Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 11th, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from May 11th AHD Bulletin – Apologize properly when something goes wrong. Link. Cope wth work stress appropriately. Link. Your manners may need a makeover. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. Have you tried it … [Read more...]
And the green grass grows all around . . . but wait!
Spring! Pastures and hayfields are greening up. Lush stands of grass push skyward after a nice rain. A few seed heads start to develop and our noses get ready for that smell of the first cutting of hay. But wait . . . upon closer inspection, “oh no, ergot [ur-guht]!” Ergot is a fungus (Claviceps purpurea) that contaminates rye and wheat and produces substances called … [Read more...]
Battling the equine sarcoid
Sarcoids are the most common tumor in equids worldwide. However, no perfect treatment exists, writes Elizabeth Collar, DVM, PhD, DACVS-LA. She reviews possible treatment options for the wide range of variables that are present with each tumor. The article includes pictures that demonstrate tumors, treatments and treatment complications. Source: DVM 360, May 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Horse diving was a thing once upon a time
As bizarre, even cruel, as it might seem today, horse diving was a prime traveling attraction that found a steady home in Atlantic City from 1928 through 1977. Diana Hubbell shares the story of diving horses and their riders. Source: Atlas Obscura, May 9, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Is there an appropriate age for horses to wear leg wraps?
Protective boots designed specifically for the task at hand are better-suited for leg protection than wrapping, according to Matthew Mackay-Smith, DVM. He says to avoid wraps unless using them under veterinary direction for a specific treatment and comments on the value of stable bandages. Source: The Paulick Report, May 10, 2023. Link. A healthy horse does not need to … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 11, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 4th, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from May 4th AHD Bulletin – Establishing rapport. Link. Shaping the onboarding experience. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. 3 ways VMG is different from other veterinary membership organizations Source: … [Read more...]
Volunteers, veterinarians, vet students care for equine in rural Mexico
Rural Veterinary Experience Teaching and Service is a program that sends volunteer specialists and veterinary students to offer free care for hoses, mules and donkeys in remote areas of Mexica, Nicaragua and the United States. They’re also helping owners treat their animals more humanely than in generations past. The RVETS clinic fills a veterinary training gap as vet schools … [Read more...]
A female horse has been cloned from a male
Amazing! It’s been two years since two foals were cloned from a male horse. One became a colt. The other surprised researchers presenting as a filly. Today that filly still has a normally sized and shaped vulva and clitoris, along with an apparently normal uterus. The only noticeable abnormality is the underdevelopment of her ovaries. Source: The Horse, May 3, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Horse arena footing facts
Our recent post on the pros and cons of training horses in deep sand <Link> attracted considerable attention. In this article, Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA, shares what equine scientists are learning about footing and its connection to lameness and other health issues. Source: The Horse, July 13, 2022. Link. As studies on surfaces continue, we’re finding that the … [Read more...]
Horse bites are serious business
Portuguese researchers reported that horses are considered reservoirs of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Horses can spread bacteria in their mouths throughout the environment, to other animals and to humans through their saliva. . . . equine bite wounds should be taken seriously because of the plethora of highly resistant bacteria and its zoonotic capabilities found inside … [Read more...]
Study finds lifetime cost of horse can be 4 times higher than expected
On an annual basis, the all-in costs for owning a horse range from around $8,600 to $26,000, not including events or operating expenses, according to a Synchrony study. It estimates the lifetime costs range from $300,000 to $924,000. Source: DVM 360, April 26, 2023. Link. Helping horse owners clearly understand the full financial commitment and the financing options they … [Read more...]
At long last, a donkey family tree
Our relationship with donkeys goes far back in time. Franz Lidz shares what made the donkey a key character in human history, including a new study that combined genetics and archaeology to reveal the ancient origins of humanity’s first beast of burden. Source: The New York Times, March 14, 2023. Link. Also see: Search results for: donkey, AHD. Link. … [Read more...]
Equine vaccination cheat sheet
Use this AAEP Vaccination Guidelines-based cheat sheet to support immunization programs for individual horses and herds. It is also a great handout for 4-H and other group education events. Source: The Horse, April 25, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 27, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 20th, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from April 20th AHD Bulletin – Enhancing your customers’ experiences. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. Study says U.S. unprepared for dangers posed by zoonotic diseases Source: Vet Candy, February 13, 2023. … [Read more...]
Ramey: Which vaccinations are worth a shot for your horse?
Don't fall for all of the negative stuff that some people say about vaccines, says David Ramey, DVM. They aren't 100 percent effective at preventing disease, but they don't cause widespread harm, either. There are a lot of dopey things said about vaccines. Ramey shares information about individual vaccines and how likely they are to prevent the disease they are supposed to … [Read more...]
