Digital neurectomy, or "nerving", is a controversial procedure in the horse world, and always has been. It seems to be much more accepted in the western USA than in other places, but many horses, particularly with navicular-type pain, are "nerved" as a salvage procedure to allow them relief from the pain.
The controversy is more over how safe it would be to ride the horse after it has been nerved. I remember Montana farrier instructor/author/legend Scott Simpson lecturing on this subject at a Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium years ago. I wonder if I still have his paper. He had no qualms about roping competitively on a nerved horse.
Around here, some people would like to see a nerved horse branded so that if it changes hands, an unsuspecting rider won't be hurt if the horse stumbles. That said, it is a pretty common procedure. The veterinarian simply severs the branch of the nerves that sensitize the heel part of the foot.
A lawsuit has been reported in California; the story is posted on Bloodhorse.com today. Apparently an Arizona owner claimed a runner who turned out to be nerved and is suing the trainer (who is the son of a farrier) and veterinarian (who happens to be the veterinary officer for the state racing concerns and a former AAEP president). There are more familiar names in this story; the executive director of California's racing board is the wife of a well-known farrer.
The impetus for the lawsuit is not that the horse broke down or that an exercise rider was injured when the horse stumbled. Arizona has a law against nerved runners, so the horse was not allowed to enter a race. Period.
California has no such law. According to California law, the vet and trainer did nothing wrong; there is no law requiring disclosure of nerving on a sale horse or against allowing a nerved horse to race. (This is the same state that is banning toe grabs for welfare reasons.)
Read the full story by clicking here, and then come back to leave a comment (click on the comment button and type in the box) and let's here your two cents.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Dr. Chris Pollitt and Farrier Richard Hansen Will Tour New Zealand on Lecture Circuit
The New Zealand Equine Research Foundation is hosting Australian veterinarian and laminitis researcher Dr. Chris Pollitt and farrier Richard Hansen for a three-stop tour of laminitis education in May. The stops are at racecourses in Hamilton on May 20, Palmerston North on May 23, and Christchurch on May 27.Lecture topics by Dr. Pollitt include: "The horse's foot - the inside story"; "Laminitis theory - shots around the target"; "Putting out the fire - laminitis prevention"; and "After the crash - lessons from chronic laminitis."
Topics by Richard Hansen: "Chains of Communication - Responsibilities when caring for the laminitic horse - a farrier's view": and "Supporting the Laminitic Horse - Making and applying support shoes."
Dr. Pollitt is professor of companion animal medicine and surgery at the University of Queensland in Australia and director of the Australian Equine Laminitis Research Unit.
Richard Hansen is the president of the Australian Farriers and Blacksmiths Association, and the author of Australia's first national certification testing program, which will be launched soon.
The lectures are sponsored by Bomac Laboratories. For more information, call Bev Stern at 06 356 4940 or fax 06 354 2885.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Cushings Medication "Pergolide" Will Be Withdrawn from US Market, FDA Says
Horse people in the USA know pergolide (also called Permax, when the brand name is used) as the medication of choice for many horses suffering from Cushing's disease. What many in the horse world don't know is that it is actually a human medication used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Recently, reports have surfaced of heart problems developing in human patients. Acting on those reports, the FDA today announced that the drug--both Permax and pergolide generic derivatives--will no longer be sold in the US.
What does that mean to owners of horses with Cushing's disease? It's hard to say. I have been trying to get more information to share.
As always, Eleanor Kellon VMD is right on the case. Dr Kellon is veterinary consultant to the Equine Cushings discussion list on yahoo.com; the list currently boasts almost 5000 members, of which I am one, and the group is one of the fairest, best-informed and most diligent that I have found on the web. Obviously many of those 5000 are medicating their horses with pergolide and this is Big News on the List today.
Here is some sage advice from Dr Kellon: "First, don't panic.Many drugs that fall by the wayside for human use actually end up in veterinary use. Trental (pentoxifylline) is a good example. They're not approved for veterinary use, but the FDA grants veterinarians considerable leeway in 'off-label' (i.e. not approved for the use on
the label) drug prescribing in animals.
"There may be some information available on closely related alternatives," she continued. "I'm checking into that."
"In humans, most recent studies are finding about 22% of people on pergolide develop some level of dysfunction of their heart valves. The number that develop serious problems with it is much, much lower. As for horses **as far as we know, the has not been recognized as a clinical problem in horses on pergolide**. We probably have more
long term follow up on Cushing's horses here than even in university vet school records. Some horses here have been on it for 5, even 10 years."
