Changes in Hair Coat Length and Diameter in Blanketed and Nonblanketed Adult Horses in the Winter.

Horses are often blanketed during cold weather for numerous reasons including assisting thermoregulation, cleanliness, and anecdotally to decrease hair coat length. However, the impact of blanketing on the hair coat has yet to be evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in hair coat length and diameter over time in blanketed and nonblanketed horses during winter. In October 2019, 16 mature adult horses were blocked by breed and BCS and randomly assigned to a blanketed (n = 8) or nonblanketed (n = 8) treatment; blankets were placed. Data was collected between October 2019 and March 2020 in River Falls, WI. During this time BW, BCS, and hair coat samples were taken monthly. Twenty hair coat samples were taken from the nonmane side of the neck and the hindquarters using a tweezers and measured for the length and diameter using a digital micrometer and caliper, respectively. The average measurement was used to analyze the data. Horse neck and hindquarter hair were the longest and had the greatest diameter in January and February and they were the shortest with the smallest diameter in October and March regardless of treatment (P ≤ .05). Blanketed horses had shorter neck hair length when compared to nonblanketed horses in January at 43 and 58 mm, respectively, and February at 35 and 47 mm, respectively (P ≤ .05). These results suggest blanketing a horse can alter hair coat length, however, hair coat growth over time follows a similar pattern regardless of blanketing practices.

Dry Matter Intake, Body Weight, and Body Condition Scores of Blanketed and Nonblanketed Horses in the Upper Midwest.

Thermoregulation is an energy-expensive process, which can be mitigated by blanketing horses in cold climates, potentially preventing weight loss or leading to decreased feed intake. The objective of this study was to evaluate feed intake, body weight (BW), and body condition scores (BCSs) in blanketed and nonblanketed horses. In October 2019, 16 mature adult horses were blocked by breed and BCS and randomly assigned to a blanketed (n = 8) or nonblanketed (n = 8) treatment; blankets were placed. Data were collected in December 2019 and January 2020 in River Falls, Wisconsin. During the study, horses were housed in dry lots and fed grass-legume mixed round bales. At the start of each trial period, BW and BCSs of horses were taken, hay cores were taken for nutritive analysis, and hay bales were weighed. Hay waste was collected daily, and when hay could no longer be consumed ad libitum, the remaining hay was removed from both pens (orts) and new bales were fed. Hay waste and orts were dried and daily dry matter intake was estimated as the difference between hay provided minus hay waste and orts during the trial period divided by the total BW of the pen. The average bale weight, forage nutritive value, BW, and BCS did not differ across treatment groups (P ≥ .05). However, the daily dry matter intake differed (P ≤ .05) at 2.31% BW for blanketed horses and 2.51% BW for nonblanketed horses. These results suggest blanketed horses conserve energy leading to decreased feed intake.

Relieving Dry Mouth: Varying Levels of pH Found in Bottled Water.

It is estimated that 30% of people older than 60 years suffer from hyposalivation or dry mouth. Drinking water frequently has been recommended as a safe, non-pharmacologic way to combat hyposalivation. The saliva in patients with dry mouth is acidic. Beverages consumed daily may have an erosive potential on teeth. The pH and the mineral content of the beverage determine its erosive potential. An acidic beverage, therefore, may have harmful effects on mineralized tooth structures, causing erosion of enamel, dentin, and cementum. Because bottled water is both convenient and easily available, the authors tested the pH of eight common brands of bottled water. (One brand included two different bottle types, for a total of nine bottled waters tested.) To standardize the pH electrode, pH buffers of 4.7 and 10 were used. The pH was measured using the Denver Instruments basic pH meter. Six recordings were used for each brand and then averaged to report the pH. Two of the bottled water samples tested were below the critical level of 5.2 pH to 5.5 pH, the level at which erosion of enamel occurs. Six of the samples tested were below the critical pH of 6.8, at which erosion of root dentin occurs. The authors conclude that both patients and clinicians incorrectly presume bottled water to be innocuous. Clinicians should be cognizant of the erosive potential of different brands of bottled water to both educate patients and to recommend water with neutral or alkaline pH for patients with symptoms of dry mouth to prevent further deterioration and demineralization of tooth structure.