital signs, including pulse, respiration, and temperature, will be recorded along with gut sounds, dehydration status, gum color, and capillary refill time. These vital signs should be available for consultation with the University Veterinarian. During the evaluation period, the horse will not be allowed to roll and will be hand walked if necessary or confined to a stall and monitored. No grain will be offered but water will be available. If the colic is more severe, the University Veterinarian will be requested to see the horse. While contacting the University Veterinarian, if the horse is showing excessive distress, the University veterinarian has authorized any trained horse farm employee to administer a half dose of Banamine (1/2 cc per 100 lbs) IV to relieve the horse s distress until the veterinarian can arrive. However, this should be minimized until the UV arrives for clearer diagnosis. Any episode of colic will be recorded on the IIT record. Vital Signs Vital signs are used in horses to determine their health and state of well being. The pulse on a horse is a direct indicator of pain. We use the pulse along with other vital signs to convey the condition of a horse to the veterinarian. Normal Ranges of Vital Signs: Heart Rate Pulse of beats per minute Respiration 8 16 breaths per minute Temperature 100 F in an adult horse, F in a foal Capillary Refill Less than 2 seconds Gum Color Should be a fleshy pink color Hydration Less than 2 seconds for the skin to return to normal after pinch test Gut Sounds Gurgles and pings high and low on both sides of abdomen. Active sounds

12 Taking Pulse: Listen on the left side of the horse with a stethoscope behind horse s elbow. The pulse can also be taken on the inner jaw of the horse by depressing the vein against the inside of the jaw bone with your index finger. Alternate locations for pulse are veins on the inside of the knee and fetlock. When the pulse is felt, take a 10- or 15-second count and multiply the number by 6 or 4, respectively, to make a 60 second count. Taking Respiration: Watch the sides or flank area and count breaths for 20 or 30 seconds. Multiply by 3 or 2, respectively, to calculate a 60-second count. Do not place your hand in front of the horse s nostril to feel the breaths because the horse will sniff the hand making the count inaccurate. Taking Temperature: Lubricate the thermometer; insert the probe gently into the horse s anus. If using a normal thermometer, allow 2 minutes for the thermometer to equilibrate. If using the digital thermometer, wait until the thermometer reading remains unchanged for 5 seconds or the thermometer beeps/flashes for completion. Capillary Refill: Lift the upper lip and depress the gum tissue until it turns white. After releasing the pressure, count the number of seconds required for the tissue to return to its original pink color. This is the refill time. Gum Color: Take note of the original gum color when lifting the lip for the capillary refill test. The gums should be a light pink color, indicating that the blood is properly oxygenated. If the gums are dark pink, red, or black the vet should be contacted immediately. If there is a dark line around the teeth, this should also be noted. Hydration: Pinch Test Pinch the skin on the horse s neck and release. A well hydrated horse will have skin that immediately returns to normal. If it takes more than 2 seconds for the skin to flatten against the horse s muscle, then it is dehydrated. In young horses and foals, the neck can sometimes give inaccurate results. In that case, the skin on the cheek can be used. Gut Sounds: Listen to both sides of the horse s abdomen; there should be gut motility sounds high and low on the flank. There should be gurgles, pings, and other sounds of motion. If there are no sounds detected, the Farm Manager should be contacted immediately

13 When reporting a sick horse to the Farm Manager or University Veterinarian, all staff members will use these vital signs to convey the condition of the horse. 13 Other useful points to note are: Is the horse eating? Has the horse been drinking water? Is the horse lying down or trying to lie down? Does the horse seem to be in pain? If so, is it mild, moderate or extreme? If the horse is down? Can it stand up? Is the horse bleeding? If the horse has an open wound, is it minor or severe? Where is the wound located and how large is it? Is the wound a jagged cut or a smooth slice? If there is no wound, is there heat and/or swelling? Does the horse have any mucus discharge from its nose? Observe the horse and its actions. Is it lame? If so, which limb? Are there any lacerations associated with the lameness? An observer must use all their senses to convey as much information to a veterinarian as possible

