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.
Induction of parturition in mares. Thirty-seven induced parturitions involving thirty-one mares were studied over a 2-year period using various doses of oestrogen and oxytocin. The time of appearance and degree of expression of the major clinical signs of parturition, and the time for completion of delivery and the passage of the placenta were significantly influenced by increasing doses of oxytocin. Oestrogen was useful in softening and relaxing the cervix when it was tight, but was not essential to induction when the cervix was already soft and dilating. Fertility was not adversely affected by induced parturition.
Some clinical observations on the effect of an implant of oestradiol benzoate in brood mares. The clinical effects and therapeutic value of a 500 mg implant of oestradiol benzoate was observed in thirty-nine Thoroughbred brood mares showing various abnormalities of the ovary and/or the reproductive tract. Sixteen similarly affected, untreated mares acted as controls. The implant was inserted during the early part of the normal anoestrous period and was removed 6 to 10 weeks later. The conception rate among the treated group (59%) during the onset of the ensuing breeding season was significantly higher (P less than 0-02) than that in the control group. The value of this form of treatmen...
Studies on dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate toxicity: clinical, gross and microscopic pathology in the horse and guinea pig. Concentrations of dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DSS) ranging from three to five times the recommended dosage produced severe diarrhea, rapid dehydration and death in seven horses and 66 guinea pigs when administered experimentally per os. Clinicopathological findings indicated hemoconcentration in both horses and guinea pigs. There was a leucocytosis in the guinea pigs given the highest dosages. In all cases the principal finding at necropsy was extreme fluid distention of the intestinal tract. There was histopathological evidence of epithelial denudation and vascular stasis. The LD50 in the ...
Digitoxin metabolism by rat liver microsomes. The chest roentgenographic findings in Takayasu's arteritis include widening of the ascending aorta, contour irregularities of the descending aorta, arotic calcifications, pulmonary arterial changes, rib notching, and hilar lymphadenopathy. The single most important diagnostic sign is a segmental calcification outlining a localized or diffuse narrowing of the aorta. The other signs may be suspicious or suggestive, but the diagnostic accuracy increases when several findings are present simultaneously.
Metaldehyde poisoning in three horses. Three horses exhibited nervous and cardiopulmonary signs after ingestins small amounts of metaldehyde, and 2 died in 3 to 5 hours. A colt given 0.1 mg/kg was similarly affected and died.
Symposium on back problems in the horse. Backs-clinical signs. Diseases of the back of horse and man are not comparable owing to the great difference in anatomy and posture. Veterinary surgeons, particularly in the United Kingdom, are often requested to account for a poor performance due to suspected "back trouble" but a complete examination of the horse's back is most difficult and care must be taken first to exclude any limb or foot lesions. Diseases of the bones, nerves and muscles are briefly discussed. Diagnosis must be improved by new radiographic and biochemical tests before the significance of back lesions can be assessed or even treated.
Some reflections on clinical research. The place of clinical research in the veterinary profession is discussed against the author's personal experiences and in the context of how research workers, clinicians, teachers and veterinary students might be brought into a more cohesive unit through the development of a Faculty of clinical research and experimental medicine. It is argued that students should receive training in research and teaching and that efforts should be made to break down the attitude of "them" and "us" which tends to separate the clinicians and academics.
Monitoring and evaluating the physiological changes in the horse with acute abdominal disease. Initial examination and therapy, and the avoidance of maltreatment are emphasized. Gastric decompression is of prime importance, after which no compound should be administered via stomach tube. Where large amounts of high starch grains are fed, primary acute gastric dilatation must be differentiated from that secondary to small bowel dilatation, by immediate gastric intubation and irrigation of the cardia with lidocaine. If cessation of pain and improvement of peristalsis and general attitude follow, the former state may be assumed. If pain persists and peristalsis does not improve markedly, o...
Differential diagnosis of diarrhoea in horses over six months of age. Pertinent questions regarding the history of a horse with diarrhoea are listed, as are diagnostic procedures that might be included in a complete clinical work-up. For purposes of discussion, diarrhoea is regarded as "acute" or "chronic" wherein the former concerns cases where the features of the disease are severe with progressive electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, toxaemia, or other life-threatening manifestations and the latter refers to cases that have been prolonged for a month or more. Patterns of disease, including results of diagnostic techniques, are stressed. In the "acute" category...
The pathogenesis of single experimental infections with Strongylus vulgaris in foals. The clinical signs, pathology and clinical pathology associated with single experimental infections of Strongylus vulgaris in worm-free pony foals are described. The major clinical signs which became apparent in the infected foals during the first three weeks were pyrexia, anorexia, dullness and abdominal pain. Within the first two weeks of infection lesions were confined to the intestine and terminal branches of the intestinal arteries and consisted of mucosal, submucosal and serosal haemorrhage together with arteritis of submucosal and serosal arteries and also a marked inflammatory reaction...
Snakebite in the horse. Four cases of snakebite in horses are presented. Diagnosis was made on clinical signs in all, plus fang punctures in 2 cases. Tiger snake antivenene was used in the treatment of 2 patients and these recovered rapidly. Of the 2 in which antivenene was not used, 1 severely affected horse died. The clinical signs which were observed were those of progressive general paralysis and were entirely referable to the neurotoxic component of the venom.
Cytology of tracheobronchial aspirates in horses. Tracheobronchial aspirates were obtained from 27 normal horses and from 57 horses with respiratory disease. Aspirates from normal horses contained mainly ciliated columnar epithelial cells, mononuclear cells, a few neutrophils and mucus. Aspirates from horses with acute suppurative bronchopneumonias or chronic bronchiolitis had predominantly neutrophils and usually large amounts of mucus; in severe suppurative inflammatory diseases, many of the cells were degenerated, and there were coils of fibrinous material resembling Curschmann's spirals. Eosinophils were rarely found, even from horses wit...
The diagnosis of rabies in a horse by brain neutralization test. A horse showing clinical signs of a neurological disorder was killed and various diagnostic tests for rabies were carried out. Histopathlogy revealed a nonsuppurative encephalitis. Fluorescent antibody test and mouse inoculation test were negative. A positive diagnosis of rabies was based on a high antibody titer (1:10,000) to rabies virus in brain tissue.