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.
A 25-year-old pony mare was presented to the clinic with preliminarily reported severe acute colic. The pony during the previous week had shown inappetence, apathy and fever of unknown origin. Clinical examination and placement of a gastric tube were indicative of a secondary gastric dilation. Rectal exploration found moderate caecal meteorism with a tensed and painful medial taenia as well as a dilated and fluid-filled small intestine. In addition, a solid, mobile, non-painful structure of approximately 10 cm diameter was palpated ventrally. A hyperechogenic mass close to the caecum was detec...
The upper respiratory tract is a frequent cause of exercise intolerance in horses, particularly in racing horses. There are a myriad of laryngeal abnormalities that may restrict airflow at the rima glottidis. Careful endoscopic examination is a crucial part of the examination of any racing horse suffering from poor performance. There has recently been interest in spectrum analysis of respiratory sounds. It has been determined that laryngeal hemiplegia and dorsal displacement of the soft palate have unique sound patterns. Therefore, spectrum analysis of respiratory sounds may prove to be useful...
This study was designed to investigate whether horses with clinical signs of back pain due to suspected soft tissue injuries were affected by polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM). Diagnosis of PSSM in muscle biopsies obtained from the M. longissimus lumborum of 5 showjumpers and 4 dressage horses with a history of back pain is reported. M. longissimus lumborum biopsies of these horses were characterised histopathologically and in 3/9 cases also by electron microscopy. Observations were compared with M. gluteus biopsies of the same horses, and with M. gluteus biopsies obtained from 6 Standard...
Story MR, Nout-Lomas YS.Recognizing possible causes of equine head and neck problems requires a careful and systematic evaluation. While for some disorders reaching a diagnosis and treatment plan is relatively straightforward, for others this can be a complicated road requiring extensive diagnostic techniques, treatment trials, and management strategies. The ability to determine whether the patient is in a painful state, experiencing functional deficits, or in a combination of pain and dysfunction is critical to developing an effective treatment plan. Frequently, behavioral concerns often associated with pain must be...
Stahl LT, Wehrend A.This article provides an overview of the clinically relevant functions and metabolic processes of selenium. Especially equine and bovine neonates are affected by selenium deficiency leading to serious consequences. Severe selenium deficiency may especially result in skeletal and/or heart muscles damage, which can result in serious illness and death of the animal. The typical clinical picture is known under various names and is often referred to as rhabdomyolysis, or more precisely as nutritional muscular dystrophy (NMD) and in the past usually as white muscle disease. Early recognition of nutr...
Vanderbiest L, Rousseau L, Renaville B, Aleman M, Finno C, Milan A, Vinardell T.Occipitoatlantoaxial malformations (OAAM) are developmental disorders occurring at the occiput, atlas and axis. OAAM type 1 is a familial disorder affecting Arabian horses. Currently, a single genetic mutation in the HOXD3 gene region can be tested to confirm the diagnosis. This case describes a 3-year-old Arabian gelding affected with OAAM. Clinical examination revealed a proximal cervical deformation on the right side and severe stiffness of the neck in the sagittal plane without associated pain. Neurological examination demonstrated a generalized proprioceptive ataxia. Radiographs revealed ...