Euthanasia in horses refers to the process of humanely ending the life of a horse to alleviate suffering or when the quality of life is deemed unsustainable. This practice is considered in cases of severe illness, injury, or chronic pain where recovery is not possible. The decision-making process involves veterinarians, horse owners, and sometimes ethical and welfare considerations. Various methods are employed, with the primary aim of ensuring a painless and stress-free experience for the animal. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the ethical considerations, methods, decision-making processes, and impacts on equine welfare related to euthanasia.
Beisser A, McClure S, Rezabek G, Soring KH, Wang C.To determine the incidence and anatomic location of and potential risk factors for catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries (CMIs) in racing Quarter Horses. Methods: Retrospective matched case-control study. Methods: 67 racing Quarter Horse racehorses euthanized because of CMIs and 134 matched controls. Methods: Data for Quarter Horses that sustained CMIs and the total number of race starts for each year were obtained from 2 Midwestern racing jurisdictions from 2000 through 2011. Information for each horse with a CMI and for 2 randomly selected control horses that ran in the same race but did not...
Fielding CL, Higgins JK, Higgins JC, McIntosh S, Scott E, Giannitti F, Mete A, Pusterla N.Equine coronavirus (ECoV) is associated with clinical disease in adult horses. Outbreaks are associated with a low case fatality rate and a small number of animals with signs of encephalopathic disease are described. Objective: The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of two outbreaks of ECoV infection that were associated with an high case fatality rate. Methods: 14 miniature horses and 1 miniature donkey testing fecal positive for ECoV from two related disease outbreaks. Methods: Retrospective study describing the epidemiological findings, clinicopatholo...
Aitken MR, Southwood LL, Ross BM, Ross MW.To evaluate short- and long-term outcome after medical and surgical management of horses with cecal impaction and to determine reasons for death or euthanasia. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Horses (n = 150). Methods: Data collected from medical records (1991-2011) of horses with a diagnosis of cecal impaction, included signalment, history of recent disease/surgical procedure, admission data, management (medical, typhlotomy alone, jejunocolostomy), complications, and outcome. Short-term outcome (alive or dead at discharge) and long-term outcome (alive or dead at ≥1 year) we...
Collar EM, Zavodovskaya R, Spriet M, Hitchens PL, Wisner T, Uzal FA, Stover SM.To gain insight into the pathophysiology of equine lumbar vertebral fractures in racehorses. Objective: To characterise equine lumbar vertebral fractures in California racehorses. Methods: Retrospective case series and prospective case-control study. Methods: Racehorse post mortem reports and jockey injury reports were retrospectively reviewed. Vertebral specimens from 6 racehorses affected with lumbar vertebral fractures and 4 control racehorses subjected to euthanasia for nonspinal fracture were assessed using visual, radiographic, computed tomography and histological examinations. Results: ...
MacKay AV, Panizzi L, Sparks HD, Barber SM.To report complications of arthrodesis of the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint using a drilling technique in an adult horse. Methods: Case report. Methods: Horse (n = 1). Methods: A 12-year-old Quarter Horse mare with CMC osteoarthritis (CMC-OA) had arthrodesis under general anesthesia in right lateral recumbency. Under fluoroscopic guidance, a 4.5 mm drill bit was inserted at 3 drilling sites 5-6 cm into the CMC joint and was fanned 30-45° in the plane of the joint and 5-10° in the long axis of the limb to destroy articular cartilage and expose the subchondral bone. Results: The horse pr...
Østevik L, Gunnes G, de Souza GA, Wien TN, Sørby R.Localized nasal, conjunctival and corneal amyloidosis was diagnosed in a 15-year-old pony with nasal and conjunctival masses and severe dyspnoea. Multiple swellings had been evident in the nostrils for at least two years and had gradually increased in size before presentation due to dyspnoea and exercise intolerance. Surgical debulking of the masses was performed and histological examination revealed large amounts of extracellular, hyaline, eosinophilic, Congo red positive material in the lamina propria of the nasal mucosa. A tentative diagnosis of localized nasal amyloidosis was made. The tre...
Annand EJ, Reid PA.The first two confirmed cases of Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) infection in horses are presented. Both cases occurred in the same week in May 2013 in paddock mates in south-east Queensland. Australia has been one of only a few countries considered free from rabies-like viruses in domestic animal species. ABLV infection had previously only been confirmed in bats and humans. All three confirmed human cases were fatal, the latest in February 2013. An additional human case of possible abortive infection in 1996 has also been reported. Both equine cases reported here resulted in euthanasia. The ...
