A
B
Beet Pulp - Beet pulp is a highly digestible fiber source for minis. It is included in many senior feeds and has proven to be a great alternative to grain.
Bloating (see cholic)
BOSS - Black oil sunflower seeds. There is a hot discussion on the benefits of feeding BOSS to horses on some of the online Forums. Search under this topic for more information.
BUTE - Bute (phenylbutazone) is used in pain management for horses. It can be toxic to large horses see article - http://www.flyingchanges.com/htmls/2003/Feb03Bute%26Banamine.html for an article on Bute toxicity, which can be even more harmful in minis. Please discuss using BUTE with your vet before administering to your minis.
C
Choke - Choke is caused when something (usually food!) is caught in the throat/esophagus of a horse. Choke is usually caused by a horse that bolts its food, eating improperly sized food or not chewing. Signs of choke can include food or salivia regurgitated through nostrils, acting distressed, refusing to eat, feeling a lump in the neck. Call a vet should you suspect choke.
Colic - is a term for stomach or digestive upset in a horse. Horses can colic for a number of reasons, stress, blockage, bad feed, etc.
One of the most common in minis is Sand Colic. It is the build up of dirt and sand in the gut and colon from a mini ingesting dirt/sand while eating. Minis are little vacuums so seem to be prone to sand colic.
It is recommended by many mini owners/breeders to reduce the incidence of sand colic, that minis be given a dose of pysillium daily for a week once a month. Products such as SandBlast, Sand Clear are excellent for this. Psyillium turns gelatinous which helps to bind sand and remove it from the system. Some breeders use Metamucil type products wth good results as well, others feed it with beet pulp to disguise the taste and to help deliver much needed water into the system. Consult your veterinarian before starting any new program.
To see if your mini has sand in their system. Take a small piece of fresh manure, place in a jar or ziplock bag and fill with water. Shake and wait for the sand/dirt to settle on the bottom. This can determine the amount of sand in the system.
Bloating can be caused by a fecolith or entrolith in the colon. Some horses (bloodlines?) have a tendency towards bloating whether from the heat, or their tendency to eat things that cause this reaction. Like people minis can bloat from to much rich feed, fresh grass (founder is also a concern!), sand, or not enough water can cause bloating by hardened stool blocking the escape of gases building up in the system.
Often a dose of mineral oil and or a child size enema can do the trick, but this should always be done under a veterinarians guidance.
Foal Colic (Hairballs) - foals can colic should they swallow hair from their dam while nursing. It is recommended by some vets and mini owners to shave a mare around her udder and belly to reduce the chance of this occurance. Other's disagree, as a mare will then shed smaller finer hairs that are more easily ingested by a foal.
Link to an article on hairballs that can cause colic in foals (I'm trying to find the new link!)
Collapsing Trachea - I'm still researching this as we have a mare with this problem, and it is apparently somewhat common in minis.
D
Dental Issues - (Floating, Hooks, Off Bites) It is recommended to have a horses teeth floated peridocially. That can be as often as every six months. Horses that are not properly chewing (exaggerated chewing, undigested grain in their manure), off bites (the AMHA standard is no overbite/underbite more than 1/2 depth thickness of the teeth shall be severely penalized in halter classes) and older horses should be regularly seen. You can slide your finger inside their mouth and feel for hooks, etc., running against their cheek. A qualifed equine dentist should be consulted for a professional opinion on all concerns. Here is a resource for more on equine dentistry, also places to purchase floats for minis,etc. International Horse Dentistry. Check as some minis suppliers as a few do carry mini dental equipment.
De-Worming - Minis need to be on a de-worming schedule the same as a large horse. A common practice is to rotate de-worming products throughout the year, as different de-wormers control different types of worms. (Ex - A botacide must be used a couple times a year to kill bots - ivermectin type dewormer.) There is an excellent article in The Horse regarding de-worming (September 2004).
Deworming should be done based on weight. Satisfactory results have been reported with paste, liquid and daily de-wormers. Your equine vet would be the best resource for setting up a de-worming program based on your locale and your herd management (feeding, pasture and manure management, etc.).
Some miniature horse breeders have had problems with Quest Wormer, and it has been recommended to avoid this product. No known studies to date suggest a problem, but many mini breeders/owners have had problems so please discuss this with your vet! You can do your own research on the FDA site or on the Ft. Dodge site.
Tapeworms are another 'hot button' topic in equines. Please discuss the signs of tapeworms with your vet and the need for an annual tapworm de-worming.
Dwarfism - Dwarfism is believed based on existing research to occur in minis when both the stallion and mare carry the recessive dwarf gene and pass it to their offspring. Dwarfs have numerous health issues and generally have a shorten life span. Signs of dwarfism include pronounced off bite, shorten neck, oversized or disproportion sized head, leg deformities or legs shorter than the thickness of the body, bulbous forehead.
