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Topic:Clinical Signs
Clinical signs in horses refer to observable physical or behavioral manifestations that may indicate the presence of disease or injury. These signs can include a range of symptoms such as changes in appetite, alterations in gait, abnormal respiratory patterns, or variations in body temperature. Recognizing clinical signs is an integral part of equine veterinary practice, as they provide initial insights into the health status of the animal. Veterinarians rely on these signs to formulate differential diagnoses and guide further diagnostic testing. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the identification, interpretation, and diagnostic value of clinical signs in equine health management.
Treatment of supraspinous bursitis by use of debridement in standing horses: 10 cases (1968-1999). To evaluate efficacy of debridement for treatment of supraspinous bursitis in horses and to evaluate the outcome. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 10 horses with clinical signs of supraspinous bursitis. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for signalment, anamnesis, results of physical and radiographic examination, microbial culture results of supraspinous bursa tissue or exudate, Brucella abortus titers, type of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapies, surgical technique, complications of the surgical procedure, and findings on histologic examination of excised nuchal ligament a...
Streptococcal toxic shock in a horse. A 14-year-old horse was admitted to the veterinary hospital for treatment of tachycardia and lethargy. Initial diagnoses were ventricular tachycardia and renal dysfunction. During hospitalization other findings included fever, renal failure, hepatic failure, hypotension, and intermittent ventricular arrhythmias. Bacteriologic culture of 2 blood samples collected during febrile crises 7 days apart yielded Streptococcus mitis. These culture results along with other clinical and physical examination findings fulfill the criteria for a diagnosis of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, previously de...
Pneumothorax in horses: 40 cases (1980-1997). To characterize pneumothorax in horses and to describe clinical signs, diagnostic testing, and clinical outcome of horses with pneumothorax. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 40 horses. Methods: Medical records of horses with pneumothorax were reviewed to obtain information on signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic testing, treatment, and clinical outcome. Results: Horses developed pneumothorax secondary to pleuropneumonia (17 horses), open wounds of the thorax (9), closed trauma to the thorax (7), surgery on the upper portion of the respiratory tract (3), and surgery involving t...
[Is there a predictable correlation between time of birth, birth and the puerperal period and clinical and hormonal findings in horses?]. The investigations were done on 108 mares (78 warm-blooded horses, 25 cold-blooded horses and 5 trotters). To pursue the question in the title, progesterone and estradiol values in jugular vein-blood were examined starting from 30 days before the calculated date of parturition until 30 days after that event. In parallel to that Ca/Mg ratio was measured by means of a semiquantitative test-strip in the milk. Clinical signs of the birth, parturition itself and the post partum period were recorded. In respect to the P4 and E2 values it was that the P4:E2 ratio changed towards parturition in favour...
Risk factors for enterolithiasis among horses in Texas. To identify risk factors for enterolithiasis in horses. Methods: Matched case-control study. Methods: 26 horses with enteroliths, 104 horses with other causes of colic that underwent surgery (52 horses, surgical control group) or were treated medically (52 horses, nonsurgical control group). Methods: Medical records were reviewed for horses with enteroliths and control horses. Information collected included signalment, anamnesis, and findings on physical examination and clinicopathologic testing at admission. Horses with enteroliths and control horses were compared by means of conditional logi...
Oral vesicular lesions in horses without evidence of vesicular stomatitis virus infection. To report clinical and serologic findings in horses with oral vesicular lesions that were consistent with vesicular stomatitis (VS) but apparently were not associated with VS virus (VSV) infection. Methods: Serial case study. Methods: 8 horses. Methods: Horses were quarantined after appearance of oral lesions typical of VS. Severity of clinical signs was scored every 2 to 5 days for 3 months. Serum samples were tested for antibodies by use of competitive ELISA (cELISA), capture ELISA for IgM, serum neutralization, and complement fixation (CF). Virus isolation was attempted from swab specimens ...
Use of radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for evaluation of navicular syndrome in the horse. Radiographic evaluation of navicular syndrome is problematic because of its inconsistent correlation with clinical signs. Scintigraphy often yields false positive and false negative results and diagnostic ultrasound is of limited value. Therefore, we assessed the use of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in a horse with clinical and radiographic signs of navicular syndrome. Cadaver specimens were examined with spiral computed tomographic and high-field magnetic resonance scanners and images were correlated with pathologic findings. Radiographic changes consisted of bony remodel...
