BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Health Zone: EPM Treatment, Testing Reviewed

EPM is the most common equine neurologic disease in North America.

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Bandaging Racehorses' Legs

Dr. Scott Palmer describes some of the bandaging techniques used on horses during races.

Trade Zone: 2011's Top Equine Studies

Each year, researchers publish hundreds of horse health studies. And each year at the convention of the American Association of Equine Practioners, 3 practitioners decide which to feature.

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Trade Zone: Sound Check

Trainers look to alternative therapies to increase soundness and longevity in Thoroughbreds.

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Special Section: Boarding (November 2010)

Care, Safety Key in Selecting Right Boarding Outfit

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TradeZone: Looking at EPM

Parasite affects nerves that control the horse's movements.

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TradeZone: May 22, 2010 - Parasite Control

This month's TradeZone deals with parasite control and prevention.

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TradeZone: Disease Treatment, Prevention

AAEP 2009: Focus on disease treatment and prevention.

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HealthWatch: Headshaking

There are times when a horse can't stop shaking or tossing its head to a seemingly inapparent sensation; such incessant behavior is known as headshaking.

Health Watch: Foot and Limb Deformities

In a presentation to the American Association of Equine Practitioners on hoof deformities in foals and recommendations for correcting or managing them, Dr. Bob Hunt of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington called for caution, especially in trying to use hoof trimming/extensions to correct a limb deformity.

HealthWatch: Update on EPM

EPM remains a rare cause of neurologic disease in horses -- less than 0.5% of horses are diagnosed with EPM annually in the United States. However, if you do the math, 0.5% of all the horses residing in the United States still amounts to several thousand horses diagnosed with EPM each year.

Summit Will Examine Progress

The second Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, set for March 17-18 at the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, will feature wide-ranging discussions of critical equine health- and safety-related issues, including progress reports from the working committees established coming out of the original summit in October 2006.

Helping the Horses

By Ray Paulick - The proposed strategic plan that came out of last month's Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit is one of those documents or white papers that most likely will land in one of two places: the Thoroughbred industry's dust-gathering burial ground of so many other good ideas; or the hands of a leader with the energy, influence, and personal commitment to make a difference.

Some Potomac Horse Fever Cases in Kentucky Not Unusual

A few cases of Potomac horse fever occur each fall in Kentucky. This year, a few cases have been seen, but they occurred a little earlier than normal. Dr. Nathan Slovis, of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, said the early occurrence probably was due to the dry weather the past month.

A Sound Plan: <i>Focus on equine joint health</i>

New joint product development is being driven by an increased awareness of the need to treat joints without hurting the stomach--that is, without causing gastric ulcers. In June 2004, a product that delivers the strength of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in a topical cream formulation was approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating joint pain and inflammation in horses. Its name is Surpass Topical Anti-Inflammatory Cream. This new product and others for treating equine joints will be covered here.

Inner Peace: <i>Treating and preventing gastric ulcers</i>

A new product for preventing gastric ulcers in horses is due for release by the end of this year, when Ulcergard joins GastroGard as the second product approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for ulcer management in the horse. On the more distant horizon, new developments in musculoskeletal pain management that are gentle on the stomach might one day arrive on the equine market, and that too could help prevent ulcers in racehorses.

Salmonella Closes New Bolton Center

An undisclosed number of deaths attributed to salmonella has forced the New Bolton Center to close to the public.

Study: Melanomas More Serious to Solid-Color Horses than Gray Horses

A recent Austrian study has shown that melanomas (malignant tumors of pigmented skin cells) are not as serious in gray horses as melanomas found in solid-colored horses characterized by early spread.

Surgery Delayed for Derby Runner-Up Proud Citizen

Surgery on a fractured shin in Proud Citizen's left front leg has been delayed. Dr. Stephen Selway postponed the operation, which was scheduled for July 1, because of several tiny fractures located near the main injury.

MRLS Jacks Up Insurance Rates; Policies Offered as Incentives

Prospective foal insurance used to be about the new owner of a pregnant broodmare protecting his investment after the purchase. At this year's Keeneland November breeding stock sale, insurance coverage became an incentive to buy the mare in the first place.

Equine Health Issues Expressed to New Administration

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has encouraged Ann Veneman, Secretary of Agriculture within the Bush administration, to pay special attention to horses, characterizing them as "Kentucky's number one agriculture moneymaker." Recommending to Veneman that there be more research into causes and cures of equine diseases, McConnell noted that the health of domestic horses and the ability of Americans to import and export horses are vital to the industry.

Equine Health Issues Expressed to New Administration

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has encouraged Ann Veneman, Secretary of Agriculture within the Bush administration, to pay special attention to horses, characterizing them as "Kentucky's number one agriculture moneymaker." Recommending to Veneman that there be more research into causes and cures of equine diseases, McConnell noted that the health of domestic horses and the ability of Americans to import and export horses are vital to the industry.