Equine health and soundness is critical for the competition athlete. It is something that many struggle with during the competitive season, which then often translates into the off season with hopes of full recovery. In many cases, the time off does allow for repair, just due […]
Equine Health and the Importance of the Off Season Read More »
We all age, including our canine companions. The goal is to age gracefully. Quality of life is far more important than quantity of life, although both would be ideal, right? Is it possible to improve not only quality but also longevity? The answer to this is yes, but the right approach needs to be taken, making it more of a lifestyle than a passing fad or just a regimen. Our canine pets depend on us to make the right choices. The more understanding we have, the more informed we are in the choices we make.
Assisting the Geriatric Canine Patient Read More »
The most urgent situation is always the one at hand, or in sight, right there and then. We have to attend to emergency situations, whether if that is an acute lameness, injury, wound, health ailment or even colic situation. They are dire, in most situations, and must be dealt with accordingly, however, once through that crisis situation, we need to step back and really look at the big picture, hopefully isolating or honing in on the cause of why things happened or developed. This often entails looking past the obvious problems at hand, whether if that be a lameness or even a health situation, looking deeper and hopefully arriving at insight and wisdom. Can we do this? As easy at is sounds, it is not generally well accepted to look beyond the obvious problem at hand. Certainly a challenge for many horse owners, people themselves or even veterinarians.
Seeing the Whole Horse, Not Just the Obvious Problem Read More »
EIPH or exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage is unfortunately a common condition in equine athletes, affecting upwards of 40% of race horses and an estimated 62% of QH’s involved in racing, including other disciplines such as barrel racing.2 It is one of the main causes of decreased performance and also one of the more common respiratory problems found in competitive equine athletes, especially when involving epistaxis or nasal bleeding. EIPH can be very frustrating for some trainers, due to the fact that a specific cause in each case is often not determined and response to therapies can decrease over time. In many instances, the equine athletes are able to maintain higher levels of performance, while other are forced to retire. As with many equine health conditions, with a better understanding, sometimes we can implement therapy options to improve the outcomes, helping to keep performance to a high level.
Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage in the Horse Read More »
As the goes, ‘no hoof, no horse’. There is another saying that goes along the lines of “a horse has 5 hearts”, which implies that not only do we have the normal heart, pumping blood, but each foot is actually a heart in function, also responsible for pumping blood up and out of the limb and back to the heart. The only way that this can be done is through proper hoof health and balance. The horse cannot ambulate on 3 legs, at least for a prolonged period of time, as compared to a dog or even a cat, so even a minor issue involving the foot can resonate throughout the body. They are dependent on proper hoof health and balance, not only from a lameness point of view, but also overall health.
Growing a Solid Equine Hoof; Nutrition & Balance Read More »
This is likely one of the most common questions on most horse owner’s minds. How can I reduce costs, but yet still maintain the level of health or soundness in my equine companion? It is a good question, but unfortunately one that is easier to answer in some horses compared to others. The bottom line is that there are options, but in many cases, we have to define what the problems are and target the sources. It is possible and likely more readily achieved than most realize.
How Can I Reduce My Horse’s Supplement Costs? Read More »
Stress is something that we all encounter daily whether if we are animal or human. Stressors are the reason as to why we adapt and hopefully overcome new challenges, whether if that is a new task at work, a new exercise routine or environmental changes. It is what hopefully makes us stronger, more resilient. Those stressors create a stress response in our body, which then we hopefully adapt to over time. The question is how much stress is our body supposed to handle, or that body of our equine companions or even pets, and how does prolonged stressor exposure impact health, recovery and even soundness or injury?
Stress; The Battery of Life and Impact on Health, Fatigue and Recovery Read More »
The equine diet has become quite complex over the past 10 or so years. Specialty feeds, complex supplements and other regimens have become the ‘normal’ for most horses, especially those in the competition arena. On the same side of the coin, we also have an apparent rise in equine health conditions ranging from injuries and joint disease, to metabolic concerns and laminitis. Considering this, one would have to ask whether if our current approaches are helping or more so hindering our progress?
Cleaning Up the Equine Diet; Going Natural Read More »
One of my major concerns, as a veterinarian and researcher, is the inflammatory process and how it can dictate health and soundness. This process is complex, involving many contributors, but diet is a major player. As we investigate further the impact of gastrointestinal health on overall health and soundness, certain things begin to fall into place and become more obvious. The first item is diet, what we are feeding and how we define this. The second item of concern is the picky eater, which more than likely we have all encountered at one time or another. Many owners feel this ‘pickiness’ is often ‘cute’ or a trait for a particular horse….but is there more to it? Is this actually a symptom or sign of something larger?
The Equine Diet and Picky Eaters; Thoughts and Concerns Read More »
Happiness and an end to suffering. That is the goal for almost all of mankind. We want it, crave it and desire it on many levels. Disease occurs on many levels and impacts all of us either directly or indirectly. The perception of that disease, whether if it affects us our pets or our horses, can vary from person to person. One may say it is acquired or there is a genetic predisposition to that condition. On the other side of the coin, another person may say the disease is a reflection of our environment, diet and other factors…essentially implying we created it. It is all relative, in my opinion, but one thing is for certain and that is that with a complete understanding of what is occurring, we stand a better chance of prevention as well as management.
Disease; Cause or Effect, Acquired or Created Read More »