Ataxia and paresis with equine herpesvirus type 1 infection in a herd of riding school horses. An outbreak of neurologic disease associated with serologic evidence of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection occurred in a herd of 46 riding school horses. Ataxia and paresis were observed in 14 geldings and 5 barren mares. Eight affected horses had distal limb edema, 1 horse had a head tilt, and 3 others had urinary incontinence. Other clinical signs included fever, depression, and inappetance in 30 horses. Seven horses with neurologic signs were treated with acyclovir. Serum neutralizing antibody titers against EHV-1 increased 4-fold between acute and convalescent samples or exceeded ...
Leukoproliferative disorders in horses. Leukoproliferative disorders reported in horses include lymphoma, lymphocytic leukemia, plasma cell myeloma, granulocytic leukemia, monocytic leukemia, myelomonocytic leukemia, and eosinophilic leukemia. Lymphoma affects horses of all ages, whereas leukemias often occur in younger horses. Clinical signs are often nonspecific including depression, anorexia, fever, and weight loss. Specialized diagnostic techniques such as cytochemistry and immunophenotyping better define the cellular origin of leukoproliferative disorders, which is essential for developing appropriate therapeutic protocols and ...
Clinical and pathologic findings in donkeys with hypothermia: 10 cases (1988-1998). To describe clinical signs and clinicopathologic findings in donkeys with hypothermia. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 10 hypothermic donkeys. Methods: Information on signalment, history, physical examination findings, results of diagnostic tests, treatments, and necropsy findings was extracted from medical records of all donkeys with hypothermia between 1988 and 1998 and compared with information from medical records of all normothermic donkeys and hypothermic horses admitted to the hospital during the same period. Results: Donkeys were more likely to be hypothermic than horses. The me...
Cross-sectional study of gastric ulcers of the squamous mucosa in thoroughbred racehorses. Although gastric ulcers have been identified relatively frequently in racing Thoroughbreds, there have been no large scale studies to determine their effect on health and performance. Two hundred and two Thoroughbred horses in active race training were selected by the attending veterinarians for gastro-endoscopic examination. Images of the stomach mucosa were stored in a digitised format for subsequent evaluation. The number of ulcers and a score of severity were determined. Gastric ulceration of the squamous mucosa was identified in 82% of horses. Seventy-three (39%) horses displayed clinical...
Correlation of clinical score, intrapleural pressure, cytologic findings of bronchoalveolar fluid, and histopathologic lesions of pulmonary tissue in horses with summer pasture-associated obstructive pulmonary disease. To correlate clinical score, intrapleural pressure, cytologic findings of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and histologic lesions of pulmonary tissue in horses affected with summer pasture-associated obstructive pulmonary disease (SPAOPD). Methods: 8 adult horses affected with SPAOPD and 6 adult horses without evidence of respiratory tract disease. Methods: Clinical score, change in intrapleural pressure (deltaPpl) during tidal breathing, results of cytologic examination and bacteriologic culture of BALF, and results of histologic examination of pulmonary parenchyma were evaluated. Results...
Experimental infection of ponies with Borrelia burgdorferi by exposure to Ixodid ticks. Seven specific-pathogen-free (SPF) ponies, 1-5 years old, were exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi-infected adult ticks while being treated with dexamethasone over 5 consecutive days. One SPF pony (pony No. 178) was first exposed to laboratory-reared nymphs without B. burgdorferi infection and 3 weeks later was exposed to B. burgdorferi-infected adult ticks with concurrent dexamethasone treatment for 5 consecutive days. Four uninfected ponies treated with dexamethasone, exposed to laboratory-reared ticks without B. burgdorferi infection served as uninfected controls. Clinical signs, bacteriologic ...
Detection of trypanosome DNA in serologically positive but aparasitaemic horses suspected of dourine in Ethiopia. A field study of horses was conducted in the province of Bale, Ethiopian highlands. A rapid questionnaire analysis indicated that dourine, known as "Dirressa", is a major health problem of equines in this area. A total of 121 horses suspected of dourine were examined by use of clinical, parasitological, serological and DNA based techniques. Incoordination of hindlegs (76%), swelling of external genitalia (48.8%) and emaciation (39.7%) were the most common clinical signs observed. Using the haematocrit centrifugation technique (HCT), no trypanosomes were detected in blood, genital washes or tis...
