Health Zone

June 15, 2013 - Preparing Joint Injection Sites

aspradling — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:03:09 GMT

by Dr. Nancy S. Loving

When administering equine joint injections, veterinarians must take steps to minimize the risk of septic arthritis developing in the treated joint. Particularly in equine athletes, septic arthritis can be a devastating and debilitating complication, though aggressive treatment returns a large range (27-92%) of affected horses back to work.

Also in this feature; Limb Positioning for Assessing Joints Via X-Ray

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May 11, 2013 - EPM Treatment, Testing Options Reviewed

aspradling — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:01:05 GMT

EPM is the most common equine neurologic disease in North America

by Erica Larson

One of the most common equine neurologic diseases—equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, or EPM—is also one of the most difficult iseases to diagnose. Further, with only three FDA-approved treatment options, treating EPM can be quite a challenge as well.

At the 2013 Western Veterinary Conference, held Feb. 17-21 in Las Vegas, Nev., Dr. Laurie Beard, associate clinical professor at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, reviewed the current diagnostic and treatment options for veterinary attendees.

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April 27, 2013 - Common Nutrient Deficiencies

aspradling — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:14:17 GMT

Depending on lifestyle and location, some horses might be at risk for suffering subtle but serious vitamin and mineral imbalances

by Sharon Biggs Waller

For the most part, horse owners have little to fear when it comes to nutrient deficiencies in their horses’ diets. Nowadays many horses consume commercially prepared feed balanced for their energy, protein, vitamin, and
mineral needs.

Dr. Kathleen Crandell, equine nutritionist at Kentucky Equine Research, explained that most horse owners in the United States have access to good-quality forages, and North American horses live fairly healthy lives. However, we
shouldn’t take these things for granted.

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March 16, 2013 - Hoof Care and Disease - Notes from the 2012 AAEP Conference Programs

aspradling — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:42:48 GMT

by Dr. Nancy Loving

Not all horses have symmetrical feet, and one of the more common problems they develop is a “club foot” appearance. This problem might appear at birth or develop later in life and can be identified based on classic signs and grades of severity.

Dr. Robert Hunt, of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, defined a club foot as having an angle greater than 60° (the angle the dorsal hoof wall makes with the ground). Usually there is at least a five- degree discrepancy between the affected foot and its opposite.

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February 16, 2013 - Foal Health - Foal Pneumonia

aspradling — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:51:33 GMT

Two important bacteria cause lung infections in foals; here’s how the body and your veterinarian battle these sometimes deadly pathogens

by Dr. Stacey Oke

Like soldiers guarding treasure, breeders go to great lengths to ensure their mares deliver healthy foals. So it can be disheartening when these youngsters suddenly develop a fever, runny nose, and cough in their first few months. One of the reasons foals might show these pneumonia-like signs is the way their fledgling immune systems work.

“A foal’s immune system is different than an adult’s, which partly explains why they are more prone to certain serious respiratory tract infections that don’t generally affect adult horses,” said Dr. Noah Cohen, professor of equine medicine at Texas A&M University.

The immune system has two major “branches:” one that fights microorganisms living inside foal’s bodies but outside individual cells, and a second that fights microorganisms living inside specific cells. Ironically, the cells that some bacteria and viruses invade belong to the immune system itself.

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Venereal Diseases - January 26, 2013
Physical Therapy - December 1, 2012
The Conservative Approach - November 3, 2012
A Guide to Complete Feeds - October 6, 2012
Common Hock Problems - September 15, 2012
Conditioning Young Horses - August 4, 2012
EPM Update - July 7, 2012
Colic Management and Long-Term Survival - June 16, 2012
More Top Equine Studies of 2011 - May 12, 2012
2011’s Top Equine Studies - April 28, 2012
Feeding to Perform - March 18, 2012
The Science Behind Nutritional Supplements - February 18, 2012
Feeding the Estrous Cycle - January 28, 2012
The Invisible Disease - Stallion Register 2012

January 26, 2013 - Venereal Diseases

aspradling — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:55:53 GMT

Equine STDs can affect pregnancy outcomes and breeding stock’s welfare

by Christa Leste-Lasserre

STDs. They’re the kind of thing many people would rather not discuss. Disease transmission through sexual contact or bodily fluids such as semen and blood is still a taboo subject, even in 2013.

