Prevention

Equine Rehabilitation: Exercise Therapy and Carrot Stretches

Updated:

March 1, 2025

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Immobilization or stall rest is sometimes necessary for a horse's injury to heal, especially in cases of severe tissue damage (such as tendon or ligament damage and fractures), but other times keeping horses moving is actually a better approach. The key is choosing the right exercise for the type and location of the injury. We cannot just tell horses, for example, to engage their core. We have to design exercises that achieve the desired result.

Equine Underwater Treadmills, Swimming Pools, and Spas

Updated:

February 26, 2025

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Hydrotherapy, the use of water to treat medical conditions, was first practiced by ancient Egyptians, and pools, saunas, baths, and tanks have historically been used to treat health concerns from arthritis to inulcers. Muscles have to work harder to move in water than on land, while the buoyancy of water reduces weight-bearing on bones, joints, and soft tissues, and the pressure exerted by water reduces swelling and inflammation.

Equine Rehabilitation: Electrotherapy

Updated:

February 24, 2025

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Electrotherapy, directing small currents of electricity through the skin for medical treatment, has been widely used in human sports medicine and rehabilitation to treat injuries and optimize performance. Various modalities have made their way into sport horse medicine and rehabilitation. Electrotherapies are built around energy sources that range from acoustics to vibrations.

10 Things To Know About Sport Horse Medicine and Rehabilitation

Updated:

February 19, 2025

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Equine sports medicine and rehabilitation is a comparatively new veterinary specialty. Sarah le Jeune, DVM, DACVS, DECVS, DACVSMR, certified equine acupuncturist, and Jessica Morgan, DVM, PhD, DACVSMR, both specialty clinicians at the UC Davis veterinary hospital, provided some insights into this topic.

Non-Veterinarian Equine Professionals May Leave Horse Owners Vulnerable

Updated:

January 30, 2025

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In Canada, professionals who offer equine massage, equine chiropractic, farriery, and equine homeopathy who are not veterinarians may unintentionally be practicing veterinary medicine, which could be against provincial laws. There is a lack of oversight due to few regulations governing the training, certification, and qualifications of these types of service providers. Moreover, provincial veterinary associations typically only intervene when a complaint is filed by a horse owner. As a result, individuals can easily market themselves as qualified to offer these services, even without the necessary expertise, leaving vulnerable horse owners to "learn the hard way" when choosing a provider.

Injections for Horses with Joint Disease

Updated:

January 14, 2025

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Intra-articular (IA) injections are commonly used when treating joint inflammation and injuries in horses. This method delivers the therapeutic agents directly into the joint, ensuring the treatment reaches the affected area immediately. This is in contrast to systemic treatments, such as intravenous, oral, or intramuscular methods, which require the medication to circulate through the horse's body before reaching the injury or area of concern.

Ten Things About Equine Neurology

Updated:

December 23, 2024

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Vitamin E deficiency can lead to distinct health conditions; Shivers can occur in the front limbs, but only if the hind legs are also affected; A horse’s brain weighs 1.5 pounds, but is still one of the largest brains among land mammals...

Designing an Effective Equine Fitness & Conditioning Plan

Updated:

December 22, 2024

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Is your horse ready to meet the increased physical demands of the spring season? Along with additional riding time, it's essential your horse is fit enough to hit the trails, compete, jump, or focus on endurance or dressage.

Equine Veterinarian Shortage Affects All

Updated:

December 21, 2024

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Canada is facing a significant veterinarian shortage that is adversely affecting horse owners. The shortage is particularly acute in rural areas, where equine veterinarians are often unavailable.

Evaluating Equine Lameness Using New Technology

Updated:

December 5, 2024

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Keeping horses sound is one of the most difficult and important aspects of horse sport. Given that horses have an uncanny ability to injure themselves, at some point every rider or horse owner will need their veterinarian to conduct a lameness evaluation.