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Topic:Clinical Findings
Clinical findings in horses encompass a range of observable signs and symptoms identified during veterinary examinations that contribute to diagnosing and managing equine health conditions. These findings can include physical observations, such as changes in behavior, posture, or gait, as well as physiological measurements like heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature. Diagnostics may also involve laboratory tests, imaging, and other diagnostic procedures to assess organ function and detect abnormalities. Recognizing and interpreting clinical findings are essential components of veterinary practice, aiding in the identification of diseases, monitoring treatment progress, and guiding therapeutic interventions. This page brings together peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, interpretations, and implications of clinical findings in the context of equine health care.
Clinical use of epidural xylazine in the horse. Xylazine was administered into the epidural space of nine horses to facilitate various perineal manipulations (ie rectovaginal laceration repair, replacement of prolapsed rectum and urethral extension). The resulting caudal analgesia was sufficient for all procedures. The duration of analgesia from a single injection of epidural xylazine (0.17 to 0.22 mg/kg bodyweight) was at least 3.5 h. No horses were ataxic during or after the treatment. This trial demonstrates that xylazine given into the epidural space of horses provides prolonged regional analgesia which is sufficient for clinical use.
Unusual polydactylism in a foal. A case report. A 2 month old quarter horse colt had multiple skeletal abnormalities of the left fore limb, including two supernumerary metacarpal bones, two supernumerary carpal bones, abnormal carpal bone development, and a valgus deformity originating at the carpal joint. The largest supernumerary metacarpal bone was removed completely, a portion of the smaller supernumerary metacarpal bone was removed, and the leg was placed in a tube cast. Surgical treatment improved the clinical appearance and prevented further injury to the limb. The carpal joint width remained increased but the carpal valgus deformity...
Epiglottic augmentation in the horse. Epiglottic augmentation with injectable bovine collagen or an autogenous or allogenous auricular cartilage graft was performed in 12 horses with endoscopically and radiographically normal epiglottises. The grafting procedures were easy to perform and did not cause apparent discomfort. Cartilage graft extrusion or resorption may have occurred, but was not seen by endoscopy and lateral laryngeal radiography. Only collagen implants remained evident endoscopically, as smooth round submucosal bulges ventral to the epiglottic cartilage. Two horses with collagen implants, and all horses with cartilag...
Osteochondral fragmentation of the distal aspect of the patella in horses. A condition characterised by osteochondral fragmentation of the distal aspect of the patella in 15 horses is described. The problem was unilateral in six horses and bilateral in nine. There were eight Quarterhorses, three Thoroughbreds, two American Saddlebreds, one American Paint and one Warmblood-Thoroughbred cross. A previous medial patellar desmotomy had been performed on 12 of the 15 horses. The condition manifested as hindlimb lameness and stiffness ranging from mild to severe. There was fibrous thickening in the stifle area in the 12 cases with a previous medial patellar desmotomy, and ...
Pulse oximetry in horses. The clinical usefulness of two pulse oximeters was evaluated at two probe sites in nine anesthetized horses. The hemoglobin saturation determined by the pulse oximeters (SaOx) was compared with the hemoglobin saturation calculated from the measured arterial oxygen tension (SaO2). The mean and standard deviation (SD) were calculated from the differences in saturation measurements, over the saturation range of 80% to 100%, for each oximeter used at the tongue probe site and for one oximeter used at the ear. The oximeter results tended to underestimate the SaO2 with mean differences of -3.7% on t...
Decreased erythrocyte potassium concentration associated with exercise-related myopathy in horses. To investigate the possibility that a disorder of potassium balance may have a role in the development of equine rhabdomyolysis, the potassium concentration within erythrocytes (RBC [K+]) and plasma (P [K+]) was measured in 3 groups of horses: group 1, eight 2-year-old fillies that had postexercise muscle soreness within 48 hours of sample collection; group 2, ten 2-year-old fillies subjected to identical management and training conditions (as fillies of group 1) and that did not have signs of myopathy; and group 3, 32 yearlings of both sexes on the farm of origin of groups 1 and 2 that were p...
