Pain management in horses involves various strategies and interventions designed to alleviate discomfort and improve the well-being of equine patients. It encompasses pharmacological approaches, such as the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, and other analgesics, as well as non-pharmacological methods like physical therapy, acupuncture, and environmental modifications. Effective pain management aims to address both acute and chronic pain conditions, which can result from injuries, surgeries, or diseases such as laminitis and arthritis. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the mechanisms, efficacy, and safety of different pain management techniques in horses, contributing to the understanding and advancement of equine veterinary care.
Michau TM, Gilger BC.Effects of traumatic injury or inflammation on the equine eye can be catastrophic. These ocular conditions can frequently result in blindness or chronic pain. In addition to blindness and pain, permanent unsightly cosmetic defects can occur. This article addresses options available for improved cosmetic outcome in horses with ocular scars or requiring enucleation. Many of these options have been described in detail previously. New information has been added to the discussion of each option where pertinent.
Robertson SA.Several ocular procedures, including examination, removal of corneal foreign bodies, nictitans surgery, eyelid repair, and tumor excision,can be successfully performed in the appropriately restrained and sedated standing horse. Sedation is best achieved with xylazine,with or without the addition of acepromazine. Additional analgesia can be provided with appropriate local anesthetic blocks. Surgical conditions are greatly improved by using an auriculopalpebral and supraorbital block and topical anesthetics. More elaborate standing sedation involving continuous rate infusions of lidocaine or det...
Schumacher J, Livesey L, DeGraves FJ, Schumacher J, Schramme MC, Hathcock J, Taintor J, Gomez J.Anaesthesia of the palmar digital nerves is claimed to attenuate lameness in some horses that are lame because of pain in the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. Objective: To determine the response of horses with pain in the PIP joint to anaesthesia of the palmar digital nerves. Methods: Horses were video recorded trotting before and after induction of pain in the PIP joint and 10 mins after anaesthesia of the palmar digital nerves. The palmar digital nerves were anaesthetised 3 times at different sites, and the video recorded gaits were scored subjectively. Results: The median lameness sco...
Mattoon JS, Drost WT, Grguric MR, Auld DM, Reed SM.Degenerative changes and osteochondrosis of articular processes are common sources of stiffness or pain in the equine cervical spine. Temporary relief of the clinical signs related to these maladies may be achieved by injecting corticosteroids into the joint. This is routinely done by ultrasound-guided needle placement. The cervical articular processes and joint form an easily identifiable sonographic landmark, a step-like echogenic surface described as having the appearance of a "chair."
Crowe OM, Dyson SJ, Wright IM, Schramme MC, Smith RK.Proximal suspensory desmitis (PSD) is diagnosed with increasing frequency in horses and radial pressure wave therapy (RPWT) is a widely used therapy for painful orthopaedic conditions in man and dogs. There are, however, few published data as to the outcome of its use in PSD. Objective: To evaluate the use of RPWT in the treatment of chronic or recurrent PSD in the horse, an injury which carries a poor prognosis for return to athletic function with conservative management alone. Objective: RPWT and controlled exercise improves the prognosis of chronic or recurrent PSD in the horse when compare...
Dabareiner RM, Schmitz DG, Honnas CM, Carter GK.Injury to the gracilis muscle can cause acute, severe lameness in horses. Two female Quarter Horses that were used for barrel racing sustained gracilis muscle tear injuries. The site of injury was localized by direct infiltration of the area with mepivacaine. The extent of muscle tearing and seroma formation was determined via ultrasonographic evaluation. One horse developed fibrotic myopathy approximately 3 months after the original injury and underwent surgery to transect a palpable fibrous band at the previous injury site. Both horses returned to barrel racing 5 to 6 months after the injury...
Pollitt CC, Daradka M.Surgical stripping of the hoof wall results in a wound that heals remarkabley well. In contrast, lamellae recovering from laminitis are often deformed. Investigating lamellar wound healing may aid understanding of laminitis. Objective: To document temporal changes in the lamellar basement membrane (BM), dermis and epidermis after surgery. Methods: Wall strips were made in the dorsal hoof wall midline of 6 mature horses. Immunohistochemistry was used to document changes in the basement membrane (BM) and detect proliferation of epidermal cells in lamellar tissues harvested at intervals. A confor...
