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.
Hintz HF, Schryver HF.Potassium metabolism and some metabolic interractions of K, Mg and Ca were studied in a series of balance trials with ponies. The kidney was the primary pathway of K excretion. Increasing K intake markedly affected the renal excretion of K but had only small effects on fecal excretion. Increasing K intake increased retention and apparent digestibility of K. High levels of dietary Ca (3.4%) did not influence K metabolism but the highest level of Mg (.81%) increased the apparent digestibility of K. A level of 3.4% K did not decrease Mg, P or Ca digestibility and retention. The maintenance requir...
Gräfner G, Zimmermann H, Karge E, Münch J, Ribbeck R, Hiepe T.Systematic faunal studies in the district Schwerin showed at the present time there are 3 more or less damage-biotopes existing in the districts of Perleberg, Ludwigslust and Parchim; 5 river sources can be considered as potential sources, 5 are temporary and 2 are ephemeral whilst in 3 further areas environmental influences such as effluent impairs the flow of the river and the developmental stages of Simuliidae were not observed.--The following species were found: Boophthora erythrocephala, Wilhelmia salopiensis, Wilhelmia equina, Odagmia ornata, Eusimulium aureum and Eusimulium lundstroemi....
Anwer MS, Engelking LR, Gronwall R, Klentz RD.Plasma bile acid concentration was determined in normal dogs,sheep, calves and ponies for three days before and six days after liver damage, induced by carbon tetrachloride. In all species, a significant increase in plasma bile acid concentration was associated with a concomitant significant increase in plasma sorbitol dehydrogenase and transferase activity. Plasma bilirubin also significantly increased in all animals except the dogs. Results suggested that plasma bile acid levels could be used to test liver function in domestic animals.
Hafs HD.Often in developing hormone assays, hormones that may interfere with the assay by cross-reaction are not available for testing the validity of the assay. For example, horse TSH was unavailable to test for cross-reaction in an LH radioimmunoassay (RIA). The authors devised an indirect means of accomplishing the same goal, and the evidence from the indirect test of cross-reaction was at least as persuasive as a direct test might have been. Other examples are given of experiments where extensive effort was devoted to validation of steroid RIA, but there were substantial quantitative differences i...
Milne DW, Skarda RT, Gabel AA, Smith LG, Ault K.Effects of training at a regular, fixed, standard exercise load on venous lactic acid, mixed venous and arterial blood gases and pH, and serum muscle enzymes were determined on previously unconditioned, healthy, adult, Standardbred horses. Arterial and mixed venous blood gases, pH, and serum muscle enzymes did not change in a consistent manner during training. Venous lactic acid concentrations did increase significantly with training and may be of value for the biochemical evaluation of fitness in horses.
Burka JF, Deline TR, Holroyde MC, Eyre P.Horses were sensitized to bovine plasma in Freund's complete adjuvant. Leukocytes, separated from venous blood, yielded histamine upon incubation with bovine plasma. Ioslated lung fragments incubated with bovine plasma liberated histamine and 5-HT, but not SRS-A. Pulmonary veins obtained from the same animals contracted to histamine, 5-HT and to antigen (Schultz-Dale reaction). Histamine and 5-HT probably contribute to immediate-type hypersensitivity in horses whereas the role of SRS-A is not proved.
Anderson MG.The distribution of lactic dehydrogenase, aldolase and creatine kinase in various horse tissues was determined. Using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the lactic dehydrogenase and creatine kinase isoenzyme composition of horse serum, taken before and after exercise, was studied. Horse tissue isoenzyme patterns were also obtained. By comparing tissue and serum patterns, skeletal muscle was found to be the tissue of origin of the increase in serum lactic dehydrogenase and creatine kinase observed after exercise.
Swanwick RA, Wilkinson JS.This paper evaluates the usefulness of abdominal paracentesis as a diagnostic aid in abdominal disease in the horse and in particular considers whether or not it can be effectively utilised as an indication for surgical intervention in cases of colic. The results are based upon peritoneal fluid samples collected from 20 normal horses and from 20 cases of colic and peritonitis. Peritoneal fluid was collected from standing horses by inserting a bovine teat cannula into the horses abdomen through the linea alba after desensitisation of the skin on the ventral midline with local anaesthetic. Usual...
Chen CL, Pattison ML, Engleking LR, Gronwall RR.The effect of a subcutaneous injection of estradiol on the secretion of pituitary prolactin in the rat and the relationship between serum estradiol level and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in mare were reviewed. In addition, the effect of estradiol injection on LH secretion and the metabolism of [14C] estradiol in intact and bile duct fistulated pony mares were studied. Low (0.1 mug/day/rat) to moderate dose (5 mug/day/rat) of estradiol benzoate injected subcutaneously to mature or immature rats significantly increased pituitary content of prolactin and serum prolactin level five- to tenfo...
