Fractures in Horses: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
Tim Eastman, DVM, DACVS, MPVM - Aug 07

After Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro underwent surgical repair of a severe fracture many equine veterinarians were hearing the same statement "I didn't think you could fix a broken leg in a horse". The truth is some you can and some you cannot. This article will describe recent advances in fracture fixation in horses and attempt to clarify why some fractures are considered "good" fractures and some are considered "bad".
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The Equine Heart: Part 1 - What Makes the Horse Such an Amazing Athlete?
Matt Durham, DVM—Sept 07

Without a doubt, one of the most awe-inspiring things about our equine companions is their remarkable athleticism. Their sheer power, grace, and refinement of movement have captivated the imagination of people throughout history. But beyond the sinew and muscle and bone of these intricate machines is a power plant unequalled in any other creature: the equine heart.

In some ways, the job of the heart is really quite simple. It is mainly just a pump. Blood must be moved from one area of the body to another. What makes the equine heart so remarkable is its adaptability and efficiency in doing this job under different conditions.
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Silicosis
Matt Durham, DVM—Feb 07

In the scenic foothills of the Central coast of California, there lurks a quiet problem that can lead to severe disease in our horses. Commonly known as 'chalk rock', this dusty rock form can cause an irreversible lung condition known as silicosis.

Silicosis is a well known occupational disease in humans, typically caused by inhaling rock dust created in mining, masonry work, sandblasting, and many other industries where rock is crushed into an easily-inhaled dust.
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Management of Wounds in Horses
Tim Eastman, DVM, DACVS, MPVM—Oct 06

Horses are "fight or flight" animals and have a great propensity towards skin wounds which generally occur while avoiding a potential threat, are surprised, or by accident. Oftentimes horse owners are faced with the dilemma of examining a wound and determining whether or not a veterinarian needs to be contacted. The aim of this article is to clarify some differences between wound types with regards to severity and prognosis, as well as provide an overview of current concepts in wound management.
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Equine Viral Arteritis: A Concern for California Breeders
Alex Eastman, DVM, MS—Mar 07

As the 2007 breeding season gets under way, many stallion and mare owners are surprised to be asked about their horse's EVA status. In the wake of an outbreak of Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA), which occurred in Quarter Horses in 2006, many horse breeders and trainers are rethinking their approach to this disease.

Testing and vaccination protocols are becoming stricter in all breeds of horses. The 2006 outbreak originating in New Mexico had a devastating impact on the Quarter Horse breeding industry. The virus was confirmed on premises within five other states (Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Utah, and Alabama).
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Equine Strangles
Nora Grenager, VMD—Sep 06

Strangles is a highly contagious respiratory disease of horses caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi subspecies equi. The disease was initially given this name because it can cause abscesses of the lymph nodes in the throatlatch region, which if severely enlarged can compress the airway and suffocate the horse.

The strangles bacteria enter through the nose or mouth and travel through the tonsillar area to the submandibular (under the jaw) and retropharyngeal (at the throatlatch) lymph nodes. Once in the lymph nodes, the bacteria begin to replicate as the body's immune system tries to fight them off. Horses begin to shed infectious bacteria from their noses 2-3 days after the onset of fever and can shed for 2-3 weeks. Transmission can be direct (horse-to-horse nose contact) or indirect (shared housing, shared water or feed containers, shared equipment, and people).
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Equine Recurrent Uveitis
Jennifer Lauzze, DVM—Jan 07

Equine recurrent uveitis, also called "moon blindness" or "periodic ophthalmia", is an inflammatory disease of the eye. It is characterized by repeated inflammatory episodes of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid, collectively known as the uveal tract. It is a leading cause of blindness in the horse. ERU is an immune disease mounted in response to infectious agents or the eye's own components- there are many suggested agents which may stimulate the chronic state of the disease. Clinical signs include squinting, pain, and tearing. The treatment of ERU typically involves the reduction of inflammation with NSAIDS and corticosteroids, as well pupil dilators (myadriatics/cycloplegics). New therapies in ERU have shown great promise in treating this difficult disease.
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Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome
Nora Grenager, VMD—June 06

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is prevalent in our equine population and can be a cause of suboptimal performance and behavioral issues.It has been estimated that approximately one to two thirds of adult horses have gastric ulcers depending on level of work and management practices.

Unlike humans, a horse's stomach continuously secretes gastric acid because horses were designed to graze throughout the day.The equine stomach is divided into two parts ¨C a smaller squamous portion (about 1/3) and a larger glandular portion (about 2/3) that are separated by a raised border of tissue called "the margo plicatus." EGUS occurs when there is an imbalance between gastric acid secretion and the stomach's normal protective mechanisms.
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Colic in horses - What You Should Know
Tim Eastman, DVM, DACVS, MPVM—Dec 06

The word "colic" comes from the Greeks and means "abdominal pain". Horses are notorious for colic and are predisposed to it when compared to other species. Signs of colic include but are not limited to: being "off feed", depressed, looking/biting at the flanks, stretching as if to urinate, kicking at the abdomen, and rolling in pain.
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Advances in Lameness
Tim Eastman, DVM, DACVS, MPVM—Nov 06

It is an exciting time to be a veterinarian who makes his/her living by diagnosing and treating lameness in horses. First of all, our ability to diagnose lameness has improved dramatically over the past decade with the explosion of technology available. The digital revolution has improved our ability to manipulate images to better evaluate them and to share the information with colleagues for consultation. Equine veterinarians are getting better ultrasound equipment and are becoming more adept at its use.

Digital X-Ray equipment is becoming more affordable and more portable. Advanced imaging modalities such as MRI, Nuclear Scintigraphy ("Nuke Scans"), and Cat Scans are increasingly available and being utilized with increasing frequency. The ability to record these images digitally has made consultation with colleagues so easy that getting multiple opinions from specialists across the country is commonplace. With this diagnostic equipment available, conditions that used to be chalked up to a "foot lameness" can now be specifically diagnosed and treatment plans custom tailored.
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Acupuncture: Using the Ancient Art in the Modern World
Erin Matern, DVM, CVA—May 07

Veterinarians have many resources available for the treatment of sick or injured animals. We have been specially trained to examine, diagnose, and chose appropriate treatments for our patients. This often includes using drugs or medications which can fight infection or decrease inflammation, etc.

Our medications have specific purposes that have been researched or used for years and tested by time. But long before we had these resources at our fingertips, people were treating animals in other ways. One of these was through the use of acupuncture, an ancient Chinese art.
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Biosecurity:
Why It Should Be Important To You
Nora S. Grenager, VMD

Biosecurity is the undertaking of management practices that can reduce the risk of outbreaks and minimize the spread of infectious disease. Until fairly recently this word was not often associated with the horse industry even though many horse operations maintain some general biosecurity practices. However, recent infectious disease outbreaks (such as neurologic herpes virus and diarrhea caused by Salmonella) have brought to light the necessity for applying biosecurity practices, to some extent, at all horse facilities.
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