Diagnostic deworming for tapeworm.

Scientists in Japan have been looking for a more reliable way of diagnosing tapeworm infections in horses.

They have found that fecal exmination the day after deworming provides a reliable way of detecting tapeworm eggs.

A pilot study of 12 horses examined fecal samples before and one day after treating with bithionol. All horses had a higher tapeworm egg count the day after treatment.

In a further study they found that tapeworm egg counts were dramatically higher on the first day after treatment. By the second day they had fallen back to pretreatment levels.

See more details..

Jockey’s posture has dramatic effect on speed.

Research carried out at the Structure and Motion Laboratory at London's Royal Veterinary College explains how the familiar crouched racing posture adopted by the jockey improves the speed of the horse.

By crouching in the saddle, jockeys isolate themselves from the motion of the horse. This reduces the energy that the horse needs to expend to carry the jockey, and so enhances performance.

Read more about it here...

Botox as laminitis treatment.

Dr Daniel W Carter and Dr J Ben Renfroe have patented a technique using botulinum toxin to reduce the tension in the deep digital flexor tendon of horses with laminitis.

Increased tension is one of the factors thought to contribute to rotation of the pedal bone. So relieving the tension may limit the deleterious changes in the foot.

The technique involves injecting a diluted solution of Botox (Botulinum toxin type A) into the deep digital flexor tendon in several places. The toxin blocks the release of the neuro- transmitter (acetylcholine) from the nerve endings. This temporarily prevents the muscle contracting.

Read more about it here

Night vision in horses.

Research at the Equine Research Foundation shows that horses can distinguish simple geometrical shapes under low light conditions.

Horses were trained to choose between two shapes - a circle and a triangle. The next step was to see if they could still distinguish the shapes in conditions of increasing darkness. The lighting was controlled to give conditions ranging from the equivalent of twilight to a moonless night in a dense forest.

The study showed that the horses could see at very low light levels. They were able to choose between the two shapes in almost complete darkness. Only when it was as dark as a moonless night in dense forest were they unable to differentiatebetween the two shapes.

Read more here

Nervous humans worry horses.

Recent research has confirmed that horses react to nervousness in their rider or handler.

The project, led by Linda Keeling, Professor of Animal Welfare at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, looked at how the heart rates of horses and riders responded to the rider anticipating a threatening situation.

More details...

Microchipping horses.

Should owners expect any adverse effects from having their horse implanted with a microchip?

A project at the Pennsylvania State University Department of Dairy and Agricultural Science, assessed the inflammatory response to microchip insertion - and whether the chips migrated after having been inserted.

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Equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy

Four clinical syndromes have been attributed to Equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1): respiratory disease in younger horses, abortion in pregnant mares, stillbirth or weakness in newborn foals and paralysis ( equine herpes virus myeloencephalopathy (EHM)).

EHM has been identified more frequently in recent years. Knowledge gained in dealing with outbreaks of the disease is now available in a 74 page report published by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health.

The report, Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy: Mitigation Experiences, Lessons Learned, and Future Needs is based on interviews with 18 veterinarians or state equine program managers who worked to control recent outbreaks of the disease. You can download a copy here.

Also available is an educational brochure about EHM produced by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: Veterinary Services. Equine Herpesvirus (EHV) Myeloencephalopathy: A Guide to Understanding the Neurologic Form of EHV Infection is available here.

Read more.

Laminitis: value of soaking hay?

Soaking hay before feeding cannot be relied on to make it safe for laminitis-prone horses, according to a recent study.

One of the factors that has been recognised as increasing the risk of laminitis is the over consumption of water soluble carbohydrates (WSC). It has been recommended that obese animals and those at risk of laminitis should be fed hay with a non-structural carbohydrate (WSC and starch) content of less than 10%. Soaking hay in water before being fed has been suggested in order to reduce the WSC.

The study, conducted by the Laminitis Consortium, examined the loss of water-soluble carbohydrates from different hays submerged in water for up to 16 hours. The nine different hay samples were analysed for WSC and then soaked in cold water. The soaked samples were subsequently analysed after 20 minutes, 40 minutes, three hours and 16 hours.

“The results showed a highly variable leaching of WSC and substantially less leaching than reported previously for chopped hay soaked for 30 minutes” explained Clare Barfoot. “Very few samples reached below 10% WSC, despite prolonged soaking. The concern is that this strongly suggests that soaking may not be sufficient to render some hays safe to feed to horses and ponies prone to laminitis.”

Read more...

Changes to UK horse passport rules

The UK's horse passport rules have been tightened up from the begining of July 2009. The horse's owner or keeper is responsible for making sure that each horse has a passport, and that it is available for inspection at all times. You don't need to have the passport with you when the horse is grazing or being moved on foot - but you do have to show it to an inspector within three hours of being asked.

