Latest News – The Horse
Managing Thin, Shelly Feet
Poor genetics, environment, nutrition, and foot care are the main causes of thin, shelly feet according to Ken Marcella, DVM, and farrier Jaye Perry. Marcella co-owns Chattahoochee Equine in Canton, Ga., and Perry, a farrier based in Cumming, Ga., has a large clientele of hunter-jumper and endurance horses as well as pleasure horses. Both men have practices all over the United States, with
Handling a Hostile Broodmare
My mare just had a colt today and I have a concern about it because she is 13 years old and not broken. She had been broken three times prior to me getting her, and she won’t come near anyone. My question is: How will I be able to mess with the colt without the mare coming after me? She is very protective of the colt, and I am very concerned about separating them when the time comes.
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Preventing Supporting Limb Laminitis (AAEP 2003)
Laminitis in the contralateral (same end–fore or hind–opposite leg) limb is a well-recognized and potentially devastating sequela (result) in horses with complete fractures, sepsis involving a synovial structure, catastrophic breakdown injuries, and other conditions that cause unilateral non-weight-bearing lameness.
Lyme Disease Treatment and Vaccine
Nearly 50% of adult horses in areas of the northeastern United States are or have been infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Thomas Divers, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ACVECC, and others at Cornell Universit
Creative Purchasing
The standard means of providing for the horse farm is to pick up or have delivered bales of hay and sacks of grain when you run low, to purchase outright your horses and equipment, and to pay for your labor. But there are alternative ways that
The Grass is Not Always Greener
The word "horse" conjures up images of graceful, powerful animals roaming across miles of rolling hills, periodically stopping to graze on lush, green grass. In reality, such scenes are rare; these days, many horses live without
Fencing: The Art of Good Neighbors
To build and maintain good horse fence does take time and effort, but in the end it can be very rewarding. We shall assume that the proper fencing materials have been chosen. However, a quick review of good, safe choices is helpful.
Dogs and Horses: Predators and Prey
There they are: Your two best friends. Fred has been your buddy since you were a teenager, sharing your victories and disappointments, always steadfast and reliable. Bonnie has only been part of your life for a couple of months, but you’ve hit i
Heavy Horse Health Problems
Draft horses are enjoying a comeback. Not since the days when they were required to move the nation have the gentle giants been so sought after as riding and driving competitors. Draft crosses are found worldwide, competing at many levels and”P>Draft horses are enjoying a comeback. Not since the days when they were required to move the nation have the gentle giants been so”>Draft horses are enjo
Diseases of Dietary Origin
The axiom, “You are what you eat” does have relevance to horses with regard to health and well-being. Here’s a review some of the more common dietary problems that affect various organ systems in the horse.
Colic Surgery and Reperfusion Injury
During colic surgery, it can be difficult to judge whether twisted bowel deprived of oxygenated blood, a process called ischemia, will recover sufficiently once it is replaced and blood flows again. While the bowel might look healthy on the outside,
Longitudinal Tears in the DDFT
Horses with chronic inflammation of the digital flexor tendon (DDFT) sheath that doesn’t respond to conventional therapy might be suffering from longitudinal tears in the DDFT. Warmbloods which suffer from chronic annular ligament constriction
Ascarids: A Growing Problem
Editor’s Note: This is part 3 in a 12-part series on internal parasites of horses.
In the world of internal parasites, ascarids get no respect. Unlike strongyles, they aren’t a high-drama threat to your horse’s health, and they
Relieving Rectal Pain in Mares
Roman Skarda, DrMedVet., PhD, professor in the Anesthesia Section of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University, has studied techniques of epidural and spinal analgesia in horses for 20 years. For the past seven
Mad Cows and Horses
We know horses don’t get the deadly neurologic problem commonly termed mad cow disease or BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy). However, we’ve faced our own plethora of neurologic crises in the past few years, including West Nile virus (WNV),
Open Mares
An experienced veterinarian can help to determine why a seemingly healthy mare can’t become pregnant.
