The forsythia were blooming at the end of March, and in Kentucky, that means that Eastern tent caterpillars (ETC) were hatching. In 2001 and 2002, those caterpillars crawled across many farms in Central Kentucky and left in their path what was later termed mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), which caused abortions in thousands of Thoroughbred broodmares.
The anticipated 2004 ETC
How do you really know if your worm control program is working? If your horses are looking good, are they doing as well as they could be? If they are not doing as well as you would like despite frequent deworming, is the problem due to worms?
In our horse paddock there are four mango trees. Our horses often eat the mangoes that fall off the tree. We were wondering if it is possible for our horses to get sick from eating too many mangoes.
Equine Cushing’s syndrome (ECS), or hyperadrenocorticism, is caused by an excess of cortisol. This syndrome produces signs including excessive hair growth (hirsutism), lethargy, fat redistribution under the skin, chronic/relapsing laminitis, and increased drinking and urination (polydypsia/polyuria). The drug pergolide is commonly recommended as treatment for ECS. However, data on its
Over two dozen bidders came out April 25 for a chance to own one of 12 Belgian-cross fillies and five Belgian and Belgian-cross mares available this year at the 5th Annual North American Ranching Information Council (NAERIC) auction of incentive registered yearlings at the Rutgers University’s Cook College Campus in Brunswick, N.J., on April 25. The campus Round House was filled to capacity
Many equine illnesses and injuries require rapid determination of blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity. Hemoglobin (Hg) can be measured, and packed cell volume (PCV) can be estimated, providing a good indication of how much oxygen can circulate. However, Hg measurement requires transport of a blood sample to a laboratory. It would be useful if practitioners had the means to accurately measure Hg
Veterinarians representing the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) are delivering educational lectures on a variety of equine health topics during the Western States Horse Expo, June 11-13, at the Cal Expo in Sacramento, Calif. The sessions are designed for horse owners and other individuals interested in equine health.
Topics include the stumbling horse, common foot
The ban on Texas livestock coming into Kentucky from Texas because of vesicular stomatitis (VS) has been amended by Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher today (May 27) by an emergency regulation, according to a press release from the governor’s office. The emergency regulation will allow livestock from most of Texas to enter the Commonwealth under certain conditions. Livestock would still be
A private Maryland horse farm has been under a voluntary quarantine since March 25 while veterinarians investigate the cause of illness in 12 horses, four of which have been humanely euthanized. Veterinarians are testing for several diseases,
(from Belmont Park notes)
In the Preakness on May 15, Rock Hard Ten, a huge colt, was especially conspicuous. As the last horse loaded into the gate at Pimlico, Rock Hard Ten had the attention of the racing world and NBC’s
On May 8, a Central Kentucky equine hospital 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
The American Horse Council has learned that all horses being exported from the United States to the European Union (EU) now require a negative (1:12) virus neutralization test for vesicular stomatitis (VS). The test samples must be taken within
Three dead birds in Illinois have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) since this year’s statewide mosquito-borne disease surveillance began on May 1. One crow was collected in Rantoul County and positive results were confirmed on May 21.
Vesicular stomatitis (VS), a disease with international implications for animal movement because symptoms mimic those of foot and mouth disease, was confirmed May 19 in western Texas. In response to that announcement, Kentucky Department of
One of the nation’s first veterinarians to use arthroscopic surgery in equine practice, Joe Foerner, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, began providing surgical services to the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine on May 21. He will be
State Veterinarian Robert Stout, DVM, has banned all livestock and wild or exotic animals from Texas from entering Kentucky due to reports of vesicular stomatitis (VS) in horses in west Texas.
The order also prohibits the entry into
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