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.
Baville E, Carstanjen B, Thomas-Cancian A, Calgaro A, Bonnet N, Tiret L, Gache V, Abitbol M.Supernumerary digits, or polydactyly, have been described in various species including humans, wild and domestic animals. In horses, it represents the most common congenital limb malformation, which has only been described in isolated cases or nuclear families. Molecular aetiology has not been reported. Objective: To characterise the phenotype of a non-syndromic pre-axial polydactyly in a horse family and to decipher the inheritance pattern. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Forty-three members of the family including a previously reported polydactyl case were recruited. Available clinica...
Rossi HS, Mykkänen AK, Junnila JJT, Hyytiäinen HK.Pulse oximetry has not been thoroughly evaluated for assessment of oxygenation in conscious foals. Compared with invasive arterial blood sampling, it is a painless and non-invasive method for real-time monitoring of blood oxygen saturation. The aim of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the usability, validity, and reliability of pulse oximetry at two measuring sites (lip and caudal abdominal skin fold) for blood oxygen saturation measurement in conscious foals with and without respiratory compromise. Thirty-two foals under one month of age were used. Nineteen foals had normal resp...
Domańska-Kruppa N, Stefanik E, Wierzbicka M, Kleinpeter A.Cervical spine injuries that impact young horses and foals can result in mild to severe neurological signs or even result in sudden death. There are only a few reports on conservative treatment options for this condition in the scientific literature. If the condition is left untreated, it can lead to the development of degenerative joint disease, resulting in chronic neurological symptoms and discomfort. We present the case of a two-day-old Arabian foal that showed signs of ataxia following a neck injury, being the result of cervical spine subluxation. Radiological examination revealed a dislo...
Folgmann MS, Stock KF, Feige K, Delling U.There is very little information available about the health status of young stallions from the German Warmblood population that will, once licensed, shape the future of equestrian sport and horse breeding. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of clinical findings at licensing examinations of candidate stallions and the influences of season of birth, age at licensing, year of licensing, and the evaluator on the distribution of recorded findings. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Methods: Clinical records of 1655 candidate stallions presented for licensing in 2018-2020 were reviewed. ...
Morales CJ, Costa LRR.Exercise intolerance, chronic cough, and hyperpnea are the clinical hallmarks of equine asthma. Diagnosis of severe equine asthma in horses is multistep; determination of the phenotype will help guide future recommendations. Management of equine asthma is largely reduction/elimination of triggering agents/conditions. Immunosuppressive therapies and bronchodilators are the mainstay of treatment of equine asthma. Rescue therapy with short-acting bronchodilators is the first goal when managing a horse with hyperpnea. The second goal is to control/reduce inflammation and airway remodeling. Immunos...
McGivney CL, McGivney BA, Farries G, Gough KF, Han H, Holtby AR, MacHugh DE, Katz LM, Hill EW.Equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) is an economically important upper respiratory tract (URT) disease with a genetic contribution to risk, but genetic variants independent of height have not been identified for Thoroughbreds. The method of clinical assessment for RLN is critical to accurately phenotype groups for genetic studies. Objective: To identify genetic risk loci for RLN in Thoroughbreds in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) following high-resolution phenotyping. Methods: Case-control. Methods: Thoroughbred horses were characterised as RLN cases and controls using resting a...
Gonzalez SW, Espy BMK, Stefanovski D, Turner RM.Monitoring gestation and predicting parturition in mares with unknown breeding dates is challenging, especially in pasture bred herds of bucking horses. Transrectal ultrasonographic measurement of fetal vitreous body length is a validated predictor of foaling dates, but previous research suggested a need for breed-specific parameters to develop accurate indices for respective breeds. This study aimed to develop a scale associating fetal vitreous body length with days before parturition (DBP) in bucking horses. Biannual data collection over 2 years identified 199 pregnancies out of 240 reproduc...
Torcivia C, McDonnell SM.Gastric ulcer disease and other potentially painful gastric conditions are among the most common afflictions adversely affecting the welfare of domestic equids. A large percentage of affected animals may not display the classic signs of gastric disease, such as unexplained weight loss, poor hair coat, and inappetence until the disease becomes severe. As a clinical service within our equine referral hospital, we routinely evaluate 24-h video recorded samples of horses to assist clinicians in identifying subtle discomfort and potential sources or to scan for infrequent neurologic or cardiac-rela...
Shroff K, Stefanovski D, Reef VB, Kraus MS, Solis CN.Information about congestive heart failure (CHF) treatment in the horse is limited. Torsemide, an oral loop diuretic, is increasingly used in humans, dogs, and cats with CHF. Torsemide is well absorbed and induces diuresis in healthy horses, and its use in a horse with CHF has been reported. This retrospective descriptive study aimed to describe the use of torsemide in equids with CHF. Methods: 12 equids (10 horses, 1 miniature donkey, and 1 mule). Methods: Horses presented to a referral practice with clinical signs of congestive heart failure. Diagnosis was confirmed with echocardiography. Tr...
Castro D, Clark-Price S.Pre-existing muscle disorders in horses can often be subtle and may only become evident during or after anesthesia. Advancements in veterinary medicine, along with increased knowledge and research in this field, help minimize anesthesia-related problems. Adequate preanesthesia assessment, early disease diagnosis, and proper management are crucial in minimizing risks to the neuromuscular system during general anesthesia.
Hepworth-Warren KL, Love K.Bacterial pneumonia is a common disease in adult horses, but there are no guidelines for practitioners regarding risk factors, diagnosis, and management of the disease. The objectives of this study were to describe how a group of equine veterinarians diagnose and treat bacterial pneumonia in adult horses. A 22-question survey was distributed via multiple platforms to equine veterinarians asking questions regarding the frequency with which they identified specific clinical findings and used certain diagnostic modalities, and the approach to antimicrobial and adjunct therapy. Three hundred nine ...
Castelain DL, Dufourni A, Pas ML, Bokma J, de Bruijn E, Paulussen E, Lefère L, van Loon G, Pardon B.The care of sick neonatal foals is labor-intensive and costly. Prediction of risk of death upon admission is often difficult but might support decision-making. Objective: To determine diseases and risk factors associated with death in neonatal hospitalized foals. Methods: Two hundred twenty-two hospitalized foals, ≤7 days old. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Clinical and laboratory variables were evaluated for their association with death by means of Cox survival analysis and by classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. Results: Most prevalent diseases were sepsis (43.9%), e...
Bishop RC, Nobrega AD, Mersich I, Wilkins PA.To describe indications for and demonstrate the technique to perform a transtracheal aspirate in horses. Transtracheal aspirate is indicated to collect samples for cytology and bacteriologic culture in cases of suspected pneumonia or other lower respiratory tract disease. Methods: 1 healthy university-owned horse was used for demonstration purposes. Images of clinical case samples from the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital are shown. Methods: The horse is restrained and sedated with detomidine or xylazine to facilitate restraint and butorphanol to minimize coughing. The ventr...
Peere S, Van den Branden E, Broothaers K, Polfliet E, Smits K, Govaere J.Transfer of in vitro-produced (IVP) equine embryos is associated with a higher incidence of monozygotic multiple pregnancies, but this remains a rarity. The outcome of monozygotic twin gestation is poor, and good management techniques are lacking. In addition, hydrops conditions are exceptional in horses, with hydroallantois occurring more frequently than hydramnion. Most hydrops conditions will lead to compromise or death of the foal and mare. A 6-year-old multiparous standardbred recipient mare, 332 days pregnant, diagnosed with a monozygotic twin and hydrops with a dead co-twin, gave birth ...
Lendl L, Barton AK.This literature review focuses on diagnostics of equine asthma (EA), possible influencing factors on diagnostic techniques and latest developments in diagnosing horses during EA remission or with subclinical disease. Routine EA diagnostics include a clinical examination of the respiratory system with percussion and auscultation including a rebreathing examination, and clinical pathology including white blood cells and arterial blood gas analysis. Subsequent diagnostics include bronchoscopy to evaluate the amount and viscosity of respiratory secretion, bronchoalveolar lavage, and the cytology o...
Valberg SJ, Porter A.Muscle biopsy is often required to provide a definitive diagnosis for neuromuscular disorders and can be performed using open surgical or percutaneous needle biopsy techniques. Fresh samples that are subsequently frozen in the laboratory are preferred by laboratories engaged in research, whereas formalin-fixed muscle is processed by diagnostic laboratories with specialized tinctorial and immunohistochemical techniques. Interpretation by an experienced histopathologist, combined with the signalment, history, and clinical input, is essential for establishing a diagnosis. This article outlines be...
Ma Y, Liu Y, Li H, Yang K, Yao G.Angular limb deformities (ALDs) are a common skeletal development disorder in newborn foals. This condition affects the growth and development of foals and severely impacts their future athletic performance and economic value, causing significant financial losses to the horse industry. Placentitis, metritis, and severe metabolic diseases during mare pregnancy are significant causes of ALDs in newborn foals. It has been established that intestinal flora disorders can easily lead to inflammatory and metabolic diseases in the host. However, the incidence of ALDs in foals in Zhaosu County, Xinjian...
Petrucelli M, Sgorbini M, Castagnetti C, Lanci A, Mariella J, Marmorini P, Freccero F.Background- Subclinical electrophysiological derangements occur at birth in foals. Smartphone-based ECG (spECG) is practical tools to assess heart rhythm and was recently validated in foals. Objectives-To assess the heart rate (HR) and rhythm at birth in clinically healthy foals born after spontaneous and induced parturition using a spECG. Animals- Newborn healthy foals born after at term spontaneous (SF) or induced foaling (IF). Methods- Cohort study. In SF and IF groups, a spECG was performed immediately at birth (T0) and after 5 min (T5). SpECG tracings were selected for quality. HR was ma...
Haase L, Monett D, Sedlmayr M.Animal owners may increasingly rely on large language models for gathering animal health information alongside internet sources in the future. This study therefore aims to provide initial results on the accuracy of ChatGPT-4o in triage and tentative diagnostics, using horses as a case study. Ten test vignettes were used to prompt situation assessments from the tool, which were then compared to original assessments made by a veterinary specialist for horses. The most probable diagnosis suggested by ChatGPT-4o was found to be quite accurate in most cases, with the urgency to contact a veterinari...
Resende AM, Miranda BA, Silva LB, Oliveira AB, Castro MB, Macêdo IL, Dallago BSL, Barud HS, Borges MAC, Ribeiro CA, Dias DS, Campebell RC.Background/Objectives: Skin injuries are common in the equine clinical practice, requiring effective treatment to support natural healing. Bacuri butter is gaining attention for its potential in wound healing and its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Natural polymers such as onion (Allium cepa) bioplastics have been investigated for their potential as occlusive dressings and for tissue regeneration. Methods: This study evaluated the healing process of experimentally induced skin wounds on horses treated with bacuri butter, washed onion film, and unwashed onion film....
Allen R, Goodhead AD.Warmblood horses are a popular breed around the world for equestrian sports. Previous studies have investigated ocular findings in other breeds of horses; however, no studies exist for the Warmblood breed. Objective: To determine the prevalence of ocular abnormalities in a convenience sample of Warmblood horses in South Africa and to determine if the prevalence of lens and chorioretinal lesions increase with age. Methods: Descriptive, observational study. Methods: Warmblood horses underwent a full ophthalmic examination which included a Schirmer tear test (STT), tonometry, fluorescein dye test...
Taddey CM, Roecken M, Kreling KM, Cruz AM.Reliable lameness thresholds for vertical head displacement for trotting on a circular path and on different surfaces have yet to be defined. Withers movement in lame horses could help improve the diagnostic accuracy of sensor technology. Objective: To define head movement lameness threshold ranges and describe the relationship between head and withers movement during trotting under different circumstances in sound and forelimb lame horses. Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical data and comparison with control group. Methods: Fifty-five sound and thirty-four naturally lame horses were tr...
Arroyo E, Whitelock LM, Stanton ME, Stevenson V, de Aguiar LH, Kelleman A.Hydropsical conditions in domestic animals are characterized by abnormal fluid accumulation. While their complete pathophysiology remains unclear, factors such as changes in chorioallantoic membranes, placentitis, or fetal abnormalities may contribute. Hydrops present as a medical emergency that can cause complications for the mare. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for the mare's prognosis, as fetal survival is often poor. This report describes a case of hydroallantois in a 9-year-old pregnant Quarter mare at 271 days of gestation, leading to dystocia of a non-viable foal with multipl...
Lensing R, Wirth C, Thünker F, Merle R, Barton AK.Gastric pH is a key factor in the development of equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD). Although acid injury is unlikely the primary cause of equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD), low pH may promote mucosal damage. Gastric pH is influenced by roughage uptake, as chewing increases the alkaline saliva production. The proton pump inhibitor omeprazole is currently recommended by the American/European College of Veterinary/Equine Internal Medicine (ACVIM/ECEIM) for ESGD and EGGD. We hypothesized that dental disorders decrease saliva production and gastric pH, predisposing horses to EGUS. Gastro...
Smith HL, Love KR, Antezana A, Barr EM, Gilger BC, Oh A.To determine clinical outcome, treatment costs, and hospitalization duration in horses treated for keratomycosis and identify ophthalmic examination and diagnostic results associated with these outcomes. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 126 equine keratomycosis cases between 2004 and 2020 with fungal infection confirmed on cytology, culture, and/or histopathology and a minimum of 1-month follow-up. Details of the ophthalmic examination, diagnostic test results, and treatment and cost outcomes were recorded. Outcomes of interest were analyzed by treatment type. The relationship of pat...
de Melo UP, Ferreira C.This report describes five cases of urinary incontinence in Quarter Horse mares associated with the development of sabulous cystitis. The animals in this study had a history of persistent urinary incontinence for eight months, with clinical signs of continuous dribbling urine during rest and movement. The initial treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs was ineffective. Clinical examination revealed severe scalding in the perineal region and on the medial aspect of the hind limbs, along with neurological signs such as ataxia, hind limb paresis, and diminished perineal reflexes. T...
D'Agostino AL, Giuliano EA, Kuroki K, Martin LM.To describe the first report of third eyelid cartilage eversion in an adult American Quarter Horse mare. Methods: A 22-year-old American Quarter Horse mare presented to the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center Equine Hospital for a 2-week history of a third eyelid cartilage abnormality of the left eye with no known recent trauma. Complete ophthalmic examination revealed third eyelid cartilage eversion of the left nictitans. The abnormal scrolled cartilage was surgically excised using a handheld cautery unit and submitted for histopathologic evaluation. Results: Histopathologic findi...
Pereira AT, Pozzobon R, Dos Anjos BL, Kunz AR, Chaves LT, Smilgys EC, Andrade BDS, Lunkes VL, de Andrade CM, Costa MM.Long-loop rodeo is a major competition for Criollo horses. We aimed to feature long-loop tournaments and to assess the profiles of competing horses. The animals (n = 49) were registered, and their body mass/scores, information about breeding, feeding, and training management, loaded weight, and tournament track (n = 11) were collected; speeds reached were estimated. Heart and respiratory rates of horses (n = 27) were collected before the tournament, on the final day of the event, and 18-24 h after the end of the tournament. Blood samples were collected from the animals at the same time. Blood ...
Galinelli NC, Bamford NJ, Erdody ML, Warnken T, de Laat MA, Sillence MN, Harris PA, Bailey SR.Alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT) is a reversible inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis. This study aimed to determine whether AMPT could reduce dopamine concentrations in horses. Six healthy adult Standardbred geldings were administered AMPT (40 mg/kg BW, orally) or placebo in a randomised crossover study design. Clinical examination findings were recorded, and blood samples were collected for up to 6 h after administration of AMPT or placebo, for measurement of blood glucose, plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations, and plasma metabolomic anal...
