Omneity® Pellets
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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.
Feeding grape seed extract to horses: effects on health, intake and digestion. A feeding trial involving four Thoroughbred race horses was undertaken to establish whether inclusion of grape seed extract (GSE) in the diet of horses undergoing mild exercise had any effects on their general health, intake and digestion. Supplementation with GSE had no effect on either feed or water intake of the horses and the supplement was readily palatable to the horses at all levels of inclusion. Feeding GSE caused no adverse effects in terms of animal health (temperature, pulse and respirations rates), and there were some positive effects related to a presumed alteration in fermentatio...
Effect of loading on the organization of the collagen fibril network in juvenile equine articular cartilage. We investigated the effects of exercise-induced loading on the collagen network of equine articular cartilage. Collagen fibril architecture at a site (1) subjected to intermittent high-intensity loading was compared with that of an adjacent site (2) sustaining continuous low-level load. From horses exposed to forced exercise (CONDEX group) or not (PASTEX group), the spatial parallelism of fibrils and the orientation angle between fibrils and the surface at depths 9 microm apart through cartilage from surface to tidemark were determined using polarized light microscopy, and expressed as paralle...
A molecular survey of Piroplasmida and Hepatozoon isolated from domestic and wild animals in Burgos (northern Spain). This study reports a molecular survey of Hepatozoon species and of the order Piroplasmida in the Province of Burgos, northern Spain. The diagnostic techniques employed included PCR and the sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene. Eighty-nine blood samples from domestic animals plus 138 blood/coagulated blood samples from wild mammals were examined. Theilerid protozoa were found at relatively high frequencies in bovines (14.6%) and horses (36%). Theileria buffeli, T. sergenti and T. annulata were diagnosed in cows. T. equi was common in horses and T. annae was found in a donkey for the first time. A ne...
Castration of horses under total intravenous anaesthesia: analgesic effects of lidocaine. To evaluate the effects of local anaesthesia with lidocaine for castration of horses under intravenous anaesthesia. Methods: Prospective, randomized, blinded clinical trial. Methods: Fifteen equidae, scheduled to undergo castration under total intravenous anaesthesia, were randomly distributed in two groups. One group received lidocaine injections (group L: two ponies, four horses, two donkeys) and the other received saline (group S: two ponies, three horses, two donkeys). Methods: Behaviour, heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (f(R)) were evaluated prior to anaesthesia. Body mass was measure...
Thyreotropic effect of human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in mares at estrus. The beta-subunits of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) share a high homology, just like the ectodomains of their receptors, do. As a consequence, hCG was shown to exert a thyrotropic action in humans and hamsters. This study aimed to investigate whether hCG, used to induce ovulation, displays a thyrotropic effect in the equine species too. Forty mares at estrus were divided in two groups; 20 were intravenously treated with sterile saline solution (NaCl 0.9%) (group A); 20 were intravenously treated with 4000 I.U. of hCG (group B). All the mares were artif...
Effects of flunixin meglumine on recovery of colonic mucosa from ischemia in horses. To examine the effects of flunixin meglumine (FM) on recovery of colonic mucosa from experimentally induced ischemia in horses. Methods: 14 research horses. Methods: Ischemia was induced in the colons of anesthetized horses for 2 hours. Afterward, horses received saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (12 mL, IV, q 12 h; n = 7) or FM (1.1 mg/kg, IV, q 12 h; 7) and were allowed to recover for 18 hours after termination of the ischemic event. Postoperative pain scores were recorded every 4 hours throughout the recovery period. At the end of the recovery period, horses were anesthetized, and ischemic and no...
Short-term effects of a moderate fish oil or soybean oil supplementation on postprandial glucose and insulin responses in healthy horses. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of fat supplementation on postprandial glycaemic and insulinaemic responses in horses fed a corn meal. Four horses were fed three different diets: (1) cracked corn (CC), (2) cracked corn with soybean oil (CC+SBO), and (3) cracked corn with fish oil (CC+FO). Each diet was adjusted so there was a starch intake of 2 g/kg bodyweight (BW) and an intake of 0.2 mL/kg BW of FO and SBO. The increases in mean plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, peak values, and areas under the curve were similar for all diets (time P<0.05, diet not significa...
Injuries to Australian veterinarians working with horses. Data from a health risks of Australian veterinarians (HRAV) study were reviewed to identify reported serious injuries incurred while working with horses and the factors associated with these injuries. Of the 2188 serious injuries reported in the HRAV study, 1583 (72.3 per cent) were associated with animals, and of these, 453 (28.6 per cent) involved horses. Most of them were sustained in stock or handling yards. Factors associated with an increased frequency of injury included activities such as suturing, wound care, tubing and drenching. The parts of the body most commonly injured were the he...
