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.
Stewart HL, Pitta D, Indugu N, Vecchiarelli B, Hennessy ML, Engiles JB, Southwood LL.Previous studies have identified alterations in the faecal microbiota of horses with colic; however, further work is needed to interpret these findings. Objective: To compare the faecal microbiota of horses presenting for colic at hospital admission, day 1 and day 3/discharge and with different colic duration and lesion locations. Methods: Prospective observational clinical study. Methods: Faecal samples were collected from 17 colic cases at hospital admission, on day 1 and on day 3 post-admission or at the time of hospital discharge if prior to 72 hours. Faecal samples were extracted for gen...
Swink JM, Rings LM, Snyder HA, McAuley RC, Burns TA, Dembek KA, Gilsenan WF, Browne N, Toribio RE.Information on steroids derived from the adrenal glands, gonads, or fetoplacental unit is minimal in newborn foals. Objective: To measure androgen concentrations in serum and determine their association with disease severity and outcome in hospitalized foals. Methods: Hospitalized (n = 145) and healthy (n = 80) foals. Methods: Prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study. Foals of ≤3 days of age from 3 hospitals and horse farms were classified as healthy and hospitalized (septic, sick nonseptic, neonatal maladjustment syndrome [NMS]) based on physical exam, medical history, and laborato...
Fielding CL, Mayer JR, Dechant JE, Epstein KL, Magdesian KG.Trauma from dog attacks has been associated with mortality rates as high as 23% in some species. However, the prognosis and clinical features of this type of injury have not been described in equids. Objective: To describe survival rate, signalment, clinical features, and biochemical results in equids presented for emergency care after presumed dog attacks. We hypothesized there would be differences between survivors and nonsurvivors. Methods: A total of 28 equids presented for presumed dog attacks from 3 referral centers. Methods: A retrospective study was performed using data from 3 hospital...
Schoster A, Amsler M, Kirchgaessner C, Saleh L, Schwarzwald C, Schmitt S.The optimal dosage regimen of gentamicin in horses is still under investigation. The objectives of this study were to determine gentamicin plasma concentrations in hospitalized horses treated with 10 mg/kg gentamicin (IV, q 24 h) and to determine whether a plasma concentration to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ratio of 10:1 is reached for equine pathogens using this dose. Methods: Prospective clinical observational study; retrospective study on MICs of 131 gram-negative bacteria isolated from horses (2012-2015). Methods: University teaching hospital. Methods: Ninety-eight horses >...
Haussler KK.The clinical assessment of pain is subjective; therefore, variations exist between practitioners in their ability to identify and localize pain. Due to differing interpretations of the signs or severity of pain equine practitioners may assign varying levels of clinical significance and treatment options. There is a critical need to develop better tools to qualify and quantify pain in horses. Palpation is the most common method to detect local tenderness or sensitivity. To quantify this applied pressure, pressure algometry has been used to gradually apply pressure over specified landmarks until...
Gillen A, Mudge M, Caldwell F, Munsterman A, Hanson R, Brawner W, Almond G, Green E, Stephens J, Walz J.The long-term outcomes of external beam radiotherapy for treatment of noncutaneous tumors of the head in horses is unknown. Objective: To report the long-term outcomes for treatment of noncutaneous tumors of the head of horses, and report short and long-term clinical adverse effects. Methods: Thirty-two horses treated in 2 referral hospitals. Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records of horses receiving radiation therapy for noncutaneous tumors between 1999 and 2015 were reviewed. Signalment, tumor type, treatment protocol, tumor control duration, and survival were recorded. Kaplan...
Roudaud M, Allano M, Fairbrother JH, Sauvé F.The goals of this retrospective study were to: determine the frequency of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. (MRS) isolated from horses admitted to an equine veterinary teaching hospital in Quebec from 2008 to 2018, investigate the patterns of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and evaluate the distribution of MRS and methicillin-sensitive Staphyloccocus spp. (MSS) by body site. During this period, 311 Staphylococcus spp. were isolated from 273 horses and 127 of these isolates were submitted to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Of these 127 isolates, 24 (18.9%) were MRS, and among the ...
