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.
Meschter CL, Gilbert M, Krook L, Maylin G, Corradino R.Phenylbutazone, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug known to produce gastric ulcers, was administered intravenously (13.46 mg/kg body weight) daily to 12 horses. Horses were euthanatized daily after 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours following the initial injection. Eight untreated horses served as controls. Small multifocal pyloric erosions were seen after 24 hours and then progressed in severity over time. The erosions were characterized by sloughing of the surface epithelium, subepithelial bleb formation, necrosis of the lamina propria, degeneration of the walls of subsurface capillaries, and micro...
Brumbaugh GW, Benson PA.Samples of pleural fluid from 20 horses with effusive pleural diseases of various causes were evaluated; samples from 19 horses were used for the study. There were differences for pH (P = 0.001) and partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) between arterial blood and nonseptic pleural fluid (P = 0.0491), but there were no differences for pH, PO2, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), and concentrations of bicarbonate (HCO3-), lactate, and glucose between venous blood and nonseptic pleural fluid. Paired comparisons of venous blood and nonseptic pleural fluid from the same horse indicated no differe...
Uhlinger C.Four privately owned herds (25 to 49 animals per herd) were used in a five-year trial designed to evaluate the effect of anthelmintic schedules on the incidence of colic. These herds had been treated bi-monthly with non-ivermectin, non-benzimidazole drugs for two years before the trial. Prior parasitological studies showed that they had substantial pre-treatment faecal egg counts (900 to 2200 eggs per gramme), and that they were infected with benzimidazole-resistant cyathostomes. In Years 1 and 2 of the trial, all herds (A, B, C, D) were treated bi-monthly with non-ivermectin anthelmintics (Sc...
Harrison IW, Cartee RE.A nine-year-old gelding was presented to the Auburn University Large Animal Clinic with discharge of saliva and food material from both nostrils. A diagnosis of esophageal diverticulum was made; treatment is described.
Alwan WH, Carter SD, Bennett D, May SA, Edwards GB.Degradation of cartilage in osteoarthritis of man results in the release of sulphated glycosaminoglycans, particularly keratan sulphate, into tissue fluids. A study was made to evaluate these markers for osteoarthritis in the horse. Synovial fluid and serum levels of keratan sulphate, measured by an ELISA-inhibition technique, and sulphated glycosaminoglycans measured by specific dye binding assay, were found to be significantly increased (P less than 0.001) in joints from horses with osteoarthritis, compared with normal joints. Synovial fluids from joints with infective arthritis also showed ...
Bertone AL, Stashak TS, Smith FW, Norrdin RW.In nine horses (18 forelimbs), a 3 cm section of superficial digital flexor tendon was removed and the tendons were repaired with immobilization for 6 weeks and (1) no suture (n = 6); (2) a double locking loop tenorrhaphy with carbon fiber (n = 6); or (3) a double locking loop tenorrhaphy with size 2 nylon suture (n = 6). Clinical assessment, gross evaluation, morphometry, histology, and mechanical testing were performed on two limbs from each treatment group at weeks 6, 12, and 24. At weeks 6 and 12, the unsutured tissue was less mature than the tissue sutured with nylon. By week 24, the carb...
Schmall LM, Muir WW, Robertson JT.The effects of treatment with small volume hypertonic (2400 mOsm/litre) and isotonic (300 mOsm/litre) saline on serum electrolyte and biochemical concentrations, haemograms and blood gases were evaluated in 12 horses using a haemorrhagic shock model. Intravascular catheters were placed surgically for sample collection prior to anaesthesia. Controlled haemorrhage was initiated and continued until mean systemic pressure reached 50 to 60 mmHg. Hypertonic or isotonic saline (2 litres) was administered by intravenous infusion and data collected for 2 h. Following haemorrhage, packed cell volume (PC...
