Recent Events
New Equine Dynamic Respiratory Endoscope at the University of Montreal thanks to a major financial contribution by the Equine Foundation of Canada
Saint-Hyacinthe, November 2012 - The Equine Hospital of Université de Montréal recently added the Equine Dynamic Respiratory Endoscope (DRE) to their state of the art diagnostic and therapeutic facilities.
The purchase of the DRE was made possible by a seed donation of $20,000 by the Equine Foundation of Canada (EFC), represented in Québec by Hélène Belliard, and by financial contributions from Dr. Jean Bernier (equine veterinarian), the Québec Equine Veterinary Association (AVEQ), Mr and Mrs. Davis (Florida, USA), and the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (CHUV).
The Equine Hospital was already equipped with a treadmill but this new equipment is better suited to performance horses as it allows an evaluation of the upper airways in a natural exercising environment, for example in racing conditions or under saddle in an arena. The DRE is not only an important diagnostic aid but also a valuable teaching tool. 90 final-year undergraduate veterinary students are trained each year in the Equine hospital, in addition to 8 international interns and 5 residents, many of whom go on to become international leaders in the equine veterinary field.
Left to right: Susanna Maciera, Frederick Duchesne, Sheila Laverty, Jean-Pierre Lavoie, Mathilde Leclère, Pascal Dubreuil (Associate Dean for Clinical and Professional Affairs), Lyne Choquette, Helene Belliard (EFC), Yves Rossier, Daniel Jean (Chief of the Equine section), Jacynthe Beauregard, Catherine Hackett (Optomed), Maud De Lagarde and Eduardo Almeida da Silveira.
Mrs. Belliard has been helping raise funds through the EFC for the Equine Hospital for 30 years. These have included scholarships for undergraduate students, a monitor for a video endoscope, a Davis Sling, arthroscopic instrumentation to allow surgery residents perfect their surgical skills and an oral endoscopic camera for dental examinations.
Dr. Sheila Laverty, Chief of Equine surgery, is delighted: "Thanks to the Equine Foundation of Canada's generosity, we can provide horse owners with the best veterinary care possible. Canadians should be proud of their equine hospitals which I believe can be considered among the best in the world". She also points out that the support of organizations like the EFC is essential to help equine hospitals maintain the very best standards of care.
Kananaskis Trail Ride Benefits the Equine Foundation
Melanie Purves, winner of the U of C Vet school Tour
Bob Watson, ride organizer & EFC Alberta Director
Shayna Pritchard, winner of the EFC Cooler for raising the most monies.
Our final total for the 2012 ride was $2,015. We had a really good turn out with 15 riders on Saturday and 12 on Sunday plus another six or so that didn't ride. Some of us also rode Thursday, Friday and Monday so it was a great weekend.
Equine Guelph Launches the 9th Report on Research YouTube Video
3D Ultrasound Adds a New Dimension to Research into Roaring
You have seen the marvels of 3-D cinema whether it was Thor’s hammer hurling toward you or maybe it was Superman Returns at the IMAX. Ultra sound technology has also developed 3 – D capabilities and it is evolving faster than a speeding bullet, with more accuracy than a CAT scan. What this means for researchers is a more detailed picture when making diagnosis and an accurate, simple way to track the results of treatment modalities potentially without using a more invasive biopsy.
With a recent donation from the Equine Foundation of Canada, University of Guelph researcher, Dr. Heather Chalmers, is able to add a new dimension to her research focusing on early screening of roaring and may lead to earlier treatment. Roaring, or laryngeal paralysis, is a very common disease which can affect any breed or discipline of horse. This progressive disease results in the inability to open the upper airway at exercise which limits performance and actually leads to a roaring sound. Owners who hear a gurgling sound or an increase in noise when the horse is breathing are encouraged to seek veterinary advice.
The goal of Chalmers’ research is to provide horse owners with a reliable, easy, readily available and inexpensive way to screen horses for roaring prior to clinical signs of the disease. This allows horse owners or a potential horse purchaser to career plan for their horses, determining potential or limiting factors. Chalmers’ is very excited about the donation of new equipment this past summer, “When it comes to ultrasound - 3D allows us to look at the tissues in greater detail, to get a more accurate assessment of the size and exact location of abnormalities and to monitor them accurately over time.”
Assessing the size of the upper airway muscles helps researchers understand more about their function and disease status. Chalmers explains, “We know from our own experience, working out in the gym, a muscle that gets bigger is stronger and more functional. After interventions the ultra sound will be able to keep track of changes to see if the smaller diseased muscle has responded with an increase in size.”
The next step in Chalmers’ research is to solidify the long suspected link between what is seen on the ultrasound screen and what can be found under the microscope if a biopsy were performed. It is important to fully establish: 1) How early disease can be detected in horses? 2) How accurately it can be done? 3) The rate at which the disease progresses once detected? 3-D Ultrasound is helping researchers understand all three of these questions.
Research funding has been provided by Equine Guelph, American College of Veterinary Radiology, Medel Austria, Robarts Imaging Institute at the University of Western Ontario and The Equine Foundation of Canada. To view Dr. Chalmers Report on Research click here.
