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.
Andreas C.The virus that causes African horsesickness does not affect any indigenous species, but produces high mortality among horses, a species introduced by the Dutch East India Company in 1653. While the insect-borne disease did not occur in the immediate vicinity of the Cape Peninsula, horsesickness could have constituted an endemic disease barrier to the horse-based expansion of the colonial sphere into the hinterland, where it was seasonally prevalent. That it did so to only a limited extent is due to a substantial alteration of the ecology of the disease that largely resulted from inadvertent si...
Kooy S, Constant J, Cole R, Boone L.Clinical use of blood-derived intra-articular therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), have increased in equine athletes due to their proposed disease-modifying effects. Need for a shelf-stable, allogeneic PRP product with known composition for standardized treatment exists. The objective of this study was to compare systemic and local effects of a single intra-articular injection of equine leucoreduced allogeneic pooled freeze-dried PRP (alloPRP) to a placebo control (saline) in normal, healthy equine joints. Unassigned: Twelve healthy horses were randomly assigned to either control (sa...
Schnierer M, Nekouei O, Huber LC, Jehle M, Biermann N.Despite growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance, prophylactic antimicrobials continue to be routinely administered in many procedures, including dental extractions. Further evidence-based research is needed on whether their use influences post-operative complication rates. Objective: To identify risk factors for short-term complications, associations between complications and antimicrobial use as well as factors leading to antimicrobial use in equine (standing) cheek tooth extractions. Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical records. Methods: Data were extracted from records of hor...
Nemoto M, Kawanishi N, Kambayashi Y, Bannai H, Yamanaka T, Garvey M, Cullinane A, Yamayoshi S, Kawaoka Y, Tsujimura K.Reverse genetics (RG) technology is useful for quickly updating influenza vaccine strains. A high-yield backbone (i.e., six segments other than hemagglutinin and neuraminidase) derived from A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (PR8) has been developed to improve the growth of avian and human influenza viruses. However, for equine influenza virus (EIV), an EIV-derived backbone may have better growth properties due to more-natural segment combinations. We compared the growth properties in eggs between the PR8 backbone and an EIV backbone from A/equine/Ibaraki/1/2007, a vaccine strain in Japan. The results showe...
Jia H, Tang L, Fu Y, Xiong Y, Yan L, Shao C, Li K, Zhang D, Hu D.Petrovinema skrjabini (Nematoda: Strongylidae, Cyathostominae) is a parasitic nematode colonizing the cecum and colon of equids. Like other cyathostomins, its larvae (L3) invade the intestinal mucosa, forming encysted nodules that may remain dormant for years. Mass larval emergence triggers larval cyathostominosis-a severe syndrome characterized by hemorrhagic typhlocolitis and diarrhea, with mortality rates exceeding 50%. However, owing to the morphological indistinguishability of cyathostomin and frequent mixed infections in natural settings, species-specific contributions to pathogenesis re...
Pires MJ, Cotovio M, Queiroga F, Pires CA, Silvestre-Ferreira AC.To date, serum biochemical analytes reference intervals (RIs) in Lusitano horses have not been studied. This study aimed to establish the RIs for biochemical analytes following the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines and to compare them with the general equine population's RIs. Blood samples were collected from 76 clinically healthy adult Lusitano horses, and RIs of 22 biochemical variables were determined using Reference Value Advisor software. Lusitano horse-specific RIs are proposed for the following variables: total protein (3.9-7.0 g/dL), albumin (2.5-3.8 g/dL), g...
Garcia-Collao MR, Curtiss AL, Hogan PM.To describe the outcomes of arthroscopic debridement of third carpal bone (C3) incomplete slab fractures (ISF) in racehorses. Methods: Retrospective case study. Methods: Horses undergoing arthroscopic debridement of ISF of C3. Methods: The medical records of horses surgically treated for ISF of C3 were reviewed. Age, sex, breed, limb, fracture configuration, preoperative radiographs, arthroscopic findings, postoperative intraarticular therapies, and exercise recommendations were recorded. Racing performance was obtained from online databases. Univariable analyses were used to determine associa...
