Topic:Animal Health
Animal Health encompasses a broad range of topics focused on maintaining and improving the well-being of equine species. This field addresses various aspects of horse care, including disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of health conditions. Key areas of interest include equine nutrition, vaccination protocols, parasite control, dental care, and the management of chronic conditions such as laminitis and colic. Additionally, animal health research in horses investigates the impact of exercise and training on physical health, the role of genetics in disease susceptibility, and the development of new therapeutic approaches. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the latest advancements, challenges, and best practices in preserving and enhancing the health of horses.
Pharmacokinetic analysis and steady-state predictions of different preparations of metronidazole administered per rectum in adult horses. Manipulation of forms of rectally administered metronidazole to improve bioavailability in horses has not been reported. Objective: Evaluate the pharmacokinetics of 3 rectal metronidazole preparations compared to nasogastric (NG) administration. Methods: Seven healthy horses. Methods: Phase 1A was a randomized, 3-way crossover, single-dose pharmacokinetic study, and Phases 1B and 2 were non-randomized, single-dose follow-up studies. Metronidazole (20 mg/kg) was administered NG and rectally in water (RW20), as a rectal gel (RG), and in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Metronidazole (80 mg/kg) was a...
Cannabidiol-induced cellular and matrix-associated responses in primary equine sarcoid cells. Sarcoids are locally invasive skin tumors in equids, associated with bovine papillomavirus. Objective: Address potential applications of cannabidiol (CBD) in veterinary medicine. We evaluated the response of equine sarcoid cells to CBD in vitro, focusing on viability, invasiveness, and matrix remodeling. Methods: Three primary sarcoid cell lines. Methods: Cells were treated with CBD (20, 6.75, 2.25, 0.75 μM) and incubated for 6, 24, 48, 72 hours. Cell viability, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis were assessed using the ApoTox-Glo Assay. Based on these results, further analyses were performed for ...
The effects of furosemide on pulmonary transmural pressure and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in supramaximally exercising thoroughbred racehorses. Maximal intensity exercise in equine athletes induces pulmonary capillary stress failure and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) secondary to excessive transmural pressure (Ptm). Furosemide decreases EIPH severity and pulmonary arterial (PAP) and pulmonary wedge (PAW) pressures. Objective: Assess the effects of furosemide on Ptm and EIPH during supramaximal exercise. Methods: Six fit retired Thoroughbreds with consistent EIPH Grade ≥ 2. Methods: Horses performed a controlled crossover design protocol, completing standardized treadmill tests (120%V̇O2max) before and 4 h after int...
Vectorcardiography at rest and during exercise in horses using the Delta (Δ) 12-lead configuration. Twelve-lead electrocardiography (ECG) is essential in human cardiology but remains poorly investigated in equine medicine due to a lack of standardization and inconsistent findings. Objective: Describe the normal vectorcardiogram (VCG) variation in horses at rest and during exercise using Delta 12-lead ECG, including repeatability and intra- and interobserver variations. Methods: One hundred two healthy Warmblood horses, aged 3-20 years, were examined at rest, of which 30 also during exercise. Methods: Prospective, observational study. Electrocardiograms were recorded using a Δ 12-lead confi...
Evaluation of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense biomarkers in healthy and colic horses: correlation with type of colic and outcome. Colic is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in horses, with oxidative stress implicated in its pathophysiology. Objective: Evaluate biomarkers (BIOs) of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in healthy horses and those with non-strangulating colic (NSC) and strangulating colic (SC) and assess correlations with survival. Methods: Seventy-one adult horses: 10 healthy and 61 colic-affected (42 NSC, 19 SC) admitted to 3 veterinary teaching hospitals. Methods: Prospective, multicenter cohort study. Blood samples were collected at admission (T0) and up to 96 h post-admission. Biomarkers me...
Associations among beta-endorphin, ACTH, cortisol concentration, age, and clinical signs indicative of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in geriatric horses. Limited published data are available regarding the relationships among clinical signs associated with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), age, and concentrations of proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides and cortisol. Objective: Identify clinical signs associated with age, beta-endorphin (β-END), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and cortisol concentrations and compare β-END and cortisol concentrations between horses with PPID and geriatric controls. Methods: A total of 113 horses aged 18-32 years. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Clinical signs were scored, plasma β-END, ACTH, an...
