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Basics of Electrolytes for Horses

Monday, July 10th, 2023

Let’s face it, the summer heat takes its toll…know the basics of electrolytes for horses to protect them! Based on the article, horses use their sweat to regulate their body temperature. Equine sweat is more concentrated with salt (sodium and chloride) than other body fluids. In result, horses lose a tremendous amount of electrolytes during these harsh, hot summer months. So what exactly are electrolytes? They help the body regulate water levels to maintain a balance between dilution and dehydration. There are five major electrolytes. These include sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Understanding how each one affects your horse is vital.

Sodium and Chloride: These two play a factor in maintaining blood volume. They are the first to be released when a horse sweats. Imagine Sodium and Chloride as partners. Sodium leaves the body in sweat first, then water follows.
Potassium: This is one of the most important electrolytes to your horse. It is required for muscle contraction and relaxation. Some horses require more or less than others in their diet but it is still present in a healthy horse.
Calcium: This is essential for muscle function. Without this electrolyte, your horse’s body will break down and become weak.
Magnesium: This is a vital component of body fluids.

Maintaining a balance between these can be tricky. Giving a dehydrated horse concentrated electrolytes can actually worsen conditions. But don’t worry, we have a solution! For starters, all horses should have free-choice access to loose salt or a salt block. Good-quality forage should provide adequate potassium. Together, these feedstuffs should provide sufficient electrolytes for the average horse. For any additional information, see the whole article here.

Presented by Kentucky Equine Research

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Prepare Your Rabbits for Changing Seasons

Friday, July 7th, 2023

Prepare Your Rabbits for Changing Seasons: Temperature can have a profound effect on feed intake in rabbits.

If your rabbits live outside or in non-environmentally controlled buildings, there are management steps you can take to keep them comfortable and healthy year-round.

Keeping rabbits cool in summer:

Rabbits are not good at all at dealing with hot weather, especially if it is humid. Hot, humid weather will severely limit the amount of food a rabbit eats. Digestion of fiber in the cecum of the rabbit produces considerable heat which the rabbit cannot adequately dissipate in hot weather, therefore it eats less. Rabbits cannot sweat and must dissipate heat through the millions of capillaries in their ears and if stressed enough via panting.

A rabbit will get accustomed somewhat to the heat and eventually eat more, however it will never eat as much when it is hot as it does when it is in a comfortable temperature zone. This means that it is very important to feed a high-quality feed that will continue to provide adequate nutrition, even when intake is reduced.

Does must eat considerably more when they are producing milk, because milk production takes a lot of energy. Hot weather can therefore affect the growth of the kits by reducing the amount of food the doe eats, thus decreasing the amount of milk she produces. The weaning weight of kits is typically less in the summer months, and this is true regardless of breed. The kits themselves will then gain less per day than when the temperature is cooler, meaning you will feed your rabbits longer to eventually obtain the desired weight.

To maintain adequate production during hot weather, do everything you can to keep your rabbits comfortable. Be sure they always have plenty of cool, fresh water to drink.

How to keep rabbits cool:

Provide shade. Rabbits should never be forced to be in the hot sun.
Orient hutches to capture breezes or use fans in the rabbitry.
Fill freezer bags with ice (or freeze bottles of water) and place in the hutch. Rabbits will lay on these to cool down.
Keep water clean, cool, fresh and plentiful.
Feed a more nutrient-dense feed to ensure greater nutrient intake in a lesser feed amount.

Unless you have air-conditioned premises for your rabbits, the effects of excessive heat on your rabbits’ feed intake and production capabilities cannot be completely avoided. But if you follow these guidelines, your rabbits will be happier campers when the summer temperatures ratchet up.

Keeping rabbits warm in winter:

Rabbits are fairly well-adapted for dealing with the cold. However, they must eat more to meet the increased energy requirements for keeping warm. Therefore, the amount of feed provided during the winter months will need to be increased – maybe as much as three times. The additional feed is to account for the extra calories spent on maintenance of body temperature.

A little bit of long-stem grass hay will increase heat of fermentation in the cecum. Therefore, helping to keep the rabbit warm. Be sure that your rabbits can get out of cold winds and are protected from rain and snow. Extra bedding can also help to provide warmth. With good protection and adequate feed and fresh water, your rabbits will do very well in the winter months.

In conclusion, visit Kissimmee Valley Feed to shop our Rabbit Selection.

Sources:

Purina Mills

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Common Agricultural Antibiotics Now Require Prescription

Thursday, June 1st, 2023

Those who buy over-the-counter livestock antibiotics at the local feed store will be required, as of June 11, to obtain a prescription before purchase.

What is the new rule?

