Latest News – The Horse
AAEP Convention: Nutrition
A lot has happened in the field of equine nutrition research in the last five years.
Botulism in Foals: A Survivable Disease
Botulism in foals less than six months of age is readily treated, with a survival rate of more than 95% in appropriately treated foals. Treatment can include nursing care, intravenous fluid support, nasogastric or nasoesophageal tube feeding, broad-spectrum antimicrobials, oxygen therapy, and the administration of botulism antitoxin.
AAEP Convention: Peripheral Cushing’s
Peripheral Cushing’s syndrome (PCS) is a recently named problem seen in middle-aged horses and ponies with obesity-associated laminitis. These horses tend to accumulate fat in the crest of the neck, over the rump, and in the sheath of males. It was first proposed that classic Cushing’s disease–a pituitary gland disorder that leads to excessive cortisol levels in the blood–was causing the
AAEP Convention: Reproduction
The reproduction session was something of an A to Z seminar. It started with discussions on endometrial echotexture (ultrasound results) and using computer analysis to determine when a mare will ovulate, or has ovulated, and along the way included a French researcher describing how to turn an unbred mare which has previously given birth into a nurse mare capable of producing enough milk to
Equine Emergency Rescue
Many of us have seen the daring and exciting rescues of horses shown on television–such as rescuing a horse hanging from a bridge, or one trapped in a river. Then there’s the famous scene of a horse being rescued by helicopter. However, many of these rescues cause further injury or death of the horse.
AAEP Convention: Respiratory Problems
INFLUENZA
“Diseases like flu and herpesvirus are always going to be problems for horse owners, and they are not going away,” said Tom Chambers, PhD, of the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center. “The secret to effective vaccines for flu is effective surveillance,” which allows researchers and vaccine manufactures to stay abreast of
When Your Horse’s Muscles Ache
Equine muscle injuries are often elusive, leading to frustration for the rider and a challenging diagnosis for the veterinarian. Since muscle injury can accompany and/or mimic skeletal problems, tendon or ligament injury, or neurological disease,
Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital Management of Horses from University of Findlay EHV-1 Outbreak
Admission: Six horses were referred from the University of Findlay for emergency treatment. All horses had signs of neurological disease. One horse was dead on arrival on 19 January 03; this horse went directly to necropsy and was never admitted to the Hospital. Four horses were admitted 18-19 Jan 03. One horse was admitted 28 January 03. All horses were segregated in the old part of
Equine Herpesvirus 1: Pathophysiology and Commonly Asked Questions
The following information was posted on The Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s web site Feb. 26. The author, Catherine W. Kohn, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM, is professor of equine medicine and surgery at OSU.
Typical Clinical Signs of EHV-1 Infection
Upper respiratory infection is the most common manifestation of EHV-1 infection. Commonly
AAEP Convention: Milne Lecture–Bucked Shins
The Milne Lecture at the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention is also known as the State of the Art Lecture because each Milne Lecture, regardless of topic, is selected for its groundbreaking qualities and potential to change the paradigms by which veterinarians and researchers understand that topic in the horse. This year’s Milne Lecture (which is named for Frank J.
Bone and Fracture Treatment in Horses
Bone does not heal, incorporating the scar tissue as seen in most all other tissues–it regenerates itself. It changes its shape and structure based on its use, and if broken can resume 100% of its former strength and function.
Possible Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 Cases in Iowa
At least two Iowa horses have been euthanized after battling what officials believe might be the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). According to Iowa State Veterinarian John Schiltz, DVM, officials know of only one premise possibly affected by the virus, where these two horses lived. “Some of the preliminary tests have come back negative, but the definitive testing is
Colorado State Researchers Developing New Test for Strangles
Equine researchers at Colorado State University’s James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital are developing a faster and simpler test to determine a horse’s exposure level to strangles. Currently, tests exist only for horses with active signs of disease.
The test method is an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) test, which would provide veterinarians with a tool to quickly
Equine Herpes Virus Type 1 Cases at Pennsylvania Racetrack Keeping Officials Cautious
A restriction on horses shipping between Philadelphia Park Racetrack and Penn National Race Course due to three horses testing positive for equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) at Penn National might be lifted early next week, officials for both Pennsylvania racetracks said Wednesday.
“Although three horses from trainer Bob Wolfe did test positive, we had some good news
West Nile Virus Found in Overwintering Mosquito in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Lehigh County West Nile virus (WNV) personnel detected WNV in a Catasaqua Borough mosquito pool.
The West Nile virus workers were collecting samples to determine the status of the virus in overwintering mosquitoes. Officials emphasized that this species of mosquito, Culex pipiens, is not active this time of year, and poses no
New Jersey Horse Recovers from Frozen Pond
A 2,000-pound Belgian gelding named Janyck (pronounced Yanick) has nearly recovered after a dramatic rescue from a frozen pond on Feb. 13. The 18-hand, 7-year-old’s misadventure took place in Woolwich Township, N.J. The rescue effort included the local fire department, neighbors, owner Alison Gieschen, Ernie Beier, DMV, and numerous volunteers.
Beier said, “It took two tow trucks and