Latest News – The Horse
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
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
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
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
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’
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
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
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
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
Vaccine Licensing
Any company trying to put a new vaccine on the market must follow a specific process to obtain a license from the USDA before the product can be used in the horse population. A vaccine receives either a conditional or full license after a series
Fairplex to Rescue for Equine Fire Evacuees
As wildfires raged in nearby canyons, Fairplex Park in Pomona, Calif., became an emergency evacuation center for 90 horses forced from their homes.
At the request of the Los Angeles Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Fairplex
Numbers Fall For Keeneland November Sale; MRLS Blamed
Keeneland will catalog 3,597 lots for the November breeding stock sale in Lexington, Ky. The number is down by 12.6% from last year’s figure of 4,119. Tom Thornbury, Keeneland’s associate director of sales, identified the effects of mare
First West Virginia Equine WNV Cases Detected
Three equine cases of West Nile virus (WNV) have been confirmed in West Virginia, according to state veterinarian Lew Thomas, DVM. The cases were detected over the last three weeks, and WNV was confirmed in each horse by the USDA National
Comfrey Targeted for Enforcement Action
The Enforcement Strategy for Marketed Ingredients (ESMI) Working Group of the Association of Animal Feed Control Officers (AAFCO) cited an increasing number of unapproved or undefined ingredients appearing in animal feed and pet food as well as
Merial Acquires Flair Nasal Strips
Merial, the company which makes Gastrogard (omeprazole), Eqvalan (ivermectin) and Zimectrin (ivermectin) has expanded its equine product portfolio to include Flair Equine Nasal Strips, which were formerly developed and manufactured by CNS, Inc. A Flair nasal strip is a disposable, adhesive device that is placed above the horse’s nostrils, and promotes respiratory health and performance by
Equine Cases of West Nile Virus Illness in 2002: Jan. 1-Sept. 22
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 6,223. That is an increase of 843 cases since Sept. 17. Th