[Rhinopneumonia or mycotoxin intoxication? Neurologic phenomena in horses from a riding school]. In the course of several days most of the 40 riding-school horses turned out in paddocks developed ataxia of variable severity. Five of these horses showed severe ataxia and tremors, became paralyzed and were euthanized. Eleven privately-owned horses which were stabled on the same premises showed no clinical signs. The most likely diagnosis seemed to be the 'neurological form of EHV1', although the signs were not entirely typical. A few weeks later a second outbreak occurred among the riding-school horses and one of the privately-owned horses also showed signs of ataxia. In the meantime it had...
Monensin poisoning in Brazilian horses. Three outbreaks of monensin poisoning caused 12 deaths in 16 horses. The illnesses were associated with the ingestion of the same batch of a commercial ration labeled for feeder calves which contained 180 +/- 20 ppm sodium monensin. The morbidity rate was 100% and lethality was 60%, 75%, and 100%. Clinical signs were tachycardia and cardiac arrythmia, groaning, incoordination, sudoresis, recumbency, and paddling movements with the limbs before death. Two horses had dark discolored urine (myoglobinuria). Serum levels of creatine phosphokinase activity were increased. Main necropsy findings were...
Equine cardiac disease. Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics. Cardiac disease is often life-threatening and challenging to treat. Prolonged therapy is indicated in many cases, which can lead to problems with treatment costs, owner compliance, and potential drug toxicity. Many therapies are empirical or based on data from other species because of a lack of well-designed prospective clinical trials in horses. This article reviews the clinical pharmacology and therapeutics of heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial disease, endocarditis, and pericardial disease.
Equine respiratory pharmacology. Differentiation of diseases of the equine respiratory tract is based on history, clinical signs, auscultation, endoscopy, imaging, and sampling of airway exudate. Upper respiratory therapies include surgical correction of airway obstructions; flushing of localized abscesses (strangles), guttural pouch disease, or sinusitis; and oral or parenteral antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapy if deemed necessary. Pneumonia usually is treated with antimicrobials, anti-inflammatories, and bronchodilators. Pleural drainage is indicated if significant pleural effusion is present. The most commonly used ...
Laminitis in the horse: a review. Laminitis has been a recognized disease since early Greek and Roman times, but it is still bothering both practitioners and scientists. In the last decade a lot of new fundamental research has been done to elucidate the pathogenesis of laminitis. New insights into the pathogenesis, the predisposing factors (including nutritional overload, endotoxaemia, shock, management, etcetera), clinical and radiological signs, differential diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of the disease are described. The data, however, are not always in agreement with each other, giving further proof of the complexity of...
Experimental cross-infections with Ehrlichia phagocytophila and human granulocytic ehrlichia-like agent in cows and horses. Four cows and four horses were infected experimentally with Ehrlichia phagocytophila, the cause of tickborne fever in ruminants, and with human granulocytic ehrlichia-like agent, a recently discovered species that infects people, horses and dogs in the USA and Europe. They were infected in either order, 30 days apart, to investigate serological cross-reactivity within the Ephagocytophila genogroup. The course of infection was assessed by routine clinical, haematological, serological and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) examinations. Two of the cows infected with Ephagocytophila and two of the h...
A retrospective look at horses exhibiting unusual clinical signs after exercising on L-NAME. Three of 5 horses exercising on L-NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) exhibited unusual clinical signs towards the end of exercise bouts and post-exercise. L-NAME is a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor which blocks synthesis of nitric oxide from L-arginine. The induced absence of nitric oxide may have lead to the clinical signs observed.
Factors involved in the prognosis of equine laminitis in the UK. The significance of clinical and radiological parameters as prognostic indicators for laminitis, 'founder' and 'sinking syndrome' was studied using case records of 216 horses and ponies. Five animals were destroyed without treatment and were not included in the results of the study. One hundred and sixty-two (77%) animals returned to athletic soundness; 7 animals (3%) did not regain full athletic function, 42 animals (20%) died or were destroyed. Cases were assigned to 4 groups on the basis of initial clinical examination alone. These groups were laminitis, acute founder, 'sinker' and chronic ...
