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Nobody wants to find their horse with a bloody mouth, displaced teeth, and broken, displaced jaw bones. But despite their ghastly appearance most jaw fractures can be repaired relatively easily in a field setting, noted one veterinarian at the recent American Association of Equine Practitioners convention.
Thursday, February 02, 2012With massages, chiropractic care, touch therapy, and other manual therapy approaches, one could say that today's horses are living the high life. But just how effective are these modalities in relieving back pain? According to one researcher, they can be very effective if applied properly.
Thursday, January 26, 2012In an ideal world, every broodmare would foal under veterinary supervision at a clinic with the latest technology at arm's length for correcting any potentially life threatening health emergencies. In reality equine practitioners often have to deal with dystocias--difficult births--in the field.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012Equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE) is an emerging disease of young horses that veterinarians have been diagnosing more frequently over the past few years. This gastrointestinal disease is caused by bacterial organisms known as Lawsonia intracellularis. More and more cases are diagnosed each year, and the disease--which is known to cause significant fi...
Tuesday, December 27, 2011Prior to purchasing a yearling racing prospect at a sale, a buyer typically has a veterinarian conduct a thorough examination on the horse to ensure he is in top condition. Most of these exams include a review of radiographs, or X rays, of the horse's limbs. Historically, many veterinarians have considered lucencies (bone cysts) in pastern radiographs...
Thursday, December 22, 2011When searching for answers as to why an equine athlete's performance has suddenly declined, many owners and trainers will look for problems from head to toe. But one place they sometimes neglect to check is the horse's mouth, where many dental issues can cause a performance horse to work at a less than optimum level.
Wednesday, November 09, 2011One of the most common aspects people consider when selecting a horse to purchase is the animal's conformation. Are his hocks too straight? Is his back strong? And are his pasterns too long? But some horses that look flawless on the surface could be harboring a developmental dental disorder, some of which could be dangerous and performance-limiting if...
Thursday, November 03, 2011Think the number of innovative new therapies for tissue healing in horses can't get any higher? Think again. Kim A. Sprayberry, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, an internal medicine specialist at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Ky., introduced attendees of the Oct. 18-19 National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance held at Ke...
Sunday, October 30, 2011More often than not, performance horses are kept in stalls for the better portion of the day. Fear of injury is one of the most common reasons these equine athletes are confined, but does a lack of turnout have an effect on the horse's behavior both in a stall and under saddle? According to a group of German researchers, a little turnout time could im...
Friday, October 28, 2011Researchers' understanding of how bits and horses' mouths interact is far superior than that of decades ago, but the ideal combination of factors to keep bitted mouths healthy remains just out of reach. According to one equine veterinarian and dentist, however, using gentle hands and bit seats--among other elements--can contribute to a healthy equ...
Friday, October 21, 2011Most horse owners are privy to caring for their adult horses' teeth and diligent in obtaining proper dental care. But caring for foals' and young horses' deciduous (or simply put, baby) teeth is a little different, at least from a veterinary standpoint.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011Regardless of the method of choice, most equestrians have deworming down to a science. For years, horse owners have been told to control the amount of worms in their horses' bodies to keep them feeling and performing their best. But what effect do worms really have on equine performance? A team of researchers recently found that high strongyle eg...
Friday, October 14, 2011Any owner will agree that he or she considers several factors when purchasing a horse. From conformation to show records and bloodlines to temperament, the number of aspects a potential horse owner evaluates can be endless.
Thursday, September 29, 2011Even for the most knowledgeable horseman, equine genetics can be a confusing topic to grasp. Trying to conceptualize how genetics can be applied to equine performance can be even more confusing. But the attendees at the 2011 Thoroughbred Pedigree, Genetics, and Performance Conference, held Sept. 7-8 in Lexington, Ky., were in luck as Jamie MacLeod, VMD, P...
Thursday, September 22, 2011Researchers in the Netherlands have completed further research into developing an effective vaccine for the bacteria Rhodococcus equi, which is known to cause pneumonia and other sometimes fatal infections in young foals. A press release from Merck Animal Health indicated that a research team based at the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology ...
Thursday, September 15, 2011One of the most stressful times in a horse's life is weaning, when a foal is separated from his dam and asked to adjust to life on his own. But according to Amanda Adams, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Center, certain types of nutritional support could reduce the stresses and health challenges tha...
Wednesday, September 14, 2011Just like with their adult counter parts, some foals suffering a bout of colic could require surgery to relieve the pain and fix the problem. However many cases of colic in foals can be corrected medically with the assistance of a veterinarian.
