Susan Piscopo, DVM, PhD
Susan Piscopo, DVM, PhD, is a free-lance writer in the biomedical sciences. She practiced veterinary medicine in North Carolina before accepting a fellowship to pursue a PhD in physiology at North Carolina State University. She lives in northern New Jersey with her husband and two sons.
Articles by Susan Piscopo
Ileus: When the Gut Stops
February 01, 2008
Ileus is one of the leading postoperative causes of death in horses. Read More
Choosing to Breed During Foal Heat
March 01, 2007
If a barn full of people were asked their opinion about breeding a mare during foal heat, a barn full of opinions would result. This topic has been controversial for a long time. There is debate about whether it is harmful to a mare's health, Read More
Endometritis Diagnosis and Management
February 01, 2007
When a mare is bred by natural cover, the uterine lining, or endometrium, becomes inflamed. The stallion deposits semen in the uterus, as well as bacteria, bits of debris, and seminal fluid. The normally sterile uterus becomes irritated and Read More
Inheritance of RER in Thoroughbreds: One Affected Parent Required
January 01, 2006
Recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER, tying-up) causes affected Thoroughbreds to suffer recurring episodes of muscle cramping, stiffness, excessive sweating, and a reluctance to move after exercise. With no cure available, information on how Read More
Skin Testing in Horses With RAO
December 01, 2005
Preventing attacks of wheezing, coughing, and labored breathing in a horse with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) involves eliminating allergens from the horse's environment. But how do you know which allergens are most problematic for your Read More
Inheritance of RER in Thoroughbreds
November 21, 2005
Recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER) causes affected Thoroughbreds to suffer recurring episodes of muscle cramping, stiffness, excessive sweating, and a reluctance to move after exercise. With no cure available, information on how RER might Read More
Diagnosing Endometritis--Biopsies vs. Swabs
November 01, 2005
Is an endometrial swab the best screening tool for endometritis, or inflammation of the uterine lining (endometrium)? Not according to a recently published study from Denmark in Theriogenology that compared endometrial swabs with biopsies to Read More
Visualizing Joints During Surgery
November 01, 2005
Arthroscopic surgery in horses is commonly performed to remove abnormal pieces of cartilage, called osteochondral (OC) fragments, from the surface of joints. Visualization through an arthroscope is typically aided by Read More
Nasal Septum Resection
November 01, 2005
If the nasal septum—the bony structure that divides the left and right halves of the nasal cavity—becomes deviated or thickened, the nasal passages become narrowed and breathing is impaired. Left untreated, it can lead to exercise intolerance an Read More
EMND and Glucose Metabolism
October 01, 2005
Study results indicate horses with equine lower motor disease (EMND) had an increased glucose metabolism rate. Read More
Oral Potassium for Endurance?
October 01, 2005
Endurance riding can lead to significant losses of water and electrolytes, which can cause clinical illnesses related to increased neuromuscular excitability, including cardiac arrhythmia, muscle cramping and twitching, and gut motility changes. Read More
Dangerous Strangles
October 01, 2005
Strangles, the upper respiratory disease in horses caused by Streptococcus equi, has a low mortality rate (2.6%), but it is highly contagious and spreads rapidly. Complications can occur in as many as 20% of cases. One such complication Read More
Detecting <i>Rhodococcus equi</i> Faster
October 01, 2005
Rhodococcus equi pnemonia is an insidious disease of foals--by the time one sees clinical signs, the pnemonia can be well advanced. Thus, tests that have greater sensitivity for R. equi are needed because they might permit Read More
An Unusual Case of Septic Arthritis
October 01, 2005
Septic or infectious arthritis in healthy adult horses usually develops rapidly, creating significant lameness, but a recent case report found that septic arthritis might appear chronic rather than acute, and that it can be caused by an unusual Read More
Detecting <I>Rhodococcus equi</I> Faster
September 14, 2005
Rhodococcus equi pnemonia is an insidious disease of foals--by the time one sees clinical signs, the pnemonia can be well advanced. Thus, tests that have greater sensitivity for R. equi are needed because they might permit Read More
Supplementing for Semen Quality
September 01, 2005
Cooling and freezing equine semen damages cell membranes, which results in loss of motility and general viability known as "cold shock." Most domestic species have high concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the semen, but the Read More
Dialysis to Treat Kidney Failure
September 01, 2005
Sometimes horses in renal (kidney) failure don't respond to conventional treatment--fluids, diuretics, etc. Toxins in the blood irritate the stomach, making the horse anorexic and depressed. At that point, dialysis might be the only option. The Read More
Puberty in Thoroughbreds
July 01, 2005
Puberty is a transitional period for horses, from a time of reproductive immaturity to a time where sexual behavior is demonstrated and sperm is ready for release in the colt, and the filly starts to cycle. Unfortunately, very little information is Read More
Acupuncture for Acute Heaves
July 01, 2005
Acupuncture has become a popular alternative therapy for chronic illness in horses, especially recurrent airway obstruction (also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or heaves). Unfortunately, there are few objective studies supporting Read More
Tumors of Dental Origin
June 01, 2005
Odontomas are benign tumors that arise from dental tissue in an animal's mouth. These tumors can be quite invasive, most commonly affecting the maxilla or cheekbone. They can be surgically removed, but the procedure requires aggressive, extensiv Read More
Dermal Melanomatosis Surgery
June 01, 2005
Tumors arising from melanin-containing cells (melanocytes) in the skin go beyond benign or malignant melanoma. In fact, there are four distinct melanocyte-derived tumor types, each classified according to clinical behavior and cellular Read More
Athletic Taping of the Lower Limb
May 01, 2005
Athletic taping is commonly used in human sports medicine to begin a physical therapy program; it stabilizes injured soft tissues and helps prevent further injury. Years of experience in the use of athletic taping as well as scientific research Read More
Dental Floating Value
May 01, 2005
Maintaining dental health is believed to be critical to optimum feed intake, digestive tract health, and body condition. In Western Canada, there are about 70,000 PMU mares that usually don't get routine dental care. Researchers from the Western Read More
Decreasing Abdominal Adhesions
April 01, 2005
Post-operative abdominal adhesions are a significant problem in horses, as they can lead to intestinal obstruction or strangulation. In recent years, a laparoscope is used to look into the abdomen and break down any adhesions that have formed Read More
WNV in Northern Indiana
April 01, 2005
West Nile virus (WNV) was first detected in Indiana horses in 2001. In 2002, the state reported 704 cases, the fifth-largest outbreak in the United States. Michael Ward, BVSc, MSc, MPVM, PhD, from Purdue University's School of Veterinary Read More