Circadian intraocular pressure rhythms in athletic horses under different lighting regime. The present study was undertaken to investigate the existence of intraocular pressure (IOP) rhythms in athletic thoroughbred horses maintained under a 24 h cycle of light and darkness (LD) or under constant light (LL) or constant dark (DD) conditions. We identified an IOP circadian rhythm that is entrained to the 24 h LD cycle. IOP was low during the dark phase and high during the light phase, with a peak at the end of the light phase (ZT10). The circadian rhythm of IOP persisted in DD (with a peak at CT9.5), demonstrating an endogenous component in IOP rhythm. As previously shown in other mam...
Use of a stand-alone pressure plate for the objective evaluation of forelimb symmetry in sound ponies at walk and trot. Subtle lameness in horses may be difficult to diagnose and methods to evaluate lameness objectively are useful when equine clinicians fail to reach a consensus. The aim of this study was to determine whether equine pressure plate measurements are repeatable when used to calculate forelimb loading (peak vertical pressure [PVP], peak vertical force [PVF], vertical impulse [VI]) and symmetry ratios, and to establish if these data are similar to the 'gold standard' force plate values. Since plate dimensions are relatively small, ponies were used to enable recordings to be taken from both forelimbs...
Colic: nonsurgical complications. Colic is a serious disease of the horse and may require surgical correction. Postoperative complications may result in an increase in short-term morbidity and mortality. Commonly encountered nonsurgical complications are detailed. Anticipation and timely treatment of common postoperative complications after colic surgery may improve overall survival.
Strategies for reducing the complication of orthopedic pain perioperatively. Equine orthopedic pain management has become a growing area of interest. Its importance has been emphasized in many studies showing that better pain management results in decreased postoperative complications such as chronic pain, support-limb laminitis, gastric ulceration, and gastrointestinal disease. This review is meant for the surgeon managing orthopedic pain pre-, peri-, and postoperatively.
Complications of unilateral weight bearing. The most common and significant complication of excessive unilateral weight bearing in adult horses is support limb laminitis. Young horses with unilateral lameness problems develop support limb laminitis infrequently compared with adult horses.
Complications of orthopaedic surgery in horses. Complications are a price all surgeons eventually pay. Experience and increasing skill will decrease many of them but certainly not all. The most important thing is for the surgeon to react correctly to a complication. Acknowledge the mistake (or bad luck) quickly and take whatever steps you can to correct the problem. Because so many equine orthopaedic cases have the potential for complications, recognizing and responding properly to these complications are imperative for successful outcomes. Discussion of the most common complications, their prevention and corrections, is presented.
Evaluation of pastures for horses grazing on soils polluted by trace elements. Pasture established on polluted soil may pose a risk to grazing livestock creating a requirement for mechanical management which may affect biodiversity and expend energy. The risk associated with managing pasture by grazing horses (non-edible livestock) is being assessed in the Guadiamar Valley (SW Spain), where soils are polluted with trace elements following a major pollution incident. Soil pollution does not affect biomass production or floristic composition of pasture, although both variables influence trace element accumulation in herbage. Element concentrations in herbage are below maxi...
Clonal spread of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci among horses, personnel and environmental sites at equine facilities. A cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate species distribution and clonality of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS) isolated from the nasal cavity of 39 horses and 32 veterinary or caretaker staff, and from 76 environmental surfaces at three equine facilities in Denmark. MRCoNS obtained by selective isolation were characterised by 16S rDNA sequencing, PCR detection of mecA, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). MRCoNS were found in 32 (82%) horses, 20 (63%) humans and 50 (66%) environmental samples. The most common species was S. vitulinus (n=56)...
Thyroid function in anhidrotic horses. This study was performed to determine whether anhidrotic horses have altered thyroid function compared with horses that sweat normally. Objective: Anhidrotic horses have normal thyroid function. Methods: Ten client-owned horses with clinical signs of anhidrosis were paired with 10 horses living in the same environment that had normal sweat production. Methods: Horses were diagnosed as having normal sweat production or being anhidrotic based on responses to intradermal injections of terbutaline and physiologic responses to lunging exercise. Control horses were selected from the same environment...
