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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.
Causative ehrlichial organisms in Potomac horse fever. An ehrlichia was consistently isolated from the peripheral blood leukocyte fraction of ponies that had been experimentally infected with Potomac horse fever by whole blood transfusion from naturally infected horses. The organism was propagated in a human histiocyte cell line for 3 to 5 weeks and then inoculated intravenously or intradermally into healthy adult ponies. Clinical signs of Potomac horse fever, which varied in the degree of severity, occurred 9 to 14 days post-inoculation in all of the ponies. One pony died 20 days post-inoculation. The ehrlichial organism was reisolated in the hum...
Ultrastructural study of ehrlichial organisms in the large colons of ponies infected with Potomac horse fever. Potomac horse fever is characterized by fever, anorexia, leukopenia, profuse watery diarrhea, dehydration, and high mortality. An ultrastructural investigation was made to search for any unusual microorganisms in the digestive system, lymphatic organs, and blood cells of ponies that had developed clinical signs after transfusion with whole blood from horses naturally infected with Potomac horse fever. A consistent finding was the presence of rickettsial organisms in the wall of the intestinal tract of these ponies. The organisms were found mostly in the wall of the large colon, but fewer organ...
Pathogenesis of helminths in equines. This review summarizes information on the clinical signs, gross and microscopic lesions associated with nematode and cestode infections and discusses the development of these conditions in the equine host.
Cecal perforation in the horse. The case records of 23 horses with cecal perforation (CP) were reviewed. The horses averaged 4.5 years of age (6 weeks to 13 years) and included 9 intact males, 12 mares, and 2 geldings. Twelve of the horses were Standardbreds, 9 were Thoroughbreds, and 1 each, a Belgian and Morgan. The horses were allotted to 2 groups: group I-13 hospitalized horses in which CP occurred unexpectedly, and group II-10 horses with CP at the time of admission. The horses characteristically had been sick or affected with disease unrelated to the cecum. Sixteen horses had been given nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory d...
Diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Cardiac arrhythmias are probably more common in horses than in any other domestic animal species. The most frequent clinical complaint associated with cardiac arrhythmias is exercise intolerance. Physical examination is characterized by auscultation abnormalities such as fast or slow heart rate, irregular rhythm, extra sounds, long pauses, or abnormal heart sounds. The electrocardiogram is used to make a definitive diagnosis of the dysrhythmia. Other laboratory and cardiac function tests are employed to determine the etiology and to assess the significance of the arrhythmia. Antiarrhythmic the...
Experimentally induced phenylbutazone toxicosis in ponies: description of the syndrome and its prevention with synthetic prostaglandin E2. Phenylbutazone (PBZ) toxicosis was induced in 9 ponies to further define the clinical and pathologic changes occurring with this syndrome. Six additional ponies were treated with PBZ and a synthetic prostaglandin E2 to determine the role of prostaglandins in the pathogenesis of PBZ toxicosis. Ponies given only PBZ exhibited CNS depression, anorexia, weight loss, diarrhea, cyanotic mucous membranes, and oral ulcers. Total serum protein concentration gradually decreased during the 10-day treatment period. Marked mucosal atrophy, focal erosions, and ulcers characterized the lesions in the aliment...
A review and some observations on stringhalt. A review of the literature on stringhalt in horses is presented, including the aetiology, clinical signs, pathology and treatment of this disease. Three New Zealand outbreaks of stringhalt are reported and discussed. The occurrence of these (and most previously reported outbreaks) in the late summer and autumn, and the association of the disease with various weeds, indicates a likely toxic aetiology.
Haemorrhagic necrotising enteritis in foals associated with Clostridium perfringens. Two foals aged 35 and 48 h from 2 Thoroughbred studs died several hours after developing clinical signs of depression, severe haemorrhagic diarrhoea and dehydration. Both foals had an acute haemorrhagic enteritis extending from the anterior jejunum to the terminal ileum which was characterised histologically by villus necrosis. Necrotic villi were surrounded by large numbers of rod-shaped Gram positive bacteria. Clostridium perfringens was recovered from the intestines of both foals and the isolates were considered to be C. perfringens type C. Other cases of diarrhoea were also observed in foa...
Reserpine toxicosis in a horse. A single injection of reserpine in an adult horse was believed to induce toxicosis for several days. Clinical signs included erratic, colic-like behavior followed by depression, bradycardia, miosis, ptosis, and paraphimosis. Diarrhea was not observed and may have been due to the effect of xylazine given with the reserpine. The horse was supported with IV fluids and intensive nursing care. Gradual improvement was noted 72 hours after the horse received the drug. Qualitative analysis via high-performance liquid chromatography was positive for reserpine. Methamphetamine is the recommended antidot...
