Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
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.
Uterine defense mechanisms in the mare. Uterine defense against infection in the mare has been actively investigated over the past decade. Mechanisms of defense, including the role of immunoglobulins, polymorphonuclear neutrophils, and the physical ability of mares to eliminate bacteria from the uterus, are discussed.
Platelet function testing in the pony. Platelet isolation techniques and platelet function were evaluated in 35 adult ponies. Platelet recovery from whole blood was consistent and the preparation of platelet rich plasma was facilitated by an enhanced erythrocyte sedimentation rate. All platelet samples aggregated in response to 10 microM ADP. However, concentrations of ADP as high as 100 microM did not elicit significant 14C-serotonin release. Collagen induced irreversible platelet aggregation and 14C-serotonin release in all samples. The threshold dose for collagen in most ponies was 1.5 micrograms. Arachidonic acid (500 microM) f...
Kinetics and kinematics of the equine hind limb: in vivo tendon strain and joint kinematics. Strains of the suspensory ligament and deep digital flexor, superficial digital flexor, and long digital extensor tendons in the equine (pony) hind limb were recorded in vivo, using implanted strain gauges consisting of silicone rubber tubes filled with mercury. The relationship between strain gauge signals and tendon strains was obtained from tension-strain tests performed on isolated tendons after death of the ponies. During normal walking, maximal tendon strain (elongation over initial length, relative to the length of the structures at first ground contact) was 3.1% in the suspensory ligam...
Control of the estrous cycle in the mare. All current approaches to manipulating the reproductive biology of the nonpregnant mare are discussed.
Metabolism of naturally occurring [13C]glucose given orally to horses. In 5 horses, 13CO2/12CO2 ratios in expired air were determined using isotope mass spectroscopy to investigate metabolism of naturally occurring [13C]glucose. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were performed using maize or beet glucose. Maize has a higher 13C concentration than that of most plants. The 13CO2/12CO2 ratios after OGTT was performed using maize glucose were compared with 13CO2/12CO2 ratios in expired air after OGTT was performed using beet glucose. The ratio also was determined during the period horses were not fed. Using OGTT, all horses were glucose tolerant. The OGTT performed...
Nonsurgical treatment of uterine torsion in seven mares. Nonsurgical correction of uterine torsion was performed in 7 mares, and 6 foals were subsequently born alive. Uterine rupture necessitated euthanasia in 1 mare. Correction was achieved by rolling of the mares after general anesthesia had been induced. Previously, this technique was believed to be associated with a high prevalence of fetal and maternal mortality. Nonsurgical correction may be a satisfactory alternative to abdominal surgery in treating uterine torsion in mares.
Immune responses are required to terminate viremia in equine infectious anemia lentivirus infection. Six normal and four immunodeficient horses were injected with a cloned variant of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). The six normal horses had detectable EIAV in their plasma by 7 days postinjection. During their primary viremic episode, which was accompanied by fever and anemia, maximum titers of EIAV in plasma ranged from 10(3.8) to 10(4.8) 50% tissue culture infective doses per ml. All six normal horses cleared detectable virus from their plasma by 21 to 35 days after injection. Horses with combined immunodeficiency became viremic by 9 days postinjection and also developed anemia. In co...
Endometrial biopsy of the mare. A review and update. The endometrial biopsy is a safe and effective means of predicting a mare's prognosis for foaling. A thorough understanding of the normal cyclic and seasonal pattern displayed by the normal endometrium is necessary before interpreting pathologic changes. Several systems for prognostic classification have been proposed, including a recent one that combines many of the criteria used in the other systems.
An inherited connective tissue disease in the horse. The hyperextensible, fragile skin of two related horses was compared with the skin of eight normal horses. Skin sections were examined by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The deep dermal layer of the dorsal abdomen was much thinner in the affected horses, and contained bundles of collagen fibers which were more loosely packed. Within individual fibers, the fibrils were frequently curved and nonparallel rather than straight and parallel. Both of the affected animals had a greater range of fibril diameters than a normal horse. They had some unusually thick fibrils with very...
The effects of cortisol, vasopressin (AVP), and corticotropin-releasing factor administration on pulsatile adrenocorticotropin, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, and AVP secretion in the pituitary venous effluent of the horse. Plasma ACTH, arginine vasopressin (AVP), and alpha MSH were measured in pituitary venous effluent at 5-min intervals from five unanesthetized horses during cortisol infusion and after an iv bolus of AVP or ovine (o) CRF. In control experiments (no hormone) there was a significant overall correlation between the timing of concentration changes in ACTH and alpha MSH. Cortisol infusion increased jugular cortisol levels by 70% and was associated with a reduction in mean ACTH, AVP, and alpha MSH secretion rates and ACTH peak secretion rate, but did not alter the observed pulse frequencies of these ...
Trauma and the veterinarian. A survey of all American Veterinary Medical Association members in Minnesota and Wisconsin was conducted by questionnaire to document injuries resulting from animal treatment. Of 995 respondents, 64.6% had sustained a major animal-related injury. Seventeen per cent were hospitalized within the last year. Of those hospitalized, 25.3% required a surgical procedure. Hand injuries were most common in a veterinarian's career (52.6% of respondents), followed by trauma to the arms (27.6%), and the head (20.8%). The thorax (8.3%), genitalia (3.9%), and intra-abdominal viscera (2.8%) were injured less ...
