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Equine Clinician's Network: varied topics; vatied participants The Equine Clinician's Network: (BeN) continues to be the most popular equine veterinary rnaillist on the Internet. Analysis of comments on ECN during June revealed approximately 300 different topics discussed. MoSt topics had only a few comments; 14 topics (left) had 10 or more responses. There were more than 1,000 responses logged in during the month frOm approximately 335 different veterinary participants. Past analysis of ECN participants bas shown there to be 1200- 1400 members subscribed to ECN. The number varies from day to day, as there are always new members signing up and some old members unsubscribing. Some participants were much mOre active than others. The vast majority of respondents posted only a few messages (99.81 %). The rest posted more than 10 messages during the month. The most active participant, a California practitioner, posted 56 messages on a wide variety of topics. The next most active participant was an Idaho practitioner. posting 36 messages on various topics. These two practitioners consistently post many messages each month. It appears from viewing ECN from month to month that there are about a dozen veterinarians who support the dialogue on a regular basis, asking and answering questions, or making comments, on a variety of topics. To sign up or get more information about BCN contact Dr. Oaude Ragle at [email protected] DMSO for laminitis: varied opinions The BCN discussion on dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) began with someone wondering if the stuff really did any good in treating laminitis. Several veterinar- ians felt that it does. Others felt that it did no good. One person commented that it appeared to do no harm. Most agreed that the stuff stinks. "1 use DMSO for almost all of my laminitis cases and I definitely think it works,« one practitioner said. Many types of treatments, along with DMSO, were used by this vet, but when DMSO was skipped a day, this horse wonld appear to be worse. Someone pointed out that there are more than 10,000 papers published on DMSO, yet we do not know if it is effective for laminitis. This prompted a discussion about why a study is not done todetennine ifDMSO is good for laminitis. While most participants agreed that such a study would be a good idea, it was pointed out that scientific studies are nearly impossible when dealing with DMSO therapy in practice. Proper controls would always be a problem. Then there is the smell that stays with those treated with DMSO-:-- the controls would not have this smell. A host of problems were suggested that would prevent scientific double-blind studies of the matter. Some practitioners pointed out that "clinical impressions" were valuable. Some others thought there would always be too much bias in "clinical impressions:' "When I think of the cases I've been involved with over the years that could have been and should have been recorded and accounted in some fashion, I wonder if there is not some way of documenting cases in a way that worthy infor- mation could be obtained," was a comment that suggested a practical' approach to the problem. Another practitioner suggested there is a big need for publications to dis- seminate information on preliminary investigations that are "da-able" in the private practice environment. 'The results of these studies could then be used to inspire the academic types (with all those keen young residents trying to carve out a niche) to do more controlled studies." In the end, it seemed that no conclusions were reached. Some participants may have changed their opinions on the subject, but it seemed evident that few .' did. Volume 20, Number 7, 2000 The most popular topic on ECN in June toipic Number of messages DMSO for laminitis 32 Chronic back soreness 17 Ethics and pricing 16 Pinnacle in abscess 14 Septic arthritis 14 Map 5 13 Neurectomy 13 Drought nutrition 12 HYPP or PSSM 12 Tenosynovitis 12 COPD 11 Flies & Mosquitoes 11 Food & energy 11 Vaccine reaction 11 429 Equine Clinician's Network: varied topics; vatied participants The Equine Clinician's Network: (BeN) continues to be the most popular equine veterinary rnaillist on the Internet. Analysis of comments on ECN during June revealed approximately 300 different topics discussed. MoSt topics had only a few comments; 14 topics (left) had 10 or more responses. There were more than 1,000 responses logged in during the month frOm approximately 335 different veterinary participants. Past analysis of ECN participants bas shown there to be 1200- 1400 members subscribed to ECN. The number varies from day to day, as there are always new members signing up and some old members unsubscribing. Some participants were much mOre active than others. The vast majority of respondents posted only a few messages (99.81 %). The rest posted more than 10 messages during the month. The most active participant, a California practitioner, posted 56 messages on a wide variety of topics. The next most active participant was an Idaho practitioner. posting 36 messages on various topics. These two practitioners consistently post many messages each month. It appears from viewing ECN from month to month that there are about a dozen veterinarians who support the dialogue on a regular basis, asking and answering questions, or making comments, on a variety of topics. To sign up or get more information about BCN contact Dr. Oaude Ragle at [email protected] DMSO for laminitis: varied opinions The BCN discussion on dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) began with someone wondering if the stuff really did any good in treating laminitis. Several veterinar- ians felt that it does. Others felt that it did no good. One person commented that it appeared to do no harm. Most agreed that the stuff stinks. "1 use DMSO for almost all of my laminitis cases and I definitely think it works,« one practitioner said. Many types of treatments, along with DMSO, were used by this vet, but when DMSO was skipped a day, this horse wonld appear to be worse. Someone pointed out that there are more than 10,000 papers published on DMSO, yet we do not know if it is effective for laminitis. This prompted a discussion about why a study is not done todetennine ifDMSO is good for laminitis. While most participants agreed that such a study would be a good idea, it was pointed out that scientific studies are nearly impossible when dealing with DMSO therapy in practice. Proper controls would always be a problem. Then there is the smell that stays with those treated with DMSO-:-- the controls would not have this smell. A host of problems were suggested that would prevent scientific double-blind studies of the matter. Some practitioners pointed out that "clinical impressions" were valuable. Some others thought there would always be too much bias in "clinical impressions:' "When I think of the cases I've been involved with over the years that could have been and should have been recorded and accounted in some fashion, I wonder if there is not some way of documenting cases in a way that worthy infor- mation could be obtained," was a comment that suggested a practical' approach to the problem. Another practitioner suggested there is a big need for publications to dis- seminate information on preliminary investigations that are "da-able" in the private practice environment. 'The results of these studies could then be used to inspire the academic types (with all those keen young residents trying to carve out a niche) to do more controlled studies." In the end, it seemed that no conclusions were reached. Some participants may have changed their opinions on the subject, but it seemed evident that few .' did. Volume 20, Number 7, 2000 The most popular topic on ECN in June toipic Number of messages DMSO for laminitis 32 Chronic back soreness 17 Ethics and pricing 16 Pinnacle in abscess 14 Septic arthritis 14 Map 5 13 Neurectomy 13 Drought nutrition 12 HYPP or PSSM 12 Tenosynovitis 12 COPD 11 Flies & Mosquitoes 11 Food & energy 11 Vaccine reaction 11 429

