The type of hay a horse eats can influence his susceptibility to photic reactions. St. John’s wort, buckwheat and other plants have been found to contain compounds that can cause photosensitive reactions. Research published in 2016 from the University of California–Davis confirms that alfalfa hay can induce primary photosensitive reactions in horses, although the exact … [Read more...]
Heat exhaustion versus heat stroke in horses (podcast)
Jeanette "Jay" Mero, DVM, outlines the clinical signs of heat exhaustion and stroke in horses in these editions of the podcast. Consider sharing the podcasts with animal owners on social media and in newsletters now as horses are being transported to field activities, local fairs and shows or for rodeo events. Source: Ask the Horse Podcast, July 20, 2119. Link. (2:00) This … [Read more...]
Nutrition for equine hoof health; feeding the foot
Commentary Horses, like us, need proper nutrition for healthy skin and nails (and hooves). The hoof is a living organ. A horse’s diet plays a crucial role in the quality and durability of the horn that makes up his hooves. Lynn Taylor, PhD, and Ashley Wagner, PhD, shed light on the dos and don’ts of feeding for optimal hoof health in this article. Today’s diet is … [Read more...]
Avoid algae in horse and livestock water troughs
Working to maintain algae-free water helps keep horses drinking as temperatures rise. Here are two resources addressing algae growth suitable for sharing with horse and livestock owners on social media or in newsletters. Frequent water tank cleaning is important, especially in warm months and especially with plastic tanks.” Clair Thunes, PhD, says most algae don’t pose a … [Read more...]
Study: PRP gel accelerates skin wound healing in horses
A scientist in Pakistan recently shared study results that indicate using platelet-rich plasma can be a safe, effective approach to hastening wound healing in horses. Muhammad Talha Sajjad, DVM, MPhil, PhD, found PRP gel encourages re-epithelialization and accelerates skin wound healing by promoting wound contraction and stabilization of the collagen fiber arrangement. … [Read more...]
Concerns rise as drought reduces hay supply
Early-season drought conditions across much of the country have affected the hay supply. Beyond basic availability, there are concerns about nutritional value, dependability of the hay source and what is in hay bought from an outside source. Whether buying hay for horses or cattle, there are important considerations to get the quality and value animals need. The five … [Read more...]
How horses heat up and cool down varies considerably
To better understand how horses’ body temperatures increase during exercise, researchers used a smart thermometer horses swallow as a pill. They confirmed that horses cool down at different rates, suggesting generalized protocols for avoiding heat stroke might not be ideal for all horses. Source: The Horse, April 19, 2023. Link. The gastrointestinal pill has been a reliable … [Read more...]
How horse wounds heal (infographic)
Complimentary Sponsored Content Consider this visual guide to educate horse owners about the four stages of wound repair and the steps required to help horse wounds heal. Source: The Horse, June 7, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Understanding proud flesh
As a horse’s wound begins to heal, pinkish granulation tissue fills in the gaps between soft tissues. Granulation tissue normally stops forming as the skin edges grow together to close the wound. But when healing doesn’t go according to plan, the granulation tissue becomes exuberant. It keeps growing until it bulges above skin level keeping newly formed skin from growing over … [Read more...]
Managing horse wounds, bandage or not?
Researchers are working to determine whether bandaging is the best option and in what circumstances. Marcio Costa, DVM, PhD, and colleagues evaluated the wound-healing process in four study horses, with and without bandaging, as well as the types of bacteria colonizing those wounds. All the wounds developed bacteria colonies, but the kinds and amounts of bacteria varied … [Read more...]
Handling horse wounds from sterilization to stitches
When an injury is found on a horse communicating with a veterinarian is a priority and the sooner the better. Alexandra Tracey, DVM, Dipl. ACVS-LA, and Dean Hendrickson, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, weigh in on the dos and don’ts of wound care, from discovery to recovery. Before choosing a wait-and-see approach horse owners should be encouraged to relay as much information as possible … [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...]
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...]
Advances in equine infectious disease detection
Commentary Articles like this help set the expectations horse owners have of their veterinarians. For practices that derive 10 or more percent of their income from horse clients, sharing this article and discussing aspects of testing, vaccination and prevention needs to be considered with annual exams or visits. Proactive discussions lead to better prepared horse owners, … [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...]
Fighting foot funk
Heather Smith Thomas shares the importance of regular hoof care. Mud and moisture can soften and impair the hoof’s structural integrity, making it vulnerable to hoof infections like thrush, white line disease and abscesses she says. Source: The Horse, March 13, 2023. Link. Keeping the hoof clean and dry is important, rather than just using various hoof-strengthening paints … [Read more...]
