Straight from the Horse Doctor's Mouth

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss three different conditions that can happen to horse feet: Canker, Keratoma, and Osteomyelitis. Topics include signs of a problem, what's actually happening on the inside, treatment, and recovery. 

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk about the importance of a PPE on every horse, from free horses to $5M horses, and why it's such a big deal. Topics include heart murmers, arthritis, young horses & old horses, fitness vs. injury history, and much, much more!

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk about all the different things that make horses do the things they do. A lot of times it's not as simple as just pain, or just behavior, and getting to the root of the problem can require a lot of patience. Topics include fitness, injuries, attitude, and much more!

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk about the history of drugs and diseases, peptides and the science behind them (or lack thereof), how to check the published research behind products, and the challenges of finding effective treatments in a marketplace filled with convincing marketing but no-so-convincing research papers. 

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk about the presence of AI in the horse world, and some technologies that are likely to change the way we manage horses. Topics include the human element, AI strengths and shortcomings, devices toys and tools, and how to navigate an increasingly complex world with your veterinarian and your horse.

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk about equine veterinarians and decision-making. Topics include diagnosing and treatment, client interactions, second opinions, and how to tell if a veterinarian is not necessarily working in the best interests of you and your horse. 

In this episode, which is Episode 200, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss the routine exam that your vet does at every wellness visit. As Dr. Lacher explains, it's a whole lot more than it looks like, and the benefits to both you and your horse are many! As usual, there are a variety of rabbit holes explored in this conversation. 

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long interview Dr. Leigh Mack, founder of the First Responder Veterinary Network. Listeners will learn how the current first responder and emergency services systems manage animals in emergencies, how and why the FRVN is trying to bring veterinarians into the process, and what every animal owner needs to know and be prepared for. There are a lot of surprising things to be learned in this episode, and we encourage everyone to visit https://www.frvn.org/ to support this new system to help our horses, dogs, cats, and more!<...

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long take a deep dive into pasture grass! Topics include sugar, forage quality, consumption management, and much more!

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long sit down with Dr. Erika Machtinger, Professor of Entomology at Penn State, to talk about the New World Screwworm. This is a great conversation for horse owners across North America to learn all about the NW Screwworm, why it's a big deal, how to recognize and handle it on your farm, and how the USDA is handling it. For links to current updates on New World Screwworm, visit SpringhillEquine.com. 

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss the dental care needs of horses at different points in their lives. Topics include foals, yearlings, young horses, adult horses, and seniors, and addresses issues and concerns at each stage, general care, and diseases like EOTRH. Also discussed is why all your equine dental care should be provided by a veterinarian! 

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk to Dr. Brian Nielsen. Dr. Nielsen is a professor of senior level equine physiology in the Animal Science department at Michigan State University, and one of the leading bone development researchers in the world in the Spartan Equine Research (SPERE) Lab. Topics include bone modeling and remodeling, what research shows about turnout vs. stalled horses, how to impact bone growth, and much, much more. Every horse owner will benefit greatly from this incredibly fun and insightful conversation!

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss the complex world of tendons and ligaments in horse legs. Topics include common injuries, strengthening and conditioning, rehab, and much more!

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long cover the wild world of high ringbone, low ringbone, and side bones. Topics include what they are (and aren't!), symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. 

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long take a deep dive into the world of laminitis, or founder in horses. Topics include how it happens, early warning signs, diagnosing, treatment options, and making hard decisions. 

In this episode, Drr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin long take a deep dive into the world of stomach ulcers. Topics include squamous ulcers, glandular ulcers, and hind gut ulcers, how they differ from one another, what treatments work and which ones don't (prepare to be disappointed about your expensive supplements!), and how our understanding of ulcer management has changed over time. This is a topic that has lots of misinformational marketing muddying up the water, so arm yourself with the medical facts to prevent being taken advantage of by clever advertising. 

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long confirm or debunk a number of popular myths surrounding colic in horses. Topics include how Banemine works with colic, walking horses, twists, and much more! Check out the Equine Emergency Vet Care Guide app at https://EquineEmergencyApp.com to give yourself the best tool for managing colic or any other potential horse emergency! 

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long sit down with returning guest equine nutritionist Kelly Vineyard PhD to talk forage. This is an episode every horse owner will want to listen to multiple times! Dr. Vineyard explains different forage types in detail, and how she goes about choosing the right forage for the right horse, as well as grass and pasture forage, bagged/cubed/pelleted forages, and much, much more.

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk about the wide variety of diagnostic tools that veterinarians use, what information they provide, and how veterinarians decide the best diagnostic options on a limited budget. Topics include imaging, blood tests, and more!

