There are limited options for effective treatment of horses with lameness due to chronic laminitis. A common practice involves therapeutic shoeing, which is intended to reduce pain, aid in healing, and help return the horse to activity. Recently, researchers from Texas A&M University examined four types of therapeutic shoes to determine their effectiveness at rapidly reducing pain and

Busy training schedules and fears about injury often limit pasture access for performance horses. Prolonged stall confinement, however, can be detrimental to a horse’s attitude. Boredom can lead to destructive behaviors, including weaving, pawing, and ingestion of bedding. Recently, researchers from Southampton and Leicestershire in the United Kingdom, collaborated on a study to examine the

During intensive training, young racehorses experience a thickening in the layers of bone under the cartilage of joints. These layers, called subchondral (located nearer the surface) and cancellous, become harder and better able to handle the rigors of training. Unfortunately, the process is painful, especially in the carpus (knee). Therefore, it is fairly common to inject corticosteroids int

The inaugural “Bridge to the Future” veterinary conference, hosted by Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, was held in Providence, RI, on Aug. 10-11. This year’s speakers included Mary Rose Paradis, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor of large animal medicine at Tufts, who spoke about geriatric horses and ponies. Paradis discussed the results of a recent study designed to

Diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) involves a technique called Western blotting (WB), which identifies antibodies against Sarcocystis neurona, the parasite responsible for the disease. A positive result on WB does not guarantee current infection, but rather exposure, since antibodies and not organisms are being identified.

Currently, young foals with neurologica

Penetrating injuries near the fetlock can be very serious because of their proximity to the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), which flexes the lower limb joints, and its sheath. While a horse might have only a small cut or puncture wound, the internal injury can create severe or even non-weight-bearing lameness. If left untreated or undertreated (with only administration of antibiotics,

Dietary fats are important components of performance horses’ diets because they are calorie-dense and energy-rich. Previous studies have shown, however, that diets high in soybean oil interfere with fiber digestion in trotters. It is unclear whether feeding poorly digestible carbohydrates, like cornstarch, compounds this problem by overloading the cecum and altering its bacterial population.

Young foals are notoriously difficult to anesthetize because of their extreme sensitivity to most anesthetic drugs. Ideally, foals are anesthetized using only an inhaled anesthetic. One inhalant, isofluorane, has proven itself easy to use with relatively mild adverse effects. A newer inhalant, sevofluorane, has been successful in adult horses which are poor candidates for anesthesia. Recently

Recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER, a type of tying-up) is an inherited disorder in Thoroughbreds. Research suggests that RER involves an abnormality in the regulation of calcium in muscle cells. High-grain diets have been implicated as triggers of acute episodes, perhaps because of their influence on calcium balance.

Research in cattle has shown that electrolytes and minerals, suc

There is a fine line between striving to maximize a horse’s performance and pushing the animal beyond his physical limits. Standardbred racehorses experience a decrease in body weight and an abnormal decrease in blood cortisol when they are overtrained. Researchers from New Zealand recently conducted a study to see if there are any other physiologic changes associated with overtraining. The

Glucosamine is a popular nutritional supplement that horses are fed in hopes of protecting them from osteoarthritis. Researchers studying the mechanisms of osteoarthritis have identified several compounds, called markers, that are unique to the cartilaginous joints. Increased concentrations of these markers in the blood signify damage to cartilage and/or bone. Recently, a group of researchers

Because of its subjective and complex nature, the severity of a horse’s pain is very difficult to assess. Recently, a comprehensive review was published by the University of Minnesota outlining the definitions of the types of pain and the difficulties associated with its assessment in animals.

Pain is broadly classified as acute (of short duration) or chronic (persisting over time), then

Spinal cord disease in horses is fairly common, but it can be difficult to precisely diagnose. Ancillary tests such as cerebrospinal fluid analysis, contrast myelography, and electromyelography can be helpful, but also somewhat risky. There is another diagnostic technique used in humans that is not painful and has no serious side effects. The technique is called transcranial magnetic

Lufenuron is a once-a-month flea control product for dogs and cats. The active ingredient inhibits chitin production; chitin is a component of the outer surface of many insects. Fungal organisms also contain chitin in their cell walls, making them susceptible to lufenuron. Researchers at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine recently published a series of cases where

The most common angular limb deformity in foals is carpus valgus (sometimes called toeing out) in which affected foals have limbs that flare outward below the carpus (knee). This deformity can be corrected surgically with hemi-circumferential periosteal transection and elevation (HCPTE). The procedure involves lifting the fibrous layer, called the periosteum, off of the outside of the carpal

Horses which survive an episode of severe colic can be temporarily unable to eat. Anorexia, nasal regurgitation, and ileus (lack of bowel movement) prevent oral feeding. After several days of malnutrition, the horse’s ability to heal is impaired. Humans who are unable to eat normally are fed intravenously; this method is known as parenteral nutrition (PN). While PN has been used in horses, it