Equine Medicine

It's a painful, disfiguring disease that may strike horses as early as 2 years of age, then over time cause formation of large nodules that interfere with normal pastern movement, permanent skin ulceration and lameness, eventually leading to the animals' early demise.

National Report -- An outbreak of contagious equine metritis (CEM) that began more than three months ago now involves 711 horses in 46 states, as state and federal veterinary investigators continue to look for the source.

Researchers knew that the equine genome project eventually would lead to monumental discoveries and new methods of diagnosis and treatment of significant benefit to the horse.

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health (ISPAH) is partnering with equine practitioners and UC Davis to improve the strategies veterinarians use to attack equine respiratory issues-identifying diseases before they spread in order to target specific pathogens with tailor-made vaccines and better biosecurity programs.

Minerals, though they make up only a small percentage of the equine diet, are critical - especially for the health of foals.

Sacramento, Calif. -- A California lawmaker is seeking to make cattle tail docking illegal.

Lawrence, Kan. -- A company that does research work on racehorse disorders is planning on moving from New York to Kansas.

National Report - Investigators tracing a wide-ranging outbreak of contagious equine metritis (CEM) made important discoveries and took steps to halt the infectious reproductive disease, but after nearly two months the origin remains elusive and quarantines and testings continue.

There are many treatment options available to equine practitioners dealing with injuries to tendons and ligaments and an equally large number of drugs, techniques and modalities that can be used to help manage joint problems in the athletic horse.

Washington - It took three veterinarians and a dozen other workers two hours to free a 10-year-old horse at the start of the inauguration parade Jan. 20.

A healing science that dates back thousands of years in another culture has gained acceptance in recent years as a method of diagnosing and treating lameness in horses.

Fort Collins, Colo. -- A blood test that can show whether a horse has minor bone damage long before it develops into more serious problems shows a high success rate in tests and should be coming to the market soon.

Baton Rouge, La. -- A barn at the New Orleans Fair Grounds Race Course was placed under quarantine Dec. 26 after two horses tested positive for the equine herpes virus (EHV-1).

Columbus, Ohio -- For more than 12 years, Dr. James Belknap has lead the way in laminitis research. His work is being rewarded with more work in the form of an $82,000 grant to continue his research on laminitis.

National report -- Four confirmed cases of contagious equine metritis (CEM) in Kentucky last month triggered an investigation that so far involves all but 12 states, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health inspection Service (APHIS).

Lexington, Ky. - What are some of the cutting-edge techniques to improve equine fertility and reproduction?

You want to believe. You really do. And there are many well-known horsemen, doctors, physicists and PhD's telling you that you should.

Lexington, Ky. -- State officials are asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to declare a state of emergency in Kentucky following the discovery of three cases of contagious equine metritis (CEM), a venereal disease that causes infertility in mares.

Lexington, Ky. - A retrospective study of 57 horses treated for proliferative enteropathy aims to help equine practitioners make a timely diagnosis.

The allure of telemedicine is appealing, especially to equine practitioners. Instead of long days behind the windshield or slaving over a horse's mouth on the hottest day of the year, you can be sitting in your air conditioned office-looking at a computer screen, answering questions and solving problems.

Austin, Texas -- Creating a bank of stem cells genetically matched to individual horses is the goal of a newly announced partnership between Austin-based Viagen Inc. and the Monash Institute of Melbourne, Australia.

Tallahassee, Fla. -- No horses that tested positive for piroplasmosis during a nearly two-month investigation remain on Florida premises, the state's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced, although six properties remain under quarantine.

A BAL should not be performed on a horse with overt respiratory distress, tachycardia or pulmonary hypertension.

New York - New York is the latest state to adopt a tougher stance on steroid use in racehorses.

In 1915, Sir Frederick Hobday, a British veterinary surgeon, noted that "it is of no avail to have done any operation, however clever, if the patient succumbs to the anesthetic."

Lexington, Ky. -- A retrospective study of 57 horses treated for proliferative enteropathy (EPE), or protein-losing enteropathy, aims to help equine practitioners make a timely diagnosis of the disease and provide some key signals that might help prevent outbreaks.

Portland, Ore. -- Oregon equine veterinarians are seeing an increase in cases of corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, or pigeon fever.

Dr. Robert Miller explains the pros and cons of habituating horses quickly or slowly to frightening sights and sounds.

New York -- The National Thoroughbred Racing Association presented a set of equine health and safety reforms Oct. 15 it considers one of the most important steps in its 10-year history and the strongest proof yet that the racing industry is serious about regulating itself.

Hilton Head, S.C. -- A long-term study of how horses move and breathe may have far-reaching veterinary and human-health applications, according to a presentation of the group's work at a recent American Physiological Society conference.