Hillidge CJ, Lees P.The neuroleptanalgesic drug combination of
etorphine and acepromazine (Large Animal
Immobilon; Reckitt & Colman Ltd.) was
administered i.v. at the recommended dose rate
(24 ,ug/kg etorphine and 100 pg/kg acepromazine)
to twelve Welsh Mountain ponies of 185 to 336 kg
bodyweight. Cardiovascular measurements were
made before and at pre-determined times up to
30 min after the injection. The etorphine
antagonist, diprenorphine (Revivon; Reckitt &
Colman Ltd.), was then injected i.v. (30,ug/kg)
and further measurements were obtained.
Pronounced increases in heart rate, moderate
increase...
McGuire TC, Pollara B, Moore JJ, Poppie MJ.Foals with combined immunodeficiency had normal levels of purine salvage pathway enzymes, including adenosine deaminase, nucleoside phosphorylase, and xanthine oxidase.
Lees P, Serrano L.1 The butyrophenone tranquilizer, azaperone, was administered intramuscularly, at dose levels of 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg, to ponies and its effects on cardiovascular and respiratory functions assessed. 2 Arterial blood pH, CO2 tension (PaCO2) and O2 tension (PaO2) remained relatively constant throughout the course of action of azaperone. 3 Azaperone did not modify plasma protein concentration but venous blood packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration were reduced by 5 to 10% for at least 4 hours. These changes were probably caused by uptake of erythrocytes into the splenic reservoir. 4 Small ...
Urschel KL, Escobar J, McCutcheon LJ, Geor RJ.The objective of this study was to determine whether the rate of insulin infusion during isoglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp procedures affected measures of insulin action, including glucose disposal and plasma non-esterified fatty acid, endothelin-1, and nitric oxide concentrations, in mature, healthy horses. Eight thoroughbred mares were studied during a 2-h hyperinsulinemic clamp procedure, conducted at each of 4 rates of insulin infusion: 0 (CON), 1.2 (LOWINS), 3 (MEDINS), and 6 (HIGHINS) mU · kg(-1) · min(-1). The infusion rate of a dextrose solution was adjusted throughout the clamp pro...
Gosai F, Gosai N.Strangles is a contagious upper respiratory tract infection primarily affecting equines. It is rare disease with zoonotic transmission. It is caused by the bacterium, . We present the rare case of strangles in an elderly patient complicated by bacteraemia, osteomyelitis and native valve endocarditis. The patient was treated successfully with appropriate antibiotics and no surgical intervention was needed. In an age of accelerated emerging zoonosis, this is an important entity clinicians should be aware of to prevent delay in diagnosis and poor outcome. Conclusions: Strangles is a disease of eq...
Kagan IA.Temperate grasses contain both water- and ethanol-soluble carbohydrates. Water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) of temperate grasses include glucose, fructose, sucrose, and fructans (fructose-based polymers) of varying lengths. Ethanol-soluble carbohydrates (ESCs) consist of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and shorter fructans. WSCs and ESCs have been implicated in equine pasture-associated laminitis and other metabolic disorders. In this paper, the peer-reviewed literature of the past decade was summarized for selected factors influencing concentrations and composition of WSCs and ESCs in temperate g...
McConnico RS, Brownie CF.Two horses with red maple (Acer rubrum) toxicity responded to treatment with high doses of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), in addition to blood transfusions, and intravenous fluid therapy. The clinical course included Heinz body anemia, marked methemoglobinemia, depression, and evidence of severe tissue anoxia. Clinical recovery was dramatic with stabilization achieved 36 hours following the initiation of ascorbic acid therapy.
Morgan JM, Galuppo LD.Management of fractures in the field starts with successful assessment and stabilization of the patient by the practitioner on the front lines. A careful examination is vital to succesful patient management. This includes identifying the fracture location and severity, evaluating skin integrity and potential contamination of the fracture, and treating any ongoing hemorrhage, hypovolemia or stress. Appropriate application of splints in the field will minimize ongoing tissue damage and improve patient comfort. This ultimately aids further assessment, facilitates referral, and improves opportunit...
Sarnecky BA, Vanderwall DK, Mason HM, Kirschner SM, Ambrose B, Parker TL.Prolonging function of the corpus luteum (CL) is a method of suppressing estrus that relies on continued secretion of endogenous progesterone to keep mares out of heat naturally. The use of oxytocin treatment to prolong CL function is gaining increasing use, and the most common treatment protocol involves administration of 60 units of oxytocin intramuscularly (IM) once daily on days 7-14 after ovulation (eight daily treatments). Although that protocol induces prolonged CL function in ≥70% of treated mares, the need for daily administration is a drawback to its use. Therefore, the objective o...
Hudson NP, Church DB, Trevena J, Nielsen IL, Major D, Hodgson DR.Two Thoroughbred horses were presented with various clinical signs which included sweating, agitation, muscle twitching and synchronous diaphragmatic flutter. These signs were associated with profound hypocalcaemia. A diagnosis of primary hypoparathyroidism was made on the basis of low serum ionised calcium concentration, hyperphosphataemia and markedly reduced serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone concentrations in the presence of normal renal function. Treatment with a combination of intravenous calcium and subsequently oral calcium, magnesium and a vitamin D analogue (dihydrotachysterol)...