14 Containment of Infectious Diseases 14 If a horse is showing possible signs of or suspected of being exposed to any infectious disease it will be housed in isolation or quarantined. Isolation: Isolation is considered for horses not showing any signs of an infectious disease; they are only in isolation to be closely observed for any signs and to limit access to other horses. This will be used for any new horse coming onto the farm either for breeding purposes or for induction into the herd. The period of isolation will be at a minimum of 2 weeks and up to 4 weeks if any questionable situation occurs. The UV will be advised immediately if any horse is moved into isolation. Isolation will occur in the following areas: old barn, stallion paddocks, catch pens or pastures that are not accessible by other horses therefore eliminating nose to nose contact. No other horse except other horses in Isolation will be housed in the stalls next to the isolation horse(s). Quarantine: Quarantine is implemented for horses showing signs of or diagnosed with a contagious disease. In this case, the horse will be moved to another location where there is no access to other equine. The animal will receive required medical support by the UV and horse farm staff. All required biosecurity measures will be followed as needed in relation to clothing and footwear, as the secondary location (quarantine) is considered a contaminated area. Any other exposed horse(s) will be held in isolation or quarantine as directed by the UV in a case by case manner. Coggins Tests All horses will have a yearly Coggins test performed by the University Veterinarian. Any horses determined to be positive will be handled in accordance with state and federal policy under the guidance of the University Veterinarian. Any horse arriving at the CUEC will be required to present a current (within past twelve months) negative Coggins test

15 15 Body Condition Score (BCS) Each horse will be maintained at an optimal BCS for that horse s production stage. In mature horses, the normal range of BCS is 4 to 6 on the Henneke Body Condition Score Chart. Horses are evaluated daily and there is an adjustment to their feeding program if they are not found to be within the optimal range (average = 5). If the horse does not improve from the adjustment of the feeding program, then the horse s teeth will be evaluated and a fecal exam will be performed. If the horse is unable to maintain body weight due to advanced age, then the horse will be maintained on a feed appropriate for aged horses or will be removed from the herd

16 16 Identification and Freeze Branding Visual Recognition: The most common form of identification for horses at the CUEC is observation of the gender and size of the horse coupled with coat color, face and/or leg markings. These markings can be matched against the horse s breed registration papers, Coggins test documents, or other animal records. Scars and blemishes or other physical markings may further identify individual horses. Collar Identification: Some horses will wear a plastic collar with the individual horse s name on it for identification. These collars will be checked at each feeding to make sure they are in place and fitting properly. The weanlings may require adjustment due to growth. Freeze Branding: Freeze branding of the CU or breed registry brand can be placed on a horse s hip. Required Equipment: Liquid Nitrogen, 2 Dewers (one for storage, one large enough for branding irons to cool in), Brass Freeze Branding Irons, Clippers with #40 Blades, Rubbing Alcohol, Insulated Gloves for handling branding irons, Halter, Twitch, watch with second hand for timing, minimum 3 personnel. Process: 1. Liquid nitrogen and brass irons will be used, which is obtained from within the university. 2. The irons are put in the nitrogen and allowed to cool until the nitrogen ceases to bubble. 3. The horse s lower left hip is shaved with a 40 blade (surgical) and then the area is wiped down with alcohol. 4. The horse will be placed in the stocks and restrained with a halter (and twitch as deemed necessary). The left side of the stocks is swung open to gain access to the horse s left hip. One handler remains at the horse s head throughout the procedure. 5. The branding personnel wears insulated gloves while handling the cooled branding irons. 6. The cooled iron is held in place on the clipped area of the horse s lower left hip by the branding personnel, while a third person times for 14 seconds. After 14 seconds, the branding iron is removed from the horse s hip and returned to the nitrogen Dewar. 7. After the process is completed the horse is returned to a holding pen or their pasture

