Topic:Clinical Examination
Clinical examination in horses involves a systematic evaluation of the animal to assess its health status and identify any potential medical issues. This process typically includes a thorough physical assessment, which may cover observation of behavior and posture, palpation of body structures, auscultation of heart and lung sounds, and examination of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Additional diagnostic tools such as thermography, endoscopy, or imaging techniques may be utilized to gather more detailed information. Clinical examination serves as a foundational step in veterinary diagnostics, aiding in the detection and management of diseases or injuries in horses. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore methodologies, advancements, and findings related to clinical examination practices in equine medicine.
Oestrus and pregnancy diagnosis by milk progesterone assay in the mare. The milk progesterone profiles of four mares were followed daily for four to five weeks after foaling. Progesterone was determined by direct radioimmunoassay using iodinated progesterone as the labelled antigen. The milk progesterone concentration varied from 1 to 5 nmol/1 (0·3 to 1·6 μg/1) during the first 10 days after foaling. The first ovulation took place at about the tenth day. During the luteal phase milk progesterone levels rose dramatically, reaching a maximum level of 30 to 45 nmol/1 (9·4 to 14·2 μg/1) within five to 10 days, and then fell to low levels unless pregnancy followe...
Comparison of two surgical procedures for arthrodesis of the proximal interphalangeal joint in horses. Arthrodesis of the proximal interphalangeal joint in horses, with 2 screws crisscrossing the joint, was compared with arthrodesis achieved by placement of 3 screws crossing the joint parallel to the long axis of the bone. The comparison was made by means of radiography, gross and histologic examinations, and motion evaluation. Additionally, the fused 1st and 2nd phalanges resulting from each method were subjected to breaking forces. Motion evaluation and direct examination of the fused area demonstrated that either procedure can be used to achieve arthrodesis consistently, and the breaking pro...
Congenital duodenal stenotic diaphragm in the foal. A two-month-old female foal with duodenal stenosis is described. The foal was in poor condition and showed an abnormal stable behaviour. She stood preferably with her head stretched out and reposing on the mare's back or on the stable ridge. Salivation was an important symptom. Clinical and radiological examination of the oral cavity, the pharynx, and the oesophagus showed no abnormalities, except for the antiperistaltic wave along the oesophagus. Because of her bad condition the filly was euthanized. At post mortem examination, apart from leukoplakia, an erosive ulcerative inflammation was fo...
Clinical trial of xylazine with ketamine in equine anaesthesia. One hundred anaesthetics were administered in a clinical trial to 95 equine patients, ranging in age from nine months to 19 years and in weight from 140 to 1270 kg, undergoing a variety of surgical procedures. Acepromazine maleate premedication (0.01 to 0.03 mg per kg intramuscularly) was given to seven animals, the remainder were not premedicated. Xylazine (1.1 mg per kg) was injected intravenously over a two minute period and after a pause of two minutes ketamine (2.2 mg per kg) was injected rapidly by the same route. For 30 procedures no other anaesthetic was given but in 59 cases anaesthes...
[Methods for the evaluation of the intestinal function in the horse (author’s transl)]. Diagnostic tests in horses showing signs of gastrointestinal diseases are reviewed. The use of rectal exploration is emphasized, and paracentesis as a diagnostic aid is mentioned. Special attention is given to the absorption tests as they are easy to conduct and give a relative measure of the absorptive capability of the intestinal epithelium. Glucose, D(+)-xylose and carbohydrate digestion-absorption tests are compared, and the D(+)-xylose absorption test is preferred because of the univocal curve of absorption (see Figure 1 and 2). The absorption curve in a horse suffering from alimentary ly...
[An unusual case of equine lymphoid leukosis (author’s transl)]. The case of a three-year-old mare is reported, in which clinical examination revealed the presence of haemorrhagic diathesis as a result of disseminated intravascular coagulation. The animal also showed severe lameness which was due to involvement of the long bones. The diagnosis was only established after death.
D(+)-xylose absorption test in the horse. A clinical study. 25 horses were subjected to the D(+)-xylose absorption test. 1 gram of D(+)-xylose/kg bw. was administered orally. Based upon the shape of the absorption curves the 25 patients were divided into four groups. Group 1 11 patients with a normal absorption curve (Figure 3) Group 2 5 patients with a flat absorption curve (Figure 4) Group 3 3 patients with a flat absorption curve (Figure 5) Group 4 7 patients with an intermediary type of absorption curve (Figure 6). Administration of sodium chloride in equimolar concentrations did not improve the absorption of D(+)-xylose. 73 per cent of the horses ...
Tracheal reconstruction by resection and end-to-end anastomosis in the horse. A surgical technique for resection of a portion of the trachea followed by end-to-end anastomosis was developed on 4 clinically normal horses. The trachea healed without complications in 3 of the horses in which 3 tracheal cartilages were removed. Five tracheal cartilages were removed from the 4th horse. It had to be euthanatized because of excessive suture line tension and wound disruption, which occurred during recovery from anesthesia. Suture line tension was measured on 3 other clinically normal horses positioned in dorsal recumbency immediately after euthanasia after 3 and 5 tracheal cart...
Brainstem auditory evoked response in the diagnosis of inner ear injury in the horse. Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) testing was done to evaluate inner ear/VIIIth cranial nerve (CN8) function in the horse. The BAER test consisted of stimulating the auditory system with clicks and recording far-field responses of the brainstem auditory components via cutaneous electrodes and a signal averaging system. The normal response was shown to be a series of waves occurring within the first 10 msec after the stimulus click. Functional loss of the auditory receptor organ (cochlea) or CN8 results in loss of the entire response on the side of the injury. Because of the anatomic re...
Torsion of the spermatic cord in a horse. A 360-degree torsion of the left spermatic cord was diagnosed in a 2 1/2-year-old Quarter Horse colt. Clinical signs included abdominal discomfort, with slight elevations in heart and respiratory rates. The scrotum on the left side was moist and edematous. The left testicle was enlarged, firm, and retracted slightly toward the abdominal cavity. The colt resented palpation of the testicle. On rectal palpation, the left vaginal ring and the structures passing through the ring were edematous and painful to pressure. Surgical correction was achieved by emasculation. The tail of the epididymis and ...
Evaluation of an intravenous catheter for use in the horse. A commercially available polyvinyl chloride intravenous catheter was studied in 9 horses for 3 to 10 days to evaluate the catheter's suitability for use in the horse, to develop a new insertion technique, and to establish a protocol for catheter care. Seven of the animals were clinically normal horses receiving parenteral nutrition; one was a horse with hypocalcemia receiving frequent intravenous injections of calcium gluconate, and one was a clinically normal horse receiving no infusions. The catheter dressings were changed every 48 hours, and an aspirate from the catheter and the catheter ti...