Category: Medical
By Lindsay Berreth / Jump Media
With modern veterinary technology, there are several ways to breed your treasured mare should she have trouble getting pregnant or carrying a foal. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI, an alternative to traditional embryo transfer is becoming a popular option for the sport horse mare.
According to Dr. Justin McNaughten BVMS, DACT, the equine reproductive specialist at Palm Beach Equine Clinic (PBEC) in Wellington, FL, the ICSI procedure was originally developed to help overcome subfertility in mares and stallions. The first ICSI foal was born in 1996, and since then the procedure has gained popularity amongst breeders for mare and stallion owners alike.
Before ICSI, many breeders’ options for their mare were limited to embryo transfer, which involves breeding the donor mare, flushing the donor mare’s uterus, and then transferring the embryo into a recipient mare that has been synchronized to the donor mare’s cycle. For stallions with limited semen reserves, there wasn’t much that could be done. However, ICSI has become an invaluable tool for preserving sperm from deceased stallions or stallions with limited semen availability as the procedure uses less sperm to fertilize an egg.
A significant advantage of ICSI for sport horse mares, compared to traditional embryo transfer, is that the procedure can be performed at any stage of the estrous cycle, regardless of the natural breeding season. This flexibility allows mares to concentrate on their competition schedules and minimizes disruptions to their training or show commitments.
During the procedure, oocytes, or eggs, are collected from a donor mare’s follicles on the ovary. “It is a valuable option for mares with uterine, oviductal, or cervical disorders that would not allow the mare to be an embryo donor,” said Dr. McNaughten. The ICSI procedure bypasses most of the reproductive tract and goes straight to the source for the oocytes (shown below), the ovary.
Palm Beach Equine Clinic offers the first stage of the procedure, the oocyte aspiration or egg retrieval. Vets will ship the eggs to an ICSI lab to complete the maturation and fertilization processes. During aspiration, mares are sedated and restrained in stocks. The veterinarian passes a long handle ultrasound probe which also houses the aspiration needle into the mare’s vagina. The ovary is stabilized by the veterinarian per rectum to allow for visualization of the ovary and the follicle. The needle is inserted into the follicle; the fluid is aspirated, the wall of the follicle is scraped, then the follicle is flushed and the fluid is aspirated. The scrapping, flushing, and aspirating are repeated multiple times to help dislodge the immature oocyte. The flush fluid that is recovered is then filtered, and any oocytes that are recovered are prepared and transferred into a special holding and shipped off for the next step. The entire process is known as transvaginal oocyte aspiration (TVA) in the US or ovum pick-up (OPU) in other parts of the world.
While the procedure is becoming more routine, it does carry some risks. To safeguard against any risks the procedure is only performed at the clinic. All mares are provided pain relief during the procedure and the following day. “We recommend that mares stay overnight at the clinic to be monitored for any signs of discomfort,” noted Dr. McNaughten, “and most mares return to full work within the week following the procedure.”
Once an ICSI lab receives the egg or eggs, they are put into a maturation media and monitored for 24 hours. “The eggs that we’re taking from the mare are immature, they’re incubated in a specialized maturation media,” said Dr. McNaughten. Each oocyte that matures, is then fertilized with a single sperm cell. “That’s the process of the intracytoplasmic sperm injection or ICSI. If all goes well, the fertilized oocytes are monitored to see if there’s any cellular division or cleavage, which means that fertilization was successful. Those will be monitored for the next 7-10 days until they reach the blastocyst or embryo stage.”
Maturation, fertilization, and embryo production rates can be affected by numerous factors including bred, age, season, level of work, semen quality and whether it is cool shipped or frozen semen. On average 50 to 60% of eggs will mature and be suitable for fertilization. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection laboratories report 70 to 80% of oocytes fertilized typically divide and grow, and 20 to 30% of fertilized oocytes will grow in culture to the blastocyst stage for embryo transfer. The final step in the ICSI process is to transfer the embryo to a recipient mare or freeze it. According to Dr. McNaughten, 60 to 70% of transfers are successful.
In our hands ICSI has become an invaluable tool for in vitro produced embryos not only on the mare side but for select valuable stallions. “To put it into perspective, in a conventional frozen semen breeding dose, the minimum dose is 250 million progressively motile sperm for one breeding. With ICSI, one sperm is used to fertilize one egg,” he explained. “We have also been very successful in producing embryos and foals using frozen semen from a deceased stallions that previously had not produced embryos through conventional breeding management with the same frozen semen.”