Martinez-Lopez J, Brown JA, Werre SR.To compare the prevalence of incisional complications after skin closure with n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBC) or stainless-steel skin staples (SS) after ventral midline celiotomy for colic surgery in the horse. Methods: Retrospective study (2014-2018). Methods: Two hundred eighteen horses. Methods: Medical records of horses that underwent exploratory celiotomy for colic were included when the skin was closed with NBC or SS and the horse survived ≥15 days after surgery. Records and a follow-up questionnaire were used to determine in-hospital and posthospital discharge incisional complications. ...
Nocera I, Bonelli F, Meucci V, Rinnovati R, Spadari A, Intorre L, Pretti C, Sgorbini M.Literature on the protein carbonyl content (PCC) evaluation in horses is scarce, thus the aims were to evaluate the PCC in healthy and SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) horses and to investigate the performances of PCC in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio in identifying SIRS positive and negative horses. A total of 72 adult horses were included. All the horses underwent to a complete physical examination, blood analysis, and were evaluated for the SIRS status. Blood samples were collected once in healthy horses and at admission time, then 24, 48, 72, and 96 h...
Furr M, McKenzie H.Bloodstream infections (BSI) are common in sick foals and increase foal morbidity and mortality when they occur. Recognition of risk factors for BSI could be an important means to limit their occurrence, but studies on this topic are limited. Objective: Historical as well as maternal and foal physical examination findings will predict risk of BSI in neonatal foals. Methods: Foals <14 days of age admitted to a referral equine hospital for care. Methods: Retrospective case-control study with univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Four hundred twenty-nine (143 cases...
Foth PW, Scott VH, Mudge MC, Hurcombe SD.To determine an abdominal pressure cutoff value for intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) in the horse and characterize IAH in horses with acute colic. Methods: Prospective clinical cohort. Methods: University teaching hospital. Methods: Nine healthy adult horses and 56 horses with acute colic. Methods: Ventral intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) was measured in triplicate at end expiration and averaged. Each colic case was classified as medical or surgical and large intestine (LI) or small intestine (SI). Management and final outcome (alive, euthanized, or died) were recorded. IAH was defined as ≥3...
Wise JC, Raidal SL, Wilkes EJA, Hughes KJ.Intragastric pH profiles of neonatal foals admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) remain poorly characterized. Objective: To determine intragastric pH profiles and clinical parameters associated with intragastric pH in foals admitted to the ICU. Methods: Forty-two neonatal foals admitted to the ICU and requiring placement of an indwelling nasogastric tube for nutritional management were included. Methods: Intragastric pH was measured for 24 hours from the time of admission. Mean pH, % time pH 4 were determined for each foal. History, clinical findings, and clinicopathological data recorde...
Redding L, Grunwald H, Cole S, Rankin S, Nolen-Walston R.Empirical antimicrobial regimens can be modified following new diagnostic information or when empirical treatment fails. Little is known about the frequency or clinical context in which these modifications occur. We characterised these modifications in a large animal hospital to identify when antimicrobial use could be optimised. Methods: Chart reviews were performed for all inpatients and outpatients administered antimicrobials at a large animal veterinary referral and teaching hospital in 2017-2018 (n=1163 visits) to determine when and why empirical regimens were modified. Multinomial logist...
Gomez DE, Buczinski S, Darby S, Palmisano M, Beatty SSK, Mackay RJ.Use of different analyzers to measure electrolytes in the same horse can lead to different interpretation of acid-base balance when using the simplified strong ion difference (sSID) approach. Objective: Investigate the level of agreement between 2 analyzers in determining electrolytes concentrations, sSID variables, and acid-base disorders in sick horses. Methods: One hundred twenty-four hospitalized horses. Methods: Retrospective study using paired samples. Electrolytes were measured using a Beckman Coulter AU480 Chemistry analyzer (PBMA) and a Nova Biomedical Stat Profile (WBGA), respectivel...
Del Prete C, Lanci A, Cocchia N, Freccero F, Di Maio C, Castagnetti C, Mariella J, Micieli F.Blood collection by indwelling intravenous catheter (IVC) avoids repeated venipuncture, which could cause thrombophlebitis risk, anxiety and pain in patients. Objective: To compare blood gas parameters, electrolytes, glucose, lactate and haematocrit concentration obtained from venous blood samples collected via a jugular IVC by push-pull (PP) technique to those obtained by venipuncture in hospitalised foals, at the time of catheter placement (T0) and 24 hours after the beginning of intravenous therapy (T24). Methods: Prospective observational study. Methods: Paired blood samples were drawn fr...