Bacon EK, Finno CJ, Donnelly CG, Haase B, Knych HK, Velie BD.Clinical assessments of equine sedation typically rely on subjective observations, the accuracy of which is paramount to the safety of equine veterinary procedures. Methods: To assess the degree in which subjective clinical sedative evaluations reflect pharmacokinetic measurements of equine drug metabolism, xylazine hydrochloride, an alpha-2 adrenoreceptor agonist, was administered to 36 horses of varying breed and age at a dosage of 0.5 mg/kg body weight. Subjective clinical parameters were scored at 5-, 15-, 30-, 45- and 60-minutes post xylazine administration and included responsiveness to ...
Andueza D, Martin-Rosset W.The nutritive value of forage for horses is closely dependent on the digestibility of organic matter (OMD), which is typically measured in vivo. Researchers have developed a variety of prediction methods to estimate the digestibility value of hay. In ruminants, pepsin-cellulase degradability, expressed as dry matter enzymatic degradability (dCS) and organic matter enzymatic degradability (dCO), is a commonly employed method for predicting OMD in forage types. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of predicting the dry matter digestibility (DMD), OMD, energy digestibility ...
Tretow M, Hain AM, Bienert-Zeit A.The dental syndrome EOTRH is a painful, progressive dental disease with an unknown aetiology. The often painful nature of EOTRH emphasises the need for a better knowledge of the underlying pathogenic mechanism and risk factors. A comparative analysis of haematological, biochemical and endocrine values in EOTRH-affected and non-affected horses has not been described. Objective: To compare haematological, biochemical, and endocrine parameters in EOTRH-affected and non-affected horses to detect risk factors for horses developing EOTRH. Methods: Cross sectional. Methods: Blood samples of 154 Icela...
Strand E, Vermedal H, Olsen HMB, Fjordbakk CT, Fretheim-Kelly ZL.Clinical evaluation of alar fold (AF) collapse is presently based upon subjective evaluation of improvement in breathing and respiratory noise after suturing the AFs dorsally. Objective: To evaluate use of nasopharyngeal airway pressure (NAP) as an objective method of assessing for the presence of AF collapse during exercise. NAPs should also potentially provide a precise means to grade the degree of airway obstruction present and response to surgical treatment. Methods: Prospective clinical study of actively racing Standardbred horses. Methods: Standardbreds undergoing this test were outfitte...
Stucki G, Valet S, Fuerst AE, Weisse B, Jackson MA.The aim of this study was to compare the strength (load at failure) and the number of cycles to failure of 3.5- and 4.0-mm cortical screw-bone constructs for repair of navicular bone fractures in horses.This was an in vitro biomechanical study that used a four-point bending apparatus to determine the load at failure of 3.5- and 4.0-mm cortical screw-bone constructs subjected to static and cyclic loading.In static testing, pairwise comparison of 4.0-mm cortical screw-bone constructs demonstrated significantly greater strength (mean increase: +16%,  = 0.0135) compared with those in the 3.5-m...
Mathys RA, Schmitz TR, Geyer H, Borel N, Hilbe M, Ohlerth S, Bischofberger AS.This study described, assessed and correlated ultrasonographic, computed tomographic, and histological findings in the sacroiliac joints of adult Warmblood horse cadavers. In total, 25 joints from 15 horses were examined post-mortem using transrectal ultrasonography and helical computed tomography. Findings on computed tomography were graded in the caudal joint third (caudally) and for the entire joint as mild, moderate, or severe. In total, 11 joints from nine horses were evaluated histologically. All joints (100%) showed abnormalities on computed tomography, and 92% (23/25) displayed abnorma...
Lu Y, Ru P, Qin S, Zhang Y, Fu E, Cai M, Tuohuti N, Wu H, Zhang Y, Zhang Y.Gastrointestinal parasitic diseases pose significant health risks to equine populations. This study investigated the epidemiological patterns of equine gastrointestinal parasites in Xinjiang by analyzing 83 fecal samples collected from Ili ( = 62) and Urumqi ( = 21) between August and November 2024. The modified McMaster technique was employed to quantify fecal egg counts (EPG) and was complemented by morphological identification to assess infection dynamics related to geography, breed specificity, and management practices. The results demonstrated an overall infection prevalence of 66.3% (55/...
