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.
Plasma prolactin concentrations and cyclic activity in pony mares during parturition and early lactation. Five pony mares were blood sampled during late pregnancy, foaling and early lactation. An homologous assay for horse prolactin was used to measure plasma prolactin concentrations in these samples. Regular estimates of cyclic activity were also made. Plasma prolactin concentrations rose markedly in the last week of pregnancy and remained high although variable in early lactation, before declining to basal levels by 1-2 months post partum. All mares showed a post-partum oestrus 7.0 +/- 0.9 days after parturition. One mare whose foal died shortly after birth showed a rapid decline in plasma prola...
Enterocolitis caused by Ehrlichia sp. in the horse (Potomac horse fever). Potomac horse fever was reproduced in 15 ponies by transfusion of whole blood originally from two natural cases and subsequently from ponies infected by the transfusions. Incubation periods varied from 9 to 15 days. Affected ponies developed varying degrees of fever, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, and leukopenia. Eleven affected ponies were killed, three died in the acute phase of the disease, and one did not show clinical signs. The most consistent post-mortem findings were fluid contents in the cecum and large colon, and areas of hyperemia (of inconstant degree and distribution) in mucosae ...
Dobutamine-induced augmentation of cardiac output does not enhance respiratory gas exchange in anesthetized recumbent healthy horses. The influence of pharmacologic enhancement of cardiac output on the alveolar-to-arterial oxygen tension (difference (P[A-a]O2), physiologic right-to-left shunt fraction (Qs/Qt), and physiologic dead space-to-tidal volume ratio (VD/VT) ws studied in halothane-anesthetized horses in left lateral, right lateral, and dorsal recumbencies. Adult horses were anesthetized, using xylazine (2.2 mg/kg, IM), guaifenesin (50 mg/kg, IV), thiamylal (4.4 mg/kg, IV), and halothane (1.5% to 2% inspired) in 100% O2. Mechanical ventilation was controlled to maintain arterial eucapnia (PaCO2) 35 to 45 mm of Hg) fo...
Alterations in calcium, phosphorus and C-terminal parathyroid hormone levels in equine acute renal disease. The changes in serum and urinary levels of calcium and phosphorus and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) were studied during controlled, chemically induced, acute renal disease in 4 ponies. There was an initial rise in daily urinary calcium and hydroxyproline excretion in 2 ponies which may have indicated increased bone resorption. Mild hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia and elevated C-terminal PTH levels were associated with oliguria. Total daily urinary excretion of calcium and phosphorus decreased as oliguria developed. The levels of C-terminal PTH were increased in all four animals. This appears...
Surgical repair of a partial gastric rupture in a horse. RUPTURE of the stomach is a common complication of
gastric impaction and intestinal reflux or of gastric distention.
After rupture, the general condition of the horse deteriorates
and death follows within a few hours (Tennant, Wheat and
Meagher 1972; McIlwraith 1982).
Dietz and Wiesner (1982) state that partial rupture of the
stomach may result in severe blood loss with circulatory
collapse. In this report a partial rupture of the stomach was
surgically repaired during exploratory laparotomy.
Gastric ulceration in mature thoroughbred horses. Routine post mortem examination of 195 Thoroughbreds in Hong Kong revealed that 66 per cent suffered from gastric ulceration. Racehorses killed straight out of training suffered a significantly greater incidence of ulceration (80 per cent) than those having been retired for a month or more (52 per cent). The macroscopic findings post mortem enabled a classification of equine gastric ulceration to be suggested (Types 1, 2, 3), according to severity. Severe lesions (Types 2 and 3) were present in 45 per cent of horses put down from training and 5 per cent of retired horses. This difference was s...
Resection and anastomosis of small intestine: current methods applicable to the horse. Intraoperative techniques for assessing the viability of ischaemic bowel are discussed. Intravenous administration of sodium fluorescein appears useful but further investigation of the method is required. Methods of resection and anastomosis of small intestine are described and illustrated, including the use of automatic stapling instruments.
Surgical management of intussusception in the horse. During a 14 year period, 27 of 310 horses undergoing laparotomy because of abdominal pain were found to have an intussusception involving the small intestine (16 cases) or caecum (11 cases). The clinical signs, operative findings and techniques adopted to overcome the obstruction are described. An evaluation of possible predisposing factors provided further evidence of the important role of the tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata in initiating intussusception involving the ileum and caecum.
Prevention of retrosternal adhesions after pericardiotomy. Because repeat sternotomies are becoming much more prevalent with repeat coronary bypass operations, prevention of direct adhesions of the heart and grafts to the back of the sternum by use of synthetic or xenograft material to close the pericardiotomy has become a matter for investigation. In this study bovine and equine glutaraldehyde-processed xenografts were implanted bilaterally in dogs for implant intervals of 6 weeks and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The bovine and equine xenografts both performed well in resisting the adhesion of the heart to their inner surfaces and less well in resisting a...
Effect of graded doses of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone on serum LH concentrations in mares in various reproductive states: comparison with endogenously generated LH pulses. Luteinizing hormone release induced by a range of small (3.3-33 micrograms) and large (300-500 micrograms) i.v. doses of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was measured in acyclic (n = 4), luteal phase (n = 3) and follicular phase (n = 5) mares and compared with endogenously generated LH pulses in the same reproductive states. Extrapolation from log-linear dose-response curves showed that an LH pulse comparable to an endogenous one would be simulated by i.v. injection of 7.0 (n = 4) and 4.1 (n = 6) micrograms GnRH in luteal and follicular phase mares respectively; a much smaller dose than ...
