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Topic:Equine Medicine
Equine Medicine encompasses the study and application of medical practices specifically related to the health and well-being of horses. This field involves the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and disorders affecting equine species. It covers a wide range of topics, including internal medicine, surgery, reproduction, and pharmacology. Research in equine medicine often focuses on understanding the physiological and pathological processes unique to horses, as well as developing effective therapeutic interventions. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of equine medicine, providing insights into the latest advancements and methodologies in the care and management of horse health.
Effects of vatinoxan in horses sedated with detomidine and butorphanol for gastroscopy: a randomized clinical study. The peripheral alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist vatinoxan attenuated the side effects of alpha2-adrenergic sedatives in experimental studies in horses. This clinical study investigated the effects of vatinoxan in horses sedated for gastroscopy with detomidine and butorphanol. Client-owned horses were randomly allocated to receive one of the following two intravenous treatments: detomidine hydrochloride (HCl) (12μg/kg) + butorphanol tartrate (12μg/kg) (DB; n=11) or DB + vatinoxan HCl (200μg/kg) (DBV; n=11). Borborygmi score and heart rate were recorded by auscultation. Sedation level was evalu...
Equine Oocyte and Embryo Metabolism in the ART Setting: Current Knowledge and Clinical Significance. Equine in vitro embryo production has become very efficient and is used extensively worldwide for the clinical production of foals. What we know so far about offspring health and performance is promising; however, elements of the in vitro process remain unphysiological when compared to in vivo conditions. Studying the metabolism of oocytes and embryos can help inform the optimisation of culture systems and identify aberrations if they occur. Given the growing body of knowledge on the downstream effects of an inadequate peri-conception environment, both in vivo and in vitro, it is imperative th...
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis in a Roman-period horse from Gerulata (Bratislava-Rusovce, Slovakia): Diagnostic Considerations. To evaluate pathological changes identified in a skeleton of a horse from Roman-period Gerulata, Slovakia. Methods: The remains consist of a partially preserved, articulated skeleton of an adult horse from today's southern urban district of Bratislava-Rusovce in southwestern Slovakia. Methods: The specimen underwent macroscopic analysis to assess taxonomic identification, biological profile, and pathological changes. Thoracolumbar lesions were further evaluated using computed tomography (CT). Radiocarbon dating determined the absolute age of the remains. Results: Species determination indicate...
Holding immature equine oocytes for up to 3 nights prior to ICSI under practical shipping conditions (10-22 °C) is compatible with blastocyst development. In vitro embryo production via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is widely used in equine reproductive management. Shipping of immature oocytes allows oocyte recovery for ICSI to be performed by referring veterinarians. However, delays in oocyte shipment are common, and their effect on outcomes is unclear. Shipping is typically done at about 22 °C, but previous studies have shown that holding at 15 °C maintains equine oocyte developmental competence. We hypothesized that lower temperatures may better support oocyte viability if the case that delays occur. Oocytes (n = 664) were rec...
Social enrichment mitigates facial expressions and physiological indicators of short-term stress in horses. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of social noncontact environmental enrichment to facilitate social buffering and to characterize the emotional experience of horses subjected to restraint in stock by assessing physiological parameters and facial expressions. Pantaneiro horses (n = 11) were evaluated in a crossover design with two treatments: social noncontact enrichment during stock restraint and social isolation during stock restraint. Physiological parameters (heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, ocular temperature by infrared thermography, and auricular temperat...
Trendelenburg positioning with or without norepinephrine infusion for haemodynamic support in anaesthetised hypovolemic horses. Intraoperative haemorrhage during equine anaesthesia is a rare but potentially fatal complication requiring prompt haemodynamic support. Postural manoeuvres such as Trendelenburg (TL) positioning and vasopressor support augment venous return and improve cardiac output (CO), yet their efficacy in anaesthetised hypovolemic horses remains unstudied. Objective: To evaluate haemodynamic effects of TL positioning during normovolemia and acute haemorrhagic hypovolemia, and to determine whether concurrent norepinephrine (NE) infusion enhances cardiovascular stabilisation. Methods: In vivo experiments....
Abdominal palpation per rectum is highly sensitive for identifying small versus large intestinal lesions in horses presenting for colic. To describe the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and accuracy of abdominal palpation per rectum in horses treated surgically for colic. Unassigned: Medical records were gathered over 5 years (2019 to 2024). Findings of abdominal palpation per rectum were collected and compared to surgical diagnosis, and cases were categorized as true or false positive and negative. Signalment, physical examination parameters, hematologic values, and years of examiner experience were recorded. Unassigned: Records of 453 horses were included. Overall sensitivity and positive predictive value were 86%...
