During veterinary school, the vast majority of equine colics we witnessed at the Purdue Large Animal Clinic had the potential to become surgical cases. For the most part, only the worst of the worst were referred to the vet school. Therefore, every time one of my own horses colicked, I had to remind myself that […]
Equine Colic Can Be Catastrophic… RIP Sadie Read More »
It was over 5 years ago that I wrote my first post about Canine Rattlesnake Aversion training. My husband Alan and I have had a pack of dogs since we have been together, and every year we retrain the oldies and first-time train the newbies that rattlesnakes are to be avoided at all costs. Nearly
Canine Rattlesnake Aversion Training, Take Two Read More »
As I mentioned in this post, a little less than a year ago I began the volunteer position of Vet Resource Coordinator for Arizona Border Collie Rescue. It has been truly enjoyable to “dabble” in veterinary medicine again, and it prompted me to acquire my Arizona veterinary license. In the interest of maintaining my licenses,
CIRDC Update… Is Respiratory Disease Still Rampant? Read More »
Media outlets of all types have been abuzz lately with growing public concern over the wave of respiratory disease seen in our canine companions. Is this a new disease or an uptick in canine infectious respiratory disease complex, or CIRDC? As a retired veterinarian, but one who is involved in shelter and rescue medicine, I
CIRDC or Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex… Is there A New Bug? Read More »
I grew up in Indiana and attended Purdue University for my veterinary degree. We learned about diseases that affected animals all across the country, including fungal diseases. Histoplasmosis was more of a concern in the Midwest than Valley Fever. In fact, a staff member at my first job was tested for histoplasmosis when she gave
Planning to Visit the Southwest? Do You Know About Valley Fever? Read More »
Over the past four weeks, I have been writing a series about the equine slaughter/auction pipeline. Each post has taken hours or even days to write. I have spoken to countless people and read innumerable articles. It has been a labor-intensive and emotionally draining series. I will be writing more, and I have many ideas
A Healthy Healed Splint Bone Fracture…Time to Start Rehab! Read More »
It is hard to be passionate about something about which you are not aware. “Out of sight, out of mind” is a very true adage, and we are all susceptible to that scenario. All of us, including me. Therefore, it was with complete naiveté that I started down a rabbit hole a week ago… I
An Eye-Opening Encounter About Veterinary Involvement in Horse Slaughter Read More »
I have made it clear that, although I am a retired veterinarian, I am constantly evaluating my ability to properly assess and treat any medical issue that arises with my horses. For one thing, I never practiced equine medicine. Secondly, I retired long ago. Lastly, when it comes to my animals, I have a skewed
When to Call the Vet for Your Horse Read More »
Two weeks ago, I ended my post about Tippecanoe River State Park by describing our arrival at my classmate’s facility in Delphi, Indiana. Dawn provided a wonderful place for us to park our motorhome and we even had a water hookup. The horses hung out in an adjacent half-acre lot. There had been several Purdue
Purdue Vet School, Forty Years Later Read More »
The blog series I wrote about EPM early in 2020 remains one of the most-read series I have ever written. Clearly, this equine disease can be devastating to horses and their owners. It can also be difficult to understand exactly what is causing the visible clinical signs. In this post, I will describe some of
Early Signs of EPM Read More »
Last week I wrote about my beloved Arabian gelding’s surgery at Colorado State University. I am very happy to report that as of this post, two weeks post-op, he is doing great. His leg is soft-splinted from his hoof to his chest. He moves around his tiny living space with ease. I was even able
The First Week Post-op & Regional Perfusion Explained Read More »
Two weeks ago, I ended my post about The Perils of a Puncture Wound by talking about two friends who reached out to me and described similar experiences with their horses. Specifically, I said, “One had involvement of the splint bone which required surgery and six months of rehab. I consider us very, very fortunate
Surgery for an Infected and Fractured Splint Bone Read More »
Once again, I am going to preempt what I had scheduled in order to tell you about what I didn’t have scheduled. I have alluded this past few weeks to the fact that Kadeen sustained a puncture wound to his leg while we were on the road. Sadly, it required a daylong experience at the
The Perils of a Puncture Wound… A Day at CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital Read More »
This post will be about an incredibly successful method of treating inflammation in multiple different areas of the body. I will do my best to make is as free of “medical-ese” as possible, while still explaining how it works and the various ways to do prolotherapy. I have personally had multiple prolotherapy treatments over the
Powerful Prolotherapy for People and Animals Read More »
Uveitis means inflammation of the uvea. That doesn’t tell you much, does it? The uveal tract of the eye is comprised of the vascular (blood vessel) and pigmented structures of the eye. Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) is the leading cause of blindness in horses worldwide. The prevalence of this devastating disease is reported to be
Equine Recurrent Uveitis or Moon Blindness Read More »
When I applied to the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine in the mid-70s, there were roughly 9 applicants for every spot. There were only 72 students accepted every year. Some students that were not able to gain entrance to a veterinary program turned their efforts towards medical school instead. This article, written in 1978, discusses
The Shocking Shortage of Veterinarians Read More »
