Latest News – The Horse

Probably the best-attended session at the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention, the Kester News Hour features brief reports of new research that was too new or brief for inclusion in the scientific program. The information is presented in a fun, rapid-fire format by two of the country’s top equine veterinary specialists–internal medicine guru John Madigan, DVM, MS,

Michigan Department of Agriculture Director Dan Wyant announced the confirmation of a third case of equine herpes virus type-1 (EHV-1) at Northville Downs in Northville, Mich., on Jan. 20. One barn at Northville Downs has been placed under quarantine while the source of infection and extent of spread is investigated by regulators.

On Jan. 14, 2005, animal health surveillance

Kentucky state veterinarian Robert Stout, DVM, lifted an embargo last week on the importation of livestock, wild animals, and exotic animals into Kentucky from Colorado. This embargo had been enacted because of vesicular stomatitis (VS), and it was the last of the VS-related restrictions that began with an outbreak in Texas last May.

“These embargos have ended because there are no mor

Scott McClure, DVM, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Iowa State University, recently evaluated extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in treating 32 horses with navicular syndrome diagnoses.

The theriogenology program at Louisiana State University’s (LSU) School of Veterinary Medicine manages reproduction in its clinical practice and reproductive research regarding horses, dogs, and other animals. According to Dr. Dale Paccamonti, professor and service chief of theriogenology, and Dr. Sara Lyle, an instructor in theriogenology, approximately 65% of the program’s patients are

In an ideal scenario, horses that have been seized by humane organization officials and local law enforcement should be evaluated to determine if there’s evidence of neglect or abuse, and to educate (owners) on how to take better care of the horses.

Amy Labbe, owner of the mare and foal seized by the Lexington Humane Society (LHS) in Lexington, Ky., on Jan. 5 and brought to Hagyard Equine Medical Institute (HEMI) because of their malnourished condition, comes to the defense of Nancy and Kathleen Nygaard, caretakers of the horses.

“First, Nancy Nygaard has nothing to do with this. She is 62 years old and is just trying to hel

The USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) will be conducting an Equine 2005 study, which will examine equine events and on-farm health management factors as they relate to the control of equine infectious diseases.

NAHMS conducts national studies on the health and management of America’s domestic livestock populations. In 1998, it took its first in-depth look a

“Beware the vaccination paradox!” began J. Richard Newton, BVSc, MSc, PhD, DLSHTM, DipECVPH FRCVS, of the Animal Health Trust in Suffolk, United Kingdom, during his presentation on influenza vaccination at the 43rd annual British Equine Veterinary Association Congress, held Sept. 15-18 in Birmingham.

He described the vaccination paradox as follows:

• A disease is highly

In the roll call of neurologic diseases from which horses can suffer, there is one many horse owners don’t yet know about–cauda equina syndrome.

“Horses with lameness in more than one limb are a diagnostic challenge, especially if both a forelimb and a hindlimb are involved,” said Sue J. Dyson, FRCVS, of the Center for Equine Studies at the Animal Health Trust, during her presentation on the topic at the 43rd British Equine Veterinary Association Congress, held Sept. 15-18 in Birmingham, U.K. “The first key to successful diagnosis is

Older horses are at higher risk for certain types of colic, said Anthony Blikslager, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, associate professor of equine surgery in North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He reported on studies of older horses and colic during the 43rd British Equine Veterinary Association Congress, held Sept. 15-18 in Birmingham, U.K.

“According to recent

Can a practitioner predict a horse’s chances of survival after colic surgery? Not with absolute certainty, but several factors can help that prediction, said Anthony Blikslager, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, associate professor of equine surgery at North Carolina State University’s (NCSU) College of Veterinary Medicine. Blikslager discussed this topic at the 43rd British Equine Veterinary Association

Touted as the 2005 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale Prayer Breakfast, the Blue Grass Farms Chaplaincy (a division of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America) held a well-attended meeting at Keeneland the morning of Jan. 13 to give insight into its programs and encourage participation and support from the industry. The needs range from as simple as sponsoring a Bible to large financial

New Mexico has been removed from the Kentucky list of vesicular stomatitis (VS)-embargoed states. Robert Stout, DVM, Kentucky state veterinarian, wrote the following in a letter to New Mexico’s state veterinarian posted on the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s (KDA) web site: “Our removal of New Mexico from the list of embargoed states is based on information received from your office and