A variety of equine conditions can present with clinical signs that include colic pain, fever, decreased appetite, and weight loss. Similar signs occur with abdominal abscesses, making them challenging to diagnose. At the 2010 American Association of
When a veterinarian suspects a horse’s joint is infected, but it is not practical or feasible to obtain a joint fluid sample, he or she should consider using ultrasound to image the joint. Alex Young, BVSc, of the University of California, Davis’
Recent surveys of equine veterinarians reveal that laminitis is the No. 1 lameness concern of equine practitioners, due how difficult it is to treat and manage this debilitating condition. On the topic of laminitis control, Heidi Reesink, VMD, a
A study showed that oral detomidine gel successfully sedated horses for routine procedures.
Methods of managing pain in horses range from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and opioids to alpha-2 agonists and ketamine, among others. Over the years, experience and research have helped veterinarians determine which of these are most
The idea of being able to “unsedate” or “reverse” a sedated horse after minor procedures is a great one, but veterinarians must select their cases carefully and be vigilant about using these drugs properly.
When new bone forms within long bones, enostosislike lesions (ELLs) can develop–an uncommon but concerning problem. Simply put, ELLs are bony growths within the cavity of the bone. At present, the exact cause of this phenomenon is unknown but
Monitoring lactate levels in samples of peritoneal fluid can help a vet predict which colicky horses require surgery.
Topic regarding the horse’s gastrointestinal (GI) tract at the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention included colic surgery closure (sutures vs. staples), resistant ascarids and deworming, heart disease blood tests, colic prognosis indicators, abdominal abscesses, fecal egg counts and individualized deworming, antimicrobial-associated diarrhea, enteropathy, and dehydration.
At the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, Scott Stanley, PhD, professor of Equine Analytical Chemistry at the University of California, Davis, discussed FDA’s ongoing attempts to ensure safety of drugs produced by compounding pharmacies (that provide individualized medications that are pre-scribed, but unavailable through normal means).
Equine welfare and the growing population of horses needing homes are becoming major challenges veterinarians face on a daily basis, according to the keynote speech “Horse Welfare Wars: When Emotion and Fact Collide” at the 2010 AAEP convention.
Veterinarians discussed track surface and fatality rates, radiographic (X ray) abnormalities in 2-year-olds, catastrophic injury characteristics in Thoroughbreds vs. Quarter Horses, forelimb and shoulder blade fractures, bone chips in the knee, and angular limb deformity correction at the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention.
Many advances in horse reproduction were discussed during the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, including oocyte (egg) harvesting postmortem and in live mares, in vitro fertilization, cloning, genetic testing of biopsied embryos, embryo freezing, epigenetics, stallion/mare fertility and management, stallionlike behavior in mares, twinning, and sex determination.
The soft, expressive equine eye holds a great fascination for horse lovers. And although it’s normally a resilient structure, it’s not immune from injury. Dr. Dennis Brooks gave the 2008 AAEP Convention’s Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture on catastrophic ocular surface failure (OSF) in the horse.
A wrap-up of the 2010 AAEP Convention, including in-depth coverage of nearly 100 presentations and sessions on all aspects of equine veterinary medicine, from the top studies in 2010 to unwanted horses, lameness, equine welfare, hoof care and more.
Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with
