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Topic:Disease Treatment
Disease treatment in horses encompasses a range of medical interventions and management strategies aimed at addressing various health conditions affecting equine species. These treatments can include pharmacological approaches, such as the administration of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antiparasitic medications, as well as non-pharmacological methods like physical therapy, dietary adjustments, and surgical procedures. The selection of appropriate treatments depends on the specific disease, its severity, and the individual needs of the horse. This topic brings together peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the efficacy, safety, and advancements in therapeutic options for equine diseases, providing insights into best practices and emerging trends in equine veterinary medicine.
A herd outbreak of equine leukoencephalomalacia. Equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) affected 6 of 10 pleasure horses in adjacent paddocks at a boarding facility. Four of the 6 affected horses died or were euthanized. Two of 3 horses presented for treatment survived with complete resolution of clinical signs. Treatment was primarily supportive. Dimethyl sulfoxide, dexamethasone, flunixin meglumine and thiamine were administered as anti-inflammatory agents and to decrease or prevent cerebral edema. Fusarium monileforme was cultured from ear corn fed the affected horses. Fumonisin B1, B2 and B3 were isolated.
Frusemide attenuates the exercise-induced rise in pulmonary capillary blood pressure in horses. Catheter mounted micro-tip-manometers (the signals from which were matched with fluid-filled pressure signals from same cardiovascular sites and zeroed at the point of the shoulder), were used to study pulmonary haemodynamics in 8 healthy sound horses at rest and during exercise performed at 8, 10, 12 and 14 m/s on a treadmill. Measurements were made without frusemide (control) and 4 h after iv administration of 250 mg frusemide. Post-frusemide data were also obtained on a separate day, and these observations were not significantly different from those made on the same day as controls. Pre-fru...
Medically important arboviruses of the United States and Canada. Of more than 500 arboviruses recognized worldwide, 5 were first isolated in Canada and 58 were first isolated in the United States. Six of these viruses are human pathogens: western equine encephalitis (WEE) and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) viruses (family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus), St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) and Powassan (POW) viruses (Flaviviridae, Flavivirus), LaCrosse (LAC) virus (Bunyaviridae, Bunyavirus), and Colorado tick fever (CTF) virus (Reoviridae, Coltivirus). Their scientific histories, geographic distributions, virology, epidemiology, vectors, vertebrate hosts, transm...
Susceptibility of ponies to infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae (capsular type 3). Welsh Mountain ponies were inoculated with an isolate of Streptococcus pneumoniae, SPE 1618 (capsular type 3) recovered from the equine respiratory tract: 10 ml of a suspension of 10(8) or 10(9) cfu/ml were instilled intratracheally. Fever was observed after either dose but the greater concentration also produced coughing, ocular and nasal discharge, depression and enlargement of submandibular lymph nodes. Cytological evidence of infection was also observed in tracheal washings during the first week after inoculation and corresponded with isolation of S. pneumoniae from the washes. Morbid anat...
Use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, estrogen, or a combination to increase releasable pituitary luteinizing hormone in early transitional mares. A lack of pituitary LH stores has been implicated as the cause of seasonal anestrus and failure to ovulate during the spring transition period in mares. In this experiment, 40 mares were used to study the effects of GnRH, estrogen, and an estrogen-GnRH combination on increasing releasable pituitary LH. Mares were stratified based on their ability to secrete LH in response to a 950-micrograms challenge of GnRH (n = 10 per group) and then assigned to one of four treatment groups: 1) controls, given no treatment; 2) 1 mg of estradiol-17 beta in oil i.m. daily for 8 d; 3) 200 micrograms of GnRH an...
A case report on the use of guaifenesin-ketamine-xylazine anesthesia for equine dystocia. In 4 mares suffering from dystocia, general anesthesia was induced with xylazine (1.1 mg/kg, IV) and ketamine (2.2 mg/kg, IV) and maintained with continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine (2 mg/ml), xylazine (0.5 mg/ml) and guaifenesin (50 mg/ml) in 1 L of 5% dextrose. The duration of the procedure of these mares were 40, 45, 180, and 35 minutes, respectively. For procedures required more than 1 hour (Mare 3), the dose of ketamine and xylazine in the mixture was reduced to 1 mg/ml and 0.25 mg/ml, respectively. Average infusion rate of the mixture used to maintain anesthesia for each mare was...
