Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
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.
People and Horses: The Risks of Riding. Horseback riding carries several risks, some of which can be minimized if riders take riding lessons, wear proper headgear and footgear, and remember that they are on top of a large, willful animal.
Vascular anatomy of the descending colon of the horse. The blood supply to the descending colon of the horse was studied by gross dissection and methyl methacrylate corrosion casts. The arterial supply is derived from the left colic artery and cranial rectal artery with the left colic artery supplying approximately the proximal three fourths. Each artery gives off four to eight arcuate arteries that form a series of anastomosing arcades. The arcade pattern continues to form a marginal artery that parallels the long axis of the colon. Small branches from the marginal artery anastomose with adjacent branches to form a secondary arcade. The secondary...
Influences of season and artificial photoperiod on stallions: pituitary and testicular responses to exogenous GnRH. Effects of season and photoperiod on the anterior pituitary gland and testes were studied by responses to exogenous GnRH. Stallions were assigned to one of three treatments: 1) control, exposed to natural day length; 2) S-L, 8 h of light and 16 h dark (8:16) for 20 wk beginning July 16, 1982 then 16:8 from December 2, 1982 until March 5, 1984; or 3) S-S, 8:16 from July 16, 1982 until March 5, 1984. Approximately every 8 wk, stallions were administered GnRH (2 micrograms/kg BW) and blood was sampled at 20-min intervals for 2 h before and 8 h after GnRH administration. Concentrations of LH, FSH ...
Sustained supraventricular tachycardia in a horse. A case of sustained supraventricular tachycardia of unknown aetiology in a two-year-old Thoroughbred filly is reported. The cardiac dysrhythm was successfully treated by the oral administration of quinidine sulphate. Conversion of the dysrhythm to sinus rhythm occurred approximately 80 min after the initial dose of 5 g of quinidine sulphate. The horse returned to training approximately 2 months after treatment and has since successfully returned to racing.
Age-related changes in the fibre composition of equine peripheral nerve. Transverse sections of the lateral palmar nerve from a group of horses free from neuromuscular disease were assessed quantitatively, with emphasis on differences in the fibre population related to age. Morphometric analysis of the population of myelinated and unmyelinated fibres was performed. Changes were identified, there being a loss of larger myelinated fibres in older horses. The relationship of myelin thickness to axon diameter and the unmyelinated fibre population did not alter with age. The lateral palmar nerve is suitable for biopsy and electrophysiological study in the horse, but age...
Plasma plasminogen concentrations in clinically normal horses: the effect of age, sex and pregnancy. Plasma concentrations of plasminogen were determined in 28 clinically normal horses, including 13 adult geldings, five non-pregnant mares, five pregnant mares and five yearlings (two fillies, three geldings). Plasminogen was quantitated by a chromogenic assay based on activation of plasmin by excess urokinase. The overall mean plasma plasminogen for these horses was 2.94 +/- 0.54 CTA units (casein units, as defined by the Committee on Thrombolytic Agents) per ml. There were no significant differences in mean plasma plasminogen values among adult geldings, non-pregnant mares, pregnant mares or ...
Single-dose pharmacokinetics of detomidine in the horse and cow. The pharmacokinetics of detomidine, a novel analgesic sedative, was studied in the major target species after high (80 micrograms/kg) i.v. and i.m. doses. In addition, drug residues in some organs were determined. Concentrations were measured using a sensitive, detomidine-specific radio-immunoassay method. Rapid absorption following i.m. dosing occurred. Absorption half-lives were 0.15 h (horse) and 0.08 h (cattle). The mean peak concentration in the horse (51.3 ng/ml) was achieved in 0.5 h and in the cow (65.8 ng/ml) in 0.26 h. The areas under the concentration curve after i.m. dosing were 66...
Induction of equine postanesthetic myositis after halothane-induced hypotension. Wick catheters were used to measure intracompartmental pressures of the extensor carpi radialis muscles and long heads of the triceps brachii muscles of 7 horses maintained under halothane anesthesia during controlled ventilation. Horses were positioned in left lateral recumbency on a water bed for 4 hours. Using a crossover design, 6 of the 7 horses were subjected to normotensive and hypotensive anesthesia on separate occasions. Hypotension was achieved by increasing the inspired halothane concentration. Hematologic and biochemical measurements were determined at designated intervals before, ...
