102 



FARMER'S CYCLOP ED LI OF LIVE STOCK 



tation have developed fatal symptoms 

 of digestive trouble as the result of al- 

 lowing them to drink unlimited quan- 

 tities of water after being in stock cars 

 for 24 hours. 



Bowels affected by feeds — Some feed- 

 stuffs may cause a too laxative condi- 

 tion of the bowels. This is particularly 

 true of alfalfa and other leguminous 

 plants until horses become accustomed 

 to them. Most roots are also slightly 

 laxative. It is well, therefore, in ordi- 

 nary rations, not to use too many differ- 

 ent materials which are laxative. The 

 use of moldy, smutty or dirty feed is 

 always to be avoided on account of the 

 possible bad effects from such material. 



Teeth an important factor — The teeth 

 of the horse sometimes give trouble and 

 require attention. There is no question, 

 however, that much of the work done 

 on the horse's teeth is quite unneces- 

 sary and in many cases harmful. It has 

 been customary with certain empiric 

 horse doctors to file off the teeth in 

 nearly every case which they examine if 

 they could find no other cause of trouble. 

 Such manipulation repeated too often 

 renders the teeth less suited than they 

 naturally would be for masticating the 

 feed and in some cases leads to decay. 

 Irregularities with the teeth may re- 

 quire treatment. In some horses the 

 teeth do imt wear uniformly across the 

 whole surface and leave points which 

 lacerate the tongue and checks. Even 

 a casual examination will show whether 

 such points are present or not and they 

 may be readily removed. In the case oi 

 severe toothache due to the decay of a 

 tooth, it is necessary for the farmer to 

 call a qualified veterinarian, since the 

 removal of a horse's tooth is a rather 

 difficult operation. 



The mucous membrane covering the 

 hard palate or roof of the mouth fre- 

 quently appears to be somewhat swol- 

 len and projects downward somewhat 

 lower than usual. Such swelling in 

 most cases is perfectly natural and 

 needs no treatment. There has been a 

 tendency to call this trouble "lampas" 

 and to lance the mouth in all cases. 

 This is, for the most part, unnecessary. 



The lining of the mouth and tongue 

 sometimes becomes irritated or lacer- 

 ated by spines, barbs and other hard 

 material in the feed. This is particu- 

 larly true after the use of hay contain- 

 ing wild barley or foxtail grass, as it 



is commonly called through the west- 

 ern states. The barbs of this plant 

 puncture the mucous membrane of the 

 mouth where they break off and re- 

 main, causing inflamed areas or in some 

 cases wdiite patches and interfering 

 with the feeding of the horse. This 

 trouble is best treated by changing the 

 diet, feeding clean, wholesome material 

 and washing the horse's mouth with a 

 weak solution of borax. 



In case of choke from some large 

 piece of feed swallowed by the horse, 

 it is desirable to give some softening 

 material at once, such as oil and plenty 

 of water. If this does not remove the 

 obstruction in the throat, the use of 

 a probang becomes necessary and if 

 some experience has not been had in 

 such cases, it may be well to call a 

 veterinarian. Some farmers, however, 

 understand how to use a perfectly 

 smooth oiled stick or buggy whip in 

 pushing the obstruction down the gullet. 



Colic — The horse is subject to various 

 forms of colic, some of which are quite 

 dangerous and require immediate treat- 

 ment. A distinction should be made in 

 treating the colic of horses between the 

 various forms which occur. According 

 to Michener, engorgement colic is due 

 to overloading the stomach. This may 

 be the result of a ravenous appetite or 

 of the accumulation of food in the stom- 

 ach from indigestion. 



Engorgement colic often arises when 

 horses are fed full rations during a pe- 

 riod of rest. The symptoms include ab- 

 dominal pain, retching movements, hard 

 breathing, upturned upper lip, contrac- 

 tion of the flank and arching of the neck. 

 Sometimes the horse may sit down like a 

 dog or may show violent movements; in 

 other instances he is stupid or dazed 

 and leans against the stall. This form 

 of colic should be treated by rectal in- 

 jections of large quantities of water 

 containing turpentine. If the pain is 

 acute, it may be relieved by giving mor- 

 phine in five-grain doses or Indian 

 hemp in doses of two drams. 



Obstruction colic is a very common 

 bowel trouble in horses which requires 

 prompt treatment or the disease is fatal. 

 It may be due to paralysis of the bowels 

 or the accumulation of partly digested 

 feed. The horse shows abdominal pain, 

 paws and lies down flat on his side with 

 head and legs extended. At quite fre- 

 quent intervals he rises and walks about 