Many types of living creatures can suffer from stomach ulcers. Alan and I both suffered from severe GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease. Among the many, many characteristics we share, we have both had fundoplications to treat our reflux. I recently started treating my dog for gastric ulcers. And I have treated Kadeen in the past for
Canine and Equine Gastric Ulcers Read More »
Sometimes, I wish I didn’t have any education in veterinary medicine. That is never more true than when one of my own dogs presents with a problem. I go from A to Z in a heartbeat… but strangely enough, this time I was right. My sweet little Leah has been diagnosed with canine lymphoma. Leah
Little Miss Leah has Canine Lymphoma Read More »
In the past three weeks, I have been writing about two of the most often diagnosed metabolic disorders of equines… Equine Cushings Disease or PPID (symptoms and treatment), and Equine Metabolic Syndrome. Getting a diagnosis is the first step. What are the rules of the road for the nutritional management of horses or ponies with
Nutritional Management of Horses With Metabolic Disorders Read More »
Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and Equine Cushing’s Disease (PPID) are the two most common metabolic disturbances in horses. I recently wrote a two-part blog about PPID (Part One and Part Two.) This post will be about EMS, and next week I will discuss dietary recommendations for horses with various metabolic challenges. Typically, EMS occurs in
Equine Metabolic Syndrome Read More »
In Part One on this topic, I discussed the symptoms and diagnosis of Equine Cushing’s Disease, or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). In this second part, I’ll discuss treatment and management options. The two horses in the feature photo from Part One are both being treated for PPID. As you can see from the photo,
Equine Cushing’s Disease Treatment Read More »
According to this article by the Kentucky Equine Research Staff, it is believed that 20-33% of horses will develop Equine Cushing’s Disease in their lifetime. That is an incredibly high percentage! Most horses are over the age of 15 at diagnosis. Although Cushing’s Disease is the most commonly recognized name for this endocrine dysfunction, a
Equine Cushing’s Disease, Symptoms & Diagnosis Read More »
Almost exactly a year ago, I wrote A Hole in Her Head, a blog about how our gelding kicked our new mare in the head. We sutured up the skin, but obviously, it was up to Mother Nature to deal with the rest. For the most part, Mother Nature did a great job. However, for
Detour to Purdue University Read More »
Vesicular Stomatitis, or VS, is a viral disease that primarily affects horses and cattle. It may occasionally affect other hooved animals, such as pigs, goats, sheep, llamas, and alpacas. Rarely, humans handling affected animals can experience flu-like symptoms. Although rarely fatal, VS can have a personal and economic impact on livestock owners. I decided to
Vesicular Stomatitis Outbreak! Read More »
As I posted last week, my Arabian buddy Kadeen has been suffering from a seriously inflamed eye. I have been extremely diligent about treating him. At his ophthalmology recheck appointment last week, his eye showed significant improvement. When I heard that news, I had a bit of an emotional meltdown. Apparently, I was very tightly
Update on Kadeen’s Eye Read More »
Have you ever had pinkeye? Do you remember how it itched and watered and looked awful? Pinkeye is inflammation of the lining of your eye, and the “white” of your eye. As painful and itchy as it is, it is not as severe as inflammation of the cornea. Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea. The
Equine Immune-Mediated Keratitis (IMMK) Read More »
This is the final installment of a blog series on neurological diseases in horses. Most of the posts have been about Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis, or EPM. To summarize one of the main points of the previous four blogs, EPM is actually much rarer than most people believe. In fact, there are several rare neurological conditions
Vitamin E Supplement for Horses Read More »
This is the fourth installment of a blog series discussing neurological disorders in horses. Part One discussed Sarcosystosis, which is an infection with the protozoa Sarcocystis neurona. The protozoa most often associated with Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis or EPM is S. neurona. In Part Two, I shared the expertise of Siobhan P. Ellison, DVM PhD. Dr. Ellison believes inflammation
Inflammatory Polyneuritis equi or EPM? Read More »
EPM is a confusing and (apparently) prevalent disease affecting horses. This is the third installment of this series. Part One discusses infection with Sarcocystis neurona, the main protozoan implicated in EPM. Next, Part Two provides an overview of what causes the symptoms of EPM. This post will provide some critical bullet points to understand and
In Part One of this series, I discussed the fact that opossums carry the protozoa Sarcocystis neurona that is the primary causative agent of Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis or EPM. Additionally, I briefly described the lifecycle of the parasite and discussed the symptoms of Sarcocystosis or infection with Sarcocystis. Frustrated horse owners responded to the blog,
EPM Part Two–What Causes the Symptoms? Read More »
Have you ever seen the Facebook post from the “Save the Possums” group, describing how valuable opossums can be? For instance, the article touts the fact that opossums eat many insects. Would you like fewer ticks around your barn? Feed an opossum! The trouble is, you may already be feeding your barn guest if you
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis or EPM Read More »
This is the fourth and last in a series discussing euthanasia. The first three installments focused on medical reasons that might result in a decision to euthanize a pet. In this blog, I will discuss behavioral reasons that might prompt this most difficult of decisions. Once before, I addressed the issue of human safety vs. animal rights.
