Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc, reveals new paths for using stem cells and other biologics to help horses heal in this article. She shares the 20-year progress with stem cell development to treating tendons and ligaments, musculoskeletal issues and other conditions; cell-less therapy; and new ways of efficiently producing large numbers of stem cells. Oke provides an eye-opening … [Read more...]
Diagonal transmission of West Nile virus
In what amounts to another reason for mosquito population control, a recent study by the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development showed mosquitoes might also transmit WNV to other mosquitoes diagonally through their feces*. Thinking more broadly, the study authors suggest a “potential for diagonal transmission to act as a transmission bridge for … [Read more...]
Equine grass sickness: a global concern?
Equine grass sickness is a devastating disease with an 80 percent mortality rate and is almost exclusively seen in horses eating fresh, green grass ,in pasture. EGS is more widespread than initially thought, writes Tanith Harte, PhD who is working to expand knowledge and record the prevalence. Keep EGS in the back of your mind the next time you’re faced with an unresponsive … [Read more...]
Horse health issues associated with different stabling types
Researchers in Sweden recently evaluated the health differences between horses stabled in open environments with social interaction and free movement and horses stabled in stalls, explains Nancy Loving, DVM. The study authors concluded it’s best to stable horses in group housing with sufficient space and minimize regrouping of horses when possible.” Source: EquiManagement, … [Read more...]
Evaluating fecal microbiota transplant for treating diarrhea in adult horses
Nancy S. Loving, DVM, shares the results of research that evaluated the efficacy of fecal microbiota transplants in equine enterocolitis cases. The technique involves feces collected from a healthy equine donor. After straining the material, the veterinarian administers fecal fluid to a recipient horse via a nasogastric tube. Conclusions from this retrospective study … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 11, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 4, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the April 4th AHD Bulletin – Let’s stop calling them soft skills. They’re interpersonal skills. Leadership skills. Link. Finding joy. Link. The role of vehicle movement in swine disease transmission. Link. ===================================== Smells … [Read more...]
A majority of horse owners feel some sort of anxiety about horse expenditures
A Synchrony/Care Credit study published in April 2023 estimated the lifetime cost of horse ownership ranges from $300,000 to $924,000 <Link>. The lifetime costs of owning a horse can be four times higher than expected <Link> and calculating costs can be complicated. Pat Raia shared ways to budget and learn about the cost of owning a horse in August 2023 … [Read more...]
Comprehensive overview of Lyme disease in horses (audio recording)
The clinical signs of Lyme disease in horses are controversial. Toby Pinn-Woodcock, DVM, DACVIM, provides a comprehensive overview of the disease, including clinical signs, testing recommendations, treatments and vaccination protocols. Source: EquiManagement, Disease DuJour, January 29, 2024. Link. (26:35) Borrelia burgdorferi in horses should always be a diagnosis of … [Read more...]
An update on multi-drug-resistant parasites in horses
During a University of Kentucky equine vet CE event, Martin Nielsen, DVM, PhD, DACVM, DEVPC, DVSc, provided attendees with an update on the current state of parasite drug resistance, as well as the most current guidelines for diagnosing drug resistance in horses. He shared equine-practitioner-specific recommendations that will appear in an updated version of the AAEP’s … [Read more...]
Equine asthma and obesity
Environmental conditions are routinely associated with airway health and disease. In her research, Michelle Coleman, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, identified a gut-lung axis as an integrated system with bi-directional cross-talk between the lungs and intestines. In obese horses, the microbiome is different than in a non-obese horse and increases the risk of developing equine … [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...]
Pelvic bone stress and fatigue fractures in endurance horses
There are pros and cons of training horses in deep sand. Researchers investigated how footing affects equine athletes. While muscles adapt to the sand environments their findings show endurance horses training and competing in deep sand are at risk of pelvic fractures or bone stress injuries. Source: EquiManagement, May 1, 2023. Link. An endurance horse that works in deep … [Read more...]
AAEP Commission on Veterinary Sustainability: Compensation Matters
1,378 respondents completed a survey from the compensation subcommittee of the AAEP's Commission on Equine Veterinary Sustainability. This article shares some of the survey results and opportunities. The average salaries for those in the graduation years 2016–2019 was $88,973 for example. The charge of the committee is “To ensure that members understand what current … [Read more...]
Effects of transport and exercise on intestinal permeability in horses
The combination of trailer transport and exercise increases gastrointestinal permeability and markers of systemic inflammation in horses.” Nancy S. Loving, DVM, reviews a study published this month in Equine Veterinary Journal Source: EquiManagement, February 8, 2023. Link. While there are other possible explanations for the increase in gastrointestinal permeability, … [Read more...]
Horse eye blink rates and stress
In the absence of stress, horses blink eight to nine times per minute. Eyelid twitches occur two times per minute, writes Nancy Loving, DVM. She shares key details from a study at the University of Guelph that monitored eye blinks and eyelid twitches as a non-invasive measure of stress in horses. Several stressors were used to test the validity of using blink rate as an … [Read more...]
AAEP Commission for Equine Veterinary Sustainability created (video)
The AAEP has formed the AAEP Commission on Equine Veterinary Sustainability as part of a campaign to transform and sustain equine practice intended to reverse downward trends. The Commission will develop, oversee and assist with the execution of programs designed to increase the sustainability of equine practice for the betterment of the equine veterinarian and the welfare … [Read more...]
