Equine

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.

Washington — The veterinary profession is battling federal proposals that would eliminate funding for slaughter facility inspections and nix funds that administrate the sale of federally managed mustangs.

Elmont, N.Y. — She's no stranger to track trauma. She was instrumental in saving Charismatic's life in 1999 as the horse battled for the first Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. Dr. Celeste Kunz, DVM, New York Racing Association (NYRA) chief examining veterinarian, was the first to treat Charismatic when he pulled up abruptly in the stretch. The diagnosis of a displaced condylar fracture was made on the scene, and Charismatic was fitted with a compression boot. Kunz loaded him into the horse ambulance, medicated him and delivered him to the safety of his stall. Radiographs confirmed the diagnosis minutes later, and the compression boot successfully prevented further displacement prior to his surgery.

St. Louis — Demand for equine products are expected to taper a bit in this year's second quarter compared to the first quarter. Veterinarians cite macroeconomics, patient numbers and customer initiatives as the main influencers of market fluxuations. But in some cases, the same influencers are driving demand, too.

WASHINGTON - 6/30/05 - A study released today reveals the horse industry contributes $39 billion in direct economic impact to the U.S. economy and supports 1.4 million full-time jobs.

Washington — A national steering committee that will promote and monitor equine welfare is underway after a debut industrywide Unwanted Horse Summit.

Washington — About 4,000 equine owners can expect a visit from enumerators with the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agriculture Statistics Service next month. They are on a mission to gauge on-farm infection control strategies.

Evaluating synovial structures and tendon sheathes requires infusion of sterile saline solution at a point far away from the trauma.

After treatment, horses with navicular disease get 30 days stall rest, and then they are shod appropriately.

Wounds to the body of the horse can be very large and may initially seem quite severe. Because of the natural tendencies of this prey animal to run from possible danger first and to be concerned about the consequences later, many body injuries result from collisions with trees, fences, wire or other environmental hazards. The horse often is moving quickly when this trauma occurs, and the wounds produced are sometimes superficial and extensive, and they also can be more limited in location but very deep. These deep wounds have the potential to penetrate the abdomen or the chest, and either scenario is a medical emergency.

Though the highly portable extracorporeal shock wave therapy units have a lot of utility outside the clinic, the technology should remain in the hands of those who know what they are doing: a trained veterinarian.

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - 4/29/05 - Texas A&M can add a horse to their list of cloned animals.

Antibiotic therapy and occasionally flushing of the sinuses will reduce the potential for post-surgical complications.

During foaling season, equine practitioners are asked to examine foals that present with lameness or joint effusion. Many times the owners will report that the foal was noticed to be a little "off" for the past few days, and they assumed the mare stepped on it. These words should alert the practitioner to the real possibility of the foal having a septic arthritis or osteomyelitis. Because of the seriousness of the potential problem, all lame neonatal foals should be considered to have a septic joint, epiphysis or physis until proven otherwise.

The higher the density of foals, the higher the risk of disease.

DENVER — They've pulled buffalo, llama, elk, deer, squirrels, snakes and ferrets from the brink of disaster. They've helped cattle, horses, cats and dogs, too, so Code 3 Associates must stock supplies to reflect the diversity of animals that it might save during any given disaster.

It will be the equine veterinarian's job to introduce clients to new feeding concepts and to help them deal with the confusion that new choices will create.

New diagnostics and more-sensitive testing has complicated equine insurance further.

The fact that the disease presents in a slightly different way in vaccinated horses makes clinical diagnosis even harder for veterinarians.

A total of 104 cases of EEE had been confirmed in horses nationwide at presstime, according to the CDC.