Efficacy of an Oral Chondroprotective Joint Supplement on Stride Length and Gait Symmetry in Aged Geldings with Chronic Lameness. Oral joint supplements (OJSs), specifically those containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, are some of the most popular feed additives fed by horse owners. However, evidence of the efficacy of these nutraceuticals in vivo is lacking. To investigate the impacts of an OJS on equine lameness, 40 geldings (18 ± 7 yr) with chronic lameness and AAEP lameness grades between 2 and 4 (as scored by a veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist) were enrolled in the study. Horses were stratified by lameness grade, BCS, and weight, and then randomly assigned to receive a placebo powde...
Erythrocyte sequestration of metformin in horses: impact on matrix-specific pharmacokinetics and detection windows. BACKGROUND: Metformin is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and is one of the most prescribed medications in human medicine. It is less commonly prescribed in equine medicine, and its use is tightly regulated in several performance horse disciplines. In horseracing, it is considered a banned substance. A previous pharmacokinetic study of metformin in horses demonstrated a prolonged, unpredictable elimination phase. In the current study it was hypothesized that this was due to sequestration of metformin in a “deep” compartment, specifically red blood cells. This could result in pharm...
Deep digital flexor tenotomy provides pain relief and clinical comfort in horses with chronic laminitis. This study evaluated the clinical application, outcomes, and prognostic indicators of deep digital flexor tenotomy (DDFT) in horses with chronic laminitis. Unassigned: A computer-generated search identified all possible cases of laminitis for horses referred to the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania between 2010 and 2022. Medical records were reviewed for a diagnosis of laminitis by clinical examination and radiographs. The population was characterized by breed, age, clinical features, and radiographic findings. Poisson regression was performed to id...
Delphi consensus on Thoroughbred yearling sales endoscopy in Australasia. Concerns regarding the reliability and consistency of yearling sales endoscopy in Australia and New Zealand have led to reduced industry confidence. Recent studies have clarified the relationship between yearling laryngeal function (YLF) grades and future outcomes. Objective: To build expert consensus on the most appropriate method for grading YLF, assess the clinical relevance of each grade on future race performance and prosthetic laryngoplasty risk, and develop guidelines for pre-sale endoscopic technique. Methods: Modified Delphi study. Methods: Anonymous, iterative surveys were distribute...
Terpenic compounds possess anthelmintic and immunomodulatory properties with potential for controlling equine cyathostomin infections. The emergence of anthelmintic-resistant parasite isolates necessitates alternative control strategies. The use of dietary additives with anti-parasitic or immunomodulatory activities has been proposed as a solution, but whether such additives can simultaneously exert dual bioactivities within this context has rarely been explored. Here, we evaluated whether selected terpenes could exert dual bioactivities (anti-parasitic and immunomodulatory) with a view to their use as food additives that can limit strongyle infections in horses. In vitro tests with cyathostomin larval development, larval mig...
HERDA-associated variant in bull-catching (vaquejada) Brazilian Northeastern bull-catching Quarter Horses. Bull-catching (vaquejada) accounting for approximately 13% of sport horses in Brazil. Genetic screening has enabled strategies to reduce the spread of inherited disorders, including Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia (HERDA), a major skin disease included in the Six Panel required for registration by the Brazilian Quarter Horse Breeders Association. Although the HERDA-associated variant has been extensively studied in other disciplines, it had not been evaluated in Bull-catching Quarter Horses (QH). Objective: The present study aimed to determine the allele frequency of the pathogenic ...
Evaluating Protein Enrichment Methods to Improve Biomarker Discovery in Equine Cerebrospinal Fluid. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a valuable source of biomarkers for neurological diseases, but detection of low-abundance proteins is often masked by highly abundant proteins. Enrichment strategies can enhance proteomic coverage and improve biomarker discovery, yet comparative evaluations of such methods in equine CSF are limited. Objective: This study compared the ProteoMiner Small-Capacity Enrichment Kit and the PreOmics Enrich-iST Kit for their ability to deplete high-abundance proteins and enhance detection of low-abundance proteins relevant to neuropathology. Methods: Equine CSF samples were...
