Latest News – The Horse
Federal Funds to Support Animal Health and Disease Research
According to an Associated Press story on bloodhorse.com, The University of Kentucky (UK) will receive $11.36 million in funding in the current federal budget, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said Monday. Some of the funds will be spent on research into animal health and diseases, such as mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS).
Of the
Ice, Snow, Cold Hit Horse Country Hard
From Kentucky up through New York, the recent winter storm’s ice and snow has caused major problems for horse owners and those in the horse business. In Kentucky, an inch or more of ice coated every surface starting Feb. 16, causing power lines to sag onto roads and fields, trees to split and drop limbs, and streets to become impassible. There was flooding in other parts of the state.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (AAEP 2002)
Scott McClure, DVM, PhD, of Iowa State, reported on the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on suspensory ligament desmitis. He noted that ESWT is being used for the treatment of equine musculoskeletal diseases.
Equine Heart Murmurs (AAEP 2002)
Despite the high incidence of murmurs in racehorses, they are very hard to diagnose. Heart murmurs are usually low-frequency sounds at the lower limit of human hearing which are difficult for the human voice to reproduce accurately.
Ice Storm Disrupts Veterinary Services in Kentucky
Despite the disaster of ice, snow, and cold weather, all three of the major veterinary clinics in Central Kentucky are up and running, although Hagyard-Davidson-McGee is on emergency power. Dr. Doug Byars, head of the medicine clinic at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee in Lexington, said generators are keeping services going for the horses, but surgery is on an emergency basis for the moment.
Sallee On the Road, Barely
Robert Maxwell, owner of Sallee Van company in Lexington, said generators are keeping the phones, lights, and a little heat on in the office, but downed trees are keeping larger trucks in the parking lot.
“We can’t get the big trucks off the lot because of trees down everywhere around the office, said Maxwell, but we have some of the smaller vans out. We’re parking them at the Ryder
Horses At Risk For Ulcers
Horses moving faster than a walk could be at greater risk of developing gastric ulcers. Alfred Merritt, DVM, MS, and Mireia Lorenzo-Figueras, DVM, recently discovered that changes in gastric tension during intense exercise can push acidic stomach contents up into the vulnerable, squamous-cell-lined portion of the stomach–a circumstance that hints at why ulcers often develop or worsen when
OSU Equine Hospital Temporarily Closes for Cleaning and Disinfection; Three Horses Showed Neurologic Signs
The Equine Hospital at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine has closed its doors to non-emergency horse admissions until Feb. 20, 2003. This action has been taken to allow disinfection of the hospital because of potential contamination by horses admitted January 18, 19, and 24, 2003 from an outbreak of equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1) infection that occurred at the
Gulfstream Park Suspends Privileges For Veterinarian Patrick
Leonard Patrick, the primary veterinarian used by owner Mike Gill and trainer Mark Shuman, had his privileges suspended by Gulfstream Park on Wednesday for improper storage of Class 3 and Class 4 narcotic medication.
The irregularities were noted during a search of Patrick’s vehicle on Monday, one week after the leg of Gill’s Casual Conflict was amputated following the horse’s
Legislation Reintroduced to Ban Horse Slaughter
U.S. Representative John Sweeney (R-NY), chairman of the Congressional Horse Caucus, and U.S.Representative John Spratt (D-SC) reintroduced the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act on Thursday. The bill would ban the trade in horsemeat and live horses for human consumption.An identical version of this bill will soon be introduced in the Senate.
This is a developing story, pleas
“Fact Book” Details Effects of MRLS in Kentucky, Other Industry Numbers
The number of mares bred in Kentucky in 2002–the year after mare reproductive loss syndrome first hit–fell by 3.4% from 2001, but the state’s broodmare population remains 33% higher than it was a decade earlier, according to figures released by The Jockey Club and contained in its annual “Fact Book” available online at jockeyclub.com
Mare reproductive loss syndrome reduced the 2001
AAEP 2002: OIE Flu Surveillance
“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.” This surveillance allows researchers and vaccine manufacturers to stay abreast of which strains are causing
Comfrey Enforcement Event to Begin March 3
The Association of American Feed Control Officials, Inc. (AAFCO) has recommended a nationwide enforcement event for comfrey in animal feeds to begin on March 3, 2003. At the AAFCO Annual Meeting in August 2002, AAFCO announced that comfrey, determined to be a health and safety concern in animals, is recommended for removal from all animal feeds.
This AAFCO-recommended enforcement
Diagnosis and Treatment of Rhabdomyolysis in Foals
We hear a lot about a horse experiencing rhabdomyolysis (tying-up) during or after exercise. However, foals are also susceptible to muscle damage. Stephanie Valberg, DVM, PhD, of the University of Minnesota, presented “A Review of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Rhabdomyolysis in Foals” at the 2002 American Association of Equine Practitioner’s Convention. She began her presentation with a
Failure of Serologic Tests to Detect Rhodococcus equi Foal Pneumonia
In the past, some veterinarians have relied on commercially available serologic tests to establish, confirm, or rule out a diagnosis of foal pneumonia caused by the soil-borne bacteria Rhodococcus equi. A recent study at Texas A&M University has proven that these tests are not a reliable indicator of the disease.
AAEP 2002: Botulism in Foals: A Survivable Disease
Historically, botulism has usually been seen as a fatal problem for the young foal. However, Pamela Wilkins, DVM, PhD, of the Graham French Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, said that she has had a positive experience in treating affected foals. In her AAEP Convention presentation “Botulism in Foals: A Survivable Disease,” she said that