Matthews S, Dart AJ, Dowling BA.To determine the effectiveness and incidence of complications of palmar digital neurectomy using the guillotine technique in horses presented for lameness originating from sites innervated by these nerves. Methods: Retrospective study of 24 clinical cases. Methods: Twenty-four horses undergoing a palmar digital nerve neurectomy between June 1997 and June 2001. Methods: The records of all horses undergoing a uniaxial or biaxial, unilateral or bilateral neurectomy during the defined time period were retrieved. Information retrieved from the record included breed, age, gender, discipline for whic...
Ganidagli S, Cetin H, Biricik HS, Cimtay I.Two groups of six mares aged from eight to 18 years were anaesthetised by caudal epidural injections of ropivacaine (0.5 per cent, 0.1 mg/kg) or a combination of ripovacaine (0.08 mg/kg) and fentanyl (100 microg) in a randomised study. The onset of anaesthesia was significantly more rapid (P<0.001) and it lasted significantly longer (P<0.001) in the group anaesthetised with the combination of drugs. The surgical comfort scores of the group anaesthetised with the combination were higher than those of the group anaesthetised with ropivacaine alone (P<0.001), and the quality of intraoper...
MacKay RJ.Brain injury after impact to the head is due to both immediate mechanical effects and delayed responses of neural tissues. In horses, traumatic brain injury occurs in three main settings: (1) poll impact in horses that flip over backwards; (2) frontal/parietal impact in horses that run into a fixed object, and (3) injury to the vestibular apparatus secondary to temporohyoid osteoarthropathy. Distinct forebrain, vestibular, midbrain, hindbrain, or multifocal syndromes may be encountered in horses with traumatic brain injury. The most important components of treatment are those consistent with p...
Dyson SJ, Murray R, Schramme M, Branch M.There have been no previously published case series of horses examined using either scintigraphy or MRI to diagnose collateral ligament injuries not detectable using ultrasonography or radiography, nor have other concurrent soft tissue lesions been described. Objective: To describe the clinical features of horses with desmitis of the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint and to evaluate the results of radiographic, ultrasonographic, scintigraphic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. Methods: Horses were examined between January 2001 and January 2003 and w...
DeRossi R, Sampaio BF, Varela JV, Junqueira AL.Epidural administration of bupivacaine and meperidine produces analgesia in several animal species and in humans. A prospective randomized study was conducted in 18 healthy horses to compare the effect of these 2 drugs administered by the epidural route. Animals were divided into 3 treatment groups of 6 animals each. All drugs were injected by the epidural route in all animals between the 1st and 2nd coccygeal vertebrae. Treatment 1 (BUP)--0.06 mg/kg of body weight of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine; treatment 2 (MEP)--0.6 mg/kg of body weight of 5% meperidine; treatment 3 (SS)--0.9% saline soluti...
Dyson S, Murray R, Schramme M, Branch M.The differential diagnosis of foot pain has long proved difficult and the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers the opportunity to further the clinical understanding of the subject. Objective: To determine the incidence of deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) injuries in a series of 75 horses with lameness associated with pain localised to the digit, with no significant detectable radiographic or ultrasonographic abnormalities, using MRI; and to describe a variety of lesion types and relate DDF tendonitis with anamnesis, clinical features, response to local analgesic techniques and nucle...
Dabareiner RM, Carter GK, Honnas CM.To determine history, clinical and radiographic abnormalities, and outcome in horses with signs of navicular area pain unresponsive to corrective shoeing and systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration that were treated with an injection of corticosteroids, sodium hyaluronate, and amikacin into the navicular bursa. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 25 horses. Methods: Data collected from the medical records included signalment, history, horse use, severity and duration of lameness, shoeing regimen, results of diagnostic anesthesia, radiographic abnormalities, and outcome. ...
de Blaauw JA, Rijkenhuizen AB, van Nieuwstadt RA, Grinwis GC, Back W.Two grey mares, a 12-year-old Arabian and a 13-year-old Lippizaner cross, were referred for chronic pelvic limb lameness and abduction of the limb during the non supporting phase of the stride. The clinical examination revealed melanomas under the tail and on the perineum, and oedema of the proximal lame limb. A mass in the pelvic area was detected on rectal palpation. Laparoscopy was performed and the provisional diagnosis of malignant melanoma was made. Histological examination of the biopsy taken under laparoscopic control from the mass in the pelvis confirmed the diagnosis of malignant mel...
