Always think in terms of safety first when handling horses — safety for you, the horse, and anyone else in the general area. Like it or not, horses are fight or flight creatures and can be unpredictable when faced with new people or surroundings.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture has released the following tips on avoiding transmission of illness in horse facilities. The USDA has published a separate brochure on the same topic (shown at right), which is available online at
A reader asks for help finding an equine body score chart in layman’s terms and understanding some horse anatomy terms.
Are daily dewormers contributing to the development of drug-resistant parasites? A study from the North Carolina State University (NCSU) suggests they might be. The study used fecal worm egg count reduction tests (FWECRT) to evaluate small
My sister’s gelding has sesamoid problems on both forelimbs. Can the sesamoid bones be removed?
This system will allow a practitioner to diagnose a horse in the field while trotting in hand, being ridden, or longeing, whereas video-based motion-capture technology (if adequate numbers of strides are evaluated) is restricted to a lab and is very
Flies and mosquitoes are a nuisance, causing irritation and discomfort as they feed on horses. They can also be a health risk, spreading West Nile virus, encephalomyelitis viruses, equine infectious anemia, vesicular stomatitis, and other
Several recent occurrences have brought to mind the role of humans as stewards of our animals. These stories don’t all have to do with horses, but how many horse owners do you know who don’t have dogs, cats, or other critters running around the
Pfizer Animal Health on Feb. 8 announced the release of Zylexis in the United States, which according to the company’s research prepares the horse’s immune system to function more efficiently against equine herpesvirus-1 and -4 (EHV-1 and EHV-4)
With much information about biosecurity revolving around current equine herpesvirus infections, salmonellosis, and the upcoming foaling season, one small but important item has been often omitted. Animal workers and veterinarians should wash
Progressive Nutrition has launched a new web site featuring the Equine Nutritionist Blog. Blogging is one of the newest tools in high-tech web marketing, now available to the horse community.
The Equine Nutritionist Blog offers consumers
Some horses present special challenges, such as being too thin, too fat, or sick. Some horses are finicky and are hard to keep weight on, especially when working. The first option is to increase the feed’s energy density by adding grain or fat to the
Four horses outside of Hebbronville, Texas, died after they showed clinical signs of an unknown illness in February; one horse is recovering. The horses’ owner suspects the animals’ problems might have been caused by a dewormer, and she is
“Prevention of contagious diseases is dependent on an effective vaccination program and a carefully developed and strictly enforced management program,” said Steve Conboy, DVM, a Central Kentucky equine practitioner, at the 2005 American
Possibly one of the most talked-about presentations at the 2005 AAEP Convention, held Dec. 3-7 in Seattle, Wash., discussed the proper usage of the power-drill-mounted Henderson castration instrument in horses. Mark Reilly, DVM, of the South
Recovery from anesthesia after surgery can be a dangerous time for a horse as he struggles to his feet upon waking, often disoriented by unfamiliar surroundings and lingering incoordination. One way to help decrease injuries or re-injuries from
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