Ferreira JF, Albuquerque ALH, Amorim RM, Ferreira RS, Takahira RK, Borges AS, Oliveira-Filho JP.In this retrospective study, clinical records of nine horses with a diagnosis of Bothrops envenomation were investigated. The accidents were classified as severe (5/9), moderate (2/9), or mild (2/9) according to the adapted bothropic snakebite severity score (BSSS). All snakebites were on the head region. The main clinical signs were local edema, blood coagulation disorders, and respiratory distress. The whole-blood clotting time (WBCT) was prolonged in all horses, and five horses presented with uncoagulable blood. All horses received specific snake antivenom according to the BSSS (six vials f...
Kopper JJ, Bolger ME, Kogan CJ et al. Outcome and complications in horses administered sterile or non-sterile fluids intravenously. J Vet Intern Med 2019; 33: 2739–2745 DIE INTRAVENöSE VERABREICHUNG VON LöSUNGEN DIENT ZUR ERHALTUNG ODER WIEDERHERSTELLUNG DES FLüSSIGKEITSVOLUMENS IN DEN GEFäßEN UND DER GEWEBEDURCHBLUTUNG. SIE IST ENTSCHEIDEND BEI DER BEHANDLUNG VON PFERDEN MIT ERKRANKUNGEN, DIE EINE HYPOVOLäMIE ZUR FOLGE HABEN. ZU DEN TYPISCHEN INDIKATIONEN GEHöREN EIN HOHER GASTROINTESTINALER WASSERVERLUST, EINE EINGESTELLTE WASSERAUFNAHME BZW. EINE NICHT TOLERIERTE ENTERALE FLüSSIGK...
Donati B, Fürst AE, Del Chicca F, Jackson MA. The aim of this study was to determine the indications for, and complications of, plate removal surgery in horses that underwent internal fixation of limb fractures. Methods: Medical records of horses presented to our hospital between 1990 and 2015 for the removal of plates after treatment of limb fractures were reviewed. Data collected at the time of initial presentation, including signalment, history, fracture features and treatment and information about the indications, timing and complications of implant removal were reviewed. Results: The most common bones involved were the ulna ...
Johnston GCA, Lumsden JM.To describe the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates cultured from surgical specimens of infected arytenoid cartilage and granulomas. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Thirty-three thoroughbred horses. Methods: Hospital records were retrieved for all horses admitted to a referral hospital for arytenoid chondropathy surgery that had samples submitted for culture and sensitivity between 2005 and 2019. Descriptive analyses were performed. Results: In total, 56 bacterial isolates were obtained. Gram-positive bacteria (58%), Gram-negative bacteria (54%), and...
Bowden A, Boynova P, Brennan ML, England GCW, Mair TS, Furness WA, Freeman SL, Burford JH.The study aim was to describe conditions seen 'out-of-hours' in equine practice. This was a retrospective case series of first opinion 'out-of-hours' cases seen at two equine practices between 2011 and 2013. Data were retrieved on case presentation, diagnostic testing, treatment administered and outcome, and diseases categorised using a systems-based coding system. A hierarchical logistic regression, formulated using a generalised linear model, was used to identify clinical variables associated with a binary outcome of 'critical' cases (required hospitalisation or euthanasia or died). Data fro...
Stier R, Tavassol F, Dupke C, Rüter M, Jehn P, Gellrich NC, Spalthoff S.The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of the mechanism of trauma (fall versus kick), rider demographics, equestrian experience, protective equipment, and whether or not a horse was shod on the anatomic site of a horse-related maxillofacial fracture, operating time, postoperative complication rate, and length of hospital stay. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients treated for horse-related maxillofacial fractures at a single institution in Germany between January 2000 and March 2015. We used linear and logistic regression to test the above-mentioned...