Palm Beach Equine Clinic is here to help you achieve your breeding goals. Our veterinarians specialize in breeding and reproduction and utilize the latest technology to ensure a seamless experience for both you and your mare. Contact us today at 561-793-1599 to schedule an appointment or to learn more.
A recent popular post on PBEC’s social media was about retired Davie County, FL, police horse Charlie, who injured himself in true equine fashion – spectacularly and with no one knowing how – during the night while turned out in a field. Charlie was adopted by the mother of one of the Davie County police officers who also works for the Sheriff’s Department. They brought Charlie to PBEC to repair a large laceration on his side.
Dr. Michelle Maguire was on hand to care for Charlie and explained the steps it took to get him back to healing. Dr. Maguire and her team administered intravenous sedation in order to repair with him standing up then injected local anesthesia around the circumference of the laceration, which measured approximately 12 by 18 inches.
“This case was particularly challenging because it was a very large area with multiple flaps and went through many layers, including skin, subcutaneous tissue, and the muscle layers overlying the thorax,” said Dr. Maguire. “Luckily there was no penetration into the thoracic cavity.”
Dr. Maguire used walking sutures to close the laceration, extending from the skin flap’s deep dermis to the underlying fascia of the body wall. This approach helps eliminate
dead space to help prevent seroma formation and infection, reduce skin tension, promote wound closure, and lower the risk of dehiscence, a surgical complication where a wound ruptures along the incision after surgery.
Because the skin can’t handle tension, you can’t just suture the skin itself. Dr. Maguire also used a Jackson Pratt drain, a commonly used surgical drain that provides a constant, low suction to pull fluid from a surgical incision site to decrease swelling and reduce the risk of infection. The drain consists of a thin, rubber tube and a soft, round squeeze bulb, or “grenade” on the end that maintains negative pressure and allows for an active drainage system.
Dr. Maguire noted that Charlie’s prognosis is very good, and he is expected to make a full recovery. He has been doing well at home, and the wound has held together without dehiscence.
She added, “The aftercare protocol was a course of systemic antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, along with maintaining a compressive for the first two weeks postoperatively until skin sutures were removed.
“The horse handled everything very well,” she continued. “He was in pain the first day postoperatively, but as the inflammation subsided, he was a normal happy horse.”
The team at Palm Beach Equine Clinic is happy to report that Charlie is back home grazing. While he will have a scar, it won’t affect his quality of life, and he will have quite a story to tell his friends!
By Alice Collins / Jump Media
Originally from Corrientes in the north of Argentina, Lujan Montiel completed her veterinary degree in her home country in 2016, then specialized in treating polo ponies before joining the intern program at Palm Beach Equine Clinic (PBEC).
What is your background with horses?
Over the past eight years, I have worked primarily with polo horses, focusing on their care and management in a field setting — a very different scenario from Wellington and of course from a hospital environment.
When and why did you decide you wanted to become an intern at Palm Beach Equine Clinic?
Since 2023 I have been in contact with PBEC, exploring the possibility of joining the 2024-2025 internship program. My interest in this internship stems from a desire to broaden my expertise and gain a comprehensive view of equine medicine. I aim to specialize further by integrating the intensive care practices performed at the clinic, in addition to learning from the high-level professionals and advanced technology that the hospital offers for both hospitalized and outpatients.
What does the internship program involve?
The program involves rotations through all areas of equine veterinary medicine, including internal medicine, surgery, anesthesia, sport medicine, ophthalmology, and dentistry. The structured rotations, changing every two weeks, provide a unique opportunity to develop skills across multiple disciplines.
What does a typical day look like for you at PBEC?
A typical day at PBEC begins with checking all my patients, performing physical exams, and updating their medical notes. At 8:30 a.m., we have rounds where we discuss cases with the doctors. Occasionally, we have scheduled surgeries, which always start at 9 a.m. Depending on the day and the rotation I’m in, I could be working in surgery, anesthesia, in the hospital, or ambulatory work with one of the clinicians. Therefore, each day can be quite variable and diverse, offering a broad range of experiences.
What aspects of equine medicine interest you most, and what types of cases do you find most rewarding?
The area of veterinary medicine that most interests me is internal medicine. Since my arrival in late June, I have had the privilege of treating a wide variety of cases, including laminitis, colic, neurological patients, diarrheas, and endotoxemia cases, among others.
