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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.
[Radiographic diagnosis of abdominal diseases in foals and ponys. II. Pathologic findings in 60 cases]. A diagnostic approach based on clinical and radiographic examinations for evaluation of young foals and small ponies with acute abdominal discomfort is presented. Standing right to left lateral abdominal radiographs were taken of 54 foals and 6 ponies using a previously described technique. Interpretation of the radiographs was in conjunction with all clinical and laboratory findings and patient management. Using this approach, the site and cause of acute abdominal discomfort could be diagnosed accurately in 55 of 60 (91%) patients as confirmed by clinical, surgical or necropsy findings. Typic...
Endoscopy of the digital flexor tendon sheath in horses. An arthroscopic procedure for examination of the digital flexor tendons and tendon sheath was developed in 16 equine limbs and 12 horses. Distension of the tendon sheath and insertion of the arthroscope was accomplished through a cul-de-sac on the palmar or plantar surface of the tendon sheath 1 to 2 cm palmar or plantar to the digital neurovascular structures and between the annular ligament and proximal digital annular ligament. A single arthroscope entry point allowed examination of all regions of the tendon sheath cavity and most surfaces of the digital flexor tendons within the sheath. Di...
Neuroaxonal dystrophy associated with vitamin E deficiency in two Haflinger horses. Neuroaxonal dystrophy and minimal diffuse degenerative myelopathy was diagnosed in two female full sibling, 1- and 2-year-old, Haflinger horses. Both animals developed slowly progressive ataxia from the age of 4 months. Clinical signs, which were more prominent in the hind legs, included hypermetria and dysmetria. Histological examination revealed neuroaxonal dystrophy characterized by spheroid formation, vacuolation, astrogliosis and lipofuscin pigment deposition in macrophages and neuronal perikarya. These changes were restricted to the gracilis and cuneate nuclei, nucleus of the solitary tr...
Bilateral renal dysplasia with nephron hypoplasia in a foal. Bilateral renal dysplasia and nephron hypoplasia was diagnosed in a Quarter Horse foal with clinical signs of lethargy, convulsions, and diarrhea. Laboratory evaluation revealed anemia, hypoproteinemia, leukopenia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, and hyposmolality. The foal also had high concentrations of serum creatinine, BUN, and phosphorus. Evaluation of urinary indices revealed a high ratio of urinary gamma-glutamyl-transferase activity to concentration of creatinine, as well as a high fractional clearance ratio of sodium and potassium. Intravenous treatment with saline solution (0.9% NaCl) a...
Application of a standardised treadmill exercise test for clinical evaluation of fitness in 10 thoroughbred racehorses. Clinical exercise stress testing is an important diagnostic tool for evaluating exercise intolerance and degree of fitness in human athletes. The purpose of this paper was to describe the methodology necessary to perform a clinical exercise test and report the results of performance evaluations on 10 Thoroughbred racehorses using this test. The test utilised an open flow gas analysis system for ease of use with untrained horses and a fast time response lactate analyser for rapid data analysis. Exercise test measurements used to evaluate fitness included peak oxygen consumption (mean VO2peak = ...
Methodology and repeatability of a standardised treadmill exercise test for clinical evaluation of fitness in horses. This paper describes the methodology necessary to perform a clinical exercise test and the expected variability in an individual horse's exercise test measurements based on comparing the results of two repetitions of the test with six horses. The exercise test measurements were obtained with an open flow respiratory gas analysis system, fast time response lactate analyser and an on-board heart rate monitor during an incremental inclined treadmill exercise test. With the exception of peak venous lactate concentration (LACpeak), the results indicate that the mean variability in peak oxygen consu...
Ataxia in Swedish warmblood and standardbred horses. A radiologic and pathology study. Lesions in the cervical spine of 28 young horses (Standardbred Trotters and Swedish Warmbloods), killed because of longstanding or severe ataxia, are described. The material consists of all horses with ataxia available for necropsy and presented to the large animal clinic of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Uppsala and the Animal Hospital in Helsingborg during 1981 through 1983. After a clinical and radiographic examination, including myelography in all but 2 cases, the horses were killed and necropsy was performed. The cases were divided into three categories based on the radiographic and p...