Standing NanoNeedle Arthroscopy of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint for Removal of Osteochondral Fragments of Distal P2 and the Extensor Process in a Horse. In horses, standing arthroscopy offers a valuable alternative to general anesthesia for the reduction of anesthetic-associated risks, and provides improved visualization in joints where access is facilitated by weightbearing. These techniques are particularly advantageous for patients with increased anesthetic risk or financial limitations. To the authors' knowledge, the removal of osteochondral fragments from the distal interphalangeal joint in a standing, sedated horse using small-diameter arthroscopic equipment has not been previously reported. Methods: A 7-year-old American Quarter Horse-T...
Atropine induces narrowing of the superior and inferior iridocorneal angle and ciliary cleft in normal horse eyes. To investigate the effects of atropine on the iridocorneal angle (ICA) and ciliary cleft (CC) of normal equine eyes using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). Unassigned: 12 normal adult horses underwent measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP), vertical and horizontal pupil diameter, and UBM of the superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal ICA/CC in both eyes. Measurements were repeated 2 hours following ophthalmic atropine 1% solution application. Measurements of the ICA and CC, including pectinate ligament distance (PLD), CC length (CCL), height of opening distance (HOD), CC area (CCA), and pecti...
Evaluation and Management of the Horse with Head and Neck Disorders. Recognizing possible causes of equine head and neck problems requires a careful and systematic evaluation. While for some disorders reaching a diagnosis and treatment plan is relatively straightforward, for others this can be a complicated road requiring extensive diagnostic techniques, treatment trials, and management strategies. The ability to determine whether the patient is in a painful state, experiencing functional deficits, or in a combination of pain and dysfunction is critical to developing an effective treatment plan. Frequently, behavioral concerns often associated with pain must be...
Diagnostic Threshold Identification for Equine Laminitis Using Smoothed Receiver Operating Characteristic Analysis. Radiographic measurement parameters play a key role in diagnosing acute and subacute laminitis in horses, with diagnostic thresholds typically derived from empirical receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. However, these methods often produce unstable results, particularly in small or noisy datasets. This study applies nonuniform rational B-spline (NURBS)-based ROC smoothing to radiographic data from laminitic and healthy horses to evaluate its effectiveness in refining diagnostic thresholds. Thresholds are determined using Youden's index based on NURBS-smoothed ROC curves and compar...
Behavioral and cardiorespiratory effects of a medetomidine and tramadol combination in horses. The use of combinations of sedative and analgesic drugs during standing procedures in horses is necessary to provide reliable sedation with minimal ataxia and reduced responses to surgical or other stimuli in horses. Objective: This study assessed the behavioral and cardiorespiratory effects of medetomidine (M) administered with and without tramadol (T) in horses. Methods: Eight horses were sedated intravenously with M (5 µg/kg) alone or with T (2 mg/kg) in a arandomized, blind, two-way crossover trial. Behavioral responses, including head height above the ground (HHAG), postural instability ...
A single pneumatic tourniquet is superior to wide rubber tourniquets for saphenous intravenous regional limb perfusion with amikacin in standing, sedated horses. To establish whether tourniquet type and number influence synovial fluid amikacin concentrations of the tarsocrural joint (TCJ) or metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) after standing saphenous IV regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) with 2 g of amikacin. Unassigned: 8 healthy adult horses underwent 4 saphenous IVRLP protocols with amikacin, differing in tourniquet type (pneumatic vs wide rubber) and number (1 placed mid-gaskin vs 1 placed mid-gaskin and 1 mid-metatarsus) in a randomized, crossover design. Amikacin concentrations were measured in serum and synovial fluid of the TCJ and MTPJ at 15 and 30...
Effect of season of collection and storage method on equine hair cortisol concentration. Serum cortisol concentration is one of the common physiological reference standards for evaluating stress in animals. However, it only evaluates acute stress at the moment of blood collection. Hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) could provide a method for assessing cortisol concentrations over extended periods of time, giving an estimate of chronic stress levels. In this case, high HCC results could help equine managers alter management practices to improve welfare. Objective: To evaluate the effect of the month of collection and the storage method on equine HCC. Methods: Tail hair was collecte...