Relationship between plasmatic concentrations of K, Na and Ca, and ECG from foals during postnatal phase. The correlations between different electrocardiographic variables and plasma concentrations of K, Na and Ca ions were studied in foals of 1 to 14 days of age. The results obtained are only significant in neonate individuals of 1 day of age. Whilst the PQ segment and R wave duration showed a positive linear correlation (p less than or equal to 0.05) with plasma concentrations of Na and Ca ions respectively, the amplitude of the T wave showed a negative linear correlation (p less than or equal to 0.05) with the K ion. Moreover, the variability in duration of the QT and ST intervals can be explai...
Clinical experience with quantitative analysis of superficial digital flexor tendon injuries in Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses. A method to quantitate as well as to document SDFT pathology has been described. This report indicates that computer-assisted evaluation of SDFT damage can improve the accuracy of prognosis in clinical practice. It would appear that a 3.8 severity rating is a limit past which prognosis for successful racing starts to worsen rapidly.
Pathologic findings and pathogenesis of racetrack injuries. Many lesions of the musculoskeletal system of racing horses are either acute traumatic lesions or are chronic biomechanically induced lesions that become suddenly unstable and provoke acute clinical signs. The latter lesions along with those of DJD are much more common and are of much greater overall economic importance to the racing industry than are the acute traumatic injuries. Chronic biomechanical lesions occur at predictable sites and are the result of an imbalance between repetitive microtrauma sustained in athletic performance and adaptive repair mechanisms of skeletal tissues. The dis...
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.
Pseudohyperparathyroidism in a mare associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. An 18-year-old Appaloosa mare was examined because of squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva, anorexia with pronounced weight loss, and hypercalcemia. The tumor had developed rapidly over a period of 3 months and externally extended ventrally involving the perineum and the dorsal aspect of the udder. Necropsy examination demonstrated a large primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva, perineum, and mammary gland with metastases to the supramammary, sublumbar, deep inguinal, and mediastinal lymph nodes. No gross renal lesions were observed and, histologically, there was only mild vacuolation of...
Correlation between radiographic and arthroscopic findings in the equine carpus. The radiographic and arthroscopic findings in 150 carpal joints in 114 lame horses were compared. Chip, slab, or sagittal fractures were identified in 130 (87%) joints. In 101 (78%) of these there was good agreement between radiographic and arthroscopic findings on the number and position of fractures. In 23 (18%) joints, chip fractures additional to those seen radiographically were found arthroscopically. In one joint a large chip fracture from the craniolateral aspect of the distal radius was identified only by arthroscopy, while in 6 joints fractures were identified only by radiography. Obs...
[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 ...
Further observations on Strongyloides westeri dermatitis: recovery of larvae from soil and bedding, and survival in treated sites. Two horses repeatedly underwent episodes of frenzy characterised by extreme discomfort and hyperactivity. Within 2 days of an attack the lower extremities of both hind legs of one subject were uniformly swollen, while on the second subject skin lesions erupted 3-4 days after an attack and swelling persisted for 2-3 weeks. Filariform larvae of Strongyloides westeri were cultured from soil and sawdust where the subjects were kept. Larvae were cultured from soil of low pH (4.5-5.8) but were absent from neutral or alkaline soils. Larvae were found in sawdust with a wide pH range. It is thought tha...
Differentiation between intra-abdominal neoplasms and abscesses in horses, using clinical and laboratory data: 40 cases (1973-1988). The medical records of 25 horses with intra-abdominal neoplasms and 15 horses with intra-abdominal abscesses were reviewed. Common clinical signs of disease observed by owners of horses in both groups included anorexia, weight loss, fever, signs of colic, and depression. Clinical laboratory abnormalities included leukocytosis, hyperfibrinogenemia, hypoalbuminemia, and hypocalcemia. There was considerable overlap of laboratory test results within and between the 2 groups of horses. Peritoneal fluid was classified as an exudate in 12 of 15 horses with intra-abdominal abscesses and in 14 of 25 ho...
