Emergency care in horses involves the immediate assessment and treatment of acute medical conditions or injuries to stabilize the animal and prevent further harm. This area of veterinary practice encompasses a range of situations, including colic, traumatic injuries, respiratory distress, and sudden lameness. Emergency care procedures may involve physical examinations, diagnostic imaging, fluid therapy, pain management, and, in some cases, surgical intervention. This topic includes peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methods, protocols, and outcomes associated with emergency interventions in equine medicine.
Pearson H, Pinsent PJ, Polley LR, Waterman A.Four cases of fatal diaphragmatic rupture in the horse are described. In 2 cases there was no history of injury but the other 2 animals had sustained recent thoracic trauma. Three of the horses had signs of colic and bowel obstruction complicated, in 2 cases, by respiratory embarrassment; the fourth died rapidly, presumably of shock. Previously published cases are reviewed and the causes, clinical effects, diagnosis and treatment of the disorder are discussed.
Gierup J, Larsson M, Lennquist S.A prospective one-year study of horse-riding accidents was performed in an area with a very high frequency of amateur riding. Totally 174 patients with riding injuries were registered--66% children--making an incidence of only 0.7 per thousand riding occasions. However, many of these injuries were of a severe nature, one leading to death and 27 of the patients reporting persisting symptoms at follow-up one year after the accident. Eleven per cent of the accidents lead to cerebral injuries and 44% to fractures, mainly of the upper extremities. Eleven per cent required hospitalization and 17% op...
Donawick WJ.The horse with an abdominal crisis caused by acute gastro-intestinal tract obstruction develops hypovolaemia, haemoconcentration, electrolyte depletion, metabolic acidosis and shock. During preparation for operation, treatment with fluids, antibiotics and bicarbonate will impede metabolic imbalance. Stomach decompression may slow the passage of sodium, water and potassium to the gut lumen, reduce pain and minimize the risk of stomach rupture. Selected laboratory determinations and the monitoring of arterial and venous pressures will provide a measure of security, and serve as a guide to replac...
Boles C.Emergency equine abdominal surgery is easiest and most efficiently carried out with a team of surgeons. The surgical site should be as protected as possible by the use of sterile drapes and wound protectors. A ventral midline laparotomy incision has been found to be the most convenient approach to most equine intestinal obstructions. A standing laparotomy through the left paralumbar fossa gives adequate exposure for exploration of the abdomen and is, therefore, useful as a diagnostic tool. Horses tolerate having both ventral midline and left paralumbar laparotomy incisions well. If the cause o...
British medical journalSeptember 8, 1973
Volume 3, Issue 5879 532-534 doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5879.532
Barber HM.Horse-riding is increasing in popularity. During 1971 and 1972 154 patients had horse-related injuries of sufficient severity to warrant admission to the Radcliffe Infirmary. The injuries sustained are more common and more severe than generally appreciated and are comparable to those sustained by motor-cyclists. Supervision of children is often insufficient and protective leg and head gear is commonly quite inadequate, even when worn.
Sandoval C, True C.Clients want dependable veterinary care and to understand how the services will benefit and meet their horse’s needs. Wellness visits provide ambulatory practitioners with great opportunities to strengthen the doctor-client-patient bond; effective communication with clients during wellness visits, where new literature or facts can be presented, can offer opportunities for demonstrating the value of having the veterinarian maintain a primary role in disease control. The criteria for selecting vaccines, interpreting FECs, and diagnosing dental pathology require the continued need for veterinar...
Ferreira JF, Albuquerque ALH, Amorim RM, Ferreira RS, Takahira RK, Borges AS, Oliveira-Filho JP.In this retrospective study, clinical records of nine horses with a diagnosis of Bothrops envenomation were investigated. The accidents were classified as severe (5/9), moderate (2/9), or mild (2/9) according to the adapted bothropic snakebite severity score (BSSS). All snakebites were on the head region. The main clinical signs were local edema, blood coagulation disorders, and respiratory distress. The whole-blood clotting time (WBCT) was prolonged in all horses, and five horses presented with uncoagulable blood. All horses received specific snake antivenom according to the BSSS (six vials f...
Graves MT, Anderson DE, DeNovo RC.Large animal teaching hospitals often struggle to maintain consistent teaching caseloads, which are affected by seasonal variations, economic pressures, increased abilities of local large animal practices to hospitalize large animals, and client intolerance for the operational needs of an academic mission. Non-academic large animal practices enjoy a more consistent caseload but suffer from a lack of emergency relief and a limited ability to share emergency duties, which may have adverse effects on work-life balance. An academic, on-farm, large animal emergency relief service can combine multip...
Ivancic PC.We reported two cases of jockeys who sustained fracture/dislocation of the mid-thoracic spine due to traumatic falls during horse racing. We examined the injury mechanism based upon the patients' diagnostic images and video footage of races, in which the accidents occurred. Admission imaging of patient 1 (a 42 years old male) revealed T5 burst fracture with bony retropulsion of 7 mm causing complete paralysis below T5/6. There existed 22° focal kyphosis at T5/6, anterolisthesis of T5 relative to T6, T5/6 disc herniation, cord edema and epidural hemorrhage from T4 through T6, and cord injury f...
Hofmeister S, Becker M, Böckenhoff G.Objective to this field study was to find an alternative to rolling a colic patient with left dorsal displacement under general anesthesia. For that purpose a total of 49 horses with a complete nephrosplenic entrapment out of 542 colic patients presented at the Tierklinik Kerken in 1996 were retrospectively evaluated. Having performed a preliminary colic examination and initial treatment if needed, horses which did not undergo surgery immediately where left loose in a small sized arena to move and roll themselves under observation. According to the results of further exams, horses were left in...
Miller RL, Webster JK, Mariger SC.The purposes of this study were to identify the source and frequency of agricultural injuries in Utah, and determine an injury rate for common agricultural activities. Previous studies conducted in Utah examined injury rates by utilizing emergency room logs. This study collected data directly from the source, farmers and ranchers in Utah, and included all modes of treatment. A random sample of Utah Farm Bureau members were mailed questionnaires to assess the number of injuries occurring during the past three years, the mode of treatment for the most recent injury, and the percentage of time sp...
Palmer JE.Many sick neonatal foals have respiratory failure secondary to perinatal hypoxia, sepsis, or pneumonia. These foals require ventilatory support to prevent respiratory embarrassment and other complications associated with chronic hypoxia and hypercapnia. This article discusses practical aspects of ventilatory therapy, such as choosing a candidate for mechanical ventilation, choosing the proper ventilatory mode, placing a foal on a ventilator, maintaining a foal on mechanical ventilation, and weaning from mechanical ventilation. This article details some of the techniques that have been develope...
Boles C.Emergency equine abdominal surgery is easiest and most efficiently carried out with a team of surgeons. The surgical site should be as protected as possible by the use of sterile drapes and wound protectors. A ventral midline laparotomy incision has been found to be the most convenient approach to most equine intestinal obstructions. A standing laparotomy through the left paralumbar fossa gives adequate exposure for exploration of the abdomen and is, therefore, useful as a diagnostic tool. Horses tolerate having both ventral midline and left paralumbar laparotomy incisions well. If the cause o...
Corley KT, Axon JE.Early intervention can dramatically alter outcome in foals. Cardio-pulmonary cerebral resuscitation can be successful and clinically worthwhile when applied to foals that arrest as part of the birthing process. Readily available equipment and an ordered plan starting with addressing the respiratory system (airway and breathing) followed by the circulatory system (circulation and drugs) are the keys to success. Hypoglycemia is common in foals that are not nursing and in septic foals. Support of serum glucose can be an important emergency treatment. Respiratory support with oxygen therapy should...