Dyson S, Marks D.New information about foot anatomy, effects of local analgesia, and advances in diagnostic imaging (ultrasonography, nuclear scintigraphy, MRI, CT, and endoscopy) has opened the way for more specific diagnoses of lameness. New questions have been raised, however, and some older ideas are now in doubt. This article discusses some of these findings in the light of our own clinical experiences as they relate to diagnosis of the causes of foot pain.
Turner TA.The examination of the foot must be based on observations of the hoof, followed by a careful determination of areas of pain. This must be followed by an assessment of the biomechanical forces on the hoof and limb. Finally, imaging gives insight into the nature of the injury and allows the examiner to prognosticate the outcome.
Dabareiner RM, Carter GK.In conclusion, horses with heel or navicular area pain vary, and no one treatment option is suitable for all horses. Each horse must be evaluated individually to determine which structure in the palmar aspect of the foot is injured, severity of disease, horse and hoof conformation, and horse use and level of performance expectation before a treatment plan can be developed. Overall, there are many treatment options to help these horses to perform their intended athletic event.
Moens Y, Lanz F, Doherr MG, Schatzmann U.To study the analgesic potency of the alpha2-agonist romifidine in the horse using both an electrical current and a mechanical pressure model for nociceptive threshold testing. In addition, a comparison was made with doses of detomidine and xylazine that produce equivalent degrees of sedation. Methods: Randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded cross-over study. Methods: Six adult Swiss warmblood horses, one mare and five geldings, weighing from 530 to 650 kg and aged 6-15 years. Methods: Nociceptive thresholds were measured using an electrical stimulus applied to the coronary band and using a pn...
Olbrich VH, Mosing M.To evaluate and compare the effects of caudal epidural administration of methadone (METH) and lidocaine (LIDO) on tolerance to thermal stimulation over the dermatomes of the perineal, sacral, lumbar and thoracic regions in the horse. Methods: A blinded, randomized, prospective, experimental cross-over study. Methods: Seven healthy horses, 15.7 +/- 4.9 years (mean +/- SD) of age, weighing 536 +/- 37 kg. Methods: The horses were randomly assigned to receive two treatments (group M: METH, 0.1 mg kg-1 or group L: LIDO, 0.35 mg kg-1) at intervals of at least 28 days. An 18-gauge 80-mm Tuohy epidura...
Murrell JC, Johnson CB, White KL, Taylor PM, Haberham ZL, Waterman-Pearson AE.To identify changes in the amplitude spectrum of the electroencephalogram (EEG) during a standardized surgical model of nociception in horses. Methods: Thirteen entire male horses and ponies referred to Division of Clinical Veterinary Science, Bristol (n = 9) and Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (n = 4) for castration. Methods: Following pre-anaesthetic medication with acepromazine, anaesthesia was induced with guaiphenesin and thiopental and maintained with halothane in oxygen. The EEG was recorded continuously using subcutaneous needle electrodes. Additional monitoring comprised EC...
Price J, Catriona S, Welsh EM, Waran NK.To develop a method for objective assessment of equine post-operative pain. Methods: Prospective nonblinded clinical study. Methods: Twelve adult horses: Group 1 (G1, n = 6), admitted for arthroscopy (under general anaesthesia, with multimodal analgesia); Group 2 (G2, n = 6), 'pain free' controls. Methods: Horses were filmed continuously (CVI, time-lapse video recorder) over 72 hours, from 24 hours pre-surgery (PS) to 48 hours post-recovery (PR) (G1), and over 24 hours (G2). Activity budgets were determined from 24 to 0 hours PS, 0-24 and 24-48 hours PR (G1) and for 24 hours (G2). Using direct...
Swinebroad EL, Dabareiner RM, Swor TM, Carter GK, Watkins JP, Walker M, Schmitz DG, Honnas CM.To determine clinical, radiographic, and scintigraphic abnormalities in and treatment and outcome of horses with trauma-induced osteomyelitis of the proximal aspect of the radius. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 5 horses. Methods: Data collected from the medical records included signalment; history; horse use; degree of lameness; radiographic, ultrasonographic, and scintigraphic findings; treatment; and outcome. Results: Duration of lameness prior to referral ranged from 14 to 60 days. Mean severity of lameness was grade 3 of 5, and all horses had a single limb affected. All horses had ...
Seino KK, Foreman JH, Greene SA, Goetz TE, Benson GJ.Capsaicin is a local substance P depleter with dramatic analgesic effects. We tested the hypothesis that the topical application of capsaicin ointment over the palmar digital nerves would attenuate the clinical effects of a reversible model of equine foot lameness. Seven healthy adult horses shod unilaterally with adjustable heart bar shoes were studied in a crossover design for 2 weeks. Grade 5.0/5.0 lameness (nonweight bearing) was induced by tightening the adjustable heart bar shoe. One hour later, capsaicin ointment was applied over the medial and lateral palmar digital nerves 3 cm proxima...