Down-regulation of testicular aromatization in the horse. A single i.m. injection of testosterone (750 mg of testosterone bexahydrobenzoate) or i.v. injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) (10,000 IU) was given to geldings and stallions. Levels of unconjugated and conjugated (after solvolysis) androgens and estrogens were measured in blood and urine samples taken daily from the day of injection (D0) to the tenth day post-injection (D10). In the stallion, both treatments resulted in a sharp increase of plasma estrogens, which peaked one day before the androgen levels. Our results confirmed the testicular localization of a potent aromatase, wh...
ELISA detection of fentanyl in horse urine and plasma. The prototype of a commercial ELISA test kit designed for fentanyl determination in human urine has been evaluated for screening fentanyl in horse urine and plasma. The measurement of fentanyl after intravenous (2 mg) and intramuscular (0.25 mg) administration in undiluted plasma was not reproducible while accurate quantification of fentanyl in urine greatly depends on the composition of the horse urine. The ELISA assay, however, is simple and could be successfully used for quantitative measurements in diluted urine and for rapid qualitative screening for fentanyl in large numbers of urine sam...
Muscle glycogen depletion patterns during draught work in Standardbred horses. Muscle fibre recruitment was investigated during draught loaded exercise by studying glycogen depletion patterns from histochemical stains of muscle biopsies from the gluteus and semitendinosus muscles. Three Standardbred trotters performed several intervals of draught loaded exercise on a treadmill with 34 kp at a trot (7 m/sec) and with 34 and 80 kp, respectively at a walk (2m/sec). Exercise was continued until the horses were unwilling to continue. Glycogen depletion was seen in all three fibre types when trotting with 34 kp for 5 or 10 mins. When an equal weight resistance was pulled at a ...
Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), developed in 1984, was the result of further studies on in vitro fertilization (IVF). Since that time many nurses have worked in settings near in vitro fertilization centers and, therefore, have a basic understanding of the technology. An overview is given of the GIFT procedure to prepare nurses to advise and refer couples who may qualify for GIFT and to highlight the shift in the fertility program nurse coordinator's functions toward the positions of administrator and consultant.
Surgical removal of one conceptus from fifteen mares with twin concepti. A surgical technique for removal of one conceptus from mares with twin concepti more than 35 days of gestational age was evaluated. One conceptus was removed surgically from each of 15 mares carrying twin concepti that were 41 to 65 days of gestational age. As determined by ultrasonography, eight mares had bicornuate and seven mares had unicornuate twin concepti. For maintenance of pregnancy if surgical trauma should cause prostaglandin release and luteolysis, progesterone was administered prophylactically. Flunixin meglumine was administered perioperatively to minimize prostaglandin release. ...
A comparison of methods for proximal palmar metacarpal analgesia in horses. Three techniques for inducing analgesia of the proximal metacarpal region were evaluated for the frequency of inadvertent injection into the middle carpal and carpometacarpal joints. Using methylene blue solution as a marker dye and 30 fresh cadaver specimens each, three clinicians performed either 30 infiltrations at the origin of the suspensory ligament (method A), 30 palmar and palmar metacarpal nerve blocks at the proximal end of the metacarpus (method B), or 30 palmar and palmar metacarpal nerve blocks at the distal aspect of the accessory carpal bone (method C). The frequency of inadvert...
Characterization of a soft-tissue infection model in the horse and its response to intravenous cephapirin administration. A soft-tissue infection model was created in eight horses by infecting subcutaneous tissue chambers with Streptococcus zooepidemicus organisms. Responses of the horses to the infections were determined by monitoring changes in the complete blood count and body temperature and by following changes in the cytology and protein content of the tissue chambers. Systemic reactions to the infections included a mild neutrophilia, mild pyrexia and mild anemia. There was a marked influx of neutrophils and protein into the chambers after they were seeded with bacteria and chamber neutrophil viability decr...
