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.
DITCHFIELD J, MACPHERSON LW.From outbreaks of upper respiratory infection of horses in the Toronto area between 1960 and 1963, several viruses have been isolated. The viruses, isolated in tissue cultures or eggs, include an equine strain of Myxovirus parainfluenzae 3; two strains of equine influenza virus, A/equi-1/Prague/56, and A/equi-2/Miami/63; equine rhinopneumonitis virus, and two newly recognized viruses of the horse, equine rhinoviruses. In addition serological evidence suggested a widespread infection with these viruses in the population under study. Because of the identical clinical picture seen and the complex...
WITZEL DA, MULLENAX CH.THE NEED FOR splenectomized horses in piroplasmosis research prompted this study. Quinlan et at.1 described in detail problems encountered using the paralumbar approach to splenectomy. Gaining easy access to the splenic ligaments and vessels was difficult; for this reason the type and age of horse which could be used were limited. The purpose of this report is to present technic by which horses of varying size, age, and conformation can be splenectomized with minimum of stress on the patient and on the surgeon.
Elghoul N, Jalal Y, Bouya A, Zine A, Jaafar A.Almost 2% of all emergency admissions involve an animal bite. While horses bite humans very rarely, their bites are mostly associated with fatalities. Herein, we report the case of a 23-year old bitten by a domestic horse causing a crush injury to his fourth finger with fracture dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint. The patient benefited upon arrival at the emergency department from copious irrigation with saline serum, tetanus toxoid, postexposure rabies vaccination, and prophylactic antibiotic therapy. In the operating room, surgical exploration found the ulnar digital pedicle s...
Gleed RD, Dobson A.In horses in dorsal recumbency, spontaneously breathing oxygen, with halothane at a constant end-tidal concentration, the arterial oxygen tension (PO2) increased from 9.9 +/- 0.3 SEM kPa to 21.7 +/- 4.0 kPa with 0.8 micrograms kg-1 clenbuterol and to 29.1 +/- 3.8 kPa with 2.4 micrograms kg-1 clenbuterol. In horses initially in dorsal recumbency then turned to sternal recumbency the PaO2 rose to 54.0 +/- 3.0 kPa, but this rise was unaffected by clenbuterol administration. The response in dorsal recumbency was consistent with clenbuterol counteracting the factor postulated to direct the pulmonar...
Friis NF, Bech J.Döhle bodies were observed in a horse suffering from a chronic pleurisy. The bodies were demonstrated in about 80 % of the neutro-phils in blood smears prepared during an acute flare-up of the disease. One to 4 bodies were found in each cell, situated in the periphery of the cytoplasm. The size of the bodies was 1–3 μ and the shape rodlike or oval. They stained blue with M-G-G. Blood smears were examined from 50 horses suffering from various diseases, but Döhle bodies could not be demonstrated in any of these cases. Döhle-Körperchen wurden bei einem Pferd mit chronischer Pleuritis beoba...
Davidson EJ, Ross MW, Parente EJ.Little information exists regarding talus fractures in the horse and there have been no previously published case series of racehorses diagnosed with incomplete sagittal fracture of the talus. Objective: To describe the diagnosis, treatment and post injury performance of horses with incomplete sagittal fracture of the talus. Methods: Medical records of 11 racehorses (8 Standardbreds and 3 Thoroughbreds) admitted between January 1992 and January 1999 were reviewed. Subject details, anamnesis, results of lameness examination, radiographs and nuclear scintigraphic findings were evaluated. Racing ...
Dunkel B, Corley KT, Johnson AL, Witte TH, Leitch M, Marr CM, Weller R.Pneumocephalus is occasionally encountered in horses but poorly described in the literature. The study aimed to describe historical, clinical and diagnostic imaging findings and outcome in horses to increase the awareness and recognition of the condition amongst equine practitioners, allowing appropriate management of these cases. Cases of pneumocephalus from 4 participating institutions were identified and case details extracted from the medical records. Five cases of pneumocephalus were identified. Head trauma with suspected or confirmed fractures of the sinuses was the underlying cause in 4...
Drudge JH, Lyons ET, Tolliver SC.Four controlled tests (experiments A, B, C, and D) were conducted in naturally infected yearling equids to evaluate activity of ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg IM) against migrating Strongylus vulgaris and S edentatus in mesenteric arteries and ventral abdominal wall, respectively. Data were also obtained on activity against other internal parasites of the gastrointestinal tract and eyeworms. The type and number of equids in the experiments were as follows: experiment A-3 ponies, 2 treated and 1 non-treated; experiment B-4 mixed-bred horses, 2 treated and 2 nontreated; experiment C-5 mixed-bred horses, ...
