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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.
Owner-reported coughing and nasal discharge are associated with clinical findings, arterial oxygen tension, mucus score and bronchoprovocation in horses with recurrent airway obstruction in a field setting. In clinical practice, veterinarians often depend on owner-reported signs to assess the clinical course of horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Objective: To test whether owner-reported information on frequency of coughing and observation of nasal discharge are associated with clinical, cytological and bronchoprovocation findings in RAO-affected horses in nonstandardised field conditions. Methods: Cross-sectional study comparing healthy and RAO-affected horses. Methods: Twenty-eight healthy and 34 RAO-affected Swiss Warmblood horses were grouped according to owner-reported 'coughing ...
Evaluation of the colic in horses: decision for referral. This article presents an overview of key factors that should alert the practitioner toward referral of a colic patient to a facility capable of surgical exploration or intensive medical management. Discussion includes a review of important aspects of colic history, signalment, physical examination findings, and diagnostic test results that indicate that a more serious medical or surgical condition exists, and advanced therapy is necessary.
Blood lactate measurement and interpretation in critically ill equine adults and neonates. Admission blood lactate concentration is widely used as a prognostic indicator in equine medicine and can be a useful indicator of disease severity but typically fails to completely discriminate survivors from nonsurvivors. Increased admission lactate concentrations in adult horses typically return to normal within 12 to 24 hours. Lactate concentrations in neonatal foals are higher than adult concentrations for the first 24 to 72 hours of life. Serial measures reflecting both the magnitude and duration of hyperlactatemia might enable more accurate prognostication and provide insight into dis...
Neurolymphomatosis in three horses with multicentric T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma. Neurolymphomatosis is a rare manifestation of lymphoma and is characterized by neoplastic infiltration of the peripheral nervous system. The present report describes neoplastic infiltration of peripheral nerves in three horses with multicentric lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of CD79a(+) lymphoblastic cells and well-differentiated CD3(+) T cells, characteristic of T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma in all cases. Nerve infiltration by lymphoma is rare, but should be considered as a differential diagnosis for peripheral neuropathy in horses with lymphoma.
Brainstem auditory evoked responses in an equine patient population. Part II: foals. Reports of the use of brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) as a diagnostic modality in foals have been limited. Objective: To describe BAER findings and associated causes of hearing loss in foals. Methods: Study group 18 foals (15 neonatal, 3 nonneonatal), control group (5 neonatal foals). Methods: Retrospective. BAER records from the Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory were reviewed from the years of 1982 to 2013. Peak latencies, amplitudes, and interpeak intervals were measured when visible. Clinical data were extracted from the medical records. Foals were grouped under disease categori...
Diagnostic evaluation and short-term outcome as indicators of long-term prognosis in horses with findings suggestive of inflammatory bowel disease treated with corticosteroids and anthelmintics. Recurrent colic and unexplained weight loss despite good appetite and adequate feeding and management practices are common conditions in the horse. However, little information has been published on the systematic diagnostic evaluation, response to treatment, prognostic factors or outcome of either presentation. The aims of this study were to 1) identify possible prognostic indicators and 2) report the short- and long-term response to treatment with corticosteroid therapy of a variety of horses with a presumptive diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Thirty-six horses with a history of...
Challenges of thermal nociceptive threshold testing in the donkey. To evaluate a thermal nociceptive threshold (TNT) testing device in the donkey, and the influence of potential confounding factors on TNTs. Methods: Two groups (Group 1 and Group 2) of eight castrated male donkeys aged 4-9 years, weighing 105-170 kg. Methods: TNTs were measured by heating a thermal probe on skin until an end-point behaviour (threshold temperature) or a cut-out temperature (51 °C) was reached. The withers and the dorsal aspect of the distal limb were used as sites for TNT testing. The effects on TNT of different confounding factors: the limb tested; rate of heating; and amb...
Comparison of cardiac output determined by an ultrasound velocity dilution cardiac output method and by the lithium dilution cardiac output method in juvenile horses with experimentally induced hypovolemia. To assess the accuracy of an ultrasound velocity dilution cardiac output (UDCO) method, compared with that of the lithium dilution cardiac output (LiDCO) method, for determination of cardiac output (CO) in juvenile horses with experimentally induced hypovolemia. Methods: 12 anesthetized 2- to 6-month-old horses. Methods: For each anesthetized horse, CO was determined by the LiDCO and UDCO methods prior to any intervention (baseline state), after withdrawal of approximately 40% of the horse's blood volume (low CO state), after maintenance of hypovolemia and infusion of norepinephrine until mean...
