Topic:Hospitalization
Hospitalization of horses involves the admission of equine patients to veterinary facilities for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of various medical conditions. This process is typically initiated when a horse requires intensive monitoring, specialized care, or advanced medical interventions that cannot be adequately provided in a non-clinical setting. Common reasons for equine hospitalization include surgical procedures, severe injuries, colic, respiratory disorders, and infectious diseases. During hospitalization, horses are monitored for vital signs, administered medications, and provided with supportive care tailored to their specific needs. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the protocols, outcomes, and advancements in the hospitalization of horses, providing insights into best practices and innovations in equine clinical care.
Efficacy of metoclopramide for treatment of ileus in horses following small intestinal surgery: 70 cases (1989-1992). In this retrospective study, postoperative ileus was studied in horses having resection of the small intestine followed by a jejunojejunal (n = 35) or a jejunocaecal (n = 35) anastomosis. Twenty-six horses received no metoclopramide, 27 received metoclopramide as an intermittent intravenous infusion and 17 horses received metoclopramide as a continuous intravenous infusion (0.04 mg/kg/hour). Horses receiving a continuous infusion of metoclopramide had a reduced total volume (P < 0.001), shorter duration (P < 0.001), and a slower rate (P < 0.001) of postoperative gastric reflux, and a ...
Thrombosis resulting in rectal perforation in a horse. A 12-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was admitted to the veterinary medical teaching hospital with a 2-day history of signs of abdominal pain. Initial findings on physical examination included signs of lethargy, dehydration, diarrhea, and gastric reflux. Results of laboratory testing indicated that the horse had panleukopenia with neutrophilic toxic changes, was dehydrated, and was hypocalcemic. During the first 48 hours of hospitalization, 1 abdominal palpation per rectum and 3 analyses of peritoneal fluid were performed; abnormalities were not detected. A preliminary diagnosis of enterocoliti...
Risk factors associated with development of diarrhea in horses after celiotomy for colic: 190 cases (1990-1994). To determine the incidence of the risk factors for developing diarrhea in horses after celiotomy for colic. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: 357 adult horses that had celiotomy for colic at the teaching hospital between Jan 1, 1990 and Sep 1, 1994. Methods: Medical records of horses that had celiotomy for colic were reviewed to abstract information regarding development of diarrhea, signalment, history, and treatment. Results: In horses that had celiotomy for colic, the incidence of diarrhea was 53.2% (190/357). Using multiple logistic regression, horses with a disorder of the lar...
Control of an outbreak of salmonellosis caused by drug-resistant Salmonella anatum in horses at a veterinary hospital and measures to prevent future infections. Salmonella anatum was isolated from horses treated at a private veterinary clinic or at a university veterinary medical teaching hospital. All isolates were resistant to most commonly used antibiotics. Because of the severity of disease resulting from outbreaks of infections with drug-resistant strains of S anatum, an epidemiologic investigation was conducted. Enteric bacteria, including S anatum, that were resistant to most antibiotics were isolated from the private veterinary clinic environment. Salmonella anatum was not isolated from the university teaching hospital environment. To prevent ...
Analysis of spatial and temporal clustering of horses with Salmonella krefeld in an intensive care unit of a veterinary hospital. To determine whether clustering existed in the spatial or temporal distribution of horses that shed Salmonella krefeld in their feces during hospitalization. Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records. Methods: 219 horses housed in the intensive care unit of a veterinary medical teaching hospital from October 1991 through May 1992. Methods: Bacteriologic culturing of fecal samples was used to identify horses shedding S krefeld. For affected horses, the scan statistic was used to analyze temporal clustering, and Knox's method was used to analyze temporal-spatial clustering. Results: 20 ...
Case control and historical cohort study of diarrhea associated with administration of trimethoprim-potentiated sulphonamides to horses and ponies. Trimethoprim-potentiated sulphonamides (TPS) are among the most frequently administered antimicrobials in equine medicine. Anecdotally, TPS has been implicated as a cause of mild to moderate diarrhea in horses. The purpose of this study was to document the prevalence of diarrhea in horses receiving TPS, to characterize the severity of the diarrhea, and to identify any other factors associated with the development of diarrhea. A 2-part study was designed to identify the prevalence of diarrhea associated with TPS in our clinic population. Part I was a case-control retrospective study of 135 reco...
Application of a hook plate for management of equine ulnar fractures. Closed fractures of the proximal aspect of the ulna were repaired in 10 horses younger than or equal to 6 months of age by application of a hook plate using a tension band principle. Ulnar fractures were classified as type 1A (2 horses), type 1B (4 horses), type 2 (1 horse), type 3 (1 horse), and type 4 (2 horses); all fractures had displacement of a proximal fragment. Complications were implant deformation (4 horses), screw pullout (1 horse), osseous sequestration (1 horse), ulnar fracture through a hole used to apply a tension device (1 horse), and metacarpophalangeal deformity associated wi...
