Dr. Betty Althouse
Coggins test still vital cog in EIA screening
July 12th, 2012
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The standard in equine infectious anemia (EIA) screening is a test known to horse owners everywhere as the Coggins test. A “negative Coggins” is required for import and export of horses and is recommended for any situation in which horses are gathered together, such as a competition or boarding stable. But what exactly is a Coggins test, and how is …
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Controlling EIA’s spread has its challenges
Those in the horse industry all share a stake in maintaining vigilance over the spread and control of equine communicable diseases, and this is perhaps most true with equine infectious anemia (EIA), a disease whose only control is through regular screening. But the politics of disease management inevitably bring forth questions. Why do certain competitions require EIA screening but not …
July 12th, 2012 Full story »
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EIA persistent equine disease in the West
The mention of equine infectious anemia (EIA) or swamp fever holds a special kind of fear for horse owners. With no vaccine and no cure for the disease, a positive diagnosis of EIA is essentially a death sentence as an affected horse must be either euthanized or quarantined for life in fly-proof facilities to avoid infecting other horses. EIA screening …
July 12th, 2012 Full story »
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Saskatchewan veterinarians honoured
The Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan (FAC) and the Saskatchewan Horse Federation (SHF) recently announced that Saskatchewan veterinarians, Drs. Betty Althouse (WCVM 1982) and Byrnne Rothwell (OVC 1964), have been selected to receive 2011 Equine Welfare Awards. Althouse, who has been awarded the Equine Welfare Communication Award of Distinction, serves as Veterinary Program Specialist – Disease Control for the Canadian …
April 12th, 2011 Full story »