With very few exceptions, all horses have to have a passport. Both the owner, and the main keeper, is responsible for making sure the horse is correctly identified - but only the owner can apply for the passport.

The big change is that to be issued with a passport now horses must be microchipped. As a consequence, the diagram (silhouette) of the horse is no longer compulsory. However, many breed societies and passport issuing authorities still require a silhouette at this time.

For more details see:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/InYourHome/AnimalsAndPets/DG_178412

Treating aural plaques

#Aural plaques are whitish lesions on the inner surface of the ear. They are slightly raised, with a scaly appearance. One or both ears may be affected.

They are thought to be caused by infection with a papilloma (wart) virus and may be spread by biting flies. Aural plaques do not go away on their own and respond poorly to treatment.

But now research at the University of Minnesota suggests imiquimod can help clear the aural plaques and make the ears less sensitive.


Read more...

Hope for headshakers.

A new procedure may bring relief for headshaking horses.

Surgeons at the Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital at the University of Liverpool have developed a technique that uses small coils implanted alongside the nerves in the side of the face.

Read more...

Effect of exercise on behaviour

Effect of exercise on behaviour

Is one type of exercise better than another for reducing unwanted behaviour in stabled horses?

Stabling reduces the opportunity for exercise. Horses confined to stables may become difficult to manage. And they often show a burst of activity when eventually turned out -trotting, cantering and bucking - (known as the “rebound effect”).

A recent study conducted at the Equine Centre at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia assessed the influence of exercise on stabled horses’ behaviour.

Read more...

New articles in archives.

The July edition of Equine Science Update e-news was published last week. The articles are now available in the archives.

Recent additions to the archives include:

• Airway inflammation affects dope tests.
• Ciplatin and IL-2 for sarcoid treatment.
• Electrochemotherapy for sarcoid treatment.
• Timed breeding protocol for frozen semen.
• Frozen semen qality varies with time of year.
• Gait analysis in the field.
• Examining the horses'sear.
• Absorption of topical hydrocortisone.
• Welfare aspects of "rollkur" technique.

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Archives growing.

More articles have been added to the archives including:

• Can vaccines aggravate chronic laminitis?
• Scintigraphy for investigating malabsorption.
• MRI becoming more widespread.
• Oxytocin for treatment of choke.
• Non-surgical rectal tear treatment.
• Controlling respiratory disease.
• Rotavirus vaccine studies.
• More shock wave success.

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More articles added to archives.

A further batch of past articles have been posted to the Equine Science Update archives, including:

Equine Rhabdomyolisis Syndrome.
Recurrent Uveitis: new treatment.
Early test for Fell Pony Syndrome.
Does heart size affect racing speed?
Mold fungi may cause hoof disease.
Exercise and joint development.
Inducing lactation in mares.

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More articles added to archives.

Recent additions to the archives include:

Tenoscopic treatment of tendon sheath infection.
Equine motor neuron disease: diagnosis under epidural anesthesia.
Effect of recipent mare status on success of embryo transfer.
Exercise Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage.
Incidence of colic.
COPD: recent developments.
Coughing in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Desmitis of the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint.
Poor performance in sport horses.

Access to these and other articles in the archives are available to subscribers.

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More articles posted to archives.

More articles have be added to the archives, including:

Horse-friendly wormer testing.
Active abdominal fluid drainage.
Search for early tendon damage test.
Cushing's disease: Chaste berry ineffective.
Evaluating medications for grass sickness.
Urine test for grass sickness?
Potential non-invasive test for grass sickness.
Horses learn visual tasks better at ground level.

For details of subscriptions see Equine Science Update archives.

New articles in archives.

The May edition of the Equine Science Update e-news was published last week. Topics covered, which are now available in the archives were:

Hoof growth between shoeings.
Turnout and behavior.
Sucrose absorption ulcer test.
Dangers of ivermectin overdose.

Other articles recently added to the archives include:
Horse-friendly wormer testing.
Insemination after uterine flush.
Bots in South West England.


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Equine Science Update e-news March edition.

The March edition of the newsletter is almost ready. Topics include:

Conformation and performance in Thoroughbred yearlings.
Anthelmintics - too much of a good thing?
Do horses find therapeutic riding stressful?
Confirming grass sickness.

If you would like a free copy, please go to
www.equinescienceupdate.co.uk

Equine Lameness News from Equine Science Update

News relating to lameness in horses is now available as an RSS feed. For more details see:

www.equinescienceupdate.co.uk/rssfeeds.htm