Clinical Manifestations and Behaviors Associated with Equine Head and Neck Disorders. Equine head and neck disorders can present with a wide range of clinical manifestations, depending on the structures involved and disease process. Important components of the gastrointestinal, respiratory, ophthalmological, neurological, and musculoskeletal systems are contained within the head and neck, and clinical signs of disorders will result in expected clinical signs. However, clinical manifestations of disease are sometimes subtle, and when not recognized can lead to behavioral changes including undesired behaviors and poor sleep. Recognizing behavioral phenotypes of horses with proble...
Natural eggshell membrane supplementation for chronic lameness in warmblood horses: a 12-week prospective before-after study. Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of equine lameness, yet pragmatic evidence for nutraceuticals in horses remains limited. Unassigned: We prospectively evaluated 12 weeks of daily natural eggshell membrane (NEM; 12 mg/kg, orally) supplementation in Warmblood horses with chronic lameness using a single-arm before-after design. Ten horses were enrolled and prespecified paired contrasts compared visit 3 (V3, week 12) with baseline (V1). Outcomes included rider-reported under-saddle function (walk and trot), examiner-graded lameness (rest and walk-trot composite), simple joint-angle kinematics...
Equine lameness detection and monitoring during diagnostic anaesthesia with an instrumented hoof boot. Ground reaction forces are accepted as gold standard for objective assessment of weightbearing lameness but measurements at the hoof are limited to experimental devices. This study aimed to evaluate whether innovative instrumented hoof boots (IHBs) could detect and monitor lameness in horses during diagnostic anaesthesia. Twenty-six horses referred for lameness examination (15 front limbs, 17 hindlimbs) were equipped with IHBs and body mounted inertial sensors. Data were collected simultaneously before and after diagnostic anaesthesia until objectively considered positive. Recorded IHB data i...
Updates on Seizures and Epilepsy in the Horse. The goal of this article is to provide the equine practitioners with a framework for a diagnostic algorithm for the patient presented with possible seizures/epilepsy. Using a comparative approach, a review of companion animal and human research is provided with the intention of expanding our current knowledge on seizure/epilepsy, as well as diagnostic and treatment strategies for equine patients.
Equine Corneal Stromal Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Clinical and in Vivo Confocal Microscopic Features of 7 Cases. To describe the clinical and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) characteristics of horses with corneal stromal invasive squamous cell carcinoma (CSI-SCC). Methods: Retrospective study of 7 horses with histopathologically confirmed unilateral CSI-SCC. Methods: Horses with corneal CSI-SCC were examined by laser scanning IVCM. Signalment, clinical findings, and histopathology results were compared with IVCM findings. Results: Clinical ocular lesions in all horses included a heavily vascularized, opaque, gray or tan, anterior or midstromal opacity invading the cornea from the limbus. The corneal ...
Friends, forage, freedom: A cluster analysis investigating horse management styles and welfare in the UK and Ireland. This study aims to improve the welfare and management of recreational horses by identifying how different management styles affect horse health and behaviour. We examined the management styles of recreational horse owners in the UK and Ireland, focusing on social interaction (friends), access to suitable forage (forage), and unrestricted movement (freedom). We collected 1,501 survey responses, distributed via social media, and summarised the characteristics and management choices of the respondents. Using the Divisive ANAlysis cluster package in R, three distinct management styles were identif...
The importance of prebiotics in managing colic in horses: focus on Akkermansia muciniphila and its anti-inflammatory potential. Colic remains one of the most frequent and costly causes of equine morbidity and mortality, with significant welfare and economic implications. Disturbances in the gut microbiome are increasingly recognized as an important contributing factor. In recent years, prebiotics, non-digestible substrates that promote beneficial microbes, have emerged as promising microbiome-targeted strategies. () has gained attention for its unique ability to degrade mucin, maintain epithelial integrity, and exert potent anti-inflammatory effects. Although its benefits are well established in humans and rodent mode...
Adjunctive use of Maggot Debridement Therapy in the treatment of equine cutaneous pythiosis: A case report. Equine cutaneous pythiosis, caused by Pythium insidiosum, is a severe disease in tropical and subtropical regions, often leading to progressive granulomatous lesions with poor response to conventional therapies. Standard treatment includes surgical excision and immunotherapy, but recurrence is common, particularly in distal limb lesions. Maggot Debridement Therapy (MDT) with disinfected Lucilia cuprina larvae provides selective debridement, microbial control, and stimulation of granulation, representing a potential adjunctive option. This report describes the successful use of MDT combined wit...