But the reality is that as long as Thoroughbred owners breed their mares to stallions hundreds or thousands of miles away—or to stallions who are in their hemisphere for just a breeding season—venereal diseases have the potential to become more widespread.

These diseases can be transmitted directly between mares and stallions during natural cover and indirectly via artificial insemination in other breeds. Sometimes AI reduces disease spread; other times it can fuel it. Most venereal diseases aren’t life-threatening to an adult horse, but some can cause abortions in broodmares or death in young foals. Others make it difficult for mares to conceive. So from an economic as well as a welfare point of view, it’s time to cast aside any discomfort about this taboo topic and take a closer look at equine venereal diseases.

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Physical Therapy - December 1, 2012
The Conservative Approach - November 3, 2012
A Guide to Complete Feeds - October 6, 2012
Common Hock Problems - September 15, 2012
Conditioning Young Horses - August 4, 2012
EPM Update - July 7, 2012
Colic Management and Long-Term Survival - June 16, 2012
More Top Equine Studies of 2011 - May 12, 2012
2011’s Top Equine Studies - April 28, 2012
Feeding to Perform - March 18, 2012
The Science Behind Nutritional Supplements - February 18, 2012
Feeding the Estrous Cycle - January 28, 2012
The Invisible Disease - Stallion Register 2012

December 1, 2012 - Physical Therapy

aspradling — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:33:42 GMT

Owners, therapists, and veterinarians can use manual therapies to aid equine recovery and support maintenance

by Erica Larson

No matter the discipline, horses in training can benefit from physical therapy, say some of the veterinary community’s leading researchers, physical therapists, and veterinarians.

Physical therapy has garnered much attention in the past decades. What started as a modality supported by a few veterinarians’ anecdotal evidence has blossomed
into a popular field backed by a growing body of peer-reviewed research. Here, we’ll explore what physical therapy is, how horses can benefit from it, and the science behind it.

What Is It?

Dr. Kathleen M. Anderson, managing partner of Equine Veterinary Care at Fair Hill Training Center, near Elkton, Md., describes physical therapy as a combination
of art and science.

“I would call it the art and science of integrating technical and manual therapies (tools vs. hands) to renew the health or optimize function of targeted areas of the horse,” she said.

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The Conservative Approach - November 3, 2012
A Guide to Complete Feeds - October 6, 2012
Common Hock Problems - September 15, 2012
Conditioning Young Horses - August 4, 2012
EPM Update - July 7, 2012
Colic Management and Long-Term Survival - June 16, 2012
More Top Equine Studies of 2011 - May 12, 2012
2011’s Top Equine Studies - April 28, 2012
Feeding to Perform - March 18, 2012
The Science Behind Nutritional Supplements - February 18, 2012
Feeding the Estrous Cycle - January 28, 2012
The Invisible Disease - Stallion Register 2012
Vaccine Efficacy - December 10, 2011
Proper Nutrition for the Broodmare - November 12, 2011

November 3, 2012 - The Conservative Approach

Blood-Horse Staff — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 23:08:06 GMT

by Maureen Blaney Flietner

Time required with tendon and ligament injuries

Despite the numerous treatments available, time and R&R remain essential for helping a horse recover from tendon or ligament injury. That can be good or bad news, depending on an owner’s expectations for the horse’s performance.

Both tendons and ligaments are soft tissues. They sustain injury via similar forces, respond to damage in a similar fashion, and heal at almost the same rates. That typically amounts to eight months.