MacHarg MA, Foerner JJ, Phillips TN, Barclay WP.The medical management of three horses with simple and strangulating small intestinal obstructions was unsuccessful and was therefore supported by surgical bypasses. Jejunocecostomies were used to treat horses with postoperative paralytic ileus that was unresponsive to medical management. These horses had abdominal pain, gastric distention, heart rate elevations greater than 60/minute, and small intestinal distention on rectal palpation. Two horses experienced weight loss which responded to bypass removal. The bypass effectively decreased the need for intravenous fluid administration and repea...
Srivastava SK, Barnum DA.Lymphocyte stimulation was observed in whole equine blood in the presence of phytohaemagglutinin and M protein extracted from a typical strain of Streptococcus equi. Blood samples were collected from several healthy horses and horse and pony foals and cultured in vitro with varying concentrations of phytohaemagglutinin and M protein for several days. Phytohaemagglutinin was found to induce lymphocyte stimulation in these animals. Highest mean stimulation indices in horse foals (49.3 +/- 24.4) and pony foals (54.7 +/- 32.0) were observed with 0.625 and 1.25 micrograms/mL phytohaemagglutinin, re...
Sivula NJ, Trent AM, Kobluk CN.Nonsurgical correction of a renosplenic entrapment of the large colon was attempted in a mare, using a rolling technique. After correction, the mare had initial improvement in clinical signs, but later developed signs of abdominal discomfort. A ventral midline celiotomy was performed, and a pelvic flexure impaction and large intestinal volvulus were found and corrected.
Andrews FM.A thorough examination of the respiratory system is an important part of the work-up for poor performance in horses. This article provides a systematic approach to field evaluation of horses with poor performance due to respiratory system dysfunction. The information is organized to help the reader evaluate pertinent historical and physical examination findings so that a list of differential diagnoses can be generated. Also, pertinent ancillary diagnostic modalities that can help further characterize and localize causes for respiratory dysfunction in horses presented for poor performance are d...
Brøkner C, Austbø D, Næsset JA, Blache D, Knudsen KE, Hansen HH, Tauson AH.Dietary sugar and starch affect plasma glucose and insulin concentrations. Little information is available about the effect of dietary fibre on plasma glucose and insulin concentration. It is hypothesized that different dietary fibre compositions will alter post-prandial glycaemic- and insulinemic index of test meals. The objective was to measure postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations in horses fed meals of different fibre compositions. Methods: Blood was drawn via jugular vein puncture and the glycaemic and insulinemic index were calculated. Results: The meal effect on glycaemic and ...
Sneddon JC, Van Der Walt J, Mitchell G, Hammer S, Taljaard JJ.We have investigated the change in plasma vasopressin and aldosterone concentrations in Namib (desert-adapted) and in control horses from a subtropical region, during an acute 12% dehydration and during rehydration, while food was available. During dehydration, vasopressin concentrations increased significantly in both groups of horses, but the increase was significantly greater in Namib horses than in control horses. During rehydration, vasopressin levels fell, but fell significantly less in Namib horses. The change in vasopressin concentration correlated significantly with plasma osmolality ...
Ribeiro Neto LM, Salvadori MC, Spinosa HS.As hydrocortisone is an endogenous substance, it is first necessary to establish its normal concentrations so as to be able to control its use in racing animals. This study was designed to establish the hydrocortisone concentrations in post-race urine samples of horses racing in Brazil and also to evaluate the results in relation to the international threshold set for this drug. Urine samples were analysed by HPLC-UV. The results were evaluated according to the concentration range as well as sex and time of sample collection (afternoon or evening races). The results showed a high degree of var...
Bosch G, van Schie MJ, Back W.A keratoma is a rather uncommon disorder of the equine hoof that can lead to lameness. Few quantitative data exist about the prognosis of different treatment regimens. The outcome of 41 cases that were presented to the Department of Equine Sciences in the period 1995-2001 and that were treated according to different regimens was retrospectively evaluated. All horses showed lameness that could be attributed to the keratoma: 23 (56%) were treated surgically using a standardized procedure, while the other 18 (44%) were treated conservatively. Results were based upon 35 horses; 6 were lost to foll...
Sha DH, Mullineaux DR, Clayton HM.Surface markers are usually used to track bone movement. However, skin movement related to the bone has a large effect on the analysis of skeletal kinematics. A 2-dimensional (2D) skin displacement correction model has been successfully developed, but no 3D skin displacement model exists. Objective: To develop a 3-dimensional (3D) skin displacement model for the equine radial segment during trot. Methods: The 3D trajectories of 6 skin-based markers and a bone-fixed triad were captured at trot in 4 horses. Skin displacements in the bone-based coordinate system were calculated using a singular-v...
