In an ideal world, horses would only require veterinary care between the convenient hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and veterinarians always would be paid at the time of service. While the late-night emergency call is inevitable, high
In response to an increased threat with the use of biological agents for terrorism purposes, The Veterinary Workforce Expansion Act of 2005 (S. 914 and HR 2206) has been introduced to the House and Senate. Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO), a retired
Equine veterinarians are in a unique position to recognize neglect or the potential for neglect in horses. They have direct access to horses and horse property, and they get to know horses and their owners by providing care for many years. As
The owner of the ranch near Versailles, Ky., where an American Saddlebred was buried after brutal attacks led to his eventual euthanasia, has expressed in court documents that she would cooperate with requests that the horse’s body be exhumed if
In horses, the gas anesthetic isoflurane can produce decreases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) as well as cerebral perfusion pressure (that pushes blood into the brain). The implication is that decreased cerebral perfusion pressure leads to
A meniscus is an interarticular (between joints) synovial cartilage or membrane. Meniscal tears in the stifle joint are well described in human athletes and dogs. Despite a few published reports in horses, however, the condition remains difficul
Midnight has come and gone by the time the Central Kentucky horseman pulls into the stableyard and unloads the young black mare. Both are bone-weary after a 15-hour trip home from the trainer’s stable. The man leans on the fence, watching the
On March 2, the Florida Board of Veterinary Practice (FBVP) unanimously voted that their interpretation of the state’s practice act (which governs animal care and what is construed as veterinary medicine) said acupressure, aromatherapy, animal
Robert E. Holland, Jr., DVM, PhD has joined Pfizer Animal Health’s Equine division as Senior Technical Service Veterinarian. Pfizer has also recently added renowned practitioner Jay Donecker, VMD, MS, Dipl. ABVP, to its equine veterinary staff a
Horses with chronic inflammation of the digital flexor tendon (DDFT) sheath that doesn’t respond to conventional therapy might be suffering from longitudinal tears in the DDFT. Warmbloods which suffer from chronic annular ligament constriction
Acute and chronic disease (especially osteoarthritis) of the sacroiliac joint(s) is not uncommon in competition horses and racehorses, affecting up to 8% of Standardbreds in training and 15% of competition horses (particularly hunters, jumpers,
“Dental Care and Management of the Geriatric Patient” was the focus of one lunchtime Table Topic on Dec. 5, with topics ranging from diet selection to systemic illness to sedation. With veterinarians filling all seats and standing against
Colic surgery in horses is classified as a “clean contaminated” procedure because incisions into the intestine can allow bacteria to contaminate the sterile abdomen. Thus, prophylactic (preventive) antibiotic therapy is often administered prior
Two studies done at the University of California, Davis, have allowed researchers to measure the intracranial pressure (ICP, the pressure that the cerebrospinal fluid exerts on the brain) in the horse for the first time and determine how body
Suspensory injuries are common in athletic horses. The suspensory ligament extends down the back of the lower leg from the knee or the hock and lies between the flexor tendons and the cannon bone. There are a number of treatments for injured
During periods of intense exercise, portions of the upper airway can collapse, interfering with breathing. The cause of these obstructive episodes, most notably dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP), is yet unknown. In other species,
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