HEALTHLINE FOR VETERINARIANS

In a joint effort, the Grayson- Jockey Club Research Foundation and AAEP, initiated a referral telephone "Healthline" program to assist practi- tioners in the field with group problems in horses.

As the practice of veterinary medi- cine becomes more complex, answers to urgent questions are not always readily available to veterinarians. Such is the case, for example, when an equine practitioner is confronted with five foals, expressing identical symptoms, that have become ill within days of each other for an unknown reason; the practitioner needs answers and infor- mation.

Assistance will now be available to veterinarians through "Healthline," a combined effort of AAEP and the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foun- dation. The "Healthline" is a referral line that can direct practitioners to vet- erinary specialists who have access to the most current information. The "Healthline" number is 606-224-2849 and is for veterinary use only.

"The AAEP is pleased to partner this endeavor with the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation," said Gary Lavin, VMD, president of the AAEP and secretary of the Foundation. "Healthline" will further our scope of services to the equine community."

One of the many benefits of this referral line is coordination of informa- tion that might otherwise take months to filter into veterinary publications. Through"Healthline,"trouble spots can

Dr. Walter-i~aufma-n, and-Doug By~s, DVM, AAEP member and member of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Veterinary Advisory Board. "The program is designed to assist the veterinarian in dealing with group prob- lems in horses, and to provide state-of- the-art answers, or improve the state- of-the-art through accessing research. The merger is truly a link for the fu- lure."

ESPN EDUCATION SPOTS

AAEP/Merck educational spots shown on ESPN were renewed to con- tinue during 1994.

These spots feature AAEP veteri- narians and are used to educate the public about the role veterinarians play in the health and welfare of the horse.

The following were aired during live-racing broadcasts on ESPN: Florida Derby, February 19, 1994, "Preventa- tive Health Care," with Dr. Tom Brokken; Kentucky Derby, May 7, "Exbourne" success story with Dr. Ri- chard Holder.

Still to be televised are "Diagnos- tic Imaging" with Dr. Rick Arthur; "OCD" success story with Dr. Larry Bramlage; "Imprint Training" with Dr. Robert Miller.

Equine practitioners will also be on call for every racing broadcast air- ing this year, both on ESPN's Racing Across America and ABC Sports. This assistance to racing broadcasters is made possible by the AAEP "On Call" program. The program initiated by the AAEP at the 1991 Kentucky Derby is in place to provide accurate veterinary

. . . . q~h e-0 n ~_.all program ismade Up of a team of spokespersons who volunteer their time and have received media training in order to offer assistance to the press and educate the racing public about the specialized care of racehorses.

Co-sponsors of the On Call pro- gram with AAEP include Churchill Downs, Breeders' Cup, ABC Sports, NBC Sports, and the New York Racing Association.

SUCCESS STORY CAMPAIGN CONTINUES

The AAEP continues its "Success Story" campaign by developing a file of successful equine veterinary cases. This information is available to the media, who may wish to further de- velop the story ideas. These cases rep- resent the important role the veterinar- ian plays in the recovery of the horse and serve to educate the public about progress in veterinary medicine. Fol- lowing is one of the "Success Stories" on file:

"A Thoroughbred stallion, who competed to preliminary level in eventing, developed severe colic. The attending veterinarian suspected Lyme Disease in spite of atypical symptoms. The stallion tested positive for Lyme Disease, borderline for Potomac Horse Fever. The treatment, which was re- quired for over one month, was tetracy- cline, penicillin, and IV fluids. The Lyme Disease reoccurred and forced the stallion's retirement from eventing. He remains on tetracycline, however, and is now preparing for a career as show hunter or endurance riding in addition to stud duties."

354 JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE