Cribbing, the oral stereotypic behavior in which the horse grabs an object with his teeth while flexing his neck and sometimes swallowing air, has long been suspected as a cause of colic. A study from the Universities of Illinois and Liverpool suggests that cribbing increases the risk for entrapment of the small intestine in the epiploic foramen (the passage between the liver and the

Riddle said that most mares are outside all of the time or are only brought up for feeding until they reach one month before their expected foaling date. Whatever is preferred, broodmares thrive on routine.

Incidence of dystocia is around 4%, although this varies by breed, Embertson said. While many dystocias are resolved on the farm, some cases need to be referred to a hospital. This decision should be made based on the position of the foal, duration of the dystocia, distance to and preparedness of the referral hospital, and the experience of the farm’s foaling personnel and veterinarian.

The term “dummy foal” is being used less and less. A more accurate term for the foal exhibiting behavioral or neurologic abnormalities that are not related to infectious or toxic conditions, congenital or developmental abnormalities, or metabolic disorders is hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Sometimes the term “neonatal maladjustment syndrome” is used.

Foal care from the first few hours of life to one month can be critical in the overall health and welfare of the newborn foal.

Abdominal pain in the foal can have many different causes, making it difficult to diagnose a cause. However, with knowledge of the different causes, a proper physical exam, the use of diagnostic tools, and common sense, a veterinarian can pinpoint a diagnosis from which decisions on treatment can be based

If your new foal develops a disease or medical problem that requires surgery, then time is of the essence. In his AAEP Convention presentation “Surgical Disease of the Neonate,” Rolf Embertson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., discussed a few abdominal and upper respiratory problems that might require surgery and gave veterinarians tips on how to perform some

Merritt’s presentation highlighted advances made over the last 40 years in the understanding of how the equine stomach functions and its related diseases. His presentation had a special emphasis on equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), and slides of his presentation helped attendees visualize the concepts.

Musculoskeletal pain associated with acute and chronic hind limb injuries is common in equine practice. Unabated pain can result in complications such as gastrointestinal disorders and supporting limb laminitis. Pain management is critical to decrease peri-surgical (before surgery) stress responses, to promote early ambulation (movement), and to minimize the devastating effects of contralateral

The jugular vein is the most common place to draw blood from a horse; however, this is not always possible. If the jugular vein is damaged or if the horse is no longer tolerant of the procedure, there is an alternative location to draw blood, said Honor Ame Walesby, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, of Louisiana State University, during her presentation at the 2003 American Association of Equine

Is it colic, or could it be rabies? The horse with rabies is extremely dangerous to himself, other animals, and humans. Rabies is a fatal viral disease of mammals that can be spread to humans through bites, licks, or through contact with the victim’s mucous membranes or an existing wound. Horse owners must use extreme caution if rabies is suspected, and a veterinarian should be called immediately.

Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) occurs when the palate partially obstructs the airway by becoming displaced on top of the epiglottis. This obstruction can affect breathing, especially during intense exercise. DDSP is known to be difficult to diagnose and treat. However, one viable option for treatment might be a combination of procedures during one surgery

With advances in modern veterinary medicine happening all of the time, the practitioners agreed that management of high-risk mares is becoming easier, and the probability of a healthy foal is increasing.

Veterinarians interested in reproduction and perinatology (the foal immediately after birth) crowded into the Reproduction/Perinatology Forum at the 2003 American Association of Equine Practitioners’ convention to discuss mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), terminology for the mare breeding soundness examination, vaccination of broodmares with the West Nile virus vaccine, current trends

You might have seen it on television—those daring rescues where a horse is lifted from a ravine by helicopter, pulled out of a raging river, or returned to safe ground after being bogged down in mud. These rescues might awe television audiences, but how do emergency personnel know what to do?

In three separate seminars sponsored by Hagyard-Davidson-McGee veterinary clinic on Oct. 22,

In response to a threat several years ago that horses in England might not be allowed to use many currently available medications because of the potential of having unauthorized medications reach the human food chain through exported horsemeat, all owners of equids in England must have a passport for their animals. These passports will declare whether the animal is a potential human food