Monday, September 05, 2011If you've been around horses long enough, you're bound to have experienced the picky drinker. Horses that are selective in their water consumption can not only be frustrating for owners, but could also be a danger to themselves, as dehydration can be a serious problem. A team of Canadian researchers, however, recently revealed that horses tend to ...
Sunday, September 04, 2011It's no secret that when complications arise around foaling time, they can be life-threatening for either mare or foal. A relatively common complication for broodmares is peripartum (the last month of gestation or the first few months after delivery) colic.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011Horse owners watched vigilantly as Hurricane Irene approached the Eastern Seaboard late last week, making preparations to protect their animals and their property. But now that the storm has passed, authorities are in the process of evaluating the damage caused by the Irene.
Monday, August 29, 2011Although foals might look like mini versions of their adult counterparts, when it comes to treating them for health issues veterinarians often take a different approach than they would for a mature animal. Take colic for example. Most horse owners have an idea what they and veterinarians look for when dealing with a colicky horse, but what special conside...
Friday, August 26, 2011Forty horses from one Clarksville, Ark., farm have died or been euthanized after testing positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA), according to Arkansas State Veterinarian George Pat Badley, DVM.
Thursday, August 25, 2011A horse that colics on a relatively regular basis is a frustrating problem for owners and veterinarians alike. Often these bouts of colic pop up unexpectedly with no obvious cause, resulting in lost training time, substantial veterinarian bills, mental anguish for the owner, and frustration for the veterinarian trying to diagnose the problem.
Monday, August 22, 2011When a horse is in the midst of a bout of colic, many owners wonder if their animal will need surgery to fix the problem. For those owners who have never experienced a referral to an emergency medical clinic for surgery or intensive care, understanding their veterinarian's decision on how and where to treat the colic can be confusing.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011Several changes will be made to England's Aintree Racecourse's steeplechase track for the 2012 running of the famed Grand National after two horses died during the 2011 race, according to a report from the BBC.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011There are few things more enjoyable than watching a herd of young horses frolic around a pasture. But when one of the foals looks shaky, incoordinated, and almost wobbly on his feet, this could be a sign of a serious--and sometimes fatal--neurologic problem: cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy, or wobbler syndrome. At the 2011 Western Veterinary Confer...
Saturday, August 06, 2011The neurologic form of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1, also called myeloencephalopathy) is highly contagious and multiplies within its host very rapidly, making early detection and prompt treatment paramount goals in disease control. During a presentation at the 2011 Western Veterinary Conference, held Feb. 20-24 in Las Vegas, Nev., Steve Reed, DVM, Dipl. AC...
Friday, August 05, 2011Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) continues to frustrate North American horse owners and veterinarians as one of the most common neurologic diseases in horses--and one of the most challenging to diagnose and treat. At the 2011 Western Veterinary Conference, held Feb. 20-24 in Las Vegas, Nev., Steve Reed, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Rood & Riddle Equin...
Thursday, August 04, 2011For years horse owners have turned to traditional joint therapies to help manage their animals' painful joint diseases, such as arthritis, so they might remain comfortable and usable despite their medical conditions. Today, some owners are exploring a relatively new type of joint therapy: intra-articular stem cell injections. While many initial anecdo...
Thursday, July 21, 2011Imagine a veterinarian harvesting stem cells from a horse: He or she inserts a needle into the horse's sternum or hip, and thick red bone marrow fills the syringe. But can you picture a veterinarian harvesting less commonly used adipose-, or fat-, derived stem cells? And how effective are they? Joseph Yocum, DVM, Dipl. AVBP, owner of Green Tree Veteri...
Wednesday, July 20, 2011While you can't necessarily prevent or squelch every equine ailment by adjusting his diet, what a horse consumes can impact certain maladies. According to Meri Stratton-Phelps, DVM, MPVM, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVN, owner of All Creatures Veterinary Nutrition Consulting, in Fairfield, Calif., veterinarians and owners can use certain dietary ingredients to redu...
Tuesday, July 19, 2011As nearly half the United States is battling extreme summer temperatures, many horse owners are struggling to help their horses adjust, stay healthy, and remain comfortable. TheHorse.com caught up with Nancy Loving, DVM, an equine practitioner in Boulder, Colo., to find out what the most important things to consider are when caring for horses in extreme h...
Wednesday, July 13, 2011Today's wealth of scientific advancements can make it difficult to keep track of all the different treatment options available for injured horses. A flexor tendon injury, for example, that once had a relatively standard treatment protocol can now be aided by traditional methods as well as relatively new therapies such as stem cell, platelet-rich plasm...