Longitudinal associations between dorsal carpal and third metacarpal bone morphology in Thoroughbred foals during growth. The carpal and third metacarpal (MC3) bones of the equine forelimb undergo morphological adaptation during early growth, influenced by developmental and mechanical factors. However, the longitudinal interactions between dorsal carpal morphology and MC3 structural characteristics have not been fully characterized. Improved understanding of these relationships may help identify morphological indicators associated with bone injury risk before training. Objective: To examine the longitudinal associations between dorsal carpal angular morphology and MC3 diaphyseal parameters in growing Thoroughbred...
Progressive structural and functional change in horses: a conceptual framework for systemic equine (patho-)physiology. A wide range of locomotor, postural, and behavioral pathophysiology in horses-often grouped under terms such as Topline Syndrome, Myofascial Dysfunction, or Poor Posture Syndrome-lack a coherent systemic explanation. These presentations share reduced performance, stability, and resilience, yet are commonly managed through isolated symptom-focused interventions. To address this gap, we propose progressive structural and functional change (PSF) as a systemic framework describing progressive reorganization processes within the equine body that link fragmented pathological domains into a coherent ...
Longitudinal assessment of hemostatic adaptations in pregnant mares: Evidence of a physiological hypercoagulable state. Pregnancy triggers intricate hemostatic adjustments that support placental maturation and prepare the maternal organism for delivery. We hypothesized that pregnant mares would progressively shift toward a procoagulant state throughout gestation, reflected in changes to coagulation and fibrinolytic markers. To test this hypothesis, 15 clinically healthy Spanish Purebred pregnant mares were monitored monthly from conception to term, alongside 15 non-pregnant controls of similar age and breed. A comprehensive hemostatic profile-including platelet (PLT) count, prothrombin time (PT), activated part...
Analytical Challenges and Emerging Detection Strategies of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Horse Doping Control. Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) were originally synthesized to advance the understanding of the endocannabinoid system, facilitate disease research, and support the development of novel therapeutic agents. Compared with tetrahydrocannabinol, these compounds exhibit substantially higher psychoactive potency and enhanced receptor-binding affinity. The rapid and continuous evolution of SC derivatives presents significant challenges for analytical laboratories and increases the risk of misuse. Furthermore, SCs may be exploited to alter performance in both human and animal sports. The scarcity of comp...
Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to quantify hepcidin in horse serum. Hepcidin (Hepc) is a peptide hormone primarily produced by hepatocytes and considered the master regulator of iron homeostasis, with Hepc controlling the release of iron within the circulation. Despite the renewed interest in iron-related research due to Hepc discovery, there is limited data on serum hepcidin in horses. The objective of the study was to develop and partially validate a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify serum hepcidin in horses. Precision was evaluated using horse serum samples representing low, medium and high Hepc concentrations, yielding intra...
United States stakeholder insights on genetic testing for equine health and breeding. The S1094 United States Department of Agriculture Multistate Research Project is a collaborative effort utilizing equine genetics and genomics to improve horse health and well-being. It also provides educational resources and genetic testing tools to equine industry stakeholders. Objective: A survey assessed the knowledge, priorities, and information sources of U.S. horse owners and enthusiasts regarding equine genetic testing to inform future outreach and research efforts. Methods: An online survey was distributed from March to October 2024, targeting horse owners and enthusiasts across the U...
Polyphenol-Rich Feed Material increases Anaerostipes and reduces methanogenic archaea in the horse hindgut microbiome. The gastrointestinal microbiota plays a critical role in horse health and performance. While sugarcane-derived polyphenols have shown microbiota-modulating properties in other species, their effects in horses remain unexplored. Objective: This study investigated whether supplementation with a sugarcane-derived polyphenol feed material modulates the hindgut microbiota of healthy adult horses. Methods: An observational longitudinal study was conducted on six horses over 12 weeks. Faecal samples were collected at three time points: baseline (P1), during supplementation (P2), and post-supplementat...
Adult Equine Optic Nerve Head Measurements Using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography. To compare equine optic nerve head (ONH) measurements using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to detect clinically relevant ONH cupping. Methods: Forty-five eyes from 34 horses were categorized as CONTROL or CUPPED based on indirect ophthalmoscopy and were measured using SD-OCT: Bruch's membrane opening (BMO), optic cup width (OC), anterior laminar depth (ALD), prelaminar thickness (PLT), and cup-to-disk ratio (OC: BMO) at superior (sup.), central (ctr.), and inferior (inf.) ONH locations. Results: The OC:BMO was 0.61 ± 0.09 (sup.), 0.64 ± 0.09 (ctr.), and 0.55 ...
