Management of the Dorsal Hoof Wall and Its Potential Effects on the Laminitic Hoof

Appropriate management of the equine hoof during chronic laminitis varies by protocol and practitioner. Sequential removal of the dorsal hoof wall was examined in-vivo on a laminitic horse at the walk, revealing an increase in solar force under the margin of the distal phalanx as measured through the use of an in-shoe force measuring system.     

Some Observations on the Materials Used in the Management of Foot Pain

There are a wide range of polymers available for supporting the equine hoof. A review of the material characteristics of materials used to support the laminitic hoof in the form of sole support, as well as an examination of the thermal effect of exothermal adhesives at the level of sensitive tissue in the foot and the long term effect of a fabric cuffed shoe on the amount of distortion to the dorsal hoofwall at the toe.     

Pregnancy Rates in Angus Cross Beef Cows Bred at Observed Oestrus With or Without Second GnRH Administration in Fixed‐Time Progesterone‐Supplemented Ovsynch and CO‐Synch Protocols

Crossbred cows (n = 1073) from five locations had oestrous cycles synchronized with 100 μg of GnRH IM and insertion of controlled internal drug release device (CIDR) on Day 0 followed by 25 mg of PGF_2α IM and CIDR removal on Day 7. Kamar^® patches were placed on all cows at CIDR removal. Cows were observed three times daily for oestrus after PGF_2α administration. In the Ovsynch‐CIDR group, cows detected in oestrus (n = 193) within 48 h after PGF_2α were inseminated using the AM–PM rule. Among these cows, 80 received and 113 did not receive a second GnRH at 48 h after PGF_2α. Cows (n = 345) not detected in oestrus received a second GnRH at 48 h after PGF_2α on Day 9, and fixed‐time AI 16 h after the GnRH on Day 10. In the CO‐Synch‐CIDR group, cows detected in oestrus (n = 224) within 48 h after PGF_2α were inseminated using the AM–PM rule. Among these cows, 79 received and 145 did not receive a second GnRH at 64 h after PGF_2α. Cows (n = 311) not detected in oestrus received a second GnRH on Day 10 at the time of AI, 64 h after PGF_2α. The AI pregnancy rates were not different between the Ovsynch‐CIDR and CO‐Synch‐CIDR groups (p = 0.48). There were no differences in the AI pregnancy rates for cows inseminated at a fixed time (p = 0.26) or at detected oestrus (p = 0.79) between the treatment groups. Among cows inseminated in oestrus, there were no differences in the AI pregnancy rates between cows that received or did not receive the second GnRH (p = 0.47). In conclusion, acceptable AI pregnancy rates can be achieved with or without inclusion of oestrus detection in the Ovsynch‐CIDR and CO‐Synch‐CIDR protocols. Among cows detected in oestrus, cows that received a second GnRH yielded similar pregnancy rates when compared with cows that did not receive the second GnRH.     

A survey of white line disease in Japanese racehorses

A survey was carried out into white line disease in 1781 Thoroughbred racehorses kept in stables at the Japan Racing Association (JRA) Miho Training Center (MTC) September-October 1996. The survey was conducted while horses were being shod by farriers. The horses that still exhibited damaged white lines after regular trimming were diagnosed as having white line disease. The factors recorded were age, sex, number of diseased horses, number of diseased hooves, number of lesions by region over the bearing border of the hoof and the classified length of such lesions. The percentage of total diseased horses was 11.5% (204 animals), with incidence increasing significantly with age (P< or =0.01). Occurrence was independent of sex (P>0.05) was more frequent in the fore- than in the hindhoof and developed more frequently at the toe than at any other region of the forehoof-bearing border. Most lesions ranged from 20 to 30 mm in length.     

BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology (2nd edition)

BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology (2nd edition) Edited by Edward Hall, James Simpson and David Williams Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2005. Paperback, 320 pages. Price £75.00     

Helicopter-based censusing of domestic dogs in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Decision support in veterinary epidemiology often depends on density estimates of domestic animals. These estimates are usually based on ground surveys of various types. Ground surveys are difficult to undertake in the informal housing settlements that are frequently encountered in developing countries. In addition, they are time-consuming and expensive. In this study, field experience in enumerating wildlife from helicopters was used to count domestic animals in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Data for domestic dogs are analysed for precision and accuracy and the technique evaluated in terms of its value for decision support.