Vet and Professional

News and issues for equine health professionals

Risk Factors for Gastric Ulcers in Thoroughbreds

Up to 86% of Australian Thoroughbred racehorses have been reported to have gastric ulcers. Many factors can contribute to ulcers, and researchers at Murdoch University set out to determine which ones were the most significant for this population

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Alternate Catheter Site

Catheters placed in the jugular vein are commonly used to medicate or give fluids to horses in equine hospitals. One potential complication of catheters is thrombophlebitis, or blood vessel wall inflammation resulting in clot formation. When thi

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AAEP Launching Equine Dentistry Campaign

Because proper dental care is vital to a horse’s overall health, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) is launching a campaign to promote the need for horses to receive a thorough oral examination at least once a year. Designed

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How to Block the Ear

A few horses out there like to have their ears rubbed, but many are tolerant of ear handling at best, and violently ear shy at worst. When these horses need to have veterinary work done around their ears, such as biopsies or stitching of

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Surgery for Triple-Level Spinal Cord Compression

Spinal cord compression in the neck, more technically known as cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy or CVSM, can cause notable incoordination and affects about 2% of racing Thoroughbreds. Probably the most well-known horse affected by CVSM was

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Clearing Sand From the Gut

Sand colic due to an accumulation of sand in the intestines accounts for up to 30% of all colics, often causing weight loss and chronic diarrhea. Psyllium has often been recommended as a laxative for clearing sand out of the intestines, although

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Commentary: Working With Your Veterinarian

“Please help! My 10-year-old Quarter Horse has been down in the pasture for two days and won’t get up. What should I do?”

“A week ago I saw my horse bitten by a skunk in broad daylight. I dressed the wounds, but after searching the internet

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Alfalfa Hay Reduces Ulcer Severity

If your horse has ulcers, giving him omeprazole isn’t the only thing you can do to help reduce the severity of the problem. Noah Cohen, VMD, PhD, MPH, Dipl. ACVIM, discussed a study that found alfalfa hay reduced the severity of ulcers in young,

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Dental Care and Health

Dental science and, consequently, dental health for us as human beings, have come a very long way in the past 250 years. Most of us in this country are accustomed to regular, routine visits to our general family practitioner for an overall health

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Doxycycline Antibiotic Might Help Treat Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common human joint disorder in the world, and in the equine industry it’s the most economically important disease. It’s the primary cause of decreased athletic function and wastage in racehorses.

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Readers Respond: Breeding Barrier

More than 1,000 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, “Have you ever had a veterinarian perform a Caslick’s procedure on a mare?


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A Clearer Picture (Imaging Technologies)

Advancements in imaging technologies make diagnoses easier.

For decades veterinarians have relied upon a number of different imaging tools, from radiographs to ultrasonography, to diagnose lameness, pregnancy, and

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