What is one of the most interesting cases you have worked on?
The cases that I’ve found most interesting and educational have been colic cases due to their variety and the protocol-based management that the clinic employs. There were a series of four colic cases (one next to the other), and all of them were resolved surgically. All of these cases involved a very rare condition called mesocecum entrapment, which prompted significant research into this topic at the clinic.
What’s your favorite part of the job/the biggest thing you have learned?
What I enjoy most about working at PBEC is the willingness of the clinicians to share their expertise in various fields, whether it’s sports medicine, surgery, anesthesia, or internal medicine. Their dedication to teaching ensures that the internship is as rewarding and beneficial as possible, allowing us to truly make the most out of this intensive year of work. Additionally, I have been fortunate to work with a group of interns who have excellent values of camaraderie, making everything lighter and easier when things get busy at the clinic.
When not at PBEC, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
During my days off, I try to explore the surrounding areas of Wellington, including the beach, as it’s a new country for me, and I love taking the opportunity to enjoy the coastline.
To learn more about the full range of services on offer at Palm Beach Equine Clinic, call 561-793-1599 or visit www.EquineClinic.com.
Fernando J. Marqués, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, Diplomate ACVSMR
The exceptional athletic abilities of horses can be attributed to several factors, including physiological adaptations, some of which are influenced by training. Muscles, and all cells in the body, require energy to function. Energy from food (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) is not directly transferred to muscles for biological work. Instead, it is converted into an energy-rich substance known as ATP. The oxidation of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins is the process that produces ATP. There are three main energy systems that supply ATP to the cells: the immediate energy system, the short-term energy system, and the long-term energy system.
The immediate energy system relies on high-energy phosphate sources and plays a crucial role during intense physical activities of short duration that require immediate fuel. These high-energy phosphates are quickly depleted, typically within 20 to 30 seconds of maximum exertion, similar to what happens in humans.
The short-term energy system generates ATP mainly from stored muscle carbohydrates called glycogen. This process does not require oxygen, which is why it is referred to as anaerobic metabolism, leading to lactate accumulation within the muscle cells.
The long-term energy system, or aerobic system, produces ATP during prolonged, intense physical activity. This process requires oxygen, hence the name aerobic metabolism. In this system, fats are a significant fuel source.
The contribution of each energy system and fuel source (carbohydrates, fats, and to a lesser extent proteins) varies depending on factors such as exercise intensity and duration, training status, muscle fiber composition, and oxygen supply to the muscles. Understanding these factors is crucial, as exercise is generally categorized into aerobic/endurance (low intensity over a long duration) and power/strength (high intensity over a short duration). In practice, pure endurance or pure strength activities are rare, and most sports combine elements of both.
Additionally, muscles adapt to specific exercises and sports, which triggers the development of particular muscle fibers that utilize different fuel sources and energy systems to produce ATP.
In equestrian sports, no discipline is exclusively anaerobic or aerobic. Most sports require a combination of both energy systems. For example, racehorses and western performance horses engage in high-intensity, fast-paced activities for short periods, primarily relying on anaerobic metabolism. Conversely, show jumping and polo horses mainly engage in aerobic exercise but switch to anaerobic metabolism to meet the intense energy demands of their sport. Eventing and endurance racing horses, on the other hand, rely predominantly on aerobic metabolism to sustain their energy levels over prolonged periods of activity.
Designing an effective training program for a horse requires considering the optimal adaptation of muscle fiber composition to enhance metabolic function and improve performance in the specific sport.
References:
- Hinchcliff K., Geor R., Kaneps A. Equine Exercise Physiology- The Science of Exercise in the Athletic Horse. Saunders
- McArdle W., Katch F., Katch V. Exercise Physiology. Wolters Kluwer, 8th Edition.
- https://equineclinic.com/medical/understanding-energy-support-for-the-performance-horse/
By Alice Collins / Jump Media
The warm late summer of 2024 has paved the way for more mosquitos and heralded the start of West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) season for both horses and humans. WNV and EEE are both equine encephalitis viruses spread by infected mosquitos. They can cause severe brain inflammation and neurological issues in humans and horses and can be fatal in unvaccinated or under-vaccinated equine populations.
