Latest News – The Horse
Uterine Lavage Before Insemination Not Harmful to Fertility
Uterine lavage can be performed immediately prior to artificial insemination in mares without adversely affecting fertility, according to a recent study completed at the University of Idaho (UI) in Moscow, Idaho. The uterine lavage process is used to clear the uterus of inflammatory fluids that could decrease the viability of semen in mares.
Researchers already knew that uterine lavage
Uniform Drug Policy Years Away
A standardized medication and testing policy for Thoroughbred racing in the United States is three to five years away, said Rick Arthur, DVM, vice president and director of the Oak Tree Racing Association and a member of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. He said this during an April 1 California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) Medication Committee meeting. Arthur said he is encouraged b
FDA Approves New Equine Dewormer
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a new, broad-spectrum parasite control product from Merial that will treat and control 61 species and stages of equine parasites, including tapeworms.
Zimecterin Gold combines two active ingredients, ivermectin and praziquantel, to provide a broad spectrum of parasite control. Praziquantel is proven to have a wide margin of safety
Equine Influenza Spreads in the U.K.
Equine influenza has spread to nearly 20 premises–mostly Thoroughbred training stables–in the eastern, central, and southern parts of the United Kingdom. “The reason (it’s unusual) is because despite the fact that horses have been very well vaccinated and have very high antibody levels, they are still becoming infected,” according to James Wood, BSc, BVetMed, MSc, PhD, MRCVS, DLSHTM, Dipl.
African Horse Sickness Outbreak Kills 300 Horses in South Africa
An outbreak of African horse sickness (AHS) detected in late March in South Africa has killed 300 horses, according to a Pro-MED report. African horse sickness is a lethal virus spread by the Culicoides bolitinos midge, a species of small fly. Although AHS is endemic to all parts of Africa (except the Western Cape), rain has increased the midge population.
The outbreak began in th
EHV Outbreak in England Unusual; Some Cases Could be EHV-4
“It’s very unusual to get EHV-1 outbreaks all at the same time on different premises,” said James Wood, BSc, BVetMed, MSc, PhD, MRCVS, DLSHTM, Dipl. ECVPH, head of epidemiology at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) in the United Kingdom, about the recent flare-up of neurologic equine herpesvirus-1 cases in his country. At least 12 U.K. horses have been euthanized after infection with the
New Advisory Board Members Appointed
A new board will serve in an advisory capacity to The Horse magazine. Each of these American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) members is volunteering to mentor the publication by answering questions and helping us understand topics of importance to horse owners. Each person brings a wealth of knowledge and years of service to the industry. We will maintain our previous group
FDA Approves New Equine Dewormer With Additional Label Claims
The Food and Drug Administration recently announced that it has approved additional label claims for Zimecterin (ivermectin), adding several species and stages of small strongyles to the list of parasites controlled by the equine dewormer. The announcement means that Zimecterin has been proven to control 60 species and stages of equine parasites, 32 of which are in the small strongyle group.
A Shot in the Dark
Author’s note: This article is intended to improve your understanding of drugs commonly used in equine veterinary care; it is not a “treatment guide” for the lay person. No medication or combination thereof should be given without veterinary consultation. Medications given in the wrong circumstance, via the wrong route, and/or in the wrong combination can hurt or kill. The administration o
Drugs and Competition
The use of drugs in the competition horse carries with it some extra concerns and responsibilities. Many of the major issues related to drug use in the performance horse involve the treatment of lameness. It is imperative that the moral and ethical line between treating minor pains and more serious injuries be quite clear. Many of the anti-inflammatory drugs can have extremely powerful effect
No More Hitchhikers
Internal parasites are insidious culprits. They steal, damage, and even kill. The worst part of the whole scenario is that they can’t be totally eliminated, only controlled. In the theft department, internal parasites rob in two ways: First, they steal nutrients from the horse’s body; second, they take money from the owner’s pocket in the form of lost food value. Adding to the problem is the
The World’s First Equine Clone
The landscape of equine reproduction research dramatically changed yesterday (May 29) when a University of Idaho (UI) and Utah State University team announced they were the first to clone a member of the equine family–the mule–according to an article to be published in the journal Science. The research team includes Gordon Woods, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACT, UI professor of animal and
Idaho, Utah Researchers Successfully Clone Mule
A University of Idaho–Utah State University research team is the first worldwide to clone a member of the horse family, a mule, according to an article to be published in the journal Science.
The research team includes Gordon Woods, UI professor of animal and veterinary science, Kenneth L. White, Utah State University professor of animal science, and Dirk Vanderwall, UI
Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003
From the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association
Before adjourning for the Memorial Day recess, the United States Congress passed the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. President George Bush will sign this legislation, which includes a number of provisions that will benefit the horse industry.
The $350 billion tax cut bill
University of Kentucky Pasture Monitoring Interim Report–Comparison of 2002 and 2003
The University of Kentucky mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) pasture monitoring program has been evaluating certain pasture parameters weekly since March 1, 2003. A comparison of 2002 and 2003 values for some pasture parameters and a brief interpretation follows.
First 2003 Kentucky Equine WNV Case Confirmed
Kentucky has its first confirmed case of West Nile virus (WNV) in an equine for 2003, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health reported on Thursday.
The 20-year-old pleasure horse is located in Madison County, said Rusty Ford, the Department’s equine programs manager. The horse is recovering and the prognosis is good.
“West Nile is here to
