Latest News – The Horse
You Should Be Afraid, But…
West Nile virus is here to stay. Just like its cousins Eastern and Western equine encephalitis, it can be controlled, but only with diligence and hard work. West Nile virus (WNV) is deadly in about 40% of the horses which get the disease. It
Finding a Suitable Cooled Semen Facility
I’m considering using shipped cooled semen for my mare. How do I find a qualified facility?
Probiotics and Yeast Cultures
What is the best formulation of probiotics and yeast in the equine diet? Which bacteria are beneficial?
Understanding Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU)
ERU is one of the most frequent causes of equine blindness. Here’s what you need to know.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
You’re preparing your mare for the upcoming breeding season. The stud owner insists on a bacterial culture of your mare’s uterus prior to live breeding to reduce the chances of her passing any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) she might have
Alberta Drought
A severe drought in northern Alberta is taking its toll on the horse population of that Canadian province. Canadian newspaper reports have indicated that many Alberta horses have been sent to slaughter (because the drought has made feeding
EIA in Georgia: Four Horses Test Positive, 94 Quarantined
Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin announced last week that four horses in Chattooga County tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA) and have been euthanized. At press time, 94 other horses in the county had been
West Nile Virus Moves West in Canada
Horse owners in Canada are becoming just as wary of the neurological disease West Nile virus (WNV) as their U.S. neighbors (see “West Nile Virus Alert” on page 32). The virus, which is harbored by birds and spread by the bite of an infected
Controlling Mosquitoes with Pheromones
A new product that can help control mosquito populations is currently under development. Materia, Inc., has developed a cost-effective synthesized version of the natural pheromone called Mosquito Oviposition Pheromone (MOP). MOP is naturally
More Kentucky Potomac Horse Fever Cases
Two additional cases of Potomac horse fever (PHF) have been confirmed at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee (HDM) veterinary hospital in Lexington, Ky., bringing the clinic’s total to five confirmed cases since the end of July. Two other PHF cases previousl
Sunday Silence (1986-2002)
Kentucky Derby winner and top Japanese sire Sunday Silence died of heart failure Aug. 19 following an infection in his leg and the debilitating effects of laminitis. The horse had been fighting illness for 14 weeks prior to his death. Sunday
Updates from the American Association of Equine Practitioners
New Board Members Elected
Recently, four new directors were elected by the membership of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) to serve on the organization’s board. The terms for the new directors will begin right
Equine Sports Medicine Center Dedicated
The Scott Center for Equine Sports Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center was dedicated on June 29. The 10,000-square-foot addition to the College of Veterinary Medicine’s large animal program will improve patient care an
MRLS Workshop
Since the devastating disease process known as mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) appeared on the scene in 2001 (and reappeared in 2002), concerted efforts have been focused on understanding and controlling the problem. Economic losses to th
Vaccine Licensing
Any company trying to put a new vaccine on the market must follow a specific process to obtain a license from the USDA before the product can be used in the horse population. A vaccine receives either a conditional or full license after a series
Comfrey Targeted for Enforcement Action
The Enforcement Strategy for Marketed Ingredients (ESMI) Working Group of the Association of Animal Feed Control Officers (AAFCO) cited an increasing number of unapproved or undefined ingredients appearing in animal feed and pet food as well as