Barbet JL, Bevier D, Greiner EC.Fourteen privately owned horses completed a six month, controlled, double-blind trial to assess the efficacy of immunotherapy using an aqueous extract of whole, unfed Culicoides variipennis in the treatment of Culicoides hypersensitivity. Selected horses had a history of a seasonal, pruritic dermatitis, clinical signs and distribution compatible with Culicoides hypersensitivity, failed to improve in response to ivermectin therapy, and reacted to several dilutions of Culicoides extracts without significant reactivity to other possible allergens including insects, moulds and feeds. One horse fro...
Lochner F, Sherban DG, Sangiah S, Mauromoustakos A.Using a modified bovine milk enzyme kinetic assay, xanthine oxidase activity of serum collected from 34 adult, healthy horses of both sexes was determined. Enzyme activity varied from 0 to 126 mU litre-1 with a mean of 44.95 +/- 21.05 mU litre-1. The optimal pH and temperature for maximal activity were 7.8 and 28 degrees C, respectively. Freezing the serum for four days at -70 degrees C did not destroy the enzyme activity. Various doses (25, 50 and 75 micrograms kg-1, intraperitoneally) of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide D1 Escherichia coli O26:B6) previously known to have caused moderate to sev...
Rebhun WC.Corneal squamous cell carcinomas with surface areas of more than 2.0 cm were diagnosed in 26 eyes of 25 horses. The depth of the lesion into the corneal stroma and involvement of the ocular adnexa were important determinants for surgical treatment. Corneal tumors that extended into adjacent palpebral conjunctiva, eyelid, or orbit were not amenable to complete excision, while those that involved only cornea and bulbar conjunctiva were treated surgically by keratectomy and beta radiation. Initial treatment was keratectomy followed by beta radiation on 24 eyes and enucleation of two eyes. Twenty ...
Schmall LM, Muir WW, Robertson JT.A comparison of the haemodynamic benefits of small volume hypertonic saline (2,400 mOsm/litre) versus isotonic saline (300 mOsm/litre) was conducted in 12 adult horses using a haemorrhagic shock model. The horses were anaesthetised and intravascular catheters placed for the measurement of haemodynamic data. Mean systemic arterial pressure was then reduced to 50 to 60 mmHg by controlled haemorrhage and maintained at that level for 40 mins. Cardiac output, stroke volume, mean systemic arterial pressure, plasma volume and urine production decreased significantly following blood loss. Hypertonic o...
Lees P, May SA, Hooke RE, Silley P.The administration of a single dose of the antibacterial agent cephalexin intramuscularly to six ponies at a dose rate of 7 mg/kg was well tolerated. No reactions at the injection site were apparent. It was absorbed rapidly and reached a mean peak plasma concentration of 6.77 micrograms/ml after a mean of 1.41 hours; plasma concentrations above 2.0 and 0.5 micrograms/ml were maintained for 3.8 and 9.8 hours, respectively.
McAllister RA, Sack WO.A median clitoral sinus, as a space canalized from epithelial cells, was distinguishable developmentally in equine fetuses from 33-mm crown-rump length (CRL) to 500-mm CRL (including a mule of 21-mm CRL). In saggital sections of the clitoris of a 480-mm CRL fetus, indentations under the transverse frenular fold were identified as lateral sinuses of the clitoris. Unlike the median sinus, they were shallow; it therefore could not be anatomically substantiated that the lateral sinuses were of sufficient depth to support the growth of the partial anaerobe Taylorella equigenitalis, the organism of ...
Brooks DE, Millichamp NJ, Peterson MG, Laratta LJ, Morgan RV, Dziezyc J.Five horses with severe nonulcerative keratouveitis had corneal lesions characterized by a pink stromal infiltrate that initially appeared in the stroma near the limbus. Unremitting iridocyclitis also was evident. In 3 horses, microscopic lesions consisted of marked corneal stromal fibrosis, with mild to severe inflammatory cellular infiltration. Corticosteroids and mydriatic/cycloplegics applied topically and corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications administered parenterally were used with varying degrees of success to control pain and retain vision.
