Latest News – The Horse

“If a horse needs an amputation or he’s not going to live, that’s not much of a choice,” began Ric Redden, DVM, founder of the International Equine Podiatry Center and host of the 2003 Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium, in a presentation on Jan. 18. “Horses with catastrophic injury or disease of the lower limb are most often euthanized as there is irreversible vascular, soft tissue, and bone

Initially the 7-year-old mare was in excellent physical condition with no history of lameness, but became sore the evening of a reset with commonly used, very wide-web shoes. The farrier returned that evening to reset the shoes and lower the nail holes, and commented to the trainer that the previous holes might have been too high in the feet.

“It’s only a sinker when the hoof is on it–the hoof on a sinker can shut you down and kill the horse,” said Redden in his presentation “Treating High-Scale Laminitis With Wall Ablation and Transcortical Cast.” Redden is known for his aggressive, groundbreaking treatment of severe foot problems, and this presentation certainly was in character.

Following is an in-depth description of the steps taken to perform the digital venogram.  I encourage you to follow each of these steps to achieve consistent, informative venograms.

I. PREPARATION

• Work Area

1. Choose a safe, quiet area.
2. A

Becoming familiar with the range of normal venograms is difficult, but it is more difficult to become accustomed to artifacts that are induced by incorrect techniques. This presentation will attempt to discuss interpreting changes present on venograms. We will also review common findings of the pathologic foot.

Consistency in procedure is the key to quality venograms! Changes

“For seven years in a row, I’ve been voted the world’s worst shoer,” joked world-renowned clinician Pat Parelli at the 16th annual Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium Jan. 16-18 in Louisville, Ky., to begin a discussion on “Anvil Side Manner.”

“Why do you guys want to shoe horses, anyway?” Various attendees answered that they began horseshoeing because they couldn’t afford a shoer for their ow

Several regions of the United Kingdom have been fighting the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). At least 12 horses have been euthanized due to advanced neurologic deterioration resulting from infection. According to the British Horse Society (BHS), there are currently no horse movement restrictions imposed by the United Kingdom’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural

Each state has a veterinary practice act, which is a legal interpretation of what constitutes veterinary practice in that state on all species. For example, chiropractic or acupuncture might be considered veterinarian-only skills in some states, while in other states they can be performed by a skilled lay person under a licensed veterinarian’s direction.

The American Veterinary Medica

BATON ROUGE– The Companions of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine invite all horse enthusiasts to the fourth annual Kentucky Derby Party on Saturday, May 3, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Country Club of Louisiana.

Proceeds from the party will benefit expansion of the Equine Intensive Care Unit in the LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Clinics. The project will expand and update the

Stable hygiene is the first line of defense in keeping pests out of a barn. Another place to exercise good stable hygiene is in the feed room. The storage of feed can either deter or attract rodents and other critters that don’t belong in the barn.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that it has approved additional label claims for Zimecterin (ivermectin), adding several species and stages of small strongyles to the list of parasites controlled by the equine dewormer.

The announcement means that Zimecterin is now proven to control a total of 60 species and stages of equine parasites, 32 of which are in the

In the spring of 2001, hundreds of mares in Central Kentucky lost their pregnancies in peculiar abortions attributed to mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS). Since then, horse farm managers have gone back to square one in reviewing their pasture management practices.

One certain result is they have developed a greater awareness of what’s lurking in the grass. These farm managers hav

Kentucky’s Agriculture Commissioner Billy Ray Smith reminded farmers and
farm businesses to take extra care to prevent thefts of anhydrous ammonia
during the planting season.

Anhydrous ammonia is a common nitrogen fertilizer for crops. It also is a
target for thieves who use it to produce the street drug methamphetamine or
sell it on the black market. The number of

Now is the time for horse owners in Kentucky to consult with
their veterinarians about vaccinating their animals for West Nile virus (WNV),
Kentucky’s Agriculture Commissioner Billy Ray Smith said.

“West Nile virus was diagnosed in 513 equine and 75 humans in Kentucky last
year,” Smith said. “Kentuckians can take steps now to reduce
the risk of West Nile later in the year

On April 1, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it had published a new regulation that improves the requirements for reporting adverse events associated with approved animal drugs. The reforms reduce certain reporting burdens while assuring collection of the information required to maintain high standards for protecting the health of animals as well as the public health, accordin