Over the past decade, Lawsonia intracellularis, the bacterium responsible for proliferative enteropathy (a spreading disease of the intestines), has been diagnosed with increasing frequency in horses and is now a significant problem in the industry.
L. intracellularis infections cause diarrhea, depression, fever
Prebiotics, such as short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides, are specially fermented compounds that alter the composition and/or activity of gastrointestinal bacteria and microflora to ameliorate the health of the host. Until now, only a limited
According to a recent study, approximately 50% of horses with acute abdominal disease also have hyperglycemia–an elevated level of blood glucose–which is associated with a poor prognosis for survival. This knowledge could lead veterinarians to
New research has revealed that a commercially available progesterone test is reliable and practical, and it can help veterinarians manage breeding mares more efficiently.
According to researchers from the College of Veterinary Medicine at
Researchers are trying to find better ways to test for skin hypersensitivities in horses for improved relief.
To use a tilt table, a horse recovering from anesthesia is restrained to the top of the table–which is generally hydraulic–in lateral recumbency (down and on his side). The table is slowly tilted upright as the horse returns to consciousness
Cheek teeth fractures can lead to a number of unpleasant problems in the horse, from chewing discomfort to bad breath, and they tend to show up most often in the upper jaw. Sometimes these fractures can even go undetected, say
Unilaterally castrating horses (removing only one testicle), often as a result of failure to identify cryptorchidism prior to commencing a surgical castration, is an expensive and unethical procedure that continues to occur too frequently,
Loss of spermatozoa viability following cryopreservation, historically attributed to the formation of intracellular ice, is now believed to be a result of an osmotic imbalance during thawing. Osmotic imbalances result in the movement
Stem cells have been isolated successfully from the equine umbilical cord. Once collected, these cells (referred to as umbilical cord matrix cells) can then be preserved frozen, cultured, and differentiated into a host of cell lines,
Synovial fluid analysis, including evaluation of white blood cell counts and matrix metalloproteinases -2 and -9 (which degrade articular cartilage), can be employed to monitor effect of treatment and predict survival in horses with septic
High levels of fungal species and mycotoxins (the toxins produced by some fungi) have been identified in equine feeds. This contamination can result in nutrient losses from the food, and it can negatively impact the health and productivity of
According to a recent scientific review, there is only limited evidence supporting the administration of herbal supplements in horses, despite their widespread use in the industry. Further, adverse events associated with herbal supplementation
Researchers identified higher serum antibody levels against the equine tapeworm, Anoplocephala perfoliata, in horses with colic compared to horses without colic in a study conducted by Maarten Boswinkel DVM, Specialist KNMvD Equine
Avocado and soybean unsaponifiable (ASU) extracts–the fraction of oil that does not form soap after hydrolysis–are some of the newest joint products to grace the equine nutritional supplement shelves. The beneficial effects of ASU for horses
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