A simple, noninvasive urine test to diagnose cryptorchidism in horses that appear to have been castrated has been developed by a group of researchers from the Racing Laboratory at the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Male horses that appear or are presumed to be castrated can in fact have one or even two retained testicles. Retained testes should be removed to help eliminate objectionable b

While many veterinarians have long suspected that infected joints from which bacteria can be cultured result in a poorer outcome than horses from which no bacteria could be cultured, this hypothesis was recently substantiated by a group of United Kingdom researchers led by Tim Mair, BVSc, MRCVS, DEIM, DESTS, Dipl. ECEIM, of the Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic.

Infections of synovial

A variety of environmental factors might be related to West Nile virus infections in horses, reported a Florida research team lead by Leslie M.V. Rios, PhD, from the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

After identifying a lack of reliability and repeatability in experienced veterinarians’ evaluation of lameness, a group of vets have challenged the industry to search for and develop “a more objective and reliable method of lameness evaluation for us in the field,” and noted that such efforts “should be encouraged and supported.”

ESPA is a “new” name for an old disease: degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis (DSLD), a heritable, debilitating syndrome characterized by “an insidious onset of either bilateral or quadrilateral lameness with no history of trauma or injury,”

As if equine Cushing’s, metabolic syndrome, laminitis, and insulin resistance weren’t enough to worry about in our aging horses, we can now add “immunosenescence” and “inflammaging” to the list.

Insulin resistance has profound consequences for affected horses, yet there are currently no licensed treatment options. Management of the condition is primarily aimed at modifying the affected horse’s diet, maintaining a healthy body condition score, and instituting a regular exercise program. Considering the “distinct lack of equine-specific research,” Glenys

Immunocontraception is a technique that uses the body’s own immune system to prevent pregnancy.

“For almost four decades we have known that antibodies against the membrane of a mammal’s unfertilized egg can be used to inhibit fertility,” explained Jay F. Kirkpatrick, PhD, director of the science and conservation center at ZooMontana, located in Billings,

After collecting and analyzing five years’ worth of data on the welfare of working equids in developing countries, researchers have identified some factors associated with potential welfare issues and means of intervening and improving the welfare of the most susceptible animals can now be devised.

Since more than 85% of the world’s equids (estimated at 94 million) live in developing countries

The diet you offer your gestating mare, particularly in the last trimester, can influence development of the placenta as well as the level of immunoglobulins (IgGs) in the colostrum, reports a research team from North Dakota and Texas.

“Foals subjected to external stimulants, such as reduced nutrient supply to the fetus, can have lasting effects on development including

Electroacupuncture–the electrical stimulation of acupuncture points–can be an effective method of controlling laryngeal hemiplegia (roaring), reported researchers performing the technique on horses presented to the Veterinary Medical Center of the University of Florida.

Over the past three decades, equine surgeons have become more adept at repairing even the most devastating fractures. Long gone are the days when horses sustaining fractures were humanely euthanized with a sad shake of the head. Now, horses are largely salvaged–and even return to athletic careers–with a little help from skilled hands, an arthroscope, power drill, plates, wires, and/or screws.

Not only can DNA-based tests indicate whether or not a horse is infected with equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), these tests can also measure the amount of virus in the horse's nasal secretions.

"Virus isolation has been the gold standard test for EHV-1, but have recently been replaced by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests," reported Nicola Pusterla, DVM, PhD, Dipl.

One theory explaining this “horse of a different color” phenomenon is that, historically, only a few coat colors might have been appropriate for survival in the wild. For example, horses of a certain color could have been better camouflaged, considered a more appropriate mate, have more tolerance to certain pathogens, or better adapt to the environment than horses of other colors.

Equine piroplasmosis can be difficult to diagnose due to the variable and non-specific clinical signs exhibited by infected horses. Further complicating testing, false positive and false negative results can occur on common tests.

Piroplasmosis, considered an exotic disease in the United States, was recently discovered in horses in 11 states as an investigation into an outbreak