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Topic:Geldings
"Geldings" refers to castrated male horses, while intact males are called stallions. The process of gelding involves the surgical removal of the testicles, which is performed to manage behavior and facilitate handling. Geldings often exhibit more predictable and manageable temperaments compared to stallions, which can be beneficial in various equestrian disciplines and settings. This topic encompasses studies and articles that explore the physiological and behavioral differences between geldings and intact male horses, including aspects of growth, performance, and social interactions. Research in this area provides insights into the impact of castration on equine health and behavior, contributing to informed management practices in equine care and training.
Correlations between exercising arterial blood gas values, tracheal wash findings and upper respiratory tract abnormalities in horses presented for poor performance. There are limited data on the correlations between arterial blood gas (ABG) values, tracheal wash (TW) cytology and upper respiratory tract (URT) abnormalities. Objective: To identify horses with abnormal exercising ABG, and compare the proportions of horses with abnormal ABG and TW cytology, mucus or URT dysfunction with those with normal ABG results and abnormal TW cytology, mucus or URT dysfunction. Methods: Medical records of 813 horses presenting to the treadmill facility that had a complete treadmill examination, including ABG analysis, TW and URT endoscopy were selected. Diagnoses, ABG ...
Age-dependent dynamics of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infections in southwest Mongolia based on IFAT and/or PCR prevalence data from domestic horses and ticks. Epidemiological factors of tick-borne equine piroplasmoses, caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, were investigated using logistic regression (GLM) and general additive models (GAM) based on the prevalences determined in 510 domestic horses and in ticks in S.W. Mongolia by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and/or multiplex PCR. Prevalences of T. equi and B. caballi in horses were 66.5% (95% CI: 62.1-70.7) and 19.1% (15.6-22.9), respectively by PCR and 78.8% (74.9-82.3) and 65.7% (61.3-69.9) by IFAT. Of 166 ticks analysed from PCR- and IFAT-negative horses 1 was PCR posit...
Effects of butorphanol on the withdrawal reflex using threshold, suprathreshold and repeated subthreshold electrical stimuli in conscious horses. To assess the effects of a single intravenous dose of butorphanol (0.1 mg kg(-1)) on the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) using threshold, suprathreshold and repeated subthreshold electrical stimuli in conscious horses. Methods: 'Unblinded', prospective experimental study. Methods: Ten adult horses, five geldings and five mares, mean body mass 517 kg (range 487-569 kg). Methods: The NWR was elicited using single transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the palmar digital nerve. Repeated stimulations were applied to evoke temporal summation. Surface electromyography was performed to record a...
Effect of exercise, training, circadian rhythm, age, and sex on insulin-like growth factor-1 in the horse. Insulin-like growth factor-1 could be a useful marker in the horse for diagnostic, selection, or forensic purposes, provided its physiological regulation is well understood. The objective of this study was to investigate factors, such as acute exercise, fitness training, time of day, sex, and age, that may influence serum IGF-1 in normal, healthy horses. Throughout a 9-wk training program, 6 geldings maintained a mean (+/- SEM) IGF-1 concentration of 302 +/- 29 ng/mL. Moderate or high intensity exercise had no effect on IGF-1 concentrations, when pre- and postexercise values were compared. Ove...
Fungal osteomyelitis of the axial border of the proximal sesamoid bones in a horse. A 12-year-old Standardbred gelding was referred for swelling of the right metacarpophalangeal joint. Results: Ultrasonography of the right metacarpal area revealed hypoechoic areas in the right digital sheath and metacarpophalangeal joint consistent with synovial effusion. Radiography of the right metacarpophalangeal joint revealed lysis of the axial border of the proximal sesamoid bones. Aspergillus fumigatus was detected on fungal culture of synovial fluid. Results: Regional limb perfusion (150 mg of amikacin in 60 mL of saline [0.9% NaCl] solution perfused for 30 minutes) was performed 2 an...