López-Sanromán J, Cruz J, Santos M, Mazzini R, Tabanera A, Tendillo FJ.The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the alkalinization on the local analgesic efficacy of 1% ketamine in the abaxial sesamoid nerve block in horses. Thirty-six mature healthy horses were randomly assigned to four groups for the following treatments; an abaxial sesamoid block with 5 mL of saline solution (control saline); an abaxial sesamoid block with 5 mL of a solution containing 1% ketamine (KETs 1%); an abaxial sesamoid block with 5 mL of a solution containing saline solution and 0.5 mEq of sodium bicarbonate (control bicarbonate); and an abaxial sesamoid block with ...
Maxwell LK, Thomasy SM, Slovis N, Kollias-Baker C.Although fentanyl has been reported to cause CNS excitation in horses, a transdermal therapeutic system (TTS) containing this mu agonist has recently been used empirically in equine medicine to treat moderate to severe pain. A better understanding of the disposition of fentanyl following transdermal administration would facilitate the clinical use of TTS fentanyl to obtain analgesia in horses. Objective: To determine the pharmacokinetics of fentanyl following i.v. and TTS patch administration in healthy, mature horses and to evaluate the tolerance of horses to TTS fentanyl administration. Meth...
Schumacher J, Schumacher J, Gillette R, DeGraves F, Schramme M, Smith R, Perkins J, Coker M.Analgesia of the palmar digital (PD) nerves has been demonstrated to cause analgesia of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint as well as the sole. Because the PD nerves lie in close proximity to the navicular bursa, we suspected that that analgesia of the navicular bursa would anaesthetise the PD nerves, which would result in analgesia of the DIP joint. Objective: To determine the response of horses with pain in the DIP joint to instillation of local anaesthetic solution into the navicular bursa. Methods: Lameness was induced in 6 horses by creating painful synovitis in the DIP joint of one f...
Bolt DM, Burba DJ.A pregnant 9-year-old Peruvian Paso mare was evaluated because of a fracture involving the left radius. On examination, grade IV/V lameness of the left forelimb was observed; radiography of the limb revealed a longitudinal oblique displaced fracture that extended from the caudal cortex of the radial mid-diaphysis into the humeroradial joint. To minimize the development of degenerative joint disease in the humeroradial joint, repair with internal fixation was recommended. A dynamic compression plate was applied to the cranial aspect of the radius; three 2-mm stainless steel cable cerclages were...
Spadavecchia C, Arendt-Nielsen L, Andersen OK, Spadavecchia L, Doherr M, Schatzmann U.To compare nociceptive withdrawal reflexes (NWRs) evoked from the distal aspect of the left forelimb and hind limb in conscious standing horses and to investigate NWR recruitment for graded electrical stimulation intensities. Methods: 20 adult horses. Methods: Surface electromyographic (EMG) activity evoked by transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the digital palmar (or plantar) nerve was recorded from the common digital extensor and cranial tibial muscles. Stimuli consisted of 25-millisecond train-of-5 constant current pulses. Current intensity was gradually increased until NWR threshold i...
Gillen A, Dyson S, Murray R.The results of nuclear scintigraphic examination of the thoracolumbar synovial intervertebral articulations (facet joints) have to date been poorly documented. Objective: To establish an objective scintigraphic grading system for the facet joints; to investigate the relationship between the presence or absence of clinical signs of back pain and increased radiopharmaceutical uptake (IRU); and to compare the results of scintigraphy and radiography. Methods: Nuclear scintigraphic images of the 13th thoracic (T13) to first lumbar (L1) vertebrae were graded subjectively (visual assessment of the im...
Gee EK, Firth EC, Morel PC, Fennessy PF, Grace ND, Mogg TD.To assess the relationship between the radiographic and microscopic appearance of the physeal regions of the distal third metacarpal (Mc3) and metatarsal (Mt3) bones of Thoroughbred foals at 160 days of age, and to clinically assess changes in contour of the distal Mc3 and Mt3 physeal regions from birth to 160 days of age. To assess relationships between maximum clinical physis scores and age, time of year, foal's sex, condition score, growth rate, copper (Cu) concentration in the liver of the foal, and supplementation of the dam with Cu in late gestation. Methods: Dams were given Cu (n=5 and ...
