Although equine dentists cannot have their patients lie down in a reclining chair for easy access to those hard-to-reach molars, the field has progressed greatly in the past 20 years. It is now possible to perform a root canal or a tooth extraction
Comparisons of humans to horses logically can start with the anatomy. We stand upright; horses stand prone on their four limbs. What we call our knees are the stifles of horses, and our heels or ankles are horses’ hocks. Our foot is their cannon
Experts at the 2007 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention discussed multiple topics related to equine digestive health, including sand colic, post-surgery stapling, hindgut acidosis, risk factors for gastric ulcers in Thoroughbreds, and alfalfa’s effects on ulcer severity.
To guess a horse’s age you can look at his teeth … or the length of his telomeres and his immune system function, according to researchers with the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center.
Scientists studying the
This point/counterpoint discusses the controversial issue of whether horses need to wear shoes. Back in 2002, Tufts University hosted a seminar for farriers and veterinarians to review the barefoot hoof care methods devise
Several years ago, Spencer Barber, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, achieved a first in equine surgery when he developed a successful arthrodesis (surgical fusion) technique for treating a debilitating arthritic
The James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) has two new leaders at the helm, though the names may be familiar to most people associated with the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Dean Hendrickson, DVM, MS,
Learn how equine podiatrists assess, treat, and monitor laminitis. Laminitis is a terrifying mystery to many horse owners, in part because in the early stages a horse with tremendous damage can look and act much like a mil
Veterinary researchers at the University of California, Davis, are working to classify a newly observed bone fragility disorder that might prove to be the culprit behind some cases of intermittent chronic lameness that have no other explanation.
Although the United States presidential election will get the biggest headlines as November approaches, horse industry representatives were told June 17 they should pay attention to–and get involved in–congressional races around the country.
Last year my 18-year-old Quarter Horse mare became very sensitive to touch on her back and hindquarters.
Elite athletes are always looking for an edge over their competitors, and many times they find that edge by applying the science o
The harder a horse works, the more oxygen it needs and the more air it must move into and out of the lungs. Understanding how the horse’s respiratory system works can help horse owners recognize problems and/or manage horses to prevent them.
Further complicating the debate regarding whether or not the equine tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata causes colic in horses, Canadian researchers did not find evidence of a significant association between A. perfoliata infection and
A large majority of horses, regardless of breed, have a high-low foot syndrome where one front foot has a higher angle and different shape than the other. A close look at the characteristics of the high foot qualifies it as a club foot.
Going to the dentist annually is not only necessary for humans; it is an important part of equine health. Annual dental exams are extremely important for horses young and old to help ensure the animals comfort and performance.
Cleet Griffin,
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