Comparison of the pathogenesis of acute equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) infection in the horse and the mouse model: a review. The mouse models of the respiratory and abortion forms of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) infection have been used to investigate the vaccine potential of various EHV-1 immunogens, the effect of antiviral agents on EHV-1 infection and the pathogenicity of EHV-1 strain variants and deletion or insertional mutants. This review examines the similarities and differences in the pathogenesis of primary EHV-1 infection in the natural host, the horse, and in the mouse by comparing tissue tropism, clinical signs of infection, the effects of EHV-1 on pregnancy, haematological changes following infection, v...
Actinobacillus lignieresii infection in two horses. A 10-year-old pregnant Norwegian Fjord horse was examined for gross swelling of the muzzle of 2 years' duration. Examination of biopsy specimens revealed diffuse dermal fibrosis, micropustule formation, and vascular thrombosis; large numbers of Actinobacillus lignieresii were isolated in pure culture. Prolonged treatment with i.v. administration of sodium iodide and oral administration of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole caused regression of the swelling and did not induce abortion. A 5-month-old American Paint filly was examined for swelling in the udder region. Bacteriologic culture of purulent...
Primary hypoparathyroidism in two horses. Two Thoroughbred horses were presented with various clinical signs which included sweating, agitation, muscle twitching and synchronous diaphragmatic flutter. These signs were associated with profound hypocalcaemia. A diagnosis of primary hypoparathyroidism was made on the basis of low serum ionised calcium concentration, hyperphosphataemia and markedly reduced serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone concentrations in the presence of normal renal function. Treatment with a combination of intravenous calcium and subsequently oral calcium, magnesium and a vitamin D analogue (dihydrotachysterol)...
Hemodynamic and metabolic alterations associated with intravenous infusion of a combination of adenosine triphosphate and magnesium chloride in conscious horses. To determine hemodynamic and metabolic effects of IV infusion of ATP-MgCl2 combination and maximal safe IV infusion rate in conscious horses. Methods: 6 adult female horses. Methods: All horses received an IV infusion of ATP-MgCl2 combination, beginning at a rate of 0.05 mg of ATP/kg of body weight/min, which was increased by 0.05 mg/kg/min increments at 10-minute intervals until a rate of 1.0 mg/kg/min was achieved. Data were collected prior to the start of the infusion, at the end of each infusion rate, and at 15-minute intervals for the next hour after discontinuation of the infusion. Measu...
The pharmacologic basis for the treatment of developmental and acute laminitis. Each horse with laminitis is presented to the veterinarian at a different stage in progression of the condition and with varying severity. The pathogenic timing is often unknown and is difficult to determine. Because timing and severity are related to both the lesion's severity and responsiveness to treatment, these factors are critical to treatment selection and success. It is erroneous to assume that each horse with laminitis should receive each treatment. It is therefore important to ascertain as logically and objectively as possible the pathophysiological stage of development of each horse...
Clinicopathological features of equine primary hepatic disease: a review of 50 cases. The clinicopathological features of 50 cases of equine hepatic disease were reviewed. There was a wide range of clinical signs and at least 50 per cent of the animals exhibited either dull demeanour, anorexia, abdominal pain, cerebral dysfunction and/or weight loss. Life-threatening complications of hepatic failure recorded were: gastric impaction in 10 cases, bilateral laryngeal paralysis in seven cases and coagulopathy in five cases. All the cases had high activities of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and most had high activities of glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) and high concentrations of ...
Plasma and urine nitric oxide concentrations in horses given below a low dose of endotoxin. To quantify plasma and urine nitric oxide (NO) concentrations before and after low-dose endotoxin infusion in horses. Methods: 11 healthy adult female horses. Procedure-Eight horses were given endotoxin (35 ng/kg of body weight,i.v.) over 30 minutes. Three sentinel horses received an equivalent volume of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution over the same time. Clinical signs of disease and hemodynamic variables were recorded, and urine and plasma samples were obtained to measure NO concentrations prior to endotoxin infusion (t = 0) and every hour until postinfusion hour (PIH) 6, then every 2 hours unti...