Labelle AL, Gemensky Metzler AM, McMullen RJ, Wiggans KT, Labelle P, Hamor RE.To describe the clinical appearance, histopathology, and treatment of equine intraocular melanocytic neoplasia in adult horses. Unassigned: A retrospective review of medical records was conducted. Data recorded included signalment, ocular examination findings, physical examination findings, therapeutic interventions, and case outcomes. Histopathologic characteristics of enucleated globes were evaluated. A Student's -test was used to evaluate differences in the interval from diagnosis to last known outcome between horses receiving therapeutic interventions and horses undergoing monitoring alone...
Riihimäki M, Raine A, Elfman L, Pringle J.Airborne factors in a conventionally managed racing stable and markers of pulmonary inflammation in the stabled horses were investigated on 3 occasions at 6-month intervals, including 2 winter periods and the intervening summer period. The stable measurements included inside and outside ambient temperature and relative humidity, levels of total and respirable dust, endotoxin, and 1,3-beta-glucan. Horses (n = 12) were examined in detail clinically as well as by endoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of BAL-cells for IL-6 and I...
Couetil LL, Thompson CA.Indications for bronchoalveolar lavage, tracheal wash, and thoracocentesis for the diagnosis of respiratory diseases are discussed. Each technique is described in detail and illustrated by videos. Sample handling, preparation and evaluation are reviewed. The advantages and limitations of bronchoalveolar lavage and tracheal wash procedures as well as a critical comparison between the 2 techniques for equine asthma diagnosis are presented. Finally, validated cut-off values for equine asthma diagnosis are reviewed.
Martin BB, Klide AM.The diagnosis of back pain is often a diagnosis of exclusion of other problems in the face of poor performance. It requires careful observation, thought, an open mind, and experience. The signs of back pain can be extremely variable and range from subtle to obvious. Obvious forelimb or hind limb lameness is not usually a sign of back pain. The most common differential diagnosis may be back pain secondary to degenerative joint disease of the hocks, fetlocks, or stifle. These diseases can mimic signs of back pain including lack of impulsion, shortening of the stride length, and change in the str...
Tunley BV, Henson FM.Thermographic imaging is an increasingly used diagnostic tool. When performing thermography, guidelines suggest that horses should be left for 10-20 mins to 'acclimatise' to the thermographic imaging environment, with no experimental data to substantiate this recommendation. In addition, little objective work has been published on the repeatability and reliability of the data obtained. Thermography has been widely used to identify areas of abnormal body surface temperature in horses with back pathology; however, no normal data is available on the thermographic 'map' of the thoracolumbar region...
Weese JS, Rousseau J.To evaluate the efficacy of Lactobacillus pentosus WE7, an equine-origin organism with potentially beneficial in vitro properties, as a probiotic for prevention of neonatal diarrhea in foals. Methods: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Methods: 153 foals. Methods: Foals were enrolled at 24 to 48 hours of age and randomly assigned to treatment or control groups. The treatment group received approximately 2 x 10(11) CFU of freeze-dried L. pentosus WE7 orally once daily for 7 days, whereas the control group received a placebo. Clinical monitoring was performed for 14 days. Results: Probiotic a...
Haussler KK.The clinical assessment of pain is subjective; therefore, variations exist between practitioners in their ability to identify and localize pain. Due to differing interpretations of the signs or severity of pain equine practitioners may assign varying levels of clinical significance and treatment options. There is a critical need to develop better tools to qualify and quantify pain in horses. Palpation is the most common method to detect local tenderness or sensitivity. To quantify this applied pressure, pressure algometry has been used to gradually apply pressure over specified landmarks until...