Tuesday, June 28, 2011Mesenchymal cells. Aspirates. Autologous versus allogenic. What does it all mean? If you're a bit confused about stem cell therapy--an emerging treatment option for injuries in horses--you're not alone. These tiny treatment tools are complicated business and a challenge to grasp. At the 2011 North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Conferen...
Thursday, June 23, 2011Iris scanning is an accurate way to identify horses.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011Just one additional case of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) was confirmed yesterday in the outbreak that has killed a dozen horses and sickened many more. For a month, state and provincial animal health officials have been working to control the outbreak, which is believed to stem from horses that recently attended a national championship cutting competition...
Friday, June 10, 2011The equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak that captured the attention of horse owners and animal health officials across the nation continues to see new cases diagnosed; however, the rate at which these confirmed cases are cropping up has dropped.
Thursday, June 02, 2011The Texas Animal Health Commission issued a press release late Friday (May 27) indicating that a new case of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) had been confirmed in the state; however, animal health officials do not believe that the new case is related to the ongoing EHV-1 outbreak.
Sunday, May 29, 2011Imagine the following scenario: Your horse has a fever. He's recently been exposed to a horse that tested positive for the neurologic strain of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1). You call your vet, who comes out and swabs the horse's nasal passages and draws a tube or two of blood. A few days later you get a call confirming that your horse is positive ...
Friday, May 27, 2011Animal health officials today confirmed several new cases of neurologic equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) across the western United States and Canada. Now, two weeks after reports of EHV-1 positive horses first emerged following the recent National Cutting Horse Association's (NCHA) Western Regional Championship competition in Utah, the case count stands a...
Thursday, May 26, 2011More than two weeks after the conclusion of the National Cutting Horse Association's (NCHA) Western Regional Championships--held April 19-May 8 in Ogden, Utah--reports of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) confirmed cases continue to trickle in. The outbreak, believed to stem from horses that attended the NCHA competition, captured the collective attention ...
Monday, May 23, 2011There were only a few new cases of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) diagnosed Friday related to the outbreak believed to stem from the National Cutting Horse Association's (NCHA) Western National Championship, held April 29-May 8 in Ogden, Utah.
Saturday, May 21, 2011It's been nearly a week since the first indications of a neurologic equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak began to surface, and the outbreak shows no signs of slowing down. Veterinarians have been confirming new cases of neurologic EHV-1 daily in the western United States and Canada. The National Cutting Horse Association's (NCHA) Western National...
Thursday, May 19, 2011The number of horses affected by the neurologic equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak in the western United States and Canada continues to rise. Since health officials identified the virus as stemming from involvement with the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Western National Championship competition, held April 28-May 8 in Ogden, Utah, the numbe...
Wednesday, May 18, 2011The neurologic equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) outbreak in the western United States has captured the attention of horse owners across the country and raised a few questions about just what this virus is and what it might do in this current outbreak. TheHorse.com enlisted the help of Paul Lunn, BVMS, MS, PhD, head of the Department of Clinical Sciences at Colo...
Wednesday, May 18, 2011Veterinarians are still working to determine the extent of a multi-state outbreak of neurologic equine herpesvirus (EHV-1). The number of horses confirmed or suspected to have EHV-1 remains on the rise, with several states reporting cases. A common point of origin for all the positive horses is the National Cutting Horse Association's (NCHA) Western N...
Tuesday, May 17, 2011Veterinarians in several states are determining the extent of a possible equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak tied to cutting horses involved in a recent Odgen, Utah, championship show. Several animals that participated in the April 29-May 8 National Cutting Horse Association's (NCHA) Western National Championship were diagnosed with the neurologic f...
Monday, May 16, 2011Nothing disrupts the joy of foal ownership like the observation of potential problems: A disinterest in nursing, a depressed attitude, strange mannerisms, or seizures could mean a foal is suffering from some serious neurologic problems. During a presentation at the 2011 Western Veterinary Conference, held Feb. 20-24 in Las Vegas, Nev., Mary Rose Paradis, ...
Sunday, May 15, 2011There's nothing more exciting than watching a newborn foal scampering around a pasture with his dam. Conversely, there's nothing more heart-wrenching than watching a newborn foal fight for his life after being diagnosed with septicemia: the potentially deadly presence of bacteria or bacterial toxins in the bloodstream. According to Mary Rose Parad...
Thursday, May 12, 2011A Wisconsin company is recalling their equine first-aid kits due to the possible contamination of sterile alcohol prep pads and iodine prep pads with an "objectionable organism" during manufacturing. In a letter sent to customers in April, Creative Pet Products asked owners of its Horse Aid kit to remove and dispose of any alcohol or iodine prep...
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