Latest News – The Horse
Buddha’s Prognosis?
Kentucky Derby pre-race second choice Buddha was declared out of the race on Friday morning because of a sore left front foot.
Buddha worked on Thursday and cooled out sound. But on Friday morning when he was taken from his stall at 5
Veterinarians Discuss Current MRLS Concerns
The Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners (KAEP) met Wednesday evening, May 1, to discuss the current status of mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) in central Kentucky.
A few isolated cases consistent with a
Veterinarians On-Call at Derby
The American Association of Equine Practitioners created the On-Call program 11 years ago to assist media in understanding injuries and treatment of horses before, during, and after upper-echelon equine events. Most of the 70 events covered by On-Call veterinarians last year were Thoroughbred races, with some Standardbred and Quarter Horse events included.
This year’s AAEP On-Call
Investigating Poor Performance
For a horse to perform well as an athlete, all body systems must be in good working order. When one or more systems “breaks down,” the horse is no longer able to perform up to his potential, and the owner, rider, and trainer will likely notice a
Preliminary Results Released in MRLS Caterpillar Study
The University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture has released preliminary results from a collaborative project involving the departments of entomology, veterinary science and the livestock disease diagnostic center. Early results from this
Bacterial Corneal Ulcers in Horses
Quick attention to these infectious eye ulcers can save your horse’s sight.
Wobbler Syndrome Signs and Diagnosis
A veterinarian can say several things that will chill every horse owner’s heart, including colic, laminitis, navicular disease, and wobbler syndrome. These cause fear because of the unknown–and often unfavorable–outcome for your horse. But as
Don’t You Stick Your Tongue Out at Me!
My 5-year-old Thoroughbred mare sticks her tongue out when I ride her, especially when asked to accept the bit
Bute Toxicity in Neonates
Q: My wife and I were told that giving Bute (phenylbutazone) to a mare in foal can cause heart defects in the foal, similar to aspirin taken by women in early pregnancy. Is there any connection?
A: Signs of phenylbutazone toxicity in foals whose…
Flushing Solution?
What type of solution is used to flush the tube after inseminating a mare and is it necessary?
Is He Sore, or Misbehaving?
Over the last few months, my horse has changed from a steady, reliable, and willing friend to a miserable grouch. He’s an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding that I have owned and used just for pleasure since he was seven years old, and I knew
Safeguarding Lower Limbs
Since bubble wrapping a horse isn’t an option, owners use boots and wraps to try to avoid lower limb injuries.
Ridding Sand From the Diet
In specific regions of the United States, one of the most commonly encountered forms of colic is “sand colic.” This is not solely a problem in geographic areas with obviously sandy environments. Anywhere there is sand, decomposed granite, or
Treat Hoof Punctures Early
It seems like such a mild problem, a nail or splinter in the tough hoof. The solution also seems simple–take the object out, clean the foot up, give the horse some time off, and everything will be all right. For superficial hoof wounds, that’s
Supplement Loss?
There are some regulatory rumblings that could change the way all of us feed and take care of our horses every day, whether you are a horse owner or a veterinarian. Many nutritional supplements are sold illegally. “What?” you might say. “How can
Acupuncture and Microdose Prostaglandin in the Mare
Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PG) is used to shorten a mare’s cycle and hasten ovulation for breeding. Unfortunately, the standard PG dose (5 mg) also causes undesirable side effects, including sweating, trembling, increased heart rate, and