17 17 Castration The University Veterinarian will castrate all yearling colts as designated by the Faculty Director and Farm Manager. Farm personnel will carry out the follow-up care detailed by the University Veterinarian. The colts will be castrated the spring of their yearling year. All castration surgeries will be recorded on the IIT record and on the yearly medical card. Restraint Horses will only be restrained as needed for short periods of time. Horses will be restrained as needed for treatment or handling, for the protection of both humans and animals. Restraint may consist of a nose or shoulder twitch, training bridle, belly banding, hobbles, stocks, or a chain over the nose, gum or through the mouth. Chemical restraint will only be used at the direction of the Farm Manager or University Veterinarian. Restraint will be used only as needed. The least amount of restraint needed will be used and removed immediately upon completion of the procedure. Critically Injured or Sick Horse The University Veterinarian will be immediately contacted and will determine treatment of critically injured or sick horses. If euthanasia is required, the University Veterinarian will perform the procedure. A necropsy may be performed only if deemed necessary or if strong educational opportunities are afforded. The horse will be buried at the beef unit s burial area, in accordance with DHEC guidelines. Dental Care The horses maintained at the Equine Center will have a yearly check of teeth, to include monitoring of dental decay or irregular wear. Horses with sharp points due to regular wear of their teeth will be floated. Horses requiring floating will be sedated with Xylazine at a dose of 2 ¼ -2 ¾ cc s, depending on the weight and history. The horse will be in the stocks and then given the sedative IV. A speculum will be applied, along with a dental halter. The horse s mouth will be lavaged, with the head in a downward position to avoid water going down the throat. The arcades will be visually evaluated and then manually palpated before floating. The manager, or students under management guidance, may perform each of the above procedures. The University Veterinarian with assistance from the farm staff will perform routine floating. Young horses retained for training will have wolf teeth extracted (typically around two years of age). Any extreme dental work may be referred to the UGA Vet School. All dental work will be recorded on the individual horse s medical record

18 Vaccinations 18 All horses maintained by Clemson University s Equine Center will be vaccinated in accordance with common industry standards and approval of the University Veterinarian. The farm management will be responsible for scheduling routine vaccinations of all horses. Vaccinations will be given in the neck of all horses. Alternative sites include the hind quarter, shoulder, thigh or chest areas. These sites will be monitored for three days after vaccinations for any signs of abscess or other irritation. If an abscess develops, the University Veterinarian will be consulted. All vaccinations will be recorded on the individual horse s medical record. Horses showing soreness or swelling from routine injections can be given bute at a rate of 1 gram one time a day for two days. If the swelling or soreness persists longer than two days then the University Veterinarian will be notified. Vaccinations will be administered per label direction and dosage. The typical vaccination schedule is as follows: Foals: Age/ Time of year Vaccination 4, 5 & 8 months of age Tetanus/EW/Flu 4 months Rabies 4, 5 & 8 months Rhino 4 & 5 months West Nile Yearlings and Older, Riding Horses, Open Mares, Stallions: Time of year Spring & Fall Spring Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter Spring & Fall Vaccination Tetanus/EW Rabies Flu, Rhino West Nile Brood Mares: Time of year Vaccination 30 Days Prior to Foaling Tetanus/EW, Flu/Rhino, West Nile Spring (After Foaling) Rabies Every 2 months of gestation Pneumabort-K 8 th, 9 th, and 10 th month of gestation Rotavirus Fall West Nile ** Strangles vaccines will be administered as needed for those horses traveling to competitions, exhibitions, etc. and other horses exposed to non CUEC (outside) horses

19 19 Deworming All dewormers will be administered orally. Weight will be determined by use of a weight tape or scale if a more accurate weight is needed. Due to variations in horses compared to the weight tape, 200 lbs. will be added to horses over two years of age, and 100 lbs. for yearlings and weanling, when determining the dosage of each dewormer. All weights will be recorded on the individual horse s medical record. Ivermectin: Paste Dosage as marked on syringe. Liquid form - Dosage of 1ml per 110 lbs. of body weight. Fenbendazole: Paste - Dosage as marked on syringe. Panacur (Liquid) - Dosage of 2.3 ml per 100 lbs. of body weight. Pyrantel Pamoate: Paste - Dosage as marked on the dosing syringe. Prazaquentel: To be administered once per year to rid horses of tapeworm. Substance Age/Time of year Foals: Fenbendazole 3 months Pyrantel Pamoate 5 months Ivermectin 8 months Yearlings and Older, Riding Horses, Open Mares, Stallions: Deworm every 3-6 months with a rotation of the above classes of dewormers. Ivemectin should be administered in the late spring and fall (after first hard freeze) to rid horses of bot larvae. Prazaquentel should be administered once a year (often associated with ivermectin) to kill tapeworms. Brood mares: Same schedule, with the addition of deworming with Ivermectin 30 days prior to foaling and on the day of foaling