Penetrating wounds of the thorax in 15 horses. Clinical features, treatment and outcome of 15 horses with penetrating thoracic wounds are described. The most common cause of trauma was collision with an object (10 horses). Concurrent clinical findings included subcutaneous emphysema (12 horses), pneumothorax (12 horses), haemothorax (5 horses) and pneumomediastinum (6 horses). Axillary wounds were present in 5 horses. Foreign bodies were identified and removed from 2 horses. Wounds were sutured (6 horses) or packed (7 horses). Air was evacuated from the pleural cavities of 11 horses. Eleven horses (73%) were discharged from the hospital. A...
Prognosis for return to racing after recovery from infectious pleuropneumonia in thoroughbred racehorses: 70 cases (1984-1989). To determine the percentage of Thoroughbred racehorses that would be capable of racing performance after recovery from infectious pleuropneumonia. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 70 Thoroughbred horses that had recovered from pleuropneumonia. Only horses 5 years old known to be in race training at the time of illness were included in the study. Results: Forty-three of the 70 (61%) horses raced after recovery, and 24 of the 43 (56%) won at least 1 race. Horses that required placement of an indwelling thoracic drain apparently did not have a worse prognosis than did horses that did...
Use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure thrombin-antithrombin III complexes in horses with colic. To evaluate new ELISA for measurement of thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) concentration, and to correlate the values to other tests of hemostasis in horses with colic. Methods: Plasma TAT concentration and 8 other hemostasis analytes were measured in horses with colic at hospital admission and during the next 4 days. Retrospectively, data were analyzed by outcome, broad-category diagnosis, and clinical management, and for correlation between TAT and other assays. Methods: 100 horses with colic. Methods: Plasma samples were evaluated for TAT, fibrinogen, and fibrin degradation products concentra...
Equine neonatal septicaemia: 24 cases. Equine neonatal septicaemia was confirmed in 24 foals hospitalised at the Rural Veterinary Centre between 1989 and 1992 with suspected septicaemia. Septicaemia was confirmed by culture of bacteria from blood of live foals and tissues obtained at necropsy of foals that died or were euthanased. Pathogenic bacteria isolated were predominantly Enterobacteriaceae (including Escherichia coli and Salmonella serovars) and Actinobacillus equuli. Clinical manifestations of septicaemia included signs of depression, dehydration, abnormalities in body temperature and manifestations of localised infection i...
Colonic luminal pressure in horses with strangulating and nonstrangulating obstruction of the large colon. Colonic luminal pressure (median, range) measured during ventral midline celiotomy in 69 horses with strangulating obstruction (SO) of the large colon (SO; > or = 270 degrees large colon volvulus; 27 cm H2O: 2 to 80 cm H2O) was greater (P = .0023) than that measured in 37 horses with nonstrangulating obstruction (NSO) of the large colon (NSO; < or = 180 degrees volvulus or a nonstrangulating displacement; 18 cm H2O; 6 to 46 cm H2O). Sixty-five percent (45 of 69) of horses with SO and all horses with NSO survived. Survival analysis was restricted to 59 horses with large-colon SO that survived t...
Surgical treatment for colic in the foal (67 cases): 1980-1992. Sixty-seven foals age < 150 days underwent a ventral celiotomy for colic. Of the 67 foals, 51 foals (82%) recovered from anaesthesia and 42 (63%) were subsequently released from the hospital. Three (6%) of the 51 foals were subjected to a repeat celiotomy. Long term follow-up was available on 36 foals. Twenty-nine (57%) of the 51 foals recovered from anaesthesia, were alive at least 2 years following surgery. Adhesions were identified in 8 (17%) of the foals which recovered from general anaesthesia but were subsequently subjected to euthanasia due to recurrent colic. Strangulating lesions were...
Acute post-treatment enterocolitis in 13 horses treated in a Norwegian surgical ward. Case histories, results of laboratory analyses, treatment regimens and outcome are described for 13 horses that developed acute enterocolitis after various surgical treatments. Twelve of the 13 horses had been cast in lateral recumbency, and 10 of those 12 had received general anesthesia. Eleven horses had been treated with antimicrobial drugs. Most horses (11) developed diarrhea 2 days after initiation of treatment, with a variation from 1 to 5 days. The most apparent symptoms were fever, up to 40.5 degrees C, elevated heart rate, discoloration of mucous membranes, and diarrhea. Dehydration, ...
