Latest News – The Horse

Has there has been an increase in hind limb lameness since the round pen has become more popular?

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, manages the majority of the wild horses and burros in the United States. The agency manages these animals on the public rangelands consistent with BLM’s multiple-use mission, which takes into consideration natural resources such as wildlife and vegetation, and other users such as ranchers and recreationists

Veterinarians are using hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)–treatment in a pressurized oxygen chamber–to treat certain illnesses and injuries in horses. They are extrapolating from human research to guide approaches for treating equine patients.

Research has shown that boars can be fed a specific diet to increase fertility, and the same might be true of stallions. Steven Brinsko, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT, from Texas A&M University, discussed the potential of feeding a nutraceutical to stallions to enhance their fertility during his presentation at the American Association of Equine Practitioners convention.

He said the

The technique of using saline-coated silica particles in solution to filter and therefore enhance semen quality in humans has been around for years. Now, it is being tried to improve semen of stallions.

There are three major reasons to attempt to have a mare “superovulate” or ovulate more than one follicle at a time. First, in embryo transfer programs there is a greater chance of recovering an embryo with superovulation, thus reducing the expense of getting a viable embryo for transplanting. Second, it has been found that superovulation of a mare in transition (early in the year before she i

Veterinarians interested in reproduction and perinatology (the foal immediately after birth) crowded into the Reproduction/Perinatology Forum at the 2003 American Association of Equine Practitioners’ convention to discuss mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), terminology for the mare breeding soundness examination, vaccination of broodmares with the West Nile virus vaccine, current trends

With advances in modern veterinary medicine happening all of the time, the practitioners agreed that management of high-risk mares is becoming easier, and the probability of a healthy foal is increasing.

Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) occurs when the palate partially obstructs the airway by becoming displaced on top of the epiglottis. This obstruction can affect breathing, especially during intense exercise. DDSP is known to be difficult to diagnose and treat. However, one viable option for treatment might be a combination of procedures during one surgery

Is it colic, or could it be rabies? The horse with rabies is extremely dangerous to himself, other animals, and humans. Rabies is a fatal viral disease of mammals that can be spread to humans through bites, licks, or through contact with the victim’s mucous membranes or an existing wound. Horse owners must use extreme caution if rabies is suspected, and a veterinarian should be called immediately.

The jugular vein is the most common place to draw blood from a horse; however, this is not always possible. If the jugular vein is damaged or if the horse is no longer tolerant of the procedure, there is an alternative location to draw blood, said Honor Ame Walesby, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, of Louisiana State University, during her presentation at the 2003 American Association of Equine

Musculoskeletal pain associated with acute and chronic hind limb injuries is common in equine practice. Unabated pain can result in complications such as gastrointestinal disorders and supporting limb laminitis. Pain management is critical to decrease peri-surgical (before surgery) stress responses, to promote early ambulation (movement), and to minimize the devastating effects of contralateral

Merritt’s presentation highlighted advances made over the last 40 years in the understanding of how the equine stomach functions and its related diseases. His presentation had a special emphasis on equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), and slides of his presentation helped attendees visualize the concepts.

If your new foal develops a disease or medical problem that requires surgery, then time is of the essence. In his AAEP Convention presentation “Surgical Disease of the Neonate,” Rolf Embertson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., discussed a few abdominal and upper respiratory problems that might require surgery and gave veterinarians tips on how to perform some

Abdominal pain in the foal can have many different causes, making it difficult to diagnose a cause. However, with knowledge of the different causes, a proper physical exam, the use of diagnostic tools, and common sense, a veterinarian can pinpoint a diagnosis from which decisions on treatment can be based

Foal care from the first few hours of life to one month can be critical in the overall health and welfare of the newborn foal.