How to Choose a Supplement and Which Ones Work

A variety of dietary supplements on the market for horses boast efficacy in treating and preventing various conditions affecting horses.

Conflict Resolution & Difficult Conversations

Conflicts are inevitable in life. Sometimes they arise because a person has poor boundaries or is a people pleaser, and finally, when he or she becomes exhausted from meeting everyone’s needs but their own, causing resentment and anger to surface. Having good boundaries is necessary to care for yourself.

Bill Threatens to Upend Florida’s Horse Racing Industry

A bill with the potential to upend Florida’s horse racing industry is moving quickly through the state Legislature.

Practice Pulse

The latest issue of "Practice Pulse" provides legal and regulatory updates for veterinarians, including guidance on employee paycheck deductions, digital signatures for prescriptions, and handling DEA licenses.

The Veterinarian and Farrier Relationship

The first known veterinary practice came about in 9000 B.C. in the Middle East. Between 4000 and 3000 B.C., in Egypt, the medical treatment of animals became more common but was still largely undeveloped.

Diagnosis and Management of Suspensory Branch Desmopathy in Sport Horses

The most common site for lameness issues in sport horses is the distal limb. Many problems are related to chronic repetitive trauma and foot imbalance, while others are more likely of sudden traumatic onset.

Podiatry Radiographs: How to Maximize Information

Acquisition of podiatry radiographs is a fundamental skill frequently used by equine practitioners. However, positioning and hoof preparation artifacts can make a big difference in the usefulness of the acquired information.

Introducing “Inspire by FVMA”

The "Inspire by FVMA" program is a well-being initiative designed to support veterinary professionals in Florida by providing mental health resources, including up to three free therapy sessions, access to licensed counselors, and workshops to address workplace stress and burnout.

Practice Pulse

Keeping you updated on regulatory and legislative changes affecting veterinary medicine.

Review of Equine Hyperbaric Medicine

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy appears to be a promising adjunctive medication for a variety of equine disorders, including laminitis and other ischemic injuries.

Emergency Service: Thinking Outside of the Box

General equine practice has always required round-the-clock emergency coverage that clients can depend on for their horses’ urgent health care needs. An AAEP survey of horse owners and trainers in 2012 revealed that the availability of emergency care 24/7/365 at their horse’s residence was one of the top three criteria for their choice of a...

How to Best Manage and Treat Equine Asthma

Treatment of equine asthma should combine environmental changes and medical therapy. The goals of medical therapy are to control airway inflammation and relieve airflow obstruction using mainly corticosteroids and bronchodilators or antimicrobials when infection is suspected. There are few peer- reviewed clinical trials published regarding the therapy of mild equine asthma. Most of the drugs...

Pre-Purchase Evaluations

Communication with veterinary colleagues is crucial to the success of a pre-purchase examination. The components of communication components among all involved team members during the multi-faceted pre-purchase exam will be detailed in the following sections. What is involved in a PRE-PURCHASE EXAM? The pre-purchase exam calls on the detective and intuitive skills of the veterinarian...

Practical Field Cardiology

While the importance of the equine heart is undeniable, particularly for athletes, many practitioners are uncomfortable diagnosing cardiac conditions. The goals of this article are to look at anatomy and function to help understand common cardiac conditions, to break down the most common findings, to understand better when to refer, and how to manage common...

Creating a Healthy Practice Culture

“Culture is what people do when no one is looking” Herb Kelleher, Chairman of Southwest Airlines Culture is created through the actions and behaviors of the leaders, what leaders pay attention to, what they reward and what they punish, and their allocation of attention and resources. The complex interplay results in the “feel” of an...

Keys to Successfully Integrating a New Graduate Into Your Practice

Integrating a new graduate into your practice is an exciting and rewarding, yet challenging, prospect. A thriving mentorship program has distinct steps and timelines, clear advancement between steps, and regular meetings to assess progress while providing constructive feedback. Recognition of challenges and setting realistic expectations are vital to creating a strong mentorship program. This article...

Understanding Practice Expenses with the 100-Penny Exercise

The exercise can help practice managers understand where the money goes and take steps to be more profitable. The exercise can help practice managers understand where the money goes and take steps to be more profitable. Every equine veterinary practice shares a significant commonality, regardless of its size. The 100 Penny Exercise illuminates how the...

FAEP Practice Pulse

Have a legal or regulatory question? The FAEP can help. One of the benefits of an FAEP membership is our helpline (800-992-3862), which is available to members Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Our helpline also provides insight to the FVMA/FAEP staff of the challenges and concerns of our members. In this feature, we...

Introducing SaniTrax: A New Benefit for FVMA Members

At the Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA), we’re always looking for ways to add value to your membership and help your practice thrive. We’re excited to share a new partnership that does just that. Please meet SaniTrax, our latest member benefit. A leader in biomedical waste management, SaniTrax is ready to make your day-to-day operations...

FVMA Addresses the Xylazine Crisis

Xylazine (Rompum) is an essential animal sedative for equine and cattle. Unfortunately, the legitimate use and access to xylazine by veterinarians is being threatened. In the past few years, drug cartels have started mixing xylazine with fentanyl and other illicit opioids to extend the high from these drugs, causing it to be classified last year...

