Latest News – The Horse

The battle against the paralyzing disease that hit the English riding facility at the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio was lost for 10 horses, but is still being waged for the 22 others which have been affected neurologically (see article #4079 at www.TheHorse.com). C. Michael Kerns, DVM, Director of University Equine Veterinary Services at the

At least 10 horses have died or have been euthanized at the University of Findlay (UF) in Findlay, Ohio, after battling a respiratory and neurologic illness. Preliminary polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests completed on tissue samples from affected horses by the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory this morning came back as “presumptive positive” for

A rule change designed to reduce incidence of corticosteroid abuse in equine athletes was among several topics discussed in the Veterinary and Equine Drugs and Medications (D&M) committee meetings and D&M Open Forum Jan. 16-17 at the 2003 USA Equestrian (USAE) Convention in Lexington, Ky. Veterinarians, competitors, and industry officials on these committees convened to vote on rules

If your horse is tossing his head or hanging his tongue out while being ridden, going “behind the vertical,” or bearing into the bit, then bone spurs might be the reason. Bone spurs are inflammations of the membrane of fibrous connective tissue that covers the mandible. They usually occur between the corner incisor and second premolar (interdental space) of the lower jaw. The majority of thes

Botulism is one of the most deadly toxins known to man or beast. During the Persian Gulf War, it was confirmed that Saddam Hussein had imported 39 tons of media capable of growing botulism and anthrax, and it was also learned that Hussein’s nephew had bought a sprayer dryer capable of preserving such organisms. When a terrorist cult in Japan was infiltrated about that time, they were also

The following release was posted on the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) web site.

During the AAFCO Annual Meeting in August 2002, the Enforcement Strategy for Marketed Ingredients (ESMI) Working Group announced the target ingredient recommended for a future regulatory enforcement event. The target ingredient, comfrey, has been shown to be a health and

Easley discussed how open-mouth radiographs can be invaluable tools for the equine practitioner in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of dental abnormalities. He believes that radiology has not been used enough in the field by practitioners.

Leading Kentucky equine industry groups recently brought together 31 veterinarians and scientists for a “Think Tank” meeting to further the industry’s knowledge about preventing future occurrences of mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS).

At the end of the intensive one-day meeting held in Lexington Jan. 10, the group concluded that a priority for ongoing and future research should

Thomas R. Lenz, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT, has been installed as the 49th president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the world’s largest association of equine veterinarians.  Lenz took office Dec. 7, 2002, during the AAEP’s recent annual convention in Orlando, Fla.

During his 27-year veterinary career, Lenz has worked in private practice, academia, and

Dayton O. Hyde, founder of a South Dakota wild-horse sanctuary, is the 2002 recipient of the American Association of Equine Practitioners� (AAEP) equine welfare award, the Lavin Cup. Named for AAEP past president A. Gary Lavin, VMD, the award is presented annually to a non-veterinary individual or organization that has demonstrated exceptional compassion or developed and enforced rules and

Over 5,200 veterinary professionals, guests and exhibitors attended the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) 48th Annual Convention in Orlando, Fla., setting a new attendance record for the meeting. The convention, held Dec. 4-8, 2002, featured nearly 100 scientific presentations, a sold-out trade show and an equine health seminar for horse owners.

“Dr. Tom Lenz and th

 “Why should we be concerned about EPM (equine protozoal myeloencephalitis)?” asked William J.A. Saville, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, PhD, of The Ohio State University (OSU) at the 2002 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) convention. “Because it is still an important equine disease, although we have a low incidence of the disease, and regardless of therapies available to treat EPM,

Be My Royal, winner of the one the biggest races of the National Hunt season to date, faces disqualification in connection with a rash of positive drug tests for traces of morphine in British and Irish races due to contaminated feed.

The situation has brought a call for threshold levels for morphine and other substances that may occur through environmental

Enterocolitis (inflammation of the small intestine and colon) caused by the bacteriums Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens is a common problem for both adult horses and foals.

Equine veterinarians at Colorado State University’s James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital are currently involved in three research projects to analyze the statistics from 2002’s outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) in two Western states.

One study will assess the long-term status of horses that had the virus. With the help of several second year veterinary students and the