Taylor SD, Toth B, Townsend WM, Bentley RT.To describe the clinical course, management, and outcome of a horse with a presumptive diagnosis of botulism treated with long-term mechanical ventilation. Methods: A 6-year-old Quarter Horse gelding with a history of esophageal obstruction was evaluated for progressive tetraparesis. Generalized and progressive skeletal muscle weakness characterized by recumbency, decreased tongue, tail, eyelid, and anal tone, and respiratory failure was observed. Anticholinergic signs including decreased salivation, xerophthalmia, and ileus were also noted. A presumptive diagnosis of botulism was made, althou...
Thompson R, Armién AG, Rasmussen JM, Wolf TM.A 25-yr-old, nulliparous, female Przewalski's wild horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) with a history of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and recent onset of serosanguinous vaginal discharge was euthanized after a period of lethargy and inappetance. Postmortem examination confirmed an infiltrative uterine adenocarcinoma, which is an uncommon neoplasia in equids. Reproductive disease is significant in this species as they are considered endangered by IUCN. Reproductive soundness and success are paramount to conservation efforts.
Díaz OM, Durando MM, Birks EK, Reef VB.To determine prevalence of myocardial injury in horses with colic on the basis of high concentrations of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), frequency of cardiac arrhythmias within the first 24 to 48 hours after hospital admission or surgery because of colic, and associations between high cTnI concentrations and cardiac arrhythmias, clinical course, and outcome (survival to discharge from hospital vs nonsurvival [death or euthanasia]). Methods: Prospective observational study. Methods: 111 horses with colic. Methods: Blood was drawn at admission and 12 and 24 hours after admission if horses were treate...
Wormstrand BH, Ihler CF, Diesen R, Krontveit RI.Colic, defined as pain originating from the abdomen, is a common condition in horses. Most of the cases resolve spontaneously or after medical treatment, but a few require surgical treatment. Surgical treatment of colic in horses is resource-demanding and expensive, and information on prognosis is therefore important for both owners and surgeons. In the present study, surgical cases in two equine hospitals in Norway between 2005 and 2011 were reviewed. The aim of the study was to describe associations between prognostic indicators, diagnoses and short term survival by use of random effects log...
Christophersen MT, Dupont N, Berg-Sørensen KS, Konnerup C, Pihl TH, Andersen PH.Outcomes of colic treatment are of great interest to clinicians, horse owners and insurers. One commonly used criterion of success is the overall short-term survival rate. This is used as to compare treatments and to measure quality of veterinary care, but may be biased by demographic or social factors such as attitudes towards animal suffering and euthanasia. The aims of this study were to 1) describe and analyse characteristics in horses with signs of colic referred to the University Hospital for Large Animals (UHLA), University of Copenhagen, Denmark over a 10-year period and 2) to compare ...
Gilsenan WF, Getman LM, Parente EJ, Johnson AL.To report headshaking and presumptive trigeminal neuritis as a potential complication after paranasal sinus surgery in horses. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Horses (n = 5) that developed headshaking within 45 days of paranasal sinus surgery. Methods: Medical records (2007-2010) of horses that had been evaluated for headshaking after paranasal sinus surgery were reviewed. Results: Of 5 horses that developed headshaking within 45 days of paranasal sinus surgery, resolution occurred after treatment in 2 horses. One horse was euthanatized because clinical signs associated with h...
Westerman TL, Poulsen KP, Schlipf JW, Valentine BA.A 14-year-old Morgan gelding was presented for progressive weakness and muscle atrophy. The horse was initially diagnosed with equine protozoal myelitis based on history, physical examination, and laboratory diagnostics. Despite therapy, the horse declined clinically and was euthanized. Necropsy revealed a rare form of neurotropic lymphoma, described in this report. Lymphome de cellules-B riches en cellules-T neurotropes chez un hongre Morgan âgé de 14 ans. Un hongre Morgan âgé de 14 ans a été présenté pour une faiblesse progressive et une atrophie musculaire. On a d’abord diagnostiq...