Steward SKT, Hassel DM, Martin H, Doddman C, Stewart A, Elzer EJ, Southwood LL.Duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) is an idiopathic and potentially fatal disease of horses characterized by abdominal pain, proximal intestinal inflammation, and subsequent gastric and small intestinal fluid accumulation. Although this disease is known to be costly and life threatening in the equine industry, the severity of clinical signs can vary widely, and an exact etiology has yet to be elucidated. This study looked to identify differences in clinical parameters of horses with DPJ between geographic regions in an effort to corroborate anecdotal reports and support theories of differing ...
Soza-Ossandón P, Rivera D, Tardone R, Riquelme-Neira R, García P, Hamilton-West C, Adell AD, González-Rocha G, Moreno-Switt AI. is a highly infectious microorganism responsible for many outbreaks reported in equine hospitals. Outbreaks are characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates, nosocomial transmission to other patients, zoonotic transmission to hospital personnel, and even closure of facilities. In this study, 545 samples (environmental and hospitalized patients) were collected monthly during a 1-year period from human and animal contact surfaces in an equine hospital that received local and international horses. A total of 22 isolates were obtained from human contact surfaces (e.g., offices and pharmac...
Schoster A, Altermatt N, Torgerson PR, Bischofberger AS.To describe outcome and complications after large intestinal trocarization in equids with colic and identify factors associated with nonsurvival and clinically relevant peritonitis (CRP). Methods: 228 (198 horses, 24 ponies, and 6 donkeys and mules) equids with colic that underwent large intestinal trocarization. Methods: Medical records from 2004 through 2015 were reviewed for equids with colic that underwent large intestinal trocarization. Factors associated with nonsurvival in all (ie, surgically and medically treated) equids and with CRP in medically only treated equids were identified. Me...
Rothers KL, Hackett ES, Mason GL, Nelson BB.A 17-year-old Quarter Horse mare was evaluated for colic of 24-hour duration. Clinical signs and diagnostic evaluation were consistent with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis. The horse's clinical condition deteriorated despite medical treatment and was euthanized. Aerobic culture collected from small intestinal ingesta was positive for subsp. serovar Hadar. sp. is commonly implicated in nosocomial infections in equine veterinary hospitals usually through feces containing the organism. Considering sp. was cultured from the jejunal luminal contents and the large volume of nasogastric reflux that...
Hann M, Timofte D, Isgren CM, Archer DC.Surgical site infection (SSI) is a leading cause of morbidity in horses undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy for the treatment of acute colic. The exact mechanism by which SSI develops in these cases is unclear. This prospective observational study investigated whether bacterial translocation occurs in horses with acute colic and if there is an association between bacterial translocation and development of SSI. Peripheral venous blood (PVB) and peritoneal fluid (PF) samples were collected on admission and PF samples were collected at the end of surgery from horses presenting for investi...
Can FK, Tekin E, Sezen S, Clutter P.The aim of the present study was to evaluate the demographic characteristics, exposure features, and prophylactic care aspects of cases that presented to the emergency department of 1 state hospital in Turkey between 2013 and 2017 because of the risk of rabies contact. Methods: Data from the retrospective cohort study were obtained from ED records of Erzurum Palandöken State Hospital between August 2013 and June 2017 regarding patients presenting to emergency service after the risk of rabies contact. Evaluation forms included demographic characteristics of the patients, contact type, contacte...
Sanmartí J, Armengou L, Viu J, Alguacil E, Civit S, Ríos J, Jose-Cunilleras E.Sparse information regarding plasma iron concentration in neonatal foals and its utility as an inflammatory marker in this population has been published. Objective: To determine the physiologic plasma iron concentration in neonatal foals. To assess its utility as an inflammatory marker to predict systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and as a prognostic marker. Methods: Forty-seven ill neonatal foals admitted to a referral equine hospital were divided in 2 groups based on the SIRS criteria (24 SIRS and 23 non-SIRS). Two control groups of 43 hospital and 135 stud farm healthy neonatal ...