The Food and Drug Administration recommends manufacturers of medically important antimicrobial drugs that continue to be available over the counter and are approved for use in animals, both companion and food-producing, regardless of delivery mechanism, to voluntarily bring these products under veterinary oversight or prescription marketing status.

By June 11, labels of the remaining over-the-counter antibiotics for livestock use will be required to read: “Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian,” and the purchaser must have a prescription or drug order to buy it.

What antibiotics does this affect?

Prescription-only items will include injectable tylosin, injectable and intramammary penicillin, injectable and oral oxytetracycline, sulfadimethoxine and sulfamethazine, gentamicin, cephapirin and cephapirin benzathine intramammary tubes.

How and where can these items be purchased after the rule goes into effect?

Individuals with veterinary-client-patient relationships, VCPR, may purchase antibiotics directly from their veterinarian or from a distributor with the vet’s prescription.

What constitutes a VCPR?

Three requirements must be met:

(1) The veterinarian has assumed the responsibility for making clinical judgments regarding the health of the animal and the need for medical treatment, and the client has agreed to follow the veterinarian’s instructions.

(2) The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the animal to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the animal’s medical condition. This means that the veterinarian has recently seen and is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the animal by examining the animal or by medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal is kept.

(3) The veterinarian is readily available or has arranged emergency coverage and follow-up evaluation in the event of adverse reactions or the failure of the treatment regimen.

What’s your advice to livestock owners without a VCPR?

Producers who already have a VCPR in place and purchase their animal health products through their veterinary office or through other distributors under an existing prescription system will likely notice little change. However, this may have significant impacts on how the livestock owners can access antibiotic therapy for their animals, so contact your local veterinarian as soon as possible.

Are there any specific instructions that should be given to livestock show exhibitors?

Livestock exhibitors, like all producers in animal agriculture, are responsible for understanding animal treatment regulations. For junior shows, students complete the “Quality Counts” quality-assurance curriculum that stresses the importance of VCPR.

What health/medical items can livestock owners continue to purchase over the counter?
Most vaccines, dewormers, injectable and oral nutritional supplements, ionophores, pro/prebiotics and topical nonantibiotic treatments will not require a veterinary prescription. However, there are some exceptions. Always read the label.

Below is a list of products that are impacted by the new law effective June 11, 2023.

Common Agricultural Antibiotics Requiring a Prescription

Products without new Rx label may be purchased AFTER June 11 without a prescription while supplies last.

Cepharin Based Active Ingredient

ToDay Mastitis Treatment for Lactating Cows by Boehringer Ingelheim
ToMORROW Dry Cow Mastitis Treatment by Boehringer Ingelheim

Lincomvcin HCl Active Ingredient

Lincomycin 300 Swine Injection by Durvet

Oxvtetracvcline Active Ingredient

Duramycin 72-200 Injectable Antibiotic for Cattle and Swine by Durvet
Liquamycin LA-200 Injection by Zoetis
Noromycin 300 LA by Norbrook
Oxy 500 Calf Boluses by Boehringer Ingelheim
Terramycin Calf Scours Tablets by Zoetis
Terramycin Ophthalmic Ointment for Animal Use by Zoetis

Penicillin Based Active Ingredient

Penicillin G/Norocillin Injectable by Durvet

Spectinomycin Active Ingredient

SpectoGard Scour-Chek by Bimeda

Sulfonamides L Sulfa Based Active Ingredients

Albon Cattle Boluses by Zoetis
Sustain III Boluses by Bimeda

Ivlosin Active Ingredient

Tylan 200 Tylosin Antibiotic for Cattle and Swine by Elanco
Tylan 50 Injectable Antibiotic by Elan

Please work with your local veterinarian to obtain a prescription for these products prior to visiting us for these products. Thank you, we appreciate your support.

Source: Texas A&M Extension AgriLife Today

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Puppy Adoption Guide

Thursday, April 27th, 2023

Puppy Adoption Guide: Puppy adoption can be the best time of your life and certainly the best time (so far!) of your puppy’s life. But the process isn’t without stress. Questions and uncertainty abound, especially if this is your first time adopting a puppy. What kind of puppy food should you get? Is puppy food actually that different from adult dog food? When should puppy potty training happen, and how do you handle the inevitable messes? What about leash training and socialization? You’ll likely have dozens of questions about puppy adoption, which is why we’ve assembled a number of tips for puppy adoption to help you and your new pal get off on the right…paw.

THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF YOUR PUPPY’S DIET:

One of the more important things you need right away is a solid understanding of puppy food nutrition. An often-raised question is “Do I really need puppy food?” and the answer is always “You really need puppy food,” or at least an all-life-stages food that is appropriate for puppies. So, when choosing a recipe, make sure you look for a “puppy diet” food or that the bag or can is very clearly labeled as “for puppies.”