A rapid, non-invasive method for measuring total respiratory impedance in the horse. Total respiratory impedance was measured rapidly and noninvasively in conscious horses over the frequency range 3 to 40 Hz by the forced random noise method. The shape of curve of impedance versus frequency in horses was markedly different from that of humans. Respiratory resistance was readily found as the real part of impedence and both its absolute value and frequency dependence are useful indices of pulmonary function. It was difficult to obtain meaningful results in intubated animals with the method because of the mechanical properties of the endotracheal tube itself.
Effects of ischemia and dimethyl sulfoxide on equine jejunal vascular resistance, oxygen consumption, intraluminal pressure, and potassium loss. Physiologic effects of 1 hour of ischemia and 1 hour of reperfusion on equine jejunum and protective effects of systemic administration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, 1 g/kg of body weight) were investigated in 18 ponies, using neurally intact segments of jejunum perfused at constant flow with heparinized blood. Ponies were allotted to 4 groups: group 1, saline solution administered (control, n = 3); group 2, DMSO administered (DMSO, n = 3); group 3, ischemia induced and saline solution administered (ischemia, n = 6); and group 4, ischemia induced and DMSO administered (ischemia-DMSO, n = 6). In...
Development of an equine nuclear medicine facility for gamma camera imaging. A nuclear medicine facility constructed specifically for the application of a gamma camera system to the radioisotope imaging of bone, pulmonary circulation and ventilation in the horse is described. The gamma camera was previously used for human nuclear medicine, and a support for the gamma camera head was specifically designed for this work. Imaging protocols are suggested and the necessary materials for bone and lung studies are described. Images of bone and lung are shown and computer analysis of the data indicated. Imaging times are approximately 1 to 2 mins and typical bone and lung stud...
Small-colon rupture attributable to granulosa cell tumor in a mare. A large granulosa cell tumor was believed to be responsible for causing obstruction and subsequent rupture of the small colon in a 10-year-old Quarter Horse mare. Two months earlier, a mass, tentatively diagnosed as granulosa cell tumor of the left ovary, had been identified by means of rectal palpation and ultrasonography. The mare was evaluated for clinical signs of acute, severe, abdominal pain, increased heart rate, cyanotic mucous membranes, clinical dehydration, with high PCV, leukopenia, and extreme abdominal distension. A large soft tissue mass and taut band that constricted the lumen ...
Myoelectric activity of the cecum and right ventral colon in female ponies. The myoelectric activity of the cecum and right ventral colon (RVC) was studied in 4 female ponies. Eight, bipolar Ag-AgCl electrodes were sequentially placed on the seromuscular layer of the cecum (6 electrodes) and RVC (2 electrodes), and recordings were begun 14 days after surgery. The myoelectric activity for each pony was recorded during 12, 60-minute recording sessions done during the interdigestive period (3 to 7 hours after the morning feeding). Coordinated series of spike bursts were recognized as independent motility patterns in the cecum and in the RVC. Local haustra-haustra myoelec...
Blood chemistry and skeletal muscle metabolic responses during and after different speeds and durations of trotting. Eight standardbred horses trotted on a treadmill for 55 mins at a sub-maximal speed of 5m/sec and subsequently performed an exercise test consisting of 2 min intervals at increasing speed. Heart (HR) and respiratory (Rf) rates and venous blood samples were obtained before, during and for 5 mins after exercise. Gluteus medius muscle biopsies and rectal temperatures were taken before and after exercise. The mean HR was 132/min and the mean Rf was 156/min during the 5m/sec trotting. With 5m/sec exercise, plasma free fatty acids (FFA), glucose, creatinine and cortisol concentrations increased mark...
Mechanism of exercise-induced hypoxemia in horses. Arterial hypoxemia has been reported in horses during heavy exercise, but its mechanism has not been determined. With the use of the multiple inert gas elimination technique, we studied five horses, each on two separate occasions, to determine the physiological basis of the hypoxemia that developed during horizontal treadmill exercise at speeds of 4, 10, 12, and 13-14 m/s. Mean, blood temperature-corrected, arterial PO2 fell from 89.4 Torr at rest to 80.7 and 72.1 Torr at 12 and 13-14 m/s, respectively, whereas corresponding PaCO2 values were 40.3, 40.3, and 39.2 Torr. Alveolar-arterial PO2 di...