Dunowska M, Hardcastle MR, Tonkin FB.A 10-year-old polo mare presented with a history of weight loss, poor condition and inappetance. Results: The mare was tachycardic, tachypnoeic and febrile. Harsh lung sounds were auscultated over all lung fields. The mare initially responded to treatment with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and bronchodilators. Throughout the course of treatment, there was a variable lymphocytosis, monocytosis and fluctuation in concentrations of fibrinogen. The mare also developed a mild anaemia, most likely due to chronic disease. Despite treatment, the mare's condition deteriorated over the following ...
Loynachan AT.A 21-day-old Thoroughbred colt was euthanized following a history of recurrent colic. A 4.5 cm in diameter, occlusive, submucosal cyst was identified in the duodenum at necropsy. Histologically, the cyst was surrounded by a smooth muscle wall and was lined by both squamous and attenuated cuboidal to columnar epithelium. A diagnosis of an esophageal cyst was made based on the gross and histologic findings.
Kilcoyne I, Watson JL, Spier SJ, Whitcomb MB, Vaughan B.Septic sialoadenitis, although uncommonly reported in equids, is a significant cause of pain, inappetence, dysphagia and discomfort. There are currently few reported cases possibly as a result of its infrequent occurrence. Objective: To review cases presenting with sialoadenitis and describe the presenting complaints, results of diagnostic tests, treatment and outcome. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Records were reviewed for equids presenting to the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital between 1998 and 2010 for salivary gland swelling. Equids were in...
de Brot S, Junge H, Hilbe M.Two horses were presented with non-specific clinical signs of several weeks' duration and were humanely destroyed due to a poor prognosis. At necropsy examination, both horses had multiple small, white nodules replacing pancreatic tissue and involving the serosal surface of the abdominal cavity, the liver and the lung. Microscopically, neoplastic cells were organized in acini and contained abundant (case 1) or sparse (horse 2) intracytoplasmic zymogen granules. Immunohistochemically, both tumours expressed amylase and pan-cytokeratin, but not insulin or neuron-specific enolase. In case 2, a lo...
van Loon JP, Jonckheer-Sheehy VS, Back W, van Weeren PR, Hellebrekers LJ.Recognition and management of equine pain have been studied extensively in recent decades and this has led to significant advances. However, there is still room for improvement in the ability to identify and treat pain in horses that have undergone emergency gastrointestinal surgery. This study assessed the validity and clinical application of the composite pain scale (CPS) in horses after emergency gastrointestinal surgery. Composite pain scores were determined every 4h over 3 days following emergency gastrointestinal surgery in 48 horses. Inter-observer reliability was determined and another...
Lawhon SD, Lopez FR, Joswig A, Black HC, Watts AE, Norman TE, Porter BF.Weissella confusa is a Gram-positive bacterium that has been identified in environmental and food samples from around the world. Rare cases of bacteremia in immunocompromised people have been reported. A 2-day-old foal was presented for weakness and suspected sepsis. Blood culture yielded pure growth of a Gram-positive coccobacillus, which was identified as W. confusa through sequencing of the 16S ribosomal DNA. Although the foal initially responded to antimicrobial therapy with ceftiofur and metronidazole, it later developed septic complications of the right tarsocrural joint and right digita...
Hawkins JF, Couetil L, Miller MA.The objective was to evaluate CO2 laser debridement of the cricoarytenoid joint (CAJ) combined with prosthetic laryngoplasty to prevent post-operative loss of arytenoid abduction in seven horses. Horses were assigned to either laser debridement of the left CAJ and laryngoplasty (laser treated, n=5) or control laryngoplasty (sham, n=2), and were evaluated with endoscopic examinations and measurement of right to left angle quotients (RLQ) to assess maintenance of arytenoid abduction. The animals were euthanased at intervals after surgery and larynges were harvested for post-mortem testing, inclu...
Kullmann A, Holcombe SJ, Hurcombe SD, Roessner HA, Hauptman JG, Geor RJ, Belknap J.Recent research suggested that prophylactic digital cryotherapy (ICE) improved lameness scores, diminished histological changes and early laminar inflammatory signalling in horses following oligofructose administration. In clinical practice, horses at risk for sepsis-associated laminitis receive ICE. Evidence to support this practice is lacking. Objective: To determine factors associated with development of laminitis in horses diagnosed with colitis, including ICE. Methods: Multicentre retrospective case series. Methods: Medical records for horses admitted to 2 university hospitals diagnosed w...
