Latest News – The Horse
Embryo Transfer Discussed
Much of the discussion involved sharing professional information, such as specific instruments involved, but they also addressed such matters as preparation of the recipient mare and the most optimum state of embryo maturation for transfer.
Comptroller Critical of New York Standardbred Fund; Portion of Monies Comes From Thoroughbreds
A New York state authority that supports Standardbred purses and breeding has lax internal financial controls, according to an audit released Tuesday by state Comptroller Alan Hevesi.
The New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund helps support the state’s harness industry, but gets part of its funding from the state’s four Thoroughbred tracks and off-track betting
Michigan Officials Requiring EHV Vaccination
Officials from Michigan’s Office of Racing Commissioner (ORC) are requiring all horses entering any of seven licensed pari-mutuel facilities in the state be vaccinated for equine herpesvirus (EHV), in an effort to keep the virus confined to Northville Downs, where it has been detected in four horses. Three of those horses had to be euthanatized because the neurologic form of EHV type-1 caused
Incorporating Acupuncture/Alternative Therapies
Discussion in the session primarily revolved around personal experiences with courses in acupuncture and chiropractic, incorporation of what they’ve learned in these courses, payment for these services, and the reminder that Western medicine should never be forgotten when treating patients.
COX-2 Selective Drugs Considered Safe for Horses
Following the release of human clinical trial data demonstrating the link between pain-relieving medications known as COX-2 inhibitors and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued a public health advisory recommending limited use of the drugs. The advisory, which also covers various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
AAEP Convention 2004: Horseman’s Day–Equine Motor Neuron Disease
Ken Bedell, DVM, of Cornell University, addressed one of the newer maladies that has shown up in the horse world–equine motor neuron disease–at Horseman’s Day at the 50th annual American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Denver, Colo., Dec. 4-8, 2004. He characterized the affliction as any disease that targets the nerves that coordinate the muscle structure, such as
AAEP Convention 2004: Horseman’s Day–Cushings
Christy Malazdrewich, DVM, MVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, assistant clinical professor at the University of Minnesota, discussed metabolic problems at Horseman’s Day at the 50th annual American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Denver, Colo., Dec. 4-8, 2004. She gave clear-cut descriptions of two baffling conditions–Cushing’s disease and metabolic syndrome. She opened with this
Newborn Foals: Routine and Emergency Care
The best chance to improve the survival rate of a newborn foal, she said, is adequate advance disease prevention and planning. The disease prevention includes a comprehensive vaccination program, Zimmel told her listeners.
AAEP Convention 2004: Horseman’s Day–Performance Horse
At Horseman’s Day at the 50th annual American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Denver, Colo., Dec. 4-8, 2004, Sally Vivrette, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, of Triangle Equine Veterinary Services in Cary, N.C., discussed strategies for keeping the performance horse healthy and fit.
“Maintaining a performance or pleasure horse represents a substantial investment of time and
AAEP Convention 2004: Horseman’s Day–Dentistry
Mary DeLorey, DVM, owner of Northwest Equine Dentistry in Washington, began Horseman’s Day at the 50th annual American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Denver, Colo., Dec. 4-8, 2004, with a presentation titled “Everything You Wanted to Know About Equine Dentistry.” “Just a float isn’t enough anymore,” she told her listeners. “Comprehensive dental care is needed.” She said
Placentitis–Caring for the Foals
During the foaling season, Bain said, veterinarians are frequently called upon to deal with a foal that is the product of a mare with placentitis. These foals, he said, can range from being extremely early–300 days–with small size and organ function incompatible with life to a full-sized foal nearer to full-term gestation with minimal effects.
Placentitis–Placental and Post-Mortem Examination
Performance of a thorough placental examination, he said, requires a basic understanding of placental anatomy and some familiarity with the gross features found in a normal placenta.
Placentitis–General Information
The single most important cause of premature delivery of a foal is placentitis. It accounts for nearly one-third of late-term abortions and fetal mortality in the first day of life.
Salmonella Outbreaks and Prevention
What impact can a salmonella outbreak at a veterinary hospital and what can be done to prevent it? As part of a study to determine what could be done to cut down on the harmful bacteria, a footbath for workers was compared to disinfectant misting, she said.
Thyroid/Cushing’s Disease
Quite often, she said, horses suffering from laminitis, obesity, and poor fertility are administered thyroid hormone supplementation. But in many of these cases proper documentation or accurate diagnosis of hypothyroidism is non-existent.
Immunostimulant Therapy (AAEP 2004)
The mechanism of action of non-specific immunostimulation is induction of macrophages to produce proinflammatory cytokines that drive a T-1-based (helper cells) immune system response. Immunostimulation therapy may not be effective in patients with acute, fulminating (suddenly occurring) infections, because the immune response is (already) maximally stimulated by the pathogen.
