Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
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.
[Estimation of the occupational radiation exposure during radiographic studies of horses]. Radiography of horses in veterinary practice is done normally with quite simple equipment. Thereby radiation protection is easily neglected. In this investigation sources of mistakes are demonstrated. The possible exposure of staff is evaluated by dose measuring over a long period of time. It can be stated that following the most simple radiation protection there will never be a significant exposure of staff.
[Neonatal isoerythrolysis in newborn foals]. Aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, prophylaxis and therapy of neonatal isoerythrolysis in foals are presented. Neonatal isoerythrolysis is caused by isoimmunisation of a brood mare to the Aa and Qa erythrocyte antigens of the foal. The disease can develop, when the mare does not possess Aa resp. Qa blood group antigens, is sensitized to the Aa or Qa erythrocyte antigens--i.e. through pregnancy, parturition, blood resp. plasma transfusions, etc.--and the foal suckles colostral antibodies to its own blood cells. Aa and Qa antibodies can cause haemagglutination and haemolysis ...
[Radiographic studies of ossification of the hoof cartilage of horses and its clinical evaluation]. Radiographic examination is a valuable means for the identification of ossified lateral cartilage. The extent and stages of development of the ossification can be determined. The active stage of development of ossified lateral cartilage, which by itself can provoke lameness, can be defined. By means of the X-ray it is tried to differentiate the three kinds of ossification: the enchondral, the peri- and parachondral ossification of the lateral cartilage. Centres of ossification and fractures of the ossified lateral cartilage are described.
Scintigraphic identification of skeletal muscle damage in horses 24 hours after strenuous exercise. The uptake of the bone-seeking radiopharmaceutical 99mTc-MDP by damaged skeletal muscle in horses is evaluated. Twenty-four hours following strenuous exercise, 109 racehorses with a history of inadequate athletic performance and subtle lameness were imaged using scintigraphic techniques. Ten horses (9.2 per cent) demonstrated abnormal uptake of the radioisotope within skeletal muscles. A muscle biopsy from one of these horses confirmed that the muscles with increased scintigraphic activity had histologic evidence of rhabdomyolysis. This technique allows localisation and relative quantification...
Clinical and biochemical features of grass sickness (equine dysautonomia). An attempt has been made to assess the diagnostic value of clinical features seen at initial examination of horses with grass sickness, colic cases and cases submitted as possible grass sickness but diagnosed subsequently as some other condition. There appears to be no single pathognomonic sign for grass sickness. A range of signs has been associated with grass sickness but these are of value only when related to the length of illness and the history. Biochemical tests related to intestinal tissue damage, stress and dehydration were evaluated and most were found to be of value in diagnosing ac...
Cytology of polychrome-stained equine synovial fluid smears. Comparison with clinical findings, histologic specimens, Wright-Giemsa-stained smears and outcome. Polychrome-stained equine synovial fluid specimens from 34 normal joints and 129 joints with clinical abnormalities were examined cytologically. The smears from joints with abnormalities were categorized as within normal limits (4.7%), slight abnormality (27.9%), proliferative synovitis (21.7%), neutrophilic pattern (20.2%), elongated cell pattern (10.1%), other moderate to marked abnormality (11.6%) and unsatisfactory (3.9%). Cytologic abnormalities that were not restricted to a single category included spindle cells, crystals, stellate cells and cartilage fragments. Multinucleate cells and m...
Probable congenital esophageal stenosis in a thoroughbred foal. Esophageal stenosis was diagnosed in a 7-day-old Thoroughbred foal referred for evaluation of bilateral milky nasal discharge. Double-contrast radiography revealed concentric narrowing of the esophagus at the level of the fifth rib, overlying the base of the heart. Lateral displacement of the esophagus was not apparent. X-ray computed tomography of the cranial portion of the thorax confirmed normal cardiac and great vessel anatomy, ruling out vascular ring anomaly. A nasogastric tube was placed, extending past the stenosis and into the stomach, and the foal was fed mares' milk via this tube. O...
Future diagnostic methods. A brief look at new technologies and their potential application to equine diagnosis. We live in an age in which highly sophisticated computerized equipment and imaging methods are becoming increasingly available. Demand from clients requires that we as veterinary professionals keep our eyes on the future potential of these technologies for diagnosis and treatment. This article briefly reviews some of the techniques that are just around the corner for the progressive equine practitioner.
Nonsurgical removal of chondroid masses from the guttural pouches of two horses. Chondroid masses were successfully removed from the guttural pouches of 2 horses, using an endoscope, a snare, and a vacuum pump. This technique is an alternative to surgical removal of chondroid masses in patients when basic lavage of the affected guttural pouch is ineffective. Complications were not encountered. Advantages of this snare technique include avoidance of surgery and its potential complications, minimal recovery time, and minimal expense.
Treadmill exercise testing. Treadmill installation and training protocols used for clinical evaluations of equine athletes. The use of motorized treadmills has made it possible to evaluate equine poor performance with sophisticated diagnostic techniques during peak exercise. Treadmill exercise tests currently being used for clinical evaluations include treadmill gait analysis, dynamic hoof balancing, endoscopic evaluation of upper airway function, and exercise performance profiling. Large motorized treadmills (1 to 1.5 m in width and 4 to 5 m in length) are best suited for clinical evaluations. Ideally, the treadmill should be installed in-ground using a pit. This type of installation results in the tread surface b...
