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.
Phillips AW, Courtenay JS, Ruston RD, Moore J, Baker C, Epps HB.A simple apparatus is described for the collection of plasma from horses while maintaining their blood in extracorporeal circulation. Using this device, nearly 2.5 kg of plasma protein was collected from a horse during a period of 3 weeks without any obvious adverse effect upon the animal. The blood’s packed cell volume showed little variation throughout this period, although its content of plasma protein was found to fall. The normal plasma protein level was almost completely re-established after 3 weeks rest. A horse immunized with tetanus toxoid and subjectcd to repeated cycles of plasmap...
Ek N.Levels of the immunoglobulins IgG and IgG(T) in serum in Norwegian horses of the breeds “Døle” and “Fjord” were determined by the quantitative radial immunodiffusion test. No significant differences were apparent between the 2 Norwegian breeds. The immunoglobulin levels were approximately in the same range as previously reported for Shetland ponies. Immunoglobulins could not be detected in the newborn foal. As early as 24 hrs. after birth the mean immunoglobulin level was within the adult range. After a drop during the first month of life, the immunoglobulins increased. IgG(T) rose mo...
Neuvonen E, Estola T.A serological survey on the occurrence of group-specific chlamydial antibodies in random sera of Finnish sheep, cattle and horses was performed. The whole material consisted of 1347 serum samples, including 432 ovine, 454 bovine and 461 equine sera. The sera were sent to the laboratory for various serological tests during 1968–1972. Of the ovine sera 9.5%, bovine 12.8 % and equine 7.1 % showed a titer ≥ 1:16 in the complement fixation test. No definite geographic differences could be found in the distribution of the herds which showed positive results. The ubiquity of chlamydial infections...
Smith ID.Progesterone concentration was measured by a protein-binding assay in peripheral plasma samples taken from 8 thoroughbred mares throughout pregnancy and for 2 days after parturition. There were considerable differences between individuals at any one time in gestation but, on average, levels rose during the first 60 days of gestation, fell to a minimum at about 180 days when the accessory corpora lutea regress and finally reached their highest mean value of 11.5 mg/ml±1.2 (S.E.M.) during the period 270 days to term, significantly higher than the mean, 7.6 ng/ml±0.5 (S.E.M) for the whole of ge...
Lindholm A, Saltin B.LINDHOLM, ARNE and BENGT SALTIN: The physiological and biochemical response of standardbred horses to exercise of varying speed and duration. Acta vet. scand. 1974, 15, 310–324. — Welltrained standardbred horses were studied to examine the metabolic response to excercise of various speeds and duration. Comparisons between interval (400, 700, 1,000 and 2,000 m) and continuous trotting (1 hr., 2 hrs.) and racing were made. Muscle and rectal temperatures were recorded before and immediately after each work bout. Heart rate was linearly related to trotting speed, and maximal heart rate (240 be...
Geddes LA, Tacker WA, Rosborough JP, Moore AG, Cabler PS.Electrical ventricular defibrillation of heavy subjects (over 100 kg body weight) is uncommon for the human or any animal species. This paper reports trans-chest ventricular defibrillation of subjects ranging in weight from 2.3 to 340 kg using conventional defibrillation current (heavily damped sine wave) of 0.3-30 ms duration. It was found that a body weight-to-electrical-shock strength relationship exists and can be expressed in terms of either electrical energy or peak current. For the duration of current pulse used clinically (3-10 ms), the relationship between energy requirement and body ...
Hoy TG, Harrison PM, Shabbir M, Macara IG.The rate of release of iron to 1,10-phenanthroline from ferritin fractions of different iron contents has been studied. The experimental results could be interpreted by a simple hypothetical model of the shape of the hydrous ferric oxide micelle at different iron contents, and reasonable correlation obtained between the rate of release and the calculated micelle surface areas. Initial rates of release did not correlate significantly with protein concentration.
