News from Your Equine Health Care Provider | Vol. 5 |Spring 2019
Rood & Riddle Vet Check
IN THIS ISSUE
The Kenny Rice Horse Racing Show RREH Welcomes Dr. Nate Newton 2019 RREH International Podiatry Conference 2019 RREH Client Education Seminar RREH to Appear on PBS 2019 Hats Off Day Dr. Bill Gilsenan
-Dealing with Ticks
Dr. Dale Brown
-Effectiveness of Vaccines
Dr. Stephen Reed
-non-musculoskeletal
causes of poor performance
Rood & Riddle News
Rood & Riddle is excited to be the keystone sponsor of
The Kenny Rice Horse Racing Show!
The Horse Racing Show is like no other: a weekly personality and information driven video podcast hearing from and telling the stories of the people in the industry from an entertaining and unique perspective. Horse racing expert Kenny Rice puts his unique perspective into the stories features each week. “We’re putting fun back into racing, that’s our goal,” says host Kenny Rice, an Eclipse Award winner and NBC horse racing reporter spanning two decades covering the Triple Crown series and Breeders’ Cup, including the first to interview trainer Bob Baffert after both his Triple Crown triumphs. This weekly show will feature unique interviews, behind the scenes stories, and commentary on timely topics in the Thoroughbred racing industry. These stories may include upcoming races, interviews with owners, trainers, jockey or caretakers, current news and a segment dedicated to equine healthcare. Every episode will feature a segment called the Rood & Riddle Vet Check which will showcase one of the Rood & Riddle clinicians discussing issues common to all horses. So far the show has featured segments with Dr. Tom Riddle, Dr. Stephen Reed, Dr. Larry Bramlage, Dr. Maria Schnobrich, Dr. Raul Bras, Dr. Alan Ruggles, Dr. Rolf Embertson, Dr. Deborah Spike-Pierce, Dr. Bonnie Barr, Dr. Brett Woodie, Dr. Scott Morrison, Dr. Scott Hopper, Dr. Woodrow Friend and Dr. Katie Garrett. It is available as both a videocast on YouTube and as a podcast on iTunes and Google play. Tune in, sit back and enjoy! YouTube Link: YouTube Podcast Links: iTunes
Google Play www.roodandriddle.com
Rood & Riddle Welcomes Dr. Nathaniel Newton
We are excited to have Dr. Nate Newton join our ambulatory team! Dr. Newton is a native of Kentucky
and attended Eastern Kentucky University, where he received his Bachelors of Science in Animal Science and Biology. He then attended Auburn University, where he obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2008.
Nathaniel Newton, DVM
A lifelong horseman, Dr. Newton’s interest in breeding Arabian show horses as a teenager encouraged his interest in equine reproduction. During veterinary school, he traveled around the United States, working at predominantly equine reproductive clinics in California, Florida and Virginia. These experiences allowed him to gain valuable knowledge in techniques and procedures related to reproduction. Dr. Newton has worked in the Lexington area since graduating from veterinary school in 2008, concentrating his efforts on equine reproduction and ambulatory care. Dr. Newton continues to travel all over the world and consults with equine breeders in Australia, Sweden, The Netherlands and the Middle East. He has made three trips to Australia for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season to keep his skills sharp. Dr. Newton manages close to 500 brood mares and their foals, with daily visits to each of his breeding farms. His favorite part about his job is building relationships with his clients and seeing the success of their horses. Dr. Newton has enjoyed watching many of the foals he welcomed into the world achieve great success in the racing industry, including the Standardbred Stallion Trixton winning the Hambeltonian and the Thoroughbred stallion Mr. Z compete in the Kentucky Derby. In his free time, Dr. Newton enjoys his Arabian horses and traveling. To learn more about his Arabians, visit Hillsbrook Arabians
Demonstrations at the International Podiatry Conference
2019 Inaugural International Podiatry Conference
Attendees from across the country and around the world arrived in Lexington to attend the
Inaugural International Podiatry Conference which took place on April 11-12.