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A Guide to Complete Feeds - October 6, 2012
Common Hock Problems - September 15, 2012
Conditioning Young Horses - August 4, 2012
EPM Update - July 7, 2012
Colic Management and Long-Term Survival - June 16, 2012
More Top Equine Studies of 2011 - May 12, 2012
2011’s Top Equine Studies - April 28, 2012
Feeding to Perform - March 18, 2012
The Science Behind Nutritional Supplements - February 18, 2012
Feeding the Estrous Cycle - January 28, 2012
The Invisible Disease - Stallion Register 2012
Vaccine Efficacy - December 10, 2011
Proper Nutrition for the Broodmare - November 12, 2011
Ulcers...For Life? - October 29, 2011
Tackling Tendon and Ligament Injuries - September 17, 2011
Putting Humpty Dumpty Back Together Again: Rehabilitation - August 16, 2011

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October 6, 2012 - A Guide to Complete Feeds

aspradling — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 20:54:02 GMT

by Dr. Juliet M. Getty

Feeding time! Open a bag of readymade feed and you’re set, right? But wait—there’s a staggering variety of offerings on the feed store’s shelves, and it’s important you choose the correct one for your particular horse.

Manufacturers fortify these feeds with vitamins and minerals in a “complete” blend designed to provide all the nutrients a horse needs (when fed the recommended amount) without additional supplementation.

Hay and/or pasture grass should make up the bulk of your horse’s diet (he requires 1.5 to 2.5% of his body weight in forage per day), so most complete feeds are meant to be fed in addition to adequate forage. While many horses (particularly overweight or sedentary animals) simply need hay/pasture, water, salt, and a vitamin/mineral supplement to meet their nutritional requirements, the underweight horse or horse in training, for instance, will benefit from a commercially fortified feed.

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Common Hock Problems - September 15, 2012
Conditioning Young Horses - August 4, 2012
EPM Update - July 7, 2012
Colic Management and Long-Term Survival - June 16, 2012
More Top Equine Studies of 2011 - May 12, 2012
2011’s Top Equine Studies - April 28, 2012
Feeding to Perform - March 18, 2012
The Science Behind Nutritional Supplements - February 18, 2012
Feeding the Estrous Cycle - January 28, 2012
The Invisible Disease - Stallion Register 2012
Vaccine Efficacy - December 10, 2011
Proper Nutrition for the Broodmare - November 12, 2011
Ulcers...For Life? - October 29, 2011
Tackling Tendon and Ligament Injuries - September 17, 2011
Putting Humpty Dumpty Back Together Again: Rehabilitation - August 16, 2011

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September 15, 2012 - Common Hock Problems

aspradling — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 13:47:55 GMT

Focus on the ‘Big Three’: Bone spavin, bog spavin, and OCD

by D. J. Carey Lyons

Hock: The name is simple, but the structure is not. This major joint includes 10 bones, the joints connecting them, and extensor tendons,
flexor tendons, and collateral ligaments.

Because of the great strain the hock endures during any type of work, hock ailments can develop in any horse. The “big three” conditions include bone spavin, bog spavin, and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). This article explores these issues and how owners and veterinarians can manage them, with the goal of returning patients to work at some level. It also provides tips horse owners can use to minimize horses’ risk of developing these conditions.

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Conditioning Young Horses - August 4, 2012
EPM Update - July 7, 2012
Colic Management and Long-Term Survival - June 16, 2012
More Top Equine Studies of 2011 - May 12, 2012
2011’s Top Equine Studies - April 28, 2012
Feeding to Perform - March 18, 2012
The Science Behind Nutritional Supplements - February 18, 2012
Feeding the Estrous Cycle - January 28, 2012
The Invisible Disease - Stallion Register 2012
Vaccine Efficacy - December 10, 2011
Proper Nutrition for the Broodmare - November 12, 2011
Ulcers...For Life? - October 29, 2011
Tackling Tendon and Ligament Injuries - September 17, 2011
Putting Humpty Dumpty Back Together Again: Rehabilitation - August 16, 2011
The Equine Respiratory System - July 9, 2011
Baby Boot Camp: Prepping Yearlings - June 18, 2011
Deworming - May 14, 2011
Hoof Care for Racehorses - April 30, 2011
Farm and Barn Maintenance - April 16, 2011

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August 4, 2012 - Conditioning Young Horses

aspradling — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 18:02:11 GMT

by Christa Leste-Lasserre

Research shows that appropriate amounts of exercise during the first three years of a horse’s life can benefit the musculoskeletal system

Before your equine athlete begins full-scale training, he can benefit greatly from preparatory physical conditioning. Yes, it’s true that he’s still growing, that sensitive structures such as his joints and tendons are still developing, and that, generally speaking, he’s immature. But veterinary researchers agree: A fair amount of exercise will do a significant amount of good, not only now but for his entire life. So, it’s important to get your youngster out of the stall and into shape.