Welch RD, Auer JA, Watkins JP, Baird AN.A 2-year-old Thoroughbred colt was referred for evaluation of effusion within the tarsal sheath and associated lameness of the right hind limb. Conservative treatment consisting of needle aspiration and pressure bandaging had been unsuccessful. Radiography of the right tarsus revealed proliferative periosteal reaction along the distal caudal border of the sustentaculum tali and medial aspect of the calcaneus. The owners elected conservative treatment, using a local injection of corticosteroid and pressure bandaging the tarsus. Five months later, the severity of the effusion and lameness had in...
Zicker SC, Marty GD, Carlson GP, Madigan JE, Smith JM, Goetzman BW.Bilateral renal dysplasia and nephron hypoplasia was diagnosed in a Quarter Horse foal with clinical signs of lethargy, convulsions, and diarrhea. Laboratory evaluation revealed anemia, hypoproteinemia, leukopenia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, and hyposmolality. The foal also had high concentrations of serum creatinine, BUN, and phosphorus. Evaluation of urinary indices revealed a high ratio of urinary gamma-glutamyl-transferase activity to concentration of creatinine, as well as a high fractional clearance ratio of sodium and potassium. Intravenous treatment with saline solution (0.9% NaCl) a...
Mair TS, Hillyer MH, Taylor FG.The clinical signs in 21 adult horses affected by peritonitis (unassociated with gastrointestinal rupture or surgical interference of the abdomen) included colic (18 cases), pyrexia (15 cases), weight loss (six cases) and diarrhoea (five cases). The diagnosis was based on a nucleated cell count in peritoneal fluid greater than 10(10)/litre. Haematological abnormalities (either neutropenia or neutrophilia) were present in 17 animals, and hyperfibrinogenaemia was identified in 14. Twelve of the 21 horses survived after intensive antibiotic therapy; the other nine were destroyed either at explora...
Campbell-Thompson M.The goals of surgical therapy in foal gastroduodenal ulcer disease are the elimination of abdominal pain, healing of mucosal ulcerations, and prevention of complications. Gastrojejunostomy has been used with success in both pyloric and duodenal ulcerations that have progressed to gastric outflow obstruction. Gastrojejunostomy has resulted in rapid healing of gastritis and esophagitis and resolution of aspiration pneumonia and biliary stasis without recurrence of duodenal ulceration.
Sinclair EA.A pharyngeal cyst was diagnosed in a 5-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, after presentation for coughing, dyspnea, and abnormal respiratory noise. Complete surgical excision was performed and the mare returned to normal function and performance. Histopathology found no evidence of thyroglossal duct remnants. Kyste pharyngien chez un Warmblood hollandais âgé de 5 ans. Un kyste pharyngien a été diagnostiqué chez une jument Warmblood hollandaise âgée de 5 ans qui avait été présentée pour un problème de toux, dyspnée et bruit respiratoire anormal. Une excision chirurgicale complète a é...
Reesink HL.Foals are susceptible to many of the same types of fractures as adult horses, often secondary to external sources of trauma. In addition, some types of fractures are specific to foals and occur routinely in horses under 1 year of age. These foal-specific fractures may be due to the unique musculoskeletal properties of the developing animal and may present with distinct clinical signs. Treatment plans and prognoses are tailored specifically to young animals. Common fractures not affecting the long bones in foals are discussed in this article, including osteochondral fragmentation, proximal ses...
Mieszkowska M, Abako J, Mieszkowski M, Zhalniarovich Y.Desmopathy of the collateral ligaments of the equine interphalangeal joint is caused by a combination of factors, including hoof shape, excessive loading and ground surface. This complex problem poses a diagnostic challenge due to the non-specificity of perineural analgesia and the limitations associated with the most popular imaging methods such as radiography and ultrasonography. The aim of this study was to retrospectively determine the prevalence of desmopathy of the collateral ligaments of the equine distal interphalangeal joint in Poland between 2016 and 2019, and to establish the freque...