Latest News – The Horse
Cecal Impaction: Surgery Can Make a Difference
Horses with life-threatening cecal impactions only have a fair prognosis after surgery, but those that survive to discharge have a good prognosis, reported a group of veterinarians led by Lewis C.R. Smith, BVetMed, CertES(Orth), MRCVS, from Rossdales Equine Hospital in the United Kingdom. Cecal impactions are not particularly common–they represent only 5% of all large intestinal
Derby Day After–All Appear Well
As rain continued to pour on a soggy Churchill Downs stable area the morning of May 2, trainer Todd Pletcher was absorbing the previous day’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands victory by Super Saver as the trainers of those who finished behind the WinStar homebred were considering their future plans.
Pletcher said Super Saver would remain at Churchill Downs and likely sh
Equine Cushing’s Disease
Know the facts of Equine Cushing’s, a hormonal disease in horses often linked to a pituitary gland tumor. Included in this fact sheet are an overview of the disease, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for future health.
The Horse’s Digestive System
The horse’s digestive system is large, complex, and functions like a factory, yet it is exceedingly delicate. Digestive tract dysfunction in the horse is an important concern for owners and veterinarians.
Vaccinating Horses
Vaccinating horses is generally considered to be the most cost-effective method of preventing infectious diseases; however, vaccines do have limitations.
Deworming
Deworming is an essential part of managing your horse’s overall health. This free fact sheet is a general guide to deworming your horse, including common parasites, dewormer options, parasite control via manure management, proper scheduling and more.
Cardiology: The Equine Heart
Cardiac disease is considered the third-most common cause of “poor performance” in athletic horses (after musculoskeletal disease and respiratory disorders).
Pain Management
In veterinary medicine, particularly equine practice, the recognition, classification, management, and overall importance of pain and pain management have only recently been described.
Equine Upper Airway
Understand the structure and function of the equine upper respiratory system to understand horses’ breathing.
Joint Structure and Function
A joint is defined as an anatomic union or junction between two or more bones. There are three basic types of joints in the horse: Synovial, fibrous, and cartilaginous.
Equine Joint Supplements
Equine joint supplements have been purported to decrease inflammation, increase mobility, and more. This guide to equine joint supplements includes a seven-step quality evaluation process and tips for choosing a safe and effective product.
General Equine Supplements
Supplements, or nutraceuticals, are thought to have some beneficial effects for horses, but more studies are necessary.
Feeding Geriatric Horses
Just because a horse is older does not mean he needs a special diet. However, many older horses with special physical or nutritional needs (geriatric horses) require specific diets and feed modifications to maintain good health and body condition.
Feeding Easy Keepers
The term “easy keepers” refers to horses and ponies that maintain or gain weight on a minimum amount of food.
Hoof Supplements
Oral supplements might be indicated for horses with dry, cracked, or brittle hooves.
