Veterinary Answers

In a cartoon widely shared on Facebook, a horse wearing five blankets, but sweating in his cold-weather gear, explains his multiple layers to another horse in the paddock: “My Mom was cold.” Funny as the cartoon was during this nationwide cold snap, Dr. Ginger Reed, VMD,Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, says most healthy horses are well equipped to endure cold temperatures without undo fuss. And in this week’s Veterinary Answers, Dr. Reed discusses ways to ensure that the horses are happy during this seemingly endless winter, and offers tips for feeding, clothing and keeping a horse during the winter months. […]

There are many red-flag phrases in the playbook for horse shoppers. ‘Lag screw fixation’ should not be one of them. So explains top veterinary surgeon Dr. Patricia Hogan, a seasoned equine veterinarian who has performed lag screw fixation—a surgical technique used to mend fractures—on many Thoroughbreds, including the great Take Charge Indy. In this week’s Veterinary Answers column, Hogan, a former board member of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), who performs charitable work for both the TRF and other equine charities, explains the technique of mending leg fractures, and offers insights on what the presence of screws means and does […]