Hopfer SM, Van Kruiningen HJ, Daniels WH.Twelve horses were divided into three groups and given various doses of a mixed species strongyle inoculum, representing light, moderate, and heavy infections. Three weeks after the larval inoculations, three animals from each group were given larvicidal doses of thiabendazole (TBZ) (440 mg kg-1 on two consecutive days); one animal from each group served as a non-medicated control. Treatment was repeated three weeks later. One treated animal from each group was designated for long-term study; others were necropsied to study adult and larval parasite loads. Six of the twelve animals with strong...
Bertin FR, Eichstadt Forsythe L, Kritchevsky JE.To investigate the effect of high doses of orally administered levothyroxine sodium (LT) on serum concentrations of triiodothyronine (T) and thyroxine (T) in euthyroid horses. Methods: 12 healthy adult horses. Methods: 10 horses initially received water (vehicle) or 240 mg (5X treatment) or 480 mg (10× treatment) of LT, and blood samples were collected at baseline (0 hours) and 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after treatment to measure serum T and T concentrations. Three horses then received 480 mg of LT for 14 days, and T concentration was measured on days 0, 14...
Lloyd KC.Despite clinical signs compatible with obstruction or ischemia of the gastrointestinal tract, the clinician occasionally is unable to identify a gastrointestinal cause for colic. In this article, disorders not originating from obstruction or ischemia of the gastrointestinal tract but causing real or apparent abdominal pain are presented as alternative causes of colic. In addition, colic of gastrointestinal origin may be the primary inciting factor or a secondary complication of an alternative disorder, causing colic-like signs. Recognition of alternative diagnoses relies on a thorough and cons...
Arighi M, Ducharme NG, Horney FD, Livesey MA.Extensive resection (50-75%) of the large colon was performed in 12 horses. Indications for resection were: loss of viability due to large colon volvulus (seven), thromboembolic episode (three), impairment of flow of ingesta due to adhesions (one), or congenital abnormalities (one). The time required to correct the primary cause of abdominal pain and complete the resection ranged from 2.5 to 4.75 hours. Three horses had severe musculoskeletal problems postoperatively and were euthanized in the recovery stall. Four other horses were euthanized early in the postoperative period because of: furth...
Yarbrough TB, Lee MR, Hornof WJ, Koblik PD, Brodack J, Troup C, O'Brien TR, Pool R.To determine the effects of Samarium-153 bound to hydroxyapatite microspheres (153SmM) when injected into the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of horses. Methods: - Horses were injected with 153SmM in metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints with the diagonal contralateral joints used as untreated controls. Methods: Twelve adult horses without pre-existing disease involving the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joints. Methods: Horses were divided into three groups: high-dose Samarium-153 (12.5 to 17.0 millicurie [mCi]), intermediate dose (6.5 to 12.0 mCi), and low dose...
Derksen FJ, Robinson NE, Berney CE.The dose of aerosol pirbuterol that could be administered safely to ponies (weight approximately 200 kg) was determined by observation for sweating, trembling and excitement and measurement of heart and respiratory rates during cumulative administration of the drug. Sweating, trembling and excitement were first observed following a dose of 2,400 micrograms and became more severe at 3,200 micrograms. These effects were accompanied by an increase in heart rate but not a change in respiratory rate. When 3200 micrograms was administered without prior administration of lower doses, side effects wer...
Wilson DV, Suslak L, Soma LR.Cardiovascular effects and pulmonary gas exchange were compared during conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) and interrupted high-frequency, positive-pressure ventilation (IHFPPV) in 6 anesthetized ponies in dorsal recumbency. When the peak airway pressure (Paw) was held constant at control values attained during CMV (18 to 20 cm of H2O), and the ventilator frequency of IHFPPV was varied over the range, 2.5 to 12.5 Hz, significant (P less than 0.05) changes from control values were observed only in the ratio of dead-space volume to tidal volume (VD/VT) and in the respiratory minute volume ...
Misheff MM, Stover SM, Pool RR.Unicortical corticocancellous bone biopsy specimens 4.5 mm and 6.5 mm in diameter were obtained without long-term complications from the 12th rib in eight standing horses. However, the bone specimens were unsuitable for histologic or histomorphometric evaluation. In in vitro comparisons of biopsy specimens 6.5 mm and 12 mm in diameter, and of unicortical and transcortical biopsy specimens, 12 mm transcortical specimens yielded the most cancellous bone. Transcortical bone biopsy specimens 12 mm in diameter were obtained from eight horses by using power-assisted trephination. The surgical proced...
