Equine Innovators

EHV-1 Explained: What the Science Tells Us with Dr. Abby Sage and Dr. Lutz Goehring

EHV-1 has dominated online conversation in recent weeks—but not all the information circulating reflects the science. In this episode of Equine Innovators, we step back from the noise to focus on what researchers and clinicians know about how equine herpesvirus infects horses, how it spreads, why latency matters, and what drives the neurologic form of the disease.Host Stephanie Church, editorial director at The Horse, speaks with Dr. Abby Sage, equine technical services veterinarian for Zoetis and a former state veterinary official, and Dr. Lutz Goehring, professor of equine infectious diseases at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center. Sage and Goehring explain what testing can—and cannot—tell us during an outbreak, clarify common misconceptions, and outline how vaccination and biosecurity fit into a thoughtful response.The conversation also looks ahead, exploring emerging diagnostic tools, vaccine research, and unanswered questions about viral reactivation and neurologic risk. Whether you’re a veterinarian or a horse owner navigating heightened concern, this episode offers grounded perspective and practical context.In this episode, Dr. Lutz Goehring and Dr. Abby Sage discuss:How EHV-1 spreads and why outbreaks occur regularly, even when they don’t make headlinesWhat differentiates respiratory infection from equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathyHow veterinarians interpret PCR testing and where stall-side tools fitWhat vaccination can realistically achieve, and what it cannotWhich biosecurity measures matter most at home and on the roadWhere current research on EHV-1 is headed nextTune in to hear how two equine veterinarians break down equine herpesvirus-1 transmission, testing, neurologic disease, and prevention.GUESTS AND LINKS – EPISODE 24:Host: Stephanie L. Church, editorial director at The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care/TheHorse.com | @stephlchurch on Instagram | Email Stephanie (schurch@thehorse.com)Links: (EHV-1 and other resources from TheHorse.com) Special Feature: Everything You Need To Know About EHV-1 | Discussion of the Valencia, Spain, EHV outbreak: EHV-1 in 2022 | Biosecurity Tips to Protect Your HorseLinks: (EHV-1 and other infectious disease information from the AAEP’s Equine Disease Communication Center) Latest EHV Alerts | Horse Owner Webinar EHV-1 UpdatesGuest: Dr. Lutz Goehring | Lutz Goehring, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, graduated as DVM from Utrecht University, in the Netherlands. He is a board-certified specialist in veterinary internal medicine (large animal) of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) and of the European College (ECEIM) of Equine Internal Medicine. Goehring is the Warren Wright Sr.-Lucille Wright Markey Endowed Chair in Equine Infectious Diseases at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center, in Lexington. His Lutz Goehring Research Group focuses on equine herpesvirus type 1 and its interaction with its exclusive host, the horse.Guest: Dr. Abby Sage | Abby Sage, VMD, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, earned her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) and is board-certified in large animal internal medicine. Sage was on faculty in the section of sports medicine at Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square, and then at the University of Minnesota, in St. Paul, where she served as the head of the large animal internal medicine section. She spent 10 years in private practice as an internal medicine specialist at Blue Ridge Equine Clinic, in Earlysville, Virginia, before she joined the Virginia State Veterinary Office, in Richmond, where she ran the equine programs. In 2023 she joined Zoetis as an equine technical services veterinarian. Sage has authored numerous scientific papers on equine internal medicine, ultrasound, and cardiology.Link: Register for free newsletters from TheHorse.comPlease visit our sponsor, who makes this podcast possible: Zoetis Equine | @ZoetisEquine on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Real-Time Decisions Using Biomarkers in Horses