There is a theory that dwarfism may have outside factors that cause some dwarf issues, either environmental, nutritional or something as yet unknown.
Here is a link to an article written by Liz McMasters, Raftered Hearts Miniatures Dwarfism in Miniature Horses. There is lots of information available about dwarfism online.
Here is a link to a sheet developed by the AMHA Genetics Committee to guide in the determiniation of Phenotypical Dwarfs
Dystocia- These are the different malpresentations of a foal at birth.
Link -
E
Epiphysitis - An inflammation of the growth epiphyseal plates located at the ends of the long bones of the leg. It is characterized by swelling near the ends of the bones. It usually effects weanlings and yearlings, but can affect horses up to the age of three years. Epiphysitis can result in permanent enlarged areas with knobby knees and or ankles. It is usually caused by an excess of protein and the legs growing to fast. A dietary change can slow or stop this. Consult your veterinarian!
Eye Injuries - these are extremely serious! Seek medical attention immediately. There is a three way antibiotic (non steroidal) that can be put in the eye while waiting for your vet. Ask your vet about having it onhand. Another item to have on hand is sterile saline solution to flush eyes if directed by your vet. We've had many eye injuries and had to have three different mares eyes removed over the years. A good opthamoligist is crucial as to save an eye can take lots of intense care over many weeks to months.
F
Farrier (see Hoof)
Fecolith (see Colic)
Feeding - there is a wonderful Equine Nutrition Group specifically for minis on the Yahoo Groups site. (email me if you cannot find the specific group's address)
Flax Seed - more information coming soon
Foaling Charts (see Gestational charts)
Foaling Links -
Founder - more information coming soon
G
Gestational Calculator- This is a link to a calculator to assist predicting your foaling due date. Calculator is on the gaited horse website.
Gestational Calculator - This is a fun one, as it can tell you where in your mares pregnancy she is. Located on the Lil Beginnings website.
Grease Heel - is a condition in the fetlock region and/or pastern that can swell and cause the skin to crack and excrete oily matter. Usually it can be caused from standing in wet or unsanitary conditions.
H
Hoof
Trimming - minis need their hooves trimmed the same as large horses. As there is a smaller hoof area to work with a farrier experienced with minis is best. There isn't alot of room for incorrect trims. Many mini owners have learned to trim their minis and can trim/rasp those horses that do not need corrective work.
Hyperlipemia
We had our first case of hyperlipemia in 2005. Fortunately we recognized the symptoms (rapid weight loss, loss of appetite, etc.), so were able to have our mare in ICU to receive immediate medical care. Fortunately our mare recovered within 48 hours and was managing her liver function on her own.
I
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) This is a serious condition, that can be fatal and needs immediate veterinarian intervention. Recent research suggests that the use of colostrum and alternative therapy can have positive results.
J
K
L
M
Meconium - The first manure a foal will pass. Meconium is black and very tarry, and it is essential to the foals health that the first meconium is passed. Here is a great link to page on meconium compiled by Arlene Toback from thehorse.com
Milk Test Strips - Do It yourself milk test strips. Many people use the strips to test the PH of water (swimming pools). I'm searching for a new link to explain the process.
N
O
P
Paprika - more information coming soon
Placenta Previa (see Red Bag Deliveries)
Pregnancy - There are a number of links on this page for the different pregnancy/foaling issues. Here is one for broodmare questions.
Q
R
Red Bag Deliveries (Placenta previa) - This is a condition when the placenta presents itself before the foal. This is a serious condition as the foal can die if the placenta is not removed in a timely manner.
S
Sage - more information coming soon
Sand Colic (see Colic)
T
U
V
Vaccinations - Minis need to be vaccinated the same as a large horse. There are a variety of vaccines on the market from individual products up to 6-way, which generally cover flu, respitory illness, encephalitis virus and tetanus . Your vet will advise you as to the best product/vaccine program for your area. Once your vet has given instruction vaccines can be purchased and administered at home. It is best to set up an individual vaccination schedule for each horse as show horses, breeding stock and very young or very old horses needs are different.
W
West Nile Virus - A potentially fatal virus spread by mosquitos. It is suggested that all 48 contiguous lower states will have West Nile Virus effecting their equine population. West Nile Virus has been found in dogs and humans as well. One of the first signs of a problem are dead black birds, ravens and crows in your area. These birds seem to have a high mortality rate to West Nile Virus. See the CDC website for current information, or contact your own vet to take the proper precautions needed in you area. We had a stallion contract WNV in 2005, our alternative vet, Dr. Burt Brooks, Cache Creek Vet did a great job of getting Roger back in working order very quickly.
Worming (see Deworming)
X
Y
Z
