Horses scratch for many reasons. When it becomes frequent enough to result in hair loss, broken skin, and other problems, a skin allergy may be to blame.
Equine neurology at the UC Davis veterinary hospital is part of the equine internal medicine service. Available neurology-related services include comprehensive neurologic examinations, cerebrospinal fluid collections, myelograms, CT scans, brain wave (ECG), electromyography (EMG), and slinging capabilities for horses that are unable to stand unassisted.
UC Davis professor and Terry Holliday Equine and Comparative Neurology Endowed Presidential Chair Dr. Monica Aleman shared her extensive expertise on these facts about equine neurology.
Buying a horse can be a lot like buying a car; both are significant investments. Regardless of the sticker price, it’s a good idea to take a peek under the hood before you drive off the lot. A pre-purchase examination (PPE, or “vet check”) can be minimal or extensive, but it should always include a neurological evaluation.
Equine neurological examinations* evaluate horses from head to tail. They are performed to evaluate signs consistent with neurologic disease or to establish that a horse is neurologically normal, such as during a pre-purchase exam. A neurological exam can be divided into two parts: static and dynamic.
The Static Examination occurs while the horse is standing still.
The Transfusion Medicine Service at the UC Davis veterinary hospital provides an array of specialized blood products for many species in addition to horses, including dogs, cats, cows, llamas, sheep, goats, and pigs. More than 800 transfusions take place at the veterinary hospital annually. In 2020, 93 horses received 143 units (each unit is approximately one liter) of whole blood or blood product.
Joint health can be a confusing topic. We collaborated with Dr. Sarah le Jeune of the UC Davis Equine Integrative Sports Medicine and Equine Surgery and Lameness Services and Scott Katzman of the Equine Surgery and Lameness Service to provide some clarity.