Short Summary: Dr. Holly Helbig and Dr. David Levine describe how they use SAA and other biomarkers to spot infection early, guide treatment, support biosecurity, and monitor horses in real time.Landing page copy: Acute phase proteins such as serum amyloid A (SAA) give veterinarians an early look at inflammation, infection, and how a horse responds to treatment. In this Equine Innovators episode, we dig into how SAA and other key biomarkers guide everyday decisions—from biosecurity on busy farms and showgrounds to managing postoperative cases, colic, and foal exams.Host Stephanie Church, editorial director at The Horse, talks with Dr. Holly Helbig of Zoetis and Dr. David Levine from the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center about when they reach for SAA, how it compares with fibrinogen and white blood cell counts, and why serial testing often matters more than any single number. They share stall-side and hospital protocols, real-world case examples, and ways biomarker trends support smarter antimicrobial use and quarantine decisions.In this episode, Drs. Helbig and Levine discuss:What acute phase proteins are and how SAA reflects early inflammation in horsesHow fast SAA and fibrinogen rise and fall, and how that timing shapes testing plansWhen stallside SAA testing shines in ambulatory practice, at horse shows, and on the farmUsing SAA to help sort out joint flares vs. septic joints and guide post-surgical monitoringPractical cutoffs and patterns for foals, including how vaccination and IV plasma affect SAAWhere SAA fits into antimicrobial stewardship and cost-conscious biosecurity strategiesEmerging research and what might come next for biomarkers in equine practiceTune in to hear how two equine veterinarians lean on SAA and other biomarkers to clarify tough calls, support horse owners, and keep diagnostics and treatments on the right track.GUESTS AND LINKS – EPISODE 23:Host: Stephanie L. Church, editorial director at The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care/TheHorse.com | @stephlchurch on Instagram | Email Stephanie (schurch@thehorse.com)Links: (SAA and other Biomarker resources from TheHorse.com) SAA: A Magic 8 Ball for Detecting Infection in Horses?, SAA: Infection Detection in Horses (Infographic), SAA Measurements Can Help Detect Surgical Implant Infection, Advances in Equine Infectious Disease DetectionGuest: Holly Helbig, DVM, joined Zoetis in 2023 as an equine technical services veterinarian. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a focus in lameness and sport horse medicine. Helbig was the official veterinarian for The World Equestrian Center Ohio; The Kentucky Horse Shows series; and various FEI competitions for 10 years prior to joining Zoetis. She also had an ambulatory practice serving patients around her hometown of Columbus, Ohio, and into parts of Michigan and Kentucky. Helbig is an avid rider and competes professionally at hunter/jumper shows in her free time. She lives at home with her wheaten terrier, Bad Boy Brady.Guest: David Levine, DVM, Dipl. ACVS (large animal), ACVSMR (equine), is an associate professor of large animal surgery at New Bolton Center, the large animal hospital of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Levine has been at New Bolton Center since 2004 and serves as the program director for the large animal surgery residency, as well as a member of the Board of Regents for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. His research interests include diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of orthopedic infections as well as equine skin tumors.Link: Follow New Bolton Center as @newboltoncenter on Instagram and FacebookLink: Register for free newsletters from TheHorse.comPlease visit our sponsor, who makes this podcast possible: Zoetis Equine | @ZoetisEquine on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube | Stablelab SAA product page | Free Online CE: Stablelab Academy | Stablelab studies on ZoetisUS.com: Assessment of Serum Amyloid A Testing in Horses and Its Clinical Application in a Specialized Equine Practice | Evaluation of White Blood Cell, Fibrinogen, Serum Amyloid A and Ultrasonographic Grade to Refine an R. equi Screening Program | Comparison of Serum Amyloid A in Horses With Infectious and Noninfectious Respiratory Diseases | Serum and Synovial Fluid Serum Amyloid A Response in Equine Models for Synovitis and Septic Arthritis