The conference consisted of two days of intense study and demonstrations. Doctors and farriers from as far away as Ireland, Austrailia and Japan, and as close as Tennessee and Ohio took advantage of the this educational offering here at Rood & Riddle. Speakers included Dr. Maarten Oosterlink of the University of Ghent, internationally known farrier Haydn Price, Dr. Ric Redden of International Equine Podiatry and Rood & Riddle’s own Dr. Scott Morrison and Dr. Raul Bras. Rood & Riddle farriers Stuart Muir and Sam Zalesky gave a demonstration on Shoeing the Performance Horse. Conference presentations included Pressure Plate Evaluation, Evidence Based Farriery, Understanding Mechanical Goal, Life after Deep Digital Flexor Tenotomy and Putting it All Together to Manage Cases. Spontaneous Quarter Cracks, Hoof Surgery in the Field and Optimizing the Discovery Exercise were just a few of the demonstrations offered by our experts. Attendees were able to meet with sponsors Dechra, Soft Ride, Sound Horse Technologies, SoundVet, No Polyflex Horseshoes, Platinum Performance, NANRIC, FPD, Magnus Magnetica and Zoetis.
2019 Rood & Riddle Client Education Seminar
Held on February 28th at Embassy Suites and attended by over three hundred 300 people, Rood & Riddle’s thirty-fouth annual Client Educational Seminar was a huge success! The question and answer format took center stage again this year.
Dr. Riddle started the program that was highlighted with presentations from Doctors Laurie Metcalfe, Peter Morresey, Bonnie Barr, Etta Bradecamp, Charlie Scoggin, Maria Schnobrich, Jordan Kiviniemi-Moore and Debbie Spike-Pierce. Dr. Spike-Pierce took over the hosting duties for the second half of the evening which featured presentations on a wide array of subjects. These presentations were made by Doctors Daniel Devis, Alan Ruggles, Kathleen Paasch, Woodrow Friend, Craig Lesser and Larry Bramlage. This year’s topics covered a variety of subjects, including lung lesions, stallion fertility, laser therapy, chiropractics, acupuncture, hyper immune plasma, phantom training, treatment of racetrack injuries, laminitis, OCD’s and yearling survey schedules. Sponsors of the seminar included Rood & Riddle Veterinary Pharmacy, Platinum Performance, Kentucky Equine Research, Zoetis, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Neogen. The seminar was recorded and the videos will be released on the Rood & Riddle YouTube channel & Facebook page!
Rood & Riddle to Appear on PBS In colaboration with Information Matrix with Lawerence Fishburne, an award-winning program that highlights
new stories and innovative concepts, Rood & Riddle will be showcasing advances in equine healthcare that are available to equine atheletes and how these advances have led to an increase in equine athelete longevity. Injuries that were at one time life threatening are now being treated and having much different outcomes. Featured Rood & Riddle veterinarians will include Dr. Tom Riddle, Dr. Katie Garrett, Dr. Larry Bramlage and Dr. Deborah Spike-Pierce. Information Matrix is hosted by the inimitable Laurence Fishburne. Combining Laurence Fishburne‘s reputation with educational documentary-style content, Information Matrix keeps audiences engaged, inspired, and informed, with stories that resonate with viewers on the latest developments throughout the world. Dr. Tom Riddle said “Everyone at Rood & Riddle is excited to appear on such a well-respected program. We are all proud of what we have here and always happy to show it to the world.” Filming is scheduled to begin at the Rood & Riddle Lexingon campus in mid-May and is slated to be aired on PBS stations nationwide starting this summer.