20 20 Procedure for Performing Intravenous Injections Intravenous injections should only be administered at the direction of a veterinarian or in adherence to standard operating procedures (SOP s). The administration of medications by intravenous injection is an efficient way of achieving quick blood concentrations of the prescribed drug. However, if the injection is made inappropriately and is accidentally injected intra-arterially, a neurological crisis usually occurs causing various convulsive activities depending on the drug delivered or the amount. At worst, death may result. The anatomical reason for this rare occurrence is that in horses the carotid artery lies in close apposition and just medial to the jugular vein. In some horses, the carotid pulse is more easily palpated thus arousing suspicion that these horses may be more prone for inadvertent arterial injection. However, to minimize the probability of inappropriate administration, all injection should be made with the same caution and procedure that is described below. Procedure: To make an intravenous injection, the person administrating the medication should select an appropriate size syringe for the amount of medication to be delivered. A 16 or 18 gauge, 1 ½ inch needle should be used for the venipuncture. This moderate-sized needle should allow for discrimination between intravenous or intra-arterial puncture. The injection site should be located in the jugular furrow of the horse s neck. If the area of injection is visibly contaminated with mud or manure, another site should be chosen, or the area may be cleaned thoroughly but delicately and scrubbed with antibacterial soap and water and dried. If hair is extremely long, clipping may be necessary as long as it doesn t excite the horse. Occlusion of the jugular vein by finger pressure proximal to the estimated injection site will cause the vein s distension that can be palpated and in most cases visualized. The needle should be inserted after the horse is appropriately restrained for its anticipated reaction. Most horses react very little to venipuncture if made by a competent phlebotomist. However, some horses are very reactive and an accomplished horseman can anticipate most problem animals. Combination of simple techniques should prove helpful in restraint hand twitch, twitch application, skin pinch, covering the horse s eye on the side of the venipuncture, horse lead shank application, etc. Restraint should be no more severe than necessary to get the procedure accomplished safely. INSERTION OF THE NEEDLE SHOULD BE TO THE HUB AND DIRECTED DOWN THE VEIN. This helps stabilize the needle making it less likely to advance unexpectedly into the artery that lies underneath. Insertion of the needle should be quick with the least amount of extraneous movement. Practice of this technique will be necessary for the operator to achieve competency

21 21 Procedure for Performing Intravenous Injections (Continued) Upon insertion and the appearance of blood in the needle, it must be discerned if the needle is in the artery or the vein. By occluding the vein proximal to the insertion point of the needle, if venous in nature, the blood flow will increase. If arterial in nature, blood flow will cease upon application of pressure proximal to the insertion point. Upon release of occlusion, the blood may be seen to spurt in pulsatile rhythm if arterial. If arterial blood is detected, the needle should be withdrawn, and venipuncture attempted proximal to the initial site. After satisfactory placement of the needle is assured, slow injection of the substance should occur. A slight pull on the plunger will allow visualization of blood in the hub of the syringe and can help assure placement is accurate during injection of the medication. If at any time during the injection the horse moves possibly causing the needle to be misdirected, the syringe should be detached from the needle and the jugular occlusions test should be repeated. If unacceptable or unclear results occur, replace the needle with a new needle into a new site. After injection of the medication, withdraw the needle and dispose of it properly. The neck should be observed over the next few days for swelling and veterinary advice sought immediately upon any abnormal signs. Some medication is very irritating if injected outside the vein, so it is especially important that records are kept detailing medications administered and in what location. By following these simple guidelines, safe intravenous injections can be administered. All IV injections will be recorded on the IIT record. SMZ Dosage Per Dr. WG Queen SMZ is Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets, USP 800 mg/160 mg Double Strength 14 tablets per 1000 pounds of horse two times per day. For severe respiratory infections can be three times per day. Domperidone (Equidone) Equidone can be used in mares that have foaled and are not producing adequate milk production and also for mares that have gone past their due date for foaling to help minimize the chance of dystocia and foaling problems. The recommended dosage from the manufacturer is: A 5cc dose twice a day for the first two days, to be followed by a 5cc dose for the next 4 to 5 days