A comparison of three doses of omeprazole in the treatment of equine gastric ulcer syndrome: A blinded, randomised, dose-response clinical trial. A previous study demonstrated that a dose effect between 1.6 and 4.0 mg/kg bwt of omeprazole per os s.i.d. is present in the treatment of equine gastric ulceration. In the same study, healing of glandular ulceration appeared inferior to healing of squamous ulceration. However, several limitations were recognised in that study and further investigation is warranted. Objective: To further investigate the presence of a dose relationship in the treatment of gastric ulceration under conditions that may favour omeprazole efficacy such as administration prior to exercise and after a brief fast, and...
Intraocular pressure changes in equine athletes during endurance competitions. To assess intraocular pressure (IOP) in conditioned equine athletes and document changes with exercise. A secondary objective was to assess associations between IOP and heart rate, as well as with other subjective physical parameters. Methods: Horses were evaluated during 50 mile endurance ride competitions. Data were collected on 69 horses during five different competitions at three different locations with 59 horses ridden once, nine horses ridden in two competitions, and one horse ridden in three competitions for a total of 80 horse-ride combinations. Methods: Intraocular pressure was measu...
Effect of intravenous administration of romifidine on intraocular pressure in clinically normal horses. To evaluate the effect of intravenous administration of romifidine on the intraocular pressure (IOP) in horses. Methods: Twenty-four horses with no ocular abnormalities. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned into two equal groups (treatment and control). All horses in the treatment group received an intravenous (IV) injection of romifidine (40 μg/kg). The horses in the control group were administrated an intravenous injection of 0.9% saline (0.4 mL/100 kg). In both groups, the IOP values were measured immediately (T0 ) pre-administration and at 5 (T5 ), 15 (T15 ), 30 (T30 ), 45 (T45 ), 60 (T...
Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography evaluation of the cornea, retina, and optic nerve in normal horses. To determine the feasibility of using a handheld spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) instrument to characterize normal corneal, retinal, and optic nerve head anatomy in vivo in standing horses. Methods: Clinically normal horses under sedation, palpebral nerve blockage, and pharmacologically induced mydriasis were imaged with a SD-OCT instrument (Envisu SD-OCT, Bioptigen, Inc., Morrisville, NC). Radial volumes from the cornea (axial, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal), and rectangular volumes from the retina (dorsal, ventral, nasal, and temporal) and optic nerve head wer...
Treatment of experimentally induced osteoarthritis in horses using an intravenous combination of sodium pentosan polysulfate, N-acetyl glucosamine, and sodium hyaluronan. To assess the effects of sodium pentosan polysulfate (PPS), N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG), and sodium hyaluronan (HA) in horses with induced osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Experimental. Methods: Adult Standard bred horses (n = 16). Methods: OA was induced arthroscopically in 1 intercarpal joint; 8 horses were administered 3 mg/kg PPS, 4.8 mg/kg NAG, and 0.12 mg/kg HA (PGH), intravenously (IV), weekly and 8 horses were administered an equivalent volume of saline IV until study completion (day 70). Horses underwent a standardized treadmill exercise program. Clinical and radiographic findin...
Oxygenation, oxygen delivery and anaesthesia in the horse. Horses are the most difficult of the common companion animals to anaesthetise. Hypoxaemia or inadequate oxygen delivery to peripheral tissues during anaesthesia would seem a potential cause of increased mortality, but no direct link has been established. A number of methods of increasing oxygenation and oxygen delivery have been reported, with varying results and potential applicability. The purpose of this article is to review the literature with regard to oxygenation, oxygen delivery and methods to improve each and to make recommendations for clinical application.
Colonic gastrointestinal stromal tumor resulting in recurrent colic and hematochezia in a warmblood gelding. A 14-year-old Trakehner gelding was evaluated for recurrent colic, with episodes occurring over 1 year. Signs were consistent with intermittent ascending colon obstruction and hematochezia. Necropsy examination revealed an ulcerated mass extending into the lumen of the right dorsal ascending colon. Gross and histologic appearance and immunoreactivity to c-kit (CD117), desmin, vimentin, and smooth muscle actin, were consistent with a diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Tumeur ventrale gastro-intestinale du côlon produisant des coliques et de l’hématochézie et des coliques récurre...