Ali’s Journey: Memphis Zoo’s Baby Giraffe Is Back on Her Hooves When you think of Rood & Riddle you think equine healthcare, but occassionally our doctors are called upon to help in unsual cases. In early April, Dr. Alan Ruggles recieved just such a call. A days old giraffe calf, born at the Memphis Zoo, had been found limping, and after consulting with their veterinarians, the zoo personnel called on Dr Ruggles’ expertise to help with the newborn. Read the whole story of Ali’s Journey on the Memphis Zoo’s website. www.roodandriddle.com
Oliver
Breyer 2019 Celebration Horse
2019 Hats Off Day Date Set
Hats Off to Kentucky’s Horse Industry Day – featuring free,
family-friendly events designed to celebrate the horse – is scheduled this year for Saturday, July 27, from 4 to 10 p.m. at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Hats Off Day is the only day of the year that admission to the Horse Park is free. Free admission to the Horse Park is offered all day, with Hats Off Day festivities (all free) starting at 4 p.m. Hats Off Day activities include horse rides for adults and pony rides for children, face painting, inflatables, educational booths, and interactive equine stations. Free horse farm hats, generously provided by area horse farms and businesses, are given to the first attendees to arrive.
Yoder
2019 Comeback Award Winner
“Hats Off Day continues to educate Kentuckians about our commonwealth’s horse industry, which is the number one equine industry in the country,” said Dr. Tom Riddle, founder of Hats Off Day and co-founder of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. “My hope is that people will leave the Horse Park with a better understanding about the importance of our commonwealth’s signature industry.” Stadium activities begin at 6:45 p.m. with an exciting demonstration by service horses, including miniature therapy horses and Oliver, the Breyer Celebration Horse of 2019, who is Kentucky Horse Park Mounted Police Captain Lisa Rakes’ equine partner.
As a member of the Kentucky Horse Mounted Police 11 year old Oliver (a Shire cross) certainly stands out in a crowd with black and white pinto pattern and his large stature. In the Rolex Stadium, the winner of the 2019 Rood & Riddle Comeback Award will be presented – given annually to an outstanding horse that has undergone veterinary care for a medical condition by Rood & Riddle veterinarians and then returned to greatness. This year’s recipient is Yoder, the Lexington Mounted Police horse who was injured in the line of duty, only to return to continue to protect the Lexington streets. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., the featured entertainment of the event is the $50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix show jumping competition, a 26-year-old tradition that draws internationally known horses and riders. In addition to promoting awareness of the horse industry and its impact on Kentucky, Hats Off Day serves as a fundraiser for the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center, the Kentucky Horse Park and the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. More than $900,000 has been raised for worthy organizations in Kentucky since the inaugural event in 2003.
Books By Rood & Riddle Veterinarians
Many of our clinicians have been asked to author, co-author or contribute to articles, journals and books
that are widely used in unversities and referred to by other veterinarians in or out of school. Some of these are: Dr. Bonnie Barr was a co-author on a text book, Equine Pediatric Medicine, which is in its second edition. This book covers the foal from birth through weaning and equine practitioners will value this as a ready reference, while veterinary students and technicians can use it as a complete guide to equine pediatric disease. Dr. John Hubbell co-authored two text books. Equine Anesthesia: Monitoring and Ermergency Therapy, which is in it’s second edition and Handbook of Veterinary Anesthesia which is in its 5th edition. Equine Anesthesia is great reliable and inclusive resource for all veterinary team members involved in the everyday care of horses that require anesthesia or special emergency care. The Handbook is a well-accepted guide to performing anesthesia and anesthetic techniques safely and effectively. This convenient pocket guide provides clear, concise guidelines on anesthetic procedures for dogs, cats, horses, ruminants, camelids, pigs, birds, and other exotic pets Dr Stephen Reed is co-author of the only equine-specific neurology text book, Equine Neurology, which is in its second edition. The book offers a complete clinical reference to neurologic conditions in equine patients and is used at universities around the country.