[X-ray diagnosis of abdominal diseases in foals and ponies. I. Technics and normal findings]. Clinical examination of foals and small ponies with abdominal disorders is limited by the inability to perform rectal palpation. In these patients, radiographic evaluation of the abdomen may contribute to the clinical diagnosis and may help to localize the site of abdominal diseases. The technique for lateral standing survey and contrast radiography of the abdomen in foals and the normal radiographic anatomy are described.
Endoscopic evaluation of changes in gastric lesions of Thoroughbred foals. Gastroendoscopic examinations were conducted on thirty-two 2- to 60-day-old Thoroughbred foals on 5 breeding farms. Repeat gastroendoscopic examinations were performed 35 to 135 days after the initial examination, with the age of foals ranging from 39 to 190 days. On initial endoscopic examination, lesions consisting of ulcers and/or erosions were most prevalent in the stratified squamous epithelial mucosa adjacent to the margo plicatus along the greater curvature of the stomach (15 of 32 foals), and were observed much less frequently at other sites within the stomach. In addition to ulcers an...
Pleuroscopic diagnosis of disseminated hemangiosarcoma in a horse. A 7-year-old Thoroughbred mare was examined because of persistent bilateral epistaxis and respiratory distress. Evidence of bilateral pleural effusion was found during physical examination, and a large amount of serosanguineous fluid was drained from the right side of the thorax. Cytologic examination and bacteriologic culture of the transtracheal aspirate and pleural fluid did not yield evidence of sepsis. A coagulation profile was unremarkable. Radiographic and echographic changes were seen in the lung parenchyma. Pleuroscopy, with the horse standing, revealed numerous dark nodules on the pl...
Observations on heaves. An asthma-like syndrome in the horse. 1964. Observations in six horses with heaves established a clear relationship between attacks of heaves and the feeding of hay. Severe acute attacks were accompanied by striking changes in the eosinophil count and the sedimentation rate. The variation in the severity of heaves in relation to the feeding and withholding of hay is accounted for by assuming that attacks result from a transient, obstructive lesion in the bronchial tree or lung caused by hypersensitivity to some component of hay. The observations strongly suggest that heaves is a respiratory allergic disease in the horse. The relation of...
Plasma disposition and tolerance of aditoprim in horses after single intravenous injection. Aditoprim, a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent acting as a reversible dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, was intravenously injected into four 12 to 24-year old horses at a dosage of 5 mg/kg b. w. Blood samples were collected over a 48-hour period after drug injection, and the separated plasma samples were assayed for aditoprim by high performance liquid chromatography. The body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, and behaviour were recorded during the experiment. The bilirubin and urea concentrations were also determined in several plasma samples, and liver function tests were carried ...
Observer variation in equine abdominal auscultation. The reliability of abdominal auscultation was investigated via an observer variation study. Clinicians listened to a variety of minute-long equine gut sound recordings. They evaluated the amount of gut sounds as 'absent', 'decreased', 'normal', or 'increased'. They subsequently evaluated the same recordings replayed in a different order. Intra- and inter-observer agreement was measured by the statistic kappa. There was significant intra-observer (kappa 0.57) agreement, but less agreement between observers (kappa 0.37). The best agreement was on the classification of sound tracks as 'absent' (i...
Potential of alfalfa as a source of calcium for calcium deficient horses. The potential of short-cutting cycle, high temperature-dried alfalfa as a source of calcium for horses was determined by means of a 4 x 4 Latin square digestibility trial using four thoroughbred horses (mean liveweight 531 kg). The four dietary treatments were timothy hay alone, 33 per cent alfalfa and 67 per cent timothy hay, 67 per cent alfalfa and 33 per cent timothy hay, and alfalfa alone. Significantly more calcium and magnesium were absorbed from the alfalfa than from the hay. Phosphorus absorption appeared to be unaffected by treatment. Alfalfa calcium was more available than timothy ha...
Anatomy of the laryngeal and adjacent regions as perceived by palpation of clinically normal standing horses. The anatomy of each feature and structure of the laryngeal and adjacent regions, as perceived by palpation, is described for clinically normal standing horses. Visible skin contours produced by some of the superficial structures are also described. Concurrent dissection was performed on fresh cadavers to confirm initial findings. The procedure of systematic palpation in relation to clinical diagnosis and surgical procedure is discussed.
