Horses
Determining Likelihood of Positive Outcomes by Studying White Blood Cells of Sick Horses
Study Results:
Although profound improvements have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of horses with gastrointestinal diseases, colic remains the leading cause of death in horses. Many severe forms of colic result in systemic inflammation, which may be responsible for life-threatening complications, including lameness. Scientist from the University of Georgia studied how severe diseases activate horses' white blood cells and affect the probability of survival. They found that white blood cells undergo different changes among three disease categories; simple colic, non-strangulating obstructions and strangulating... Read more.
Posted by MAF on June 11, 2010
Categories: Animal health, Animal studies, Horse health
PermalinkYoung Scientist Gains Insight into Immune Response of Foals
MAF Successful Outcome:
Bacterial pneumonia, such as that caused by Rhodococcus equi, is the primary cause of death among foals younger than six months. It is unclear why foals are more susceptible to the pathogens that cause respiratory disease than adult horses are, but scientists hypothesize that differences in cell-mediated immune responses account for the disparity. This study focused on dendritic cells, which regulate immune response to invading bacteria or viruses. Researchers compared dendritic cell function in young horses to that in mature horses to learn more about why foals are predisposed to developing... Read more.
Posted by MAF on March 24, 2010
Categories: Animal health, Equine health, Foal diseases
PermalinkUnraveling an Equine Mystery - Tying Up Disease
Dietary changes help prevent and manage tying up
By Carolyn Linville
From AnimalNews 9.4
Winston Churchill said, “No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.” It’s unlikely, though, that Churchill ever experienced a horse with polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), one of the causes of tying-up disease. PSSM is an incredibly painful, inherited muscle condition most commonly found in quarter horses, draft horses, warmbloods and... Read more.
Posted by MAF on December 22, 2009
Categories: Animal health, Animal studies, Equine health, Horse diseases, Horse health, Nutrition, Tying-up
PermalinkNews About Facial Cancer in Horses
New Cancer Treatment
Research into a new treatment for squamous cell carcinoma-the most common facial cancer in horses-shows great promise.
As summer gets under way, many horse owners begin the annual campaign to protect their white-faced horses from the sun. Sun damage causes many different problems-issues ranging from a simple case of sunburn all the way to skin cancers. In fact, squamous cell carcinoma-the most common cancer affecting... Read more.
Posted by MAF on October 26, 2009
Categories: Animal studies, Cancer, Equine health, Horse diseases, Horse health
PermalinkTreating Equine Asthma
Veterinarians Take Cues from Human Asthma Patients to Treat Equine Heaves
New research funded by Morris Animal Foundation may provide new tools and hope for equine asthma sufferers.
Equine heaves, also known as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), is a debilitating disease that affects more than half the horses in some countries. Equine experts describe it as one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions affecting the... Read more.
Posted by MAF on October 16, 2009
Categories: Animal health, Asthma , Equine health, Horse health
PermalinkReport from Unwanted Horse Summit
Far too many horses become unwanted. Morris Animal Foundation took a lead role in identifying why horses are relinquished or abandoned and developing intervention strategies when it hosted the Unwanted Horse Summit in May 2009.
Read the summit's final report.
Appendix I
Posted by MAF on August 1, 2009
Categories: Animal health, Animal welfare, Equine health, Horse health
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