Michael Ball, DVM
Michael A. Ball, DVM, completed an internship in medicine and surgery and an internship in anesthesia at the University of Georgia in 1994, a residency in internal medicine, and graduate work in pharmacology at Cornell University in 1997, and was on staff at Cornell before starting Early Winter Equine Medicine & Surgery located in Ithaca, N.Y. He is also an FEI veterinarian and works internationally with the United States Equestrian Team.
Ball authored Understanding The Equine Eye, Understanding Basic Horse Care, and Understanding Equine First Aid, published by Eclipse Press and available at www.exclusivelyequine.com or by calling 800/582-5604.
Articles by Michael Ball
Equine Tetanus: Signs and Treatment
October 01, 1997
It's a beautiful sunny day and being that nothing exciting is happening in the pasture today, you decide to lie down and roll a bit. In the midst of an extremely satisfying roll, there is a sudden sharp pain in your rump area Read More
Equine Herpes Virus
September 01, 1997
The first thought that comes to most people when the word "herpes" is mentioned is one of those nagging pain-in-the-neck cold sores, one type of which is caused by a herpes virus, and the venereal disease "herpes simplex." The word "herpes" Read More
Tendon Injuries Part 3: Suspensory Desmitis
September 01, 1997
Although the suspensory is considered a ligament, it is appropriate to discuss this structure in our tendon series since technically it is a vestigial ("existing as a rudimentary structure") tendon. To review the anatomy, the suspensory Read More
Fluids and Electrolytes: Life's Curious Brew
August 01, 1997
Encouraging water consumption is extremely important. This often starts by making sure your horses have free access to a good, clean water source. Read More
Equine Tendon Lacerations: Part 2
August 01, 1997
Electric fence wire, barbed wire, sheet metal...What do these things have in common? They
all have caused catastrophic tendon injuries in horses. The structure and function of tendons, as well as flexor tendon desmitis, were reviewed in the Read More
Hematoma
July 01, 1997
Hematoma is a word most of us have heard at some point in time, in reference to a swelling on a horse or yourself. But what is it, and how does it affect your horse? This article will discuss some of the conditions or diseases in horses that Read More
Bandaging Basics
June 01, 1997
A common question among horse owners and veterinary students is: When is it appropriate to bandage a leg or wound and, if it is, what is the best material with which to bandage it? There is an ever-growing variety of commercial bandaging materia Read More
Pseudomonas Infection in Horses
May 01, 1997
Pseudomonas is a bacteria family that can cause many types of illnesses, from loss of sight to reproductive problems to death. Members of the genus Pseudomonas are commonly found in aquatic habitats (wet areas Read More
Strangles in Horses
May 01, 1997
Caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi, this highly contagious disease is most common and severe in young horses.
One beautiful spring morning, you are milling around in the barn after the morning feeding trying to Read More
Caslicks Procedure
May 01, 1997
The Caslick procedure of surgically closing the upper part of the vulva has been commonly practiced on broodmares for the past 60 years. The procedure evolved in an effort to treat what E. A. Caslick, DVM, had observed--the negative effect that Read More
Vision Testing In Horses
April 01, 1997
Currently, vision testing in horses is not an exact science. The main goal of the ophthalmic examination is to identify abnormalities of the eye and speculate on how they could affect the vision based on known structure and function of the eye. Read More
A View From Within
March 01, 1997
Trans-tracheal "wash," or aspiration, is a valuable diagnostic procedure that is often performed in order to better guide the treatment of difficult or chronic lung disorders. It can be used to aid in the diagnosis of pneumonia, and potentially Read More
Pelvic Fractures
January 01, 1997
Q: My horse was sound when he was turned out one night, and the next morning he was lame in the hind end. It took quite a few diagnostics by my veterinarian before it was determined that he had suffered a slight pelvic fracture. How common is this... Read More
Pain In Horses
January 01, 1997
Pain is defined as "a feeling of distress, suffering, or agony caused by stimulation of specialized nerve endings." The scientific term for the perception of pain is "nociception," with noci the Latin for "harm or injury."
Pain and Read More
Contagious Diseases
October 01, 1996
Any horse which is sick and suspected of having a contagious disease should be immediately isolated from the healthy stock. If possible, a single person should be assigned to the care of this animal, and that person should be educated to use proper Read More
