Chad Mendell

Researchers Complete 40-Year Parasite Study

September 26, 2006

Researchers at the University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Center recently completed a 40-year investigation of drug-resistant small strongyles in horses. E.T. "Gene" Lyons, PhD, a researcher at Gluck, said the study offered information Read More

BLM Seeks Two New Holding Pastures

September 23, 2006

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) needs two new pasture holding facilities west of the Mississippi River. This additional space will be for horses housed in long-term, all of which are located currently in Kansas and Oklahoma.

"We are Read More

Horse Slaughter Numbers Increasing

September 23, 2006

On Sept. 21, the Humane Society of the United States issued a release calling for immediate action in the Senate on S.R.1915, a bill that, if passed and signed by the president, would stop the shipment of horses intended for slaughter. The House Read More

A New Sarcoid Treatment

September 20, 2006

A medication used to treat external tumors in humans has shown some promise of treating sarcoids in horses. In a University of Minnesota (UM) pilot study, researchers used imiquimod (Aldara) to treat horses with mixed, fibroblastic, flat, Read More

WNV-Infected Horses Not a Predictor for Humans

September 19, 2006

A Canadian study concluded that horses infected with West Nile virus (WNV) were not a reliable indicator for future human infections. The study was published in the June issue of Preventive Veterinary Medicine.

Researchers at th Read More

Treatment For Leg Mange

September 19, 2006

Researchers at Tanat University in Kafr in El-Sheikh, Egypt, said in recent study that moxidectin oral gel is an "effective and good alternative for treating chorioptic mange (also know as leg mange) in horses." The study, which included 117 Read More

An Equine Athlete's Heart

September 14, 2006

Trainers, owners, and researchers have long pondered the effects of a large heart (one that is naturally occurring and not a result of disease), and have even attempted to use heart size as a predictor of athletic ability. Read More

Respiratory Disease: Not So Easy Breathing

September 14, 2006

The terms recurrent airway obstruction (RAO or heaves) and inflammatory airway disease (IAD) are often wrongfully used interchangeably to describe horses with non-infectious respiratory disease. Read More

Another Route For Ulcer Treatment

September 14, 2006

Omeprazole paste is the gold standard when it comes to treating equine gastric ulcers syndrome. However, researchers at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine said because of its potency and long-acting effect, an intravenous form Read More

Testing for Insect Hypersensitivity

September 14, 2006

Allergy testing is done in many species, including horses and humans. Unfortunately, testing to determine a horse is hypersensitive to insect bites is difficult. This disease (insect hypersensitivity) occurs seasonally, in horses of all ages and bree Read More

Noni Juice--A NSAID?

September 14, 2006

Although more research is needed, Tahitian Noni Equine Essentials, an herbal product made from the Morinda citrifolia tree, could have uses as an anti-inflammatory agent, according to a cooperative study by the University of Wisconsin School of Vete Read More

Predicting Pulmonary Hypertension

September 14, 2006

"Significant pulmonary hypertension is known to occur secondary to recurrent airway obstruction in horses," researchers said. "How this relates to disease severity or long-term prognosis is not known. In part, this may be due to the difficulty and/or Read More

Skin Hypersensitivity (ACVIM 2006)

September 13, 2006

There are three categories for hypersensitivity (non-insect-bite related) skin diseases. These include food allergies, atopic dermatitis (a predisposition to allergic disease in response to environmental allergens), and contact allergies caused by Read More

House Votes to Ban Horse Slaughter

September 08, 2006

In an act that went against the recommendations of the Secretary of Agriculture and two prominent veterinary groups, on Sept. 7 Congress voted 263-146 to end horse slaughter in the United States. House members also defeated two amendments that Read More

NSAIDs: Not All They're 'Stacked' Up To Be

September 01, 2006

Bute and Banamine are two of the most common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the market, and they easily accessible to nearly every horse owner. They can be the first line of defense in emergency cases such as colic, and Read More

Colic Surgery Risk Factors

September 01, 2006

Studies have also shown that colic surgery mortality rates are higher than that of any other surgical procedure--most likely because the horse's system is already compromised when the animal is anesthetized. Read More

Good Foot Gone Bad

September 01, 2006

Ric Redden, DVM, founder of the International Equine Podiatry Center, spoke about several common and sometimes debilitating hoof problems that can materialize with little or no warning, such as laminitis, white line disease, and hoof abscesses. Read More

House Subcommittees Hear Slaughter Bill

September 01, 2006

In late July, two House subcommittees heard testimonies from horse industry leaders on H.R. 503, a bill to ban horse slaughter. On July 27, Agricultural Subcommittee members voted 37-3 to send the bill to the House floor and strongly recommended Read More

Canadian Anthrax Outbreak Worst on Record

September 01, 2006

Saskatchewan, Canada, is experiencing its worst anthrax year on record. Animal health authorities have quarantined more than 86 premises in Saskatchewan for suspected anthrax contamination and have deemed 409 animal deaths (including one horse) Read More

Drought Grips Areas of the United States

August 22, 2006

Drought and excessive heat could strain the nation's agricultural industry. From Florida to California farmers and ranchers have already felt the effects in decreased hay production and waning grazing pastures.

"A big concern right now i Read More

Second Anthrax Case in South Dakota

August 18, 2006

On Aug. 16, the South Dakota state veterinary office confirmed the state's second case of anthrax this year. As a result of the outbreak, three beef cows that were part of a herd of 51 unvaccinated cows died in Lincoln County. An earlier outbrea Read More

Canadian Anthrax Outbreak Worsens

August 13, 2006

An anthrax outbreak that began in early July has claimed 637 animals and caused 134 premises to be quarantined in Saskatchewan, Canada, as of Aug. 10, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The outbreak is the largest on record Read More

Breeding Cents

August 11, 2006

In 2003, the horse industry directly contributed $10.7 billion to the U.S. economy; $2.2 billion of that was from the breeding industry alone, according to a study published in 2005. It's no wonder that Karin Bosh's July 11 graduate defense Read More

A Better Weigh

August 01, 2006

We've all seen horses around the barn, on neighboring farms, or quite possibly in our own barn that are a little, shall we say--heavy. But what exactly is heavy? For that matter, what determines if a horse is thin? Sure, it's easy to point out Read More

Agriculture Subcommittee Strongly Disapproves of Slaughter Bill

July 27, 2006

The House Agricultural Subcommittee listened to testimonies from a panel of horse industry and veterinary leaders yesterday (July 27) concerning an amendment (H.R. 503) to the Horse Protection Act. After listening to a lengthy discussion, member Read More