Horse Health
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Noor: “An incredible learning experience”
Veterinary surgeons weren’t the only WCVM specialists faced with “firsts” during the procedure on Noor, the Arab mare with a cancerous growth on her jaw. The veterinary college’s anesthesiology team also had the chance to break new ground during the horse’s lengthy surgery. “I learned that you can anesthetize a horse for 13 hours and everything can go well which …
December 12th, 2011 Full story »
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Patching up Pearl
For equine surgeon Dr. Ryan Shoemaker of Sherwood Park, Alta., a typical day involves treating a wide variety of equine clients that often include high-end race horses and show horses. But the guiding principle for him and the other veterinarians at Delaney Veterinary Services Ltd. remains the same whether they’re working with valuable race horses or backyard ponies: No matter …
December 12th, 2011 Full story »
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Water, the number one nutrient
During a hot July in 2006, the owners of a southern Saskatchewan farm made a grim discovery when they found five of their 19 horses dead, in or near a slough. The remaining horses were severely dehydrated and had diarrhea. The local veterinarian’s first suspicion was anthrax, a prevalent disease in the area at the time. But blood tests for …
December 12th, 2011 Full story »
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Can nanomedicine end endotoxemia?
A previous study conducted in the United States showed that eight out of 10 horses experience colic during their lifetime. Of those affected horses, 40 per cent of them die, likely as a result of endotoxemia – a complicating factor in many common equine diseases like colic and metritis (inflammation of the uterus). Endotoxemia in horses occurs when the circulating …
December 03rd, 2011 Full story »
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Under pressure
When your horse is undergoing major abdominal surgery for a condition such as colic the last thing you want to worry about is whether the surgical incision site may open up during recovery or in the early post-operative period. It can happen, but thankfully, acute incisional bursting (or dehiscence) following abdominal surgery is extremely rare in horses. “Acute incisional bursting is …
December 03rd, 2011 Full story »
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CT unit delivers diagnostic clarity
Medical imaging specialist Dr. Tawni Silver can’t hide her enthusiasm when she describes the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s new CT (computed tomography) unit. In the world of veterinary medical imaging, this machine is like the Cadillac of CT scanners with the ability to simultaneously acquire 16 three-dimensional “slices” or high-resolution images of an animal during each 0.5-second revolution. “With …
October 11th, 2011 Full story »
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EGUS prevalent in Saskatchewan racehorses
A study recently completed by WCVM researchers confirms that equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is just as prevalent in Western Canada’s racehorse population as it is in other parts of the world. By conducting gastroscopic examinations on thoroughbred racing horses stabled at Saskatoon’s Marquis Downs, the research team determined that ulcers in the nonglandular portion of the stomach were present …
December 02nd, 2010 Full story »
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Measuring stress: is it all about the hair?
The hair-raising atmosphere of a thoroughbred racing venue is thrilling for spectators and an accepted way of life for people whose livelihoods depend on the racing industry. But what about stress levels of the highly trained animals at the centre of this multi-million dollar industry? That’s a key concern for Dr. Fernando Marqués of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s …
December 02nd, 2010 Full story »
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Cold weather horse care
Shirley and Jack Brodsky have bred and raised registered Paints on their 160-acre farm near Saskatoon, Sask., for more than 20 years. That experience “in the field” has taught Shirley some valuable lessons about raising and caring for a large herd of multi-aged horses throughout the changing seasons. Q. What’s your winter feeding regime for your horse herd? With all …
October 21st, 2009 Full story »