Gharaibeh MH, Abutarbush SM, Mustafa FG, Lafi SQ, Halaiqa MS.Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global problem that will need a multinational collaborative effort to overcome this serious challenge. The aim of the study is to investigate the potential risk factors associated with the prevalence and distribution of antimicrobial-resistance genes (ARGs) of Escherichia coli isolates obtained from equine fecal samples. One hundred and eighteen horses from different geographical locations and management systems were enrolled in the study and a questionnaire containing information about each individual horse was designed and filled. The enrolled horses bel...
van Loon JPAM, Visser EMS, de Mik-van Mourik M, Kerbert P, Huppes T, Menke ES.Colic surgery in horses impacts both short-term well-being of horses due to possible surgical and anesthetic complications and also long-term return to a sporting career. In this retrospective study, survival and complication rates, as well as functional outcome and behavioral problems in horses that underwent colic surgery were studied. Data from 283 horses that underwent colic surgery at a veterinary teaching hospital were analyzed. Furthermore, owners were contacted and requested to fill out a questionnaire concerning the first year of rehabilitation. Of 283 horses that underwent colic surg...
Hassel DM, Hill AE, Rorabeck RA.Glucose homeostasis is dysregulated in critically ill humans resulting in hyperglycemia and decreased survival. Hyperglycemia is common in horses presenting with abdominal crisis, and this might be associated with a worse prognosis for survival. Objective: To determine if hyperglycemia in horses with acute abdominal disease is associated with increased odds of failure to survive to hospital discharge. Methods: Two hundred and twenty-eight adult horses with acute gastrointestinal disease. Methods: Observational retrospective study. Records of horses > 1 year of age presenting for treatment o...
Altgärde J, Redéen S, Hilding N, Drott P.Horse riding, with almost 200,000 participants, is the eighth most popular sport in Sweden. Severe injuries can occur with horse riding accidents which is well documented. This study was undertaken to investigate if injuries associated with horse riding are common, which type of injuries occur, what mechanisms are involved and to estimate the costs to the society. Methods: All patients attending the emergency department at Linköping University Hospital, during the years 2003-2004, due to horse related trauma were prospectively recorded. The patients were divided into two groups according to a...
The Journal of traumaAugust 1, 1988
Volume 28, Issue 8 1255-1259 doi: 10.1097/00005373-198808000-00020
Landercasper J, Cogbill TH, Strutt PJ, Landercasper BO.A survey of all American Veterinary Medical Association members in Minnesota and Wisconsin was conducted by questionnaire to document injuries resulting from animal treatment. Of 995 respondents, 64.6% had sustained a major animal-related injury. Seventeen per cent were hospitalized within the last year. Of those hospitalized, 25.3% required a surgical procedure. Hand injuries were most common in a veterinarian's career (52.6% of respondents), followed by trauma to the arms (27.6%), and the head (20.8%). The thorax (8.3%), genitalia (3.9%), and intra-abdominal viscera (2.8%) were injured less ...
Bilaniuk JW, Adams JM, DiFazio LT, Siegel BK, Allegra JR, Luján JJ, Durling-Grover R, Pawar J, Rolandelli RH, Németh ZH.Patients with equestrian injuries were identified in the trauma registry from 2004 to 2007. We a priori divided patients into three groups: 0 to 18 years, 19 to 49 years, and 50 years old or older. There were 284 patients identified with equestrian-related trauma. Injury Severity Score for the three major age categories 0 to 18 years, 19 to 49 years, and 50 years or older, were 3.47, 5.09, and 6.27, respectively. The most common body region injured among all patients was the head (26.1%). The most common injuries by age group were: 0 to 18 years, upper extremity fractures; 19 to 49 year olds, ...
Weese JS, Staempfli HR, Prescott JF.An environmental survey of a veterinary teaching hospital for the presence of Clostridium difficile was performed using contact plates and cycloserine-cefoxitin-fructose with 0.1% sodium taurocholate agar. Clostridium difficile was isolated from 24 of 381 sites (6.3%). Growth was obtained from 4.5% (9/202) of sites sampled in the Large Animal Clinic, from 8.1% (13/160) of sites within the Small Animal Clinic, and from 20% (2/10) of sites sampled elsewhere. Fourteen of 21 strains tested produced toxins in vitro. A geographic association was found with areas in the large animal clinic where noso...