With almost daily cases of WNV in horses being reported in several U.S. states throughout August 2024, plus news of humans contracting the rare but extremely serious EEE virus, people are rightfully concerned about how to protect their animals and themselves from both WNV and EEE. The Wellington, Florida-based Palm Beach Equine Center (PBEC)advises on what you can do to minimize the risk of exposure and infection.
WNV and EEE by the Numbers
Both WNV and EEE circulate in the environment between mosquitoes and birds and are spread to horses and humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. However, even though they get sick, humans and horses are dead-end hosts that do not, in turn, spread these viruses back to mosquitoes that bite them.
Since 1999, more than 27,600 U.S. horses have been confirmed to have WNV, with an estimated fatality rate of 30-40%. With yearly activity of around 300 equine cases in the U.S., WNV is now considered endemic, persisting at a consistent level with fairly predictable rates of infection and spread.
EEE, also known as sleeping sickness, causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Mortality can exceed 90% in unvaccinated horses and is lower in horses with partial protection or previous vaccination. Death usually occurs within two to three days of the onset of signs. Horses that survive may have permanent neurologic deficits.
While the diseases sound alarming, the good news is that vaccination is a very effective barrier for your horse. EEE and WNV inoculations are considered core vaccines by the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Annual injections for all horses, preferably in the spring before mosquito season, are strongly recommended. Initial vaccination is followed in four to six weeks with a booster, with yearly revaccination thereafter. Horses living in areas with mosquitos year-round may need EEE vaccinations two or three times a year for full protection.
Clinical Signs
The clinical signs of the two illnesses are almost identical, and can include:
- Depression and anorexia without fever when initially infected
- Mild low-grade fever in about 25% of affected horses with WVN
- Moderate to high fever in horses with EEE
- Lack of appetite
- Lethargy/drowsiness
- Neurologic signs, the onset of which are frequently sudden and progressive
- Periods of hyperexcitability, apprehension and/or drowsiness
- Fine tremors of the face and neck muscles
- Cranial nerve paralysis — facial paralysis and weakness of the tongue are very common
- Head tilt, droopy lip, muzzle deviation
- Weakness, ataxia, and lack of coordination in one or more limbs
- Complete paralysis of one or more limbs
- Colic
- Inability to stand
Diagnosis and Treatment
A veterinarian will diagnose both WNV and EEE by testing the horse’s serum, a component of whole blood. There is no cure for either virus, but horses showing clinical signs are given supportive care.
Prevention
Aside from vigilant vaccination suitable for the horse’s environment, there are other measures owners can take to prevent infection from both WNV and EEE. They include frequent use of insect repellent, which should be reapplied after rain, keeping horses stabled at night, minimizing standing water, and eliminating areas in which water can collect, such as leaf piles or old tires.
PBEC President Dr. Scott Swerdlin advises, “We can vaccinate against all these diseases, and it’s really important to remember that it’s not just the first set; it takes at least two injections for the horse to develop immunity.”
Swerdlin also points out that horses traveling into an affected region can be put at far greater risk, adding, “People who bring horses to the U.S. from South America or Europe are exposing them to different diseases than they are accustomed to in their native country. They should vaccinate the horses immediately on arrival and then, after the first vaccine, every 12 months. In Florida, where there is a huge mosquito population, we recommend vaccinating against EEE and WNV, as well as rhinovirus, every six months for maximum protection.”
There are no approved human vaccines for WNV or EEE. Personal protective measures include using mosquito repellents, wearing long-sleeved shirts tucked into long pants, and limiting time outdoors from dusk to dawn. Using air conditioning and installing screens further decreases the risk of exposure.
For additional questions, veterinary assistance, or to book your horse’s vaccinations, call Palm Beach Equine Clinic at 561-793-1599.
By Alice Collins / Jump Media
Wellington, FL – Miss Miami is one of Miami’s longest-serving and most-valued police horses, having joined the team 21 years ago and been through six police chiefs. In the early spring of 2024 at the age of 26, Miami Police Department (PD) had begun to wind down her workload and prepare her for retirement. However, on April 10 Miss Miami looked uncomfortable, and officers called their veterinarian.
“She was not feeling good, and it looked like colic,” explained Lieutenant Redondo of Miami PD. “The vet came and saw she was in distress and said we’d probably have to do surgery. They couldn’t do it and referred us to Palm Beach Equine Clinic [PBEC].”
