Essential Horse Care Guide to Keep Your Horse Happy & Healthy
A horse or a donkey can make an excellent companion. For some people, the purpose is companionship, pleasure riding, or competitive showing. Whatever your purpose of owning a horse, it is a beautiful experience. However, there are some important responsibilities associated with owning a horse that extends beyond the legal responsibilities of food, water, and […]
Only YOU can Protect MA from Contagious Diseases
Internet shopping for a horse can be incredibly convenient and allows for purchases and sales throughout the entire country and beyond. The resulting purchase or rescue of a horse site-unseen has also greatly increased the introduction of contagious diseases in the state of Massachusetts. We have noticed far more cases of Strangles infection in the […]
Goats Eat Strange Things…But They Shouldn’t
In an ideal world sheep and goats would live on a diet consisting entirely of forage (grass, hay) and browse (leaves, shrubs). While there are commercial grains available for sheep and goats, most of these are designed for short term feeding in a production setting where fast growth is optimal. In your companion sheep or […]
What is SAA – and Why does it Matter?
SAA = Serum amyloid A. SAA is found in very low quantities in normal horses. It is not secreted until inflammation occurs. When a horse is exposed to infectious agents (bacteria, viruses) the SAA level in the blood will rise, while allergic and autoimmune inflammatory processes are not likely to cause an increase in SAA […]
Advances in Diagnosing Cushing’s Disease
Equine Cushing’s Disease is caused by a benign tumor of the pituitary gland in the brain that secretes adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce excessive amounts of cortisol. The region of the gland affected is called the pars intermedia, thus the medical term for equine Cushing’s is Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction […]