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Topic:Equine Health
Equine health encompasses the study and management of diseases, disorders, and overall well-being of horses. It involves understanding various physiological systems, preventive care, and treatment strategies to maintain optimal health in equine populations. Common areas of focus include nutrition, infectious diseases, orthopedic conditions, and reproductive health. Research in equine health aims to advance knowledge on diagnostic methods, therapeutic interventions, and management practices that improve horse welfare and performance. This page collects peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the diverse aspects of equine health, offering insights into current findings and advancements in the field.
Cheek tooth extraction in geriatric versus non-geriatric horses. Age-related dental changes are major contributors to dental disorders in older horses, and cheek tooth extractions are often required to maintain masticatory function and oral comfort. However, limited information is available on clinical and treatment characteristics in this older patient population. Objective: To describe clinical features, treatments, complication rates and short-term outcomes of horses undergoing oral cheek tooth extraction and treatment of odontogenic sinusitis, and to compare findings between geriatric and non-geriatric horses. Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical...
Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy and jejunojejunostomy for pyloric obstruction bypass in a horse and a foal. Gastric outflow obstruction in horses is a rare but challenging condition, often resulting from either congenital anomalies or acquired lesions such as chronic ulceration or pyloric polyps. Conventional surgical bypass procedures, including gastrojejunostomy (GJ) or gastroduodenostomy and less commonly duodenojejunostomy, can restore patency but may lead to postoperative complications. Objective: To describe the presentation, surgical management, and postoperative outcome of two horses-an adult and a foal treated with Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy combined with a side-to-side jejunojejunostomy (...
Herd-level occurrence and spread of Theileria equi and its associated ticks on an Austrian horse farm. Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease caused by the blood parasites Theileria equi, Theileria haneyi, and Babesia caballi transmitted primarily by hard ticks (Ixodidae). The clinical courses of EP range from asymptomatic to severe, and chronic infections for several years support the transmission among hosts. Methods: Over a period of two years, blood and fecal samples were taken from horses (n = 18) on a single farm in eastern Austria, starting with the first confirmed case of T. equi infection. Hard ticks (n = 1525 of Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis ...
Pathology of sudden death in racehorses: a review. Sudden death (SD) is the second most important syndrome associated with death in racehorses. The cause of SD in a large number of horses remains undetermined, and, in many of these cases, causes are not found by gross or microscopic postmortem examinations. Among the known causes of SD are traumatic injuries, including fractures of skull, neck, and pelvis; intoxications (e.g., anticoagulant rodenticides); and others. For many cases of SD in which no significant lesions are found, heart failure, probably associated with arrhythmias, is suspected. Precise phenotypic characterization of SD in hor...
Management of Equine Post-Extraction Cheek Tooth Alveoli: Application of Alveolar Plugs. Preservation of dentition remains the primary goal of equine dentistry; however, cheek tooth extraction is required in cases of severe dental pathology. Following tooth extraction, management of the post-extraction alveolus remains a significant clinical challenge due to its large size and susceptibility to contamination with feed material and bacteria. To mitigate these risks, alveolar plugs are commonly used to protect the alveolus, stabilize the blood clot, and support granulation tissue formation. This review summarizes the current case reports and research articles regarding the use of al...
Efficacy of 0.5% Tretinoin in the Treatment of Equine Aural Plaques. Equine aural plaques are a benign form of auricular papillomatosis caused by equine papillomavirus. Despite the efficacy of 5% imiquimod cream, a marked local reaction is frequently observed during therapy, often requiring sedation before application. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and potential adverse effects of 0.5% topical tretinoin in the treatment of equine aural plaques. We hypothesised that tretinoin would be effective, with fewer adverse effects compared to imiquimod. Methods: The study included 10 horses of both sexes, aged between 7 months and 15 y...
Pilot Study of an Alpha-2-Macroglobulin-Enriched Plasma-Derived Orthobiologic Preparation in Sport Horses with Chronic Degenerative Joint Disease. Chronic joint disease is a major cause of lameness and reduced performance in sport horses and is characterized by persistent synovial inflammation and protease-mediated matrix degradation. This exploratory prospective pilot study investigated clinical outcomes and synovial biomarker changes following intra-articular administration of an α-2-macroglobulin plasma-derived preparation. Twenty client-owned sport horses were observed in the treatment group (n = 10) or a comparison group (n = 10) and monitored for up to 180 days under field conditions. Clinical outcomes were assessed longitudinally...
Do Polish Konik Horses Find Soaked Hay to Be Palatable? Frequently, equine diseases necessitate the moistening or soaking of hay for the horses. It was assumed that this treatment would not reduce the willingness of the Polish Konik horses with low nutritional requirements to consume the hay. Furthermore, it was believed that moistening would increase the palatability of this feed. The aim of this study was to determine time and frequency parameters and the amount of unconsumed dry, moist, or soaked hay. The research material comprised 12 Polish Konik horses consuming either 1 kg of dry hay, 2.1 kg of moist hay, or 3.3 kg of soaked hay on three sub...
Positive Reinforcement (R+) Horse Training in Practice: Evaluation of Online Trailer-Training Demonstrations. Operant conditioning that includes primarily positive reinforcement (R+) has been shown to be an effective and welfare-friendly method of training horses. Despite this, operant conditioning and R+ are not fully understood by many horse trainers who claim to advocate for its use. Anecdotal observations suggest that some professional trainers who claim to use R+ do not use R+ primarily, even in publicly offered educational demonstrations. To better understand readily available training materials regarding the use of R+ with horses, we reviewed a sample of 20 online trailer-training demonstration...
Equine Liver Histopathology. This review summarizes best practices for equine liver biopsy, including when to perform a biopsy, techniques for sample collection and handling, and strategies to optimize diagnostic yield. It discusses the interpretive framework used by pathologists, common diagnostic challenges, and prognostic scoring systems. Limitations such as sampling error and variability among observers are considered alongside ancillary testing, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. Emphasis is placed on the importance of communication between clinicians and pathologists to maximize diagnostic and prognost...
Thoracic electrical impedance tomography using a two-plane electrode configuration in horses. Traditional one-plane (oneP) electrical impedance tomography (EIT) electrode configurations limit evaluation to a convex lens-shaped lung slice, prone to overrepresentation of central areas. Two-plane (twoP) EIT is expected to refine this technique and result in more representative lung imaging. Objective: To compare ventilation distribution using single slice reconstructions, obtained with twoP or oneP. Methods: Computational modelling and in vivo exploratory randomised experimental trial. Methods: A finite element simulation model of oneP and twoP was calculated to estimate captured lung fie...
Biliary Disorders in Horses. This review will mainly focus on the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of cholangiohepatitis in adult horses. The condition is often accompanied by some degree of intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic biliary obstruction with "sludgy" bile or actual choleliths. In horses, these calculi are typically composed of calcium bilirubinate, rather than cholesterol. There is a propensity for cholangiohepatitis to become a recurrent, chronic condition and patient management should reflect this. Although much rarer, foreign body obstruction, neoplasia and, in some parts of the world, liver flukes can als...
Topical betulinic acid for treatment of equine melanoma and sarcoid. Betulinic acid, a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties in vitro, including activity against equine melanoma and sarcoid. However, there is limited in vivo evidence evaluating its clinical efficacy. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a compounded 1% betulinic acid cream for the treatment of equine cutaneous melanoma and sarcoid. Unassigned: This prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled client-owned horses with melanoma or sarcoid tumors. Horses received either a...
Derivatisation-free FIA-MS/MS assay for rapid simultaneous screening of atypical myopathy biomarkers and acylcarnitine profiles from dried blood spots. Atypical myopathy (AM) is a frequently fatal, toxin-induced disease in horses, characterised by acute progression and mortality rates exceeding 70% within 72 h. The disease is caused by ingestion of seedlings or seeds of certain maple species that contain the toxins hypoglycin A (HGA) and methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPrG). Early diagnosis depends on reliable detection of these compounds and their metabolites. However, most available LC-MS/MS assays are limited by derivatisation requirements and dependence on serum and urine matrices. Here, a rapid derivatisation-free flow injection analysis...
Effect of N-acetyl cysteine treatment on uterine cytokine and chemokine profiles in mares with persistent breeding-induced endometritis. Persistent breeding-induced endometritis (PBIE) is a major cause of infertility in mares. Recent research has shown that PBIE-affected mares treated with intrauterine N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) 12 hours before breeding showed no improvement in clinical signs at 12- and 60-hours post-breeding. Objective: The present study was designed to examine the effects of NAC treatment on the uterine inflammatory cytokine and chemokine profiles in PBIE-affected mares. Methods: Using a randomized, blinded, cross-over design, mares susceptible to PBIE (n=9) were allocated to Control and Treatment cycles with at...
Evaluation of doppler indexes of the lateral palmar digital artery in lame sport horses. Although lateral palmar digital artery (LPDA) flow velocity does not differ between forelimbs, horses with lameness typically reduce loading of the affected limb during the weight-bearing phase. This study aimed to assess whether Pulsed-Wave (PW) Doppler indices of the (LPDA) blood flow differ between the two forelimbs in horses with unilateral forelimb lameness, and whether these differences correlate with lameness severity. Twenty-seven lame and 15 healthy horses were enrolled. All Doppler ultrasonographic examinations were performed by a single operator, blinded to both the presence or abse...
Anatomical distribution of meconium detected by focused abdominal ultrasound in hospitalized healthy and sick neonatal foals. Meconium impaction is a common cause of neonatal colic in foals, yet its ultrasonographic appearance and distribution remain poorly characterized. Objective: This study aimed to describe the frequency, distribution, and ultrasonographic appearance of meconium in hospitalized neonatal foals using a standardized focused ultrasound (FUS) abdominal protocol. Methods: The FUS protocol included 9 acoustic windows (3 left-sided, 3 ventral, 3 right-sided) and was performed once during hospitalization by a single operator using a curvilinear transducer. Results: Thirty-six foals (16 healthy and 20 sick...
Feasibility of a hand-held myotonometry device for measuring biomechanical muscle parameters in horses. To evaluate the feasibility of a hand-held myotometry device for measuring the biomechanical parameters (frequency, stiffness, and decrement) of the longissimus dorsi muscle in the thoracolumbar region of healthy horses. Unassigned: Data were obtained from 50 adult horses. The biomechanical parameters were measured using a MyotonPRO device in triple-scan mode. Measurements were recorded on both sides, with the horses standing square. The analysis focused on whether there were differences between the sides and correlations between the variables. Unassigned: The mean muscle frequency (hertz) was...
The Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Horses’ Nutrition-A Review. This narrative review presents examples of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in horse nutrition. Fats are essential in equine nutrition, serving not only as an energy source but also as functional components influencing health. Among them, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly EPA and DHA, play a key role in modulating inflammatory and metabolic processes. This review summarizes their effects on respiratory health, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), musculoskeletal function, reproduction, and early development. Omega-3 supplementation has been shown to support airway inflam...
Use of Intraperitoneal Lidocaine in Horses Undergoing Laparotomy for Colic. Perioperative lidocaine is widely used in horses with acute abdomen for its analgesic, prokinetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-endotoxic effects, although evidence of its visceral analgesic efficacy remains inconclusive. Given the potential of alternative routes of administration for local anaesthetics, this prospective, randomised, unblinded clinical trial evaluated whether intraperitoneal (IP) lidocaine improves early postoperative recovery, including recovery from anaesthesia and the first 24 h after laparotomy for colic. A Multifactorial Numerical Rating Composite Pain Scale for equines wa...
Surveillance of equine glanders in India (2019-2023): Prevalence estimate, risk analysis and future strategy. Equine glanders, a notifiable zoonotic disease caused by Burkholderia mallei, continues to pose a significant health and regulatory challenge in India. This study summarizes the outcomes of a nationwide sero surveillance programme conducted between January 2019 and December 2023 to assess the distribution and temporal trends of glanders in equid populations. A total of 158,798 serum samples collected from 391 districts across 19 states and three union territories were screened using Hcp1-based indirect ELISA, followed by confirmatory testing through the complement fixation test. During the fiv...
Conflict Behaviour Frequency During Show Jumping Competitions: A Practical Study. With society's ever-growing concern for animal welfare, the equestrian industry has focused on passing and enforcing new rules to protect the main athlete, the horse. In jumping, courses go by quickly, with judges using the occurrence of conflict behaviours to assess any welfare breach. This study aimed to evaluate the overall frequency of such behaviours in Brazilian Sport Horses during elite show jumping competitions in Brazil. Conflict behaviour displays were analyzed in 120 different horse-rider pairs in jumping competitions in Brazil. All videos were observed at a slowed-down speed, with ...
Derivation of Equine Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells via the Neural Crest Pathway and Characterisation by Immunophenotype and Tri-Lineage Differentiation. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) hold promise for treating different equine conditions but enter senescence during culture. Using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to derive MSC-like cells (iMSCs) can increase cell availability and diminish the need for invasive and repeated tissue harvesting. While human iMSCs are intensively studied, research on equine iMSCs (eqiMSCs) is very limited and has focused on strategies for spontaneous differentiation to obtain these cells. The aim of this study was to obtain MSC-like cells from equine iPSCs (eqiPSCs) by directing their differentiation vi...