Miss Miami was driven straight to PBEC in Wellington, FL, where the team carried out a physical exam, blood work, nasogastric intubation, an ultrasound, abdominocentesis, and a rectal exam. Their findings were consistent with a surgical lesion, and she was diagnosed with a strangulating lipoma, a small, benign, fatty tumor that develops within the abdomen and occasionally develops a long, string-like stalk. The lipoma and stalk can wrap around a part of the horse’s digestive system, cutting off the blood supply and resulting in death of that section of intestine.
On the day she arrived at PBEC, Miss Miami was taken to emergency surgery after an initial evaluation and operated on by Dr. Weston Davis DVM, DACVS, who ended up performing a resection and anastomosis, which is where a part of intestine is removed and the two ends are rejoined.
“Miss Miami was routinely induced under general anesthesia; the abdomen was clipped and aseptically prepared for surgery,” explained Davis, who is a native of South Florida and whose father was also a veterinarian. “A midline incision was created, and exploration revealed a large segment of mid-jejunum [the middle part of the small intestine] that appeared to have been strangulated by the stalk of a strangulating lipoma.”
The portion of the small intestine affected was no longer viable, so Davis removed the two-foot long segment of jejunum. Miss Miami’s abdominal incision was then closed with absorbable sutures in the deeper layers and stainless-steel staples in the skin.
Miss Miami was given intravenous fluid therapy including pain relief, electrolytes, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and gastroprotectants. She recovered from the anesthesia without incident, and a large abdominal support bandage was applied in recovery.
She was not yet out of the woods, however. Miss Miami’s forelimb digital pulses were mildly elevated in the first 36 hours after the operation. She was managed with digital cryotherapy, and frog supports were applied to both front feet. Her appetite was also diminished following surgery, and she was fed via nasogastric intubation until her appetite began to increase. At that point, her rations were given normally, and the quantity was gradually increased. Her digital pulses returned to normal.
After a week at PBEC, Miss Miami was bright, with a good appetite, passing normal manure, and walking comfortably. She was ready to be released back into the care of Miami PD. Their local veterinarian oversaw the removal of Miss Miami’s stitches a week later, and her belly bandage was reapplied. The Miami PD team was also given four daily exercises by PBEC for Miss Miami to start at home two weeks after surgery to help support her recovery: barrel lifts, butt tucks, stepping backwards, and walking over poles.
“She would have died without the surgery,” stated Redondo. “She has recovered really well. She is still here with us in Miami, but we have started the paperwork to retire her to farmland up in North Florida. Everybody around here knows her and loves her; she’s one of our most famous horses. She’s been here longer than I have, and she’s one of the horses that we liked to use on the regular. Having a horse that already knows the job and is used to all the traffic and loud noises makes it easy, so we are going to miss her.
“The fact that the department agreed to take care of a horse who is old or not being ridden anymore says a lot, and the fact that PBEC took care of her was so great,” he concluded.
PBEC’s kindness and swift action ensured that Miss Miami will now be able to enjoy the retirement she deserves after her years of loyal service. If you or your veterinarian would like to learn more about Palm Beach Equine Clinic and how it can help your horse, call 561-793-1599 or visit www.EquineClinic.com.
Lameness can be a difficult issue to pinpoint in horses, but the veterinarians at Palm Beach Equine Clinic (PBEC) in Wellington, FL, can help with an overall examination of the horse that includes a full body review. Lameness is not always caused by issues in the legs or hooves; with increasing frequency, the horse’s neck is being diagnosed as the root of the issue. Thanks to the incredible diagnostic imaging suite at PBEC, veterinarians can get a clearer look at all equine body parts to diagnose and treat lameness.
The Anatomy of the Equine Neck and What Can Go Wrong
The equine neck is composed of seven cervical vertebrae running from the head to the thorax, named C1 through C7, and each articulating with the other. The primary purposes of the neck are to move the head and to protect and transport the spinal cord and nerves, which run through the middle of the vertebrae.
Such a major role as the protection of the nerves and spinal cord can also come with some major risks and complications, with clinical signs of these problems generally presenting themselves either neurologically, as neck pain, or as lameness in the front legs. These more specific symptoms may include ataxia/clumsiness, which is generally an indicator of a neurological condition or damage to the spinal cord itself, caused by either developmental issues, trauma, or an infectious disease such as equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM).
Issues such as nerve impingement from the spinal cord, arthritis of the articular facet joints of the vertebrae, neck trauma, or inflammatory diseases can easily translate to lameness in the forelimbs.
