Equine

Blacksburg, Va. - John Robertson, VMD, MS, PhD, director of the University of Virginia-Maryland Center for Comparative Oncology, is experimenting with frankincense oil as a possible treatment for malignant melanoma in horses.

Louisville, Ky. - The Thoroughbred racing Mecca was amid heightened biosecurity following recent outbreaks of equine herpesvirus and a mysterious illness that claimed the life of Kentucky Derby contender With a City.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results from the effect of magnetic properties of atoms found in biologic tissues. The magnetic moment of the nuclei within these atoms interacts with the external magnetic field, the most common of which is hydrogen. Hydrogen is abundant in all tissues and has a relatively large magnetic moment, making it the optimal choice for magnetic resonance imaging.

Victoria, British Columbia - The Supreme Court of British Columbia issued a broad injunction that prohibits non-veterinarians from performing any dental procedures or using a title, such as equine dentist, that might lead people to believe they are registered under the territory's Veterinarians Act.

Austin, Texas - A partnership between ViaGen Inc. and Encore Genetics produced the first commercially cloned mare in the United States. Royal Blue Boon Too is the genetic replica of a champion cutter owned by Elaine Hall.

Neoplasia is generally an uncommon occurrence in horses. "As a species, horses appear to have less of a predisposition to cancer," says John Robertson, VMD, PhD, director of the Center for Comparative Oncology at The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. "The overall incidence of neoplasms in horses is lower than in other long-lived species, i.e., humans, cats and dogs."

Private equine practice is largely a matter of lameness, reproductive issues, trauma care and preventive medicine. There are occasions, however, when behavior problems directly affect medical care, and veterinarians must be able to address these issues to deliver appropriate treatment.

Washington ? Horse slaughter facilities were granted a reprieve Feb. 7 as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved their petition to pay for their own inspections.

Dysphagia in the neonatal foal manifests itself as the presence of milk in the foal's nares after nursing. Milk reflux in a foal should not be ignored. Aspiration pneumonia is the usual secondary consequence.

There are a variety of hormonal therapies available to the equine practitioner to help bring mares into estrus and hasten ovulation. They include human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), various progestin/estradiol combinations, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs, and dopamine antagonists. These hormonal therapies push Mother Nature along to help make the breeding process more efficient, reduce excessive handling of mares and stallions, and help ensure successful breeding and conception, whether a maiden, a previously barren or a cyclic mare.

College Station, Texas - 1/4/06- Texas A&M University officials say a Center for Equine Business Studies is slated to open in June.

Horses regularly get into dangerous situations in the most unusual and mundane places.

Seattle — The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) is planning to study the viability of regional continuing education.

SEATTLE - 12/06/05 - The Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) are launching a public-education initiative called HORSE FACTS.

Albany, N.Y. — Wedgewood Pharmacy says initial tests vindicate the compounder of allegations that it made its chloramphenicol palmitate product inconsistent with its label.

Norwalk, Conn. — He's no stranger to long shots. The 20-year track veterinarian took some flack for remedying an epiglottal entrapment on Alysheba one month before the 1987 Kentucky Derby. Alysheba went on to win the first leg of the Triple Crown despite 17-1 odds.

Early recognition is crucial to prevent the advancement of the disease.

SHAWNEE, KAN. - 11/18/05 - PBS's "Nature" series will feature on Sunday the storied rescue efforts of animals stranded in Katrina's wake.

The following is an excerpt from a press release issued by Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Veterinary Medicine and the Equine Health Studies Program.

Donkeys and mules receive special note as they are responsible for many of the injuries to genitalia.

Baton Rouge, La.—Louisiana State University (LSU) wasn't part of the state veterinarian's hurricane response or contingency plan before Katrina was a household name. But shortly after the large Category 4 storm ravaged Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, it became clear that unsolicited veterinary help would be needed on an unprecedented scale to rescue and relieve thousands of animals.

Washington — Legislation to terminate federal funding of inspections for U.S. horse slaughter facilities made its way into both cameral versions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) appropriations bill. At presstime, Congress passed budget extensions for all U.S. agencies after missing the Oct. 1 deadline while House and Senate versions of federal spending bills are hammered out in conference, but observers expect the provision that would kill funding for inspection services at horse slaughter plants to make it into the final bill.

Automobile accidents are responsible for a significant amount of the deaths and injuries to veterinarians, especially large animal practitioners. This should come as no surprise because these road warriors commonly are rushing to stay on schedule and trying to negotiate roads, follow directions and return phone calls all at the same time. Long hours, especially during foaling and calving seasons, contribute to fatigue. Drowsiness and driving definitely do not mix.

BATON ROUGE, LA. - 10/19/05 - Bidding for the 2006 multiple-breed, Internet-based Stallion Service Auction of the Louisiana State University (LSU) Equine Health Studies Program began Oct. 14.

Eleven states reported 186 EEE cases in horses as of Aug. 23.

A Grade 1 murmur is the first audible sound you can hear. You can barely detect a Grade 1 murmur with your stethoscope.

Reproduction is the area where mini owners are most likely to need veterinary assistance.

ST. PAUL, MINN. — Lay people are permitted to float equine teeth in Minnesota due to an amendment tied to the state's budget bill that passed prior to the July 4 recess.