Q&A with Dr. Erin Contino
Dr. Erin Contino is a third year Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation resident at Colorado State University’s Orthopaedic Research Center. The ORC is known worldwide for joint problem prevention and healing research. She received her master’s degree in Clinical Sciences with a focus in equine radiology in 2009 and a D.V.M. in 2010. After completing a one-year internship at Pioneer Equine Hospital, Dr. Contino returned to the ORC for her residency.
According to CSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s website, “ the Equine Sports Medicine service offers support to the equine athlete with the latest therapeutic, diagnostic, and rehabilitation techniques from birth through adolescence, competition, injury, rehabilitation, and retirement.”
The following interview was conducted via email.
Lombard: What about equine sports medicine industry made you want to pursue it as a career?
Dr. Contino: I grew up riding and competing horses so going into equine vs. small animal was never really a question for me. There were many reasons that I pursued equine sports medicine.
First, is that I see the horse not only as a companion horse, but as an athlete. Equine sports medicine provides me an opportunity to work exclusively on athletes with a goal of helping them prevent or recover from injury so that they can perform long, happy careers.
Secondly, I enjoy the opportunity to develop a long term relationship with the horse and their owners; it is very gratifying to watch a horse develop from a youngster through the upper levels of competition and to be a part of that journey.
Finally, equine sports medicine enables me to apply my research interests (equine lameness, musculoskeletal imaging, joint therapies, rehabilitation) to a clinical setting.
Lombard: What advancements are being made in the industry?
Dr. Contino: The advancements in the industry include advancements in biologic therapies and diagnostic imaging. Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in both research and the clinical application of biologic therapies, particularly stem cells.
Stem cells show a huge amount of promise as a means to help repair/regenerate damaged tissue though more research is still needed to determine how to optimally utilize this therapy.
In the realm of imaging, MRI has been a major advancement as it enables us to image the soft tissues, including cartilage. Prior to MRI we were very limited in our ability to evaluate the structures within the equine foot, and considering the majority of lameness comes from the foot, MRI has been a major advancement.
One of the fastest growing areas of equine veterinary medicine is rehabilitation; advancements in this field include scientific research on the benefits of underwater treadmill therapy (performed at CSU) and a surge in interest and use of therapeutic lasers.
Lombard: What are the major factors in the industry’s growth?
Dr. Contino: I think there are 2 major driving forces behind the growth of the equine sports medicine industry. First is demand. Many people use their horses for competition and performance and with that comes the natural need for veterinarians, modalities and services focused on performance horses. Of course, as with other athletes, there is an inherent risk of injury so this drives the need for preventing and healing injuries.
Secondly, in my opinion, is the emotional connection that we (riders, trainers, owners, etc) develop with our equine athlete partners. If a horse goes lame, people don’t want to replace that horse, they want to fix the horse. This is obviously not a bad thing, it just speaks to the connection that people have with their equine athletes. And now we have so many more advances available that help us to fix these horses and return them to performance.
Lombard: What are the benefits of having a practice at the CSU, whose Equine Sciences program boasts international recognition for pioneering research in equine reproduction, lameness, nutrition and orthopedics?
Dr. Contino: There are many benefits of practicing at CSU but for me, the biggest benefit is having access to multiple other equine specialists. It enables us to provide the well-rounded care possible as we can collaborate with specialists in imaging, dentistry, medicine, surgery, cardiology, neurology, etc. Because many of the cases that come to CSU are referral cases, practicing at CSU also enables me exposure to very interesting and often, very complex cases.
We are fortunate to have access to state of the art equipment and advanced diagnostic tools such as MRI, CT and dynamic endoscopy (this is a newer technology that enables us to evaluate the upper respiratory system while the horses are being ridden!) Finally, working in academia enables me to do both clinical work and also do research, both of which I love.
Lombard: What about Fort Collins in general? How is the city unique in this field?
Dr. Contino: Although I work out of Fort Collins, a large number of my clients are in the south Denver area. There are few nicer places to live than Fort Collins with its 300 days of sunshine per year. And we are fortunate that along the front range, we have not only a huge number of horses, but also a wide variety. Among the athletes I’ve had the pleasure to work are eventers, dressage horses, hunters, jumpers, cutters, reiners, barrel racers, just to name a few!
Lombard: What advice do you have for students interested in pursuing a career in equine sports medicine?
Dr. Contino: My advice for students wanting to pursue a career in equine sports medicine is first to maintain (very) good grades while taking a heavy science course-load as this will be a key part of being admitted to vet school.
From a more practical standpoint however, I think hands-on experience with horses and various horse sports is invaluable for a career in equine sports medicine. I think it gives you a better understanding of what is being asked of the horses and makes it easier to relate to the clients.
Also, while vet school will educate you on the “science” part of being a vet, there is no replacing good horsemanship skills which just cannot be taught in a classroom setting.
Lombard: What has been the most interesting or rewarding case that you have worked on in your time at CSU?
Dr. Contino: My most rewarding case was not actually one that was directly related to equine sports medicine. A horse that was a regular patient of mine got out in the middle of the night and fell into a recently dug trench. They found him in the morning wedged into a narrow, 6 foot deep trench — exhausted and pinned — unable to get out.
By the time I arrived, there were already a slew of people and multiple fire engines, veterinarians, fire fighters etc. Funny how so much of life revolves around networking. One of my colleagues, with whom I did my internship, is trained in equine rescue. She had us fill the trench with water so that we could float the horse out.
The day started with the fear that the horse was going to have to be euthanized for fear of a broken leg. It was a happy ending in that once we were able to float and drag him out, he stood up immediately and, in the end, was completely fine! He turns 30 next year!
Final thoughts: The Fort Collins equestrian community is lucky to have such a wide range of options available to them in terms of care for their horses. Locals have access to resources that other owners around the country are hard-pressed to find access to. The community is really unique in its ability to be on the pulse of every advancement in equine sciences and have access to the opportunities that the Veterinary Hospital and Research Center provides.