Rethinking Parasite Control for Today’s Horses with Dr. Martin Nielsen

For decades, horse owners followed routine rotational deworming schedules. That approach fueled drug resistance in equine parasites, leaving fewer effective options today. Smarter management now relies on testing, timing, and targeted treatment.In this episode of Equine Innovators Dr. Martin Nielsen, professor of equine clinical sciences at Aarhus University, in Denmark, shares insights from decades of research that shaped modern parasite control. He explains why elimination of equine internal parasites is not possible, what mistakes owners still make, and how veterinarians and farm managers can adapt their programs.From tapeworms in adult horses to ascarids in foals, Nielsen outlines today’s biggest concerns and the evidence-based strategies that help preserve drug efficacy for the future. He also previews emerging diagnostic tools that could transform parasite management in the years ahead.Tune in to learn how science-driven parasite control protects horses’ health and keeps deworming drugs effective for the next generationGUESTS AND LINKS – EPISODE 22:Host: Stephanie L. Church, editorial director at The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care/TheHorse.com | @stephlchurch on Instagram | Email Stephanie (schurch@thehorse.com)Links: (Parasite control resources from TheHorse.com) Worms, Bugs, and Your Horse: 21st Century Parasite Control, Parasite Control for Young Horses, Parasite Control FAQs, Fecal Egg Count Cheat Sheet, AAEP Parasite Control GuidelinesGuest: Martin Nielsen, DVM, PhD, DVSc, Dipl. ACVM, Dipl. EVPC, was the Schlaikjer Professor in Equine Infectious Disease at the M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky until 2024. In late 2024 he started working as professor of equine clinical sciences at Aarhus University, in Denmark. Follow Dr. Nielson on X (@MartinKNielsen) | Martin K. Nielsen Equine Parasitology on YouTubeLink: Register for free newsletters from TheHorse.comPlease visit our sponsor, who makes this podcast possible: Zoetis Equine | @ZoetisEquine on Instagram and Facebook

Sedation Tools for Safer, Better Horse Care

In this episode of Equine Innovators, host Stephanie Church talks with Dr. Lori Bidwell—board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist and co-founder of East West Equine Sports Medicine—about how veterinarians use sedation to keep horses and handlers safe during procedures. Bidwell explains the difference between sedation and general anesthesia, offers examples of standing surgeries that once required full anesthesia, and shares how Dormosedan Gel has changed how owners manage stressful situations such as clipping or fireworks. She also offers practical tips on safety, storage, and monitoring, and describes recent innovations and where sedation practices are headed in the years to come.GUESTS AND LINKS – EPISODE 21:Host: Stephanie L. Church, editorial director at The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care/TheHorse.com | @stephlchurch on Instagram | Email Stephanie (schurch@thehorse.com)Links: (Stories on sedation from TheHorse.com) Sedation for Standing Procedures | Open Up and Say Zzz: Why Horse Dental Exams Require Sedation | Horse Sedation with an Oral Gel (AAEP 2010–when The Horse reported the presented research on Dormosedan)Guest: Lori Bidwell, DVM, Dipl. ACVA, co-founder of East West Equine Sports Medicine | Facebook (@EastWestEquineVet) | Instagram (@EastWestEquineSportsMedicine)Link: Register for free newsletters from TheHorse.comPlease visit our sponsor, who makes this podcast possible: Zoetis Equine | @zoetisequine on Instagram and Facebook

West Nile Virus in Horses: Risks, Signs, and Prevention

Dr. Sally DeNotta, a clinical associate professor in large animal clinical sciences at the University of Florida, describes West Nile virus in horses, explaining how the disease spreads, what signs to watch for, and why vaccination remains the most effective prevention tool. She also highlights how climate, mosquito control, and One Health surveillance efforts influence risk—and why even experienced horse owners must stay vigilant year after year.Short summary: Horses still face the threat of West Nile virus. Dr. Sally DeNotta shares how it spreads, what signs to watch for, and why vaccination and mosquito control matter every year.GUESTS AND LINKS – EPISODE 20:Host: Stephanie L. Church, editorial director at The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care/TheHorse.com | @stephlchurch on InstagramLink: West Nile Virus in U.S. Horses (interactive feature)Link: Core Vaccination: Protecting Horses From 5 Deadly DiseasesLink: Older Horses and Stallions at Increased WNV RiskLink: Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC)Link: Disease Alerts on TheHorse.comLink: Register for free newsletters from TheHorse.comGuest: Sally De Notta, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, clinical associate professor in large animal clinical sciences at the University of Florida, in Gainesville. | Facebook | X | InstagramPlease visit our sponsor, who makes this podcast possible: Zoetis Equine | @zoetisequine on Instagram and FacebookConnect With the Host: Stephanie Church, schurch@thehorse.com