Hudson NP, Pearson GT, Mayhew IG, Proudman CJ, Burden FA, Fintl C.Intestinal motility disorders are an important problem in horses and donkeys and this study was carried out in order to evaluate the enteric neurons in animals with and without intestinal disease. Surplus intestinal tissue samples were collected from 28 horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy for colic. In addition, surplus intestinal samples from 17 control horses were collected immediately following humane destruction for clinical conditions not relating to the intestinal tract. Similar samples were also collected during routine post-mortem examinations from 12 aged donkeys; six animals wer...
Vreman S, Wiemer P, Keesler RI.A 10-year-old KWPN (Royal Warmblood Studbook of the Netherlands) gelding was euthanized after developing severe neurological symptoms preceded by severe epistaxis during laser treatment for progressive ethmoid haematoma (PEH) in the right nasal cavity. Postmortem examination of the head revealed a large amount of clotted blood between the right ventral and dorsal conchae in the nasal cavity and acute haemorrhage in the right subarachnoid space. Histologically, there was moderate, acute polioencephalomalacia in the neuropil adjacent to the haemorrhage. The haemorrhages were most likely caused b...
Stewart S, Southwood LL, Aceto HW.There is disagreement among surgeons over whether jejunoileostomy (JI) or jejunocaecostomy (JC) is the better method of anastomosis following proximal ileal resection. Objective: To compare short- and long-term complications and outcome in horses undergoing jejunojejunostomy (JJ), JI and JC and to test the hypotheses that a higher proportion of horses undergoing JI would have short-term complications and mortality compared with horses undergoing JC or JJ and that JC would be associated with a higher long-term mortality and occurrence of colic. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Meth...
Squinas SC, Britton AP.A 21-year-old Quarter horse gelding was presented with stranguria and incontinence of 10 days duration. Despite catheterization and antibiotic therapy, the horse was euthanized. Necropsy revealed posterior abdominal and pelvic abscessation with adhesions of the urinary bladder and severe ulcerative cystitis. . Un hongre Quarter horse âgé de 21 ans a été présenté avec de la strangurie et de l’incontinence depuis 10 jours. Malgré le cathétérisme et la thérapie antibiotique, le cheval a été euthanasié. La nécropsie a révélé un abcès pelvien avec des adhérences de la vessie ur...
Jung JY, Lee KH, Rhyoo MY, Byun JW, Bae YC, Choi E, Kim C, Jean YH, Lee MH, Yoon SS.A 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was euthanized after a 2-month period of abnormal neurological signs, such as circling left in his pen and hitting his head and body against the wall. After the horse was euthanized on the farm, a half of the brain and whole blood were submitted for diagnostic tests. Histopathological examination of the brain revealed granulomatous and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis with numerous intralesional nematodes, predominantly affecting the cerebrum. Multifocal malacic foci were scattered in the brain parenchyma. The intralesional parasites were identified as Halicep...
Sanz M, Loynachan A, Sun L, Oliveira A, Breheny P, Horohov DW.While Rhodococcus equi remains the most common cause of subacute or chronic granulomatous bronchopneumonia in foals, development of a relevant model to study R. equi infection has proven difficult. The objective of this study was to identify a challenge dose of R. equi that resulted in slow progressive disease, spontaneous regression of lung lesions and age-dependent susceptibility. Foals less than one-week of age were challenged intratracheally using either 10(6), 10(5), 10(4), 10(3) or 10(2) cfu of R. equi. Two doses (10(3) cfu and 10(5) cfu) were used to challenge 2 and 3-week-old, and 3 an...
Findley JA, Pinchbeck GL, Milner PI, Bladon BM, Boswell J, Mair TS, Suthers JM, Singer ER.The factors associated with outcome following solar foot penetration involving synovial structures treated using endoscopic lavage have not been described in the UK population. Objective: To provide descriptive data on horses with synovial contamination or sepsis following solar penetration in 4 UK equine referral hospitals and to identify specific factors associated with the outcome. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Data were collected from 4 veterinary hospitals. Follow-up data were obtained via a telephone questionnaire. Two multivariable logistic regression models were generate...
Wylie CE, Collins SN, Verheyen KL, Newton JR.Laminitis is a highly debilitating disease of the foot known to have a complex and multifactorial aetiology of metabolic, inflammatory, traumatic or vascular origin. The disease has major welfare implications due to unrelenting pain associated with degenerative changes, which often necessitate euthanasia on welfare grounds. Despite this, there have been few high-quality studies investigating risk factors for equine laminitis, and only a limited number of risk factors have been previously investigated. The aim of this study was to conduct a case-control study of risk factors for active episodes...
