One of the AAEP’s ongoing goals is to address the welfare issues that many horses and their owners face. At the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, Midge Leitch, VMD, of Londonderry Equine Clinic in Pennsylvania and immediate past chair of the AAEP Welfare Committee, described three key steps the AAEP has taken—and continues to take—to improve equine welfare in the U.S.
Lameness caused by quarter cracks is a nemesis of horses and owners, and treatment is often complex.
Soft tissue lameness topics from the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention included early mobilization for soft tissue injury, hyaluronic acid-based biomaterial for wounds, back pain, lameness from pigeon fever abscesses, chiropractic care, and enostosislike lesions within long bones.
Veterinarians can reduce a horse’s severe forelimb pain by administering a continuous, low-dose infusion of the local anesthetic bupivacaine, but this method is not suitable for every case, according to researchers from Cornell University’s College
Colicky horses that undergo exploratory surgery and are ultimately diagnosed with an ileal impaction appear to benefit from a single injection of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) into the ileum to resolve the problem, according to veterinarians from
When horses have hemorrhaged or have experienced fluid losses from dehydration, they can end up in a dangerous state of low blood volume, called hypovolemia.
A resurgence of interest in the equine temporomandibular joint (TMJ) (which allows for opening and closing of a horse’s mouth) has led to discussions on the relationship of TMJ disease to weight loss or behavioral changes in horses.
Veterinarians commonly treat many equine infections with antimicrobial drugs to achieve resolution. However, in some cases, the antimicrobials themselves induce gastrointestinal disturbances with subsequent diarrhea. “This unfortunate side effect of
The soil-borne bacterium Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis can infect horses and cause a condition commonly known as pigeon fever, in which the infected horses often have pectoral swelling, resembling a pigeon’s breast. Other clinical signs include
The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) firocoxib had fewer side effects than phenylbutazone in horses after 42 days of treatment, according to scientists from Merial Limited who presented comparative research results at the 2010 Convention
One of the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) ongoing goals is to address the welfare issues that many horses and their owners face. During a presentation at the 2010 AAEP Convention, held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Midge Leitch, VMD,
Equine osteoarthritis is expensive to manage, with estimated annual costs as high as $10,000-15,000 per horse to diagnose, treat, and medicate, researchers found in one study.
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs, cells derived from embryos or generated using genetic means) have improved growth potential and are pluripotent, meaning they can form any tissue type to produce optimal healing. Unlike stem cells derived from an adult
If a veterinarian suspects heart disease in a horse, running a cardiac troponin I (cTnI) blood test can expedite a diagnosis, according to a team of Cornell University veterinary researchers. Cardiac troponin I is an excellent marker for injury to
Since the first live foal produced by embryo transfer was born in 1974, the procedure has become one of the most popular assisted reproduction options for breeders with mares who are valuable or for mares that are to remain in competition. According
When it comes to a mare’s uterus, ultrasound examination and cytology (examination of cells under a microscope) can give a veterinarian a pretty good picture of what’s going on inside that could be confounding conception. However, comparing these
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