22 22 Acquiring Veterinary Assistance If the animal caretaker discovers an animal[s] is [are] exhibiting signs of illness or abnormal behavior a decision has to be made. If the issue is one that the caretaker feels competent to address with the guidance of an existing SOP, then they can proceed with treatment. If they feel that the issue requires the expertise of a veterinarian, the following procedure should be exercised. 1. Call Dr. Queen either at Godley Snell Research Center at or If no answer, after hours, or if satisfactory communication is not established, call the cell phone at As we all are aware, cell communications can be subject to system peculiarities regarding coverage. Don t stop trying to call if you are unsuccessful on the first tries, try again. By all means, leave a message if prompted to do so. The cell phone if not answered, will have a message for all callers either to: a. Leave a message and the call will be returned as soon as possible. [If you leave a phone # to call back, please stay close to that phone for at least 30 minutes to allow time for notification and call back.] OR. b. An announcement will be made stating Dr. Queen is not on call and will direct you to another veterinary service that has agreed to provide coverage. c. If Dr. Queen is not available and it is during routine office hours, please establish communication with the office at Godley Snell then contact the emergency veterinarian on call. Emergency Veterinarian for Equine Center is: Dr. Keith Stafford, DVM 864/ The third option is to contact the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Arrangements have been made so that in the event of failure of the above options, you can call for help. You may need to trailer the animal to them, receive direction over the phone, or help decide if a farm call is necessary. 3. The final option, if the animal is suffering and proper care can not be given, is to euthanize the animal under emergency conditions as described in the farm SOP

23 23 Emergency Euthanasia The Farm Manager or assistants will be responsible for performing emergency euthanasia. Some circumstances for use of emergency euthanasia: Animal is a threat to public safety either by direct [charging] or indirect [causing traffic disruption, etc.] methods. Request of law enforcement authorities Animal in remote location with no means of corralling. Unable to be restrained Inability to contact attending veterinarian, back-up veterinarian or university veterinarian In some circumstances, gunshot may be the only practical method of euthanasia particularly if dealing with animals that are free roaming and agitated. A rifle of sufficient caliber [.22 or greater] and a competent marksman [preferably law enforcement personnel] should target the thoracic area [heart and lungs] where any respectable shot should lead to swift immobilization, unconsciousness, and death. In dealing with a situation where an animal needs to be immediately euthanized and no veterinarian can be contacted within a period of fifteen minutes, the need to immediately euthanize an animal may be necessary [such as with a fracture of a large bone of the leg due to being traumatized by another animal or by a car. Because it is unlawful for euthanasia solution to be possessed by personnel not licensed by the DEA for such usage, a firearm may be the only immediately available means of humane euthanasia. The firearm should be held at least 2 inches from the intended point of impact, and the bullet should be directed perpendicular to the front of the skull to prevent ricochet. The point of entry should be at the intersection of two imaginary lines, each drawn from the inside corner of the eyes to the base of the opposite ear. A.22 caliber long rifle bullet is sufficient for most animals, but a.22 magnum round or larger caliber can be used. If performed skillfully, gunshot induces instantaneous unconsciousness and death. The following will be used to evaluate consciousness: Lack of a heartbeat Lack of respiration Lack of corneal reflex The lack of a heartbeat will be evaluated with a stethoscope placed under the left elbow. Movement of the chest indicates respiration. The corneal reflex can be tested by touching the eyeball and noting whether the animal blinks. Lack of heartbeat and respiration for five minutes will be used to confirm death