The Wild Horse and Burro Program focuses on two key factors: Management of wild horses and burros whose habitat is on public lands, and programs to deal with excess animals removed from public lands. The federal Bureau of Land Management’s
Today the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the release of the United States’ Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) Uniform Methods and Rules (UM&R), which were effective April 19 and will serve as a standard for handling EVA in breeding and other situations in this country. The United States is the only major horse-breeding country without a current EVA control
The years 2002 and 2003 have been the years of the horse, as far as West Nile virus (WNV) is concerned, said Robert Restifo, MS, Public Health Entomologist Administrator and chief of Ohio’s Vector-borne Disease Program, at the third annual West
Environmental factors, management, and genetics all play a part in determining a stallion’s fertility. Bhanu P. Chowdhary, BVSc, AH, MVSc, PhD, associate professor in animal genomics at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine,
The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) is rolling out the red carpet to welcome all AQHA members to its third annual Member Appreciation Days and Open House, which will be held June 1-13, 2004 in Amarillo, Texas. Members won’t want t
The African horse sickness (AHS) death toll in the Western Cape of South Africa has risen to 15 confirmed cases since the first death on the Elsenburg Agricultural Research Farm was confirmed on Feb. 25. Two cases are awaiting confirmation, with
They come in various colors and sizes. Some weigh 50 pounds, others a pound or less. But how do we know which salt and/or mineral block to place before our animals? Should we offer all of them and let the horses choose? Can a horse actually get enough salt and minerals from a rock-hard block to meet his needs? Shouldn’t we simply buy feed that already contains the necessary ingredients for a
Arkansas and Illinois have altered their medication policies to, among other things, provide harsher penalties for trainers if a horse in their care tests positive for a milkshake (a sodium bicarbonate mixture administered via stomach tube, intended to decrease blood acidity, countering the lactic acid that is produced during high speed performance and which increases fatigue).
Milkshake
Is there an uglier word in medicine than “cancer?” This is true in human and veterinary medicine. Many of us view cancer as invasive, debilitating, and fatal. But those who know horses know that while cancer occurs in equids, most of these cancers are sarcoids and melanomas–cancers that are generally benign, but should receive attention from a veterinarian to ensure they aren’t a danger to
Dealing with skin problems, unfortunately, is part of having a horse. Since skin is the largest organ of the body, it’s no wonder there’s much that can go wrong. Designed to safeguard internal organs from external forces and to help maintain consistent temperature, water, and nutrient levels, the skin is an integral part of a horse’s health.
When a weanling on a North Carolina breeding farm was diagnosed with larval cyathostominosis, Dianne Little, BVSc, MRCVS, equine surgery resident and PhD candidate in the Department of Clinical Sciences in North Carolina State University’s (NCSU) College of Veterinary Medicine, was suspicious of anthelmintic resistance. Parasites resistant to dewormers and associated diseases, such as larval
A diagnosis of sacroiliac joint (SI) pain tends to be one of exclusion, after other causes of hind limb lameness have been ruled out. To simplify the diagnostic process, researchers in the United Kingdom conducted a study involving 74 horses suspected of having SI pain. The objective was to use both nuclear bone scan (scintigraphy) and a local anesthetic block to positively identify abnormal
If you’ve been around horses, particularly performance horses, for even a short while, you’ve probably met someone who’s had a horse’s joints injected. The procedure–which involves injecting medication directly into the joint to combat such problems
Referral centers are those clinics or hospitals that offer diagnostic and therapeutic options not readily available or possible in a field (barn) type situation. These can include diagnostic modalities such as endoscopy with or without a treadmill, ultrasound, scintigraphy, and radiography, just to name a few. Referral centers can also offer a wide range of surgical care–on an elective or
I’m amazed at some of the angry reactions that followed our publication of a news item last month on a hereditary disease called hyperelosis cutis (HC) or hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA). Some of the researchers involved–Ann Rashmir, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, associate professor of surgery and head of the Hyperelastosis Cutis Research Program at Mississippi State University, an
As the National Governing Body for equestrian sport, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF, formerly U.S.A. Equestrian) takes seriously the importance of providing a fair and level playing field for all competitors. This mission is a large and important one. Administering the rules and regulations requires not only the work of the Federation’s employees, but it also requires assistanc
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