Equine Medicine

Maintenance of excellent health and biosecurity standards at the level of the farm is the MOST effective way of maintaining an outbreak-free industry. All disease outbreaks have an index case and all index cases have a point of origin. Because horses are usually maintained at a "home" farm, then the origin of any outbreak should be traced back to the farm level.

Infectious and non-infectious hemolymphatic diseases generally present with the same clinical symptoms due to cardiovascular insult, lack of tissue oxygenation and possible impending cardiovascular collapse.

The main advantage of genomic strategies for testing is that a live organism is not necessarily needed for diagnosis. While the fact that diagnosis based on molecular techniques does not require live organism, DNA and RNA are subject to the same microbiological, biochemical and physical factors as live organism for degradation.

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen and is a significant cause of hospital acquired (nosocomial) infection of surgical wounds and infections associated with indwelling medical devices. Staphylococcus aureus can colonize the skin and nares of humans which facilitate its transmission, particularly in the healthcare setting.

Salmonella enteriticus, Neorickettsia risticii (Potomac Horse Fever), Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens are most commonly associated with infectious diarrhea in adults. Foals can have a variety of agents including viral causes and bacterial such as Lawsonia intracellularis.

Neurological disease represents 0.3% (affecting between 0.2 and 0.5% of horses depending on age) of all health problems identified by owners in the latest 2005 Equine National Animal Health and Monitoring Study (NAHMS).14 Likely this is much higher given losses in young horses due to non-infectious neurological causes, in all ages of horses from underreporting of encephalitis, and misdiagnoses of these diseases as lameness and trauma.

The clinical signs of VEE are similar to both EEE and VEE with a large variation in mortality ranging from 40-90% depending on the outbreak. In addition to subclinical and overt CNS clinical signs, diarrhea has been observed in VEE horses. Florida, Texas, and Louisiana are the three states ecologically at risk but recent activity in Panama could result in a transported case by air travel.

The deliberate induction of active immunity to an agent by exposure to the agent or to non-replicating components, with the intent of inducing protective immunity to challenge with a virulent infectious agent, is termed "vaccination". Actively acquired immunity is that provided by an antigen specific response of the challenged host's own immune system in response to materials recognized as non-self.

Veterinarians are the first line of defense against infectious disease outbreaks. Current problem and case based equine medicine likely does not prepare new graduates in outbreak control. Control of an infectious disease is based on correct application of the principles of population biology and transmission dynamics of a particular infectious organism, basic microbiology, and basic epidemiology.

What not to do if you suspect a horse is infected with anthrax.

Many horse breeds have a defining characteristic-such as a dishy face or a distinctive color. Study the trait pictured and see if you can determine the breed. Then test your knowledge by clicking the "next" button to see the answer. Start with the horse below.

This revolutionary identification system may be coming soon to a horse paddock near you

A slobbering horse can signify anything from mild to serious, even fatal disease.

The intralesional use of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in horses to boost tissue repair after tendon and ligament injuries has rapidly gained in popularity.

Why laminitis is not a big concern when performing this procedure.

A new bill in Texas could bring to an end to the debate over equine dentistry.

A Q&A with small-animal oncologist specialist Dr. Stephen Withrow.

The arsenal of treatments available for patients with deep-seated glial tumors continues to grow.

Equine genital cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer in horses, may be triggered by a newly identified papillomavirus, known as EcPV-2.

Dr. Mark Epstein reviews local blocks and strategies for effective administration.

The extremely rapid rate of growth of these lesions and the generally fatal outcome in these cases makes remembering this disease crucial for equine practitioners since early recognition and appropriate treatment are the only hope for survival for infected horses.

Although it might seem logical that geriatric horses would show decreased survival rates compared with younger, mature horses, recent studies show this may not be the case.

A court ruling temporarily disabled the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners from taking action against non-DVM teeth floaters.

Research on using sublingual detomidine in horses to produce mild sedation is getting some serious attention.

One practitioner's 13-step protocol to help horses suffering from this painful condition.

The NASC seeks to protect and enhance the integrity of the animal health product industry.

This breeding technique can help with both mare and stallion management.

Researchers at Colorado State University with cooperation from the USDA have conducted a cross-sectional study looking at the state of biosecurity at Colorado equine boarding facilities and developed a questionnaire for self-evaluation of infectious disease control programs.

The goal of this study was to describe the farrier services currently available at these private hospitals with the expectation that the findings will increase the quality and availability of these services and improve veterinarian-farrier relationships.

The AAEP Clinical Guidelines for Veterinarians Practicing in a Pari-Mutuel Environment are designed as an evolving document to recommend various veterinary procedures "to put the health and safety of racing horses first."