In defining a high-risk mare, Bain said she is one which has had previous foaling problems such as dystocia (difficult delivery), hemorrhage, or a red bag delivery. He said a mare also could be at risk because of medical illness, surgery, colic, laminitis, or because she is an older mare.

“However, there are challenges with standing ocular (eye) surgery–you generally need magnification, and thus the horse must be perfectly still,” he continued. “Many (eye) procedures thus require general anesthesia. But with appropriate tranquilization, ocular nerve blocks, and restraint, many ocular surgeries can be performed adequately in standing horses.”

As post-performance drug testing methods become more sensitive, racehorse and show horse owners, veterinarians, handlers, and trainers have become more aware that positive drug tests could be the result of inadvertent contamination of the horse with chemicals present in the environment. Cynthia Kollias-Baker, DVM, PhD, director of the Racing Laboratory at the University of Florida, recently

The introduction of antimicrobial drugs to veterinary medicine has made a dramatic improvement in the health of our horses, but it’s alarming when infections do not respond to these drugs. “It is not a new phenomenon, but there has been ever-growing concern about antimicrobial resistance,” said Josie Traub-Dargatz, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, of Colorado State University, in her presentation at the

Peripheral Cushing’s syndrome (PCS) is seen in middle-aged horses with obesity-associated laminitis. These horses tend to accumulate fat in the crest of the neck, over the rump, and in the sheath of male horses. Researchers are trying to understand this recently named syndrome. It was first proposed that classic Cushing’s disease–a disorder of the pituitary gland that leads to excessive

The study looked at the effects of a joint supplement (Corta-Flx) on gait asymmetry caused by degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the distal intertarsal and/or tarsometatarsal joints of one or both hocks.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) is sponsoring an equine health forum on Fri., Jan. 17, as part of USA Equestrian’s Annual Meeting in Lexington, Ky. The forum is free to all USA Equestrian members and guests attending the meeting.

The topics and speakers are: 

“Emerging Equine Diseases” –Dr. Genevieve Fontaine from the

Horse racing has far more stringent medication regulations than most other equine disciplines, and this was reflected in the Racehorse Medications Table Topic discussion at the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) convention on Friday, Dec. 6. The majority of the discussion revolved around the legality of using various medications and their withdrawal times. Gary Norwood, DVM,

Colorado State University’s (CSU) Orthopaedic Research Center (ORC) was launched Nov. 1 with a formal dedication ceremony and open house. Led by Wayne McIlwraith, BVSc, PhD, FRCVS, Dipl. ACVS, Dipl. ECVS, and his scientific team, the Center will continue investigations benefiting the musculoskeletal health of horses and humans.

Located just behind the existing James L. Voss Veterinary

An unusual outbreak of the bacterial disease “pigeon fever,” also known as dryland distemper, occurred in Kentucky in early and mid-November 2002, according to Doug Byars, DVM, a specialist in internal medicine and equine critical care. He said 15 cases have been confirmed with bacterial cultures in the same period by Hagyard-Davidson-McGee veterinary associates in Lexington, and about 15 mor

Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) has announced funding for eight new 2003 equine studies. Research topics include laminitis, endotoxemia, colic, genetics, immunology, and foal diseases. Nine continuing projects focus on similar issues as well as tying-up, equine infectious anemia, and neurological disease.

A complete list of these studies, including location, investigator, lay-language

Since the beginning of the mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) in 2001, there have been many theories as to the cause of the problems. Honing in on the extreme number of Eastern tent caterpillars (ETC) in 2001 and 2002, studies have shown that early fetal loss can be caused by feeding ETC to pregnant mares. It also has been shown that freezing the caterpillars does not destroy whatever

Some natural and man-made compounds in the environment can disrupt the delicate reproduction hormone balance in many species, possibly including horses. Her suggestion was that although this cause of reproductive dysfunction had not been studied in horses, it should be considered in cases of reproductive abnormalities with no apparent cause.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has recently revised and redesigned 21 client education brochures with the support of Bayer Animal Health and Purina Mills. The brochures are available to veterinarians and come in packages of 25 at a low cost. According to Dana Roberts, AAEP’s Owner Education Coordinator, several other brochures are in the works and will be available in