DEALING WITH TICKS by Dr. Bill Gilsenan Board Certified Internal Medicine QUESTION: How concerned should I be about ticks biting my horse? How do I look for ticks on a horse? DR. BILL GILSENAN: With the spring and summer just upon us, it is natural to consider some of the
trouble horses might get into as they will be outside more and active more in the warmer weather. Increased time outside may well translate to increased exposure to ticks. Ticks are arachnids that obtain their nutrients by feeding on the blood of the larger animals that they can parasitize. As ticks advance through their life cycle, they require feedings from different species of animals to progress. The tick’s reliance on blood-feeding has unfortunately allowed it to function as an effective transmitter of microscopic pathogens. There are over 900 species of ticks recognized worldwide. Different pathogens have adapted to different species of ticks. Consequently, a variety of diseases can be transmitted by ticks to mammals and birds. A handful of these diseases are of importance in equine medicine. Arguably the most notable of them is Lyme Disease. Lyme Disease is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. B. burgdorferi is transmitted by deer ticks (Ixodes spp.). The disease is named for the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut where it was first diagnosed in a human in 1975. Since then, recognition of the disease has increased and is estimated to be diagnosed in 30,000 people in the United States each year. As awareness of the disease heightened, it was determined that deer ticks were also capable of infecting dogs and horses with B. burgdorferi. Lyme Disease was initially primarily diagnosed in the northeastern United States, but there is strong evidence that the geographic range of the deer tick is expanding. A recent study determined that prevalence of antibodies to B. burgdorferi in dogs is highest in the states between Maine and Virginia, and also in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Illinois. The prevalence of deer ticks is increasing in West Virginia and North Carolina. Large nationwide studies examining exposure of horses to B. burgdorferi are lacking, but smaller studies have estimated that greater than 50% of horses in the northeastern states have been exposed to the pathogen. These studies have established that horses can become infected with B. burgdorferi. However, the majority of horses infected with B. burgdorferi in these studies were apparently healthy, so infection does not necessarily translate to disease. Several reports have confirmed, though, that B. burgdorferi is rare instances capable of causing disease associated with the nervous system. Clinical signs in these horses include ataxia, hyperreactivity, difficulty swallowing, and muscle atrophy. These clinical signs overlap with several other common equine diseases. It can be extremely difficult for equine veterinarians to parse out which horses have developed disease due to B. burgdorferi in regions of the United States where most horses have been exposed to the bacterium and have developed antibodies against it. An added challenge is our incomplete understanding as to why the vast majority of horses that become infected with B. burgdorferi never develop disease and as to why a small minority can become quite sick. Notably, there are no reports proving B. burgdorferi as the cause of muscle stiffness or laminitis. Regardless, Lyme Disease has emerged as a disease of clinical importance in horses and is one that demands awareness of ticks. Lyme Disease is not the only tick-borne disease of horses. Anaplasmosis, also transmitted by deer ticks, can result in acute fever, lethargy, and swollen limbs. Fortunately, anaplasmosis responds well to antimicrobial therapy and in some cases is even self-limiting. Piroplasmosis, considered to be a foreign animal disease in the United States, is a protozoal tick-borne disease of horses that can cause fever, anemia, decreased platelet count, and even death. Outbreaks of the disease occurred in Florida and Texas in 2008 and 2009. Deer ticks actually feed most frequently in the early spring and fall, but it is worth checking your horse for ticks year-round. Use both your eyes and your hands when checking your horse. It is always best to examine your horse systematically, starting at the nose and working backward to the tail. For regions with longer hair, use your fingers to separate strands apart to enable exposure of the skin. For regions with shorter hair, rub your hands along the horse’s skin and evaluate for irregularities. If a tick is identified, removal can be attempted. Because ticks feed on blood, they attach themselves quite well to the skin. It is important to not squeeze or crush the tick as this may promote the release of infectious contents into the horse. Instead, forceps can be used to carefully detach the tick. If the tick is in a precarious spot, or if you are not comfortable with removing the tick, it is probably most appropriate to enlist a veterinary professional to get the job done.
