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We have prepared a schedule that is designed to increase your horse's level of fitness over an 8-week period. This way, your horse will increase fitness gradually, allowing ample time for appropriate tissue remodeling.

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We have prepared a schedule that is designed to increase your horse?s level of fitness over an 12-week period. This way, your horse will increase fitness gradually, allowing ample time for appropriate tissue remodeling.

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A technique to chemically ejaculate stallions was recently developed and published. Advantages to chemical ejaculation over current collection procedures include: Chemical ejaculation is technically easier and less time-consuming Chemical ejaculation does not adversely affect behavior of the stallion (since he does not realize that he's breeding) It poses less risk of injury to the stallion, mare, and personnel involved

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Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), often referred to as "osteoarthritis," is a very common cause of lameness in performance horses. Most equine training strategies involve the prevention and/or maintenance of some form of joint disease. Lack of performance as a result of joint disease often precedes overt lameness and/or radiographic changes.

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Distal tarsitis, often referred to as "bone spavin", is the most common cause of clinical lameness associated with the tarsus (or "hock") in horses. Distal tarsitis is an osteoarthritis and periostitis of the distal intertarsal, tarsometatarsal, and occasionally the proximal intertarsal joints.

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Watch the horse closely as you approach as you can obtain a lot of information from a cursory visual exam - attitude, overall weight and conditioning, ambulation, posture, etc. A healthy horse is usually interested in new people, will come over to investigate and often sniff you before allowing you to touch him or her. Normal temperature is 99.5-100.5 degrees F.

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The ultimate guide to feeding a horse is his/her overall condition. The coat should be shiny and soft. The ribs should be palpable but not visible. The hindquarters and back should be "flat" or smooth across when viewed from behind. A deep crease along the dorsum of the spine along the back usually indicates excessive weight. The lower abdomen and flanks should be round but not excessively so.

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A number of problems can arise in the horse’s foot as a result of having too much tension on the deep digital flexor (DDF) tendon. These include differences in front feet appearance, clubbed feet, delamination of the hoof wall (white line disease), navicular inflammation, and laminitis (founder).

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An annual schedule designed to protect your foals against common diseases.

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Fungal dermatitis, often referred to as “dermatophytosis”, “rain rot”, “scratches”, or “dew poisoning”, is a common problem in horses living in the southeast, especially during the warm and wetter months of the year. The presence of fungal organisms on your horse’s skin can cause irritation, itching, and even open sores. Once an area in the skin becomes compromised or open it invites more opportunistic fungal organisms, which further accentuate the infection. Fungal infection of the subcutaneous tissues can result in considerable swelling, pain, and lameness. It is also important realize that even skin which appears normal may be infected.

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Horses evolved in the wild for thousands of years before they were domesticated by humans. In the wild, a horse typically spends as much as 18 hours per day (or more) eating vegetation (such as grass). Their digestive tract, therefore, has evolved to handle small quantities of easily digestible feed over a long period of time.

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Intermittent Upward Patellar Fixation Treatment Flow Chart

Lameness Evaluation

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Lameness is by far the most common cause of inadequate performance in the horse. The majority of horses currently in training have experienced lameness at one time or another. Accurate diagnosis of lameness requires a comprehensive understanding of equine anatomy and a methodical approach to examination.

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Horses can exhibit specific gait characterisitics depending on where their pain is originating.

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Laminitis, often referred to as "founder" , is a term that triggers fear in many horse owners. The problem can be life-threatening, and currently accounts for almost 2% of the horses referred to The Atlanta Equine Clinic for treatment. Laminitis is defined as inflammation of the laminae of the foot.

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Navicular inflammation, often referred to as "Navicular Disease" or "Podotrochleosis", is one of the most common causes of intermittent, often-shifting, thoracic limb lameness in horses between 4 and 15 years of age. Although the pelvic limbs may be affected, it is typically considered a disease of the thoracic limbs.

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We would like to make several recommendations pursuant to the treatment your horse just received for intermittent upward patellar fixation. A combination of 2% iodine in a vehicle of almond oil was infused into both medial and middle distal patellar ligaments (see diagram below). An analgesic (pain killer) was administered along with the sedative to reduce discomfort during the procedure. No more medication for discomfort is recommended.

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We would like to make several recommendations pursuant to the treatment your horse just received for coffin joint and/ or navicular inflammation. A combination of both short- and long-acting steroid as well as a synthetic hyaluronan were infused into the distal interphalangeal (DIP or “coffin”) joint(s).

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We would like to make several recommendations pursuant to the treatment your horse just received for distal tarsitis (hock soreness). A combination of both short- and long-acting steroid as well as a synthetic hyaluronan were infused into both distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints (i.e. the two bottom joints of the hock; see diagram below). An analgesic (pain killer) was administered along with the sedative to reduce discomfort during the procedure, and 2 grams phenylbutazone was administered intravenously to reduce discomfort over the next 12-24 hours. No more medication for discomfort is required.

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We are happy that your horse is going home and getting back to a familiar environment! Now that surgery is completed, your horse will require special attention during the recovery period. Follow-up care at home is an essential part of successful joint therapy and will contribute significantly to the eventual return of your horse to performance soundness.

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We are happy that your horse is going home and getting back to a familiar environment! While your horse is no longer in a life-threatening situation, he/she will require special attention during the remainder of the recovery period. Follow-up care at home is an essential part of successful colic treatment and will contribute significantly to the eventual return of your horse to a full and active life.

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Purchasing a horse seems to be getting more and more complicated. It is not uncommon to hear about someone that bought the horse of their dreams, only to have it turn up lame or ill several weeks later. The veterinarian’s role in the purchasing process is often a critical part of protecting the buyer’s investment. Just as a mechanic would be useful in "checking out" a used car, a veterinarian can help the buyer evaluate a horse before a commitment to purchase is made.

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DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES FOR HEAD SHAKING: Lameness, upper respiratory allergy, upper airway foreign body, tooth abscessation, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease, neurologic disease (e.g. EPM), guttural pouch infection, stylohyoid osteitis, petrous temporal osteitis, photic head shaking.

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"Strangles" is a layman's term for Streptococcus equi infection. It is an extremely contagious bacterial infection which is contracted through the mucous membranes your horse’s nasal/ oral passages. Strangles can be fatal, but this is rare. Usually, infection remains localized within the upper respiratory system. Because bacterial inoculation occurs in the mucous membranes of the nasal and oral passages, it occasionally "seeds" in the intermandibular lymph nodes, which often become swollen and painful. "

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Environmental, Feeding and Medication Recommendations for Horses Diagnosed with Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome

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Exertional rhabdomyolysis is technically defined as degeneration of muscle. Although often referred to as "myositis", this term refers to inflammation of muscle tissue. There actually is no evidence of acute inflammation present when biopsies of muscle tissue are examined.

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Intermittent upward patellar fixation is a condition whereby the horse’s pelvic limb temporarily "locks" in extension. As a result, there is a delay in flexion of the limb. The delay in flexion can range from milliseconds to over several minutes.

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Vaccination Deworming Chart