Penetration injury of the pyramis caused by a kick from a racehorse. A 56-year-old man presented with an unusual cranial penetration injury due to a horse's hoof. The CT number of the hoof was 269, and thus clearly not that of a wooden fragment or bone. An emergency operation was performed to remove the foreign body. The operation went well, and no infection developed. Eight months later he could walk unaided and had only mild disorientation.
Hyperplasia of the thyroid gland and concurrent musculoskeletal deformities in western Canadian foals: reexamination of a previously described syndrome. A syndrome of neonatal foals characterized by hyperplasia of the thyroid gland and concurrent musculoskeletal deformities (TH-MSD) has been described in western Canada and may be increasing in incidence. In an attempt to improve recognition and understanding of this syndrome, 2946 records of equine abortuses, stillborns, and dead neonatal foals were examined to determine the laboratory involved, the year and month of submission, the breed and sex of the fetus or foal, the type of perinatal loss, the length of gestation, and whether or not the submission had evidence of a lesion of the thyroid ...
Equine herpesviruses 2 and 5: comparisons with other members of the subfamily gammaherpesvirinae. This chapter describes the molecular and biological properties of equine herpesviruses (EHV)2 and EHV5. It highlights advances in the study of EHV2 and EHV5. The reclassification of EHV2 and EHV5 as gammaherpesviruses rather than betaherpesviruses has profound implications for future approaches to the study of the two equine herpesviruses. The chapter places emphasis on a comparison between the properties of EHV2 and EHV5 and those of other gammaherpesviruses, especially Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis/glandular fever in humans. Studies of the...
Ischemia/reperfusion injury of the ascending colon in ponies: a correlative study utilizing microvascular histopathology and corrosion casting. Volvulus of the ascending colon (ACV) in the horse results in microvascular injury and necrosis of the intestinal mucosa. This study investigated the site and type of microvascular injury which occurs within the mucosa and submucosa following ACV. Histopathology of volvulus treated ponies demonstrated mucosal necrosis with microvascular hemorrhage and thrombosis. Thrombi occurred within the subepithelial capillaries and edema and hemorrhage developed throughout the mucosa and submucosa. Vascular casts allowed 3-D viewing of samples obtained from the entire pelvic flexure and demonstrated two d...
Granulomatous enteritis and cutaneous arteritis in a horse. A 5-year-old Quarter Horse mare was examined because of weight loss of 2 months' duration. The horse was anemic and in poor body condition, and had several areas of cutaneous ulceration, including areas on the muzzle and distal portion of the limbs. Histologic examination of a rectal mucosa biopsy specimen revealed a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate in the lamina propria mucosa. Results of a glucose absorption test were suggestive of malabsorption. Histologic examination of a biopsy specimen from the cutaneous lesions revealed pronounced arteritis, and weak, patchy immunofluorescent staining for i...
The effects of cisapride on the restoration of gut motility after surgery of the small intestine in horses; a clinical trial. Seventy horses surgically treated for colic caused by disorders of the small intestine were included in a randomized blind trial to determine the effects of cisapride (0.1 mg/kg bw intramuscularly at 8-h intervals) on the post-operative restoration of gut motility. Cisapride appeared to reduce the incidence of post-operative ileus. It accelerated the restoration of bowel motility, reducing the period of post-operative intensive care. It is concluded that cisapride is an effective and useful drug in the post-operative treatment of horses after surgery of the small intestine.
Furosemide, bumetanide, and ethacrynic acid. Furosemide and, less commonly, bumetanide and ethacrynic acid are potent diuretics administered to horses for a variety of reasons, including prophylaxis of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. These drugs affect urine volume and composition, and furosemide has marked effects on plasma volume and composition and on systemic hemodynamics at rest and during exercise.
Lack of residual lung damage in horses in which Rhodococcus equi-induced pneumonia had been diagnosed. The effect of prior Rhodococcus equi-induced pneumonia on pulmonary health was investigated in 5 horses (< 24 months old) using endoscopy, radiography, hematologic and bronchoalveolar lavage analyses, and pulmonary function testing. Rhodococcus equi-induced pneumonia had been diagnosed in principal horses when they were foals. Diagnosis was based on positive results of transtracheal aspiration and thoracic radiography at the time of initial clinical examination. Results of reevaluation of the respiratory system of these horses (R+) were compared with those of 5 age-matched healthy horses (R...