Bill Gilsenan, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM
“With the spring and summer just upon us, it is natural to consider some of the trouble horses might get into as they will be outside more and active more in the warmer weather. Increased time outside may well translate to increased exposure to ticks. Ticks are arachnids that obtain their nutrients by feeding on the blood of the larger animals that they can parasitize.”
Bill Gilsenan received his veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008. Following an internship at Colorado State University, he completed a residency in large animal internal medicine at the New Bolton Center—University of Pennsylvania. He became board certified in large animal internal medicine in 2012. He held a faculty position at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine until joining the staff at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital as an internal medicine specialist in 2015. Dr. Gilsenan enjoys all aspects of equine internal medicine but is particularly interested in cardiology, neurology and neonatology.
Reprinted with permission of the
www.roodandriddle.com
EFFECTIVENESS OF VACCINES by Dr. Dale Brown Ambulatory Practitioner at Rood & Riddle
QUESTION: Some vaccines seem to have significant failure rates. Why should I give my horse vaccines that may not prevent their contracting an infectious disease? DR. DALE BROWN: Before discussing the various factors that can contribute to vaccine failure, it is important to understand that no single vaccine can guarantee 100% protection against that particular disease. Vaccinations serve to minimize the risk of infection and aid in the prevention of certain diseases, but do not prevent disease in every circumstance. There are several factors that can play a role in a vaccine’s effectiveness and lead to perceived failure: proper handling, following recommended timing of vaccination, the horse’s age, immune status, and stress level, to name a few. If the vaccine is not kept at the proper temperature, it can become inactivated and thus provide no protection. Likewise, most vaccines require a primary dose and a series of boosters (2 or 3) initially to mount the proper immune response in a naive horse. If a booster is skipped, oftentimes the horse’s immune system will not produce adequate antibodies post vaccination to aid in prevention of disease. These previous examples are reasons that even though the horse has been vaccinated, if not done properly, there may not be adequate antibodies made and therefore the individual is not protected. It is important to also understand that not every horse will mount the same immune response to the exact same vaccine. Horses that are immunocompromised (already sick, or under stressful conditions like traveling or showing/training) may not mount a normal immune response to a vaccine given at that time and lead to inadequate protection. Finally, the particular disease that you are vaccinating against may change its genetic make-up over time (antigenic drift), especially true of viruses such as herpes and influenza, thus making the current vaccine less effective in preventing disease. Take Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) for example. Almost every horse is exposed to EHV at some point in its life where the virus then becomes latent (dormant) within the horse and only causes a problem during times of stress and is reactivated and begins shedding the virus into the environment. This disease is extremely difficult to prevent, however the vaccine aids more to decrease the amount of viral shedding into the environment and thus decreasing the exposure to others around it. There are other vaccines that may be viewed as having high failure rates because the horse can still contract the disease when exposed, however, the vaccinated individuals have much less severe clinical disease or duration of sickness compared to the unvaccinated horse. You should always discuss your vaccination program with your veterinarian to decide which vaccines are most beneficial for your horse based on the risk of exposure and effectiveness. However, there are 5 core vaccinations every horse should receive no matter the age, breed, or discipline based on the AAEP guidelines: Rabies, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Western Equine Encephalitis, West Nile, and tetanus. These vaccines have proven over the years to be highly efficacious in preventing these severe, potentially fatal diseases.
Dale Brown, DVM
“Before discussing the
various factors that can contribute to vaccine failure, it is important to understand that no single vaccine can guarantee 100% protection against that particular disease. Vaccinations serve to minimize the risk of infection and aid in the prevention of certain diseases, but do not prevent disease in every circumstance.”
“It is important to also understand that not every horse will mount the same immune response to the exact same vaccine.”
“Good horsemanship and common sense should still be the rule.”