Characterization of Capillary Zone Electrophoresis in Horses and Donkeys. There are no capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) comparative studies between horses and donkeys. Our objectives were to compare CZE results between both species, establish reference intervals (Ris), study age- and sex-related changes, determine the prevalence of bisalbuminemia, and correlate spectrophotometric albumin results with those calculated based on two different CZE methods. We performed CZE in 50 healthy horses and 49 healthy donkeys. There were significant differences ( < 0.03) in every protein fraction percentage and concentration (except for the β-globulins percentage) between...
Industry Perceptions of Thoroughbred Racehorse Emotions and Quality of Life: Implications for the Development of an Equine Quality of Life Assessment Tool. Understanding how horses experience their lives is essential for improving their welfare, particularly in high-performance industries such as horseracing. Quality of Life (QoL) frameworks highlight the balance between positive and negative experiences over time, yet there is limited evidence on how racing professionals assess horse emotions and QoL, especially positive emotional states. This study reports findings from an international online survey of 230 racing industry participants. It explored confidence in assessing racehorse emotions, the perceived importance of emotional state for perfo...
Activity of 1,2-o-dilauryl-rac-glycero-3-glutaric acid-(6′-methylresorufin) ester lipase in peritoneal fluid may be associated with strangulating lesions, pancreatic fibrosis, and negative outcome in horses with colic. To compare plasma and peritoneal 1,2-o-dilauryl-rac-glycero-3-glutaric acid-(6'-methylresorufin) ester (DGGR) lipase activity between horses with and without colic signs and document pancreatic histopathology in a subset of horses. Unassigned: This prospective, cross-sectional study included university-owned or donated healthy horses and client-owned horses presenting to the veterinary teaching hospital for colic. Peritoneal WBC and lactate concentrations and plasma and peritoneal DGGR lipase activity were measured. Pancreatic tissue was collected via convenience sampling. Pancreatic fibrosis ...
The effect of romifidine on endoscopic grading of laryngeal function in horses. To our knowledge, the effect of sedation with romifidine on the grading of laryngeal function in horses has not been studied. Our objective was to examine the effects of romifidine on the grading of laryngeal function and the cross-sectional area of the rima glottis (CSARG). Methods: Ten horses underwent three endoscopic examinations of the larynx: once while unsedated (group R1), once after being sedated with romifidine (0.04 mg/kg intravenously; group R2) and once again, while still sedated, after receiving a repeat dose of romifidine (0.08 mg/kg intravenously, total dose; group R3). The r...
Near-Term Extrauterine Pregnancy Secondary To Uterine Rupture In A Mare. Uterine rupture is an uncommon but life-threatening complication of equine reproduction, typically associated with dystocia, uterine torsion, fetal manipulation, or hydrops. Tears may occur in either the uterine horns or body, although involvement of the ventral uterine body is rare. This case report describes an 11-year-old Arabian mare at 350 days of gestation that developed abdominal pregnancy secondary to uterine torsion and full-thickness ventral uterine rupture, resulting in fetal death and the free presence of the fetus within the peritoneal cavity. Surgical removal of the fetus and pri...
Theileria equi sensu lato genetic diversity and phylogeny: new insights from mitochondrion, apicoplast and nucleus multilocus gene analysis. Equine piroplasmosis is a significant tick-borne disease with a global distribution. Among the two causative agents, Theileria equi has undergone numerous taxonomic reclassifications over time, reflecting advances in our understanding of its biology, molecular characteristics, and phylogenetic relationships. Formerly named Babesia equi, now classified in the Equus group apart from Babesia and Theileria species, its genus name will again certainly change. The genetic diversity also within T. equi lead to the renaming of one lineage as Theileria haneyi. Theileria equi should better now be consid...
A Genetic Algorithm-Based Approach for Quantitative Prediction of Drug-Drug Interactions Caused by Cytochrome P450 3A Inhibition or Induction in Horses. A genetic algorithm (GA)-based approach was designed to predict drug-drug interactions (DDIs) triggered by cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) inhibition or induction in horses. Area under the concentration-time curve ratios (AUCRs), obtained from published in vivo DDI studies in horses, were used to compute the following parameters: (1) the contribution ratio (CR), i.e., the fraction of the substrate dose metabolized via the CYP3A pathway, and (2) the interacting drug's inhibitory potency or inducing efficacy (IR or IC, respectively). AUCRs for 9 substrates, 12 inhibitors, and 1 inducer of equine C...
