VMP 420 EXAM 1 (EQUINE) QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Where do horses carry their fat? - Answers - Neck, withers, behind the shoulder, back
legs
Is it more common to see very thin or obese horses these days? - Answers - Obese
What BCS should fit horses be at? - Answers - 4 or 5
What horse breed is obesity a particular issue for? - Answers - ponies
BCS 1-3 (very thin) - Answers - - starvation
- disease (cancer, GI disease)
- heavily parasitized
- parasite resistance (colic diarrhea)
BCS 8-9 (very obese) - Answers - - fat neck, fat deposits behind shoulder and hind legs
- high concentrate diet, little exercise
- rich pasture (green)
What does it take in terms of reduction in total dietary intake to reduce BCS by one
grade? - Answers - 20% reduction in terms of total dietary intake for around 2 weeks
laminitis - Answers - can happen from obesity. it is inflammation in the lamina of the
horse. makes the horse very lame. if the bone goes thru the hoof wall it can be fatal.
reasons we should care about obesity: - Answers - - laminitis
- insulin resistance, metabolic disease, hyperlipemia
- lameness
why is parasite control so important? - Answers - - maintain BCS
- want to avoid resistance issues
- young animals are most at-risk
signs of parasitism: - Answers - - dull, rough haircoat
- babies at higher risk since immune system doesn't recognize most parasites
- lethargy, low BCS
- slowed growth
- pot belly (young)
- colic, diarrhea
ascarids (roundworms) - Answers - - foal parasite (immune by 60 months to 2 yrs old)
, ascarid life cycle: - Answers - eggs ingested, larvae hatch and invade mucosa, migrate
to liver + lungs, coughed up and mature in small intestine, passed in feces to infest
pasture
clinical signs of ascarids: - Answers - potbellied, dull hair coat, pneumonia, ascarid
impaction
what is ascarid impaction? - Answers - late, effective deworming of heavily infested 4-6
month old foals. colic. intestinal rupture can happen cus ascarids become paralyzed
and block small intestine (caused by the late effective deworming)
strongylus vulgaris (large strongyles) - Answers - seen in adult horses (adult parasite).
uncommon. Ivermectin is very effective for deworming
cyathostomes (small strongyles) - Answers - lifelong parasite. life cycle is to encyst in
cecum and large colon. resistance is common. signs include diarrhea and colic. fecal
egg counts don't accurately assess burden cus depending on time of year they could be
mostly encysted in cecum and colon
tapeworms (anoplocephala) - Answers - adult parasite. regular deworming important.
FEC problematic (intermittent shedders). cause disease. serologic test available. live at
ileocecal junction.
bots - Answers - adults infested. gastrophilus flies lay eggs on leg hair in summer. licked
and hatch in esophagus and larvae attach in stomach in the fall. passed in feces in the
spring. don't cause horses too many issues.
what are bots on horses a sign of? - Answers - that they haven't had ivermectin in a
while. larvae best killed 4-6 weeks after the first frost is when it's best to give ivermectin.
classes of anthelmintics: - Answers - macrocyclic lactones, pyrantel, benzimidazoles,
and piperazine (generic)
macrocyclic lactones - Answers - one of the biggest classes of dewormers. broad
spectrum except for encysted small strongyles and tapeworms. longest duration of
action. quick kill. avoid for ascarid infestations. emerging resistance!
ivermectin, moxidectin
pyrantel - Answers - more narrow spectrum dewormer. double dose gets tapeworms.
inexpensive. daily dewormer (strongid). resistance seen a lot since it's used daily.
benzimidazoles - Answers - broad spectrum except tapes and encysted forms. slow kill
- good for ascarid infestations. emerging resistance! Oxibendazole (generic).
Fenbendaole (Safeguard, generic).
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Where do horses carry their fat? - Answers - Neck, withers, behind the shoulder, back
legs
Is it more common to see very thin or obese horses these days? - Answers - Obese
What BCS should fit horses be at? - Answers - 4 or 5
What horse breed is obesity a particular issue for? - Answers - ponies
BCS 1-3 (very thin) - Answers - - starvation
- disease (cancer, GI disease)
- heavily parasitized
- parasite resistance (colic diarrhea)
BCS 8-9 (very obese) - Answers - - fat neck, fat deposits behind shoulder and hind legs
- high concentrate diet, little exercise
- rich pasture (green)
What does it take in terms of reduction in total dietary intake to reduce BCS by one
grade? - Answers - 20% reduction in terms of total dietary intake for around 2 weeks
laminitis - Answers - can happen from obesity. it is inflammation in the lamina of the
horse. makes the horse very lame. if the bone goes thru the hoof wall it can be fatal.
reasons we should care about obesity: - Answers - - laminitis
- insulin resistance, metabolic disease, hyperlipemia
- lameness
why is parasite control so important? - Answers - - maintain BCS
- want to avoid resistance issues
- young animals are most at-risk
signs of parasitism: - Answers - - dull, rough haircoat
- babies at higher risk since immune system doesn't recognize most parasites
- lethargy, low BCS
- slowed growth
- pot belly (young)
- colic, diarrhea
ascarids (roundworms) - Answers - - foal parasite (immune by 60 months to 2 yrs old)
, ascarid life cycle: - Answers - eggs ingested, larvae hatch and invade mucosa, migrate
to liver + lungs, coughed up and mature in small intestine, passed in feces to infest
pasture
clinical signs of ascarids: - Answers - potbellied, dull hair coat, pneumonia, ascarid
impaction
what is ascarid impaction? - Answers - late, effective deworming of heavily infested 4-6
month old foals. colic. intestinal rupture can happen cus ascarids become paralyzed
and block small intestine (caused by the late effective deworming)
strongylus vulgaris (large strongyles) - Answers - seen in adult horses (adult parasite).
uncommon. Ivermectin is very effective for deworming
cyathostomes (small strongyles) - Answers - lifelong parasite. life cycle is to encyst in
cecum and large colon. resistance is common. signs include diarrhea and colic. fecal
egg counts don't accurately assess burden cus depending on time of year they could be
mostly encysted in cecum and colon
tapeworms (anoplocephala) - Answers - adult parasite. regular deworming important.
FEC problematic (intermittent shedders). cause disease. serologic test available. live at
ileocecal junction.
bots - Answers - adults infested. gastrophilus flies lay eggs on leg hair in summer. licked
and hatch in esophagus and larvae attach in stomach in the fall. passed in feces in the
spring. don't cause horses too many issues.
what are bots on horses a sign of? - Answers - that they haven't had ivermectin in a
while. larvae best killed 4-6 weeks after the first frost is when it's best to give ivermectin.
classes of anthelmintics: - Answers - macrocyclic lactones, pyrantel, benzimidazoles,
and piperazine (generic)
macrocyclic lactones - Answers - one of the biggest classes of dewormers. broad
spectrum except for encysted small strongyles and tapeworms. longest duration of
action. quick kill. avoid for ascarid infestations. emerging resistance!
ivermectin, moxidectin
pyrantel - Answers - more narrow spectrum dewormer. double dose gets tapeworms.
inexpensive. daily dewormer (strongid). resistance seen a lot since it's used daily.
benzimidazoles - Answers - broad spectrum except tapes and encysted forms. slow kill
- good for ascarid infestations. emerging resistance! Oxibendazole (generic).
Fenbendaole (Safeguard, generic).