Comino F, Röcken M, Gorvy D.To describe a 2-step surgical procedure combining standing laparoscopy with a conventional inguinal approach to treat deep intra-abdominal funiculitis (extended septic funiculitis) after castration. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Twelve client-owned horses. Methods: Medical records of horses treated for extended septic funiculitis with the 2-step surgical procedure were reviewed. Data collected included the initial castration technique, number of surgical interventions for septic funiculitis prior to presentation, clinical signs, diagnostic and surgical procedure, and short-term ...
Kohn CW, Knight DA, Yvorchyk-St Jean KE, Scaman PA, Ruey PR.After a three day acclimatization period, six healthy, young (aged 4 to 20 days) orphan foals of mixed breeding were fed 100 per cent of their caloric needs (estimated at 523 kjoules/kg bodyweight [bwt] or 125 kcal/kg bwt/day) as a low residue isotonic feeding solution (LRF) for seven days. The solution provided 4.18 kjoules (1 kcal/ml) and was fortified with minerals and protein to meet estimated foal requirements. The solution was fed through an indwelling 12 French feeding tube. Five of the six foals completed the study; the loss of the sixth foal apparently was unrelated to the feeding pro...
Wallace FJ, Emery JD, Cripps AW, Husband AJ.The ability of mucosally administered antigen to provide protection against Streptococcus equi ('Strangles') infections in horses was examined. First, an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect the immune status of horses to S. equi. This assay was used to select Strangles-naive horses for the study and also to monitor their response to immunisation. Potential vaccine candidates were: (a) orally administered paraformaldehyde killed S. equi; (b) intraperitoneally (IP) administered paraformaldehyde killed S. equi in a non-inflammatory adjuvant; (c) orally administered l...
Byars TD, Dainis CM, Seltzer KL, Rantanen NW.The formation of cranial thoracic masses (CTM) as a sequel to infectious pleuropneumonia is described. Using ultrasound, masses were diagnosed subjectively as abscesses or loculations. Eight of 99 cases with pleuropneumonia had CTM. Clinical signs associated with the presence of a CTM included increased heart rate, jugular distention, forelimb 'pointing' and caudal displacement of the heart. Techniques used for diagnostic ultrasonographic examination of the cranial thorax are described. Five of the eight horses with CTM responded to conservative medical management; the other three required per...
Chase JP, Beard WL, Bertone AL, Goltz K.Peritonitis was induced in 12 horses by median celiotomy and 1 hour of small intestinal ischemia. Six horses had primary closure of the incision, whereas six horses had a plastic mesh sutured to the ventral abdominal wall leaving the abdomen open for ventral drainage. The mesh was removed after 5 days and the abdominal wall was closed by apposition of the linea alba and subcutaneous tissues and approximation ef the skin edges. Peritoneal fluid was collected and analyzed for nucleated cell count and total protein concentration on days 0 and 5. Serum biochemical profiles, serum electrolyte conce...
Andersen C, Tnibar A.Medial patellar ligament splitting (MPLS) has been shown to be a highly effective and minimally invasive treatment for upward fixation of the patella (UFP) in horses. However, long-term follow-up results of this procedure have not previously been reported. Objective: To evaluate the long-term resolution of UFP following MPLS and provide information on complications and recurrence. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Data were collected from horses that underwent MPLS between 1999 and 2013. All cases had a confirmed diagnosis of UFP that had not responded to conservative therapy. Data ...
Brünisholz HP, Schwarzwald CC, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, Ringer SK.The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of pentastarch on colloid osmotic pressure (COP) and cardiopulmonary function during and up to 24 h after anaesthesia in horses. Twenty-five systemically healthy horses were anaesthetised using isoflurane-medetomidine balanced anaesthesia. Twelve were assigned to treatment with hydroxyethyl starch (HES) (H group) and 13 to no HES (NH group). In the H group, 6 mL/kg of pentastarch 10% HES (200/0.5) was infused over 1 h starting 30 min after induction of anaesthesia. Horses of the NH group received an equal amount of lactated Ringer's so...
Ma X, Wang C, Zhang B, Xia L, Su Y.Strangles is a highly prevalent, extremely contagious, and occasionally lethal infectious disease affecting horses worldwide. Prophylactic antibiotics are ineffective in prevention of disease but are recommended for exposed horses at the first sign of fever and any horse obviously ill from strangles or with complications and there is an urgent need of a cost-effective, safe, efficacious vaccine. In the present study, we sought to develop effective vaccines by fusing the Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi) antigen SeM with the flagellin of Salmonella abortus equi FljB. We also explored...
