Latest News – The Horse
The Dreaded Corneal Stromal Abscess
The corneal stromal abscess is a very serious and potentially vision-threatening condition in horses. Here’s what you need to know.
Locked Into Place
Much has been learned about exertional rhabdomyolysis (tying-up) in recent years, but unfortunately some of that knowledge has been troubling. For example, at least one newly recognized cause of tying-up in foals has, in identified cases, always
West Nile Virus Encephalitis
In August 1999, West Nile virus (WNV) was identified as the cause of encephalitis in birds, horses, and humans in New York. Since then, WNV activity has spread north and south along the East Coast, and west to several states following bird
Help Limit Laminitis
To be sure, we don’t yet know everything about laminitis. We don’t know exactly why it occurs, why some horses have more acute attacks than others, or why some severe cases bounce back while seemingly lesser cases go downhill until euthanasia is the
Eye Removal
I was just informed that my young Quarter Horse needs to have his eye removed. What does this procedure consist of?
Skunk Cabbage Toxic to Horses?
Recently our horses have begun eating skunk cabbage that grows on the property. Is it harmful to horses?
Mare Milking Early
I have a Paso Fino mare whose due date is three months away and her milk bag is full, hot, and dripping very white milk. She has been waxed over for about a week now, but thankfully she seems to be in no distress. I can find no one with this
Separating Mare and Foal for Work
A young breeder asked me if she could take a mare from her foal for one hour every day.
Basics of Being an Employer
You probably know the employment drill all too well–you place an ad in the local newspaper or on the bulletin board at the feed/tack store, ask your friends for a few names, interview some job prospects, review your budget, review your budget
Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy and Back Pain
As many as 40% of all cases of equine back pain are the result of soft tissue injury. The primary causes include chronic and recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (CER and RER, respectively), and an inherited enzyme deficiency called polysaccharid
Preventing Airway Obstruction
During periods of intense exercise, portions of the upper airway can collapse, interfering with breathing. The cause of these obstructive episodes, most notably dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP), is yet unknown. In other species,
Forever Foundered?
Is there a way to return a foundered horse to a useful, productive life, and to successfully manage his discomfort and all the associated fallout from laminitis?
Carbohydrates for Energy
In human nutrition, carbohydrates or “carbs” have a bit of a bad name these days. A quick trip through the local book store or over the Internet leads us to believe that dietary carbohydrates are the source of all evil. When weight loss is the
Olden Horses; Golden Horses
As the Baby Boomers are edging into and out of middle age, there is a push to learn more about the ills and problems of this generation. There is also the discovery that middle age and beyond doesn’t necessarily mean slowing down. Today’s adults
Is Your Horse Getting the Right Medications?
Unethical medication production and marketing is a serious problem in the equine industry, said Joe Bertone, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, in a presentation at the American Horse Publications convention on June 21. “The equine industry is a huge target
West Nile Virus in Texas Birds, Kentucky Horse
West Nile virus (WNV) has continued its march westward, recently being detected for the first time in Texas in two blue jays in northwest Houston. Additionally, the disease made its 2002 Kentucky equine debut in a Thoroughbred yearling.