Dr.Kellon is also the author of the reference book Equine Drugs and Vaccines, as well as Equine Supplements and Nutraceuticals, both of which are well-thumbed and never far from my desk.
Recently, reports have surfaced of heart problems developing in human patients. Acting on those reports, the FDA today announced that the drug--both Permax and pergolide generic derivatives--will no longer be sold in the US.
What does that mean to owners of horses with Cushing's disease? It's hard to say. I have been trying to get more information to share.
As always, Eleanor Kellon VMD is right on the case. Dr Kellon is veterinary consultant to the Equine Cushings discussion list on yahoo.com; the list currently boasts almost 5000 members, of which I am one, and the group is one of the fairest, best-informed and most diligent that I have found on the web. Obviously many of those 5000 are medicating their horses with pergolide and this is Big News on the List today.
Here is some sage advice from Dr Kellon: "First, don't panic.Many drugs that fall by the wayside for human use actually end up in veterinary use. Trental (pentoxifylline) is a good example. They're not approved for veterinary use, but the FDA grants veterinarians considerable leeway in 'off-label' (i.e. not approved for the use on
the label) drug prescribing in animals.
"There may be some information available on closely related alternatives," she continued. "I'm checking into that."
"In humans, most recent studies are finding about 22% of people on pergolide develop some level of dysfunction of their heart valves. The number that develop serious problems with it is much, much lower. As for horses **as far as we know, the has not been recognized as a clinical problem in horses on pergolide**. We probably have more
long term follow up on Cushing's horses here than even in university vet school records. Some horses here have been on it for 5, even 10 years."
Dr.Kellon is also the author of the reference book Equine Drugs and Vaccines, as well as Equine Supplements and Nutraceuticals, both of which are well-thumbed and never far from my desk.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Events Guide Updated at Hoofcare.com
Be sure to check the events page at hoofcare.com to see our list of exciting events coming up in 2007!Most of these are events that are either sponsored by Hoofcare & Lameness Journal or are events at which our editors will be speaking or demonstrating.
When you contact event organizers about attending or participating in an event, please let them know that you heard about it through Hoofcare & Lameness Journal and hoofcare.com. Thanks!
Monday, March 26, 2007
Allied Professionals Legislation Defeated in Colorado
House Bill 07-1296 “Concerning the Right of an Animal Owner to Choose a Provider of Humane Care for the Animal,” was defeated by a vote of 3-4 in a hearing in front of the Colorado Senate’s Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee on March 22, 2007. The bill’s defeat is a major victory for CVMA and the bill’s other opponents, who had significant concerns about the bill’s impact on animal health and welfare as well as public health and consumer safety.
The legislation was proposed by the Colorado Alliance of Animal Owners Rights.
The CAAOR had proposed that massage therapists, farriers, and other allied health professionals should be allowed to work without the direct supervision of a veterinarian, as speccified in the state's Veterinary Practice Art.
An article in the Montrose Daily Press attempts to tell both sides of the story, which is similar to an attempt made to legally free allied health professionals of the danger of a felony prosecution.
In an interesting twist of fate, the same committee approved the legality of licensed physical therapists, presumably even those without any training in animal physiology and anatomy, to work on animals without veterinary supervision.
The legislation was proposed by the Colorado Alliance of Animal Owners Rights.
The CAAOR had proposed that massage therapists, farriers, and other allied health professionals should be allowed to work without the direct supervision of a veterinarian, as speccified in the state's Veterinary Practice Art.
An article in the Montrose Daily Press attempts to tell both sides of the story, which is similar to an attempt made to legally free allied health professionals of the danger of a felony prosecution.
In an interesting twist of fate, the same committee approved the legality of licensed physical therapists, presumably even those without any training in animal physiology and anatomy, to work on animals without veterinary supervision.
The April issue of Smithsonian hit the newsstands today and the good news is that you can pick up a copy and enjoy a first-class article about Barbaro's struggle, written with sensitivity and intellectual curiosity by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Steve Twomey.The even better news is that you can read the text online:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/issues/2007/april/barbaro.php
with an added interview with Twomey here:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/issues/2007/april/barbaro-author.php
But the images are visible only in the printed copy. If your newsstand doesn't have it, your library probably has a subscription.
Hoofcare & Lameness Journal is proud to have been a part of this article. I wish that he could have interviewed all our readers to learn just how much you all and your horses are affected by the disease of laminitis. Even though Barbaro is gone, horses continue to suffer from this horrible malady. Hopefully, having laminitis profiled in a magazine like Smithsonian will help focus more attention on the disease and the need for research.
See you at the newsstand. Save one for me!
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