Risk of laminitis after corticosteroid joint injections may have been overstated
Researchers have concluded that intra-articular corticosteroids injections are only weakly associated with laminitis, so long as the horse doesn't have additional risk factors or a history of laminitis. The overall incidence of laminitis due to IA corticosteroid injection might be lower than many believe.” Source: The Paulick Report, February 4, 2023. Link. The researchers … [Read more...]
Dental issues can cause horses to act up
Anna Mykkanen, DVM, PhD shares the results from a study to determine the type, number, and degree of cheek tooth findings that cause behavioral signs associated with dental pain. Regular oral examinations are key to the early recognition of equine dental disease and preventing the development of painful conditions.” Source: The Horse, February 26, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Foal pneumonia requires aggressive management to avoid long term effects
We’ve assembled three articles addressing pneumonia for consideration during the foaling season now underway. Pneumonia is very common in foals and can affect up to 10 percent of all foals, writes Nimet Browne, DVM, MPH, Dipl. ACVIM1. Although foal pneumonia can be quite severe, with aggressive management foals can recover and go on to lead normal lives. A foal’s immune … [Read more...]
Managing equine osteoarthritis during cold weather
Complimentary Commercial Content With winter progressing, horses with osteoarthritis often experience pain, deformity, loss of motion and decreased function. OA can affect any joint especially the carpus, fetlock, hock and stifles. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health U.S. shares tips on recognizing OA, keeping horses moving, general winter practices and the option of using … [Read more...]
Equine anaplasmosis easily confused with Potomac horse fever
Darned ticks! Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum* that infects white blood cells. The Anaplasma organism typically infects horses from late fall to early spring and is spread by Ixodes ticks* which also spread Lyme disease, says Jean-Yin Tan, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM. *previously known as Ehrlichia phagocytophila and Ehrlichia … [Read more...]
The pros and cons of orthobiologics in horses
Orthobiologics* appear to be key tools in improving equine health and welfare, writes Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc, summarizing a presentation at the September Northeast Association of Equine Practitioners Convention. All orthobiologics use the body’s natural physiologic processes to reduce inflammation and facilitate the repair of injured tissues. Oke shares key concepts … [Read more...]
The impending equine health care crisis
The supply of equine veterinarians is diminishing rapidly writes Emma Read, DVM, MVSc, Dipl. ACVS. She shares ways horse owners can help. Asking for help from our clients is not a comfortable position for . . . many horse doctors. Clients play a huge role in the much-needed transformation of equine practice. We can’t do it without them working together for horses.” Source: … [Read more...]
Location, activities determine fall vaccine needs
Elizabeth Davis, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, presents the AAEP’s vaccine guidelines as fall approaches and horses get boosters or vaccines for the first time. She emphasizes the importance of core vaccines, plus evaluating risk-based inoculations based on lifestyle, geography, planned travel and more. Source: The Horse, August 25, 2022. Link. Consider all factors that keep horses … [Read more...]
Equine joint injections: case by case
It’s well known that horse medicine is practiced on a per horse basis. When considering joint injections, the approach can be complicated by a horse’s age, purpose and health. Chris White, DVM, shares how veterinarians approach various scenarios. While joint injection techniques are well-documented, the tricky part is what goes into the syringe. Gone are the days of simple … [Read more...]
The all-important prepurchase exam of a horse
Chris White, DVM, shares what to expect and the value of a pre-purchase exam of a horse a client is considering buying. There’s nothing worse for DVMs than performing a post-purchase exam on a horse that didn’t receive a PPE and delivering the news that a new equine companion has terrible navicular changes or severe kissing spines” - Chris White, DVM Source: The Horse, July … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 30, 2022
Last week’s most read posts Vaccine guide is helpful for newbies and pros. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, June 23, 2022. Link. =================================== If we love our pets so much, why do we treat their veterinarians so poorly? Source: Boston Globe, February 15, 2022. Link. “They give their all to our … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 12, 2022
Last week’s most read posts The Great Resignation is becoming a great midlife crisis. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, April 28, 2022. Link. =================================== The cost of pet care for cats is often underestimated Source: Catster, April 22, 2022. Link. Cost findings for annual and lifetime spending are … [Read more...]
Hives in horses may not need treatment
Horses encounter skin conditions as do other animals. Urticaria is one of the more common skin diseases in horses. A healthy immune system normally keeps the barrage of ever present of microorganisms at bay, writes Nancy Loving, DVM. Hives are a clinical sign rather than a specific disease, she explains. But when a horse’s immune response overreacts to a noninfectious cause, … [Read more...]