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Colic Management and Long-Term Survival - June 16, 2012
More Top Equine Studies of 2011 - May 12, 2012
2011’s Top Equine Studies - April 28, 2012
Feeding to Perform - March 18, 2012
The Science Behind Nutritional Supplements - February 18, 2012
Feeding the Estrous Cycle - January 28, 2012
The Invisible Disease - Stallion Register 2012
Vaccine Efficacy - December 10, 2011
Proper Nutrition for the Broodmare - November 12, 2011
Ulcers...For Life? - October 29, 2011
Tackling Tendon and Ligament Injuries - September 17, 2011
Putting Humpty Dumpty Back Together Again: Rehabilitation - August 16, 2011
The Equine Respiratory System - July 9, 2011
Baby Boot Camp: Prepping Yearlings - June 18, 2011
Deworming - May 14, 2011
Hoof Care for Racehorses - April 30, 2011
Farm and Barn Maintenance - April 16, 2011

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July 7, 2012 - EPM Update

aspradling — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 17:10:43 GMT

Few equine conditions cause as much consternation as equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). First reported in 1968, EPM represents both amazing scientific progress and extraordinary clinical frustration. Its causative agents are widespread in North America, and affected horses display neurologic signs such as ataxia (incoordination) and asymmetric atrophy (muscle wasting on one side of the body). However, the disease is sporadic and veterinarians cannot diagnose it definitively yet in the live horse.

So why is a disease that is one of the few treatable equine neurologic conditions and for which scientists have identified the causative organisms (now down to the genomic level) so frustrating? To address these questions, let’s first take a look at the disease and these organisms, along with EPM’s mechanisms of action, diagnosis, and treatment.

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Colic Management and Long-Term Survival - June 16, 2012
More Top Equine Studies of 2011 - May 12, 2012
2011’s Top Equine Studies - April 28, 2012
Feeding to Perform - March 18, 2012
The Science Behind Nutritional Supplements - February 18, 2012
Feeding the Estrous Cycle - January 28, 2012
The Invisible Disease - Stallion Register 2012
Vaccine Efficacy - December 10, 2011
Proper Nutrition for the Broodmare - November 12, 2011
Ulcers...For Life? - October 29, 2011
Tackling Tendon and Ligament Injuries - September 17, 2011
Putting Humpty Dumpty Back Together Again: Rehabilitation - August 16, 2011
The Equine Respiratory System - July 9, 2011
Baby Boot Camp: Prepping Yearlings - June 18, 2011
Deworming - May 14, 2011
Hoof Care for Racehorses - April 30, 2011
Farm and Barn Maintenance - April 16, 2011

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June 16, 2012 - Colic Management and Long-Term Survival

aspradling — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:41:37 GMT

by Dr. Nancy S. Loving

Looking back over the past several decades, it is evident that advances in colic treatment, both medical and surgical, have improved case results to
an impressive extent. Progress in diagnostic methods, anesthesia approaches, and surgical procedures, combined with information gained through clinical
experiences and research, have all contributed to this headway.

Among the general equine population four to 10 of every 100 horses experience a colic episode during their lifetime; of these, 1-2% require surgical treatment (2006 American Association of Equine Practitioners proceedings). In 35 years of performing colic surgeries, Dr. David Freeman, professor of large animal surgery at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, has noticed some trends: For example, 33-50% of referred colic cases now go on to surgery while most of Four to 10 of every 100 horses experience a colic episode during their lifetime the rest are resolved with medical treatment. On the other hand, Dr. Eric Mueller, professor and director of equine programs at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine, reports that 25-30% of horses admitted to the university clinic for colic require surgery while the rest are treated with medical therapy.

