Steaming proved most effective in reducing the overall bacteria populations in hay and it maintained the diversity of bacteria naturally found in dry hay. Steaming also reduced the bacteria associated with infectious respiratory disease and dental problems. “The dental issue is quite novel,” says Dr. Daniels of a possible topic for further study. Additionally, steaming was found to preserve bacteria associated with the process of digesting forage. Steaming “denatured” the proteins of several types of bacteria, rendering them harmless in the horse’s digestive system. 

A combination of treatments brought Louis’ cough under control. A bronchodilator and steroid were administered with a metered dose inhaler (aka “a puffer”) via an Aerohippus equine aerosol chamber. Using a steroid and bronchodilator together is important, the veterinarian emphasizes. The good effect of the bronchodilator is opening up the airways, which comes with the bad effect of letting in more particles. The body reacts to these bits of foreign matter in the form of inflammation. That’s why concurrent steroids are needed to control inflammation.

Equine Guelph, the horse center at the University of Guelph in Canada, has announced it is setting up a free virtual classroom for English-speaking youth around the world. Horse-crazy teenagers (ages 13-17) will have the opportunity to take an online Equine Behavior and Safety course with access open until February 6, 2021 on www.TheHorsePortal.com.

“The body weight is so important when you are determining how much to feed horses each day,” he said. “A 1,000-pound horse needs to eat 2% of its body weight each day, so about 20 pounds of feed. It doesn’t seem like a lot of hay, but if you underestimate your horse’s weight and buy 100 days’ worth of hay for a 1,000-pound animal that actually weighs 1,200 pounds, you’ll be short by more than eight bales per horse.”

The American Association of Equine Practitioners presented the 2020 AAEP Research Award to Katrin Hinrichs, DVM, Ph.D., DACT, whose pioneering research in the field of equine assisted reproductive techniques (ART) has transformed the state of equine reproductive practice around the world.

The three-part video series helps viewers learn what the equine digestive system looks like and how it works and uses this to explain why certain feeding strategies are more appropriate than others. The series uses a life-size model of the digestive system to show viewers what each organ looks like and how big it really is. The model was made with artificial materials, so the videos are ideal for anyone with a weak stomach (no pun intended) as there are no graphic images. Part one covers the first section of the horse’s digestive system, including the mouth, teeth, esophagus, stomach and small intestine. Part two focuses on the horse’s hindgut, which is a term that refers to the horse’s cecum, large colon, small colon and the rectum. Part three takes what we’ve learned about the digestive system and applies it to how we feed horses, including what we feed them.

Muscle forms part of the tissues around these bones, but there is also a generous upper layer of fat both along the back and over the rump.  The first cause of diminished coverage to be ruled out is weight loss.  This is done by observing the body as a whole for weight loss.  In particular, are the ribs less covered by fat? (There is no significant muscular coverage on the ribs.)  Does the neck look thinner?  If the horse has obviously lost weight in general, this probably accounts for the changes in the topline as well.  A calorie count, evaluation of the digestibility of the diet and, if necessary, check for underlying disease states will locate the problem.

“Creating the right environment within the veterinary hospital can decrease stress, increase practice productivity and enhance the overall veterinary visit for pets, their humans and the veterinary staff,” said Dana Varble, DVM and NAVC Chief Veterinary Officer. “While some of the changes in hospital design and construction today are COVID-19 driven, many others are based on accommodating advances in animal medicine and treatment. All reflect a commitment to building a space that enables veterinary professionals to deliver the highest quality care possible for our pets.”

The Equine Reproduction Service provides routine and advanced equine reproductive care, including artificial insemination, ultrasonographic pregnancy diagnosis, fertility evaluation, semen collection and evaluation, transvaginal aspiration of oocytes, and embryo transfer.