Roberta Dwyer, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVPM
Roberta Dwyer, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVPM, is a professor within the University of Kentucky's Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center and editor of Equine Disease Quarterly.
Articles by Roberta Dwyer
Reporting Adverse Effects to Vaccines, Medicines
July 08, 2010
An adverse event can be broadly defined as an undesirable occurrence after the use of a vaccine, drug, animal device, insecticide, medicated feed, etc. Multiple federal agencies are involved in taking reports of adverse events in animals, which Read More
Commentary: Critical Thinking while Reading
April 10, 2010
"Critical thinking" is the process of evaluating the merit and reliability of a stated fact and deciding whether the fact should be accepted or rejected. In other words, don't believe everything you read. Be a critical Read More
Horse Diseases and Humans
September 01, 2008
If you work around horses long enough, you'll be handling ones that have lameness, diarrhea, abortions, skin diseases, and even neurologic signs. Our first concern is generally for the Read More
Bye Bye Bad Bugs
October 01, 2007
The following scenarios are based on fact; the names of the farms and diseases have been omitted purposely to worry you even more.
Scenario 1 After a scenic Read More
What to Expect from a Veterinarian?
September 01, 2007
I am looking for general information regarding my vet and horse care. What should I expect from my vet? Read More
Henneke Body Condition
April 01, 2006
I am looking for a body score chart in layman's terms. I would like to include this chart in our handbook for Personal Ponies, a national nonprofit organization, but many people (including me) don't know what these terms actually mean. The two I Read More
Handwashing: Bar Soap or Liquid?
April 01, 2006
With much information about biosecurity revolving around current equine herpesvirus infections, salmonellosis, and the upcoming foaling season, one small but important item has been often omitted. Animal workers and veterinarians should wash Read More
Handwashing: Bar Soap or Liquid?
March 17, 2006
With much information about biosecurity revolving around current equine herpesvirus infections, salmonellosis, and the upcoming foaling season, one small but important item has been often omitted. Animal workers and veterinarians should wash Read More
Equine Anesthesia (AAEP 2004)
February 14, 2005
Since then, more advanced drugs including new inhalant anesthetics have been developed to reduce stress on horses being put under anesthesia, and during recovery. Since the 1980s, research into the importance of monitoring blood pressure, respiration Read More
AAEP Convention 2004: Sports Medicine Part I
February 14, 2005
Several studies have been conducted on extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) at various institutions this past year. One presented by C. Wayne McIlwraith, BVSc, PhD, DSc, FRCVS, DrMedVet (hc), Dipl. ACVS, director of Colorado State University's Read More
I Never Thought it Would Happen to Me...
September 01, 2003
Many horse owners, and the public in general, firmly hold the belief that disasters "will never happen to me." Read More
Cleaning Water Buckets
July 01, 2003
Q: I'm concerned about keeping our horse's water buckets clean. In summer and winter (heated buckets) there is always scum on the inside. So far, I have spritzed them every day with a weak bleach solution followed by a spritz of Read More
The Making of a Veterinarian
November 01, 2001
"We are pleased to notify you that you have been accepted by the College of Veterinary Medicine as a first-year student in the professional curriculum beginning August 22, 2002." These few words are the light at the end of a long tunnel, and the Read More
Farm Disinfection
July 01, 2001
Salmonella, Rhodococcus equi, strangles, rotavirus, and multiple other contagious disease outbreaks...these are the bane of horse owners, farm managers, and trainers. One strangles outbreak can wreck a show season, cause Read More
Disinfecting For Strangles
May 01, 2001
I have a pony on a farm where strangles has broken out. There are about 80 horses on this farm on about 100 acres (split into different pastures). We don't know where the infection started, but horses which show signs are being treated. What Read More
When Should I Call the Vet?
June 01, 2000
A reader asks how she can know when it is time to call the veterinarian for a health problem in her horse, and when advice from Internet chat rooms is enough information. Read More
Rotavirus in Foals
March 01, 2000
"But we've never had rotavirus in our foals." Read on and consider yourself lucky if your foals have never had rotavirus and you have breezed through the past foaling seasons sans diarrhea. With the increasing transportation of horses comes the Read More
Lots of Elbow Grease for Disinfection Project
November 01, 1999
Cleaning out the garage. Sorting through all the "stuff" in the attic. Shampooing the entire house’s carpeting. What could be a worse assignment? All of those tasks require lots of time, hard work, and are few people’s entertainment-of-choice fo Read More
Foal Diarrhea
September 01, 1999
 I am a new owner of a broodmare who just had her first foal, which now has diarrhea. What can I do about it? How serious is it for him? How do I keep this from happening again?
The causative agents for diarrhea ca Read More
Rx: Responsible Drug Use
August 01, 1998
Tranquilizers can calm a nervous, first-time dam and allow her to accept her foal; anti-inflammatory drugs may Read More
Moving Your Horse Safely
March 01, 1996
I will be moving my horse from Kansas to Virginia in the near future. What preparations can I make to ensure the health of my horse in transit?
With the very mobile population of the United States, this is becoming a very Read More
