Latest News – The Horse
Equine Salmonellosis in the United States and Kentucky
Salmonella spp. cause a multitude of diseases in horses, including diarrhea, abscesses, septicemia, and other ailments. Over 2,200 serotypes of salmonellae are known and can be identified at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories
Equine Cases of West Nile Virus Illness in 2002: Jan. 1-Sept. 29
The total number of equine cases of illness caused by West Nile virus confirmed at the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories or reported by state officials so far this year is 7,462. That is an increase of 1,239 cases
Airway Health
Many trainers judge the health of their horses’ airways by listening to the sounds the animals make while they are exercising. Airway Dynamics of Midway, Ky., is doing the same thing more scientifically by using high-tech equipment. Veterinarian David Lambert and Robert West Jr., who operates Millford Farm, own the company.
Airway Dynamics demonstrated its information-gathering
Fall Deworming
Fall is approaching rapidly and brings with it such predictable events as raking leaves, Thanksgiving dinner, and weekend football. Autumn also heralds changes in parasite activity that are equally predictable. However, just as the environmental
West Nile Virus Alert!
by Kimberly S. Herbert and Stephanie L. Church
West Nile virus is a dangerous and scary disease, and it is spreading across North America very quickly. However, this is one of the few times when horses have it better than humans when it
Halternatives
The past 15 years, various techniques have resulted in a type of Arabian “halter” presentation that poses the horse in a now-familiar stance. What is missing in this presentation? To me it’s the evidence of trust, affection, and mutual esteem
Carnivorous Horses
While taking questions from the audience at a one-day behavior program in New Zealand this May, a well-respected horse owner and trainer described behavior she had recently witnessed in a horse involving a scenario I had never heard or thought
Bedding Benefits and Risks
Most horse owners take great pride in providing their horses with clean, nice-looking stalls; some of us might even throw in that extra bit of bedding for added comfort. But could we be unknowingly harming our horses more than helping them? Let’
Feed for Speed
Few dispute that nutrition is important for athletic performance in racehorses. However, I’d wager that there is much less agreement among horse owners, nutritionists, and veterinarians when asked to expound upon the “nitty gritty” of what works
Cardiovascular Changes With Moldy Corn Poisoning
Fumonisins are toxic byproducts of the fungus Fusarium verticilloides, which often grows on corn. These mycotoxins can cause leukoencephalomalacia (moldy corn poisoning) in horses, and are undetectable to the naked eye. Horses exposed to
Clostridium in Mares and Foals
Newborn foals are especially susceptible to gastrointestinal diseases such as clostridial enterocolitis, which is characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, toxemia, shock, or death without prior signs. While this disease occurs only
Hoof Dressings: What Studies Show
Hoof dressings aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be–at least not in the opinions of some experts. Ilka P. Wagner, DVM, owner of Equine Veterinary Services (Texas), and Susan Kempson, BSc, PhD, senior lecturer in Preclinical Veterinary
Diagnosing Breathing Problems
Many of you are familiar with the respiratory condition known as “heaves,” also termed recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Primarily caused by chronic exposure to dusts and molds in hay and bedding, heaves can cripple the function of a horse’s
You Should Be Afraid, But…
West Nile virus is here to stay. Just like its cousins Eastern and Western equine encephalitis, it can be controlled, but only with diligence and hard work. West Nile virus (WNV) is deadly in about 40% of the horses which get the disease. It
Finding a Suitable Cooled Semen Facility
I’m considering using shipped cooled semen for my mare. How do I find a qualified facility?
Probiotics and Yeast Cultures
What is the best formulation of probiotics and yeast in the equine diet? Which bacteria are beneficial?
