Chad Mendell

A Joint Barometer

June 10, 2007

A protein called serum amyloid A (SAA) could help veterinarians assess the condition of a joint before it becomes severe, according to Danish researchers. Joint disease is a major source of lameness in performance horses, and researchers are Read More

Nutrition For Critically Ill Foals

June 05, 2007

A major challenge in veterinary hospitals is providing nutrients to critically ill foals that are weak or unable to nurse. In these situations, parenteral nutrition (PN) is provided via an IV catheter. In a recent study researchers found that Read More

Oral Joint Supplements

June 01, 2007

A shortened stride, a slight hesitation before a jump, or stiffness during warm-up--none of these issues are severe enough to send you scrambling to call your veterinarian. However, these joint-related issues can cause some concern--enough concern Read More

Illinois Horse Slaughter Bill Introduced

February 26, 2007

An Illinois State Representative introduced a bill on Feb. 22 that would prohibit the transportation of horses in the state for the purpose of slaughter for human consumption.

State Rep. Robert Molaro (D-Chicago), who sponsored the bill Read More

Transfixation Pin Cast Recovery: Timelines Set

February 17, 2007

Researchers at Colorado State University (CSU) set time guidelines for the use of transfixation pin casts for horses with comminuted phalangeal fractures. They found that horses with fractures maintained in this type of cast for 40-80 days had increa Read More

Horse Slaughter Bills Introduced in House, Senate

January 17, 2007

Legislators introduced horse slaughter prevention bills simultaneously today (Jan. 17) in both the House and Senate in an effort to increase public awareness. Last year the bill was passed in the House with a 263 to 146 vote, but the Senate Read More

Senate Unable to Vote on Slaughter Ban

December 13, 2006

Horse slaughter opponents will have to start from scratch next Congressional session despite last-minute efforts asking for a Senate vote on the issue. The 109th Congressional session adjourned for the holidays on Dec. 8 without taking action on Read More

Seasonal Tying-Up: Toxins or Deficiency?

December 02, 2006

In Minnesota, cases of pasture myopathy (muslce disease caused by pasture) associated with severe non-exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis (also know as tying-up) are often attributed to the toxins found in white snakeroot. However, researchers at th Read More

Air Pillow Aids Anesthesia Recovery

November 11, 2006

In a recent study, researchers at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine found that a rapidly inflating/deflating air pillow significantly increased the time a horse rested following anesthesia, which could reduce anesthesia Read More

Insured Geldings, Mares At Greater Risk of Death Than Stallions

November 09, 2006

Swedish researchers examining the five-year survival rates of insured Warmbloods found that geldings and mares have a greater mortality risk than stallions. They also found that horses with a history of "costly veterinary events" were at a Read More

Oral Supplement Combination Reduces Joint Inflammation

November 01, 2006

Several studies have suggested that administering a combination of oral glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate (Glu/Chon) provides a greater benefit than giving each by itself. After eight years of research, Martha Rodgers, VMD, a private Read More

Oral HA Reduces Post-Surgical Hock OCD Swelling

October 28, 2006

Both intra-articular (in the joint) and intravenous (in the vein) injections of hyaluronan (HA) have been proven effective in treating joint diseases, such as osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions, over the years. However, a relative newcomer Read More

Beyond House Calls

October 20, 2006

If you have been at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, this week, you've seen them there. If not, you'll have about 30 more chances to meet the Equine Sports Medicine veterinary team members within the next year. Read More

Veterinarians Use MRI to Diagnose Navicular Injury

October 18, 2006

Magnetic resonance imaging was important in making an accurate diagnosis and yielded evidence that navicular bone injury, even in the absence of radiographic evidence of a fracture, should be considered as a differential diagnosis for horses Read More

Diagnosis of Upper Airway Disorders at Rest Alone Is Unreliable

October 16, 2006

United Kingdom researchers recently reported that endoscopic examinations of upper airway obstructions in horses at rest and without the use of a treadmill can be unreliable and should not be used alone to diagnose conditions and determine Read More

Five Reasons Veterinarians Should Consider Behavior

October 15, 2006

Whether a horse's bizarre behavior is an indicator of a medical condition, vice versa, or he's just behaving badly, a veterinarian should consider a patient's behavior examining him, according to an article published in the September issue of th Read More

Upper Respiratory Obstructions

October 12, 2006

United Kingdom researchers found that dorsal displacement of the soft palate and palatal instability were to blame for poor performance in 78.5% of the horses examined in a recent treadmill study of Thoroughbred racehorses. They also found that Read More

Bigger Horses, Greater Post-Op Risks

October 12, 2006

Draft horses weighing more than 1,500 pounds are at greater risk of postoperative complications due to anesthesia than lighter draft horses, according to a Purdue University study.

"Heavy draft horses had significantly more postoperativ Read More

Truck Companies Pulling for Safety

October 07, 2006

Trailers decked out with lavish living quarters that would put some houses to shame are becoming increasingly popular in the competition and pleasure horse industries. However, these massive trailers can weigh in excess of 10,000 pounds (i.e., Read More

Composting Could Be a Viable Alternative for Carcass Disposal

October 06, 2006

Last year, 94,000 horses were slaughtered--a number that seems to be increasing for 2006--and another 100,000 were euthanatized. With horse slaughter on the edge of extinction in the United States and the practice of carcass rendering on the Read More

Respiratory Recordings

October 05, 2006

A new device can record respiratory sounds when horses exercise in a normal environment. Read More

Several From Horse Industry Among Flight 5191 Victims

October 01, 2006

Several people involved with horses were on board Comair Flight 5191, a CRJ-200 regional jet, when it crashed shortly after taking off from the Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Ky., on Aug. 27. According to Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the Read More

Canadian Anthrax Outbreak Worsens

October 01, 2006

An anthrax outbreak that has claimed 687 animals and caused 147 premises to be quarantined. Read More

Bone Chips: When the Chips Are Down

October 01, 2006

In the case of bone chips, sometimes bigger is better. In a study performed in 2006, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center theorized that bone chip characteristics in a horse's knees were an indicator of the severity of Read More

Adverse Effects of a Performance Enhancer

September 27, 2006

Researchers found that a performance-enhancing drug caused unpredictable, severe, and possibly life-threatening effects on horses. In a study completed at the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College, researchers examined abnormal Read More