Antibiofilm and resistance-modulating properties of tt-farnesol against Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and zooepidemicus. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial, antibiofilm and modulating activities of trans-trans-farnesol (tt-farnesol) on two strains of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and two strains of S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus, pathogenic or commensal bacteria of horses. Tt-farnesol showed bactericidal activity against all tested strains, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) between 8 and 4 μg/mL. The sesquiterpene caused significant damage to the bacterial membrane, and its antibacterial activity did not appear to depend on oxidat...
Monitoring trace minerals and heavy metals in liver of free-living large herbivores in the Netherlands. Trace minerals are essential for animal health but can also, together with heavy metals, have a negative impact, making their monitoring crucial to assess animal health. These elements were examined through a long-term post-mortem monitoring system based on routine liver sampling for Heck cattle, Konik horses and red deer in place at the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve in the Netherlands, using data from this system to determine reference intervals and investigate trends in liver trace element concentrations. Throughout the monitoring programme, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry ...
Pulmonary fibrosis in horses associated with spontaneous Crotalaria juncea intoxication. We report an outbreak of Crotalaria juncea intoxication in horses exhibiting progressive weight loss and respiratory distress in northeastern Brazil. Necropsy revealed firm, non-collapsed lungs with extensive interstitial fibrosis, bronchiolar epithelial hyperplasia with club cells proliferation, and marked pulmonary arterial remodeling. Hepatic lesions consisted primarily of centrilobular necrosis, probably resulting from hypoxic injury related to anemia and prolonged agonic death. Pasture inspection identified significant invasion by shrubs of C. juncea in various phenological stages.
Vaccination-associated lameness in warmblood horses after intramuscular injection. Intramuscular vaccination is a routine component of equine medicine, but local muscle soreness may transiently affect gait symmetry. Objective data on vaccination-associated gait changes in horses are lacking. Objective: To investigate whether intramuscular vaccination induces measurable gait asymmetries depending on injection site, to inform recommendations on vaccination site selection and short-term exercise management. Methods: In this prospective, randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled study, eighteen clinically sound Warmblood horses were enrolled and received an intramuscular vaccinati...
Effect of Croton lechleri sap-based topical treatment, with or without nitroglycerin, on healing of equine metatarsal skin wounds. Skin wounds in horses, particularly in the distal extremities, often heal slowly due to mechanical stress, compromised perfusion, and excessive fibroplasia. This study evaluated the effects of topical Croton lechleri (CL) cream, alone or in combination with nitroglycerin, on the healing of skin wounds in the metatarsal region of horses. Six mares received six standardized wounds in each region and were treated with: saline solution, nitroglycerin (0.1 or 1 mg/mL), CL (1 or 10 µg/mL), or CL + nitroglycerin (10 µg/mL + 1 mg/mL). Wound contraction, histology, and bacterial culture were evaluate...
Spatial Variation in Turf Surface Properties of Polo Pitches: A Case Study of Different Handicaps of Argentina. Polo is a high-speed equestrian sport that imposes mechanical demands on horses and turf, yet limited research has examined the functional behavior of polo playing surfaces. This study characterizes the spatial variability of mechanical surface properties across turf polo pitches representing high-, medium-, and low-handicap categories. Three fields were assessed using lightweight field-based instruments, including the Impact Test Device (ITD), Rotational Peak Shear (RPS) tester, Going Stick© for penetration (GSP) and shear (GSS), and a TDR probe for volumetric moisture content (VMC%). A tota...
Machine learning-based prediction and quantification of OCD surgery and pedigree effects on racehorse performance. Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a common developmental orthopedic condition in Thoroughbred racehorses and although arthroscopic surgery is widely used for treatment, its long-term effects on race performance remain unclear. This retrospective study evaluated the effect of OCD surgery on race performance, compared the predictive power of pedigree and management variables and applied interpretable machine learning methods for forecasting race performance outcomes. Data were collected from 75 Thoroughbreds that underwent OCD surgery between 2015 and 2017 and 257 maternal siblings without reco...
Heart Rate as an Indicator of Stress in Gotland’s Russ Horses. Animal welfare concerns both the physical and mental wellbeing of animals so the assessment of animals kept in captivity, for example zoos, is important and necessary both legally and ethically. Good welfare is especially vital when breeding endangered species as stress impairs reproductive investment. As zoos often have high numbers of visitors, it is important to know if humans and the associated noise might influence the animals' welfare. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of visitors and activities offered to the visitors caused a stress response in horses housed...