The Journal of traumaJune 1, 1986
Volume 26, Issue 6 559-560 doi: 10.1097/00005373-198606000-00013
Busch HM, Cogbill TH, Landercasper J, Landercasper BO.During the past 6 years 134 patients were admitted as the result of bovine (cow) and equine (horse) trauma. The mechanism of injury was fall from horse in 45 patients, animal assault in 42, animal kick in 39, and animal-drawn vehicle accident in eight. Injury Severity Score (ISS) ranged from 1 to 41 and was greater than or equal to 25 in 11 patients. One hundred seventeen operative procedures were performed by ten groups of surgical subspecialists. Mortality was nil. Ideal management of these injuries includes treatment in a regional trauma center and an educational program of preventive measu...
Tirosh-Levy S, Steinman A, Carmeli Y, Klement E, Navon-Venezia S.Methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS), and specifically Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization or infection have become a serious emerging condition in equine hospitals, with complex concerns regarding animals, personnel and public health. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for colonization by Staphylococci, MRS, and MRSA among horses in Israel. Nasal swabs were collected from horses at 17 riding stables (n=206), and from hospitalized horses admitted to a veterinary hospital (n=84). Species identification was performed by ...
Christey GL, Nelson DE, Rivara FP, Smith SM, Condie C.Horseback riding injuries are responsible for an estimated 2300 hospital admissions annually among persons younger than 25 years of age in the United States, but injury rates, patterns of injury, and risk factors for this population have not been well studied. Methods: Study participants were selected from a list provided by a national mail-order company that sells riding equipment. A total of 557 persons younger than 25 years of age who rode horses at least six times a year completed survey questionnaires. Results: Among the study participants, 34 (6.1%) had been hospitalized at least once be...
Bergström K, Nyman G, Widgren S, Johnston C, Grönlund-Andersson U, Ransjö U.The first outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in horses in Sweden occurred in 2008 at the University Animal Hospital and highlighted the need for improved infection prevention and control. The present study describes interventions and infection prevention control in an equine hospital setting July 2008 - April 2010. Methods: This descriptive study of interventions is based on examination of policy documents, medical records, notes from meetings and cost estimates. MRSA cases were identified through clinical sampling and telephone enquiries about horses post...
Johnson AL, McAdams-Gallagher SC, Aceto H.There are no studies evaluating a large population of adult horses treated for botulism. Reported survival rates in outbreak situations are low; however, many horses in outbreaks do not receive treatment. Objective: That adult horses treated at a veterinary hospital would have improved survival compared to outbreak situations. Additional aims included identification of predictors of nonsurvival. Methods: All horses greater than 6 months of age with a final diagnosis of botulism admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital between 1989 and 2013 were included. Methods: Retrospective study. Histori...
Ekiri AB, MacKay RJ, Gaskin JM, Freeman DE, House AM, Giguère S, Troedsson MR, Schuman CD, von Chamier MM, Henry KM, Hernandez JA.To examine the relationship between abdominal surgery and nosocomial Salmonella infections and the relationship between high caseload in combination with abdominal surgery and nosocomial Salmonella infections in hospitalized horses with signs of gastrointestinal tract disease. Methods: 140 horses. Methods: Case-control study. Methods: To accomplish the first objective, 1 to 4 control horses were matched with each nosocomial case horse on the basis of admission date of a primary case horse. The frequency of abdominal surgery and other investigated exposure factors were compared between nosocomi...
Smith BP, Reina-Guerra M, Hardy AJ.Feces from 1,451 horses entering a veterinary hospital over a 13-month period were cultured for salmonella. A total of 46 horses (3.2%) yielded 1 or more salmonella-positive fecal cultures. Twenty horses were found to be excreting salmonella in the feces on admission, and 5 of these later had severe diarrhea associated with enteric salmonellosis. Abdominal surgery and other severe stresses were associated with all cases of severe enteric salmonellosis. Serotypes of salmonella isolated included Salmonella agona (15), S anatum (14), S typhimurium (7), S typhimurium var copenhagen (4), S infantis...