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More Top Equine Studies of 2011 - May 12, 2012
2011’s Top Equine Studies - April 28, 2012
Feeding to Perform - March 18, 2012
The Science Behind Nutritional Supplements - February 18, 2012
Feeding the Estrous Cycle - January 28, 2012
The Invisible Disease - Stallion Register 2012
Vaccine Efficacy - December 10, 2011
Proper Nutrition for the Broodmare - November 12, 2011
Ulcers...For Life? - October 29, 2011
Tackling Tendon and Ligament Injuries - September 17, 2011
Putting Humpty Dumpty Back Together Again: Rehabilitation - August 16, 2011
The Equine Respiratory System - July 9, 2011
Baby Boot Camp: Prepping Yearlings - June 18, 2011
Deworming - May 14, 2011
Hoof Care for Racehorses - April 30, 2011
Farm and Barn Maintenance - April 16, 2011
Reproduction Takeaways from the AAEP Convention - March 12, 2011

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May 12, 2012 - More Top Equine Studies of 2011

Blood-Horse Staff — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:44:13 GMT

Held annually, the American Association of Equine Practitioners convention provides continuing educational opportunities for veterinarians, allowing them to gain information on what is new in research, to learn the latest on the cutting edge of technology, and to acquire invaluable insight from the experts. The April 28 issue of The Blood-Horse provided readers with some of the highlights from the 2011 AAEP convention, conducted this past November in San Antonio, Texas. This month’s Trade Zone continues looking at some of the topics of interest from that convention.

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The Science Behind Nutritional Supplements - February 18, 2012
Feeding the Estrous Cycle - January 28, 2012
The Invisible Disease - Stallion Register 2012
Vaccine Efficacy - December 10, 2011
Proper Nutrition for the Broodmare - November 12, 2011
Ulcers...For Life? - October 29, 2011
Tackling Tendon and Ligament Injuries - September 17, 2011
Putting Humpty Dumpty Back Together Again: Rehabilitation - August 16, 2011
The Equine Respiratory System - July 9, 2011
Baby Boot Camp: Prepping Yearlings - June 18, 2011
Deworming - May 14, 2011
Hoof Care for Racehorses - April 30, 2011
Farm and Barn Maintenance - April 16, 2011
Reproduction Takeaways from the AAEP Convention - March 12, 2011
Pre-Breeding Management of the Mare - February 12, 2011
Sound Check - January 15, 2011

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April 28, 2012 - 2011’s Top Equine Studies

aspradling — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:26:38 GMT

Each year, researchers publish hundreds of horse health studies. And each year at the convention of the American Association of Equine Practioners, three practitioners have the unique (and behemoth) task of deciding which to feature during the Kester News Hour.

This time Dr. Patrick M. McCue, associate professor of equine science at Colorado State University in Fort Collins; Dr. Scott E. Palmer, hospital director and staff surgeon at New Jersey Equine Clinic in Clarksburg, N.J.; and Dr. Steve Reed, associate at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, presented the top studies
in equine reproduction, surgery, and medicine, respectively.

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The Science Behind Nutritional Supplements - February 18, 2012
Feeding the Estrous Cycle - January 28, 2012
The Invisible Disease - Stallion Register 2012
Vaccine Efficacy - December 10, 2011
Proper Nutrition for the Broodmare - November 12, 2011
Ulcers...For Life? - October 29, 2011
Tackling Tendon and Ligament Injuries - September 17, 2011
Putting Humpty Dumpty Back Together Again: Rehabilitation - August 16, 2011
The Equine Respiratory System - July 9, 2011
Baby Boot Camp: Prepping Yearlings - June 18, 2011
Deworming - May 14, 2011
Hoof Care for Racehorses - April 30, 2011
Farm and Barn Maintenance - April 16, 2011
Reproduction Takeaways from the AAEP Convention - March 12, 2011
Pre-Breeding Management of the Mare - February 12, 2011
Sound Check - January 15, 2011

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