Obtention and preliminary clinical evaluation of an equine albumin for intravenous administration in adult Colombian Creole Horses (Equus ferus caballus). Albumin is one of the most abundant and physiologically important blood protein in horses due to its ability to regulate vascular volume and transport blood metabolites or drugs. Despite the importance of this protein, in Colombia there is no previous reference of the use of equine albumin in horses as a pharmacological therapy and there is no available any pharmaceutical preparation of this protein to be administrated in horses. This study aims to evaluate for first time the preliminary clinical response of healthy adult Colombian Creole horses after the intravenous administration of an equin...
Update on Idiopathic Trigeminal-Mediated Headshaking. Idiopathic trigeminal-mediated headshaking is a painful neuropathic disorder characterized by sudden, violent, predominantly vertical head movements of unknown etiology. Clinical signs may be seasonal or persistent and triggered by light, sound, exercise, or tactile nasal stimulation. The pathophysiology is multifactorial, involving abnormal trigeminal nerve excitability influenced by hormonal, environmental, and dietary factors. Treatment is challenging and typically multimodal, aiming to reduce trigeminal hypersensitivity and improve quality of life.
Influence of parasitic load, breed, age, housing and season on skin and hair coat condition in horses. Strongyles are nematode parasites that affect the large intestine and cecum of the horse, with symptoms ranging from poor hair coat to colic. This can influence gut health, nutrient absorption, and overall body condition. Objective: Determine the effects of parasitic load, breed, age, housing, and season on skin and hair coat conditions. We hypothesized that horses with low fecal egg counts would have better hair and skin coat condition compared with those with high fecal egg counts. Methods: A total of forty-five Morgan and 11 Thoroughbred horses were included in this study. We tested the eff...
Fragile foal syndrome: manifestations, heterozygous advantage and the future of breeding policies. Scientific interest in relation to Fragile Foal Syndrome (FFS) has proliferated in the last decade, but before this, many clinical cases were attributed to other similarly presenting equine neonatal disorders. It was thought that FFS-affected foals were mainly miscarried throughout gestation, but recent study results suggest that often, foals are born alive and die shortly after birth. FFS is proposed to have originated as long ago as the Godolphin Arabian, but the definite derivation of the mutant allele is unconfirmed. The discovery that FFS is present in 11-30% of Warmbloods and 2-3% of Tho...
Parasite management practices used by owners of Australian Pony Club horses and the factors influencing their decision-making processes. There is a lack of information on horse parasite management practices currently used by individual horse owners in Australia. A voluntary, anonymous online survey was developed for and distributed by Pony Club Australia to its members seeking information on horse population; housing; paddock, manure and parasite management; and owner attitudes. From a total of 98 completed responses, 95/98 of participants indicated their horses spent time in paddocks, 91/98 administered anthelmintics, 42/98 guessed their horse's body weight for dosing, 78/98 recalled the dewormer brand or active ingredient las...
Effect of feeder style on intake rate of equine concentrates. There are many different concentrate feeders available to horse owners, but little data exists on feeder effect of equine intake rate. Rapid consumption ("bolting") is associated with issues such as esophageal obstruction. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate three common concentrate feeders on intake rate. We hypothesized horses would have the slowest intake rate when fed from the trough. Methods: Four geldings were fed 0.454 kg of concentrate from a pan on the ground (P), shallow trough (T), or hanging feeder (H). Horses were randomly assigned a first feeder and then rotate...
Facial hair whorl location, behavior, and ocular temperature as a physiological stress indicator in young Pura Raza Española dressage horses. Behavioral and emotional reactivity assessment in sport horses is essential for optimizing their management and sports performance, particularly in equestrian disciplines such as Dressage. This study investigates, in Pura Raza Española (PRE) horses, the association between facial hair whorl (FHW) patterns, behavioral traits, and physiological stress responses using ocular temperature (OT) assessed with infrared thermography as, an objective, non-invasive physiological stress indicator. Unassigned: A total of 98 male PRE horses, aged 4-6 years old and all gray coated, were evaluated during the...
Physiological adaptations to 6 weeks of high-intensity interval and moderate-intensity continuous training in horses: A randomized crossover study. This study tested the hypothesis that 6 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) would induce greater physiological adaptations than moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in Thoroughbred horses. Seven untrained horses completed two distance-matched treadmill training protocols (three sessions per week) in a randomized crossover design, separated by a three-month washout: MICT (6 min at 70% ) and HIIT (6 × [30 s at 100% with 30 s at 30% ]). Incremental exercise tests were conducted at weeks 0, 3, and 6 to assess exercise performance and physiological responses. M...