Hunt RJ, Allen D, Baxter GM, Jackman BR, Parks AH.Deep digital flexor tendon transection at the mid-metacarpus was performed in 20 horses with severe acute or chronic laminitis that was not responsive to conventional treatment. Sixteen horses improved within 72 hours, one horse worsened, and two horses were unaffected by the surgery. Eleven horses survived less than 1 month after surgery and six horses survived longer than 6 months. Three horses surviving longer than 6 months have remained lame and no horse has returned to athletic performance. Transection of the deep digital flexor tendon at the mid-metacarpus may decrease the pain associate...
Fessler JF.Major surgery for wounds of the foot, compared with other parts of the body, requires a more detailed preparation and a more persistent aftercare. To approach severe hoof wounds with a routine applicable to drainage of a subsolar abscess is doomed to failure! Yet, in dealing with referral cases of hoof wounds, particularly those that have become chronic, the author has observed that the principles have been ignored and/or the routines inadequate. The hoof has a suitable capacity to heal, with complete reformation of hoof structures, if a healing environment is maintained for a long enough peri...
Bertone AL.Initial management of injuries includes safely gaining control of the animal and assessing and treating systemic shock. If hemorrhage is life threatening, it must be controlled. If the limb is nonfunctional it should be stabilized. Any open orthopedic injury should be treated by cleaning the tissues, protecting the exposed tissues, and administering systemic antibiotics. A commercial splint is available (Equine Regular Leg Saver Splint, Kimzey Welding Works, Woodland, CA) that can immobilize and relieve weightbearing for cases of phalangeal fracture, flexor tendon rupture, fetlock breakdown, a...
Maekawa Y, Sakamoto T, Umezu K, Ohashi N, Harada Y, Yasukochi S, Takigiku K, Takei K, Nakano Y, Inoue N, Otagiri T, Hashida Y.We report a female infant with acute coronary syndrome after Aubert-Imai modification for transposition of the great arteries. Two months postoperatively, she visited the emergency room because of perspiration and tachypnea. She was diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome by blood chemistry examination. Cardiac catheterization revealed Aubert route stenosis, and emergency operation was performed. The lumen around the aortopulmonary window was almost totally occluded by fibrous tissue extending from the equine pericardial patch. This fibrous tissue was completely resected and the aortopulmonary ...
Newton TA, Rose SR.Phenylbutazone is a potent nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drug often used by veterinarians to treat racetrack animals. Its use in human beings is limited because of significant adverse effects and the availability of newer, safer drugs. We report the case of a 24-year-old man who ingested 17 g of equine phenylbutazone over a 24-hour period to treat the pain of a toothache. He developed grand mal seizures, coma, hypotension, respiratory and renal failure, and hepatic injury. Serum phenylbutazone concentration obtained approximately eight hours after presentation was 900 micrograms/mL. The pati...
Croft MG, Fraser GC, Gaul WN.A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) was used to manage the laboratory data and support planning and field activities as part of the response to the equine influenza outbreak in Australia in 2007. The database structure of the LIMS and the system configurations that were made to best handle the laboratory implications of the disease response are discussed. The operational aspects of the LIMS and the related procedures used at the laboratory to process the increased sample throughput are reviewed, as is the interaction of the LIMS with other corporate systems used in the management...
Lovett A, Vokes J, Loghides N, Johnstone L, Sykes B.Formalin intoxication via the gastrointestinal route has not been previously reported in the horse. Whereas ingestion of formalin in humans, although rare, is well documented. Majority of human cases are either accidental, suicidal or homicidal and often lead to fatality, with a reported lethal formaldehyde dose equating to 0.12 - 0.16 g/kg bwt. Objective: To describe a single case report of the clinical management of an adult horse referred to a veterinary teaching hospital following accidental administration of 10% formalin via nasogastric tube. Methods: A 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding or...
