The AAEP Research Recap Podcast

Review of Considerations When Feeding the Equid with Insulin Dysregulation

Dr. Peter Morressey chats with P.A. Harris, MA, VetMB, PhD, DipECVCN, MRCVS, RCVS Specialist Clinical Nutrition (equine), about her presentation at the 2022 AAEP Convention. Her subject: Review of Considerations When Feeding the Equid with Insulin Dysregulation
Whilst animals with insulin dysregulation are often obese, they can be lean and therefore the dietary goal may be weight maintenance, gain, or loss. As the dietary insulin response is variable, and all the nutritional triggers are unknown, it is advisable to monitor the individual’s response to their specific diet if it is considered essential to induce only a low insulin response. For some individuals, very low starch and sugar intakes per meal (<0.1 g/kg body weight/meal) may be required to elicit such a low response. Repeat monitoring is key.

Boundaries: Telephone Time and Wellness in Equine Practice

Dr. Peter Morressey chats with Mary Beth Whitcomb, DVM, MBA, ECVDI (LA-Associate), about her presentation at the 2022 AAEP Convention. Her subject: Boundaries: Telephone Time and Wellness in Equine Practice
Time spent on the phone with horse owners is often excessive in equine practice. Prolonged discussions can be exhausting and are infrequently billed, reducing the perceived value of our expertise. Strategies to reduce phone time will be presented, including the use of communication policies to establish and enforce boundaries while improving financial viability and wellness within a practice.

How to Respond and Extricate Equines Trapped in Mud Scenarios

Dr. Peter Morressey chats with Rebecca Husted, PhD, about her presentation at the 2022 AAEP Convention. Her subject: How to Respond and Extricate Equines Trapped in Mud Scenarios
Equines are frequently entrapped in mud situations—in their own paddock, on trail rides, or when they escape their normal pasture. Equines do not actually sink like shown in movies; they “float” on the surface of most mud environments. The purpose of this article is to suggest how to respond to a call that a horse is “stuck in mud” and to provide guidelines and best practices to assist the responding equine veterinarian to function in an efficient, effective, and safe manner to direct equine extrication from a mud entrapment scenario. Modern techniques for manipulation of entrapped horses place emphasis on the use of common tools, flat and looped webbing, occasional specialized equipment, and proper positioning of a team of personnel to achieve effective results for various mud rescue situations encountered in a practitioner’s daily work.

A Tutorial on Biofilm in the [Equine] Uterus

Dr. Peter Morressey chats with Ryan A. Ferris, DVM, MS, DACT, about his presentation at the 2022 AAEP Convention. His subject: A Tutorial on Biofilm in the Uterus
Treatment of biofilm-associated endometritis in the horse can be frustrating due to the lack of clear diagnostic techniques to know if a biofilm is involved. Fortunately, there are proven in-vitro- and in-vivobased treatment protocols that can effectively treat uterine infections suspected of involving a biofilm. A thorough understanding of the lifestyle difference between planktonic and biofilm-associated lifestyles can help guide clinicians in case selection and treatment options available currently and in the future.

Responsible Use of Antimicrobial Agents to Treat Bacterial Endometritis in Mares

Dr. Peter Morressey chats with Dr. Tamara Dobbie, DVM, DACT, about her presentation at the 2022 AAEP Convention: Responsible Use of Antimicrobial Agents to Treat Bacterial Endometritis in Mares.
Antimicrobial resistance is both a veterinary and global challenge. The incidence of resistance affects all body systems, including the reproductive tract. To date, few studies have critically evaluated the efficacy of commonly used antimicrobials in mares with bacterial endometritis. For now, treatment of bacterial endometritis should be based on culture and sensitivity.

Review of Good Record Keeping: Will Your Documentation Defend You?

Dr. Peter Morressey chats with Dr. Cynthia G. MacKenzie, DVM, about her presentation at the 2022 AAEP Convention. Her subject: Review of Good Record Keeping: Will Your Documentation Defend You?
Medical records are a necessary part of equine clinical practice and practitioners need to be aware of all the medical, legal, regulatory, and ethical reasons for producing and maintaining good medical records in practice. Should an equine practitioner be faced with either an allegation of negligence, demand for monetary compensation, or a board complaint, they should seek guidance from their professional liability carrier.

How to Interpret the Phosphorylated Neurofilament Heavy Biomarker Test

From the 2022 AAEP Annual Convention: Anti-Inflammatories, Cataracts, and Endocrine Disease - How to Interpret the Phosphorylated Neurofilament Heavy Biomarker Test.
Dr. Peter Morressey chats with Dr. Carrie Finno, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM) regarding her study involving a definitive diagnosis of neurological disease in the equinepatient. Until recently, the only way to definitively diagnose eNAD/EDM was through postmortem histologic evaluation of the brainstem and spinal cord. A biomarker test for pNfH represents the first diagnostic antemortem testing available for eNAD/EDM.

Review of Factors to Consider When Using the Oral Sugar Test to Diagnose Insulin Dysregulation

From the 2022 AAEP Convention: Dr. Peter Morressey interviews Dr. Amanda Adams, PHD, about the scientific paper she presented.
Several factors including “fed vs. fasted” state, dose and type of corn syrup, season, and combination endocrine testing should be considered when performing the oral sugar test in diagnosing insulin dysregulation.