The effects of equine skin preparation on transdermal drug penetration in vitro. An increasing number of formulations are applied to equine skin, yet variable penetration can affect efficacy, or the incidence of adverse effects, or both. To investigate the effects of common methods of skin preparation on transdermal drug penetration in vitro, we clipped, harvested, and froze skin samples from 5 Thoroughbred geldings. Thawed samples were prepared as follows: control (no preparation); cleaned with aqueous chlorhexidine (Aq-C, 0.1% w/v); cleaned with alcoholic chlorhexidine (Al-C, 0.5% w/v); shaved (Sh); or tape-stripped (Ta) with the use of adhesive tape. The samples were th...
Voluntary intake and digestibility of reed canarygrass and timothy hay fed to horses. Thousands of hectares of timothy (Phleum pretense L.) grown in the Mid-Atlantic region are infected by cereal rust mite (Abacarus hysterix) that causes discoloration and curling of leaves, decreased nutritional quality, and substantial decreases in yield. A decline in production of timothy hay can lower income for hay producers and cause horse owners to search for alternative hays. Low alkaloid reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) hay has potential as an alternative to timothy hay because it grows well in the Mid-Atlantic region, is believed to have a similar nutrient quality to timothy,...
Effects of initial and extended exposure to an endophyte-infected tall fescue seed diet on faecal and urinary excretion of ergovaline and lysergic acid in mature geldings. To determine the amount of ergovaline and lysergic acid retained or excreted by geldings fed endophyte-infected seed containing known concentrations of these alkaloids, and the effects of exposure time on clinical expression of toxicosis. Methods: Mature geldings (n=10) received diets containing either endophyte-free (E-) or endophyte-infected (E+) tall fescue seed during three experimental phases. The first phase (Days -14 to -1) was an adaptation phase, to allow all horses to adapt to a diet containing E- tall fescue seed. The second (Days 0 to 3) was the initial exposure phase to E+ tall fe...
Laparoscopic-assisted cystotomy for urolith removal in geldings. To describe a technique for laparoscopic-assisted removal of cystic calculi in geldings and report outcome. Methods: Clinical report. Methods: Four geldings with cystic calculi. Methods: Laparoscopic-assisted cystotomy and urolith retrieval was performed in 4 anesthetized geldings positioned in dorsal recumbency. With a laparoscope portal located at the umbilicus, the abdomen was insufflated and then the surgical table was tilted (30 degrees head-down position) before an instrumental portal was created parallel and 2-3 cm medial to the left external inguinal ring. Laparoscopic grasping forceps...
Morphine administration in horses anaesthetized for upper respiratory tract surgery. To determine the effect of morphine administration on commonly monitored cardio-respiratory variables and recovery quality in horses undergoing anaesthesia and surgery. Methods: Prospective, randomized clinical study. Methods: Thirty-eight thoroughbred horses, 32 geldings and six mares, 3-13 years old, weighing 411-600 kg. Methods: A standard anaesthetic technique was used. Twenty minutes after induction of anaesthesia horses received 0.1 mg kg(-1) (0.1 m) or 0.2 mg kg(-1) (0.2 m) morphine by intravenous injection. A control group did not receive morphine. Heart rate, respiratory rate (fr), me...
Cerebral listeriosis in an adult Freiberger gelding. Listeria monocytogenes infection, although rare in horses, can lead to septicaemia, gastroenteritis and abortion or stillborn foals. Equine cerebral listeriosis has been reported, but only in newborn animals. This report describes a Freiberger gelding with severe neuronal symptoms of sudden onset. The animal collapsed within 24 h and was humanely killed. Necropsy revealed multiple small brown to reddish foci within the brain stem and pons. Histopathology demonstrated multifocal suppurative meningoencephalitis with microabscesses and occasional intra-lesional, coccoid to rod-shaped, bacteria. T...
Equine cloning: applications and outcomes. Cloning is one of several new assisted reproductive techniques being developed for clinical use in the equine industry. Potential uses of equine cloning include: (1) the preservation of genetics from individual animals that would otherwise not be able to reproduce, such as geldings; (2) the preservation of genetic material of endangered and/or exotic species, such as the Mongolian wild horse (Przewalski's horse); and (3) because of the companion animal role that horses fill for some individuals, it is likely that some horse owners will have individual animals cloned for emotional fulfillment. ...
