In the past, some veterinarians have relied on commercially available serologic tests to establish, confirm, or rule out a diagnosis of foal pneumonia caused by the soil-borne bacteria Rhodococcus equi. A recent study at Texas A&M University has proven that these tests are not a reliable indicator of the disease.
We hear a lot about a horse experiencing rhabdomyolysis (tying-up) during or after exercise. However, foals are also susceptible to muscle damage. Stephanie Valberg, DVM, PhD, of the University of Minnesota, presented “A Review of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Rhabdomyolysis in Foals” at the 2002 American Association of Equine Practitioner’s Convention. She began her presentation with a
A lot has happened in the field of equine research in the last five years. Ginger Rich, PhD, of Rich Equine Nutritional Consulting in Eads, Tenn.; and Leslie Breuer, PhD, of LH Breuer and Associates, updated veterinarians and others who attended the Current Concepts in Equine Nutrition in-depth session at the 2002 American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) Convention. Not all of the
The use of power equipment in the field of equine dentistry has been a great aid to equine practitioners. One advantage is that it lets the practitioner complete major dental corrections before sedation wears off. However, could these power tools be harming horses’ teeth?
If your horse is tossing his head or hanging his tongue out while being ridden, going “behind the vertical,” or bearing into the bit, then bone spurs might be the reason. Bone spurs are inflammations of the membrane of fibrous connective tissue that covers the mandible. They usually occur between the corner incisor and second premolar (interdental space) of the lower jaw. The majority of thes
Easley discussed how open-mouth radiographs can be invaluable tools for the equine practitioner in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of dental abnormalities. He believes that radiology has not been used enough in the field by practitioners.
Enterocolitis (inflammation of the small intestine and colon) caused by the bacteriums Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens is a common problem for both adult horses and foals.
Peripheral Cushing’s syndrome (PCS) is seen in middle-aged horses with obesity-associated laminitis. These horses tend to accumulate fat in the crest of the neck, over the rump, and in the sheath of male horses. Researchers are trying to understand this recently named syndrome. It was first proposed that classic Cushing’s disease–a disorder of the pituitary gland that leads to excessive
When a prescribed medication doesn’t work as it should, one cause could be antimicrobial (antibiotic) resistance. Is the widespread use of antibiotics selecting for stronger and stronger pathogens that can resist the drugs we use to fight them? This was discussed at the Antimicrobials and Antimicrobial Resistance Table Topic, moderated by Josie Traub-Dargatz, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, professor o
With more and more horses reaching geriatric status (over 20 years of age), it?s important to understand how their nutritional needs might change. Diets should be adjusted if necessary to help old-timers live long and healthy lives. David Pugh,
With West Nile virus (WNV) marching across the United States and affecting both horses and humans, infectious disease prevention has been a hot topic in barns, the media, veterinary clinics, and elsewhere. During the Infectious Disease forum, moderated by Josie Traub-Dargatz, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of Equine Medicine at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital and
Two studies done at the University of California, Davis, have allowed researchers to measure the intracranial pressure (ICP, the pressure that the cerebrospinal fluid exerts on the brain) in the horse for the first time and determine how body
A study at the Island Whirl Equine Colic Research Laboratory at the University of Florida has determined that the horse’s stomach can adapt to meals of various sizes and compositions, giving researchers a better understanding of how the normal
With the use of cooled shipped semen on the rise, breeders want to maximize the effects of this new technology as best they can. However, there are a variety of factors that can affect fertility with cooled semen, said Dickson Varner, DVM, MS,
Clostridia-associated enterocolitis (inflammation of the small intestine and colon) affects both humans and horses, young and old alike. According to Nathan Slovis, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Hagyard-Davidson-McGee (HDM) Associates veterinary clinic i
Most horse owners take great pride in providing their horses with clean, nice-looking stalls; some of us might even throw in that extra bit of bedding for added comfort. But could we be unknowingly harming our horses more than helping them? Let’
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