Martínez-Boví R, Plaza-Dávila M, Cuervo-Arango J.The use of flunixin-meglumine (a potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) during the critical period of intrafollicular prostaglandin production before ovulation (24 and 36 h after hCG treatment) results in a high rate of ovulatory failure and formation of haemorrhagic anovulatory follicles (HAF) in the mare. Dexamethasone is commonly used to prevent persistent mating-induced endometritis in susceptible mares, but the effect on ovulation blockage within the pre-ovulatory critical window of intrafollicular prostaglandins production following hCG administration has not been determined. Six ...
Olive J, Vila T, Serraud N.To compare navicular bone marrow lesion (BML) conspicuity in the feet of horses as determined via 2 fat-suppressed MRI techniques, including standard short tau inversion recovery (STIR) and inversion recovery gradient echo (IRGE). Methods: Feet (n = 150) of horses with lameness referable to the distal portion of the digit. Methods: STIR and IRGE sequences were obtained prospectively in all feet with a standing low-field equine MRI system. Presence of a BML was ascertained by identification of a characteristic combination of marrow alterations in T1-weighted, T2*-weighted, T2-weighted, and STIR...
Weatherall KM, Boone LH, Munsterman A, Hanson RR.To determine the compressive effect of abdominal bandages after ventral midline celiotomy closure in horses. Methods: Ex vivo, experimental study. Methods: Equine cadavers (n = 18), six per group. Methods: A 20-cm ventral midline celiotomy was created in each of 18 equine cadavers. A 200-L inflatable bladder was placed in the abdomen, and the linea alba was apposed. Horses were randomly assigned to no bandage (C), elastic (E), or Velcro inelastic (I) bandage groups for testing. Circumferential bandages were placed with a subbandage pressure monitoring system over the incision. The bladder was ...
Moore RM, Bertone AL, Muir WW.To evaluate the effect of high-molecular weight (MW) dextran macromolecules on low-flow ischemia and reperfusion of the large colon in horses. Methods: Horses subjected to low-flow ischemia and reperfusion of the large colon were treated with either 0.9 NaCl (group 1, n = 6) or high-MW dextran (group 2, n = 6) solutions. Methods: 12 adults horses. Methods: Horses were subjected to 3 hours' low-flow ischemia followed by 3 hours' reperfusion. A dose of either 0.9% NaCl or a 6% solution of high-MW (250,000) dextran (10 ml/kg of body weight) was administered i.v., 30 minutes prior to reperfusion. ...
Hewson J, Johnson R, Arroyo LG, Diaz-Mendez A, Ruiz-López JA, Gu Y, del Castillo JR.Healthy neonatal foals were treated with cefotaxime by bolus (40 mg/kg i.v. q6h for 12 doses; n=10) or by infusion (loading dose of 40 mg/kg i.v. followed by continuous infusion of a total daily dose of 160 mg/kg per 24 h for 3 days; n=5). Population pharmacokinetics was determined, and concentrations in cavity fluids were measured at steady state (72 h). Highest measured serum drug concentration in the bolus group was 88.09 μg/mL and minimum drug concentration (C(min)) was 0.78 μg/mL at 6-h postadministration (immediately before each next dose), whereas infusion resulted in a steady-state c...
Richardson DW, Nunamaker DM, Sigafoos RD.Arthrodesis of the metacarpophalangeal joint was attempted in 9 adult horses, using a new external skeletal fixation device and autogenous cancellous bone graft. Four horses had excellent results, 2 horses had fair results, arthrodesis failed in 2 horses, and 1 horse fractured the third metacarpal bone. The advantages of the technique included minimal surgical trauma to the area of injury, immediate rigid fixation of the metacarpophalangeal joint, and access for treatment of soft-tissue lesions at the site of injury. Although pin loosening and pin-track infection were complications when the de...
Gordon D, Clark-Price S, Keating S, Schaeffer DJ, Lascola KM.This study evaluated the effects of various flow rates and fractions of oxygen on arterial blood gas parameters and on the fraction of inspired oxygen (FO) delivered to the distal trachea. Oxygen was administered to 6 healthy, conscious, standing, adult horses via single nasal cannula positioned within the nasopharynx. Three flow rates (5, 15, 30 L/min) and fractions of oxygen (21, 50, 100%) were delivered for 15 minutes, each in a randomized order. FO was measured at the level of the nares and distal trachea. Adverse reactions were not observed with any flow rate. FO (nares and trachea) and P...
Powers JD, Powers TE, Varma KJ, Gabel AA, Spurlock SL.Quantification of the clinical manifestations of a disease has been a serious problem particularly as related to clinical trials or drug efficacy studies. Historically, this quantification has been limited to categorizing each patient into one of three or four groups, e.g. worse, no improvement, improved. This problem becomes serious when an investigation utilizes an experimentally induced animal disease model. A health index, which quantifies the clinical state of horses which have an experimentally induced beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection, is described. Aspects of experimental design a...