Ahrberg AB, Horstmeier C, Berner D, Brehm W, Gittel C, Hillmann A, Josten C, Rossi G, Schubert S, Winter K, Burk J.Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have shown promising results in the treatment of tendinopathy in equine medicine, making this therapeutic approach seem favorable for translation to human medicine. Having demonstrated that MSC engraft within the tendon lesions after local injection in an equine model, we hypothesized that they would improve tendon healing superior to serum injection alone. Methods: Quadrilateral tendon lesions were induced in six horses by mechanical tissue disruption combined with collagenase application 3 weeks before treatment. Adipose-derived MSC suspended in serum or seru...
Popescu S, Diugan EA, Spinu M.This paper presents a different approach to the welfare of working horses through the indicators of good welfare, their interrelations and their relationships with the type of work performed by the horses. 697 working horses were assessed by using observation, behavioural tests, clinical exams and questionnaires. The correlated results highlight the complex and multiple interrelations between the good welfare indicators, showing once again that animal welfare is under the influence of all its three dimensions (physical and emotional wellbeing and naturalness). In working horses, the heavier th...
Tilley P, Sales Luis JP, Branco Ferreira M.As recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is progressive and as medical history is frequently unknown by owners, it's important to suggest a score model to characterize RAO stages for a more accurate diagnosis and treatment. The authors correlated clinical (CS), endoscopic (ES), thoracic X-ray (XRS) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALFS) scores in horses with RAO, in an attempt to establish relevance of each factor's contribution for the characterization of RAO stages and to suggest a staging method. Thirty horses with RAO and ten healthy controls were studied. Pearson correlation coefficients w...
Franzén P, Aspan A, Egenvall A, Gunnarsson A, Karlstam E, Pringle J.Anaplasma phagocytophilum infects several mammalian species, and can persist in sheep, dogs, and calves. However, whether this organism persists in horses or induces long-term clinical abnormalities is not known. Objective: To evaluate whether A. phagocytophilum can persist in horses and to document clinical findings for 3 months after complete recovery from acute disease. Methods: Five clinically normal adult horses that had recovered spontaneously from experimentally induced acute disease caused by a Swedish equine isolate of A. phagocytophilum. Methods: Horses were monitored for up to 129 d...
van Loon JPAM, Macri L.The objective assessment of chronic pain is of utmost importance for improving welfare and quality of life in horses. Freedom from disease and pain is one of the 'five freedoms' that are necessary for animal welfare. The aim of this study was to develop a pain scale for the assessment of chronic pain in horses (Horse Chronic Pain Scale; HCPS), which is based on behavioural and facial expressions. The scale was used to assess 53 horses (26 horses diagnosed with chronic painful conditions by means of clinical examination and additional diagnostic procedures (consisting of osteoarthritis, chronic...
Wennerstrand J, Johnston C, Roethlisberger-Holm K, Erichsen C, Eksell P, Drevemo S.Earlier studies have developed a clinical tool to evaluate objectively the function of the equine back. The ability to differentiate horses with back pain from asymptomatic, fully functioning horses using kinematic measures from this tool has not been evaluated. Objective: To compare the kinematics of the back at walk and trot in riding horses with back dysfunction to the same parameters in asymptomatic sport horses. Methods: The kinematics of the back in 12 horses with impaired performance and back pain were studied at walk and trot on a treadmill. Data were captured for 10 sees at 240 Hz. Ra...
Long A, Nolen-Walston R.Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a marker of inflammation and infection in the horse that can be assessed in the field, with rapid and marked changes seen following initiation of an inflammatory stimulus. This quality of SAA also makes its clinical use challenging, because even small inflammatory conditions can cause large changes in SAA levels. Review of the current literature provides guidelines for responses of SAA to various conditions, which can be applied to specific clinical cases. The practitioner is encouraged to use SAA in conjunction with physical examination and other diagnostic modalities...
Bentley E, Miller PE, Diehl KA.The recent development of a 20-MHz, high-frequency ultrasound probe has allowed tissue to be visualized at resolutions of 20 to 80 microm, which is similar to a low-power histologic view. This high degree of resolution, however, limits tissue penetration to 5 to 10 mm, which is ideal for examination of the anterior segment of the eye. The detail provided by high-resolution ultrasound readily permits the clinician to distinguish between various anterior segment entities that may appear similar but are treated quite differently, such as anterior uveal tumors, iridociliary cysts, and iris bombé....
