Weighty Issues

Equine obesity increases a horse’s risk for equine metabolic syndrome, laminitis, and insulin resistance. Owners can bring horses back to healthy body condition by replacing grain rations with a fiber-rich, low-carbohydrate diet, while increasing exercise to include daily workouts.

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University of Kentucky Researcher wins Prestigious Award; Will be Honored by President Obama

David McNear, PhD, assistant professor of rhizosphere science in the University of Kentucky’s (UK) Plant and Soil Sciences Department, was recently awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) for his research on endophyte-infected tall fescue and how it impacts soil microbial communities, chemical properties, and nutrient cycling.

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Toxic Ragwort Warning Issued by UK Group

Land and horse owners are reminded to be on their guard against deadly ragwort following the inclement weather of July and August, World Horse Welfare noted in a statement Aug. 13.

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Toxic Mushroom Risk for Horses in Kentucky Pastures Due to Wet Weather

At the beginning of August, the University of Kentucky’s Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (LDDC) received several calls regarding the presence of mushrooms in pastures around eastern Kentucky. Callers were concerned about whether it presented a problem for livestock to graze on pastures with mushrooms.

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Equine Sinus Infection Treatment Balloons at WCVM


A few years ago, a magazine article describing a minimally-invasive treatment for people with chronic sinusitis caught the eye and imagination of Chris Bell, DVM. What if such a treatment could be adapted for use in horses?

Last

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Laminitis Risk Increased by Pasture Grass Sugars

Pasture-induced laminitis (sometimes referred to as founder) can be triggered when susceptible horses ingest high amounts of sugar or fructans that are naturally found in some pasture grasses.

Susceptible horses include, but are not limited

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Grazing Horses in Moderately Polluted Areas

Horses might serve as good management tools for pastures moderately polluted by trace elements, according to Spanish researchers. And provided the animals receive adequate, systematic monitoring through biological sampling, they can be kept on

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Poisonous Hemlock: A Growing Problem

The association of poison hemlock with the death of Socrates in ancient Greece in 399 B.C. provides a glimpse of the toxic history of this plant. Two decades ago an aggressive search was required before a specimen could be found in Arkansas, but no

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Cardiopulmonary/Exercise Concerns for Horses

During the 2008 AAEP Convention experts discussed anabolic steroids, therapeutic medications, aortic-iliac thrombosis(AIT), airway inflammation, polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), and the benefits of endoscopic diagnosis of airway problems during exercise.

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Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Horses, AAEP 2008

Unlike humans, adult horses average only about three to five hours of sleep per day, with sleep events occurring intermittently throughout the day and night, with most occurring at night. Lack of sleep or a sleep disorder has the potential to impact

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Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning

Aluminum phosphide is an indoor fumigant used to kill insects in most, if not all, of the stored grains we and our horses are exposed to. Like most pesticides, it can cause major problems in unintended species when used incorrectly.

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Aortic-Iliac Thrombosis, Diagnosis and Treatment

He noted aortic-iliac thrombosis (TAI) can cause lameness, but the incidence in the United States is low. Damage to, and thrombus (blood clot) in, these large blood vessels might be caused by internal parasites.

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