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AAEP AND FORT DODGE ANIMAL HEALTH PARTNER TO PROMOTE EQUINE WELLNESS
Mar 20, 2006
Contact:
Sally Baker, APR
American Association of Equine Practitioners
Phone: (859) 233-0147
E-mail: sbaker@aaep.org
or
Kelly Goss
Fort Dodge Animal Health
Phone: (913) 664-7276 office
E-mail: gossk@fdah.com
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF EQUINE PRACTITIONERS AND
FORT DODGE ANIMAL HEALTH PARTNER TO PROMOTE EQUINE WELLNESS
“America’s Healthy Horse” will raise awareness about the importance of seasonal wellness exams and professionally managed preventive care for every horse
Seattle, WA (December 5, 2005) – The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and Fort Dodge Animal Health today announced plans for a joint educational initiative to raise awareness about the importance of twice-a-year wellness exams and professionally managed preventive care for horses. The initiative – America’s Healthy Horse – was announced during the AAEP’s 51st Annual Convention in Seattle.
“Wellness exams play a vital role in helping horses enjoy longer, healthier and happier lives,” said Scott E. Palmer, VMD, 2005 AAEP president. “The AAEP’s mission is to protect the health of the horse and we are pleased to partner with Fort Dodge Animal Health to ensure our equine population is healthier than ever before.”
According to an American Veterinary Medical Association study, millions of horses are not seen by a veterinarian on a routine basis.1 America’s Healthy Horse will help educate horse owners about the health benefits of wellness exams and the value of routine veterinary care. The initiative will focus on issues pertaining to the cornerstones of equine wellness: disease prevention, parasite control, nutrition and dentistry.
Twice-a-year wellness exams help veterinarians detect, treat and, ideally, prevent health problems before they become serious or result in a prolonged setback. They also allow veterinarians to tailor season-specific immunizations, parasite control and other wellness protocols at the time of year when they most benefit the horse. And, wellness exams help veterinarians better address the many medical issues of senior horses, which, like many other animals, age at a rate significantly faster than humans.2
“Fort Dodge Animal Health is extremely pleased to be partnering with the American Association of Equine Practitioners in the development and implementation of America’s Healthy Horse,” said Tom Lenz, DVM, Vice President of Professional and Technical Services at Fort Dodge Animal Health. “As a leader in the animal health industry, we are convinced this initiative will help horses live longer, healthier lives. Educating horse owners about the need for routine equine health care is of paramount importance to us and the best place for horse owners to get the information they need is from their veterinarian.”
America’s Healthy Horse will be a multi-year, cooperative endeavor for the AAEP and Fort Dodge Animal Health and is expected to expand over time. Details of the initiative will be provided to veterinarians in the coming months. America’s Healthy Horse will provide veterinarians with educational materials designed to facilitate their communications with horse owners. Additionally, a national media campaign, to be launched in early 2006, will support veterinarian-client communications by encouraging horse owners to contact their veterinarian for more information about twice yearly wellness exams.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its 8,500 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.
Fort Dodge Animal Health, a division of Wyeth (NYSE:WYE), is a leading manufacturer and distributor of animal health care products for the equine, livestock, swine, poultry and companion animal industries in North America and international markets. As a committed partner to veterinary practitioners and animal owners worldwide, Fort Dodge Animal Health is making a difference in the future of animal health through innovative research and product development that address current and emerging animal health needs. Key products include West Nile-Innovator® and Fluvac Innovator® vaccines, Duramune® Adult, the Fel-O-Vax® vaccine line, CYDECTIN® Pour-on, the Pyramid® vaccine line, QUEST® Gel and EtoGesic® Tablets.
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1 American Veterinary Medical Association. U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics
Sourcebook, 2002.
2 Swinker, Ann. “Caring for the Older Horse.” Beef October 2005:34.
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