Cilliers I, Williams J, Carstens A, Duncan NM.Four horses were presented to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital with histories of facial asymmetry, nasal discharge or obstruction of normal nasal passage airflow. Radiographic examination of the maxillary sinuses of 2 cases revealed well circumscribed, unilateral, mineralised masses; the other 2 cases showed less mineralisation. The masses were accessed for further investigation by surgically created frontonasal bone flaps or trephination of the maxillary sinuses. Diagnosis of osteoma was confirmed histopathologically in 3 of the cases and of ossifying fibroma in the 4th. Two hor...
Perez-Ecija A, Mendoza FJ, Estepa JC, Bautista MJ, Pérez J.A 2-month-old foal with septic shock and severe respiratory distress was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Due to poor prognosis, the foal was euthanized. Histopathology showed lesions suggestive of Rhodococcus equi infection associated with a diffuse interstitial infiltrate of foamy macrophages and syncytial cells presenting large acidophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies, fibrin exudates and hyaline membranes. Bacteriological examination from lung and respiratory exudates confirmed R. equi infection, whilst immunohistochemistry and PCR yielded a positive result for Equid herpesvi...
Ruggles AJ, Beech J, Gillette DM, Midla LT, Reef VB, Freeman DE.A 13-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was referred for evaluation of a draining tract and fracture of the right hemimandible of 4 weeks' duration. Two days prior to admission, the horse had developed pigmenturia. Radiography of the mandible revealed a fracture of the vertical ramus of the right hemimandible, loss of the right lower second premolar, and osteomyelitis involving an extensive portion of the hemimandible. Ultrasonography of the left kidney revealed loss of normal renal architecture. Histologic examination of tissue obtained from the right hemimandible revealed granulomatous osteomyel...
Chénier S, Macieira SM, Sylvestre D, Jean D.An 11-year-old Quarter horse mare was presented for recurrent episodes of colic. A chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction was diagnosed. Medical treatment and surgical resection of the colon were performed but the condition did not improve and the horse was euthanized. Histopathological examination revealed a myenteric ganglionitis of the small intestine and ascending colon. Une jument Quarter Horse âgée de 11 ans a été présentée pour coliques récurrentes. Une pseudo-obstruction intestinale chronique a été diagnostiquée. Le traitement médical et la résection chirurgicale du côlon ...
Bosseler L, Verryken K, Bauwens C, de Vries C, Deprez P, Ducatelle R, Vandenabeele S.A 2-year-old Standardbred gelding presented with a history of fever over 1 week, anorexia and skin lesions on all four legs. The lesions were associated with severe pruritus and oedema, and there was no response to therapy. Results: The horse was in poor body condition, was lethargic and severely pruritic. Skin lesions consisted of diffuse alopecia and crusting of the distal extremities. Initially it was slightly febrile, but subsequently its temperature increased up to 40°C. Ten days after admission it developed profuse watery diarrhoea and the skin lesions progressed. Skin biopsies revealed...
Kuroda T, Kinoshita Y, Niwa H, Mizobe F, Ueno T, Kuwano A, Hatazoe T, Hobo S.We report the first case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) keratitis in a racehorse. A 5-year-old mare developed punctate keratitis after racing. The corneal ulcer continued to expand despite ophthalmic antimicrobial therapy. On day 6, a conjunctival graft surgery was performed. The mare was euthanized, following colitis and laminitis development on day 10. MRSA was isolated from the corneal swab taken at the time of euthanasia. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated gram-positive and anti-S. aureus monoclonal antibody-positive cocci infiltration of the corneal stroma; a...
Peroni JF, Harrison WE, Moore JN, Graves JE, Lewis SJ, Krunkosky TM, Robertson TP.Equine laminitis purportedly involves haemodynamic dysfunction at the level of the laminar vasculature. However, to date, no studies have been performed characterising the function of laminar arteries and veins during the prodromal stages of equine laminitis. Objective: That the prodromal stages of laminitis are associated with contractile dysfunction of the equine laminar vasculature. Objective: To assess contractile function of laminar arteries and veins to phenylephrine (PE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Methods: Horses were administered black walnut heartwood extract (BWHE) or water (con...