A comparison of the actions of platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonists WEB 2170 and WEB 2086 in the horse. The effects of the selective platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonist WEB 2170 on PAF-induced responses in equine cells and tissues have been examined and compared with those of WEB 2086. In initial experiments WEB 2170 was shown to inhibit in vitro platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent, competitive reversible manner (pA2 = 7.21). Co-administration of the antagonists with either PAF or histamine also inhibited PAF, but not histamine, induced wheal formation and PAF-induced neutrophil accumulation in vivo in equine skin. Intravenous (i.v.) administration of both drugs at a dose o...
Myocarditis following envenoming with Vipera palaestinae in two horses. Cardiac disease developed several days to weeks after resolution of local inflammation caused by envenoming by Vipera palaestinae in two horses. In one horse (case A), referred to the hospital for recurrent abdominal pain 8 days after envenoming, a tachyarrhythmia was detected; ventricular premature depolarizations were diagnosed by ECG. A second horse (case B) was found dead without premonitory signs 60 days after envenoming. In both horses, there was extensive necrosis of cardiac ventricular tissues.
Preventive administration of bovine colostral immunoglobulins for foal diarrhea with rotavirus. Foal diarrhea due to serotype 3 rotavirus broke out on a foal-raising farm in the years 1987 and 1989. In 1989, all of the foals, regardless of whether or not they suffered from diarrhea, received bovine colostral immunoglobulin (Ig) powder orally for 3 to 5 days during the epidemic. The morbidity of the diarrhea was lower than that observed in 1987, when the Ig powder was not administered to foals. These data suggested that the administration of Ig powder might partially prevent foal diarrhea with rotavirus infection.
Duration of antigen-induced hyperresponsiveness in horses with allergic respiratory disease and possible links with early airway obstruction. Antigen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness in allergic horses has previously been demonstrated when clinical signs of acute airway obstruction were apparent, as a consequence of exposure of animals to hay and straw for variable periods of time, and repeat measurements of hyperresponsiveness have been made no earlier than 1 week after challenge. In the present study airway responsiveness to methacholine has been measured in normal horses and allergic horses in clinical remission before and 24, 48 and 72 h after a hay and straw challenge of fixed, short, duration (7 h). Correlations between earl...
Identification of the activation domain of equine infectious anemia virus rev. Several members of the lentivirus family of complex retroviruses have been shown to encode proteins that are functionally equivalent to the Rev posttranscriptional regulatory protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Furthermore, the domain organization of HIV-1 Rev, featuring a highly basic N-terminal RNA binding domain and a leucin-rich C-terminal effector domain, has also been shown to be highly conserved among Rev proteins derived from not only the primate but also the ovine and caprine lentiviruses. Although it has therefore appeared highly probable that the lentivirus equin...
A rapid diagnostic assay for eastern equine encephalomyelitis viral RNA. Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus (EEEV) has been a low-frequency, but serious human and veterinary health problem. Increased frequency of this mosquito-borne virus is anticipated as wetlands are maintained and re-established. Control of EEEV has depended on mosquito abatement in response to increasing frequency of EEEV in the environment. A coupled reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction assay was designed to rapidly, sensitively, and specifically detect EEEV RNA. The assay successfully detected the viral RNA in a single-blind study of a set of field samples composed of either po...
Effects of the 21-aminosteroid U-74389G on ischemia and reperfusion injury of the ascending colon in horses. Sixteen horses were allotted at random to 3 groups: vehicle only; low dosage (vehicle and 3 mg of U-74389G/kg of body weight); high dosage (vehicle and 10 mg of U-74389G/kg). These solutions were given prior to reperfusion. The ascending colon was subjected to 2 hours of ischemia followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Before, during, and after ischemia, full-thickness colonic tissue biopsy specimens were obtained for measurement of malondealdehyde (MDA) concentration and myeloperoxidase activity and for morphologic evaluation. Although increases were not significant, MDA concentration and myelope...
Evaluation of occlusive dressings for management of full-thickness excisional wounds on the distal portion of the limbs of horses. Two 2.5-cm2 full-thickness skin wounds were created surgically over the lateral aspect of the cannon bone of each limb of 6 horses (n = 48 wounds). Dressings evaluated were a nonadherent gauze pad (group 1); a synthetic semiocclusive dressing, (group 2); equine amnion (group 3); and a synthetic fully occlusive dressing (group 4). Wounds were assessed subjectively at each dressing change, and total wound area, area of granulation tissue, and area of epithelium in each wound were determined by computerized digital analysis of photographs of the wounds. Complete healing time (wound covered by epi...