Parsons CS, Orsini JA, Krafty R, Capewell L, Boston R.To identify risk factors for development of acute laminitis in horses during hospitalization for illness or injury. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: 73 horses that developed laminitis (case horses) and 146 horses that did not develop laminitis (control horses) during hospitalization. Methods: Case and control horses were matched in a 2:1 ratio by the date on which each horse was evaluated. Potential risk factors investigated included age, breed, and sex; highest and lowest values recorded during hospitalization for fibrinogen concentration, WBC count, PCV, and total solids c...
Divers TJ, Mohammed HO, Cummings JF, Valentine BA, De Lahunta A, Jackson CA, Summers BA.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 ...
Hytychová T, Bezděková B.To identify the specific pathogens causing sepsis in hospitalized foals in the Czech Republic and identify important factors associated with their survival. Methods: A retrospective study from 2011 to 2013. Methods: University veterinary teaching hospital. Methods: Fifty compromised foals. Methods: None. Results: Blood was aseptically collected for bacterial culture from compromised foals. The foals were classified as septic according to a positive blood culture result or sepsis score ≥11. Blood cultures were positive in 44% of the foals. In these positive cultures, 27.3% had only Gram-posit...
Furr M, Tinker MK, Edens L.This study was conducted to develop an equation for the prediction of outcome in neonatal foals undergoing treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU). Fifty-three physical examination, historical, and clinicopathologic variables were analyzed from the records of 99 neonatal foals (< 14 days of age) treated in the neonatal ICU of the Equine Medical Center. The outcome was recorded and the results were categorized into either surviving or nonsurviving groups. The mean values for the 2 groups were compared, and variables that differed significantly between the two groups were retained and used ...
Kaya G, Sommerfeld-Stur I, Iben C.A hospital-based case study was conducted at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna for a 1-year period. The purpose of this study was to determine possible alterable and non-alterable risk factors of equine colic in Austria. The investigated parameters were obtained from hospital medical records (individual factors, duty of the horse, deworming, change in diet and water intake), from questionnaires (feed intake, watering types, housing and pasture practices) and from http://www.orf.at (weather-related factors). Moreover, 221 collected feed samples were investigated through hygienic qual...
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...
Fielding CL, Magdesian KG, Rhodes DM, Meier CA, Higgins JC.To describe the clinical and clinicopathologic abnormalities in endurance horses eliminated from competition and requiring emergency medical treatment. Methods: Retrospective study over a 2-year period (2005-2006). Ten horses that successfully completed the ride in 2006 were included for comparison. Methods: Temporary equine emergency field hospital. Methods: All horses (n=30) that were removed from endurance competition and treated for a metabolic abnormality were studied. Methods: Horses were treated with IV fluids and analgesics. Monitoring included lab work (PCV, total protein, and electro...
McConachie EL, Giguère S, Rapoport G, Barton MH.To describe heart rate variability (HRV) in horses with acute gastrointestinal disease that undergo exploratory laparotomy. We hypothesized that horses with ischemic gastrointestinal disease will have reduced HRV compared to horses with nonischemic lesions. We further hypothesized that a reduction in HRV will be associated with nonsurvival. Methods: Prospective, clinical, observational study. Methods: University veterinary teaching hospital. Methods: Horses presented for acute colic (n = 57) or elective surgical procedures (n = 10) were enrolled. Methods: Admission heart rate (HR) was recorded...
Costa-Farré C, Prades M, Ribera T, Valero O, Taurà P.Decreased tissue oxygenation is a critical factor in the development of wound infection as neutrophil mediated oxidative killing is an essential mechanism against surgical pathogens. The objective of this prospective case series was to assess the impact of intraoperative arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) on surgical site infection (SSI) in horses undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy for acute gastrointestinal disease. The anaesthetic and antibiotic protocol was standardised. Demographic data, surgical potential risk factors and PaO2, obtained 1h after induction of anaesthesia w...
Groover ES, Woolums AR, Cole DJ, LeRoy BE.To identify factors associated with renal insufficiency in colic- or colitis-affected horses with high serum creatinine (SCr) concentrations evaluated at a referral hospital. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 167 colic- or colitis-affected horses (88 represented a random sample [hospital population], and 79 had high SCr concentration at initial evaluation [study population]). Methods: Medical records were reviewed. Data collected included signalment; physical examination, clinicopathologic, and diagnostic findings; and outcome. The study population was categorized on the basis of wh...