Gonzalez-Cantero JL, Del Valle Diéguez M, Monteserín Matesanz C, Saura Lorente J, Villoria Medina F, Fortea Gil F, Castro Reyes E.We report a case of traumatic intracranial carotid artery pseudoaneurysm treated with an equine pericardium-covered stent. The patient was admitted to the Emergency Department after sustaining severe polytrauma in a motor vehicle accident. A cavernous carotid pseudoaneurysm was detected after an episode of massive epistaxis that required emergent nasal packing. Treatment with parent vessel sacrifice was ruled out after an unfavourable balloon test occlusion. We opted for an equine pericardium-covered stent as a means to immediately seal the wall defect in the setting of massive bleeding second...
MacMillan KM, Millican LJ, Burns JJ, McClure JT, Vanderstichel R.The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of horse farms on Prince Edward Island, Canada that comply with the requirements of the (Code). An investigator performed on-farm assessments while administering a questionnaire to owners of 50 horse farms. The percentage of farms in compliance with specific requirements in the Code ranged from 20% to 100% per requirement. The largest areas of non-compliance regarding facilities and housing were the lack of the ability to segregate sick or injured animals and the lack of an emergency action plan. It was determined that 72% of farms w...
Miller L, Lord S.Loss of endotracheal tube (ETT) integrity secondary to dental damage is reported in the human literature. Objective: To describe this problem in equine anaesthesia. Methods: Case report. Conclusions: An 18-year-old Standardbred gelding presented out of hours with colic signs. Findings on clinical examination and pain refractory to analgesia meant that exploratory laparotomy was elected for. Prior to general anaesthesia (GA) leak testing of the anaesthetic machine was performed and the pilot balloon of the endotracheal tube (ETT) was inflated to confirm cuff integrity. Intermittent-positive pre...
Moser M, Keller R, Blaser C, Fürst AE.One of the varied tasks of the Large Animal Rescue Service Switzerland and Liechtenstein (GTRD CH/FL)® is the recovery of animals from manure and cesspools. The aim of the present retrospective study was the evaluation of the rescue protocols of the GTRD CH/FL from such operations and the documentation of a rescue procedure. In the past 25 years, a total of 176 animals have been rescued from manure and cesspools. These included 113 cattle, 51 horses and 12 pigs. All animals could be safely rescued with the animal rescue and transport net (TBTN) or the large animal vertical rescue set (GTVBS)....
Koren L, Stahl S, Rovitsky A, Peled E.Amputation of fingers with tendon avulsion occurs through a traction injury, and most occur through a ring avulsion mechanism. Usually the flexor digitorum profundus is torn out with the amputated finger. Replantation usually is recommended only when the amputation is distal to the flexor digitorum superficialis insertion. Animal bites are relatively common, with a decreasing order of frequency of dogs, cats, and humans. Horse bites are relatively infrequent but are associated with crush injuries and tissue loss when they occur. This article describes a 23-year-old man with amputation of his m...
Straticò P, Guerri G, Bandera L, Celani G, Di Nunzio L, Petrizzi L, Varasano V.(1) The main goals of general anesthesia include pain management and a safe anesthetic protocol for smooth recovery. In this retrospective study, we compared two anesthetic protocols for general anesthesia with isoflurane during emergency laparotomy: sedation with xylazine and the intraoperative infusion of lidocaine (X group) versus medetomidine as a preoperative sedation and intraoperative infusion (M group). (2) The medical records of horses who underwent emergency laparotomies between 2016 and 2023 were reviewed. According to the anesthetic protocol, patients were allocated to the X or M g...
Lindinger H, Wehrend A.In horses, parturition is characterized by the fact that any delays may rapidly result in the death of the foal. Therefore, birth monitoring and the rapid detection of dystocia are of great importance. For this purpose, the differentiation between behavior associated with physiological parturition and activities related to difficult parturition is important. The aim of this publication is to present the physiological behavior of mares during parturition on the basis of a literature review. The behavior of mares in the opening phase of parturition is highly individual. In general, it is charact...
