Latest News – The Horse
Disease Control at Racetracks and Horse Events
The following guidelines may be implemented at equine facilities to prevent diseases from affecting an event and/or in the face of a disease outbreak. Disease control will be initiated at one of three levels; the federal government deals with
Heart Size and Racing Performance in Trotters
Researchers found that heart size correlated with athletic performance in Standardbred trotters.
Wild Horse Amendment Passes House
Wild horses and burros that are eligible for slaughter had a victory on May 19 when the appropriations bill for the Department of the Interior 2006 budget (H.R. 2361) passed the House of Representatives.
Among hundreds of lines of text
Ad-Painted Horse Causes Welfare Warning
Not many people think of using their horses as painted billboards, and the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says you shouldn’t. At least, they say, not with regular paint, as it could harm the horse. According to a story on
Treatment of Equine Heart Arrhythmia
Human defibrillators are being used successfully to treat horses with irregular heartbeats (fibrillation). Kim McGurrin, DVM, a graduate student at the University of Guelph’s College of Veterinary Medicine, developed a procedure as part of her
Gastric Ulcer Research in Racehorses
Two articles on the use of omeprazole paste (Merial’s GastroGard) in racehorses were published in the May 15 edition of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA). The first study looked at using omeprazole paste to
Whisper Syndrome Update: Titer Results Inconclusive
A treating vet in Virginia still isn’t sure what made three of his clients’ horses sick this spring while generating widespread concern on an Internet message board as “Whisper Syndrome” (for background information, see
Foot and Mouth Disease Confirmed in China
Confirmed in China
On May 26, China’s Ministry of Agriculture confirmed outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Beijing, Xinjiang, and Hebei.
While horses cannot be infected by FMD, they can carry the virus on their
VS Outbreak Hits the Southwest
Texas on May 20 joined New Mexico and Arizona as states with confirmed cases of vesicular stomatitis (VS) this spring. Two Travis County horses were hauled home May 10 from a trail ride in Arizona, where they apparently were exposed to the VS virus
Update on Maryland EHV-1 Outbreak
As of May 26, there are no new clinical equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) cases among horses at the Columbia Horse Center in Maryland. The facility has been handling an outbreak of the neurologic form of the virus since late
EHV-1 Outbreak Confirmed at Churchill Downs
The neurologic form of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) was confirmed as affecting horses at Churchill Downs in mid-May. Three barns remained under quarantine until horses in those barns met requirements by May 24 to begi
Herpesvirus Breakthrough
Preliminary research on equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) from Cornell University indicates that the commercial vaccine containing modified live virus (Rhinomune) appears to be more effective in preventing infection than killed
Farrier Licensing Controversy
Horseshoers (farriers) in the United States have long practiced with no regulation and only voluntary certification, but some in the industry think that should change–soon. An American Farrier’s Association (AFA) task force presented a proposal
Feeding Hope or Hype?
Arthritis is a problem, but often a manageable one. A combination of management practices, which might include oral joint supplements, will be your best chance of making your horse more comfortable.
Strangles Risk and Treatment
Strangles is hardly a new disease, having been recognized as a contagious bacterial problem in horses for centuries. Yet it still remains a troublesome and persistent issue, and it is identified worldwide. Research has been directed toward
Acupuncture for Acute Heaves
Acupuncture has become a popular alternative therapy for chronic illness in horses, especially recurrent airway obstruction (also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or heaves). Unfortunately, there are few objective studies supporting
