Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
Stacey Oke, DVM, MSC, is a freelance medical writer based out of Canada. Her areas of interest are nutrition, supplements and osteoarthritis, and she contributes to scientific journals, magazines, and tabloid publications. When not writing, Stacey whiles away her days with her husband and two children.
Articles by Stacey Oke
Equine Herpesvirus-1: Mutant Strain an Emerging Problem
March 14, 2008
Scientists from the Gluck Equine Research Center and the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center at the University of Kentucky recently reported that a particular mutant form of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) that causes myeloencephalopathy (a Read More
Reviewing Limb Cellulitis: Management Key to Good Outcome
March 13, 2008
According to a new Canadian study, cellulitis--a diffuse bacterial infection of the skin and associated tissues--is common in horses, particularly Thoroughbreds, but is rarely life threatening if managed appropriately.
"Despite being a Read More
Emerging Disease: Equine Multinodular Pulmonary Fibrosis Update
March 10, 2008
According to an inaugural, multi-center report, equine herpesvirus-5 (EHV-5) is associated with a newly recognized, potentially fatal lung disease in horses called equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis, or EMPF.
"EMPF is an important Read More
Study: Corneal Transplants Safe and Effective in Horses
March 09, 2008
According to a retrospective study involving 206 horses, corneal transplants can successfully restore vision in horses with a variety of eye problems including melting ulcers, iris prolapsed, stromal abscesses, and in horses that were not Read More
Dealing with Emerging Infectious Diseases
March 05, 2008
Scientists are becoming increasingly concerned about the marked and persistent development of emerging infectious diseases--infections that are new to a population or geographic area, have appeared more frequently, or have become more virulent (abl Read More
Blood Test in Young Foals Might Predict Osteochondrosis
March 02, 2008
Measurement of osteocalcin (a marker of joint metabolism) in 2-week-old foals might be useful for identifying foals at risk for developing osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis (OC) is a developmental orthopedic disease that results from a Read More
Biotin: Does it Work?
March 01, 2008
Here's what we know about the efficacy of this popular hoof supplement.
Conditions such as chronic laminitis, cracked Read More
Off to the Races: Improved Surgery for "Bad Throats" Safe and Effective
February 23, 2008
Thoroughbred racehorses with obstructed respiratory tracts due to inflammation of the arytenoid cartilage or failed tiebacks treated via unilateral partial arytenoidectomy--a surgical technique that resolves the obstruction--are likely to return Read More
Scientists Examine New Joint Disease Evaluation Method
February 22, 2008
Danish researchers have been investigating a novel technique for evaluating joint disease. This involves the serial evaluation of cartilage-derived retinoic acid protein (CD-RAP) levels in individual horses as a measure of cartilage synthesis Read More
Pretty as a Picture After 'Wry Nose' Surgery
February 14, 2008
Researchers modified a surgical technique to correct wry nose (an abnormal nasal deviation) in a horse. Read More
Researchers Examine Annular Ligament Injuries
February 10, 2008
In a retrospective study, researchers from the United Kingdom found that injuries to the palmar or plantar annular ligament (PAL)--the anatomic structure that holds that superficial and deep digital flexor tendons in place as they pass the fetlock Read More
Cytokines, Inflammation, and Insulin Resistance: Dangerous Liaisons
January 31, 2008
Insulin resistance, the body's inability to control blood sugar levels with normal amounts of insulin, is known to be associated with equine obesity, altered reproductive function, and pasture-associated laminitis. In addition, insulin resistance Read More
Reproductive Hormones Directly Influence Embryo Development
January 26, 2008
A group of Dutch researchers reported evidence that the equine conceptus (i.e., the embryo and associated membranes) might be directly responsive to the reproductive hormones progesterone and estrogen, Read More
Thyroid Supplement Effective Addition to Equine Weight Loss Program
January 24, 2008
Researchers from Tennessee recently reported that daily administration of a high dose of levothyroxine sodium--a synthetic thyroid hormone supplement--for 48 weeks resulted in significant weight loss and an improvement in horses' insulin Read More
Study Shows Horses Able to Absorb Fatty Acid Supplements
January 22, 2008
Illinois researchers studying the effect of nutritional supplementation with essential fatty acids (EFAs) reported that EFAs are absorbed systemically after oral administration and alter the normal pool of fatty acids in the bloodstream of horses. Read More
Vaccine-Based Treatment for Equine Sarcoids
January 20, 2008
Horses with sarcoids could soon benefit from a new vaccine-based treatment that is currently being developed by a group of German researchers. Equine sarcoids, semi-malignant skin tumors caused by bovine papillomaviruses (BPV)-1 and -2, are common in Read More
If It Ain't Broke: Hyperbaric Oxygen Not Helpful for Uncompromised Skin Grafts in New Study
January 19, 2008
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)--the medical administration of oxygen at high pressure--does not appear to be effective in horses with skin grafts that are uncompromised and healing properly before treatment is initiated.
Skin grafts, whic Read More
New EPM Research Sheds Light on Spread of Causative Parasite
January 16, 2008
After years of studying equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a serious neurological disease in horses, scientists have mapped the first steps in the migratory path of Sarcocystis neurona--the chief parasitic cause of EPM.
"Befor Read More
Test Suggests Ubiquitous Herpesvirus Strains Play Role in Abortion
January 11, 2008
Researchers from France have determined equine herpesvirus (EHV)-2 and -5 might play a small role in equine abortion. They used a sensitive and rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test--one that can identify sections of viral DNA--in their Read More
Early Exercise and Future Tendon Health
January 07, 2008
Tendon injuries are an important cause of wastage in athletic horses, particularly (when injuries occur in) energy storing tendons--such as the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT)--which act like springs to contribute to movement. Read More
Study Links New Risk Factors to EPM Infection
January 04, 2008
Results from a recent study on equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM)--a progressive neurological disease--identified three factors that increase a horse's risk of infection: living with cats, use for Western performance or racing, and age Read More
Study: Light-Colored Horses at Higher Risk of Dying from West Nile Virus
January 03, 2008
Researchers at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan, Canada, recently published a study indicating that light-colored horses diagnosed with West Nile virus (WNV) might be more likely to succumb to the disease than their Read More
FDA Dietary Supplement Rule Not Applicable to Veterinary Products
December 26, 2007
Scientific studies performed over the past decade have demonstrated the widespread availability of poor quality and potentially unsafe dietary supplements for both human and animal consumption. These include supplements that:
- Do not Read More
New Variables Identified as West Nile Risk Factors
December 22, 2007
Based on a recent retrospective study performed at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan, Canada, three major risk factors that are completely outside of a horse owner's control contribute to the mortality rate of West Nile Read More
Topical Gel for Bacterial Skin Infections Could Be 'Spot On'
December 18, 2007
Florida researchers reported that equine bacterial skin infections could be effectively treated with a topical "spot-on" gel instead of the traditional labor-intensive shampoos and long-term oral antibiotics.
Bacterial skin infections are Read More