Hart SK, Brown JA.To present a case series of horses diagnosed with diaphragmatic hernia, and to determine the significance of (1) historical information, examination findings, and laboratory data; and (2) exploratory laparotomy or necropsy findings on short- and long-term outcome. Methods: University Referral Hospital. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Forty-four horses/foals admitted between 1986 and 2006 with a diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia made either at exploratory laparotomy or necropsy. Methods: None. Results: Information from the medical records included history, clinical examination findings a...
Szklarz M, Lipinska A, Slowikowska M, Niedzwiedz A, Marycz K, Janeczek M.Cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM) remains one of the most important abnormalities of the cervical spine resulting in neurological deficits in horses. The aim of the following study was to compare the results of the clinical and neurological examination, the results of myelography and the post mortem anatomical and histological appearance of the spinal cord and cervical vertebrae in a horse with CVSM. Methods: The following study describes a clinical case of an eight-month-old stallion with ataxia. Plain cervical radiographs indicated narrowing of the spinal canal. Conservative ther...
Kilcoyne I, Watson JL, Spier SJ, Whitcomb MB, Vaughan B.Septic sialoadenitis, although uncommonly reported in equids, is a significant cause of pain, inappetence, dysphagia and discomfort. There are currently few reported cases possibly as a result of its infrequent occurrence. Objective: To review cases presenting with sialoadenitis and describe the presenting complaints, results of diagnostic tests, treatment and outcome. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Records were reviewed for equids presenting to the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital between 1998 and 2010 for salivary gland swelling. Equids were in...
Bush JM, Fredrickson RL, Ehrhart EJ.In horses, osteosarcoma is a rare tumor, with the majority of reported cases occurring in the head, and, more specifically, in the mandible of young horses. The following report documents 8 cases of equine osteosarcoma, the majority occurring in male horses aged 7 years or older with a lack of metastasis identified in any horse. Six arose in the maxilla or mandible and one in the proximal tibia. The predominant subtype was fibroblastic osteosarcoma with fewer osteoblastic type tumors. All had osteoid and most had a chondromucinous matrix. Surgical excision was attempted in the majority of case...
Samoilowa S, Giessler KS, Torres CEM, Hussey GS, Allum A, Fux R, Jerke C, Kiupel M, Matiasek K, Sledge DG, Goehring LS.Equid herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) causes respiratory disease, abortion and myeloencephalopathy in horses worldwide. As member of the , latency is key to EHV-1 epidemiology. EHV-1 latent infection has been detected in the trigeminal ganglion (TG), respiratory associated lymphoid tissue (RALT) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) but additional locations are likely. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of viral DNA throughout the equine body. Twenty-five horses divided into three groups were experimentally infected via intranasal instillation with one of three EHV-1 virus...
Fjordbakk CT, Arroyo LG, Hewson J.A retrospective study of 63 horses diagnosed with limb cellulitis between 1994 and 2005 was conducted. They all had an acute onset of painful, generalised limb swelling, and a clinical diagnosis of limb cellulitis was made by the attending clinician. None of the horses had more than one limb affected. Hindlimbs were significantly more often affected than the forelimbs (P<0.05). Thoroughbreds were significantly over-represented compared with the general distribution of breeds examined at the hospital. Blunt limb trauma, limb surgery and limb injections were associated with the cellulitis in mos...
Bell C, Rogers S.A key welfare concern for the equine population in the U.K. has been identified as delayed death, leading to prolonged suffering of horses. Reasons why some horse owners fail to have their horses euthanised include financial cost, emotional attachment, peer pressure, negative attitudes towards killing and poor recognition of behavioural indicators of equine pain and stress. The Five Freedoms framework of welfare was used to build a Likert-style survey to investigate the factors underlying attitudes of horse owners towards welfare measures in an end-of-life decision. Participants were asked to ...
Vitale V, Viu J, Armengou L, Ríos J, Jose-Cunilleras E.To evaluate the prognostic value of measuring heart rate variability (HRV) in horses with colic at the time of admission to a referral hospital. Methods: 51 horses > 1 year of age with colic (41 that survived [survivors] and 10 that died or were euthanized [nonsurvivors]). Methods: HRV was recorded within 1 hour after admission by use of heart rate sensors with horses restrained in stocks. A 5-minute recording period was analyzed to obtain HRV measurements (eg, SD of R-R intervals [SDRR], root mean square of successive differences between R-R intervals [RMSSD], and geometric SDs determined ...