CT scans of headshaking horses studied
Potential conditions that could provoke headshaking include dental diseases, osseous and articular disease, and sinusitis, says Nancy S. Loving, DVM. She reviews the findings from a retrospective study of 103 cases of headshaking. CT findings, targeted treatments and treatment success were evaluated. In her summary, Loving says 94 horses had relevant pathologic findings. The … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – November 17, 2022
Last week’s most read posts – Horse owners’ survival guide for fall. Link. Last AHD Bulletin - Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, November 10, 2022. Link. ================================================================= 45 days remain in 2022 Source: time and date.com, November 17, 2022. Link. 43 days remain excluding holidays but only 30 days … [Read more...]
Knowing what equine lab tests to take can speed diagnoses
Kimberly S. Brown discusses lab testing with Toby Pinn-Woodcock, DVM, DACVIM, in this episode or Disease Du Jour. The objective is to help veterinarians in the field better understand which samples to send to the lab to help diagnose a sick horse. Knowing what samples to take, how to store them properly and how quickly they need to get to a lab is critical in learning more … [Read more...]
Ambulatory assistants add value for farm-call DVMs
Twenty-plus years ago, an equine veterinarian shared his troubles with keeping inventory, invoices, medical records and follow-ups current. The discussion led me to suggest he consider hiring a person to be his shadow. A few months later, he called to say thank you. He said the assistant had captured more than double the wages in lost charges alone in the first 90 days. Amy … [Read more...]
Disease Du Jour: Tips about senior horse management
Complimentary Content sponsored by Merck Animal Health The two most common things we deal with in our old horse population is lamenesses and endocrine dysfunction, says Dianne McFarlane, DVM, PhD, MS, Dip ACVIM, referencing research results. The endocrine dysfunction is mostly about Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), as well as insulin … [Read more...]
Equine Disease Communication Center review of diseases
Complimentary Sponsored Content The Equine Disease Communication Center is an industry-driven initiative that works to protect horses and the horse industry from the threat of infectious diseases in North America. EDCC is designed to seek and report real-time information about diseases, similar to how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention alerts the human population … [Read more...]
5 tips to engage equine owners in wellness care
Complimentary Content from Covetrus and Zoetis Amy L. Grice, VMD, MBA, shares tips for encouraging clients to embrace wellness care, including vaccinations provided by a veterinarian: Wellness Wednesday post Virtual or in-person event Create a template for your region Develop a wellness plan including some bundling Consider raising your emergency fees, … [Read more...]
Disease Du Jour podcast: New equine vet skill sets
Complimentary Sponsored Content The equine veterinary community is worried about two large problems when it comes to new veterinarians joining the industry. One is getting new vets who have sufficient skills to begin in practice. The second is keeping equine veterinarians to stay in practice within the first five years of graduation. Source: EquiManagement, March 25, … [Read more...]
Hoof wall and coronary band injuries in horses
Complimentary Sponsored Content Dr. Craig Lesser DVM and AFA Certified Farrier, discusses hoof wall and coronary band injuries in horses in this episode of the Disease Du Juor podcast. Source: EquiManagement, January 28, 2021. Link. Topics covered in this podcast include: What are the most common hoof wall issues veterinarians see and solution? Abscesses Hoof … [Read more...]
Disease du jour: Eastern equine encephalitis
Disease Du Jour content is sponsored by Merck Animal Health EEE is one of the most dangerous diseases on the planet for both horses and people," said Maureen T. Long, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, of Eastern equine encephalitis during her Disease Du Jour webinar/podcast. She emphasizes the role of veterinarians in surveillance of EEE in protecting humans, including the importance of … [Read more...]
Equine wound management (podcast)
In this episode of Disease Du Jour, equine wound issues are presented by Earl Gaughan, DVM, DACVS, a technical services veterinarian with Merck Animal Health. Source: EquiManagement, June 18, 2020. Link. History and duration of wounding is important . . . there’s a difference between wounds that are acutely noticed versus one that has acutely occurred” – Earl Gaughan, DVM, … [Read more...]
Managing wounds; an equine DVM’s perspective (podcast)
If you own horses, there will be wounds. Merck technical services veterinarian Earl Gaughan, DVM, DACVS, breaks down wound management from the veterinarian’s eyes. Evaluating the horse’s health first is important before attending to the wound. A wound happens from the outside in but diagnostics need to happen from the inside out” - Earl Gaughan, DVM, DACVS Source: … [Read more...]
Disease DuJour podcasts cover equine health problems
EquiManagement’s podcast series delves into the research and current best practices for a variety of equine health problems. Expert podcasts hosts include: Rob Holland, DVM Bonnie Barr, DVM Tom Chambers, DVM Tom Riddle, DVM Dr. Steve Reed, DVM Source: Disease DuJour. Link. INSIGHTS: These podcasts are great resources for veterinarians and especially for … [Read more...]
AAEP risk-based vaccinations
This article provides a refresher for equine veterinary teams. Veterinarians are uniquely positioned to understand the risks posed to individual horses because of where they live, the lifestyles to which owners expose them and the diseases that are active in a practice area. Reviewing the facts about equine diseases that can be prevented or minimized through vaccination is … [Read more...]