Duaso J, Perez-Ecija A, Navarro A, MartÃnez E, De Las Heras A, Mendoza FJ.Equine piroplasmosis (EP), caused by and , is a worldwide tick-borne disease with severe economic, commercial, and sanitary implications for equids. Although diagnosis is based on direct (blood smear or PCR) or indirect (serology) methods, these techniques are expensive, laborious, and false-negative and false-positive results can be yielded. Biochemistry blood profiles are routinely performed in horses. Biochemical parameters and ratios could be a reliable complementary diagnostic tool to assist clinicians in EP diagnosis, mainly in endemic areas, or for discarding similar disorders (piro-li...
Diptera-borne diseases pose a major threat to global health, and their distribution is constantly changing due to climate change, globalization, and environmental changes. To improve the knowledge of dipteran species and their distribution in equine facilities, CDC-UV and oviposition traps were placed, and the dipping technique was performed in 16 equestrian centers of Northwest (NW) Spain (Galicia and Castilla y León Autonomous Communities) between July and November 2023. A questionnaire was distributed among the horse owners to obtain additional information. Four genera of culicids, (51.8%...
Couto G, Grippo A, Ismer A, Hoogewijs M, Pedro B, Vasconcelos L, Santos G, Wilsher S.Vitrified in vitro-produced embryos can be successfully warmed in isotonic media at room temperature (RT; 22°C). However, this protocol has not been reported for in vivo embryos, which are more challenging to vitrify and warm. Study objectives were to see if vitrified in vivo embryos warmed in RT isotonic medium gave equivalent pregnancy rates to stepwise serial dilution warming, and if embryo size influenced the results. One hundred and seventeen embryos were divided into groups by size (G1:≤ 300 μm, n = 59; G2:> 300-400 μm, n = 33; G3:> 400-500 μm, n = ...
Kamm JL, Odegaard J, Gaida J, King N.This tutorial aims to illustrate and instruct on the technique of punch skin grafting in the horse. Unassigned: A 10-year-old paint gelding with a 9 X 6-cm chronic granulating wound to the left forelimb was utilized for this tutorial. Unassigned: The chronic wound was debrided with sharp dissection, and the limb was pressure bandaged overnight. Twenty-four hours later, the horse was sedated for punch skin grafting. The ventral pectoral region was aseptically prepared for skin harvest and locally anesthetized. An 8-mm biopsy punch was used to harvest the grafts. The subcutaneous tissue was then...
MacKechnie-Guire R, Clayton H, Byström A, Marlin D, Haussler K, Latif S, Blum N, le Jeune SS, Wanless M, Egenvall A.Laterality or sidedness in the horse is commonly addressed as part of the horse's training. An international online survey regarding horse and rider sidedness and asymmetry was conducted, with 2304 useable responses. Confidence intervals (95%) were used to evaluate if some response options were chosen more frequently. Discounting answers of 'not sure' or 'not applicable', the right fore hoof was more often perceived to be more upright (22%) than the left (15%), and the left shoulder was more prominent (24%) more often than the right (17%), whilst most respondents reported no difference. Both l...
Clarysse M, Bertier P, Verpaele S, Madsen AM, Vlaminck L.Equine dental disorders, such as sharp enamel points and focal overgrowths, are common in horses and are often treated with motorized dental grinding tools. These tools, while effective, produce dust and aerosols that may pose health risks to veterinarians and nearby individuals. This study aimed to assess the health risks associated with dental dust and aerosols generated during equine odontoplasty. Using a realistic setup, air concentrations of inhalable and respirable dust, crystalline silica, and airborne microorganisms and endotoxins were measured in 12 groups of horses undergoing odontop...
So YM, Kwok WH, Tang CWY, Wong COL, Wan TSM, Ho ENM.This paper describes the studies of the in vitro biotransformation of nandrolone decanoate and its metabolic fate in equine plasma and urine after intramuscular administration to castrated thoroughbred horses. The in vitro metabolic study was performed using homogenised horse liver, and the more prominent in vitro biotransformation pathways were found to include hydrolysis, reduction, oxidation and sulfation, mainly resulting in seven Phase I metabolites and one Phase II metabolite. The administration study of nandrolone decanoate was carried out using three retired thoroughbred geldings, e...
