Programme

In the first part of this workshop track, delegates are updated about recent research in the field of nutrition and clinical management of horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)/Insulin dysregulation. This general part of the track will be presented by Myriam Hesta, Marie-Céline Hottat from the Equine Nutrition Service (Ghent University) and Ellen Roelfsema (Utrecht University). After this general introduction, the group will split up according to the profile indicated upon registration (veterinarian or nutritionist). This will allow a more targeted communication in the second part of this track in which one group will visit the department of surgery and anesthesiology to become updated in a clinical lecture about orthopaedic management of laminitis while the other group will stay at the start location of this workshop for case discussions related to the feeding management of horses with EMS/insulin dysfunction. Questions like “How to practically formulate rations for horses with EMS, laminitis or insulin dysregulation” and “how can we provide safe pasture access for horses” can be addressed. During this workshop, the groups will switch locations. In this way, both groups are provided with an update from a nutritional, internal medicine and orthopaedics perspective regarding EMS/ID.

This track consists of three workshops/demonstrations and the track allows registration for a maximum of 3 groups of 15-20 delegates that will join all stations in the track in a predefined order. Delegates will be allocated to a group according to their profile (Veterinarian/Nutritionist). Gunther van Loon (Ghent university) and/or members of this team will demonstrate the use of diagnostic imaging to assess GIT health. The possibilities and limitations of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool in equine digestive disorders will be discussed. At the “pathology station”,  Richard Ducatelle (Ghent University) will discuss the topic “Colic, Fiber and the Microbiome”. Delegates will be first introduced to the workshop theme by a short presentation and subsequently discuss the relationship between colic, fiber and the microbiome in relation to the gastrointestinal tract of some selected (colic) cases that will be displayed.  Emmanuelle Van Erck – Westergren ( Equine Sports Medicine Practice) will address the relationship between feeding and respiratory health in the workshop that “will focus on the question “How to store your forage and organize your ventilation / stable management to optimize equine respiratory health (Air, dust, ventilation equine specific expert of stables)?

This extensive workshop track consists of short lectures and small and plenary group discussions. The workshop is focused on exchanging knowledge between (equine) veterinarians. A limited number of seats is available for nutritional or other experts working in this field.  This track continues discussions and themes that are discussed during the 10th EEHNC. Participants will be offered the possibility to rewatch the 10th EEHNC lectures regarding this topic. The first part of this new track includes a lecture “What is new and going on in Western & Northern Europe?” by Prof. Edwin  Claerebout (UGENT) and Dr Deborah van Doorn (UU).  After that, delegates can opt to participate in small group discussions that will discuss for example topics like strongylids, roundworms (Parascaris), Cestodes (H) & trematodes (liver fluke) or endo- and or ectoparasites like Gasterophilus, ticks and Culicoides. Alternative strategies for anthelmintic control may also be a topic for non-veterinarians that would like to join this workshop. The EEHNC organization will make an inventory a few weeks before the congress about the preferred themes for the ‘small group discussions”. Small group discussions will be followed by plenary discussions during the day. After Lunch, Prof. Aránzazu Meana will provide us with an update on parasite issues related to Southern Europe. After a plenary discussion, Dr Adolfo Paz Silva will put forward the latest news on nutritional strategies & ingredients for parasite control & management. The track ends with a plenary session involving previously mentioned speakers and other experts like Dr Wilbert Pellikaan. The plenary sessions allow the audience to address a variety of parasite-related themes from a multidisciplinary perspective.