The effects of intravenous romifidine on intraocular pressure in clinically normal horses and horses with incidental ophthalmic findings. Original study. Objective: To evaluate the effect of sedation with romifidine hydrochloride 1% (Sedivet: Boehringer-Ingelheim) on intraocular pressure (IOP) in the normal horse and horses with incidental ophthalmic findings as measured by applanation tonometry. Methods: Nineteen clinically normal horses (13 geldings, six mares) and eight horses (three geldings, five mares) with incidental ophthalmic findings were included in this study. Methods: All horses underwent complete ophthalmic examination with pharmacologic mydriasis a minimum of 2 weeks prior to IOP evaluation. Baseline intraocular p...
A description of the severity of equestrian-related injuries (ERIs) using clinical parameters and patient-reported outcomes. Despite a number of injury prevention campaigns and interventions, horse riding continues to be a dangerous activity, resulting in more accidents per hour than motorcycling, skiing and football. Injuries are often serious, with one in four patients requiring admission to hospital. This study aims to describe the severity of equestrian-related injuries (ERIs) using both clinical parameters and patient-reported outcomes. Methods: A retrospective study of all patients aged ≥18 years admitted to The Alfred Hospital between January 2003 and January 2008 with an ERI was performed. Specific clinica...
Electroretinogram evaluation of equine eyes with extensive ‘bullet-hole’ fundic lesions. To evaluate the impact of extensive bullet-hole nontapetal fundic lesions in horses on retinal function as measured by full-field electroretinography (ERG). Methods: Full-field ERG was performed on two horses with numerous bullet-hole lesions in the nontapetal fundus of both eyes. The ERG was first recorded from the eye with the more extensive lesions in response to a low-intensity light stimulus (0.03 cd s/m(2) ) that was given at times (T) T = 5, 10, 15, 20 min of dark adaptation. Consecutively, combined rod-cone response was evaluated bilaterally in response to high-intensity light stimulus...
Visual outcomes of phacoemulsification cataract surgery in horses: 1990-2013. To evaluate the long-term visual outcome of phacoemulsification lens extraction surgery in foals and horses and identify any unique postoperative complications that affect the visual outcome. Methods: This is a retrospective medical records study of phacoemulsification cataract surgery in 95 foals and horses from 1990 to 2013. Results: Cataracts were removed by phacoemulsification from 111 eyes of 95 horses ranging in age from 22 days to 26 years (average 8.0 ± 5.7 years). Forty-four of the 95 animals were foals (46.3%). Sixteen horses or foals had surgery bilaterally. One hundred and two eye...
Clinical and diagnostic imaging characteristics of lateral digital flexor tendinitis within the tarsal sheath in four horses. Lateral digital flexor tendonitis is a rarely reported cause of hind limb lameness in performance horses. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe clinical and diagnostic imaging findings for a group of horses with lateral digital flexor tendinitis within the tarsal sheath. Equine cases with a diagnosis of lateral digital flexor tendonitis and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of the affected region were retrieved from North Carolina University’s medical record database. Recorded data for included horses were signalment; findings from history, physical examination, lame...
Effect of artificial insemination protocol and dose of frozen/thawed stallion semen on pregnancy results in mares. Deep intra-uterine insemination is commonly accepted as a routine procedure for artificial insemination in horses. The motives and principles of deep insemination are well described, but the equipment used may differ. In this trial, the efficiency of two different insemination pipettes for deep intra-uterine insemination in the mare was compared with insemination into the uterine body using commercially available frozen-thawed semen of two stallions of proven fertility. These inseminations were performed using two different doses. The semi-flexible Minitube pipette was compared with a newly de...
[Clinical relevant procedures for early pregnancy diagnosis in the mare]. This review describes stepwise the recto-manual and transrectal ultrasonographic evidence of early pregnancy detection in the horse. The morphological and physiological conditions in the individual phases of early pregnancy are presented in correlation to the potential clinical findings. The importance of embryonic and early foetal losses is presented. Communication and documentation of findings are also addressed. The final section is devoted to the evaluation of the examination effort. In this regard, it is emphasized that the gynaecological examination for the evaluation of the pregnancy st...
Thoracic aortic rupture and aortopulmonary fistulation in the Friesian horse: histomorphologic characterization. Aortic rupture in horses is a rare condition. Although it is relatively common in the Friesian breed, only limited histopathologic information is available. Twenty Friesian horses (1-10 years old) were diagnosed with aortic rupture by postmortem examination. Ruptured aortic walls were analyzed with histology and immunohistochemistry. Based on the histologic and immunohistochemical findings, these cases were divided into 3 groups: acute (n = 4, 20%), subacute (n = 8, 40%), and chronic (n = 8, 40%). Features common to samples from horses in all groups included accumulation of mucoid material; di...
