Researchers at the University of California, Davis, recently developed a new three-dimensional system for measuring various aspects of the horse’s sole. One day their work might help ascertain if hoof shape abnormalities can be predictors of impending injury. Additionally, the system might help researchers design new footwear and/or evaluate the foot during movement.

Susan Stover, DVM,

Americans might be making great strides in the sport of dressage, but in Germany, dressage is a way of life. An amateur dressage enthusiast, I experienced German dressage culture firsthand during six fascinating days in November. I found trainer Heide Hellwinkel through an American-based company, Hobby Horse Tours, which organizes training trips to Germany.

Orphan–the name itself evokes sadness and sympathy. A baby without a mother, in this case a foal. Whether it occurs through the death of the mare, or just that the mare cannot produce milk or will not take care of her foal, it all leads to one problem: how to care for the foal.

In the past, there have been two standard options:

1. Raise the foal by hand as an orphan, using some

The results of EMG analysis on muscle groups in the shoulder revealed that MUAP duration and amplitude were significantly lower in the youngest horses compared to the adult and senior groups.

The pathogenesis of chronic laminitis remains unclear. There is growing evidence, however, of a link between this condition and the development of certain systemic diseases, such as kidney disease, that involve small blood vessel damage. There might also be a link between routine vaccination and acute episodes of chronic laminitis. This has led to the theory that chronic laminitis produces

HBOT is one of the most powerful tools available as an adjunctive form of therapy, and in some cases it works well as the primary therapy in horses, says Casner. Colic and laminitis are the number one and two killers, respectively, of horses, and oxygen therapy (in conjunction with other therapies) can be very useful in treating both.

Veterinarians are using hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)–treatment in a pressurized oxygen chamber–to treat certain illnesses and injuries in horses. They are extrapolating from human research to guide approaches for treating equine patients.

Mud. Yuck! Is there any worse problem that we face in our equine environment than simple dirt and water mixed into a gooey sludge? The English have a great word for going out into the mud–they “slog” through it. Certainly sounds like what happens when our boots sink and slide. Mud not only turns all our horses into 10-year-old boys, but it sucks off shoes (theirs and ours) and gets tracked

Incidence of dystocia is around 4%, although this varies by breed, Embertson said. While many dystocias are resolved on the farm, some cases need to be referred to a hospital. This decision should be made based on the position of the foal, duration of the dystocia, distance to and preparedness of the referral hospital, and the experience of the farm’s foaling personnel and veterinarian.

The term “dummy foal” is being used less and less. A more accurate term for the foal exhibiting behavioral or neurologic abnormalities that are not related to infectious or toxic conditions, congenital or developmental abnormalities, or metabolic disorders is hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Sometimes the term “neonatal maladjustment syndrome” is used.

Foal care from the first few hours of life to one month can be critical in the overall health and welfare of the newborn foal.

Abdominal pain in the foal can have many different causes, making it difficult to diagnose a cause. However, with knowledge of the different causes, a proper physical exam, the use of diagnostic tools, and common sense, a veterinarian can pinpoint a diagnosis from which decisions on treatment can be based

If your new foal develops a disease or medical problem that requires surgery, then time is of the essence. In his AAEP Convention presentation “Surgical Disease of the Neonate,” Rolf Embertson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., discussed a few abdominal and upper respiratory problems that might require surgery and gave veterinarians tips on how to perform some

Merritt’s presentation highlighted advances made over the last 40 years in the understanding of how the equine stomach functions and its related diseases. His presentation had a special emphasis on equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), and slides of his presentation helped attendees visualize the concepts.

Musculoskeletal pain associated with acute and chronic hind limb injuries is common in equine practice. Unabated pain can result in complications such as gastrointestinal disorders and supporting limb laminitis. Pain management is critical to decrease peri-surgical (before surgery) stress responses, to promote early ambulation (movement), and to minimize the devastating effects of contralateral