Knudsen AR, Marsh JS, Pye JL.To describe reproductive performance in Thoroughbred broodmares post-large colon resection and to compare to performance post-colopexy. Methods: A single-institution retrospective study. Methods: A total of 29 client-owned horses: post-large colon resection (LCR) n = 19, post-colopexy: n = 10. Methods: Thoroughbred broodmares that survived until discharge following LCR (Group R) or colopexy (Group P) between 2006 and 2023 were included. Clinical data were collected from clinical records. Breeding and foaling data were collected from the Australian and New Zealand Studbooks. Statistical...
Al-Ansari AS, Duggan V, Mulcahy G, Yin X, Brennan L, Cotter PD, Patel SH, O'Donovan CM, Crispie F, Walshe N.Faecal microbiome and serum metabolome have been studied in human medicine to provide a better understanding of metabolic derangements including diabetes; however, equivalent studies in equine medicine are limited. This was a case-control study conducted to identify differences in faecal microbiota composition and concurrent serum metabolite patterns between metabolically normal Connemara ponies and those with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). Thirty privately owned Connemara ponies (15 EMS and 15 controls) were included in the study. EMS was diagnosed by oral sugar test (OST). Blood samples we...
Friend MM, Nicodemus MC, Lemley CO, Cavinder CA, Prince P, Holtcamp K.Substance withdrawal presents a barrier to substance use disorder (SUD) recovery in part due to symptoms implicating neurotransmitters and their metabolites. Despite this relationship, research investigating alternative treatments such as psychotherapy incorporating equines (PIE) have primarily targeted vital signs and cortisol concentrations. Previous research has also proposed benefits of human-horse physiological coupling, but the role of neurotransmitters in the relationship between humans and horses during PIE has not yet been investigated. The purpose of this study was to characterize ne...
Tumber MR, Burke MK.Lameness in horses resulting from foot pathology is very common. When investigating the cause of a lameness localised to the foot, the first step is most frequently radiographic imaging. Therefore, being able to identify normal anatomy and recognise pathology on radiographs is important for a veterinary medicine student to learn. Computer-aided learning (CAL) is becoming increasingly utilised in the teaching of students on medicine-related courses, especially post-COVID where online learning has been continued in hybridisation with in-person teaching.In this study, a low-cost CAL module was cr...
Yeomans A, Hampson R, Razemba T.Special considerations for donkeys undergoing castration compared with horses include the presence of large scrotal vessels, larger testicular artery and vein and the consequential increased risk of post-operative haemorrhage which necessitates spermatic cord ligation. Objective: This retrospective study compares haemorrhagic complication rates between two methods of spermatic cord ligation in donkeys castrated in rural Malawi. Methods: All donkeys presenting to Veterinary Education Malawi / Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals rural large animal outreach clinics for castrat...
Kerley BS, Harris P, Jacquay E, Askins M, McClendon M, Adams AA.Feeding small meals (∼1 g/kg BW DM basis) providing >10% nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC; starch + water soluble carbohydrate; WSC) has resulted in an augmented insulin response (AIR) in insulin dysregulated (ID) horses, but it's unclear if AIR reflects NSC content or the g NSC/kg BW/meal. Objective: The insulinemic responses of ID (n = 7) and non-insulin dysregulated (NID; n = 8) horses fed four feeds (A = 6.8% NSC; B = 14.9% NSC; C = 35.5% NSC; D = 44.6% NSC) at three levels of NSC intake (0.06, 0.11-0.12 and 0.17-0.18 g/kg BW) were evaluated in a randomized Latin square design across two...