Long KJ, Bonagura JD, Darke PG.Eighteen echocardiographic images useful for diagnostic imaging, M-mode echocardiography, and Doppler echocardiography of the equine heart were standardised by relating the position of the axial beam to various intracardiac landmarks. The transducer orientation required for each image was recorded in 14 adult horses by describing the degree of sector rotation and the orientation of the axial beam relative to the thorax. Repeatable images could be obtained within narrow limits of angulation and rotation for 14 of the 18 standardised images evaluated. Twenty-seven National Hunt horses were subse...
Furr MO, Lessard P, White NA.Thirty-two physical examination and laboratory variables were recorded during examination of 165 horses admitted for acute abdominal disease. Univariate analyses were performed to determine which of the variables were significantly different between horses that lived or died. Stepwise logistic regression was performed to identify variables with the best predictive value. Four variables (heart rate, peritoneal fluid total protein concentration, blood lactate concentration, and abnormal mucous membrane) remained significant when entered into the model. Histograms for each significant variable we...
van Loon JPAM, Van Dierendonck MC.Objective pain assessment is important to guide and tailor therapy in clinical practice. This study describes the clinical applicability and validity of two pain scales, the Composite Pain Scale (CPS) and the Equine Utrecht University Scale for Facial Assessment of Pain (EQUUS-FAP) in horses with orthopaedic trauma or after orthopaedic surgery. A cohort follow-up study was performed using 77 adult horses (n=43 with orthopaedic trauma or injury; n=34 controls). Composite and facial expression-based pain scores were assessed by direct observations of pairs of two independent observers. All horse...
Davidson EJ.Lameness examination is commonly performed in the athletic horse. A skilled lameness diagnostician must have keen clinical and observational skills. Evaluation starts with a detailed history and thorough physical examination. Next, gait evaluation in the moving horse is performed. Lame horses have asymmetrical body movement due to unconscious shift of body weight. Recognition of the resultant head nod and pelvic hike is the basis for lameness diagnosis. Lameness identification is enhanced by circling, limb flexions, and riding. Most lame horses do not exhibit pathognomonic gait characteristics...
Kraft CN, Pennekamp PH, Becker U, Young M, Diedrich O, Lüring C, von Falkenhausen M.Most orthopaedic problems experienced by competitive horseback riders are related to pain in the lower back, hip joint, and hamstring muscles. Riders-especially, show jumpers-are frequently hampered in their performance because of lumbar pain. To date, there has been no research into lumbar disk degeneration in elite competitive riders. Objective: Competitive horseback riding accelerates lumbar disk degeneration. Methods: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Fifty-eight elite riders (18 men, 40 women; mean age, 32.4 years) and a control group of 30 nonriding volunteers (17 men...
Schauvliege S, Cuypers C, Michielsen A, Gasthuys F, Gozalo-Marcilla M.To summarize the different methods used to assess sedation and/or adjust the dose or administration rate of alpha-2 agonists in horses and to propose an algorithm to adjust the administration rate of a constant rate infusion of an alpha-2 agonist in horses. Methods: PubMed and Web of Science; search terms: horse, sedation and score. Conclusions: Most authors distinguish between sedation depth, sedation quality and degree of ataxia. These three features are evaluated using scoring systems similar to those classically used to assess pain, i.e. simple descriptive scales, numerical rating scales (...
Lacitignola L, Crovace A, Rossi G, Francioso E.To compare cultured bone marrow mesenchymal cells (cBMSC), bone marrow mononucleated cells (BMMNCs), and placebo to repair collagenase-induced tissue damage in an equine model of experimental tendonitis, 6 Standardbred horses with no signs of previous SDF tendon injury have been recruited. Three weeks after collagenase treatment an average of either 5.5 x 10(6) cBMSCs or 122.3 x 10(6) BMMNCs, saline solution (placebo) or fibrin glue were injected intralesionally in random order. Horses were stall rested for 21 weeks, and tendon ultrasound scans performed before and during this period. Horses w...