Regional differences in the in vitro penetration of hydrocortisone through equine skin. Little is known about the transdermal penetration of hydrocortisone in the horse and, although commercial formulations containing hydrocortisone are registered for topical use in the horse, there have been no studies investigating the movement of this glucocorticoid through different regions of equine skin. Skin was harvested from the thorax, groin and leg (dorsal metacarpal) regions of five Thoroughbred geldings and frozen (-20 degrees C) until required. Defrosted skin was placed in Franz-type diffusion cells and the amount of radiolabelled ((3)H) hydrocortisone, in a saturated solution of un...
A retrospective study of cutaneous equine sarcoidosis and its potential infectious aetiological agents. Nine horses from ages 5 to 21 years were diagnosed with cutaneous equine sarcoidosis (ES) over an 18-year period. In addition to skin, the lungs were frequently involved, with other organ systems affected less commonly. A predisposition for thoroughbreds and geldings was noted. Cutaneous lesions and signs included crusts, scales, alopecia and pruritus. These were found at various sites, particularly the legs/thighs/elbows, thorax, neck, face and ventral abdomen. Three horses were euthanized shortly after hospitalization; others survived as long as 12 years. Histopathologic stains, immunohistoc...
Detection of testosterone, nandrolone and precursors in horse hair. Growing interest among several horse-breeder associations has initiated the development of a screening procedure to test for anabolic agents in hair, which has the advantage over blood and urine specimens of allowing long-term detection. An analytical method was established to monitor in tails or manes several anabolic substances available as veterinary medicines or as so-called nutritional supplements (clenbuterol, different esters or prohormones of nandrolone and testosterone). The analytical procedure to detect steroids in hair samples consists of the following steps: decontamination of the...
Leptin secretion in horses: effects of dexamethasone, gender, and testosterone. Five experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of dexamethasone (DEX), gender, and testosterone on plasma leptin concentrations in horses. In experiment 1, plasma leptin, insulin, glucose, and IGF-1 concentrations were increased (P < 0.01) in stallions following five daily injections of DEX (125 microg/kg BW). In experiment 2, leptin concentrations increased (P < 0.01) in mares, geldings, and stallions following a single injection of DEX, and the response was greater (P < 0.01) in mares and geldings than in stallions. The gender effect was confounded by differences in body co...
Osseous lesion of the calcaneus following the use of shock wave therapy in a horse. An 8-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding was presented with a mechanical lameness (2/10) because of the presence of a soft tissue injury on the top of the right tuber calcanei. Plain radiographs of the tarsus demonstrated the presence of soft tissue swelling caudal to the right tuber calcanei, without osseous involvement, and ultrasonography revealed excessive scar tissue within and around the superficial digital flexor tendon. Extra-corporeal shock wave therapy was applied on the right hock to decrease the amount of scar tissue. One month after the therapy the lameness was greater (3/10) and a m...
Regional differences in the in vitro penetration of methylsalicylate through equine skin. Commercial formulations of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are developed for human use but the extent to which they will pass through equine skin is unknown. Skin was harvested from five Thoroughbred geldings from the thorax, groin and leg (dorsal metacarpal) regions and frozen (-20 degrees C) until required. Two grams of methylsalicylate (MeSa) gel was applied to defrosted full-thickness samples in diffusion cells and the penetration of MeSa and its active metabolite, salicylate (Sa), through skin samples were measured over 24 h. Significantly higher (P < or = 0.02) total sa...
Causes of gastrointestinal colic in horses in western Canada: 604 cases (1992 to 2002). The medical records of equine gastrointestinal colic cases presented to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine between 1992 and 2002 are reviewed. There was no breed predisposition to colic. Geldings were more prone to colic than females and stallions. Overall, the 3 most common causes of colic were large colon impaction (20.8%), large colon displacement (16.5%), and spasmodic colic (11.7%), after excluding the 13% of cases in which the diagnosis was undetermined. Of the medical cases, large colon impaction (38.4%) and spasmodic colic (22.5%) were the most common. Of the surgical cases, la...
