Silicosis in horses is a respiratory condition caused by exposure to certain types of silicate dust found in some geographic regions. While silicosis is not a commonly diagnosed equine ailment in most areas of the country, Matthew Durham, DVM
Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction–PPID, or Cushing’s disease–is the most common disease of horses and ponies 15 years of age or older. Although it’s not fully understood yet, researchers are learning more about how to treat and prevent it.
In a survey of horses arriving at several different show and sale facilities, researchers found that as many as 4% of the population were shedding equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) from nasal passages, and as many as 2% were shedding equine
Unfortunately, no perfect PPID test (one that is 100% accurate with a single-sample test) yet exists. At the 2006 AAEP Convention, Harold Schott, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of large animal clinical sciences at Michigan State University,
A study of one Lexington, Ky., Thoroughbred farm showed that on average, 30% of the farm’s foals developed Rhodococcus equi pneumonia during the 2004 and 2005 foaling seasons. Researchers searching for a source of the disease questioned i
One of the biggest challenges in successful equine reproduction is uterine inflammation. Increased inflammation can destroy spermatozoa before they have a chance to fertilize the egg, and it can create a hostile environment that kills an embryo.
Glycogen-branching enzyme deficiency, a genetic mutation affecting a particular glycogen-storage enzyme, is traced back to Quarter Horse sire King or his sire, Zantanon. Up to 8% of Quarter Horses and Paint horses carry the GBED defect.
“Old age need not be a burden,” said Loving. “Considering all the premium health care we can offer our horses today, there is no reason they shouldn’t be living into a ripe old age in the greatest of comfort.”
When an infectious disease is suspected, Scollay said to first establish a perimeter to contain infected and exposed horses, communicate the plan, and only then attempt a diagnosis.
Careful planning can help a veterinary practice, its patients, and the area equestrian community to ride through and recover from a hurricane. Dana N. Zimmel, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ABVP, clinical assistant professor in the University of
People are always looking for tips on how to do things better–particularly horse breeders looking for ways to get healthier foals. Benjamin Espy, DVM, Dipl. ACT, a practitioner from San Antonio, offered insight on many areas of equine reproduction
Uterine torsion can be corrected using ropes, a plank of wood, and a burly volunteer, according to Laura M. Riggs, DVM, a clinical instructor of large animal surgery at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Rumors have circulated in the horse world that administering intrasynovial anesthesia (joint blocks) and intrasynovial medication in the same joint, on the same day, can result in infection within the joint. Chad Zubrod, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, of
Management of insulin resistance might lower the risk of laminitis, and one of the cornerstones of management is diet. ?Think of these horses as being in a prediabetic state,? said Nicholas Frank, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor of
Drug compounding, the ethics of treating cryptorchids, and sexually transmitted diseases were the hot topics discussed by equine practitioners at the Reproduction Forum, led by Steven Brinsko, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT, associate professor of
Acute renal failure used to be a death sentence for a horse, but a new procedure pioneered by Laurie Gallatin, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, could be a viable option for getting horses with this condition through the most dangerous period.
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