Effect of endotoxin administration on body fluid compartments in the horse. Plasma volume, extracellular fluid volume (ECFV), and total body water (TBW) were measured before and after endotoxin (Escherichia coli) administration in 6 conscious adult horses. Evan's blue dye, sodium thiocyanate, and antipyrine were the test substances used to estimate plasma volume, ECFV, and TBW, respectively. Pharmacokinetic analysis of plasma concentration vs time was used to determine changes in body fluid compartments. The pathophysiologic effects of endotoxin were monitored by clinical evaluation, blood chemical changes, and blood gas determinations. All horses became dyspneic with...
Current concepts of hyperlipaemia in horses and ponies. Hyperlipaemia is an important condition in ponies, not just because of the seriousness of the clinical signs and biochemical changes involved, but because of the distress it causes owners and breeders that have had animals suffer from it. Hyperlipaemia occurs most commonly in fat ponies in late pregnancy and is rarely seen in larger horses. The syndrome has similarities with conditions in other species but the definitive aetiologies are not yet known. The condition in ponies is undoubtedly related to stress. The biochemical mechanisms involved in equine hyperlipaemia are considered and an hypo...
Chronic eosinophilic pancreatitis and ulcerative colitis in a horse. A generalized debilitating disease in a horse was believed to be related to hypersensitivity to migrating strongyle larvae. The clinical signs included weight loss, diarrhea, and ulcers on all 4 coronary bands. The mare's condition deteriorated rapidly, so the mare was euthanatized and necropsied. The major histopathologic findings were chronic multifocal eosinophilic pancreatitis, hepatic portal fibrosis, biliary hyperplasia, and chronic ulcerative eosinophilic colitis. This case was similar to previously reported cases of chronic eosinophilic gastroenteritis in horses. Although the etiologic...
Aspects of pharmacology in the neonatal foal. Other therapeutic agents used in foals for specific diseases are discussed elsewhere. The marked effect of species, age, and degree of maturity on drug metabolism in the neonate reinforces the danger of interspecies extrapolation of pharmacology, the need for information specific for the foal, and the necessity for monitoring drug levels in the individual. Suggested antimicrobial doses are listed in Tables 3, 4, and 6. Recommended doses of anticonvulsants and sedatives are listed in Table 8 and in the article "Intensive Care of the Neonatal Foal." The following are recommendations for drug the...
Chronic intestinal intussusception in two horses. In 2 cases of chronic intestinal intussusception in horses, one involved jejunum and the other, ileum. The only clinical signs observed were intermittent colic. Surgery was performed on both horses, with successful outcomes.
Psychogenic colic in a horse. A 4-year-old mixed-breed gelding was presented with colic-type behavior of 5 days' duration that included pawing, looking at the flank area, and kicking and biting at the abdomen and flank when it was eating hay or grain. Medical evaluation did not reveal the cause of the "colic." During its stay in the hospital, the horse improved as regarded the colic-type behavior while eating, but resumed this behavior when it was able to see hay that it was not allowed to eat. It was determined that the persistent colic-type behavior developed as a result of the horse having been repeatedly displaced from...
Experimental cantharidiasis in the horse. Crystalline cantharidin in an alfalfa cake or in aqueous suspension was given to 8 horses at a dosage level of 450 to 489 micrograms/kg of body weight (group 1) and 2 horses at a dosage level of 720 micrograms/kg (group 2) via nasogastric tube. Both group 2 horses and 1 group 1 horse died. Horses were evaluated at 6-hour intervals for 36 hours and then again at postcantharidin hours 48. Data evaluation consisted of a comparison of the nonsurvival and survival data to one another and their respective base-line values at each sampling period, irrespective of the route of administration and dosag...
Suspected tremetol poisoning in horses. Of 10 horses in a heavily overgrazed pasture, 4 died within 1 week. Clinical signs included muscle tremors, ataxia, reluctance to walk, heavy sweating, and myoglobinuria. Serum creatine kinase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase activities were high. Histopathologic findings were nonspecific. On the basis of clinical signs, clinicopathologic findings, nonspecific histopathologic findings, the condition of the pasture, the identification of numerous white snakeroot plants from which trematone was extracted, and evidence that these plants had been heavily browsed, it was believed t...
Pharmacokinetic disposition of theophylline in horses after intravenous administration. The pharmacokinetics of theophylline were determined in 6 healthy horses after a single IV administration of 12 mg of aminophylline/kg of body weight (equivalent to 9.44 mg of theophylline/kg). Serum theophylline was measured after the IV dose at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 15 hours. Serum concentration plotted against time on semilogarithmic coordinates, indicated that theophylline in 5 horses was best described by a 2-compartment open model and in 1 horse by a 1-compartment open model. The following mean pharmacokinetic values were determined; elimination half-life = 11.9 hours, distri...