[Concentration of species alien (bovine) IgG in the blood serum of foals after the intake of non-species specific colostrum preparation]. Sixteen vital foals with free access to maternal colostrum received a additional non-species-specific commercial colostrum additive within the first 18 hours of their life. The additive had been prepared from bovine colostrum. At birth no bovine IgG was detectable. The concentration of bovine IgG reached its maximum 18 hours post natum with XG = 74.6 mg/dl. 96 hours after birth IgG levels had dropped to XG = 20.9 mg/dl. The correlation of bovine IgG with GGT-activity was highly significant. Formation of antibodies against bovine IgG could not be demonstrated. It is not possible to increase igG...
A comparison of the reduction in immunoglobulin (IgG) concentration of frozen equine plasma treated by three thawing techniques. The IgG concentration of plasma from 13 mares was measured by radial immunodiffusion when fresh and after storage at -4 degrees C and thawing by 3 methods. There was no significant (P > 0.05) reduction in the IgG concentration when plasma was thawed over 6 hours at 22 degrees C (1352.9 +/- 101.6 mg/dL) (mean +/- SEM) compared with the fresh sample (1369.5 +/- 88.1 mg/dL). In contrast, there was a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the IgG concentration of plasma that was rapidly thawed at 57 degrees C over 50 minutes (1142.9 +/- 66.2 mg/dL), or placed in a microwave oven for 20 to 25 mi...
[Narcolepsy in horses]. Narcolepsy is an incurable non-progressive disease of the central nervous system. In humans, narcolepsy causes excessive drowsiness during the day (sometimes a sleep-attack occurs), cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone), hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. In the horse and other mammals cataplexy is the most frequently observed symptom. Excessive drowsiness can occur but is harder to observe. Cataplexy is caused by a fragmentation of the REM sleep. The etiology of narcolepsy is still subject to debate, partly because normal sleeping patterns are poorly understood. In humans and certain breed...
Clinical use and characteristics of the corticosteroids. Corticosteroids possess potent anti-inflammatory activity and are commonly injected intra-articularly for local relief of inflammatory lesions in performance horses. However, the suppression of anabolic activity in the joint may lead to an increased rate of joint breakdown. Complications associated with intra-articular corticosteroid therapy include septic arthritis, which is usually due to inadvertent joint contamination at the time of corticosteroid injection, and steroid arthropathy, which is characterized by an accelerated rate of joint destruction and radiographic evidence of severe degen...
Effects of single intravenously administered doses of omeprazole and ranitidine on intragastric pH and plasma gastrin concentration in nonfed ponies. We investigated the effects of a range of IV administered doses of omeprazole (0.125 to 2.0 mg/kg of body weight) on gastric pH (monitored by indwelling electrode) and plasma gastrin concentration, compared with those of IV administered ranitidine (1.0 mg/kg) in 4 Welsh mountain-type ponies. Pharmacokinetic variables of IV administered omeprazole also were examined. Episodes of high gastric pH in the basal state obscured the effect of acid suppression on intragastric pH; however, omeprazole induced dose-dependent increase in mean gastric pH (P < 0.01) during the 11 hours after its administr...
Pharmacokinetic values of drugs frequently used in performance horses. Tables of values of pharmacokinetic variables (volume of distribution, total body clearance, and plasma elimination half-life) of drugs frequently administered to performance horses are accompanied by explanatory notes. Drugs described include the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, anabolic steroids, central nervous system-modifying drugs, respiratory system drugs, diuretics, local anesthetics, and antibacterial drugs.
[HYPP–hyperkalemic periodic paralysis in horses]. A literature review of the clinical syndrome HYPP (Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis) affecting Quarter Horses is given. HYPP is characterized by sporadic attacks of muscle tremors, weakness and/or collapse, lasting for variable periods of time. Diagnosis is based on physical findings in association with hyperkalemia. In horses with HYPP, the regulation of ion transport through the sodium channels in the muscle cells occasionally fails, causing uncontrollable muscle twitching. Further investigations into molecular genetics reveals a mutation in the gene responsible for sodium and potassium regul...