Vachkova E, Arnhold S, Petrova V, Heimann M, Koynarski T, Simeonova G, Piperkov P.The impact of donor age on Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ASC) functionality and safety remains insufficiently characterized, particularly in equine models. This study investigates the influence of age on ASCs proliferation dynamics and the expression of tumorigenic and apoptosis-related markers. Equine ASCs were isolated from juvenile (<5 years), middle-aged (5-15 years), and geriatric (>15 years) horses and assayed across multiple passages. The relative mRNA expressions of pluripotency (Oct4), tumorigenic (CA9), and apoptosis-related (Bax and Bcl 2) markers were evaluated. The Gomper...
Ekfalck A, Appelgren LE, Funkquist B, Jones B, Obel N.The distribution of 35-S-labelled cysteine and methionine in the epidermis of the equine hoof following 2 hours of intra-arterial injection was studied by microautoradiography. Material for autoradiography was obtained by biopsy about 1 hour after termination of the intra-arterial injection and also 10 and 40 days later. In the specimens obtained one hour after the injection of labelled cysteine and methionine, the amount of radioactivity in the matrix and in the most proximal part of the laminar layer was very high. There was a clear difference between the distribution of the two labelled ami...
Bockenstedt MM, Fales-Williams A, Haynes JS.The placenta from an embryo transfer-recipient mare and live foal was examined. The placenta was effaced by multifocal masses, which ranged from less than 1 cm to 14 cm in diameter. The foal represented at 52 days for lethargy, ataxia, and urine dribbling; due to a poor prognosis, the foal was euthanized. At necropsy, the liver was effaced by multifocal, pale, irregular nodules. The lumbar vertebrae and other skeletal sites had multifocal lytic lesions. The placenta had 4 populations of neoplastic cells, including a spindle cell population, tall columnar and transitional epithelial cell popula...
Brinsko SP.Many procedures performed as part of routine broodmare practice are based on sound clinical judgment and experience or scientific evidence; however, others are based on perceived problems and needs to address them. This article presents four procedures commonly used in broodmare practice, for which there is questionable evidence to substantiate their use.
Cheramie HS, O'Ggrady SE.There are many different commercially available hoof repair/adhesive products. The application of these products in the treatment of various foot conditions is continuing to evolve based on sound medical and farriery principles as well as imagination. Successful application of these products depends largely on using proper hoof wall preparation and adhesive application techniques. Success also depends on a realistic expectation of the final outcome when accounting for the physical limitations of the adhesive products and the underlying hoof problem. Our results with these techniques have been ...
Nanda BS, Getty R.The arteria intercarotica caudalis was observed to be present in the dog, horse and cat but was reticulated in the case of cattle, sheep, goat, and pig. The latter structure was a homologue of the former and represented an important intercarotid communication present in most of vertebrate.
There are a wide variety of laboratory tests available to assess damage to and functional impairment of the liver, though the effectiveness of these tests varies greatly depending upon the type of damage and the animal species involved. Species differences in tissue localization, metabolism, specificity and sensitivity of parameters relating to the liver influence the choice of tests. Some tests can be applied usefully to most animal species while others may be highly specific in one species but show very low discriminatory potential in others. The tests available, and their use in veterinary ...
Graham BP.Dental care in any horse need not be looked at as the difficult challenge it used to be before the days of sedation and tungsten carbide and diamond cutting wheels. Horses are living longer and more comfortable lives thanks, in part, to the advancements of dental care and special dietary rations. With the evolution of the horse's place in family circles today, people want the best care possible for their animals. Dentistry has become an important part of that care.
Tschetter JR, Blikslager AT, Little D, Howard RD, Woody SL, Beex LM, Crisman MV.Colic is a serious disease syndrome in horses. Much of the mortality is associated with ischaemic-injured intestine during strangulating obstruction, yet there is limited understanding of the associated molecular events. Identification of differentially expressed genes during ischaemic injury should expand our understanding of colic and may lead to novel targeted therapeutic approaches in the future. Objective: To isolate and identify differentially expressed genes in equine jejunum following a 2 h ischaemic event compared to normally perfused jejunum. Methods: Suppressive subtractive hybridis...