Kurz JP, Schoenhals KE, Hullinger GA, Van Wettere AJ.Syringomyelia is a form of myelodysplasia defined by the formation of one or more fluid-filled cavities within the spinal cord that do not communicate with the central canal. The defect may be congenital or acquired. Clinical signs correlate to the segment of spinal cord affected and include pain, paresis, proprioceptive deficits, alterations in sensation, scoliosis, and autonomic dysfunction. This report describes the clinical and pathologic changes in a case of acquired syringomyelia in a 10-year-old American Paint Horse mare. The horse had a six-week history of progressive proprioceptive de...
Zebarth BJ, Sheard RW.The 2 dominant processes involved in the horse hoof-to-racing surface interaction are the shock loading of the horse's leg upon impact with the racing surface and rotation of the horse's hoof into the racing surface. These processes were measured as impact resistance (ie, the peak deceleration of a moving body upon impact with the test surface) and as resistance to shear. The objective of the present study was to measure physically (under a variety of conditions) those soil and turf factors related to the 2 processes. It was concluded that thatch accumulation and mowing height of the turf did ...
Deaton CM, Marlin DJ, Smith NC, Roberts CA, Harris PA, Kelly FJ, Schroter RC.Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a non-enzymatic antioxidant important in protecting the lung against oxidative damage and is decreased in lung lining fluid of horses with airway inflammation. To examine possible therapeutic regimens in a species with ascorbate-synthesising capacity, we studied the effects of oral supplementation of two forms of ascorbic acid, (each equivalent to 20 mg ascorbic acid per kg body weight) on the pulmonary and systemic antioxidant status of six healthy ponies in a 3 x 3 Latin square design. Two weeks supplementation with ascorbyl palmitate significantly increased mean...
Friesen KM, Johnson GD.Reproductive potential was assessed for stable fly cohorts fed cattle, chicken, or horse blood. Flies provided chicken blood oviposited 20% more eggs per day than did those fed cattle or horse blood. However, flies provided cattle or horse blood were fecund 50% longer. When both egg viability and number of eggs produced were considered, lifetime reproductive potential was almost twice as high for flies fed cattle or chicken blood than for flies fed horse blood. Maternal investment, which took egg production and volume into account, was higher in cohorts fed cattle blood (70 mm3) when compared ...
Gillen SS.The scope of medical problems encountered by the equine ambulatory practitioner is immense; there is a wealth of information available to ambulatory practitioners pertaining to specific medical topics. It is certainly possible to practice high-quality equine medicine in a field setting. However, hospital referral should be offered to clients for conditions not conducive to successful treatment in the field. Prompt referral of difficult cases is a sign that the practitioner wants the best treatment for the patient and is often gladly accepted by the client. When surgical or hospital referral is...
Schröter C, Bielefeld M, Bielefeld D, Macke C, Winkelmann C, Mommsen P, Krettek C, Zeckey C.The upper limb is one of the most frequently injured body regions in equestrian sports, but it is unclear which injuries are involved, and there are no data on the associated accident mechanism. The present study is aimed at evaluating the accident mechanisms, injuries of the upper limbs, and the circumstances of the accident in equestrian sports. We included 218 patients who were all treated between 2006 and 2014 at the level I trauma center at the Medical University in Hannover because of equestrian-related accidents. The most frequent injuries were fractures and bruising in the shoulder ...
Ordakowski-Burk AL, Kronfeld DS, Williams CA, Gay LS, Sklan DJ.To identify changes in folate status of mares and foals during lactation and growth, respectively. Methods: 20 Thoroughbred mares and foals. Methods: Pregnant mares, and following foaling the same mares with their foals, were maintained on mixed grass-legume pasture and fed either a traditional dietary supplement rich in sugar and starch (SS) or a dietary supplement high in fat and fiber (FF). Blood samples were collected monthly from mares and foals up to 6 months after foaling. Total folate concentration in feed and forage was determined. Analyses of plasma folate, RBC folate, plasma homocys...
Floris B, Bini PP, Nuvole P, Di Meglio FG.The changes of some parameters in the blood serum of six Giara horses (3 males and 3 females) were checked weekly, in relation to the environmental temperature throughout a one winter and summer. T3, total lipids, triglycerides, urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein, albumin, beta and gamma globulin showed significant difference between winter and summer and, with the exception of triglycerides, urea nitrogen and total protein were correlated to the environmental temperature. T4, glucose, uric acid and alpha globulin showed no difference between the two seasons and no correlation with the t...