Variations in cross-sectional area and composition of equine tendons with regard to their mechanical function. The cross-sectional area, collagen content, dry weight as a percentage of the wet weight and the tendon fibre percentage of the cross-sectional area of the equine hindlimb were determined in the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons and the suspensory ligament at 10, 12 and six sites between tarsus and insertion respectively. The values of each of the four parameters varied between different sites in the same tendon, between different tendons within a horse and between analogous tendons of different horses. Within a tendon the cross-sectional area was inversely proportional to the collag...
Pathophysiology of equine postoperative ileus: effect of adrenergic blockade, parasympathetic stimulation and metoclopramide in an experimental model. An experimental model of postoperative ileus was developed in ponies using trauma to, and exposure of, a length of small intestine which gave rise to a reproducible and reversible set of changes in gut activity. This was assessed by recordings of electrical and mechanical activity and by propulsion of spheres from stomach to anus. Activity was depressed, especially in the stomach and colon, and transit was slowed. All drugs given increased electromechanical activity but propranolol was the least effective and did not alter the delayed transit of spheres. Yohimbine was more effective and the ad...
Effects of amitraz, several opiate derivatives and anticholinergic agents on intestinal transit in ponies. Amitraz, atropine, glycopyrrolate and morphine (but not its derivatives, meperidine [pethidine], oxymorphone and butorphanol) produced similar effects on clinically observed intestinal functions and significantly prolonged intestinal transit, as assessed with polyethylene glycol (PEG). However, their mechanisms of action, particularly on intestinal transport (fluid movement), may differ widely. Loperamide appeared to exert a preferential action on intestinal transport rather than motility, as there was no significant delay in PEG transit. The action of amitraz in perturbing smooth muscle coord...
Ecology of Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi in soil on a horse-breeding farm. The ecology of Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi in soil was studied on a horse-breeding farm. R. equi was cultured from soil at a depth of 0, 10, and 20 cm on the six sites of the farm at monthly intervals for 10 months from March to December of 1983. The highest numbers of R. equi were found in the surface soil. The mean number of bacteria in soil samples at every depth increased remarkably from 0 or 10(2) to 10(4) colony-forming units (CFU) g-1 of soil in the middle of April, and later decreased gradually. R. equi inoculated into six soil exudate broths prepared from surface soils at separ...
Morphogenesis of Berne virus (proposed family Toroviridae). In equine dermis cells infected with Berne virus particles were first detected 10 h after infection. Virions were encountered in all parts of the Golgi system and, infrequently, in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. A unique form of budding of preassembled rigid tubular nucleocapsids was demonstrated. Masses of tubular nucleocapsids of a lesser diameter and electron density were prominent in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of infected cells. Within the Golgi system and cytoplasmic cisternae virions appeared as straight or slightly curved rods. Extremely long, aberrant virions (250 nm) were occasio...
Trypanosomiasis in Indonesia. A review of research, 1900-1983. This review describes research conducted from 1900-1983 on trypanosomiasis due to Trypanosoma evansi in Indonesia. Clinical signs and post-mortem findings in horses, cattle, buffaloes, pigs and dogs, experimental transmission tests to establish possible surra vectors in Indonesia, and research on chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis are discussed.
Incidence, diagnosis and treatment of postoperative complications in colic cases. A survey of 259 surgical colic cases revealed that over 50 per cent of fatalities occurred in the postoperative period. Postoperative ileus and circulatory/endotoxaemic shock accounted for 70 per cent of these deaths. Other less important complications were salmonellosis, long bone fracture, adhesions, haemorrhage, laminitis, wound infection and ischaemic muscle damage. Close monitoring of postoperative progress is necessary to enable early diagnosis and treatment. Recent developments in understanding of the pathophysiology of endotoxic shock and ileus may lead to more successful treatment reg...
Review of large intestinal motility and mechanisms of impaction in the horse. The large intestine has distinct motility patterns which include non-rhythmic haustral kneading of ingesta and stronger rhythmic retropulsive and propulsive contractions which move ingesta along the tract. A variable site electrical pacemaker exists at the pelvic flexure where the strong rhythmic contractions begin. The large intestine can contract adequately with only the intrinsic nerve supply intact. Neurotransmitters have profound effects on large intestinal activity.
Study of variables commonly used in examination of equine colic cases to assess prognostic value. In a retrospective study, the prognostic value and individual merit of seven variables, used in routine examination of colic cases, were tested. The following variables proved to be significant in discriminating between horses which survived and those which died: heart rate (P less than 0.00005), packed cell volume (P less than 0.00005) and intensity of colic signs (P less than 0.0001).
Right heart pressures and blood-gas tensions in ponies during exercise and laryngeal hemiplegia. Right atrial, right ventricular, and pulmonary artery pressures, along with change in pleural pressure, were determined with catheter-tipped micromanometers in two groups of ponies at rest, as well as during moderate (trot; heart rate = 180 beats . min-1) and severe (gallop; heart rate = 220 beats . min-1) exercise performed on a treadmill. Group A (n = 8) ponies served as controls, and group B ponies (n = 6) had laryngeal hemiplegia (LH) induced by sectioning the left recurrent laryngeal nerve 20-29 days before the study. It was observed that LH ponies could not gallop for more than 45-90 s. ...
