Our foal was born with something that our veterinarian called a “jutted jaw.” Can you provide any information on this condition and what, if anything, needs to be done about it?
Throughout history, different forms of massage have been used in cultures to relieve pain and tension in soft tissues. We humans know that massage usually feels good and provides relaxation to us, so we assume that the same will be true for our horses. Although it might seem improbable given the many forms of manual therapies, the wide-ranging term “massage” can be defined as simply the
It can be as simple as that first outing in the fall, with leaves crunching underfoot and cool breezes blowing life into us and our horses. It can be as exciting as a once-in-a-lifetime trip to herd cattle in Wyoming, a vacation in Germany to learn dressage under the tutelage of a master, or riding on the beach with waves crashing and the smell of freedom blown in the salty air.
Let’s start by taking a look at how parasites differ from other infectious organisms that damage horses, and go on to explore the historical perspective on equine parasite control–where we’ve come from, and how far we’ve yet to go.
Deslorelin acetate implants (Ovuplant from Fort Dodge Animal Health) have proven highly successful at inducing ovulation in mares. Implanted mares typically ovulate within 48 hours. Unfortunately, despite administration of prostaglandin during diestrus, a percentage of mares with implants, perhaps as many as 1 in 4, experience a prolonged interval to the next ovulation. Researchers from
If your broodmare or stallion is having reproductive problems, you might need a specialist to figure out what’s wrong. And that specialist might use knowledge gained from the annual conference of the Society for Theriogenology held in Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 16-20. Theriogenology is described as that branch of veterinary medicine dealing with reproduction, including the physiology and pathology
Congestive heart failure is a term describing a group of clinical signs that develop as a result of other cardiac diseases. As the name implies, equine congestive heart failure is generally an endpoint of disease, and it is considered rare in horses. There is little information available about congestive heart failure, but a study from North Carolina State University re-examined cases of
Septic arthritis in a Thoroughbred foal significantly reduces the likelihood the animal will race, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Glasgow in Scotland and veterinarians with Rossdale and Partners in England. The scientists evaluated the medical records of 69 foals treated for septic arthritis and compared each foal’s racing record to at least one of its
Unfortunately, clinical signs of West Nile virus (WNV) aren’t unique, making it difficult for practitioners to suspect WNV above other neurologic diseases. For this reason, researchers from the University of Florida set out to closely scrutinize the clinical signs of WNV to see if any are particularly unusual. Records of 46 horses admitted to the hospital in 2001 with confirmed cases of WNV
We’re all getting a little bit older, but as with fine wine and good horses, that often means things are getting better. The Horse magazine is celebrating its 21st year in 2004 since its inception as Modern Horse Breeding. And you’ll notice a few things different this year. For one, we are sharing our love of our horses in a new column called Horse Fever. We also are
On Nov. 19 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Navigator for treating equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). This drug has been under development for more than six years.
IDEXX Laboratories of Westbrook, Maine, received approval for the 32% nitazoxanide antiprotozoal oral paste designed to kill the single-celled protozoan parasite Sarcocystis neurona, which
A new West Nile virus (WNV) equine recombinant canarypox vaccine awaits USDA approval, and once available, could pave the way for a new generation of equine vaccines in the United States. Merial developed this Recombitek equine WNV technology, and assembled a group of researchers, clinicians, and private practitioners in New Orleans, La., on Nov. 19, 2003, to review WNV and the research behin
A medical device derived from the lining of urinary bladders of specially bred pigs shows promise for healing equine tendon and ligament injuries, according to Rick Mitchell, DVM, of Fairfield Equine Associates in Newtown, Conn. Mitchell recently addressed a group of veterinarians at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash., about the technology and his positive experiences with it in his
First Three Months
It’s amazing that time flies so fast. This morning there was a heavy frost and the babies–thinking they are going to be in Canada for the winter–have heavy coats that are frost-tipped. They like this cold weather much better than the warm spells where they end up sweating through all that hair.
Conan is healing well. Dr. Carol MacLeod was by th
Purina Mills, LLC, and the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) have formed a new partnership benefiting all visitors to Purina’s Gold Dealers nationwide. As of January 1, 2004, Purina will become the title sponsor of NARHA’s Stall Street Journal, a
Letter to the Editor:
This letter must begin by saying how proud I am of a man whom I have never met. His name is Steve Stevens of Houston, TX, the current president of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). Mr. Stevens has given the membership of AQHA a voice. He has written personal letters of his activities as president and the goals of the Executive
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