Leadon D, O'Toole D, Duggan VE.The Irish Horse Industry expanded during the Celtic Tiger boom years, then contracted in the current economic recession. High value horses were traditionally controlled through sale at public auction, private sales and sales to dealers; these are now also being reduced by decreases in production (> 40%), and increases in retirement, re-homing, euthanasia and disposal through Category 2 plants and abattoirs. The absence or banning of horse abattoirs has been shown to have very significant welfare social and economic consequences in the USA. This study described the currently available data o...
Hassel DM, Langer DL, Snyder JR, Drake CM, Goodell ML, Wyle A.To identify breed, age, sex, physical findings, history, and outcome of treatment in horses and other equids with enterolithiasis. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 900 equids with enterolithiasis. Methods: Medical records from equids with enterolithiasis admitted between 1973 and 1996 were reviewed. Data on signalment, history, physical examination and clinicopathologic findings, surgical findings, and outcome were compiled from records and from telephone interviews with owners. Sex and breed predilections were determined by comparison of the study population with the general hospital po...
Snyder JR, Pascoe JR, Olander HJ, Hinds DM, Young R, Tyler WS.Ten horses were euthanatized before, during, or after surgery to correct severe volvulus of the large colon. At surgery, the colonic serosa changed from blue-gray, blue or purple toward a more normal pink in seven horses after the volvulus was corrected. The mucosa consistently remained black or dark red. Results of postmortem colonic microangiography revealed perfusion of the serosa and the circular and longitudinal muscle layers, but mucosal perfusion was limited by thrombosis in the muscularis mucosae and submucosa. There was evidence of thrombosis of the mesenteric colic vessels in six hor...
Vernemmen I, De Clercq D, Decloedt A, Schauvliege S, Taeymans Y, De Wolf D, van Loon G.This report describes a rare case of an aorto-cardiac fistula in a six-year-old French Warmblood mare presented with atrial fibrillation, decreased performance, ventral oedema, bounding arterial pulsation and pathological jugular venous pulse. A 2.7-cm-diameter fistula connected the right aortic sinus of Valsalva to the right atrium. Atrial fibrillation was likely due to volume overload of the right heart due to left-to-right shunting. The horse was treated by percutaneous transcatheter closure of the fistula delivered under general anaesthesia using a transarterial approach. The operation was...
Gerding JC, Gilger BC, Montgomery SA, Clode AB.A 7-year-old, 153.0-kg American Miniature mare presented for evaluation of keratoconjunctivitis of the right eye (OD). A superior palpebral conjunctival mass and stromal keratitis were diagnosed. The incisional biopsy diagnosis was a presumptive corneal hemangiosarcoma. Transpalpebral enucleation was performed, and histopathologic evaluation confirmed angiosarcoma of the conjunctiva, cornea, and extraocular muscles. The horse developed progressive epistaxis and orbital swelling following surgery. A systemic workup was performed 3 months after enucleation, revealing regrowth within the orbit an...
Url A, Bauder B, Thalhammer J, Nowotny N, Kolodziejek J, Herout N, Fürst S, Weissenböck H.Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) is an inherited, neurodegenerative disorder with fatal outcome in humans. It has also been described in some animal species; this is the first report of NCL in equines. Three horses showed developmental retardation, slow movements and loss of appetite at the age of six months. Neurological symptoms, as well as visual failure in one case, were noticed at the age of 1 year. Due to slowly progressing deterioration, euthanasia was indicated 1.5 years after onset of conspicuous behavior. At necropsy, slight flattening of the gyri and discoloring of the brain was...
Gy C, Leclere M, Bélanger MC, Allano M, Beauchamp G, Lavoie JP.Monensin is highly toxic to horses and inadvertent ingestion can result in cardiac injury and death. Objective: To describe sequelae of monensin ingestion and to determine clinical predictors of outcome. Methods: Observational clinical study. Methods: Physical examination, electrocardiogram and echocardiography were performed on 76 horses accidentally exposed to monensin-contaminated feed. Four horses were examined within 14 days of exposure (acute period), 29 horses were examined between 15 and 45 days post-exposure (subacute period) and 70 horses were examined 4-10 months after exposure ...
Barton MH, Sharma P, LeRoy BE, Howerth EW.A 13-year-old gelding was examined because of weight loss, hyperglobulinemia, and hypercalcemia. Possible causes of hypercalcemia that were considered included renal failure, primary hyperparathyroidism, vitamin D toxicosis, and malignancy. There was no history of vitamin D ingestion, and serum creatinine and parathyroid hormone concentrations were normal, making renal failure and primary hyperparathyroidism unlikely. The hypercalcemia was suspected to be a result of malignancy, but thorough testing did not reveal any neoplastic disease. Eight months later, serum parathyroid hormone-related pr...