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss their new mobile app, the Equine Emergency Vet Care Guide, and how it can help, horses, horse owners, and their veterinarians. Topics include a variety of emergencies that are compounded by time, and why getting treatment fast can make such a significant difference in the outcome for the horse and in cost for the owner. Find out more about the app at https://EquineEmergencyApp.com

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk about how much equine medicine has changed over the course of Dr. Lacher's career so far, and how important it is to stay abreast of advancements. From nutrition to imaging capabilities to AI, they cover a lot of ground in this fascinating discussion! 

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk about the different ways people try to show love to their horses, and what the horses actually consider signs of love. Topics include buying things vs. spending time with them, tips for keeping retired horses happy, and much more.

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long look at Bute, Banemine, and Equiox and what they do for horses. Topics include the role of each drug in the inflammatory cascade, how they differ from one another, risks and side effects, and much more.

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk about each of the core vaccines as well as some of the lifestyle vaccines that horses need. Topics incude the diseases and how they operate, the vaccines themselves, schedules and timeframes, location, side effects, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long interview Cindy Harrington Ph.D. of Elvation USA, distributors of the Piezowave Shockwave System. Topics include what shockwave is, how it works, and what it does and doesn't do for horses. 

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss a wide variety of aspects of hauling horses in trailers. Topics include choosing a tow vehicle, trailer types, hauling sick horses, hauling healthy horses, short hauls, long hauls, shipping boots, trailer wrecks, and much more!

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long take a deep dive into the processes for diagnosing lameness in horses. Topics include physical exam, tools and technology, human resources, and much more!

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long take a closer look at all the different imaging modalities available to veterinarians, and how they are used. Topics include digital radiograh (x-ray), ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, and PET scan. 

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long take a deep dive into the mythos of Kissing Spine. They discuss what radiographs show and don't show, the diagnostic process, treatment without surgery, and weighing the risks/problems of surgery, along with a lot of rehab tips.

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long sit down with Philip Guenther, co-founder of Equine Saddlefit (https://equine-saddlefit.com/) to talk all things saddle fit. Topics include what to look for in a saddle fitter, how proper saddle fit is achieved, saddle pads, and a whole lot more! Make sure to watch the cooresponding video on our YouTube channel for some helpful visual markers.

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss skinny horses, and the variety of things that can contribute to their condition. Topics include diet and nutrition, exercise, and illnesses. 

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long interview returning guest Dr. Erika Machtinger, an associate professor of entomology at Penn State. They discuss the types of ticks that are typically problems for horses (and dogs and people!), the disease risks associated with each, pasture management, effective tick repellents, and much more! 

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long talk about overweight horses. Topics include identifying fat deposits in horses, body condition score, methods of weight loss, nutrition, exercise, negative impacts of excessive weight, and much more!

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and Justin Long discuss skin issues such as rain rot, insect allergies, tail rubbing, and more. Topics include diagnosing, treatment options, prevention, and things to avoid.

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss proper deworming protocols, why they've changed over time, and why it's so important to stay up to date with the latest research. Topics include deworming drugs, drug resistant parasites, best practices, and why once a year is all most horses need.

In this episode, Dr. Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss neuro behavior in horses, and how EPM is different from other types of neuro behavior. Topics include the dangers of treating EPM without a proper diagnosis, the process for getting a diagnosis for EPM and other neuro diseases, treatment options for a variety of conditions, rehab, and prevention.

In this episode, Dr. Lacher details the journey she has taken through Cahira's intermittant lameness since December 2024. Details include her difficulties in diagnosing the problem, settling on a treatment plan with the help of her team, and trying to ignore the urge to do all the wacky stuff that won't help but might make her feel better for trying. 

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss a wide variety of aspects surrounding the horse buying experience. Topics include pre-purchase exams, involved professionals like agents, trainers, brokers, dealers, and importers, considerations for horses of various ages, acceptable issues and unacceptable issues, and much more!

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long discuss the wide variety of products that are used in joint injections, all of which fall under the three categories of steroids, ortho-biologics, and polyacrylamide gels. Topics include what each category of product does and doesn't do, and how veterinarians determine which one is appropriate for specific situations. 

In this episode, Dr. Erica Lacher and show host Justin Long interview independant equine nutrition consultant Dr. Rachel Mottet, who has a graduate degree in equine nutrition and is the founder of Legacy Equine Nutrition. Topics include an introduction to the various categories of equine feed and hay, the difference between large and small feed companies, how to understand your horse's needs, and much more! Make sure to find Dr. Mottet at LegacyEquineNutrition.com to learn more about how she can help you improve your feed program.