Levine JM, Scrivani PV, Divers TJ, Furr M, Mayhew IJ, Reed S, Levine GJ, Foreman JH, Boudreau C, Credille BC, Tennent-Brown B, Cohen ND.To compare signalment of horses with cervical vertebral malformation-malarticulation (CVM) with that of control horses and to describe results of clinical examination, diagnostic imaging and necropsy findings, and reported outcome in horses with CVM. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: 270 horses with CVM and 608 control horses admitted to 6 veterinary hospitals from 1992 through 2007. Methods: Medical records of participating hospitals were reviewed to identify horses with CVM (ie, case horses) and contemporaneous control (non-CVM-affected) horses that were admitted for treatm...
Tell A, Egenvall A, Lundström T, Wattle O.Oral soft tissue ulcers are common disorders of horses, but it is unclear if their prevalence is increased by riding horses with a bit and bridle. Oral examinations were performed on 113 horses and ponies, all which had received routine dental floating, that were divided into four groups depending on when they had last been ridden with a bit and bridle. The subjects comprised: group 1, a randomly selected population of ridden horses; group 2, a group of horses examined after being rested at pasture for 5 weeks; group 3, the previous group following 7 weeks of riding with a bit and bridle, and ...
Padalino B, Raidal SL.The regulations for minimal space and direction of travel for land transport in horses vary worldwide and there is currently no definitive guidance to promote equine health and welfare. This study evaluated the effects of bay size and direction of travel (forwards/backwards) in horses by comparing the behavioural, physiological, laboratory and gastroscopy parameters between transported and confined horses. A total of twenty-six mares took part in the study; 12 horses were confined for 12 h, and all mares underwent 12 hours' transportation, travelling in single (n = 18) or wide bays (n = 8), an...
May SA, Wyn-Jones G.The use of markers placed over the tuber coxae on each side of a horse to aid identification of the relative movement of these structures at the trot, for teaching and research purposes, is described. In each case of hindleg lameness studied, the tuber coxae on the lame side showed a consistent increase in vertical displacement relative to that of the contralateral limb, and a characteristic pattern of movement throughout the stride irrespective of the site or cause of pain.
Curtis L, Burford JH, Thomas JS, Curran ML, Bayes TC, England GC, Freeman SL.The majority of research on the evaluation of horses with colic is focused on referral hospital populations. Early identification of critical cases is important to optimise outcome and welfare. The aim of this prospective study was to survey the primary evaluation of horses with clinical signs of abdominal pain by veterinary practitioners, and compare the initial presentation of critical and non-critical cases. Results: Data from 1016 primary evaluations of horses presenting with clinical signs of colic were submitted by 167 veterinary practitioners across the United Kingdom over a 13 month p...
Revenaugh MS.Veterinarians have begun using extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) in horses, although relatively little information has been published about its efficacy or mechanism of action. As a clinician, it can be difficult to know if and when ESWT should be recommended. Case studies in which ESWT is used to treat advanced OA in horses are discussed. ESWTseems to be a valuable adjunct for management of equine OA. It is the purpose of this article to discuss indications and techniques as well as to share clinical experiences using ESWT in the treatment of OA in ...
Ramsey DT, Ewart SL, Render JA, Cook CS, Latimer CA.OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and describe ocular abnormalities in a cross-section of the population of Rocky Mountain Horses. Design: Prospective study. Animals: Five-hundred and fourteen Rocky Mountain Horses. Procedure: Ophthalmic examinations were performed using a slit-lamp biomicroscope and an indirect ophthalmoscope. Intraocular pressures were measured by applanation tonometry. Eyes from six horses were obtained for histologic examination. RESULTS: Cysts of the posterior iris, ciliary body, and peripheral retina were detected most frequently (249 horses), and were always located...