Beisser A, McClure S, Rezabek G, Soring KH, Wang C.To determine the incidence and anatomic location of and potential risk factors for catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries (CMIs) in racing Quarter Horses. Methods: Retrospective matched case-control study. Methods: 67 racing Quarter Horse racehorses euthanized because of CMIs and 134 matched controls. Methods: Data for Quarter Horses that sustained CMIs and the total number of race starts for each year were obtained from 2 Midwestern racing jurisdictions from 2000 through 2011. Information for each horse with a CMI and for 2 randomly selected control horses that ran in the same race but did not...
Weaver AD.The case records of 13 horses with acquired incarcerated inguinal hernia in January-August 1983, were reviewed. Nine cases were in stallions. The remaining four involved eventration 5-48 hours following castration. Ages ranged from 1-17 years. Horses showed a variable degree of colic. Bowel was felt to pass through the internal inguinal ring on rectal examination in most cases. The physical features of the scrotum varied considerably. Resection of ischemic jejunum and/or ileum was necessary in three horses. Two horses were euthanized at surgery (one with bilateral ischemic jejunum, one with bo...
Fintl C, Hudson NP, Handel I, Pearson GT.Slow waves are rhythmic pacemaker currents generated by the gastrointestinal pacemaker cells, the interstitial cells of Cajal, and represent the rate-limiting step for small intestinal smooth muscle contractions. Therefore, factors that affect slow wave activity may also influence contractile activity. It is not known how temperature changes may influence slow wave activity in the horse. This could be of relevance during colic surgery if cooling of exposed intestine resulted in reduced slow wave activity potentially exacerbating post operative ileus. Objective: To evaluate the effect of temper...
Ferjak EN, Cavinder CA, Burnett DD, Argo CM, Dinh TTN.Body condition score and percent body fat (BF; %) of horses are positively correlated with reproductive efficiency and are indicative of metabolic issues. However, BF in horses may be poorly predicted because current procedures are either subjective or dependent on one anatomical location. Therefore, the objectives of the current study were to compare 2 methods of predicting BF using rump fat thickness (RFT) and deuterium oxide (DO) dilution with actual tissue fat analysis by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in stock-type horses and to identify the relationship between BF and BCS. Twenty-four...
Puff C, Ohnesorge B, Wagels R, Baumgärtner W.A 4-month-old Warm-blooded colt presented with facial distorsion and an abnormal respiratory noise of 2 weeks' duration. A proliferative mass was found endoscopically and by computer tomography. Clinical differential diagnosis included cyst formation of the concha, malformation and neoplasia. Euthanasia was followed by post-mortem examination, which revealed a well-circumscribed, semi-solid, jelly like structure, measuring 14.5 x 9.0 x 12.0 cm, in the left posterior nasal cavity extending into the left frontal and maxillary sinus. Histologically, the mass consisted of trabeculae of woven bone,...
Davis TZ, Stegelmeier BL, Lee ST, Green BT, Hall JO.Rayless goldenrod (Isocoma pluriflora) sporadically poisons horses and other livestock in the southwestern United States. Similar to livestock poisoning by white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) in the midwestern United States, previous research suggests that benzofuran ketones (BFK: tremetone, dehydrotremetone, 6-hydroxytremetone, and 3-oxyangeloyl-tremetone) are responsible for the toxicity of rayless goldenrod. However, experimental reproduction of rayless goldenrod-induced disease and detailed descriptions of poisoning in horses with known concentrations of tremetone and other BFK has not b...
Trope GD, McCowan CI, Tyrrell D, Lording PM, Maggs DJ.A 22-year-old Australian stockhorse gelding was presented with anterior uveitis in the right eye which was nonresponsive to anti-inflammatory therapy. Clinical examination revealed corneal edema and vascularization, marked hypopyon, and thickening of the dorsal iris, which was confirmed by ultrasonography. Hematologic and biochemical analyses, abdominal and thoracic ultrasonography, and abdominocentesis with cytologic and biochemical analysis revealed no significant abnormalities. Cytological examination of an aqueous humor sample revealed a population of predominantly large lymphoblasts with ...