Schiesser E, Geyer H, Kummer M, Jackson M.The interest in equine dentistry has significantly increased in the last 15 years. On the part of the veterinarians as well as of the horse owners there is a strong attention to the topic. The aim of the questionnaire was to investigate amongst horse owners what their level of information and preferences about dental treatment are and how they are implemented. The questionnaire was translated into the three national languages and included 20 questions about level and sources of information, frequency of treatments and the horse owner's stance over sedation of the animals. With a return rate of...
van Galen G, Divers TJ, Savage V, Schott HC, Siwinska N.The aim of this consensus statement is to summarize and appraise scientific evidence and combine this with the clinical experience of a panel of experts to optimize recommendations on how to recognize and manage kidney disease in horses.
Wester RJ, Baillie LL, McCarthy GC, Keever CC, Jeffery LE, Adams PJ.Free Fecal Liquid (FFL), also termed Fecal Water Syndrome (FWS), is an ailment in horses characterized by variable solid and liquid (water) phases at defecation. The liquid phase can be excreted before, during, or after the solid defecation phase. While the underlying causes of FFL are unknown, hindgut dysbiosis is suggested to be associated with FFL. Three European studies investigated dysbiosis in horses with FFL using 16S rRNA sequencing and reported results that conflicted between each other. In the present study, we also used 16S rRNA sequencing to study the fecal microbial composition in...
Malik CE, Wong DM, Dembek KA, Wilson KE.To determine the accuracy of 2 interstitial glucose-monitoring systems (GMSs) for use in horses compared with a point-of-care (POC) glucometer and standard laboratory enzymatic chemistry method (CHEM). Methods: 8 clinically normal adult horses. Methods: One of each GMS device (Dexcom G6 and Freestyle Libre 14-day) was placed on each horse, and blood glucose concentration was measured via POC and CHEM at 33 time points and compared with simultaneous GMS readings. An oral glucose absorption test (OGAT) was performed on day 2, and glucose concentrations were measured and compared. Results: Glucos...
Goodrich EL, Webb JL.Previous hematologic and serum biochemistry reference interval (RI) values have been established for donkeys in various geographic regions, life-stages, or for specific donkey breeds. The last extensive investigation establishing RIs for adult donkeys in the United States (U.S.) was published over three decades ago. We aimed to establish updated robust RIs using a reference population of apparently healthy adult donkeys from across the U.S. Standard sized ( = 102), miniature ( = 17), and mammoth ( = 1) donkeys from four different states were enrolled, with 20% of the study population including...
Bleyaert HF, Madison JB, Bailey JE, Johnson CM.Six ponies divided into two groups of three were used in a double crossover study design. Group 1 ponies had a small intestinal resection and anastomosis performed using a biofragmentable anastomosis ring (BAR); group 2 ponies had a hand-sewn small intestinal resection and anastomosis using a Gambee suture pattern. Approximately 30 days later, all ponies had a second celiotomy and anastomosed segments were removed. Group 1 ponies had a hand-sewn anastomosis performed and group 2 had a BAR. The anastomotic sites were collected at necropsy approximately 30 days later. Anastomosed intestinal segm...
Shibany KA, Tötemeyer S, Pratt SL, Paine SW.Despite reports of the successful isolation of primary equine hepatocytes, there are no published data regarding the successful cryopreservation of these isolated cells. In this study, a detailed description of the procedures for isolation, cryopreservation, and recovery of equine hepatocytes are presented. Furthermore, the intrinsic clearance (Cl) and production of metabolites for three drugs were compared between freshly isolated and recovered cryopreserved hepatocytes. Primary equine hepatocytes were isolated using a two-step collagenase perfusion method, with an average cell yield of 2.47Â...
Pratt SL, Bowen M, Hallowell GH, Shipman E, Bailey J, Redpath A.Equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) is a common condition of the horse. Misoprostol is reported to be superior to oral omeprazole and sucralfate for treatment. Long-acting intramuscular injectable omeprazole (LAIOMEP) is a novel treatment shown to be effective in a small population. This study aimed to determine LAIOMEP efficacy compared to misoprostol and oral omeprazole and identify characteristics that predict treatment outcome. All horses that underwent gastroscopy between 2012 and 2019 were reviewed. Lesions were characterised by 4 blinded observers, all of whom are diplomates in equi...