Sharing the perspectives and experiences of researchers at the Clinical Endocrinology Laboratory at the University of California-Davis, Megan Arszman covers the gamut regarding spaying of female horses in this article. Sudden changes in a horse’s behavior or performance can be many things besides hormones, explain the researchers. Source: The Paulick Report, March 15, 2024. … [Read more...]
Skinny horses can founder, too
Low levels of adiponectin, a hormone from fat deposits, reflect an increased risk of laminitis. Traditionally thought to be a problem in obese horses, new study results show that obesity is not a reliable indicator of laminitis risk and poor metabolic health. Body condition score alone should not be used to assess metabolic risk factors in horses: thinner horses may still have … [Read more...]
Pathologist sees shift in causes of California racehorse fatalities
Francisco A. Uzal, MS, DVM, PhD, is in charge of the necropsy program at the University of California, which examines any horse that dies on a state-sanctioned racetrack. He believes various state- and track-level reforms, as well as the increased availability of high-tech imaging modalities, has allowed officials and trainers to intervene before a horse suffers an orthopedic … [Read more...]
Nose twitches versus ear twitches – different impacts and welfare considerations
Twitching is used to help subdue horses and avoid using drugs. Twitching the upper lip causes endorphins that kick in as soon as the twitch is activated and subside once the twitch is removed without any sedative effect. An alternative method involves twitching the ear which likely involves fear or stress compared to lip twitching. … the use of a nose twitch could be … [Read more...]
Rebound gastric hyperacidity in horses after discontinuing omeprazole
Omeprazole is often used to treat equine gastric ulcer syndrome and is effective when the horse is being dosed daily. Once treatment stops, the ulcers may recur rapidly. Glandular ulcers may recur as rapidly as within three days. Tapering the medication dose is unlikely to minimize this rebound effect as previously thought. Australian researchers found gastrin production in … [Read more...]
Equine experts refute standard cooling out practices; restricting water to hot horses
Two experts challenge some standard practices asserting horses need to rehydrate promptly after exercise so their body's cooling mechanisms function effectively, especially if the horse is receiving the diuretic Lasix (furosemide). They also shared thoughts on hosing horses down and using cooling sheets. “A horse has to sweat; it's their basic mechanism to dissipate heat. . … [Read more...]
Causes of surgical site infection unclear in post-colic surgeries
Commentary Surgical site infections are a major concern regardless of the species. There are myriad articles and studies of specific surgery types and conditions. Surgery suite sanitation and infection control papers add more content to libraries. Estimates suggest that four percent to 10 percent of horses will experience colic at least once in their lifetimes. Although … [Read more...]
The horse owner’s role in fighting gastric ulcer syndrome
With treatment and care information given in different forms yearly, it's assumed most owners will follow prescribed actions to help their horses battle their gastric ulcers. But, it requires owners to make adjustments to their daily routines. Ideally, the ulcer medication omeprazole needs to be given to horses on an empty stomach to allow the stomach to thoroughly absorb … [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...]
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...]
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...]
Do opossum feces guarantee EPM transmission?
Equine protozoal myeloencephalitiscan can spread to horses who eat hay, feed or drink water that is contaminated with opossum feces. EPM is a rare disease. Studies suggest that about one third of opossums are infected in Missouri compared to one tenth of opossums infected in Michigan. Not every horse that eats contaminated feed develops EPM and not every opossum is infected … [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...]
Nearly 100 U.S. horses suspected ill with botulism, 45 have died
Horse owners are being asked to not feed Top of the Rockies alfalfa cubes as U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with state departments of agriculture in Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas, continue to investigate the illness and deaths of horses suspected to have contracted botulism from it. Source: The Paulick Report, December 16, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Ramey: Can horses have mental illness?
There's no objective way to tell if a horse might have mental illness, writes David Ramey, DVM. While he thinks it's possible, it is admittedly hard to tell. Source: The Paulick Report, August 22, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
In case you missed the 148th Kentucky Derby
Coming from way back in the field, late entry Rich Strike wins at 80:1. Watch his incredible Run for the Roses. Source: BLOODHORSE, May 7, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
4 ways to determine if a horse is overweight
Just as humans are, horses are also affected by obesity. Multiple systems have been developed to help owners keep an eye on their horses’ weight and work towards an ideal scale reading. Source: The Paulick Report, March 28, 2016. As is true for humans, this added weight comes a host of potential damaging health issues. For horses, these health issues can include laminitis, … [Read more...]
Dental health dictates overall horse health
Horses require regular dental care, just like humans. Because of the way domestic horses are fed, they need annual, or sometimes semi-annual, checkups and floats by veterinarians or equine dentists. Floating prevents sharp points from forming on the edges of their teeth. Source: The Paulick Report, March 28, 2016 Horses get sharp points or unevenness on their teeth when … [Read more...]
Thwart thrush in 3 steps
Thrush is a bacterial infection of the hoof and frog* that is caused by constantly standing in wet muddy ground. This prevents hooves from drying out and firming up, which leads to infection. Read on to discover three ways to prevent thrush. Source: The Paulick Report, March 29, 2016 Thrush, which thrives in wet, unsanitary conditions, affects the frog of the horse's hoof. … [Read more...]
Technology improves equine lameness evaluation
Equine lameness exams have historically been performed by a clinician who assigns subjective lameness score value to what he or she observes. While this method has been somewhat effective, opinions and abilities to see a lameness can vary greatly between veterinarians. Tools now exist to provide for a more objective evaluations of lameness. Source: The Paulick Report, March … [Read more...]
Inflammatory biomarkers: horses’ early warning system?
Developing research into equine soft tissue damage and biomarker identification could help veterinarians and trainers identify or prevent these injuries. While research is still ongoing, there have been important discoveries about Serum Amyloid A (SAA), a protein released from the liver at the early stage of inflammation. Currently, this is more of a method to ensure that a … [Read more...]
California foal survives type A botulism
A 10-day old California foal originally suspected of having a fractured vertebrae was diagnosed with a type A Clostridium botulinum toxicoinfection. Treatment with plasma containing antibodies to C. botulinum type B and C toxins and subsequently types A, B and C2, along with supportive therapies, allowed the foal to be discharged after a 30-day stay in the clinic. Source: … [Read more...]