Clinically normal horses can shed Salmonella bacteria, especially when stressed. Reports on the percentage of horses shedding Salmonella have ranged from 1.5% to 64.5%, depending on whether the horse was hospitalized (higher numbers). Since stress can cause shedding, transport to the hospital–on top of the ailment requiring hospitalization–often means a high Salmonella
A cryptorchid, also called a ridgling, is a male horse in which one or both testicles do not descend into the scrotum. In the developing fetus, the testicles are formed within the abdomen. As the fetus nears term, the inguinal rings and inguinal
On May 8, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky, sent out letters to area clients, farm managers, and veterinarians notifying them that an increased number of salmonella cases had been detected at the clinic this year, and explaining the methods staff were using to eliminate the Salmonella organisms and safeguard the health of patients. According to several area
Vesicular stomatitis (VS), a disease with international implications for animal movement because symptoms mimic those of foot and mouth disease (FMD), was confirmed May 19 in western Texas. Kentucky was the first state to respond–officials
Midnight has come and gone by the time the Central Kentucky horseman pulls into the stableyard and unloads the young black mare. Both are bone-weary after a 15-hour trip home from the trainer’s stable. The man leans on the fence, watching the
When the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad begin with characteristic fanfare Aug. 13 in Athens–the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games–approximately 10,500 of the world’s greatest athletes will convene to match skills and wits in 28 sports.
Wanted: Caring owner for a willing horse. Former training in running fast and turning left. Recent training in whoa, relax, turn, yield to leg, going slower, and trusting humans. Willing to do most any kind of work, from trail riding to jumping.
“A prize in every box.” While that phrase refers to the little toy one finds in a box of Cracker Jacks, adopting a former racehorse is not so different: You’re not quite sure what you’ll get, but often the experience is fun and the horse can be a treasure for years to come. For the most part, ex-racehorses are well-trained, intelligent horses which, in the right hands, successfully move on to
There may be no branch of equine veterinary medicine that is advancing as quickly as equine dentistry. As recently as a decade ago, it was still considered adequate to feel along the sides of a horse’s first upper cheek teeth and decide, based on sharpness alone, whether that horse needed a “float.” If treatment was deemed necessary, it consisted of a speedy rasping along the outsides of the
Since its founding more than 20 years ago, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) has been proud of its many accomplishments, from each horse that it has saved to each new farm or facility it has opened, to every time it has helped spread the message that there is a far better way of dealing with unwanted former racehorses than sending them off to a slaughterhouse. The TRF, it has been
I’m desperate to find some way to prevent my 20-year-old Thoroughbred mare from cutting her elbow on her egg-bar shoe when lying down.
Can poison oak and poison ivy cause allergic reactions in horses? There is quite a bit of poison oak and poison ivy on the acreage where I keep my horses.
Endotoxemia in horses is usually associated with severe infections, inflammation, and colic. Endotoxin from intestinal bacteria activates release of inflammatory mediators such as thromboxane B2 (TxB2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha),
In any of the equine behavior literature that I have read, I am unable to find any description of the sleeping behavior we see in our retired broodmare (17 years old). She has functioned as the watch horse in the small herd she was from, and she now is retired at our two-horse farm and continues to maintain that role. She is rarely seen lying down, nor shows evidence of that–no surface dirt
Healthy bone undergoes constant metabolic change to prevent bone loss or abnormal remodeling (cell turnover) that can occur with loading. Horses with navicular disease can have abnormal remodeling and formation of osteolytic lesions (areas of
Buying that first horse can be exciting and scary. Getting that dreamed-about horse is the exciting part, and being concerned that you don’t make mistakes in choosing the right one is the disconcerting and worrisome part. In this article, we’ll first look at the situation through the eyes of horse owners, then we’ll turn to a panel of veterinary experts who will discuss what to watch for
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