Latest News – The Horse
West Nile Virus Vaccination in Mares and Foals
There were nearly 14,000 reported cases of West Nile virus (WNV) in the United States in 2002 by the end of November, and many broodmares were exposed to the virus even if not clinically affected. As the country begins its fifth year of handling
West Nile Virus Vaccination Program
On Nov. 3, the Florida Equine Practice Committee met in Ocala, Fla. One of the main topics of discussion was the protocol for using the West Nile virus equine vaccine manufactured by Fort Dodge Animal Health.
According to Dr. Maury B.
Creating Your Health Care Team
You are ultimately responsible for your horse, for all issues from training to health care. In this day and age, you have access to a variety of health care providers and to a great deal of information–and misinformation–from people claiming t
Stretching Out the Kinks
There’s nothing like a good stretch–when you wake up in the morning, during breaks at work, or before and after your workout. In human physiology, we know about stretching and its benefits for the athlete. Many practitioners and physical
Retina and Optic Nerve Disease in Horses
Learn more about 10 conditions that can affect the horse’s retina and optic nerve.
Recovering from the Flu
There was recently a flu-like breakout at the barn where I board. How long do the horses need to stay isolated?
Keeping a Stallion With a Foaling Mare, or Mares
We have a mare and stallion together in a pasture. We borrowed a stallion in August just to breed this mare. They have been together since then, and we just had the mare checked for the first time since they were together and found out that
Your Partner in Horse Health
Articles, forums, and other information from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) have appeared in The Horse magazine for a number of years. I thought that for this Forum I might take the opportunity to let you know a
Predicting Muscle Problems
Competitive endurance riders know that horses lose fluids and electrolytes during strenuous rides. Calcium and magnesium are also lost during prolonged aerobic exercise. Low blood calcium (hypocalcemia) allows sodium to enter nerve cells, leadin
Antimicrobials in Colic Surgery
Colic surgery in horses is classified as a “clean contaminated” procedure because incisions into the intestine can allow bacteria to contaminate the sterile abdomen. Thus, prophylactic (preventive) antibiotic therapy is often administered prior
Exercise and Bone Development
Beneath the smooth surface of articular cartilage, subchondral bone gives structural support to joints. Normally, newborn foals have a lot of water in this layer, which is slowly replaced by calcium and collagen as the foal weights his joints.
Healing Hoof Cracks
Hoof cracks are a common occurrence in the feet of many domesticated horses, and they can range in severity from a minor blemish to a cause of serious lameness. Causative factors can vary widely, ranging from injury to imbalance of the foot.
Is His Heart In It?
Do you know why a Thoroughbred can deliver that great burst of speed to eat up a mile in 1 1/2 minutes, or how an endurance horse can maintain the strength and stamina to cover long distances at steady speeds? Of course you do: Conditioning.
What Do You See For 2003?
We’ve certainly had some tough moments in the past couple of years. And despite worry, the industry is strong, but changing. While some of the top-level owners of competition horses–those who own horses as business investments–might be jumping
West Nile Virus Still Spreading
As of Nov. 3, cases of equine illness caused this year by West Nile virus (WNV) confirmed at the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories had risen to 12,843; 12,105 cases more than the final case count for 2001. Vaccinating for WNV and
Diagnosing Problems Using Equine Hair
A horse’s hair can be used as a diagnostic tool in assessing nutritional status, environmental poisoning, and drug use and abuse, according to Mark Dunnett, BVSc, of the UK’s Royal Veterinary College. Dunnett presented this topic at the Kentucky
