By Jackie Bellamy-Zions for the Equine Guelph Annual Research Update – Volume 19 Fecal transplantation has been very successful in treating humans with issues such as C-difficile infection, which is also a leading cause of diarrhea in horses.  Ontario Veterinary College researcher, Dr. Luis Arroyo and his team are about to begin a study which…

“Most horses have been exposed to the equine herpies virus,” says Dr. Diego Gomez-Nieto, researcher at the Ontario Veterinary College. Gomez has been part of a research study on the Equine Herpes Virus which discovered the nasal microbiota of infected horses differed significantly to those of a healthy control group.   The study came together quickly…

The perils of putting symmetrical saddles on asymmetrical horses “We were not surprised to learn 60% of the horses in our 490 horse retrospective study had larger measurements on the left side of their withers,” says Dr. Katrina Merkies, researcher and associate professor at the University of Guelph.  Undergraduate students, Julia Alebrand, Bethany Harwood,  Katharine…

Both people and their animals have been encountering more ticks and there is a real concern when it comes to the possibilities of contracting Lyme disease.   Dr. Luis Arroyo, researcher at the Ontario Veterinary College was involved in a study on the growing numbers of ticks in southeastern Canada and the risk factors to horses. …

Originally published by Ontario Veterinary College – June 14, 2021 A University of Guelph researcher is advancing knowledge into prevention and early detection of gastrointestinal diseases in horses using a mechanical replica of a horse’s GI system to mimic equine digestion and disease. Dr. Luis Arroyo, professor in the Department of Clinical Studies at the…

During the summer there are often waves of horses presenting with respiratory disease.  Ontario Veterinary College researcher, Janet Beeler-Marfisi never really ascribed that to being part of air pollution, until her recent research revealed horses, with their far greater lung capacity and athleticism, can also suffer when air pollution levels rise. Checking the Air Quality…

Not long after the 2019 Havemeyer Workshop on Equine Asthma, Dr. Dorothee Bienzle, Ontario Veterinary College, contributed to a large collaborative research paper – The current understanding and future directions of Equine Asthma research.   The air was thick with ideas at the 2019 Havemeyer Workshop, with a broad group of approximately 50 participants made up of microbiologists, clinicians,…

In a recent study, researchers literally get inside the heads of horses and donkeys, looking for relationships between skull morphology and temperament.  Such studies have been conducted in different dog breeds, but little is known when it comes to equids. Associate professor and University of Guelph researcher Dr. Katrina Merkies collaborated on a project with professor…

Radiographs have been found to be insufficient evidence for diagnosing Cervical Facet disease according to a research study by Dr. Judith Koenig and a team of researchers at the Ontario Veterinary College.  In a video interview, Koenig explains some of the complexities of equine osteoarthritis and cervical facet disease. “Osteoarthritis is common in any athlete,” explains…

Horse human interaction studies were discussed in a talk presented by Dr. Katrina Merkies, Ontario Agricultural College at the three day virtual conference hosted by the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES). With around 50 recent horse behavior studies referenced in the 40 minute presentation (and apologies for the many not mentioned), there is an undeniable growing…

Practice makes perfect and veterinarians spend countless hours honing their skills in laboratories before graduating and applying that knowledge in the field.  Anatomical models of the equine neck, created by 3-D printing, are revolutionizing how veterinary students and graduates will practice the precise placement required in ultrasound-guided injections. Dr. Alex zur Linden, radiologist and Ontario Veterinary…

Cryopreservation is the next exciting stage of research in stem cell therapy. Dr. Thomas Koch and his team are working to preserve cartilage chips for long-term storage, which would enable off-the-shelf use to treat localized cartilage defects.  Defects that very often shorten or end horses athletic careers.  Cryopreservation (or vitrification) is the formation of a solid from an aqueous solution without…