Diagnosing the Problem
Neck problems, particularly those related to lameness, are generally diagnosed through a process of exclusion, first performing nerve blocks to or ruling out lower regions of the horse’s body. Palpation of the neck, testing of the neck’s movement, and full neurological exams may also be performed in addition to a full lameness exam, depending on the horse’s symptoms.
Once other regions of the horse are ruled out as the location of the problem, veterinarians can use PBEC’s other imaging modalities, including radiographs, ultrasound, MRI, and nuclear scintigraphy, to get a clear picture of what’s wrong, make a precise surgical plan if needed, and design comprehensive treatment plans. PBEC is the only facility in South Florida with a Canon Aquilion LB Exceed CT scanner, and it is available for referring veterinarians. PBEC’s new CT scanner makes that process easier, faster, and more precise.
The new CT scanner at PBEC is able to show elements such as soft tissue detail that are not detectable on routine imaging modalities. In addition, the Canon Aquilion LB Exceed CT scanner helps veterinarians examine areas of the equine body that were previously difficult or impossible to see, such as the pelvis, sacroiliac, hip joints, stifles, entire limbs, and the neck.
“The neck is a really difficult area to image,” Dr. Karen Beste, a board-certified surgeon at PBEC and the head of the imaging team. “Routine radiographs don’t provide 3D detail. We can add contrast for myelograms, which allows us to look for dynamic compressions in the spine. We can see detailed changes that may impact a horse’s ability to perform and be a safe horse to ride. The new CT scanner allows us to get full neck CTs, all the way to thoracic vertebrae, even on really large horses. Additionally, because the acquisition times of images are so fast, horses are under general anesthesia for a very short time, which is better for any horse but particularly for a neurologic horse.”
While PBEC’s Canon Aquilion LB Exceed CT scanner has incredible technology, it’s nothing without the experts that manage the scanning process and those that read and interpret the scans, including board-certified radiologists Dr. Sarah Puchalski and Dr. Stacie Aarsvold, who look at every scan.
Treatment
Once a solid diagnosis is reached, the proper treatment protocols can be prescribed. Depending on the root of the problem, possible treatments may include shockwave therapy, regenerative therapies such as interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP) therapy or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, or one of the most common treatments, injections of the facet joints.
In the case of facet joint injections, veterinarians at PBEC can medicate under ultrasound guidance, guiding a needle into the joints and delivering corticosteroids or similar medication. Surgery is also an option as a final approach to severe complications.
In milder cases, treatments may also simply call for increased time off, chiropractic treatments, or the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications.
If you suspect any issues with your horse’s neck, contact Palm Beach Equine Clinic any time by calling 561-793-1599 to schedule an appointment.
By Amanda Picciotto Feitosa / Jump Media
Horses can injure themselves when you least expect it – sometimes even when they are not being exercised. That was the case for amateur rider Kelly Berry, who is based in Georgia, and her 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Sunny. Unfortunately, Sunny suffered a lateral collateral ligament injury in the pasture, necessitating eight months of rest. Berry thought they had done everything necessary to help Sunny return to shining form, but after coming back into work, Sunny was not able to stay consistently sound for longer than a month or two at a time.
After trying various treatment strategies, it seemed like Berry was running out of options. Still, she was determined to help Sunny regain his show hunter career. Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist Dr. Fernando J. Marqués, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, Diplomate ACVSMR, of Palm Beach Equine Clinic (PBEC) in Wellington, FL, was called upon to provide a consult. He used x-rays and ultrasound to investigate the source of the problem and followed up with nerve blocks to confirm his diagnosis.
“When Dr. Marqués met Sunny, the exam was very comprehensive,” recalled Berry. “He spent a great deal of time with Sunny watching him and talking me through the process of what he was seeing.”
“I saw from the imaging that Sunny had significant pronounced osteoarthritis on the distal interphalangeal joints in both front legs,” explained Dr. Marqués. “I then followed up with nerve blocks because sometimes you find pathologies on imaging, but that might not be what the problem is. It might seem clear, but sometimes you can be amazed that what you see on ultrasound or x-ray is not what is causing the issue at the moment. We had to make sure we knew exactly where the problem was coming from and get a more accurate diagnosis before moving forward.”