[Pemphigus foliaceus in a Haflinger gelding]. A 10-year-old Haflinger gelding was presented with severe generalized chronic dermatitis characterized by scales, crusts and widespread alopecia with a partially diffuse and partially circumscribed pattern. Pemphigus foliaceus was diagnosed based on history, clinical signs and histological examination of skin biopsies. Typical histological findings were subcorneal pustules with accumulations of intact neutrophil granulocytes and acantholytic keratinocytes. The gelding was treated with glucocorticoids and gold salts. The skin lesions resolved completely after 8 weeks of treatment. No recurrence...
Primary invasive ocular squamous cell carcinoma in a horse. A 12-year-old Haflinger gelding was presented to the veterinary medical teaching hospital of the University of Zurich with a light-pink raised mass on the temporal limbus and conjunctiva of the left eye. Squamous cell carcinoma was confirmed histologically after keratectomy and cryotherapy. Seven months later, a smooth pink, progressively enlarging mass was observed within the cornea of the left eye. Ultrasonographically, the mass was not only infiltrating the corneal stroma but seemed to protrude into the anterior chamber. The globe was surgically removed and submitted for pathology. A histol...
Tail-base mass from a “horse of a different color”. A 14-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding was presented for evaluation of a mass at the base of the tail. The mass had been present for 1 year, and recently had begun to increase in size. Additional masses were found around the eye and shoulder. A fine-needle aspirate of the tail-base mass revealed highly anaplastic round to polyhedral cells containing dark green to black cytoplasmic granules interpreted to be melanin. Histologically, the mass was composed of pleomorphic, poorly pigmented, round to polyhedral cells interpreted to be neoplastic melanocytes. With immunohistochemistry, the cells wer...
Evaluation of pituitary gland anatomy and histopathologic findings in clinically normal horses and horses and ponies with pituitary pars intermedia adenoma. To determine size and weight of the pituitary gland and associations between pituitary gland size and weight and sex and age in horses without clinical signs associated with pituitary pars intermedia adenoma (PPIA) and horses and ponies with PPIA. Methods: Pituitary glands from 100 horses without clinical signs of PPIA and 19 horses and 17 ponies with PPIA. Methods: Pituitary glands were weighed, measured, and examined histologically by use of H&E stain. Masson trichrome and periodic acid-Schiff staining were used, when appropriate. Histologic lesions in the pars intermedia, pars distalis,...
Septic tenosynovitis of the tarsal sheath of an Arab gelding and suspected sepsis of the lateral digital flexor tendon subsequent to bacterial peritonitis. A 21-year-old Arab gelding with clinical signs of acute peritonitis had a perforating ulcer on the mesenteric border of the jejunum which resulted in localised contamination of the abdomen with ingesta. The affected segment of jejunum was resected and the abdomen was lavaged extensively. Postoperatively, the gelding was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and intravenous fluids, but after four days it became acutely non-weight bearing on its right hindlimb, and a tendonitis of the lateral digital flexor tendon within the tarsal sheath was identified u...
Effects of cereal grain supplementation on apparent digestibility of nutrients and concentrations of fermentation end-products in the feces and serum of horses consuming alfalfa cubes. Twenty geldings (five groups; similar age and BW) were used in a completely randomized design experiment to determine effects of grain supplementation of an alfalfa-cube diet on apparent nutrient digestibility and hindgut fermentation. The geldings were housed individually, fed their diets in two equal meals (0600 and 1800), and adapted to five dietary treatments over 6 wk. The treatments were alfalfa cubes (1% of BW; DM basis) without (control) or with one of four rolled cereal grains (i.e., barley, corn, naked oats, or oats) to provide a target level of 0.4% of BW as total nonstructural carb...
Parainguinal laparocystotomy for urolith removal in geldings. To describe parainguinal laparocystotomy for urolith removal and to report outcome. Methods: Prospective clinical study. Methods: Ten geldings with uroliths. Methods: Signalment, number, size, type of uroliths, surgical technique, and complications were recorded. Long-term follow-up was obtained by telephone interviews with the client and/or examination by the referring veterinarian. Results: Cystic calculi, 3-9 cm in diameter, were removed by parainguinal laparocystotomy. Mean surgical time was 59 minutes (range, 40-100 minutes). With this approach, ligation of the pudendal or superficial epi...