Dynamic evaluation of the equine upper respiratory tract. Each case of suboptimal equine athletic performance should be evaluated in a comprehensive manner, including physical examination; clinical pathologic analysis; and evaluation of the neurologic system, the musculoskeletal system, and the upper and lower respiratory system. A vital part of this examination is the clinical evaluation of dynamic upper respiratory tract function of the horse during treadmill exercise, which allows the observation of upper respiratory tract function during conditions simulating competitive racing. It generally is agreed that the endoscopic identification of an uppe...
Application of clinical exercise testing for identification of respiratory fitness and disease in the equine athlete. Maximal exercise testing is a valuable diagnostic tool for the evaluation of exercise intolerance and level of fitness in the equine athlete. A description of the standardized incremental exercise testing protocol and interpretation of the results of the test is followed by a discussion of more specific diagnostic techniques aimed at identifying pulmonary dysfunction as a cause of suboptimal performance.
The integration of radiography and alternative imaging methods in the diagnosis of equine orthopedic disease. There is increasing demand on equine practitioners to provide confirmation of their diagnoses. For obscure lameness and for many of the more difficult locomotory problems presented in referral hospitals, the question to be answered is not only how to make the most accurate diagnosis but also how to document the findings so that there is less doubt in the mind of the client. This article describes a quasi algorithmic approach to choosing the best combinations of the increasingly sophisticated imaging methods available for evaluation of orthopedic disease.
The role of scintigraphy in the lameness evaluation. Bone scanning to help diagnose orthopedic disease has been used in human patients for over two decades. The value of this diagnostic tool has been well established in helping to identify a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. It has only recently been used by veterinarians for more accurate characterization of equine musculoskeletal disease. The technique offers the major advantage of increased sensitivity over standard radiographic imaging. The case material illustrated here shows that except for consistent identification of bone cysts, most of the pathologic changes to the horse's musculos...
Advances in diagnostic ultrasonography. A wide variety of ultrasonographic equipment currently is available for use in equine practice, but no one machine is optimal for every type of imaging. Image quality is the most important factor in equipment selection once the needs of the practitioner are ascertained. The transducer frequencies available, transducer footprints, depth of field displayed, frame rate, gray scale, simultaneous electrocardiography, Doppler, and functions to modify the image are all important considerations. The ability to make measurements off of videocassette recorder playback and future upgradability should be ...
Thermography as an aid to the clinical lameness evaluation. Thermography has been shown to be a practical aid in the clinical evaluation of lameness. This modality specifically increases the accuracy of diagnosis. Thermography represents skin temperature, usually pictorially. The techniques involve contacting and noncontacting modalities. Noncontacting thermography, which detects infrared radiation, is the most accurate. In order to be accurate, thermography must be performed in a temperature-controlled, draft-free area. The area should be protected from sunlight to avoid erroneous heating of the skin, and the hair length should be uniform. Thermograph...
Histamine inhalation challenge in normal horses and in horses with small airway disease. A histamine inhalation challenge (HIC) procedure was developed to assess hyperreactive states in horses. Following clinical evaluation, percutaneous lung biopsies were performed on nine light breed mares aged 6 to 15 years. Five horses, with normal small airways, were classified as group A and four subjects with small airway disease (SAD) lesions formed group B. Pulmonary mechanics parameters were monitored following an aerosol of 0.9% saline and every 5 min for up to 30 min after HIC with 0.5% w/v of histamine diphosphate, administered through a face mask for 2.5 min. Tidal volume (VT) and ai...
Use of phenytoin to treat horses with Australian stringhalt. Five horses with Australian stringhalt were treated with 15 mg/kg phenytoin orally for 2 weeks. During the second week of the trial, 3 of the horses were given an additional dose of 10 mg/kg phenytoin. The response to treatment was clinically assessed by grading the severity of the gait abnormality at the walk, trot, turning and backing twice daily. There was a significant (P less than 0.05) improvement in the gait abnormality when pre-treatment values were compared with the mean of the last 3 assessments before treatment stopped. When reassessed 2 weeks after treatment ceased, there remained ...
Resection of a cervical tracheal bronchus in a foal. A 3-day-old Thoroughbred foal developed a large, air-distended, midcervical swelling that was diagnosed as a congenital tracheal bronchus with associated ectopic lung tissue. Clinical signs consisted of a compressible air-filled sac that enveloped the trachea. The nature and extent of the defect were evaluated endoscopically and radiographically. Surgical resection of the bronchus and associated air-filled sac resulted in a functionally and cosmetically acceptable outcome.
Head trauma in two horses. The initial clinical signs displayed by two horses with head trauma are described and related to the pathology and management of the condition, to illustrate the diversity of signs that may result from similar events. It is suggested that careful repeated neurological investigations are more reliable prognostic indicators in cases of equine head trauma than a reliance on the initial assessment.
[Possibilities of clinico-cytological diagnosis in contagious equine metritis (CEM)]. Clinical, bacteriological and serological examinations on a 6 years old pony mare were performed. Cytological alterations in the genital tract were also recorded. A cellular reaction was seen after infection with T. equigenitalis. This reaction is an evidence for infection but it is not specific for this organism. Cytological studies should be performed on mares especially in cases of latent infections to complete bacteriological examination and to prevent false positive or negative results.
