Ask the Vet - Liniment vs poultice, minor skin wounds, EPM, Lyme, Wobblers, and more! - October 2017

You asked, we answered! In this episode of our monthly series, Ask the Vet, Dr. Lydia Gray and SmartPaker Sarah answer your questions about fruits and vegetables that are safe for your horse, the difference between liniment and poultice, signs that your horse is ready to retire, how to treat minor skin wounds, the differences between Wobblers, EPM, and Lyme, and way more!
Additional reading/watching material mentioned in the video:
Ask the Vet monthly video playlist: • Ask the Vet monthly vi...
Ask the Vet individual topics playlist: • Ask the Vet individual...
Horse Health Library Videos: www.smartpakequine.com/learn-...
Equine Neurological Exams, featuring Dr. Andy Kaneps: • Equine Neurological Exams
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Questions answered in this episode:
1. I love giving my horse special treats, so I was wondering what kind of fruits and vegetables are safe to feed your horse?
2. What is the difference between liniments and poultices? Is one stronger than the other? Are there different types of liniments and poultices? Is it required to use paper, plastic wrap, or bandages with liniments and poultices? Also, does climate or weather affect the effectiveness of liniments and poultices? Also, thank you for “changing the world four hoofs at a time!”.
3. What are some signs that your horse needs to retire? What type of lifestyle can you create for a retired horse if you don't have grass pastures?
4. My 10-year old thoroughbred gelding loves to goof off with his buddies and is a bit on the accident prone side, so he always seems to come in from the paddock with a new nick, bite, or scrape. Although I don't treat every little injury, I have used everything from Hay Where's That Blue Stuff to Vetericyn spray to Fura-Zone to triple antibiotic cream on some of the bigger ones - honestly, whatever I happen to have lying around at the time. Most of the time I am more concerned with keeping the wound moist so it can heal naturally without scarring (and keep bugs and dirt out). However, I never really know what I should be using or if it even helps. What is your favorite product or recommendation for how to treat these minor injuries? When is it appropriate to use antibiotic cream vs a spray? Are there any products I should avoid? Charlie and I thank you in advance!
5. What is the difference between Wobblers, EPM, and Lyme?

[@blossomequestrian]

Love your videos, can't tell how many dirty looks I get by not putting ointment on every little scratch.

[@anniebananie553]

Really helpful video! I appreciate what you said about minor wound care; I think it's important for owners to remember that the horse heals itself, and while you want to clean out wounds and inspect them regularly to make sure they're healing up fine, we don't actually need special ointments to help a wound heal!
Perhaps even more importantly, the overuse of antibiotics for both humans and horses (and ESPECIALLY livestock- read up on it) has created a huge crisis where the drugs are losing their effectiveness. I think it's important to take a step back when assessing a wound or infection (with your vet) and ask "do I really NEED to treat this with antibiotics"?

[@BreannBree]

My mare has either girth gall or something else. I don't know. She's had it for almost a month, I was told to you Clorox and water to wash it and my cinch, so I did. But know I don't know what to do. I obviously can't ride her, which is a problem. I've also used Vetericyn and Corona ointment. What can I do? #askthevetvideo

[@lenam8289]

#askthevetvideo can you tell me more about PSSM in horses? I have a horse that is a quarter horse/ rocky mountain mix and they have a high prevalence for this disease. What are the signs/symptoms/treatments/outcomes?

[@Letsgetchopin]

Hi! I have a 11 year old paint gelding. He has a very sensitive stomach and is prone to colic. What supplements would you suggest for such a sensitive horse? And what is the best living situation for colic prone horses? Stalled, 24/7 turnout, etc. Thanks!

[@allisonhill1406]

My horse has bad hooves and I have used almost every kind of hoof oil and conditioner and nothing has worked plz help #askthevetvideo +what's the difference between hoof oils and conditioners?

[@smartpak]

Hi Allison Hill, that is a great question! So great, in fact, that other riders have asked and voted for a similar question in the past! You can see Dr. Gray’s response to that question right here: czcams.com/video/GmmwSNcNPrE/video.htmlm23s . Of course, just like every horse is different, we know every question is different, too, so your question is still eligible for inclusion in this month’s video. Don’t forget, voting for your question is the second most important thing after asking the question in the first place, so be sure to check our blog to see if your question is selected, and to vote! Hope this helps! - SmartPaker Nels