“The primary source of vet suicide is adverse psychosocial working conditions. Many in the veterinary profession suffer from high levels of anxiety, depression, stress and burnout, and high personal expectations due to these risk factors,” said Dr Warwick Vale, AVA President.

A world-first sperm extender is set to more than double the effectiveness of artificial insemination rates in horses and may also have implications for humans. University of Newcastle scientists, Dr Zamira Gibb and Dr Aleona Swegen, have developed a revolutionary nutrient-rich liquid that enables collected horse semen to live for two weeks outside the body without the need to be frozen.

Horses, like humans, dissipate most of their excess body heat through sweating. Horses can sweat as much as 2½ to 3 gallons – 10 to 12 liters – per hour. Depending on the environmental temperature and the animal’s workload, it is possible for a horse to become dehydrated in as little as two to three hours. Furthermore, horses may not drink enough, even when provided water.

There are physiological differences between humans and horses. For example, horses don’t produce high levels of ketones, even when starving. Horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) are not at high risk for cardiovascular disease, the way humans are. They develop laminitis instead.