How to care for the basic health needs of horses
John Madigan, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of medicine and epidemiology and section chief of equine medicine at the University of California, Davis, developed the UC Davis Large Animal Lift (LAL) with colleagues over the last several years. H
Veterinarians at Oregon State University developed a method to get valuable calories into anorexic horses or those unable to eat normally. The process employs a couple of buckets, pelleted complete feed, water, tubing, and a bilge pump.
It’s common practice at some breeding farms–collecting the drippings from a stallion’s penis after he breeds and dismounts a mare, evaluating the sample to confirm that ejaculation did occur, then placing the sample in the mare. Reinforcement
“I used to look at a beam of light with the motes of dust in it and think it was aesthetically pleasing,” said Melissa R. Mazan, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts. “Now that I know what’s in
A new option in equine pain relief marks progress in the development of safer non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for horses. Firocoxib (trade name Equioxx), manufactured by Merial, is the first equine NSAID specifically targeting the
While moderate exercise has been shown to enhance the immune system, a recent study analyzing gene expression in the lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell that plays a central role in the immune system) of endurance horses has demonstrated tha
What exactly does stored fat do to a horse’s body? It wreaks serious havoc on at least 11 vital body functions. Nat Messer, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, an associate professor of equine medicine and surgery at the University of Missouri (UM), presented a
We know Cushing’s disease (or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction?PPID?as it’s more scientifically called), simply put, is an “old-horse disease” that results in metabolism disturbances and an abnormally heavy hair coat. But when it comes to
Horse people are always searching for new ways to learn about their passion: the horse. Perhaps it is because our relationship with the horse is just that–a passion–that we are continually looking for ways to expand our knowledge base. It can be
Silver sulfadiazine (a topical drug frequently used to treat burns) could be an effective treatment against common corneal fungal infections, according to researchers at Purdue University.
Fungal keratitis is a serious, painful corneal
The type and severity of age-related dental problems often are determined by the type of dental care the horse has had during its lifetime.
Tapeworms are becoming more of an issue in horses as we learn more about how they affect horse health. Some regions of the country have a greater risk of equine tapeworm problems. In the upper Midwest (Wisconsin and Minnesota), for instance, studie
Can you explain the concept of positive reinforcement training? What exactly does it mean? I was recently in New Zealand, where I was with a group that seems “converted” to what they call “all-positive training.” It sounds like good old-fashioned
Couple consistent exercise with controlled calorie intake to promote weight loss in overweight horses.
My 17-year-old Half-Arabian gelding underwent colic surgery, recovered well, but his back has dropped.
I’m going to start discussing ground manners by talking about a 2-year-old colt from Arkansas who hadn’t been handled much. He wasn’t mean, he was just uneducated.
I use a rope halter to give me a little more leverage and “bite” if the horse
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