Euthanasia, A Vet’s Perspective (Part Four) Read More »
In human medicine, a patient may receive either palliative care or hospice care. Palliative care often leads to hospice care. For instance, a person with high blood pressure would still receive blood pressure medication under palliative care. In hospice care, a patient no longer receives medication for chronic diseases. The goal shifts from trying to
Euthanasia, A Vet’s Perspective (Part Three) Read More »
In this second installment in a series, I am sharing some of my thoughts on euthanasia. My perspective comes from both sides of the exam table. I am a diehard animal lover as well as a veterinarian. In Part One of this series, I told the story of a client who asked, “What would you
Euthanasia, A Vet’s Perspective (Part Two) Read More »
With few exceptions, most people become veterinarians because they love animals. That certainly was true in my case. I was five years old when I told my parents that I wanted to be a vet. I have lived with at least one dog since I was an infant. Under no circumstances could I imagine my
Euthanasia, A Vet’s Perspective (Part One) Read More »
Last week, I blogged about my rather challenging week with my two horses. Note I said two horses, not a herd of twenty. I guess Murphy’s Law states they’d both have major issues in the same week! My new little mare, Sadie, greeted me last week with a lovely gash in her head. It was
Holey Horses and Herpes Read More »
Spoil alert! Somewhat graphic photo at the end of the post! My horses are ganging up on me. I only have two… and I make sure my facilities are as horse-friendly as possible. There isn’t any rusty farm equipment in the dry lot begging for a horse to cut herself. Nevertheless, the new mare found
A Hole in Her Head Read More »
I just completed four days of veterinary academia. My mind cannot absorb another fact. I attended workshops on GI issues, skin issues, neurological evaluations and diseases, and behavior. I listened to the latest and greatest news about nasty ticks and their migrations. Interestingly enough, the toxicology presenter who discussed tick-borne diseases is actively working with
Does Your Dog Have GERD? Read More »
What do they call the guy (or gal) who graduates last in his (or her) class in veterinary school? “Doctor!” That was an oft-repeated comment during my four challenging years in the Purdue veterinary curriculum. The competition was fierce to gain admittance to the veterinary school; therefore, my 71 class mates and I were accustomed
Vet School Vignettes… The Rigors of Veterinary School Read More »
In Part One of this series, I discussed my application and admittance to veterinary school. Part Two described my first encounter with the veterinary dermatologist, and a subsequent encounter that was quite memorable! Early on in the first year of class, each student was provided with a “box of bones.” It was a fishing tackle
Vet School Vignettes… An Awkward Autopsy Read More »
In Part One of this series, I discussed my acceptance to veterinary school. Part One ended with the demographic description of my class in 1978. Currently, the ration of women to men students is 4:1. The “applicant to seat” ratio that was approximately 12:1 when I applied 40 years ago is now less than 2:1.
Vet School Vignettes… Catastrophic Cat Mites Read More »
Recently, a thread appeared on one of my Facebook groups. The initial poster discussed a visit to her MD about broken ribs. She talked about how much money she spent there, versus what she spent right after that getting veterinary services for her horse. She and her veterinarian discussed her broken ribs, and the poster
Vet School Vignettes… Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine Read More »
Animals provide incredible enrichment to our lives, but we need to be able to live together safely.
Human Safety Comes First Read More »
In my previous post, I discussed various horses I had owned or ridden in my youth. Several of my past horses were acquired in unusual ways. Additionally, my love of Arabians was a direct result of my sister’s love of the breed, as I inherited the horses she initially rode. When I was a child
Embryo Transfer & Cloning Read More »
My gray Arabian, Kadeen, is for all practical purposes the first horse I really researched and purchased for myself. Nearly all of the horses that preceded him either “fell in my lap” or initially were acquired for someone else. That’s pretty crazy considering I have been riding horses since I was in the single digits…
Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth Read More »
This is the last in a series of posts about the challenges of assessing the quality of life for our dogs, cats, and horses. In Part One I discussed “black and white” decisions (more obvious) versus the “gray” areas (not such a clear choice.) Part Two discussed personal experiences with horses, both black and white
Quality of Life Part Four Read More »
In Part One of this series, I discussed the difference between more “black and white” decisions regarding a pet’s quality of life, versus the large gray areas where a decision is much less clear. In Part Two, I shared my “gray” experience with an Arabian gelding, as well as a couple of more “black and
Quality of Life, Part Three… A Horse Snake Bite Read More »
In Part One of this series, I discussed the difference between “black and white” decisions about a pet’s health (a situation where a tough decision is fairly obvious) and a long, uncertain gray area where the parameters are much less apparent. I experienced both scenarios with my own pets early on in my veterinary career,
Quality of Life Part Two Read More »
I have been on both sides of the veterinary table when it comes time to make tough decisions. My pets are extremely important to me. I suffer great pain at their loss. Additionally, I have the perspective of a veterinarian making an independent assessment of an animal’s quality of life as the aging process progresses.
Quality of Life — Black & White or Gray? Read More »