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Page 1: Equine Clinician's Network: Varied topics; varied participants

Equine Clinician's Network: varied topics; vatied participants

The Equine Clinician's Network: (BeN) continues to be the most popular equine veterinary rnaillist on the Internet. Analysis of comments on ECN during June revealed approximately 300 different topics discussed. MoSt topics had only a few comments; 14 topics (left) had 10 or more responses. There were more than 1,000 responses logged in during the month frOm approximately 335 different veterinary participants. Past analysis of ECN participants bas shown there to be 1200- 1400 members subscribed to ECN. The number varies from day to day, as there are always new members signing up and some old members unsubscribing.

Some participants were much mOre active than others. The vast majority of respondents posted only a few messages (99.81 %). The rest posted more than 10 messages during the month. The most active participant, a California practitioner, posted 56 messages on a wide variety of topics. The next most active participant was an Idaho practitioner. posting 36 messages on various topics. These two practitioners consistently post many messages each month. It appears from viewing ECN from month to month that there are about a dozen veterinarians who support the dialogue on a regular basis, asking and answering questions, or making comments, on a variety of topics.

To sign up or get more information about BCN contact Dr. Oaude Ragle at [email protected]

DMSO for laminitis: varied opinions

The BCN discussion on dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) began with someone wondering if the stuff really did any good in treating laminitis. Several veterinar­ians felt that it does. Others felt that it did no good. One person commented that it appeared to do no harm. Most agreed that the stuff stinks.

"1 use DMSO for almost all of my laminitis cases and I definitely think it works,« one practitioner said. Many types of treatments, along with DMSO, were used by this vet, but when DMSO was skipped a day, this horse wonld appear to be worse.

Someone pointed out that there are more than 10,000 papers published on DMSO, yet we do not know if it is effective for laminitis. This prompted a discussion about why a study is not done todetennine ifDMSO is good for laminitis. While most participants agreed that such a study would be a good idea, it was pointed out that scientific studies are nearly impossible when dealing with DMSO therapy in practice. Proper controls would always be a problem. Then there is the smell that stays with those treated with DMSO-:-- the controls would not have this smell.