Biggi M, Dyson S.Distal border fragments of the navicular bone can be seen in lame and nonlame horses and their clinical significance remains open to debate. Objective: To describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of distal border fragments and the adjacent navicular bone. To investigate the relationship between fragments and other abnormalities of the navicular bone and the distal sesamoidean impar ligament (DSIL). Methods: Horses were included if pain causing forelimb lameness was localised to the foot and high-field MR images were acquired. The size and location of distal border fragments wer...
Torcivia C, McDonnell S.Vaccinations via intramuscular injection are a key component of preventative health care in horses. Development of problematic behavioral aversion to injections is quite common. Our clinical impression has been that topical anesthetic applied to injection sites can reduce the behavioral reaction; however, this has not been critically tested. To blindly evaluate efficacy, either 5% or 10% topical lidocaine solution or 0% control was applied to injection sites for 78 ponies two minutes before intramuscular vaccination. Mean reaction scores on a scale of 0-3 were 0.84 (se 0.18) for 5% lidocaine s...
Markel MD, Orsini JA, Gentile DG, Freeman DE, Tulleners EP, Harrison IW.Four horses operated on for left dorsal displacement of the large colon (LDDLC) had major intraoperative or postoperative complications. One horse was euthanatized during surgery because of extensive necrosis of the large colon. Three horses that were discharged after surgical correction of LDDLC were readmitted with signs of abdominal pain between 5 weeks and 13 months after surgery. Two horses had recurrence of LDDLC, and the third horse had an omental adhesion attached to and obstructing the pelvic flexure. The displacements were corrected, the adhesion was broken down, and the horses were ...
Norman TE, Chaffin MK, Johnson MC, Spangler EA, Weeks BR, Knight R.Five horses were evaluated because of severe cutaneous burn injuries following a barn fire. Gross hemolysis and morphologic changes in RBCs consistent with oxidative damage were detected in all of the horses. Of these horses, 4 became azotemic. The overall goals of treatment included wound care, correction of dehydration and provision of diuresis, control of inflammation, pain management, and prophylaxis against sepsis. After treatment, 2 horses survived and were discharged from the hospital. Red blood cell damage and hemolysis following cutaneous burn injury have been investigated in other sp...
Kamerling SG.The recognition and alleviation of animal pain is a growing veterinary and public concern. Pain can be of an acute or chronic nature with different behavioral manifestations. Physiologically, pain is a dynamic and complex phenomenon that produces changes in the central and autonomic nervous systems as well as in the endocrine system. Horses and other animals appear to possess an endogenous pain-suppressing system involving the brainstem and spinal cord. This system can modulate pain perception and the responses to it. The recently discovered endogenous opioid peptides (endorphins and enkephali...
Pagliara E, Nicolo A, Rossi C, Cammaresi C, Donadio G, Bertuglia A.Perineural anaesthesia is an essential part of lameness investigation in horses. Painful reactions to injections imply a high risk of accidents for veterinarians. To evaluate the efficacy of two topical anaesthetic creams on desensitization of the skin at two perineural injection sites and to evaluate the effects these formulations may have on pain perception distally to the application sites. Randomized, blind, prospective study. 14 healthy horses were randomly divided in two groups of 7 horses each, one treated with EMLA and one with PLIAGLIS preparations. The mechanical nociceptive thresh...
Ducharme NG, Lowe JE.Based on the clinical impression and the current knowledge of the clinical variables (rectal examination, abdominal distention, abdominal fluid, intractable pain) most likely to differentiate between medical and surgical cases, three decision trees are provided as a guide to making the management decision in a horse with abdominal pain. Prior elimination of horses with limited life expectancy because of age or function or where financial constraints are present is understood. It must be emphasized that most of the information presently available originates from referral centers where the preva...
Moorman VJ, Reiser RF, Peterson ML, McIlwraith CW, Kawcak CE.To determine kinematic changes to the hoof of horses at a trot after induction of unilateral, weight-bearing forelimb lameness and to determine whether hoof kinematics return to prelameness values after perineural anesthesia. Methods: 6 clinically normal Quarter Horses. Methods: For each horse, a sole-pressure model was used to induce 3 grades (grades 1, 2, and 3) of lameness in the right forelimb, after which perineural anesthesia was administered to alleviate lameness. Optical kinematics were obtained for both forelimbs with the horse trotting before (baseline) and after induction of each gr...