With a recent donation from the Equine Foundation of Canada, University of Guelph researcher, Dr. Heather Chalmers, is able to add a new dimension to her research focusing on early screening of roaring and may lead to earlier treatment. Roaring, or laryngeal paralysis, is a very common disease which can affect any breed or discipline of horse. This progressive disease results in the inability to open the upper airway at exercise which limits performance and actually leads to a roaring sound. Owners who hear a gurgling sound or an increase in noise when the horse is breathing are encouraged to seek veterinary advice.
The goal of Chalmers’ research is to provide horse owners with a reliable, easy, readily available and inexpensive way to screen horses for roaring prior to clinical signs of the disease. This allows horse owners or a potential horse purchaser to career plan for their horses, determining potential or limiting factors. Chalmers’ is very excited about the donation of new equipment this past summer, “When it comes to ultrasound - 3D allows us to look at the tissues in greater detail, to get a more accurate assessment of the size and exact location of abnormalities and to monitor them accurately over time.”
Assessing the size of the upper airway muscles helps researchers understand more about their function and disease status. Chalmers explains, “We know from our own experience, working out in the gym, a muscle that gets bigger is stronger and more functional. After interventions the ultra sound will be able to keep track of changes to see if the smaller diseased muscle has responded with an increase in size.”
The next step in Chalmers’ research is to solidify the long suspected link between what is seen on the ultrasound screen and what can be found under the microscope if a biopsy were performed. It is important to fully establish: 1) How early disease can be detected in horses? 2) How accurately it can be done? 3) The rate at which the disease progresses once detected? 3-D Ultrasound is helping researchers understand all three of these questions.
Research funding has been provided by Equine Guelph, American College of Veterinary Radiology, Medel Austria, Robarts Imaging Institute at the University of Western Ontario and The Equine Foundation of Canada. To view Dr. Chalmers Report on Research click here.
It's Mostly About Having Fun……
But Also Making Money!
This is what happens when you call ‘ears up’ when taking a photo of several young ladies from the horse world …….. at the back is Jessa Dumkee, front row from the left Maya Beakhouse, Bentlee Kublik, Catriona Kozijn, Courtney Pack, Ashley Tolsma and Kaydee Crow.
What have they done? They have set an example which most of us would find hard to follow. They have raised money during their spare time at this seasons horse shows!
At the first show, they made horse cookies out of bits of hay mixed in with some binding materials, and proceeded to sell these to various exhibitors. Their proceeds were about $20.00.
Then figuring they were on to a good thing here, at the next show, they came prepared and sold ‘people’ cookies. When they were sold out they put up a sign ‘MACKING MORE’ will be back. They raised about $90.00 which went to the Alberta Morgan Youth . And they are now known as the ‘MACKING MORE GROUP’.
When the mid-August show came along, one of their favorite moms Ruth Younie had just passed away, and they really got into action. They sold cookies and gave rides in a pony cart, and altogether raised $189.00 which was given in memory of Ruth, to the Equine Foundation of Canada.
We know that Ruth, who was a business lady, would have been so impressed with this enterprising group and their spirit of giving.
AWESOME! Thank you ladies for being so generous and thoughtful with your time and energy. And thank you to the parents who supported all of this, as well as those persons at the shows who dug into their pockets or purses.
What have they done? They have set an example which most of us would find hard to follow. They have raised money during their spare time at this seasons horse shows!
At the first show, they made horse cookies out of bits of hay mixed in with some binding materials, and proceeded to sell these to various exhibitors. Their proceeds were about $20.00.
Then figuring they were on to a good thing here, at the next show, they came prepared and sold ‘people’ cookies. When they were sold out they put up a sign ‘MACKING MORE’ will be back. They raised about $90.00 which went to the Alberta Morgan Youth . And they are now known as the ‘MACKING MORE GROUP’.
When the mid-August show came along, one of their favorite moms Ruth Younie had just passed away, and they really got into action. They sold cookies and gave rides in a pony cart, and altogether raised $189.00 which was given in memory of Ruth, to the Equine Foundation of Canada.
We know that Ruth, who was a business lady, would have been so impressed with this enterprising group and their spirit of giving.
AWESOME! Thank you ladies for being so generous and thoughtful with your time and energy. And thank you to the parents who supported all of this, as well as those persons at the shows who dug into their pockets or purses.
Technical Large Animal Rescue Course
Atlantic Veterinary College
UPEI
July 5-7 2012
The Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue Course (TLAER) took place July5-7, 2012 for the first time in Canada at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island. The course was organized by Dr.Erica Koch (Assistant Professor,Health Management). Registration was full with 80 participants, from all over Canada and beyond, including veterinarians, veterinary students, police, firefighters, racetrack workers, veterinary technicians, humane society personnel, and large animal owners.
Emergency personnel were taught how to prepare for and more safely approach, emergency incidents such as large animals in overturned or wrecked livestock trailers on the road, barn fires, large animals stuck in mud or ravines and incidents where people may be stuck with the animals. This was an intensive three-day course with lectures in the morning and simulated hands-on live animal situations in the afternoons. One evening featured a live search and rescue demonstration as well. Special trained live horses were used in severaldemonstrations.