Once Dr. Marqués was satisfied with his findings, he came up with a treatment plan for Sunny. First, he provided intra-articular therapy (joint injections) to Sunny’s coffins and navicular bursae. Then, he proceeded with meso-therapy, which involves using small needles to inject the mesoderm level of the skin with products to help with the relaxation and pain relief of the muscles. Finally, Dr. Marqués discussed therapeutic farriery with both Berry and her farrier to better balance Sunny’s feet in order to optimally support his body in work.
“We needed to be sure to treat all the factors,” shared Dr. Marqués of Sunny’s recovery plan. “You have to take care of the joint problem, the muscular problem, and put the forces in the feet the way they should be. That way, when the horse receives forces from the ground up, those forces are evenly distributed and they don’t induce further damage in the joints.
“A good veterinarian and farrier relationship is key in these cases as well,” he continued. “We need to have good communication and good teamwork. I spoke with Kelly’s farrier and discussed the principles that we wanted to achieve. When working with any farrier, I might suggest something, but then I hear what the farrier has to say because they know their job. After that, we come up with the final plan together.”
Following treatment, Sunny started back on the road to recovery. Within two weeks he had returned to work under saddle, but he still needed time to build up muscle strength and tendon strength. Little by little, he continued to progress.
“Sunny was on the brink of retirement as we felt like we had exhausted all options, and Dr. Marqués was my last hope,” expressed Berry. “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little worried that his treatment plan wouldn’t work, but Dr. Marqués was with me through the entire process and instilled a lot of confidence in me.”
Berry and Sunny have since returned to the show ring, bringing home numerous ribbons and continuing to enjoy their hunter conquests together.
“I am forever grateful for Dr. Marqués,” said Berry. “He has given me my horse back, and we have made memories that would never have been possible without him! I feel so lucky to have Dr. Marqués on my team and to call him our veterinarian.”
If you or your veterinarian would like to learn more about Palm Beach Equine Clinic and how it can help your horse, make an appointment at 561-793-1599 or learn more at www.EquineClinic.com.
Palm Beach Equine Clinic (PBEC) offers innovative equine reproduction techniques in its breeding and fertility services led by board-certified Equine Reproductive Specialist Dr. Justin McNaughten and Dr. Robert Smith to increase the probability of a successful pregnancy. A leader in equine veterinary care, Palm Beach Equine Clinic, located in Wellington, FL, can provide reproductive services at both its equine hospital and in private barn settings.
What Is Offered?
Transvaginal Oocyte Aspiration (TVA) for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
ICSI has become an invaluable tool for overcoming fertility issues in sub-fertile mares and stallions. The combination of TVA and ICSI procedures has gained traction and become popular within the sport horse community.
Benefits:
- Produce offspring with limited interruption to the mare’s training and competition schedule by transferring embryos to the uterus of a recipient mare or frozen for future use.
- On the stallion side, ICSI can also maximize limited reserves of frozen semen because only a single sperm cell is selected and injected.
- PBEC is one of the only facilities in South Florida to accept stallions for sex-sorted semen collections. Stallion owners are now able to choose the future sex of the foal by utilizing frozen ICSI doses of semen.
Stallion Services
The care of stallions at PBEC is conducted by competent horse handlers. Proper management throughout the process can significantly improve fertility.
Benefits:
- A covered breeding shed with a hydraulic phantom mare and training offered to stallions for its use
- A Computer Assisted Sperm Analyzer to provide thorough evaluation and quality control of a stallion’s sperm
- Stallion breeding soundness exam and management
- Treatment of stallion infertility
- Semen collection and evaluation
- Semen freezing, processing storage, and shipping
- Reproductive pre-purchase exams
- Semen collection and freezing from castrated or deceased stallions
Mare Services
There are many factors involved in proper management of mares regarding reproduction and fertility, and PBEC veterinarians are there every step of the way to keep your mare comfortable and prepared.
Benefits:
- Mare breeding soundness exam and management
- Uterine culture, cytology, biopsy, and hysteroscopy
- Artificial insemination with fresh, chilled or frozen semen
- Problem mare breeding and infertility evaluations
- Treatment of mare infertility
- Pregnancy diagnosis and management
- High risk pregnancy management
- Parturition management
- Post-partum management
- Collecting ova from a deceased mare
The Reproduction and Fertility team at Palm Beach Equine Clinic is ready to leverage its expert care and advanced practices to produce the talent of the future. To learn more about the routine and advanced reproductive services offered this season, contact Palm Beach Equine Clinic at 561-793-1599 or visit www.EquineClinic.com.