Comparison of arthroscopy and arthrotomy for the treatment of osteochondritic lesions in the femoropatellar joint of horses. Forty-eight horses with osteochondritic lesions of the femoropatellar joint were treated, 23 of them by an arthrotomy and 25 by arthroscopy. Follow-up information was obtained from either the owner or the referring veterinarian by telephone inquiry. There were no statistical differences between the groups of horses undergoing the two procedures with regard to age, sex, breed, the involvement of one or both limbs, the size of the lesion, and the duration of either the surgery or anaesthesia. However, the horses treated by an arthrotomy spent 14.5 days in hospital after the operation whereas tho...
Recovery of horses from dysautonomia (grass sickness). The outcome for 35 horses with chronic dysautonomia which were kept in the hospital at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and subsequently returned to their owners is recorded. They constituted 42.7 per cent of the 82 chronic cases seen between 1991 and 1994; the other 47 horses were euthanased while in hospital. Of the 35 animals returned to their owners four died and 27 were available for follow up; of these 27, 12 were working competitively and six were being trained for future competitive work. It takes at least a year before it is clear whether a horse can compete successfully ...
Loop colostomy for treatment of grade-3 rectal tears in horses: seven cases (1983-1994). To determine the feasibility of performing a single-incision loop colostomy for treatment of grade-3 rectal tears in horses. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Seven adult horses with grade-3 rectal tears. Methods: A single-incision loop colostomy was performed with horses under general anesthesia (n = 6) or while restrained in standing stocks (n = 1). The rectal tear was lavaged via an endoscope. The colostomy was resected after the rectal tear healed. Results: Rectal tears ranged from 4 to 10 cm in diameter and were > 25 cm proximal to the anus. All horses survived colostomy surger...
Ventricular tachycardia associated with exhaustive exercise in a horse. Ventricular tachycardia was diagnosed in a 12-year-old unconditioned Appaloosa gelding after a 3-day trail ride. Initial signs were those of abdominal discomfort, ileus, and dehydration. Medical treatment included IV administration of lactated Ringer's solution. During hospitalization, the horse developed ventricular tachycardia. Serum potassium concentrations were within reference limits; however, assessment of total body potassium stores was not performed. Resolution of the arrhythmia occurred with further fluid treatment and potassium supplementation. Cardiac arrhythmias should be considere...
Apparent outbreaks of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in horses in a veterinary medical teaching hospital. Intestinal colonization with toxigenic strains of Clostridium difficile was documented in 9 of 10 horses with acute onset diarrhea in a veterinary medical teaching hospital, whereas a similar isolate was detected in only 1 of 23 other horses without diarrhea in the hospital. One horse with diarrhea was infected simultaneously with both C. difficile and Salmonella krefeld. Clostridium difficile was detected by fecal culture on selective medium, confirmed with a latex particle agglutination test, and identified as toxigenic by polymerase chain reaction amplification of toxin A and toxin B gene s...
Treatment of olecranon bursitis in horses: 10 cases (1986-1993). Medical records of 10 horses with olecranon bursitis were reviewed to examine treatments, evaluate a technique for en bloc resection of the bursa in standing horses, and determine outcome of the horses after treatment. Before admission, 6 horses had been treated by needle aspiration of fluid from the mass, followed by injection of corticosteroids. Subsequent treatment for 2 of these 6 horses included open drainage and packing of the cavity with gauze soaked in 7% iodine solution. None resolved after these treatments. After admission to the hospital, 5 horses were treated medically and 5 were t...
Pediatric equestrian injuries: assessing the impact of helmet use. To assess the impact of helmet use on the pattern, and severity of pediatric equestrian injuries. Methods: A prospective observational study of all children less than 15 years of age who were brought to the University of Virginia children's Emergency Department with horse-related injuries. Results: During the two-year period of the study, 32 children were evaluated. Two children were injured when a horse stepped on them. Thirty children fell from or were thrown from a horse. Of these, 20 were wearing a helmet. Head injuries were more frequent in those patients not wearing helmets. The mean Mod...
Large colon impaction in horses: 147 cases (1985-1991). Medical records from all horses with large colon impaction admitted between 1985 and 1991 were examined. Large colon impaction was diagnosed in 147 of 1,100 (13.4%) horses with colic. One hundred thirty horses were admitted for further evaluation of acute onset of abdominal pain after having been examined and treated by referring veterinarians, and 17 horses that were hospitalized for unrelated medical problems developed large colon impaction. Female horses (92/147; 62.6%) were more commonly affected than males. The age ranged from 1 to 29 years (median, 7.1 years). Mean duration of clinical s...
