Latest News – The Horse

If you’ve been around horses, particularly performance horses, for even a short while, you’ve probably met someone who’s had a horse’s joints injected. The procedure–which involves injecting medication directly into the joint to combat such problems

A diagnosis of sacroiliac joint (SI) pain tends to be one of exclusion, after other causes of hind limb lameness have been ruled out. To simplify the diagnostic process, researchers in the United Kingdom conducted a study involving 74 horses suspected of having SI pain. The objective was to use both nuclear bone scan (scintigraphy) and a local anesthetic block to positively identify abnormal

When a weanling on a North Carolina breeding farm was diagnosed with larval cyathostominosis, Dianne Little, BVSc, MRCVS, equine surgery resident and PhD candidate in the Department of Clinical Sciences in North Carolina State University’s (NCSU) College of Veterinary Medicine, was suspicious of anthelmintic resistance. Parasites resistant to dewormers and associated diseases, such as larval

Is there an uglier word in medicine than “cancer?” This is true in human and veterinary medicine. Many of us view cancer as invasive, debilitating, and fatal. But those who know horses know that while cancer occurs in equids, most of these cancers are sarcoids and melanomas–cancers that are generally benign, but should receive attention from a veterinarian to ensure they aren’t a danger to

They come in various colors and sizes. Some weigh 50 pounds, others a pound or less. But how do we know which salt and/or mineral block to place before our animals? Should we offer all of them and let the horses choose? Can a horse actually get enough salt and minerals from a rock-hard block to meet his needs? Shouldn’t we simply buy feed that already contains the necessary ingredients for a

Horses often get banged and bruised by running into things, being kicked by another horse, falling down when running and bucking, etc. It’s not unusual to suddenly discover your horse has a large, soft lump on some part of his body. The most common areas are the hindquarters, chest, or along the ribs. The skin might not be damaged, but the injured tissues underneath can bleed or ooze serum,

More than a half-century ago, noted science fiction author Isaac Asimov began his acclaimed series of Robot novels, examining increasingly complex interactions between humans and robots in a future world. Asimov’s underlying premise for the books was that robots had advanced sufficiently to become sentient beings. Questions raised by this development include whether robots should be

Horses with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) need careful dietary management to reduce or eliminate its characteristic muscle dysfunction attacks.

Whether you realize it or not, and most likely you don’t, administrative bodies of one type or another affect nearly every aspect of your horse activity. On the public side, for example, state departments of transportation license your farm truck and trailer, local zoning boards dictate whether you can keep horses on your property, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration establishes

Referral centers are godsends to the equine community. Often housed in state-of-the-art buildings, featuring the latest in scientific technology and equipment, and manned by specialists, referral centers offer a strong ray of hope when the best efforts by veterinarians in the field just aren’t enough. There is a down side, of course: They can be expensive. Owners and operators of referral

We have been struggling with a very particular behavior problem with a young colt. From birth, he’s been a strong and athletic rascal, and has been “full of himself,” with the usual colt behavior tendencies. We have dealt successfully with all the nippiness and rearing when leading him and turning him out, etc. He has occasional relapses, but we feel confident that he’s under control as far a

My horse has septic osteitis, and I don’t think my vet has had much experience in this and feels that surgery would be detrimental. I’d like to talk to someone with more experience for more information.

A friend swears that I put my horses at serious risk by mowing my pasture with a rotary finish mower. Is this true?

As the National Governing Body for equestrian sport, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF, formerly U.S.A. Equestrian) takes seriously the importance of providing a fair and level playing field for all competitors. This mission is a large and important one. Administering the rules and regulations requires not only the work of the Federation’s employees, but it also requires assistanc

Referral centers are those clinics or hospitals that offer diagnostic and therapeutic options not readily available or possible in a field (barn) type situation. These can include diagnostic modalities such as endoscopy with or without a treadmill, ultrasound, scintigraphy, and radiography, just to name a few. Referral centers can also offer a wide range of surgical care–on an elective or