Pharmaceutical Medications

STRESS-What-is-stress-exactly-when-it-relates-to-horses-And-what-do-we-need-to-consider

STRESS: What is stress exactly when it relates to horses? And what do we need to consider?

When we talk about stress in equines, we often think of those horses and ponies that never settle, constantly spook, pace the fence line in the paddock, or sweat up …

STRESS: What is stress exactly when it relates to horses? And what do we need to consider? Read More »

Optim-Equine-Off-The-Track-Thoroughbreds

An Introduction to Off The Track Thoroughbreds (OTTB)

Among the many breeds and types of horses available to riders, off the track thoroughbreds (OTTB) are a highly popular choice of mount. And for a very good reason! Their …

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HELP! My horse won’t put on body condition

HELP! My horse won’t put on body condition… The horse that fails to thrive can be one of the most frustrating challenges for owners, trainers, breeders and riders. The horse …

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Optim Equine The Risks of Altrenogest (AKA: Regumate/Readyserve/Ovamed/Altren) to Humans

The Risks of Altrenogest (AKA: Regumate/Readyserve/Ovamed/Altren) to Humans

Mares and fillies who exhibit overtly hormonal behaviour can be a real challenge and frustration for riders, trainers and owners. In an attempt to help manage their behaviour, many of …

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Optim Equine Pain in our horses and ponies

Injury and Pain in our Horses and Ponies

Effectively treating pain in our horses and ponies can be a complex issue. Whilst non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are mainstay to help with the inflammation associated with pain,  there are …

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Vitamin B12 in horses Optim Equine

Vitamin B12 for Horses

Injectable vitamin B12 is a common treatment given to horses. One of the primary functions of vitamin B12 is to help make red blood cells, which are important to carry …

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Stallion Fertility: What is happening for your stallion NOW influences the season he has ahead.

Before a breeding season gets underway, it’s worth stopping to consider the influence of various factors on a stallion’s fertility. It is well known that stress, nutrition (including both excesses …

Stallion Fertility: What is happening for your stallion NOW influences the season he has ahead. Read More »

Laminitis-‘Prevention’--But-at-what-cost Optim Equine

Laminitis ‘Prevention’- But at what cost?

We all want to do what’s best for our horses. Marketing experts employed by large brands know this. Clever product marketing targets this. That’s why it is common to find …

Laminitis ‘Prevention’- But at what cost? Read More »

Inflammation & Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories in Horses

Inflammation & Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories in Horses

Inflammation. It’s a word commonly associated with poor health outcomes. Yet a certain amount of inflammation is absolutely crucial to health and wellbeing in our horses. Some inflammation is essential …

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overweight-horse-and-gut-microflora

Overweight horses and ponies: there’s more to the equation than just feed…

Overweight horses and ponies can pose a real challenge for owners to manage. Particularly at times of the year where there is an abundance of lush feed. It is well …

Overweight horses and ponies: there’s more to the equation than just feed… Read More »

Feeding-the-injured-horse-optim-equine

Feeding The Injured Horse

Injuries in our horses can be frustrating and upsetting occurrences- and more often than not, they tend to occur when our horses are coming along really well. Ironically, although we …

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Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Horses: Rethinking The Use of Corticosteroids

Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Horses: Rethinking The Use of Corticosteroids

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in horses refers to a group of intestinal diseases that are caused by the infiltration of different types of inflammatory cells into the mucosal and submucosal …

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Ulcers in Horses: The importance of understanding how medications work

Ulcers in Horses: The importance of understanding how medications work

There’s much interest in ulcers in horses and for very good reason. Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) affects 60-90% of adult horses and 25-50% of foals and weanlings. The condition …

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Ulcer-Medications-What-Nobody-Tells-You-And-What-You-Need-To-Know-Optim-Equine

Ulcer Medications: What Nobody Tells You and What You Need To Know

The most commonly used equine ulcer medications on the market generally come under names containing Gastro/Ulcer/Guard and contain the active ingredient omeprazole, which belongs to the class of drugs known …

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Bisphosphonates-(Tildren-&-Osphos)-Time-to-talk-about-the-Skeleton-in-the-Closet-Optim-Equine

Bisphosphonates (Tildren & Osphos): Understanding how they work and their role in bone health

Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs which includes both tildronate and clodronate. They were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2014 for controlling clinical signs associated with navicular syndrome in …

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Skeletal-Injuries-Considering-the-Role-of-Bone-Density-in-the-Horse-Optim-Equine

Skeletal Injuries: Considering the Role of Bone Density in the Horse

One of the most significant injury concerns for all athletic horses is that involving the bones and joints. Musculoskeletal injuries are the most common cause of poor performance and wastage …

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Nutrient Requirements for Horses: Fortified Feeds and the need for Supplementation-Optim-Equine

Nutrient Requirements for Horses: Fortified Feeds and the need for Supplementation

The vast majority of racehorses, performance horses and breeding stock are fed fortified feeds or balancer rations, which are designed to meet the daily nutrient requirements of horses. These nutrient …

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Bacterial-Endometritis-Bacteria-and-Biofilms-Optim-Equine

Bacterial Endometritis: Bacteria and Biofilms

Bacteria in biofilms can readily become resistant to both pharmaceuticals and the host immune system, developing a tolerance to antimicrobial agents, biocides and antiseptics. In fact, research has demonstrated that …

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Vitamin-K-The-role-of-Gut-Health-and-the-Effect-on-Bone-Health-and-Insulin-Resistance

Vitamin K: The role of Gut Health and the Effect on Bone Health and Insulin Resistance

Vitamin K is a most important nutrient, which is derived from bacterial synthesis in the horse’s large intestine. For optimal levels of vitamin K to be produced, the horse must …

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NSAID-Ulcer-Medication-in-Horses-Optim-Equine

NSAIDs and Ulcer Medications Together? Think Again

Most horse people are aware that the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs (phenylbutazone, flunixin, firocoxib, etc) compromise gastrointestinal (GI) health in the horse. This comes about through inhibiting several …

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