Making trailers a fly free zone
Complimentary Commercial Content Trailered animals can’t get away from those pesky flies. The author discusses precautions to minimize flies in trailers and allow horses to travel in comfort. The tips apply to trailering goats, calves and other animals as well. Source: Horse and Rider, April 10, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Spring is gas colic season
Lush green grass is showing up in pastures across the country. Cattle, goats, sheep and horses seek out the juiciest clumps of grass which are high in sugar. For horses, that can cause colic as excessive fermentation occurs in the gut creating a buildup of gas which doesn’t always find a way out of the horse. The result? Gas colic. Consider sharing this article with horse … [Read more...]
Animal slaughter is not the same as suffering
Maddy Butcher, author of “Beasts of Being: Partnerships Unburdened” and director of The Best Horse Practice Summit, wrote an opinion column that equine enthusiasts will appreciate. She also shares the realities of owning all kinds of animals. She wishes people with strong feelings about horse slaughter understood farm animals’ lives better, from birth to death. With no horse … [Read more...]
Vector-borne disease screening critical to pet health
To help veterinarians stay ahead of the curve and provide the best care to their patients, this article explores why comprehensive screening is critical to pet health. It includes key insights into a lesser-known tick-borne disease that has become more frequently detected than Lyme. “Anaplasma is becoming the most common vector-borne infection they’re seeing dogs are exposed … [Read more...]
The 5 most trusted pet retailers in 2023
Five pet retailers were recognized on Newsweek’s second annual Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2023 list. The list includes Amazon, Chewy, PetSmart and PetCo in the retail category top 10. Tractor Supply was not mentioned in the article but took 10th place. Walmart was ranked 25th. <Link> Source: Pet Product News, April 7, 2023. Link. Also see: Franchising is … [Read more...]
Efforts to save endangered equine breeds
“Heritage-breed horses are not just useful and beautiful—they are an irreplaceable reservoir of equine genetic diversity,” says Charlene R. Couch, PhD. “These animals offer valuable traits that were developed over centuries, such as stamina, unique gaits, hardiness, sound feet and good skeletal structure.” The ancestral sources of many of the heritage breeds no longer exist … [Read more...]
Remember the social aspect of working with mules and horses (video)
Arkansas mule trainer Bob Smith shares the approach he uses with mules like Red in this informative video. We often leave the social aspect behind when we’re working with mules and horses. Too often we ignore the social nature and focus on what we want them to do for us . . . ” – Bob Smith Source: Missouri Mule Makeover/Ozark Mule Days, Facebook, March 30, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Is climate change accelerating the risk of disease spreading from animals to humans? (video)
Scientists researching the aftermath of California wildfires say they are finding evidence that climate change is accelerating the risk of disease spreading from animals to humans. Historical evidence linking the climate to zoonotic disease is growing . . .” Miles O’Brien Source: PBS, March 1, 2023. Link. (7:37) INSIGHTS: Forward-thinking scientists are working to advance … [Read more...]
Hauser: Reverse the downward trend of pets missing vet care
There are many factors that cause pets to miss vital regular health care. Veterinary practices cannot afford to ignore trends showing fewer patient visits. Wendy Hauser, DVM, identifies three primary drivers for why patients don’t get needed veterinary care as: Client economic limitations The owner’s inability to access care A lack of communication Too many pet … [Read more...]
Essential safety rules to follow when around horses
Jack Benton shared the cowboy after OSHA inspection image in 2016 <Link>. While absurd, it makes a point. Injuries to riders and handlers often increase as the excitement to return to riding increases during spring. It is important to reinforce safety guidelines considering many horses were handled infrequently during the winter months. Jennifer Forsbery Meyers’ basic … [Read more...]
Review: Multiple reasons for equine deaths during foaling
Complications during foaling are a predominant cause of death and disease in foals and mares regardless of the difficulty of the birth. In a review of cases, researchers categorized deaths into five groups based on the primary organ system associated with the cause of death. Their results showed the most-common reasons for death were: fatal lesions in the gastrointestinal … [Read more...]
Those dirty flies . . .
Warmer spring weather is also the start of fly season and no matter where you live, flies can be a problem. Our AHD archives offer many resources on fly control. Getting started now, can help keep fly populations from growing out of control. Source: Search results for fly control, AHD Archives. Link. … [Read more...]
Soft tissue therapy opening new doors in equine wellness (video)
Soft tissue therapy is proving to be a powerful tool in the fight for animal wellness. It is increasingly becoming an important part of the conversation about how to care for horses and help them reach their full potential. Well-known for his viral TikTok videos, Christian Langeder explains how massage and other soft tissue treatments can help horses feel better physically … [Read more...]
Unraveling the mysteries of recurrent colic
While scientists are starting to get a better handle on recurrent colic and recognize new aspects of its multifaceted complexity, it requires a team approach to manage it. Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA, discusses causes, prevention and treatment of this painful and challenging condition that sometimes ends with euthanasia. Source: The Horse, March 21, 2023. … [Read more...]
Many clinical trials need patients; here’s how you can help
Clinical trials are critical to discover new treatments and deepen our understanding of diseases. The AVMA Animal Health Studies database connects you with veterinary clinical trials reported by researchers. There are a wide variety of opportunities to contribute as a veterinarian or as an animal owner with veterinarian support. Source: AVMA. Link. … [Read more...]