Navicular Disease: New Developments With an Old Dilemma

Navicular disease (distal sesamoiditis, podotrochilitis, podotrochleosis, bursitis podotrochlearis) affects the distal sesamoid (navicular) bone and its surrounding structures in the equine limb. The disease is characterized by lameness of varied degrees, usually in the forelimbs. It is a difficult disease for clients to deal with because there is no known cure for navicular disease, and most treatments are only palliative

Stimulation of Equine Hoof Growth Using a Counter-Irritant

The effects of a counter-irritant on stimulating hoof growth was tested on 6 mature horses. The counter-irritant, Irish Reducinet, was used in an effort to stimulate the growth rate of normal equine hoof tissue. As determined by measurements taken every thirty (30) days over a three (3) month period it is shown that a counter-irritant applied to the coronary band will stimulate the equine hoof growth rate. This research study was done to determine if there is any benefit to using a counter-irritant to increase hoof gtowth rate. An increase in the rate of hoof growth length would be valuable to the horse that has developed a quarter crack or lost a large portion of hoof wall due to over-reaching or forging. With accelerated growth rate the horse would be able to resume training or return to work at an earlier date than the non-treated horse with a simi liar condition

Theory and Application of the Chapman Heartbar Horseshoe for Laminitis

In the past fifteen years great advances have been made in understanding the pathogenesis and treatment of laminitis. One of these advances is the use of the heartbar shoe. In theory the Chapman heart bar should work well for the treatment of laminitis, however, in practice favorable results depend on the proper application of the shoe along with supportive care of the foot

Clinical Considerations of Dimethyl Sulfoxide

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been heralded as a miracle drug capable of a wide range of therapeutic capabilities. While its biological actions are indeed diverse, one must reserve judgement on the attributes of DMSO until further clinical studies involving the specific actions of DMSO are conducted. It is clear that DMSO has amazing properties that certainly could be useful in the treatment of many medical disorders

Managing Human-Habituated Bears to Enhance Survival, Habitat Effectiveness, and Public Viewing

The negative impacts on bears (Ursus spp.) from human activities associated with roads and developments are well documented. These impacts include displacement of bears from high-quality foods and habitats, diminished habitat effectiveness, and reduced survival rates. Additionally, increased public visitations to national parks accompanied with benign encounters with bears along park roads have caused more bears to habituate to the presence of people. In some contexts, habituation can predispose bears to being exposed to and rewarded by anthropogenic foods, which can also lower survival rates. The managers and staff of Yellowstone National Park located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, USA, and Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming, USA have implemented several proactive strategies to mitigate the negative aspects of bear habituation. These strategies include providing park visitors with educational information on bear viewing etiquette, managing roadside viewing opportunities, installing bear-resistant infrastructure, hazing bears from developments, enforcing food and garbage storage regulations, and making human activities as predictable as possible to bears. Under the current management strategies, thousands of visitors are still able to view, photograph, and appreciate bears while visiting these parks each year. The opportunity to view bears provides a positive visitor experience and contributes millions of dollars to the local economies of park gateway communities. Positive bear viewing experiences also help build an important appreciation and conservation ethic for bears in people that visit national parks. For many years, managers were concerned about decreasing and threatened bear populations. Now more jurisdictions are facing new challenges caused by increasing bear populations. This paper highlights a successful attempt to address these issues