Photo: Alexandra Beckstett/The HorseAcute 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 decisionsfrom 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 Pennsylvanias 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.The Equine Innovators podcast series is brought to you by Zoetis. You can find the Equine Innovators podcast on TheHorse.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and many other podcast apps. Dont miss a single episode! Sign up now to receive email reminders from The Horse.Show Notes: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 InfectionAdvances in Equine Infectious Disease DetectionSAA Resources from ZoetisUS.com:Stablelab SAA product pageFree Online CE: Stablelab AcademyAssessment of Serum Amyloid A Testing in Horses and Its Clinical Application in a Specialized Equine PracticeEvaluation of White Blood Cell, Fibrinogen, Serum Amyloid A and Ultrasonographic Grade to Refine an R. equi Screening ProgramComparison of Serum Amyloid A in Horses With Infectious and Noninfectious Respiratory DiseasesSerum and Synovial Fluid Serum Amyloid A Response in Equine Models for Synovitis and Septic ArthritisAbout the Researchers:Holly Helbig, DVMHolly 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.David Levine, DVM, Dipl. ACVS (large animal), ACVSMR (equine)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.