“They show signs of aging at different rates. Sometimes, I’ll see a horse at 15 and see the animal again at 17 and am shocked at how much he or she has clinically aged. Other horses are 25 years old, and you’d never know they’re a day over 12!”

“A horse’s hoof is like a human nail, except they stand on it all day long,” says Guedes. “The hoof wall is attached to the bone by a very tough tissue that interconnects like a zipper, which is called the digital laminae. Certain proteins hold the digital laminae together, and when there is inflammation, such as with laminitis, those proteins break down and the hoof’s connection to the bone breaks apart.” 

“Although the condition is not common — we see it occasionally in horses and cows, and in dogs and cats — none of us have ever seen it before in exotic hoofstock.”

Larger-brained dogs outperform smaller dogs on measures of executive functions – a set of cognitive processes that are necessary for controlling and coordinating other cognitive abilities and behaviors. In particular, bigger dogs have better short-term memory and self-control than more petite pups, according to the study published in the journal Animal Cognition.

It can happen to anyone – your horse is lame. Lameness can be very subtle, or can be more obvious, but in each case, it’s important to determine when and if an NSAID is an appropriate treatment option, and if so, which NSAID to choose.

“If a dog is picking up its feet or seems reluctant to walk this may be a sign that he/she is too cold. Small and short-haired dogs may need coats for short walks in cold, windy weather. They may need boots if they will be outside for longer periods of time,” Collins says. ”Dogs that live in areas where salt is used to control ice may need boots or to have their feet washed off when coming indoors. Longer-haired dogs may collect ice and snow on their feet, so check them regularly while outdoors. And consider trimming the fur on the feet to help prevent ice accumulation.”

Like humans, horses have a ‘thermoneutral zone’ (TNZ) – an optimal range of temperatures within which they can comfortably maintain their own body temperature. For adult horses in mild climates, this is between 5ºC and 25ºC. Humans, on the other hand, have a more limited TNZ of between 25ºC – 30ºC when naked. This means when humans feel cold, horses are still well within their comfortable zone. Humans often make decisions about rugging their horses based on whether they feel cold themselves, so they may well be using a rug on their horse when it really is not necessary.

The ability to utilize this technology on a standing horse under sedation instead of anesthesia will greatly expand the availability of this powerful imaging technique, allow for more routine use, and open it up to patients that are not able to undergo anesthesia.

Planning to send a Paint Horse stallion, mare, or frozen equine semen to Europe? Take note: in addition to the previously required tests, vaccinations and health certificates, the European Union (EU) recently added a zootechnical certificate to the list of import requirements.