Latest News – The Horse
Neonatal Ultrasonography
Using ultrasound to diagnose problems in the horse is not a new concept, but it is not as often used in foals as it is in mares. Rob Franklin, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, of the Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital in Victoria, Australia, discussed ultrasonography of the neonatal foal at the Western Veterinary Conference, held February 15-19 in Las Vegas, Nev.
“You can do quite a bit more with
European Buyers Face New Tax on U.S. Imports
European horse buyers may be subject to an excise tax of at least 5% on horses they purchase and bring home from the United States as a result of trade sanctions imposed against the U.S. on March 1 by the European Union (EU).
Horses are included in the list of imported products being taxed, though breeding stock and horses destined for immediate slaughter are exempt. No specifics wer
Belgian Hit, Killed by Car in Massachusetts
A driver sustained serious injuries when his car struck a 2,000-pound Belgian horse in Westport, Mass., on March 6, according to an article in the online edition of The Herald News, which is based in Fall River, Mass.
“The (32-year-old) operator was identified by police as David Costa,” said the article. “Police said the horse had escaped from its corral. After Costa’s gray Ford Escor
Help Needed for Stallion Infertility Research
Bhanu P. Chowdhary, BVSc, AH, MVSc, PhD, associate professor in Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine, is trying to find molecular causes of stallion infertility and reduced fertility.
Chowdhary said, “Our research focuses specifically on genes located on the Y chromosome of the horse. In humans it has been clearly shown that of the around 7% infertile males, at least a
“Pearls of Wisdom” from the Palm Beach Laminitis Symposium
The key points presented by each speaker during the Second International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot, Nov. 10-11, 2003, were sent to conference attendees by James A. Orsini, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, course director, and follow for your benefit:
Gordon Brumbaugh, DVM, PhD
Complementary/Alternative Techniques for Pain
AQHA Statement on HC/HERDA
The American Quarter Horse Association’s (AQHA) statement regarding hyperelastosis cutis (HC) or hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA):
1. AQHA is aware of the condition known as hereditary equine regional
Equine Grass Sickness Linked to Clostridium Botulinum
A new study completed at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom and funded by The Home of Rest For Horses has revealed that grass sickness is strongly associated with low antibody levels to the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The findings might lead to routine vaccination against the bacterium in U.K. horses.
Grass sickness was first identified around 100 years
In the Wings Relieved of Stallion Duty Because of Laminitis
Darley stallion In the Wings, who won the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. I) and was a champion in France, was diagnosed with laminitis the past weekend and has been relieved temporarily from stallion duty. The 18-year-old son of Sadler’s Wells covered 15 mares at Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland, prior to the diagnosis.
“In the Wings is a terrific patient and appears to be
Young Stallion Booklet Dies of Colic
Thoroughbred Grade I winner Booklet, who entered stud this year at the Greathouse family’s Glencrest Farm near Midway, Ky., was euthanized the morning of March 4 because of complications from colic at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee Associates veterinary clinic near Lexington.
“We discovered it this morning, and immediately sent him to Hagyard,” said Allen Greathouse. “During the surgery, the
Paints Ride into Hearts of Leading Hollywood Actor and Screenwriter
In Walt Disney Pictures’ latest adventure movie, Hidalgo, a special relationship develops between a rider and his horse. The story unfolds with a colorful horse, once considered to be unworthy of competition against other breeds, which
Internationally Recognized Veterinarians Join Team at Pfizer Animal Health
Robert E. Holland, Jr., DVM, PhD has joined Pfizer Animal Health’s Equine division as Senior Technical Service Veterinarian. Pfizer has also recently added renowned practitioner Jay Donecker, VMD, MS, Dipl. ABVP, to its equine veterinary staff a
Merial’s Jack Chellew Receives SRF’s Burke Humanity Award
Jack Chellew of Merial Pharmaceuticals is the recipient of the second annual Standardbred Retirement Foundation’s Burke Humanity Award. Chellew is Senior Sales Representative in the Equine Group for Merial Pharmaceuticals and has been with Meria
Deadly African Horse Sickness Outbreak in Africa
Six horses in the Western Cape, Africa, succumbed to an outbreak of African horse sickness (AHS) during the week of Feb. 23, according to several news reports. The affected horses were from the Stellenbosch area, reported www.sabcnews.com.
The first cases occurred at the Elsenburg Agricultural College, and another case was discovered 16 km from
Spaying Mares With Newer, Safer Methods
Spaying a mare (ovariectomy) means removing her ovaries so she no longer comes into heat and has a more mellow attitude, like a gelding. An ovariectomy can be done standing (under sedation and local anesthesia) through a flank approach or a vaginal approach.
An infrequent complication associated with the old method of spaying (using a very old surgical instrument, a chain escraseur) is
Neurologic Conditions, In-Depth
Assessing neurologic conditions might seem difficult, but with practice and attention to the subtle differences between different conditions’ deficits, the process can become easier. Additionally, practitioners discussed vaccination and treatment options for the different diseases.
Vaccines–Comparative Efficacy
Several researchers have been working the past few years to determine if any U.S.-registered equine vaccine had advantages over others. It turns out that the serologic responses to–and protection given by–these vaccines varies significantly.
