Veterinary Answers

Lucy (Jockey Club: Iwanbegeorgiesgal), owned by Kate Taylor of Rhode Island, has a grand time in the winter.

Vet tips on keeping your horse comfy in winter

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. […]

Dr. Laurie Metcalfe, of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital

Q&A: What to look for when OTTB shopping

In a Q&A interview with Off-TrackThoroughbreds.com, Dr. Laurie Metcalfe, DVM associate with Rood & Riddle, discusses a range of issues and medical conditions commonly found in ex-racehorse Thoroughbreds, as well as tips on what to look for when watching a Thoroughbred jog. In this story, which was a favorite among readers, and first published in September 2010, Metcalfe answers questions about ailments, pre-purchase exams, and also offers her own personal testament to the OTTB. Q: What is an osselet and how significant is it to the future career of an ex-racehorse? An “osselet” refers to the thickening/bony reaction that occurs at […]

Dr. Patricia Hogan, DVM, has performed numerous lag screw fixation procedures on horses.

Don’t bet against a horse with screws

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 […]