Once the mainstay of prairie agriculture, draft horses are now much less common. The most familiar breeds on the Prairies include Belgiums, Percheron, Clydesdales and Shires. Horses, including draft breeds — and also thoroughbreds — can suffer from a disorder of the larynx. Nerve damage inactivates the muscle that normally opens and closes the left […] Read more
Tag Archives Jamie Rothenburger
Veterinarians kept horses healthy during First World War
Several years ago, when helping my uncle Walter sort through some DVDs, we came across a copy of A Bear Named Winnie, a CBC Television movie. He gave me the DVD and I watched it with awe. This CBC production tells the true story of Canadian veterinarian Dr. Harry Colebourn. While I’d seen the images […] Read more
Procedures in place for animal research
An enormous range of animal species are used in research for a variety of reasons. There is the familiar use of animals as models for human diseases, which is where the white laboratory mice and rats come in. Scientists may also study animals for their own benefit. It is worth considering the reasons we use […] Read more
Avian influenza infection spreads to wild mammals
The global outbreak of H5N1, a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, continues. With the arrival of autumn, migrating wild birds may continue to spread, contract and die of this infection. Avian influenza has historically been considered a pathogen of birds. Wild waterfowl such as ducks carry it without significant clinical disease. They are also thought […] Read more