Delvescovo B, McOnie R, Pearson G, Pugliese B, Hackett ES.Persistent hemorrhage of testicular vessels is a potentially life-threatening complication of equine castration. Frequently, general anesthesia is required to retrieve and ligate the bleeding vasculature when standing wound packing and retrieval of the spermatic cord are unsuccessful. We propose standing laparoscopic ligation of the testicular arteries via the paralumbar fossa as a rapid, effective means of halting hemorrhage while avoiding castration site trauma as well as the cardiovascular and recovery risks of general anesthesia. Methods: Two geldings, 6 and 9 months old, presented for eme...
Arroyo E, Whitelock LM, Stanton ME, Stevenson V, de Aguiar LH, Kelleman A.Hydropsical conditions in domestic animals are characterized by abnormal fluid accumulation. While their complete pathophysiology remains unclear, factors such as changes in chorioallantoic membranes, placentitis, or fetal abnormalities may contribute. Hydrops present as a medical emergency that can cause complications for the mare. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for the mare's prognosis, as fetal survival is often poor. This report describes a case of hydroallantois in a 9-year-old pregnant Quarter mare at 271 days of gestation, leading to dystocia of a non-viable foal with multipl...
Palmisano MG, Colmer SF, Saw YL, Xu X, Stefanovski D, Murphy L, Johnson AL.To determine the prevalence of vitamin E deficiency in horses at admission and at the time of discharge. The hypothesis was that vitamin E concentrations would decrease during hospitalization. Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed of client-owned horses admitted as patients or companions through the emergency service at a tertiary referral center. Exclusion criteria included vitamin E supplementation. Whole blood was collected into an additive-free tube at the time of admission for all horses and at discharge if the horse was hospitalized for a minimum of 5 days. Serum vitamin E co...
Munerato MS, Simon O, Nicholson A.This report describes successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a healthy, 525 kg, 8 years 9 months-old Quarter horse gelding. After successful pelvic limb orthopaedic surgery to excise a metatarsal bone under general anaesthesia, with the horse in left lateral recumbency, the horse was hoisted into recovery. After the horse was positioned in recovery, a routine cardiac check by thoracic auscultation was performed. Cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) was identified by absence of cardiac sounds and pulse, as evaluated by digital palpation of the facial artery, absence of the right palpebral reflex, ...
de la Rebière de Pouyade G, Binard M, Deleuze S, Ponthier J.Standing caesarian section (C-section) in mares is poorly documented in the literature. It is reportedly straightforward to perform for veterinarians experienced in bovine practice and is more accessible and less expensive than recumbent techniques. The study aimed to create a survey to report the outcomes of in field C-section through a flank laparotomy with the mare standing under sedation. Unassigned: A survey was developed for field veterinarians practicing standing C-sections. Data were collected regarding the veterinarian's experience and practice type, details about the mare and the rea...
Swezey E, Szydziak E, Angus LDG, Mehta V, Cardozo-Stolberg S.Equestrian trauma is recognized as a high-risk injury mechanism with the potential for significant morbidity and mortality. Although horse-related injuries are more frequently seen in a rural environment, they can also occur in urban settings. Urban physicians should be mindful of these potential cases. Methods: A retrospective review was performed on all patients treated at Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, New York, for equestrian-related trauma from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2024. Results: Twenty-nine equestrian trauma patients ages 10-70 were included, with injuries ob...
van der Merwe LM, Schliewert EC.Colic is a common equine emergency requiring medical or surgical intervention. These interventions can be costly, making outcomes data and prognostic indicators essential for guiding referral and treatment decisions. Objective: To determine survival rates to hospital discharge and evaluate prognostic indicators in equine colic cases treated at a referral hospital (Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital [OVAH], South Africa). Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study analysed records from horses with colic that were presented to the OVAH from January 2019 to August 2021. Data i...
