Lasering the soft palate of horses for treating dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) causes scarring but does not “stiffen” the palate as hypothesized, reported Kira Alkabes, DVM, from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University.

Three horses all on a single premise in Cochise County, Ariz., remain the only horses in the country currently diagnosed with vesicular stomatitis (VS) virus.

VS is a disease that causes blister-like lesions in the mouth and on the dental pad, tongue, lips, nostrils, hooves, prepuce, and teats of livestock in the southwestern United States.

“Arizona hasn’t had a case since 2005,” repor

Portable, hand-held blood analyzers that measure various blood values such as electrolytes and pH are a valuable tool and provide improved patient care, reports a Brazilian research team led by Juliana Peiró, DVM, PhD, from the Department of Clinics, Surgery, and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, Unviersidade Estadual Paulista. “When diagnosed early,

Nearly 5,000 horses from 500 different farms helped identify anhidrosis factors for University of Florida researchers. Geography, breed, and use of horse were examined to determine factors for anhidrosis–the lack or decreased production of sweat. While it is widely known that some horses lose the ability to sweat properly in hot, humid climates like Florida, accurate information

Mutations in the gene called OAS1 contribute to a horse’s ability to fight West Nile Virus (WNV), reported a group of researchers led by David Adelson, PhD, Professor and Chair of Bioinformatics and Computational Genetics from the University of Adelaide in South Australia. Previous research in mice indicated that the OAS genes played a role in immunity to flaviviruses (such as

If someone says he or she can think or talk about equine neurology without becoming dizzy, that shows only the person has not understood anything about it… To take the dizzy factor out of understanding neurologic disease in horses, I.G. Joe Mayhew BVSc, FRCVS, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, ECVN, head of Equine Massey and professor of equine studies at New Zealand’s Massey University, has dedicated much of

To take the dizzy factor out of understanding neurologic disease in horses, I.G. Joe Mayhew, BVSc, FRCVS, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, ECVN, has dedicated much of his career to helping practitioners and owners understand equine neurology. He made several presentations at the 11th Congress of the World Equine Veterinary Association on topics ranging from simple reviews of common neurologic diseases

In an equine study using “proteomic” technology that systematically analyzed the proteins in skeletal muscle biopsies, a research team from The Netherlands identified a form of the protein creatine kinase that could be a marker for acute tying-up in horses. “Tying-up or rhabdomyolysis in horses is a serious condition that is characterized by obvious discomfort, abno

Traditionally considered a West Coast disease, pigeon fever was recently diagnosed in several Florida horses. Pigeon fever is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, which tends to live in the soil in hot, dry environments. It is primarily spread by flies and causes abscesses on the pectoral region that give a horse a “ Read More

Not only is the joint supplement ingredient type II collagen effective for arthritic horses, it also may be more effective than glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.

At long last, evidence supporting a link between the equine tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata and colic in horses was identified by a group of Italian researchers from the Universita degli Studi di Perugia.

Earlier thought held that A. perfoliata did not actually cause disease in horses, but that the parasites were simply an incidental finding in horses’ guts

Hydration and electrolyte depletion remain important factors to consider in endurance horses. Yet the impact of electrolyte supplementation on performance remains unclear and potential side effects may exist, relayed Harold Schott II, MS, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, a professor at Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine at the 2010 Kentucky Equine Research Nutrition Confere

A mutation in the gene called myosin Va (MYO5A) is responsible for Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS), reported a group of researchers from Cornell University and The Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center.

Since much decision-making about feeding horses continues to be based on folklore, tradition, and misinformation, owners and trainers are encouraged to use nutrition resources, reported Olivia Martin at the 2010 Kentucky Equine Research Nutrition Conference held April 26-27. Martin operates the independent equine nutrition consulting firm Performance Feeding Inc. and supplies feeding a

Any antibiotic administered orally, intramuscularly, or intravenously can theoretically cause acute diarrhea; however, some antibiotics are more likely than others to upset a horse’s gastrointestinal tract.