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Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Researchers Lead Pioneering Study in Equine Obesity
Livestock Update, August 2007
Contributed by Carrie Swanson Extension Agent, Animal Science, Charlottesville / Albemarle County Office
BLACKSBURG, Va., July 12, 2007- America's growing obesity problem has alarmed physicians and public health officials, and veterinarians have recently focused attention on fat dogs and cats. Now, a team of researchers in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech has determined that horses are also facing serious health risks because of obesity.
Fifty-one percent of the horses evaluated during the pioneering study were determined to be overweight or obese - and may be subject to serious health problems like laminitis and hyperinsulinemia. And just like people, it appears as though the culprits are over-eating and lack of exercise.
For more information, see the complete story on the VT News web page:
http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/story.php?relyear=2007&itemno=390
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