Latest News – The Horse
Dogs Also Victims of 2007 Equine Influenza in Australia
Australian officials confirmed that the equine influenza virus infecting about 20,000 horses in the country in 2007 also infected dogs that had close contact with the sick horses.
“Dogs that were with or near equine influenza-infected horses were observed with a flu-like illness,” said Peter D. Kirkland, PhD, of the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute in New South
Awards to Spotlight Second Careers for Thoroughbreds
After Thoroughbreds have completed their race careers, they are often ideal candidates for another vocation. To call attention to these horses’ second career possibilities, nationally recognized Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital has created a series of annual awards, the first of which will be presented to the top Thoroughbred sport horses of 2009.
Parasites: Roads to Resistance
It shouldn’t really surprise us: parasites are becoming increasingly resistant to the drugs we use. Bacteria are now increasingly resistant to antibiotics, malaria parasites are widely resistant to antimalarials, and parasites are no different. We should all learn the lesson from history.
Horse Parasite Control Programs
Parasites should be viewed as a natural state, and we should recognize that even frequent treatments will not prevent them completely. Our goal is not to eliminate parasites, as history has shown us this is impossible and only leads to anthelmintic resistance. Instead, our goal should be to reduce parasite contamination levels in the environment and thereby keep parasite burdens under control.
Equine Antibiotics: What They Are, How They Work, and Resistance
Daily, humans wage chemical warfare against an overwhelming population–bacteria. The arsenal of our chemical warfare relies on a mighty weapon–antimicrobial drugs (AMD). Of these substances, antibiotics have been a formidable weapon for over a century in the war against pathogenic bacteria. But antibiotics alone cannot vanquish bacterial invaders entirely
Parasite Perspectives: Thinking Outside the Box
Scientists have been studying parasites for centuries. Many research hours have been spent developing new treatments, finding out their effects on the host, and even examining the life cycles. Some parasitologists are now approaching the subject of
Hoofin’ It in Boots
Hoof boots aren’t just for emergencies or soaking injured feet; these boots are made for walking, running, climbing, and more. Today an increasing variety of boots adorn the other-wise bare feet of trail horses, working horses, dressage horses, and even highly competitive endurance horses. Are boots right for you and your horse? If so, how do you pick out the right boot? Read on to find out.
Feeding the Immune System: Nutrient Support for Horses
The immune system is one of the most complex systems in the horse, consisting of an elaborate set of cells and cell mediators that respond to external factors such as stress, exercise, stage of life, and challenges from pathogens. Both humans and horses must consume nutrients to support all body systems, including the immune system. But how do we know which nutrients support the immune system?
Horse Wounds 101 (Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention)
With increased activity all horses are at a higher risk of sustaining traumatic lacerations or other wound types. Some might appear more serious than others, and the wound might be hours, days, or even weeks old before it is discovered.
Pain Management
In veterinary medicine, particularly equine practice, the recognition, classification, management, and overall importance of pain and pain management have only recently been described.
Deworming
Deworming is an essential part of managing your horse’s overall health. This free fact sheet is a general guide to deworming your horse, including common parasites, dewormer options, parasite control via manure management, proper scheduling and more.
Cloning Horses and Other Equids
Cloning is defined as the process of creating a genetically identical copy of another cell or organism (i.e., bacteria, plant or animal) through non-sexual means.
Composting
Efficiently managing manure is an important aspect of caring for horses. Composting is an economical and efficient method for managing manure for virtually any equine operation, regardless of size.
Ultrasonography for Horses
Equine practitioners use ultrasound machines to help diagnose a number of physical abnormalities.
Equine Lameness
Equine lameness, defined as a deviation from a normal gait, is an indicator of a structural or functional disorder of the musculoskeletal system (the limbs or spinal column) that is noted while the horse is either moving or stationary.
Equine Joint Injections
Equine joint injections can help veterinarians diagnose lameness or medicate a horse’s painful joint.
