Tie-back surgery - a trusted treatment
All trainers are familiar with a horse that makes a noise. If performance is poor, laryngoplasty has, for over 40 years, been the next consideration.
The aim of the procedure is to reverse the effects of larynx weakness that occurs due to a degenerative condition of the nerve that controls the muscles on the left side. A synthetic implant is placed along that side of the larynx to hold it open where the muscle is too weak.
It has long been suspected that the procedure has other effects on the airway, other than simply trying the collapsed part of the larynx back and out of the way.
Diagnostic imaging in young horses
So often we are dazzled by the youth and beauty of the next generation at the yearling sales. But what lies beneath that glorious skin? We take a deeper look at diagnostic imaging.
Few issues spark more debate and controversy than the interpretation of a juvenile Thoroughbred's radiographs and their relevance to the horse's future racing career. This article aims to review the most common radiographic finding, sesamoiditis, in the Thoroughbred yearling and discusses new research published in 2013 exploring the link between sesamoiditis and suspensory branch injuries and the effect these conditions can have on soundness and racing performance. This research can provide horsemen with accurate information with respect to the risk associated with these conditions and can aid them in the selection process and training of the young Thoroughbred racehorse.
The downsides to antibiotic therapy
The Hippocratic oath, which encapsulates the concept that it may be better to provide no treatment than to intervene but as a result do more damage, is a central tenet of medicine introduced by the Ancient Greeks.