Comparative anatomy, physiology, and function of the upper respiratory tract. The anatomical characteristics of the upper respiratory tract of various experimental animals and man are described. There are a number of differences and similarities macroscopically and microscopically between the species. Perhaps one of the most obvious examples of anatomical differences is in the structure of the turbinates. Some of the differences could affect deposition and clearance of particles in the nasal cavities. Effects of compounds in the nasal cavity, larynx, and trachea can differ depending on the cellular composition of the mucosa.
[Veterinary examinations of horses during purchase transactions]. Veterinary examinations of horses on the occasion of sale or purchase take place on the basis of contracts for work and services. Three types may be distinguished: Examinations for sale (by order of the seller before the sales contract is concluded) Guarantee examination (by order of the buyer after conclusion of the sales contract) (Real) purchase examination (under a conditional contract of purchase). In the latter case the veterinarian acts as trustee for both seller and buyer and is equally obliged to both parties morally and at law. The deficiencies of the law of warranties for contracts ...
Mechanical properties of four suture patterns for transected equine tendon repair. Thirty-six superficial digital flexor tendons from nine fresh equine cadavers were transected and sutured with size 2 monofilament nylon. Nine tendons were repaired with each of four suture patterns: single-locking loop, double-locking loop, triple-locking loop, or three-loop pulley. The times required for application, tensile strengths, resistance to distraction (gap), and modes of failure were analyzed. The mean times required were: single-locking loop, 3 mins, 15 secs; double-locking loop, 4 mins, 15 secs; triple-locking loop, 10 mins, 50 secs; and three-loop pulley, 4 mins. The double-lock...
Phenothiazine in the origin of benzimidazole resistance in population-B equine strongyles. Clinical trials on a central Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm (B) during 1960-1961 involved nine test treatments of mares, yearlings and weanlings (n = 124), and compared efficacies of phenothiazine (PTZ), piperazine (PPZ), mixtures of PTZ + PPZ and thiabendazole (TBZ) for (1) percent reduction and (2) complete clearance or graded reduction of strongyle egg per gram (epg) counts. Three grades of PTZ (N.F. green, micronized purified and 2-3 microns purified) at the dose rate of 55 mg kg-1 were ineffective in six tests; reduction of strongyle epg count were low grade (26%) and complete clearance was f...
Evaluation of upper respiratory tract function during strenuous exercise in racehorses. Forty-six racehorses with a history of poor performance underwent endoscopic evaluation of laryngeal and pharyngeal function while exercising on a high-speed treadmill. This evaluation allowed the definitive diagnosis of intermittent or continual upper respiratory tract obstruction as a cause of poor performance, as well as the documentation of the dynamic functional anatomy of the obstruction. Ten of the horses (22%) were determined to have a functional abnormality of the upper respiratory tract. These abnormalities included epiglottic entrapment (1 horse), persistent dorsal displacement of t...
Comparison of bronchoalveolar lavage and respiratory secretion cytology in horses with clinically diagnosed chronic pulmonary disease. Thirty-nine horses and 3 ponies underwent a thorough respiratory examination and were grouped as follows: healthy (4 horses and 1 pony); mild chronic pulmonary disease (CPD 11 horses); moderate CPD (16 horses and 1 pony); and severe CPD (8 horses and 1 pony). Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid collected from all animals and respiratory secretions (RS) obtained from 39 of these animals were evaluated cytologically and the results were compared. It was concluded that cytological examination of either BAL fluid or RS was useful in diagnosing various equine pulmonary diseases. The only advantage t...
Clinical evaluation of laryngeal sensation in horses. Sensory innervation of the larynx was examined by tactile stimulation with a blunt biopsy forceps passed through a flexible videoendoscope. Twenty horses with no evidence of laryngeal motor deficit were stimulated on 10 sites by touch with the forceps. Unilateral neurectomies of the internal branch of the left cranial laryngeal nerve were performed on 5 other horses. These horses were stimulated by touch on the same sites preoperatively and up to 1 week postoperatively. In all 25 horses the motor response of the larynx was recorded on videotape and evaluated by 2 observers blind as to treatmen...
