Ask The Vet - The Texas Horseman

Ask the Vet: Lameness

May 15, 2023 Robin Bradford Ask The Vet, Monthly Editorial

Question: What scientific data links laminitis to grass consumption? In my region, people are locking their horses up or putting them in grazing muzzles for fear of laminitis. If horses have evolved eating grass, why

Ask The Vet: Equine Lameness Problems

March 15, 2023 Robin Bradford Ask The Vet, Monthly Editorial

Question: How do I treat high ringbone and navicular in the left front of my 16-year-old gelding? I used osphos about six months ago and injections of steroids into the bursa and navicular joint. My

Ask the Vet: Foal Care

February 15, 2023 Robin Bradford Ask The Vet, Monthly Editorial

Question: How soon after a foal is born should they start receiving grain in their young diet? Answer: Foals will mimic their dam within the first few days of life and look like they are

Ask the Vet: Equine Vaccinology

January 12, 2023 Robin Bradford Ask The Vet, Monthly Editorial

Question: What part of the horse’s body do you administer the strangles vaccine? Is intranasal better than the injection? Answer: Strangles vaccine is referring to vaccination to prevent a highly contagious disease caused by Streptococcus

Ask the Vet: Reproduction

November 15, 2022 Robin Bradford Ask The Vet, Monthly Editorial

Question: Is there an age limit for a mare to be fertile? I have a mare that I am unfamiliar with her history. I am also uncertain that she has had a cycle in the

Ask the Vet: Nutrition for the Horse

September 15, 2022 Robin Bradford Ask The Vet, Monthly Editorial

Question: How can we help horses with proper nutrition and supplements to prevent ulcers? Too many horses are receiving omeprazole. How can we prevent ulcers? Answer: I certainly share your concern over gastric ulcers, and

Ask the Vet: Broodmare Practices for the Healthy and Subfertile Mare

August 15, 2022 Robin Bradford Ask The Vet, Monthly Editorial

Question: Can pasturing one gelding with a group of mares stimulate them to come into heat? Answer: When addressing heat (AKA estrus) in mares there are two broad categories: 1) estrus induction (AKA manipulation) and

Ask the Vet: Embryo Transplant

July 15, 2022 Robin Bradford Ask The Vet, Monthly Editorial

Question: I have a 21-year-old FQH mare that has never been bred. Is it possible to harvest her eggs and do an embryo transplant? Answer: Maybe. This is really two questions. Embryo transfer involves breeding

Ask the Vet: Poor Performance

June 15, 2022 Robin Bradford Ask The Vet, Monthly Editorial

Question: My horse has been recovering for the last three years from a partially torn suspensory, colic surgery and ulcers. He now looks the best he ever has in three years and it’s time to

Ask the Vet: Equine Physical Therapy (Post-Injury Rehabilitation)

May 13, 2022 Robin Bradford Ask The Vet, Monthly Editorial

Question: I have a horse that is 9 months out from surgery to repair a broken shoulder. What is the best way to help his damaged nerves to recover? Answer: Theoretically, damaged nerves do

Ask the Vet: Wound Care (bandaging)

April 15, 2022 Robin Bradford Ask The Vet, Monthly Editorial

Question: My horse has two open, gaping wounds on the front of his hind ankles from being hit by a truck several weeks ago. They are not healing well and since he is a show

Ask The Vet: Upper Airway Concerns

December 15, 2021 Robin Bradford Ask The Vet, Monthly Editorial

How can a thoroughbred race horse “scope” perfectly and still have breathing problems? Answer: There are two possible reasons why a horse may have a “clean” or “perfect” scope reported, and yet be found to

Ask the Vet: Preparing for Breeding Season

November 15, 2021 Robin Bradford Ask The Vet, Monthly Editorial

Question: How often should a stallion’s sheath be cleaned during the breeding season? Answer: Cleaning a stallion’s sheath during breeding season is an important part of proper management. The horse should be teased so that he achieves an

Ask the Vet: Reproduction

October 15, 2021 Robin Bradford Ask The Vet, Monthly Editorial

Question: How soon after delivery can a mare be bred back to another stallion? What are the positives and negatives for not allowing suitable time for recovery from foaling? Answer: Most mares foaling during the

Ask the Vet: Internal & External Parasites

September 15, 2021 Robin Bradford Ask The Vet, Monthly Editorial

Question: I have a companion donkey. My horse contracted lungworm. Do you believe horses and donkeys can be kept together? Answer: Lung worms are a pretty unusual problem in horses in the United States. When