The relationship between consecutive pregnancies in Thoroughbred mares. Does the location of one pregnancy affect the location of the next, is this affected by mare age and foal heat to conception interval or related to pregnancy success. Delayed uterine involution is a major cause of early reproductive failure in mares. Involution is affected by mare age, and foaling to covering interval. Involution rates vary between the previously non-gravid horn (PNGH), which recovers the quicker, and the previously gravid horn (PGH). Location of a pregnancy and its likely success may, therefore, be affected by its location relative to the previous pregnancy. This study aimed to determine: (i) the location of concepti in consecutive pregnancies; (ii) whether this varies with mare age or foaling to conception interval; (iii) whether location...
Effects of previous control programmes on the proportion of horses shedding small numbers of strongyle-type eggs. Between 30 and 70 per cent of horses at 18 stables had their anthelmintic treatments withdrawn for a year. Three of the stables (group 1) had used no anthelmintics for many years, 10 (group 2) had treated their horses with anthelmintics approximately twice a year, and five (group 3) had used anthelmintics five to seven times a year. A total of 1068 samples of faeces were collected from the 267 untreated horses and faecal egg counts were carried out four times during the year. Overall 50.2 per cent of the samples contained less than 200 epg. When the four counts from individual horses were coll...
Trichinella britovi and Trichinella spiralis mixed infection in a horse from Poland. Trichinella infections in horses continue to represent a health problem and, despite the rarity of infection, it is necessary to continue to control properly horse meat. In 2008, a 10-year-old horse imported from Poland to Italy for consumption found to have been positive at the digestion test. Both Trichinella britovi and Trichinella spiralis larvae in a proportion of 4:1 were detected in the horse muscles. This is the first report of a mixed Trichinella species infection in a horse. The epidemiological investigation revealed that the infected horse originated from a small farm about 120km fr...
Pharmacokinetics of carbetocin, a long-acting oxytocin analogue, following intravenous administration in horses. Current therapy protocols to treat persistent post mating endometritis and retained fetal membranes in mares typically include the administration of ecbolic drugs. Evaluation of the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of carbetocin, a long-acting oxytocin analogue, after i.v. administration is required. Objective: To determine the pharmacokinetic parameters (principally half-life) of carbetocin in horses. Methods: Five mature mares and one gelding received 0.175 mg carbetocin i.v. All animals were monitored periodically throughout the study for elevation in rectal temperature, heart rate, respir...
The effects of maternal health and body condition on the endocrine responses of neonatal foals. Chronic and acute alterations in maternal nutrient intake during pregnancy alter pancreatic and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function in the offspring, before and after birth. Little is known about these effects. Objective: To determine whether maternal nutrient restriction caused by natural infection with Streptococcus equi altered endocrine function in neonatal foals born from mares fed a maintenance or high plane of nutrition throughout pregnancy. Methods: Ten primiparous mares received either a diet to maintain moderate body condition score (Moderate, n = 5) or a near ad libitu...
Diagnostic accuracy of digital photography and image analysis for the measurement of foot conformation in the horse. Rigorous evaluation of practicable methods for the objective assessment of foot conformation has not been performed. Objective: To assess the practicability, precision and accuracy of the process of obtaining measurements of horses' feet using photography and image processing software. Methods: Precision study: Lateral photographs of horses' feet were obtained twice by 2 veterinary surgeons (image acquisition - IAc). Photographs were analysed by 2 masked veterinary surgeons on 2 occasions (image analysis - IAn). Measurements were compared within and between operators for self and non-self acqu...
Accuracy of the TurfTrax Racing Data System for determination of equine speed and position. The speed and position data collected by TurfTrax Racing Data Limited during UK Thoroughbred racing have potential to benefit equine science and welfare. The size (the 2006 data set alone consists of 30,932 individual horse starts across 2667 races) and nature (speed and 2D position for each horse at 4 updates per second) of the data make it a unique resource for questions in equine safety, welfare, performance, and animal locomotion. Objective: To determine the accuracy of the TurfTrax tracking system in estimating the speed and position of horses during racing. Methods: Measurements from the...
Cytoplasmic lipid droplets and mitochondrial distribution in equine oocytes: Implications on oocyte maturation, fertilization and developmental competence after ICSI. Lipid droplets (LDs) and mitochondria in the ooplasm are essential for energy production required for maturation, fertilization and embryo development. This study investigates the correlations between cytoplasmic LDs polar aggregation and: (1) nuclear maturation (Experiment 1); (2) mitochondrial (mt) distribution pattern and localization (Experiment 2); (3) fertilization and embryonic development after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI; Experiment 3) in equine oocytes recovered from slaughtered mares and matured in vitro. Morphologically normal oocytes were selected after culture and cate...