Good horsemanship and common sense should still be the rule. Dr. Dale Brown was raised on a cow/ calf farm in Girard, Kansas. After working on a Quarter Horse breeding farm during high school, he decided to attend Kansas State to pursue an Animal Science/ Agribusiness undergraduate degree. He earned his degree in 2001 and continued his schooling at Kansas State obtaining his Veterinary Medicine degree in 2006. Dr. Brown completed his Ambulatory Internship with Rood & Riddle in 2007. He joined Rood & Riddle as an associate in 2007 and in 2013 he became a shareholder. Dr. Brown’s special areas of interest include reproduction, neonatal medicine, herd health, and public yearling sales. When not seeing patients, Dr. Brown enjoys spending time with his wife Kelly, his daughter Samantha and his twin boys, Wyatt and Clayton. He also is an avid college sports enthusiast.
Reprinted with permission of the
www.roodandriddle.com
NON-MUSCULOSKELETAL CAUSES OF POOR PERFORMANCE by Dr. Stephen Reed Board Certified Internal Medicine QUESTION: How might a trainer decide if a horse’s poor performance is related to a veterinary issue when there’s not an obvious lameness present? DR. STEPHEN REED: Poor performance in horses can be caused by abnormalities in many body
Steve Reed, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM
“Evaluation of poor performance begins by taking a careful history, listening to the trainer and/or rider to be certain one is investigating the problem they feel is important.”
“As we have discussed, poor performance may not be caused by a problem with the musculoskeletal system. Other body systems should also be considered.”
systems. The most common cause of poor performance is a painful musculoskeletal problem and the horse will usually show a lameness. If the lameness is obvious enough to cause a gait deficit along with a head nod the clinician will begin with a careful lameness examination to include specific nerve or joint blocks to localize the site of the lameness. However, there are other body systems that can reduce performance. Evaluation of poor performance begins by taking a careful history, listening to the trainer and/ or rider to be certain one is investigating the problem they feel is important. I like to start with a careful physical examination to include auscultation of the heart and lungs. Horses with atrial fibrillation will have an irregular heart rhythm, often combined with a pulse deficit. Horses sometimes develop the problem during exercise and will show a dramatic reduction in performance. To confirm the diagnosis an electrocardiogram is needed. While this is the most common arrythmia seen in horses the ECG will help identify whether this or another arrythmia is present. Other causes of poor performance include obstruction of the upper airway such as dorsal displacement of the soft palate, laryngeal hemiplegia or anomalies of the palatopharyngeal arch. Horses with upper airway abnormalities show both exercise intolerance and often make a noise during exercise. The evaluation of horses with this type of problem must include endoscopy of the nasal passages, pharynx, larynx and guttural pouches as well as passage down the trachea in search of blood or mucus, indicative of either EIPH or reactive airway obstruction. When either of the latter are identified the cause of poor performance is most likely a lower respiratory tract problem. Poor performance can also sometimes be caused by disorders of the central nervous system. Affected horses showing only mild to moderate neurologic deficits caused by diseases such as equine protozoal myeloencephalopathy, cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy and equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy may perform but often at a level lower than before developing the disease. Poor performance may be a result of primary muscle disease. The most common causes are exertional rhabdomyolysis or “tying-up” and polysaccharide storage myopathy types 1 and 2. These disorders have different mechanisms as the underlying cause of the signs, though the common clinical manifestation is often sore painful muscles and reduced exercise tolerance. Mild elevations of muscle specific enzymes such as creatine kinase along with increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase also be seen. Diagnosis can be by genetic testing and/or muscle biopsy. Some horses not performing well have been diagnosed with gastric ulcers or other gastrointestinal disorders, though these are generally not presented for poor performance. Presumptive diagnosis may be made based on clinical signs. Definitive diagnosis is made by gastroscopy. As we have discussed, poor performance may not be caused by a problem with the musculoskeletal system. Other body systems should also be considered.