Fibrinolytic activity in plasma from horses with gastrointestinal diseases: changes associated with diagnosis, surgery, and outcome. Plasma fibrinolytic activity was evaluated over 5 consecutive days in 59 horses admitted to the Large Animal Teaching Hospital with acute gastrointestinal diseases. Only horses hospitalized for at least 5 days were included in the study. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) were quantitated using standard chromogenic activity assays. Statistical analyses were performed using analysis of variance; differences were considered significant when P < or = .05. Activity of PAI-1, the primary endogenous inhibitor of fibrinolysis, was significantly incre...
[Case report: polycythemia in a horse]. A 13 year old Thoroughbred gelding was presented with a history of a single episode of collapse during mild exercise. Clinical examination revealed a high packed cell volume (PCV) of 72%, a haemoglobin concentration of 24.9 g/l and 15.2 millions erythrocytes/microliters. Despite continuous intravenous infusion therapy with large volumes, the PCV never decreased to a physiological level. The animal showed a normal appetite and no signs of discomfort or syncope. Arterial blood gas values were in the normal range as well as the concentration of erythropoietin (measured by radioimmunoassay, RIA). ...
Pleural effusion associated with acute and chronic pleuropneumonia and pleuritis secondary to thoracic wounds in horses: 43 cases (1982-1992). Case records of 43 horses with pleural effusion associated with acute pleuropneumonia, chronic pleuropneumonia, or pleuritis secondary to a penetrating thoracic wound were reviewed to determine the predisposing factors, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition. Acute pleuropneumonia was diagnosed in 36 horses, the majority of which were Thoroughbreds (89%). Of 22 (61%) horses that were in race training at the onset of illness, 11 (31%) had been recently transported a long distance and 4 (11%) had evidence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Physical examination findings and hematologic...
Evaluation of factors associated with postoperative ileus in horses: 31 cases (1990-1992). Medical records of horses that underwent surgical treatment for colic between 1990 and 1992 were reviewed. Horses with a pulse rate of > or = 60 beats/min or signs of abdominal pain, which were also accompanied by a volume of > 2 L of material that refluxed from the stomach during the postoperative period (excluding horses with anterior enteritis), comprised the postoperative ileus (POI) group. Horses that had < 2 L of material reflux during the postoperative period and survived > 3 days after surgery comprised the reference population. The association of preoperative and intraoperative clinic...
[Equestrian accidents in children and adolescents]. The rate of pediatric equestrian injuries is relatively low, but the severity of injuries is greater than in many other pediatric sport activities. In a 4-year period the charts of 109 patients up through the age of 15 years, who were admitted for equestrian-related injuries were reviewed. Falls from horses are the most frequent cause of injuries and responsible for their anatomic localization and type of injury. In our study the upper extremity was the most common (38%) area injured and head injuries comprised the second largest group with 36%. Forty percent of all injuries were fractures, 72...
Equine salmonellosis in a Dutch veterinary teaching hospital. During 1990 and 1991, 380 faecal samples were collected from horses with diarrhoea. Sixty-nine (18 per cent) of the samples yielded a positive culture for Salmonella species, and salmonellae were cultured directly from 37 (54 per cent) of these cases. In 32 (46 per cent) of the cases the salmonellae were found after culturing the organism in an enrichment medium. Salmonella typhimurium was isolated from 43 samples, S hadar from three samples, S arizona from two, S enteritidis from two, S virchow from one, S blockley from one and S bareilly from one sample. In 1990, S typhimurium phage type 200...
Equine motor neuron disease: findings in 28 horses and proposal of a pathophysiological mechanism for the disease. Over a three and one-half year period, 28 adult horses were diagnosed with equine motor neuron disease (EMND). The most commonly identified environmental risk factors for a horse having EMND were absence of grazing for more than a year and provision of poor quality hay. Quarter Horses were 5.4 times more at risk than other breeds but this was thought to be an epiphenomenon related to the frequency of Quarter Horses at boarding stables. Weight loss, excessive recumbency and/or trembling were the first signs noted. Other clinical diagnostic signs included: constant shifting of the weight in the ...
Surgical treatment for epiglottic entrapment in horses: 51 cases (1981-1992). Medical records of 51 horses with epiglottic entrapment were reviewed, and the outcome after surgical treatment was evaluated by use of results from a survey of owners and from race records. Horses with epiglottic entrapment and no additional problem (uncomplicated) of the nares, nasal passages, pharynx, or larynx (upper airway) that were treated by transoral axial division (group 1) or resection via laryngotomy (group 2), and horses with epiglottic entrapment complicated by an additional upper airway abnormality (group 3) were compared. The cost of treatment, duration of hospitalization, time...