Q. I am interested in breeding my maiden mare, but am concerned about EVA. How can I ensure that the semen I use for her artificial insemination is free of this disease?A. Although equine viral arteritis (EVA) typically creates...
The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the University of California, Davis, offers DNA testing for several inherited equine diseases. Before breeding a horse, it’s advisable to have it tested for the possibility that it can pass on an inherited disease....
Q. What are the potential effects of raising a young horse in a stall versus letting him grow up on acreage?A. As a precocious animal, a young horse is ready to run within hours of birth. Continual movement and...
One of the most common diseases in foals six months and younger is pneumonia. Although many different organisms can cause foal pneumonia, Rhodococcus equiis is considered the most common culprit in a severe case. According to a statement released...
The big day is just around the corner! Your long-awaited foal is about to arrive. By this time, you’ve decided where your mare will foal and have prepared the area, whether it is a stall or small paddock. If...
Researchers in New Zealand are suggesting that a foal’s birth season may affect his development more than we think. Their study* finds that at puberty, spring-born Thoroughbred fillies and colts were older and heavier than their autumn-born counterparts. The...
Q: Can you explain what a red bag delivery is? I have a mare that is due to foal this month, and I’ve been told to watch for this complication.A: “Red bag delivery” is a layperson’s term for premature...
According to recent research published by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the current recommendations for the primary rabies vaccine “are likely ineffective in foals” whose mothers are vaccinated against the disease. The research indicates that the maternal...
Because a number of factors can affect the risks of falling victim to potentially deadly brain-swelling diseases carried by mosquitoes, Purdue University experts recommend that all horses be vaccinated and that people take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. The...
From birth to 2 years of age, a young horse reaches about 90 percent of his eventual adult weight and height. Also during a horse's first two years, he develops the muscles, tendons, organs and bone he'll need for...