[The aberrant parasitism of horse botflies (Diptera: Gasterophilidae)]. Alongside with a high intensity of infection of horses with botfly larvae there was observed mass aberrant parasitism of horse botflies in farms of Astrakhan, Guryev and Uralsk Provinces, and in the Kalmyk ASSR in 1980-1981 and 1987. As a result of extremely high aggregation of horse botfly larvae in their usual localization places, Gasterophilus pecorum larvae remained, due to interspecific competition, in nonspecific places (oral cavity, pharynx), adapted to new habitats and normally developed. Their number varied from 260 to 750 specimens. Localization of G. pecorum larvae in the mentioned ...
Ultrasound as an aid to diagnosis of granulosa cell tumour in the mare. The ultrasonic appearance of seven cases of granulosa cell tumour is described, and compared with an ovarian haematoma and an ovarian serous cystadenoma. The granulosa cell tumours varied from being uniformly dense to having one or several large fluid filled cysts. Some tumours resembled the haematoma or cystadenoma and also, in some aspects, normal ovarian structures such as corpora haemorrhagica or follicles in early pregnancy. There was no typical ultrasonographic appearance of the granulosa cell tumours which enabled definitive diagnosis. However, ultrasound may be a diagnostic aid when us...
Effects of left recurrent laryngeal neurectomy, prosthetic laryngoplasty, and subtotal arytenoidectomy on upper airway pressure during maximal exertion. Upper airway pressure was measured with a nasotracheal catheter system and a portable pressure transducer in 10 normal horses during maximal exercise before and after left recurrent laryngeal neurectomy. Measurements were repeated 16 weeks after prosthetic laryngoplasty (5 horses) or subtotal arytenoidectomy (5 horses). During maximal exertion, prosthetic laryngoplasty was more effective than subtotal arytenoidectomy in reversing the increases in upper airway pressure that followed left recurrent laryngeal neurectomy.
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...
Intraocular silicone prostheses in a dog and a horse with corneal lacerations. Intraocular silicone prostheses were implanted in the eyes of a horse and a dog with traumatic corneal lacerations and protrusion of intraocular contents. Several months after surgery, the horse and dog were tolerating the intraocular prostheses, and the appearance was cosmetically acceptable. This contradicts earlier reports that have cited corneal disease as a contraindication for implantation of intraocular silicone prostheses.
Pericarditis in horses: six cases (1982-1986). Records of 6 horses with pericarditis were reviewed. Septic pericarditis was suspected in all horses, based on historic and clinical findings. In horses 1, 2, and 4, cytologic examination of the pericardial effusion revealed acute inflammation with severe neutrophil degeneration. In horses 3 and 5, cytologic examination of pericardial fluid revealed subacute inflammation with degenerated neutrophils, and in horse 6, chronic active inflammation, with well preserved neutrophils. In horses 1 and 3, bacteria were identified on cytologic examination of pericardial fluid. Results of microbiologic cu...
Long-term jugular vein catheterization in horses. The use of soft catheter materials in large-bore veins has allowed safe long-term venous access in human patients. Similar principles were applied to groups of horses; the jugular vein was catheterized for 14 days (group 1) and for 30 days (group 2). Three catheter materials were compared, and the clinical and histologic findings indicated that the least reaction was associated with silastic, followed by polyurethane; polytetraflouroethylene caused marked reaction. Our results suggest that by using catheters made of materials (especially silastic) that are less stiff or rigid, the duration of ...
Hepatocellular carcinoma associated with erythrocytosis and hypoglycemia in a yearling filly. A yearling Arabian-type filly with a history of poor growth, erythrocytosis, hypoglycemia, and high liver enzyme activities was admitted to the hospital for evaluation. Three days after admission, the filly collapsed, deteriorated rapidly despite treatment, and was euthanatized. A metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma with capsular rupture and hemoperitoneum were found at necropsy. Primary liver tumors are rare in horses, and hepatocellular carcinoma has been reported in only 1 other horse. The systemic manifestations of the tumor in this filly included weakness, weight loss, inappetence, erythr...