Cogley TP, Cogley MC.A synthetic alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, detomidine hydrochloride, was used in the study of in vivo activity of Gasterophilus intestinalis (Diptera: Gasterophilidae) during migration in the tongue of the horse. Use of the drug allowed the investigator to manipulate the tongue and closely observe the movement patterns and tissue disturbance caused by burrowing first-stage larvae. Detomidine hydrochloride should be utilized in studies of drug efficacy and larval biology, whenever possible, to avoid the need to sacrifice the horse.
De Jonge B, Dufourni A, Oosterlinck M, Chiers K.We report a 9-year-old Thoroughbred gelding that had sudden onset lameness of the right forelimb with episodes of lateral decubitus and generalized pain after completion of a normal training session. The clinical signs subsequently became less pronounced with only mild right forelimb lameness. However, after further orthopaedic examination, it developed severe, acute ataxia and paraplegia, the Schiff-Sherrington phenomenon and risus sardonicus. At necropsy, a partial duplication of the cervical spinal cord was identified, consistent with split spinal cord malformation type II or diplomyelia. H...
Charman RE, Vasey JR.Carpal flexural deformities (CFD) are frequently encountered in the horse, with both congenital and acquired forms described. The success of surgical correction of CFD, both in terms of the ability to achieve a straight palmar carpal angle and the impact on future athletic performance, requires further investigation. Objective: To report the surgical management and outcome of treatment of flexural deformity of the carpus in 72 horses up to 12 months of age. Methods: Information was obtained from the medical records of horses surgically treated for CFD and through follow-up contact with owners....
Giri DK, Quist EM, Ambrus A, Gold J, Porter BF, Bratton GR, Storts RW.A 5-day-old quarter horse colt with a history of hypothermia, agonal breathing, and diarrhea was euthanized. At necropsy, numerous slightly raised, discrete, closely approximated submucosal nodules were observed in the colon and small intestine. Histologically, these nodules were composed of expanded submucosal mesenchyme that contained numerous neurons either individually or in ganglia. Thirty-two percent of these ganglia included 8 or more neurons, in contrast to 6% in an age-matched foal. Some nodules had necrosuppurative inflammation with vasculitis, thrombosis, and bacterial colonization....
ter Laak EA.The properties of the bacterium, symptoms, post-mortem findings, diagnosis, therapy, control, prevention and epizootiology of contagious equine metritis 1977 (CEM) are reviewed. This disease was previously diagnosed in most of the countries surrounding the Netherlands, but has not been reported so far in the Netherlands. On the analogy of the serum adopted in other countries, a code of practice was developed to prevent and control this disease when it is diagnosed.
Slocombe JO, McCraw BM.Sixteen pony foals were reared worm-free and inoculated with Strongylus vulgaris. On day 7 after inoculation, 12 ponies were given a fenbendazole 10% suspension at dose rate of 50 mg/kg of body weight by stomach tube. On day 8 after inoculation, 8 of these ponies were given the 2nd treatment of the anthelmintic and on day 9, 4 of these ponies were given the 3rd treatment. (The other 4 of the 16 ponies were given only tap water, as controls.) The ponies were necropsied at death or on day 28 after inoculation. Fenbendazole was effective in minimizing the appearance of clinical signs associated w...
Harvey JW, Kaneko JJ.Glutathione reductase (GR) was studied in erythrocytes of horses, cats, dogs, and man. Glutathione reductase activity was measured in hemolysates with and without preincubation of hemolysates with flavinadenine dinucleotide. The percentage saturation of GR apoenzyme with cofactor (flavin-adenine dinucleotide) was lower in cats and dogs than in horses or man. The greatest amount of inactive apoenzyme was in feline erythrocytes. Total GR activity listed in order by species is cat greater than man greater than dog greater than horse. Kinetic constants for oxidized glutathione and reduced nicotina...