Emergency personnel were taught how to prepare for and more safely approach, emergency incidents such as large animals in overturned or wrecked livestock trailers on the road, barn fires, large animals stuck in mud or ravines and incidents where people may be stuck with the animals. This was an intensive three-day course with lectures in the morning and simulated hands-on live animal situations in the afternoons. One evening featured a live search and rescue demonstration as well. Special trained live horses were used in severaldemonstrations.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Platinum
Bioniche Animal Health Canada Inc.
Equine Foundation of Canada
Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals
Pfizer
Gold
NBVMA
Silver
Merial Canada Inc.
Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare
Vetoquinol Canada Inc.
Bronze
Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd.
Platinum
Bioniche Animal Health Canada Inc.
Equine Foundation of Canada
Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals
Pfizer
Gold
NBVMA
Silver
Merial Canada Inc.
Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare
Vetoquinol Canada Inc.
Bronze
Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd.
Fight Against Equine Infectious Disease Helped by Equine Foundation of Canada
With a highly mobile horse community, keeping your horses free from disease is one of the biggest challenges for horse owners. The fight to keep infectious diseases at bay has taken a step forward with a generous donation from the Equine Foundation of Canada. The funding allows the purchase of new equipment, including a microcentrifuge and fluorometer, for the Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses at the University of Guelph.
"This equipment will help us explore some new areas in equine infectious diseases and hopefully help us understand how to better treat and prevent serious infections. We are grateful for the assistance of the Equine Foundation of Canada in advancing equine infectious disease research.” says Dr. Scott Weese, an equine internal medicine specialist and microbiologist with the Ontario Veterinary College and University of Guelph’s Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses.
The funding for this equipment will help advance the specialized work being done in his lab, and complement the array of equipment that is already present in the laboratory, including a state-of-the-art ‘next generation’ sequencing system. “Our laboratory was the first laboratory of any type in Canada to obtain this system, and it provides a unique capability internationally to perform equine infectious diseases research,” continues Weese.
With increased awareness of the dangers of infectious disease, recently heightened by the news of an equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) fatality in Ontario, this is a timely and welcome development. “Biosecurity, the prevention of disease spread, is an issue of growing concern for the industry. Equine Guelph will be working with Dr. Weese and his staff to get more information out to the horse industry in our communications and education programs. The Equine Foundation of Canada has helped us to move this agenda forward with their funding for new equipment and are to be commended for their initiative to help the Canadian horse industry in this way.” says Gayle Ecker, Director of Equine Guelph. Registration is now open for the new education program “Beat the Bugs: Biosecurity for the Horse Owner” which launches this spring. Members of the equine industry will take away valuable information for themselves and for their employees to help prevent the spread of infectious disease.
For more information about Biosecurity programs offered by Equine Guelph visit the University of Guelph website or contact:Dr. Susan Raymond
Story by: Gayle Ecker
"This equipment will help us explore some new areas in equine infectious diseases and hopefully help us understand how to better treat and prevent serious infections. We are grateful for the assistance of the Equine Foundation of Canada in advancing equine infectious disease research.” says Dr. Scott Weese, an equine internal medicine specialist and microbiologist with the Ontario Veterinary College and University of Guelph’s Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses.
The funding for this equipment will help advance the specialized work being done in his lab, and complement the array of equipment that is already present in the laboratory, including a state-of-the-art ‘next generation’ sequencing system. “Our laboratory was the first laboratory of any type in Canada to obtain this system, and it provides a unique capability internationally to perform equine infectious diseases research,” continues Weese.
With increased awareness of the dangers of infectious disease, recently heightened by the news of an equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) fatality in Ontario, this is a timely and welcome development. “Biosecurity, the prevention of disease spread, is an issue of growing concern for the industry. Equine Guelph will be working with Dr. Weese and his staff to get more information out to the horse industry in our communications and education programs. The Equine Foundation of Canada has helped us to move this agenda forward with their funding for new equipment and are to be commended for their initiative to help the Canadian horse industry in this way.” says Gayle Ecker, Director of Equine Guelph. Registration is now open for the new education program “Beat the Bugs: Biosecurity for the Horse Owner” which launches this spring. Members of the equine industry will take away valuable information for themselves and for their employees to help prevent the spread of infectious disease.
For more information about Biosecurity programs offered by Equine Guelph visit the University of Guelph website or contact:Dr. Susan Raymond
Story by: Gayle Ecker
From the University of Calgary Veterinary Department
On Wednesday, December 7th, EFC President Eldon Bienert of Leduc, Alberta and EFC Alberta Director Bob Watson of Duchess were given a tour of the vet facility at the University of Calgary. The occasion was to view the prototype of the horse which had been especially built to use in teaching students about colic in horses.
The tour was especially interesting in that it was 'Cadaver Wednesday', and the classes of students were all very busy.
The tour was especially interesting in that it was 'Cadaver Wednesday', and the classes of students were all very busy.
But what was fully realized was just how important the contributions of the Equine Foundation are to the Canadian Vet schools and just what the funding can do to educate and make a better life for our horses.
- Marg McDonald