Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was first identified in the United Kingdom in 1986. A fact sheet from Iowa State University said BSE is one of several diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). There are three rare forms of TSE diseases in humans, scrapie in sheep (not transmissible to man), chronic wasting disease in deer and elk (not transmissible to man), and

Research has shown that boars can be fed a specific diet to increase fertility, and the same might be true of stallions. Steven Brinsko, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT, from Texas A&M University, discussed the potential of feeding a nutraceutical to stallions to enhance their fertility.

Only three days after their barn was completely destroyed by fire, taking with it the lives of 25 horses, Bob and Debby LaPorta of Summerwind Farm in Damascus, Md., are in the process of rebuilding their barn and their business.
 
The barn, which housed 22 horses that belonged to clients and three that belonged to the LaPortas, caught fire on Sunday, Feb. 22 at approximately 6:15 a.m.

Whether it is in the Olympics, Major League Baseball, college football or horse racing, the use of multiple pain-relieving drugs to enhance performance is a major concern. Now, one University of Missouri-Columbia veterinarian is testing different combinations of non-steroidal, pain-killing drugs in horses to determine if their use actually enhances performance and to identify any side effects

Comments collected on the draft U.S. Animal Identification Plan (USAIP) have been largely characterized by misunderstanding and frustration, according to one government official. The plan, which at this time is not an official program of the USDA, was designed to establish a timely traceback system to minimize the  the spread of foreign animal diseases, such as foot and mouth disease, an

Poco Bueno has been identified as the sire line associated with the brutal affliction known as hyperelastosis cutis or hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA).

If we have any doubt about a horse with lesions that look like HERDA (also called HC), we can test to see if that animal does have this disease. Usually it’s easy to diagnose, once you’ve seen a few.

Bowker, one of the foremost researchers on the structure of the horse’s foot, discussed several characteristics that differ between “good” feet and “bad” feet in great detail. First, however, he defined what most consider a good, strong foot.

More than 500 farriers, equine veterinarians and other hoof-care professionals filled the lecture halls and meeting rooms of the first annual International Hoof-Care Summit, held Feb. 4 through 7 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The success of the Summit marks a milestone in the equine hoof-care industry because of the event’s unusual format.

The Summit broke the traditional structure of hoof-car

In conjunction with its focus on the plight of the retired and unwanted Thoroughbred in the Feb. 28 issue of Blood-Horse magazine, Blood-Horse Publications announces the establishment of what is believed to be the first-ever online directory of Thoroughbred welfare and rescue organizations. Located on the web at

Glaucoma (increased fluid pressure within the eye to a level incompatible with eye health) in horses is not well recognized, but look for it in cases of cloudy cornea, corneal edema, or severe unrelenting ocular inflammation.

The Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners (KAEP) held its annual membership meeting Feb. 18 in Lexington, Ky. The organization was established in 1979 as a constituency of the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association. It has grown from a handful of equine veterinarians to over 160 members and has been active all aspects of equine health and welfare in the commonwealth.

Outgoing

J. Harold Drudge, DVM, Professor Emeritus in the University of Kentucky’s Department of Veterinary Science, died Jan. 28. Widely acknowledged for his numerous contributions to the field of parasitology, Drudge is especially known for the significance of his work in equine helminthology (the study of parasitic worms). He received various national and international awards, and wa

According to a Feb. 23 ProMED-mail post, Kashmir, India, could be experiencing an equine anthrax outbreak.

In late December 2003, an India Times article reported that, “Veterinarians here have raised alarm over the spread of anthrax amongst livestock. Over 135 horses from a state-run stable have died due to the deadly disease. The numbers are rising.” According to the