Practice Pulse

Keeping you updated on regulatory and legislative changes affecting veterinary medicine. QUESTION: I’m reaching out to get some information about releasing records to clients. We have a client that we will no longer be providing services to. This client has NOT paid their bill; are we required to release records to this client? Can we legally...

Induction of Labor in the Mare: Procedures and Pitfalls

The goal of an elective induction of labor is to stimulate the foaling process in a full-term mare when the mare is almost ready to give birth naturally and allow for a controlled delivery a few hours earlier than her natural birth time. Induction of foaling in mares can be very successful if strict adherence...

Challenges of Chronic Endometritis: Novel Tools

One of the most commonly identified problems associated with infertility in the mare is uterine inflammation or endometritis. This can be caused by acute or chronic infections or persistent mating-induced endometritis (PMIE). The most common etiological agents found to cause uterine infections are Streptococcus zooepidemicus and Escherichia coli as the result of fecal and genital...

How to be an Effective Mentor

Whether the new team member is an associate, an intern, or even a new veterinary technician, a good mentoring relationship is crucial to the person’s professional development. By showing confidence in the mentee and generously sharing experiences, knowledge, and skills, the mentor can have a marked influence on the future of their colleague. Psychological Safety...

Finding the Right Practice

Besides deciding to become a veterinarian, the most important career decision a veterinarian will make is what practice type they will pursue. There are multiple paths a young veterinarian could pursue and many ways to combine the various business structures available. The crux of experiencing different practices will occur during veterinary student rotations, and most...

The Social Media Advantage in Equine Medicine

In today’s digital age, where information is just a click away and our daily lives are intertwined with the online world, the importance of social media cannot be overstated. This holds true not only for individuals but for businesses as well, including equine veterinary practices. While the concept of using social media might seem out...

The Reality of Equine Practice in 2023

When thinking about the current state of equine practice, it is important to consider a broad survey of data from both the world in general as well as the equine and equine veterinary industries. Current global and national economic conditions strongly influence current conditions in equine practice The economic impacts of inflation, pharmaceutical supply chain...

Using Regenerative Medicine to Improve Healing in Soft Tissue Injuries

Equine athletes of all disciplines are prone to soft tissue injuries. Common injuries include superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendonitis, deep digital flexor (DDF) tendonitis, suspensory ligament desmitis, collateral ligament desmitis, and meniscal tears and degeneration. Unfortunately, soft tissues including tendons, ligaments, and menisci, have limited intrinsic healing capabilities. Resultant repair tissue is often biomechanically inferior...

Practice Pulse

Keeping you updated on regulatory and legislative changes affecting veterinary medicine. QUESTION: I recently completed the FVMA’s courses about laws and rules. I have a follow-up question regarding DEA licensure. At the end, the lecture notes stated, “Do all practitioners in a group practice need to be DEA registered? No, a veterinarian who is an agent...

Ultrasound Evaluation of the Equine Carpal Canal

Effusion in the carpal sheath is an indication for ultrasound examination of the carpal canal. Septic tenosynovitis, superficial digital flexor (SDF) and deep digital flexor (DDF) tendinopathies, desmopathy of the accessory ligament of the superficial digital flexor tendon (AL-SDFT), and distal radial osteochondromas can easily be diagnosed with ultrasound. Ultrasound of this area is not...

Treating Joint Disease in the Equine Athlete

Joint disease is common in the equine athlete and osteoarthritis (OA) remains the leading cause of lameness in the equine industry, affecting approximately 60% of the equine population.Posttraumatic OA (PTOA), which occurs secondary to acute or chronic joint trauma, is likely the mostcommon type of OA in the horse. Trauma can be caused by such...

Biosecurity Lessons Learned: From Diarrhea to Herpes

At a training facility, you may have animals arriving that are traveling to shows locally as well as nationally. These clients’ animals may have been exposed unknowingly to infectious pathogens. The aim of a good biosecurity program is to prevent the dissemination of these pathogens. In order to prevent the dissemination of disease at your...

Pain Management in Horses

Colic and lameness are two of the most clinically and economically important medical problems facing horses and their owners. Pain is a critical component of each disease process, and its alleviation is critical to a successful outcome. A limited number of analgesics are available for use in horses, and many are associated with significant untoward...

Equine Metabolic Syndrome/Insulin Dysregulation:  Don’t Forget About Protein

Written by Jane Manfredi, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVS-LA, DACVSMR (Equine) | Assistant Professor, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine When we think about ideal diets for horses with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and/or insulin dysregulation (ID), the first things that come to mind for many are to avoid grain and to minimize the nonstructural...

Mentorship in Veterinary Medicine

Mentorship plays a crucial role in veterinary careers, offering invaluable guidance for both personal and professional growth. Dr. Martha Mallicote shares her insights on effective mentoring practices, highlighting the profound impact mentors can have on shaping the next generation of veterinary professionals.

Creative Solutions for Keeping Equine Veterinarians Off the Endangered Species List

The retention of equine veterinarians is a significant challenge, with many leaving the field due to issues like lack of mentorship, demanding on-call schedules, and inadequate support. Dr. Martha Mallicote discusses innovative strategies to address these challenges, emphasizing the need for supportive practice cultures, better work-life balance, and improved communication to ensure the sustainability of equine veterinary care.