The Scottish Horse

A DIASTEMA is an abnormal space between teeth and, when it affects the cheek teeth of horse, is a major cause of oral discomfort, quidding and weight loss, especially in older horses.

Award for Verm-X

FOLLOWING a successful year, the icing on the cake has arrived for Verm-X in the form of a ‘Silver’ Green Apple Award, backed by the government, and recognising Environmental Best Practice in Farming and Agriculture.

Stem cell therapy – has it lived up to the hype?

THE latest in a long line of ‘magic’ therapies for equine lameness burst onto the scene in 2003.

Advances in the management of allergic respiratory disease

RECURRENT airway obstruction – otherwise known as heaves and previously as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – is an allergic respiratory condition that affects horses of all types.

Several Atypical Myopathy cases reported in the UK

WORLD Horse Welfare has been made aware of several cases of Equine Atypical Myopathy (EAM) in the UK, and is urging horse owners to monitor their own horses.

What can I do when things go wrong?

VETERINARY medicine, just like its human counterpart, is not an exact science and clinical outcomes do not always meet our hopes or expectations.

Staying sound this summer

SO, HOW’S the summer been for you and your horse?

Would you know what to do in an emergency?

LOCH Leven Equine Practice are holding an evening talk with Patrick Pollock BVMS, FHEA, CertES(Soft Tissue), DipECVS, MRCVS, to learn about rescue procedures and what to do in an emergency on September 1 at Loch Leven Community Campus, Kinross at 7pm.

FEI marks 250 years of veterinary profession

THE FEI will be running a special session during the 2011 World Equine Veterinary Association (WEVA) Conference in Hyderabad, India on 2 November 2011 to mark World Veterinary Year.

Veterinary medicines – new developments

IT IS an irksome fact that some horses require sedating for clipping, dental treatment or even shoeing.

Thermal Imaging hosts thermography seminar for equine professionals

VETERINARY Thermal Imaging (VTI) is hosting a thermography lecture series, delivered for the first time in the UK by Dr Tracy Turner.

Changes to pre-purchase vettings

MAJOR changes to the way pre-purchase examinations — vettings — are documented will be introduced on September 8 – and will have significant ramifications for buyers and sellers.

Why so much laminitis?

THE ARCTIC weather that we encountered in November to January led to an increase in the number of horses and ponies suffering laminitis.

COPD horse lives life to the full with homeopathy

Amanda Peters is based in the New Forest where she drives and shows her Shire horse Fred, who is also a draught horse for the Ringwood Brewery.

Strangles – new solutions to an old problem

IT CAN be argued that no disease of horses has changed as much in terms of its presentation and management in recent years as strangles.

Tapeworm – not all wormers are effective

THE EQUINE tapeworm is common in UK horses but its definitive life cycle is not completely understood.

Colic and choke – emergencies part II

Colic is a five letter word that strikes fear into most owners, especially when you get a frantic call from the yard saying that your horse is colicking.

Cuts – coping in a crisis

Being a vet on-call is never dull.

Getting ahead of the game – preparing for the stud season

With continuing economic uncertainty, it is likely that there will be greater pressure on stallion owners, studs and vets to provide value for money during the forthcoming breeding season.

Coping with Arctic conditions

You would think that, after experiencing a prolonged cold spell in January earlier this year, we would be ready for the problems posed by the recent Arctic conditions.

Crib-biting and windsucking – what’s new?

“Found great pony, fantastic price!!!” read the very excited text that I recently received from my sister.

Autumn is here – time to think about tapeworms

It is estimated that as many as 70% of horses in the UK are infested with tapeworms.

Measuring horses and ponies – ongoing controversies

Few equestrian issues attract quite as much controversy as the measurement of horses and ponies.

Insect bite hypersensitivity – what’s new?

Insect bite hypersensitivity – or IBH, the technical term for sweet itch – makes the summer months a misery for many horses, ponies and donkeys.

Summer colds and sore legs

FOR SOME this has been the driest start to a summer for more than 50 years and it is starting to take its toll on horses of all types.

Riding surface raises concerns

An increasing number of horses are being seen by vets after suffering lameness and other leg trauma suggests a relationship beween the riding surface and injury.

Horse enthusiasts warned to be tick aware

As the warmer weather encourages riders and their horses to take a canter around the countryside, Lyme disease charity BADA-UK (Borreliosis and Associated Diseases Awareness-UK) is warning them to be aware of tick-borne disease whilst out and about over the spring and summer months.

Back pain - managing it in horses

Back pain can arise from a number of causes, including lameness and dental problems, as well as conditions affecting the vertebral column and associated soft tissues.

Back pain – diagnosing the problem

Back problems are a common cause of pain and poor performance in horses of all types, with signs that range from sensitivity to grooming through to violent behaviour when saddled.

Breeding from your mare – your options

Loch Leven Equine Practice are hosting a free talk on breeding from your mare which will be held on Wednesday, March 17, at Cleish Village Hall, Kinross.

Places available at Inverurie free donkey care course

Renowned experts from The Donkey Sanctuary in Devon will be hosting a free donkey care course for experienced, new and prospective donkey owners at the Cabin Equestrian Centre in Inverurie on Tuesday, March 6.

Back problems – functional anatomy of the back

Back problems are a common cause of discomfort and poor performance in all types of horses.

Beating the winter blues

The winter months can gnaw away at the pleasure of having horses.

Coping with Cushing’s disease

Cushing’s disease is increasingly recognised as a cause of ill health in horses, ponies and donkeys.

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