The United Kingdom is famous for its rich history and deeply rooted traditions, but that doesn’t mean its veterinarians are bound to ancient methods of equine medicine. Quite the contrary, the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) hosts one of the world’s most in-depth, cutting-edge continuing education meetings every year–the BEVA Congress. The 43rd annual Congress, held Sept. 15-18, 2004, in Birmingham, United Kingdom, boasted a program packed full of information on colic, orthopedics, how-to procedures, reproduction, cardiology, foal care, and much more. Following are brief reports of several presentations from the Congress; for more information on these and other presentations, see the British Equine Veterinary Association section under Convention Reports at www.TheHorse.com.

Contact Lenses for Horses

While they aren’t used to improve vision in horses, soft contact lenses can be used to protect the eye and facilitate healing in horses with non-infected ulcerations. Robert Lowe, BVSc, MRCVS, CertVOphthal, of Downland Veterinary Group in Hampshire, United Kingdom, discussed the use of contacts for horses.

“I use them often, on any case with superficial ulceration and no infection,” Lowe said. “I think they’re quite underused. They’re used a lot in dogs and cats, but horses as well as humans are better species for them because the eyelids are tighter and hold the lens in better. There’s less chance of them rubbing them out