Vengust M, Wen X, Bienzle D.A 4-year-old donkey was evaluated for progressive neurological abnormalities consisting of depression, stupor, weakness, and recumbency. Diagnostic evaluation for viral involvement identified an asinine herpesvirus in DNA extracted from deep pharyngeal swabs. Specific primers were designed based on comparison with equine herpesviral DNA polymerase sequences and yielded an 875-base pair product from the donkey. This sequence had complete identity with short sequences of asinine herpesvirus previously identified in donkeys with interstitial pneumonia. Amino acid analysis of the entire sequence i...
Gómez-Sanz E, Simón C, Ortega C, Gómez P, Lozano C, Zarazaga M, Torres C.Eight coagulase-positive staphylococci from equines with different pathologies obtained between 2005 and 2011 were investigated. Isolates were characterized by different molecular techniques (spa-, agr-, MLST), and clonal relatedness of strains was investigated by ApaI and SmaI PFGE. Anti-microbial resistance and virulence profiles were determined. Six isolates were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, and two as Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. Of these, four isolates were methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) ST398 and one S. pseudintermedius was mecA positive and typed as ST68. One MRSA ...
Pusterla N, Byrne BA, Hodzic E, Mapes S, Jang SS, Magdesian KG.A quantitative real-time (RT)-PCR assay was developed to detect Salmonella spp. in the feces of 911 equine species admitted to a veterinary hospital. Fresh feces and feces enriched for 24h in selenite broth were assessed by conventional culture and by RT-PCR targeting the Salmonella invA gene. The detection limit for the RT-PCR assay was 3 and 10 organisms, respectively, when spiked samples were purified from selenite broth and feces. The analytical specificity was 100% based on the detection of a panel of 40 salmonella serotypes from five serogroups and the lack of cross-reactivity with non-r...
Ujvari S, Schwarzwald CC, Fouché N, Howard J, Schoster A.Point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests with good sensitivity and specificity are needed for diagnosing failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) in foals. Turbidimetric immunoassays (TIA) have these characteristics and provide quantitative results. A commercially available TIA-based POC test (POC-TIA) has not been validated in horses. Objective: To validate a POC-TIA and compare results of POC-TIA, a POC-ELISA, and radial immunodiffusion (RID). Methods: Heparinized blood samples (n = 127) from 48 hospitalized foals (<12 hour to 48 days). Methods: Prospective validation study. IgG concentrat...
Dunkel B, Palmer JE, Olson KN, Boston RC, Wilkins PA.Foals may present to a referral hospital with the primary diagnosis of uroperitoneum (UP), or they may develop UP while hospitalized for other reasons. Historical, physical, laboratory, and diagnostic variables of foals presenting with UP were compared to those developing UP while hospitalized. Emphasis was placed on the presence of electrolyte abnormalities, evidence of sepsis or infection, and development of anesthetic complications during surgical correction of the defect. Foals developing UP while in the hospital frequently had a history of dystocia and presented at a very young age (< ...
Furr M, Cohen ND, Axon JE, Sanchez LC, Pantaleon L, Haggett E, Campbell R, Tennent-Brown B.The use of anti-ulcer medication in the neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) is common due to the concern for development of catastrophic gastric ulcerdisease. In man, however, the use of acid-suppressive medication has been shown in some studies to be a substantial riskfactorfor the development of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea (CDAD), bacteraemia and neonatal sepsis. Objective: The purpose of the study reported herein is to evaluate the influence of anti-ulcer medications on the development of diarrhoea in the neonatalfoal. Objective: The use of anti-ulcer medication does not alter...
Mendez-Angulo JL, Mudge MC, Vilar-Saavedra P, Stingle N, Couto CG.To evaluate the use of citrated recalcified (nonactivated) thromboelastography (TEG) in healthy horses and horses with colitis and suspected coagulopathies. Methods: Prospective, observational study conducted between October 2007 and June 2009. Methods: Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Methods: Forty-five healthy adult horses and 12 sick adult horses with colitis and prolonged prothrombin time (PT) or activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Methods: None. Results: Whole blood was collected on admission. Coagulation profile (PT, aPTT, platelet count, and fibrinogen concentration) and citrate...