Reprinted with permission of the
Dr. Reed earned his DVM at The Ohio State University, followed by a residency at Michigan State University. He started his academic teaching career at Washington State University from 1979-1983, and then returned to The Ohio State University where he spent 26 years as a professor and mentor in the Equine Medicine department. Dr. Reed is a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and is a noted author and editor of numerous scientific articles and textbooks. He has spoken at many state, national and international meetings. His primary research interests include Equine Neurologic Diseases. He is currently an Internal Medicine Specialist and shareholder of the Practice at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Emeritus Professor of The Ohio State University, an Adjunct Professor at the University of Kentucky and is the Chairman of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Advisory Committee.
Rood & Riddle in Wellington The evening of Cocktails & Conversations presented by Rood & Riddle of Wellington along with exclusive partner Zoetis, was a great success! The seminar was well-attended by South Florida equestrians representing multiple disciplines who were educated on a variety of topics by the experts of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Wellington. Attendees were also able to tour the facilities during the social hour catered by Ken Rose. Additional industry sponsors included Adequan, Covetrus and Merck.
Jose Bras, DVM, MS, DACVS with Oliver & Rachel Kennedy
Jose Bras, DVM, MS, DACVS, kicked off the event by discussing Dynamic Endoscopy in the Sport Horse which included a live demonstration of this diagnostic procedure. Stephanie Walbornn, DVM, DACT, explained different reasons and treatments for Unexplained Subfertility in Broodmares. Third in the evening’s roster was International Equine Veterinarian Hall of Fame member, Raul Bras, DVM, CJF, who spoke on A Better Understanding of Laminitis, a devastating disease that effects so many horses. Karen Beste, DVM, DACVS concluded the evening by discussing Indications and Advantages of Minimally Invasive Laparoscope Procedures. Each of the speakers took audience questions regarding the topics that they covered. Dr. Scott Pierce, Shareholder and Wellington Managing Partner said of the event “Cocktails & Conversations exceeded our expectations. The crowd was enthusiastic and had great questions. Our vets had a great time too!”
Rood & Riddle in Saratoga Doctors Shawn Morrell and Julia Gloviceki participated in the Free Spring Clinic on April 27. They joined together with The Cheshire Horse in order bring pertinent information to the equine owners in the area. Dr. Morrell discussed hooves and legs and Dr. Gloviceki talked about feeds, weight management and colic. Additionally, they both fielded questions from the attendees.
Shawn Morrell, DVM
We were excited to have the animal science class from Galway High School visit us! They were shown how we do an endoscopic exam as well as a thoracic/abdominal ultrasound! Julia Gloviceki, DVM
Take Time to Research Garden Plants With spring upon us, planting season beginning and the variety of beautiful flowering plants available for us to beautify our landscaping, taking the time to check to see if the plant is toxic to animals is well worth the time spent. Here is a list of the 12 deadliest garden plants from complied by This Old House. Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow www.roodandriddle.com
the EQUINE Pharmacy
NaturalHoof Now Readily Available! Dr. Morrison and the Podiatry team at Rood & Riddle worked closely with nutrition consultants to create a Hoof Supplement that provides an ideal environment for the hoof to grow, strengthen and rebuild. Rood & Riddle Veterinary Pharmacy is currently distributing this supplement exclusively. If you have any horses that need supplemental hoof support, consider NaturalHoof. Key in the formulation of this supplement is Dr. Morrison’s strong stance that horse owners are, in general, over-supplementing horses. A balanced diet for our horses includes a full spectrum of the trace minerals for a healthy horse and supplementation should be need-based. We are seeing great success from horses being supplemented with NaturalHoof. The hoof pictured (left) is after 8 weeks of supplementation (the new growth is very apparent at the top of the hoof).
The idea was to find the right ingredients for hoof growth, from the most bio-available sources, to address a specific problem. There are no unnecessary ingredients in this formula, meaning no oversupplementation. Not adding unnecessary “buzzword” ingredients means Performance Equine Products was able to spend extra money and effort finding the best source for the ingredients desired.
These images show the same hoof after 3 months on the supplement.
Contact Rood & Riddle Pharmacy for more information (859)246-0112 or info@rrvp.com