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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
the 2000 information provides evidence of a continuing cycle of infection of EHV-1 and EHV-4 in foals, despite the introduction of routine vaccination with an inactivated whole virus vaccine. The results of a further study describe less than 50% of foals on a large stud farm as responders to the vaccine. The results combined with the epidemiologic data over the period 1999 to 2001 provide valuable information for management on large stud farms. At the same time, the findings emphasize the necessity for improved vaccines and/or modified vaccine strategies. 3
HORSE SLAUGHTER BILL On February 14, 2002, Representative Connie Morella (R-MD) introduced "The American Horse Slaughter Protection Act" (H.R. 3781). The bill would prohibit the slaughter of horses in and from the United States for human consumption. The bill would also prohibit the trade and transport of horses and horse meat intended for human consumption. The bill was referred to the
Agriculture Committee, the International Relations Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee. The bill provides for criminal and civil penalties up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to 1 year for violations. Horses bound for processing facilities may be confiscated under this bill and placed in the care of animal rescue facilities. If a person is convicted or unable to post bond, those horses will be permanently placed by the animal rescue facility. If the horses are unable to be placed with a permanent home, they will be euthanized by the animal rescue facility. This is the second bill introduced in this Congress to ban the slaughter of horses for food. The first, H.R. 2622, was introduced earlier by Congressman Tom Reynolds (R-NY).
HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) (Fig. 2) in equine rehabilitation is increasing. Although the technique has been used in human
medicine for years, a Canadian company (Equineox Technologies, Vancouver, Canada) is building hyperbaric chambers and selling them to veterinarians and equine therapists in the United States and other countries of the world. 4 The first equne hyperbaric chamber was bought and used by Dr. Doug Herthel at the Alamo Pintado Equine Hospital in California. HBOT forces oxygen into the plasma, allowing oxygen to be delivered to areas of circulation restriction. This makes it useful for treating a number of conditions in horses. Conditions that respond favorably to HBOT are infections, both plural and rhodoccus pneumonia; other respiratory infections; laminitis; osteomyelitis; wounds; and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Last month, the Kentucky Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center in Versailles, KY, opened their facility with an hyperbaric oxygen chamber as well as other rehabilitation equipment. The chamber is operated by Equine Oxygen Therapy, LLC (Lexington, KY). For further information, call Hub Johnson or Ramona Good at the KESMARC office at (859) 873-9955.
REFERENCES 1.
FDA Veterinarian, March/April 2002,
2.
Equine Disease Quarterly 10:(3),
3. 2,2001 4.
RIRDC Equine Research News 4:
p13 2002
Figure
2.
Dr. Doug Herthel and his hyperbaric oxygen chamber for horses.
Volume 22, Number 5, 2002
JEVS 20:241,2000
203
HORSE SLAUGHTER BILL On February 14, 2002, Representative Connie Morella (R-MD) introduced "The American Horse Slaughter Protection Act" (H.R. 3781). The bill would prohibit the slaughter of horses in and from the United States for human consumption. The bill would also prohibit the trade and transport of horses and horse meat intended for human consumption. The bill was referred to the
Agriculture Committee, the International Relations Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee. The bill provides for criminal and civil penalties up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to 1 year for violations. Horses bound for processing facilities may be confiscated under this bill and placed in the care of animal rescue facilities. If a person is convicted or unable to post bond, those horses will be permanently placed by the animal rescue facility. If the horses are unable to be placed with a permanent home, they will be euthanized by the animal rescue facility. This is the second bill introduced in this Congress to ban the slaughter of horses for food. The first, H.R. 2622, was introduced earlier by Congressman Tom Reynolds (R-NY).
HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) (Fig. 2) in equine rehabilitation is increasing. Although the technique has been used in human
medicine for years, a Canadian company (Equineox Technologies, Vancouver, Canada) is building hyperbaric chambers and selling them to veterinarians and equine therapists in the United States and other countries of the world. 4 The first equne hyperbaric chamber was bought and used by Dr. Doug Herthel at the Alamo Pintado Equine Hospital in California. HBOT forces oxygen into the plasma, allowing oxygen to be delivered to areas of circulation restriction. This makes it useful for treating a number of conditions in horses. Conditions that respond favorably to HBOT are infections, both plural and rhodoccus pneumonia; other respiratory infections; laminitis; osteomyelitis; wounds; and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Last month, the Kentucky Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center in Versailles, KY, opened their facility with an hyperbaric oxygen chamber as well as other rehabilitation equipment. The chamber is operated by Equine Oxygen Therapy, LLC (Lexington, KY). For further information, call Hub Johnson or Ramona Good at the KESMARC office at (859) 873-9955.
REFERENCES 1.
FDA Veterinarian, March/April 2002,
2.
Equine Disease Quarterly 10:(3),
3. 2,2001 4.
RIRDC Equine Research News 4:
p13 2002
Figure
2.
Dr. Doug Herthel and his hyperbaric oxygen chamber for horses.
Volume 22, Number 5, 2002
JEVS 20:241,2000
203