Effects of an abrupt diet change from hay to concentrate on microbial numbers and physical environment in the cecum of the pony. Microbial numbers, pH, fluid volume, and turnover rate in the pony cecum were measured during an abrupt change from an all-forage to an all-concentrate diet, both fed at maintenance energy levels. Concentrate feeding resulted in increased (P less than 0.01) numbers of total viable anaerobic bacteria. The numbers of organisms growing on selective starch medium increased (P less than 0.01) when concentrate was fed, while numbers on xylan and pectin media decreased (P less than 0.025). Seven days after the diet change to concentrate, the number of bacteria growing on lactate medium increased (P l...
Severe hypoglycemia attributable to surreptitious injection of insulin in a mare. A mare with signs of hypoglycemia had high serum insulin concentrations before it was euthanatized. High pressure liquid chromatography revealed that the insulin in the mare's blood was of commercial origin. Surreptitious insulin injection has been suspected as the cause of several suspicious deaths of insured horses. The use of high-pressure liquid chromatography should help put an end to this practice.
Embryo reduction before day 11 in mares with twin conceptuses. Incidence of embryo reduction (natural elimination of one member of a twin set) before d 11 was studied by comparing the number of ultrasonically detected conceptuses per ovulation between single and double ovulators. Effect of unilateral (n = 24) vs bilateral (n = 26) double ovulations on the incidence of embryo reduction also was considered. Each of 50 double-ovulating mares was matched with two single ovulators yielding 100 ovulations, or potential embryos, per group. Frequency with which an ovulation resulted in a conceptus was greater for single ovulators (85%, P less than .01) and for bi...
Postanesthetic hind limb adductor myopathy in five horses. Five horses that underwent prolonged anesthesia (greater than 3 hours) in dorsal recumbency for a surgical procedure were unable to stand after recovery and were euthanatized. A provisional diagnosis of postanesthetic myopathy was confirmed at necropsy in all 5 horses. However, distribution of affected muscles in these horses was atypical, because there was bilateral hind limb adductor muscle involvement.
Respiratory airflow patterns in ponies at rest and during exercise. The exercise-induced changes in the equine breathing pattern were studied by analyzing tidal breathing flow-volume loops recorded in ten ponies both at rest and during a standardized exercise. Airflow, tidal volume, esophageal pressure and mask pressure were simultaneously recorded before, during and after a treadmill exercise. From the collected data, respiratory frequency and total pulmonary resistance were calculated, tidal breathing flow-volume loops were retraced using a computerized method and loop indices were measured for each period of the experimental protocol. For each pony, results...
Interstitial pH and pressure in the dependent biceps femoris muscle of laterally recumbent anesthetized horses. Interstitial pressure and pH in the dependent biceps femoris muscle were measured in anesthetized, laterally recumbent horses. The mean (+/- standard deviation) interstitial pressure in 10 horses was 19.70 +/- 0.15 mmHg in the 30 to 180 minute interval after induction of anesthesia. Pressures of this order have been associated with reduction in muscle perfusion. Mean (+/- standard deviation) interstitial pH in six horses decreased from 7.07 +/- 0.30 to 6.73 +/- 0.21 between 45 and 150 minutes of anesthesia. These results indicated the presence of circulatory compromise to intracompartmental st...
Verification of ineffectual activity of ivermectin against adult Onchocerca spp in the ligamentum nuchae of horses. Ivermectin paste formulation (200 micrograms/kg) was administered orally to 27 horses (13 Thoroughbreds and 14 of mixed breeding) to evaluate activity against adult Onchocerca spp in the ligamentum nuchae. Ages, known or estimated, of the horses ranged from 1 to 22 years. Single or multiple doses (1 to 5) of the drug were given to each horse. When multiple doses were administered, the intervals between treatments ranged from 7 to 92 days. At 27 to 171 days after initial treatment (single dose or first of multiple doses), the horses were killed. Some of the horses treated more than once were ki...
Incomplete subaortic stenotic rings in domestic animals–a newly described congenital anomaly. A newly described congenital heart anomaly, the incomplete subaortic stenotic ring was detected at necropsy in four dogs, one cat, one cow, one horse, one sheep and one pig. These structures were grossly and histologically similar to complete subaortic stenotic rings, being composed of variably dense interlacing bands and sheets of fibrous connective tissue. In all nine cases, their presence at necropsy was considered an incidental finding.
Effect of splenectomy on exercise-induced pulmonary and systemic hypertension in ponies. Large increases in systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures of exercising healthy ponies have been observed. Because exercise causes a considerable increase in PCV of ponies, we examined the effect of splenectomy on exercise-induced changes in systemic and pulmonary pressures. These pressures (taken with catheter-tip micromanometers) and indicator dilution cardiac output were determined on 9 healthy ponies that had undergone splenectomy 4 to 9 weeks before the study. Data obtained at rest and during submaximal (10.5 to 11.0 mph) and maximal (14 to 15 mph) exercise from these ponies were compa...
Nonsystemic causes of the downer cow syndrome. Traditionally, the downer cow has been considered a metabolic problem. This viewpoint cannot account for the pelvic limb predilection of the condition. Whatever the primary cause of recumbency, all recumbent animals are susceptible to pressure damage. The extensive literature on pressure damage in human beings and horses is reviewed. Miscellaneous causes of and contributing factors to bovine recumbency are reviewed. Concepts and details of diagnosis, prevention, management, and therapy are discussed.