A host of problems were suggested that would prevent scientific double-blind studies of the matter. Some practitioners pointed out that "clinical impressions" were valuable. Some others thought there would always be too much bias in "clinical impressions:'

"When I think of the cases I've been involved with over the years that could have been and should have been recorded and accounted in some fashion, I wonder if there is not some way of documenting cases in a way that worthy infor­mation could be obtained," was a comment that suggested a practical' approach to the problem.

Another practitioner suggested there is a big need for publications to dis­seminate information on preliminary investigations that are "da-able" in the private practice environment. 'The results of these studies could then be used to inspire the academic types (with all those keen young residents trying to carve out a niche) to do more controlled studies."

In the end, it seemed that no conclusions were reached. Some participants may have changed their opinions on the subject, but it seemed evident that few .' did.

Volume 20, Number 7, 2000

The most popular topic on ECN in June toipic Number of messages DMSO for laminitis 32 Chronic back soreness 17 Ethics and pricing 16 Pinnacle in abscess 14 Septic arthritis 14 Map 5 13 Neurectomy 13 Drought nutrition 12 HYPP or PSSM 12 Tenosynovitis 12 COPD 11 Flies & Mosquitoes 11 Food & energy 11 Vaccine reaction 11

429

Equine Clinician's Network: varied topics; vatied participants

The Equine Clinician's Network: (BeN) continues to be the most popular equine veterinary rnaillist on the Internet. Analysis of comments on ECN during June revealed approximately 300 different topics discussed. MoSt topics had only a few comments; 14 topics (left) had 10 or more responses. There were more than 1,000 responses logged in during the month frOm approximately 335 different veterinary participants. Past analysis of ECN participants bas shown there to be 1200- 1400 members subscribed to ECN. The number varies from day to day, as there are always new members signing up and some old members unsubscribing.

Some participants were much mOre active than others. The vast majority of respondents posted only a few messages (99.81 %). The rest posted more than 10 messages during the month. The most active participant, a California practitioner, posted 56 messages on a wide variety of topics. The next most active participant was an Idaho practitioner. posting 36 messages on various topics. These two practitioners consistently post many messages each month. It appears from viewing ECN from month to month that there are about a dozen veterinarians who support the dialogue on a regular basis, asking and answering questions, or making comments, on a variety of topics.

To sign up or get more information about BCN contact Dr. Oaude Ragle at [email protected]

DMSO for laminitis: varied opinions

The BCN discussion on dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) began with someone wondering if the stuff really did any good in treating laminitis. Several veterinar­ians felt that it does. Others felt that it did no good. One person commented that it appeared to do no harm. Most agreed that the stuff stinks.

"1 use DMSO for almost all of my laminitis cases and I definitely think it works,« one practitioner said. Many types of treatments, along with DMSO, were used by this vet, but when DMSO was skipped a day, this horse wonld appear to be worse.

Someone pointed out that there are more than 10,000 papers published on DMSO, yet we do not know if it is effective for laminitis. This prompted a discussion about why a study is not done todetennine ifDMSO is good for laminitis. While most participants agreed that such a study would be a good idea, it was pointed out that scientific studies are nearly impossible when dealing with DMSO therapy in practice. Proper controls would always be a problem. Then there is the smell that stays with those treated with DMSO-:-- the controls would not have this smell.

A host of problems were suggested that would prevent scientific double-blind studies of the matter. Some practitioners pointed out that "clinical impressions" were valuable. Some others thought there would always be too much bias in "clinical impressions:'

"When I think of the cases I've been involved with over the years that could have been and should have been recorded and accounted in some fashion, I wonder if there is not some way of documenting cases in a way that worthy infor­mation could be obtained," was a comment that suggested a practical' approach to the problem.

Another practitioner suggested there is a big need for publications to dis­seminate information on preliminary investigations that are "da-able" in the private practice environment. 'The results of these studies could then be used to inspire the academic types (with all those keen young residents trying to carve out a niche) to do more controlled studies."

In the end, it seemed that no conclusions were reached. Some participants may have changed their opinions on the subject, but it seemed evident that few .' did.

Volume 20, Number 7, 2000

The most popular topic on ECN in June toipic Number of messages DMSO for laminitis 32 Chronic back soreness 17 Ethics and pricing 16 Pinnacle in abscess 14 Septic arthritis 14 Map 5 13 Neurectomy 13 Drought nutrition 12 HYPP or PSSM 12 Tenosynovitis 12 COPD 11 Flies & Mosquitoes 11 Food & energy 11 Vaccine reaction 11

429