Building the right nutrition into their diet now will set your puppy up for long and healthy journey into adulthood. Protein and fat are absolutely vital to your pup’s growing body, so look for those levels specifically before making your choice. But how much protein does a puppy need? There’s no exact answer to that question, since puppies vary wildly in size from breed to breed and age to age and so do their needs regarding puppy food nutrition. VCA Animal Hospitals recommend that the protein range for optimal puppy growth is 22–32 percent for dry puppy food.

To make things a bit more confusing, small breed and large breed puppies have their own specific requirements, partly because small breed puppies tend to have a higher metabolism and need more calories to keep up with their higher energy levels. Long story short: Consult with your veterinarian before choosing your puppy food.

IT’S GO TIME: CLEANING UP WHEN POTTY TRAINING YOUR PUPPY

Puppy potty training. It isn’t always easy, and it will most certainly be messy at times. Every puppy is different, so every puppy potty training timeline will be different. Your pup goes on their own schedule, especially at the beginning of their potty training.

To avoid puppy messes as much as possible, here are some tried-and-true puppy potty training tips.

Start early. You can “officially” start potty training your pup as soon as you bring them home. Invest in some pee pads and get to work!
Be positive. That old “rub their nose in it” method has no place in any civilized puppy home, and it probably never should have been used. This is because it simply doesn’t work! Scolding, yelling or rubbing their nose in the spot only breeds confusion. “Am I not supposed to poop at all?” Instead, praise your pooch for doing what they need to do while immediately taking them outside, or wherever the desired target location is.
Set an indoor location. Unless you are on a 24/7 vigil, your puppy will go indoors. But you can control where they go and set expectations that there are designated puppy potty zones. This is where pee pads come in handy. If they know that they can go only on a pee pad, soon that pee pad will become “the grass,” and they’ll understand.
Crate training is puppy potty training. Dogs really try to avoid going to the bathroom where they sleep, so crate training doubles as potty training. This isn’t to say that they won’t have accidents in their crate; but most pups will hold it as long as they possibly can while crated.
Stick to a routine. Dogs are creatures of habit, so turn puppy potty breaks into a habit. If you take them outside at random, they won’t learn when it’s time to go. Eliminate the time variable and eventually they’ll eliminate…on time!

No matter how thorough your puppy potty training methods are, there will be accidents. And that’s OK! When it’s go time and they don’t make it to the pee pad or to the front yard, you’ll be prepared, thanks to our puppy potty training cleanup tips. We’ll tell you how to block smells and stains from your temporarily thwarted puppy potty training methods, and offer up some tips and tricks for easy cleanup.

There are plenty more bases to cover, like leash training and safety tips. You can read the more in depth puppy adoption guide here.

Visit us at Kissimmee Valley feed to get all the puppy treats and toys.

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Signs of a Healthy Foal

Thursday, April 27th, 2023

Signs of a Healthy Foal: Chances are your foal will sail through the baby stage with flying colors, especially if it’s normal at birth and good management practices are in place at your farm. However, even under the best circumstances, it’s possible that your youngster could fall prey to one or more problems that can affect foals. How does a healthy newborn foal appear?

Healthy newborn foals should:

Assume a sternal position (be able to sit up on his chest) within minutes of delivery.
Breathe easily, slowing from an initial high of about 70 breaths per minute to 40 to 60 minutes within 15 minutes of birth.
Have red or at least pink mucous membranes, indicating adequate oxygen is reaching the tissues.
Display a strong suckle reflex within two to 20 minutes of birth.
Appear alert and display an affinity for the dam.
Be able to stand within two hours and nurse within three hours.

If your foal fails to meet these criteria, he may already be suffering from a serious condition and needs the prompt attention of a veterinarian. Good observation coupled with prompt action gives you the best opportunity to help your foal avoid a setback.

Make every effort to maximize the chances of your foal’s continued good health. These good management practices can make the difference between a healthy foal and a sick one:

A well-ventilated, clean foaling environment.
Good farm and stable hygiene and parasite control.
Sound nutrition, current vaccinations and regular deworming of all equine residents.
Plenty of fresh air and room to exercise for the foal as well as commencement of a regular vaccination and deworming program.

Our Foal Health Watch Guide describes signs of a variety of common ailments that can occur during the first 6 months of a foal’s life. In most cases, even if the problem is not life-threatening, you will still want your veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis and direct you in the most effective treatment. Please keep in mind this guide lists signs that are frequently observed with certain foal disorders, but not all foals display the same signs or to the same degree. A foal’s condition can deteriorate very rapidly, so don’t wait until your sick baby shows all the signs before acting and calling your veterinarian.

Learn more about Foal Health from Nutrena.

Visit Kissimmee Valley Feed to purchase horse feed and optimize you horse’s health!

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