Douglas H, Midon M, Shroff K, Floriano D, Driessen B, Hopster K.The placement of caudal epidural catheters in horses has become more frequent as a multi-modal analgesic strategy. Despite its integration into clinical practice, there are limited reports describing the use of caudal epidural catheterization for prolonged use in horses. The purpose of this study was to characterize the hospitalized caseload undergoing epidural catheterization for long-term epidural analgesic administration, to report the response to epidural therapy and observed complications, and to describe patient outcomes. Medical records of hospitalized equine patients that underwent pla...
Murer S, Polidori G, Beaumont F, Bogard F, Hakim H, Legrand F.Pudendal Neuralgia (PN) is a rare, debilitating disease caused by damage to the pudendal nerve, which innervates the anus, rectum, perineum, lower urinary tract, and genitalia. Although its etiology remains scientifically unknown, a number of sports practices, including horse-riding, are reported as triggering and/or aggravating factors. The present work summarizes the experimental measurements of the contact pressure at the interface between the rider and saddle, for a population of 12 experienced female riders. These tests reveal that dynamic horseback-riding leads to high levels of peak pre...
Kettner NU, Parker JE, Watrous BJ.A 2-week-old Morgan filly examined because of lameness of 5 days' duration was found, on the basis of clinical and radiographic findings, to have septic physitis of the distal end of the radius. The foal was treated by means of intraosseous regional perfusion with penicillin and amikacin and systemic administration of antimicrobials. Intraosseous regional perfusion was performed 3 times. The foal was anesthetized for the first episode of intraosseous regional perfusion, but was only sedated for the subsequent 2 episodes. Antimicrobials were administered systemically for 22 days. Foals with sep...
Tucker R, Parker RA, Meredith LE, Hughes TK, Foote AK.To describe the surgical removal of intra-articular loose bodies (LBs) from the cervical articular process joints (APJs) in five horses and to describe the outcome of the surgery. Methods: Short case series. Methods: Five client-owned horses with naturally occurring LBs within the cervical APJs. Methods: Medical records were reviewed of horses that were diagnosed with LBs of the cervical APJs on computed tomography (CT), where the LBs were subsequently removed surgically. Details of case selection and surgical technique were reviewed along with postoperative complications and clinical outcome....
Honnas CM, Schumacher J, Kuesis BS.A 6-month-old 300-kg Quarter Horse filly was treated for septic arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint and septic navicular bursitis that developed as a result of a deep puncture to the foot. Initial treatment consisted of establishing ventral drainage for the navicular bursa, lavage of the distal interphalangeal joint, and administration of broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Because of continuing sepsis in the distal interphalangeal joint, subsequent treatment included packing the defect in the bottom of the foot with cancellous bone in an att...
Gonzalez GA, Betbeze C, Wills R, Eddy A, Mochal-King C, Fontenot RL.To evaluate corneal sensitivity and adverse events following subconjunctival administration of three local anesthetics in horses. Methods: Randomized, masked, crossover study. Methods: Twelve healthy adult mares. Methods: The subconjunctival space of the treated eye was injected with 0.2 mL of liposomal bupivacaine (1.3%), ropivacaine (0.5%), or mepivacaine (2%). All horses received each medication once and the contralateral eye received saline (control). Corneal touch threshold (CTT) was measured using a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer before sedation, after sedation, and at specified intervals...
Ross MW.Safe, effective surgery can be performed in the standing, conscious horse using a combination of mechanical and chemical restraint. Clear indications for performing standing abdominal surgery exist, but many procedures are best performed under general anesthesia. The preferred approach involves a modified grid incision of the left paralumbar fossa. Flank celiotomy allows the surgeon to thoroughly explore the abdominal cavity, but few structures can be exteriorized, and visibility of abdominal contents is poor. Indications for standing abdominal surgery include diagnosis of abdominal masses, dr...
Martín-Cuervo M, Gracia LA, Vieitez V, Jiménez J, Durán E, Ezquerra LJ.A 16-year-old, Lusitanian stallion was admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a 12-hour history of signs of abdominal pain. Exploratory celiotomy was performed due to an inguinal hernia, and a second celiotomy was performed in response to the abdominal pain. The horse was euthanized and mesenteric venous thrombosis was diagnosed and considered likely due to peritonitis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Un étalon Lusitanien âgé de 16 ans a été admis à l’hôpital d’enseignement vétérinaire avec une anamnèse de 12 heures de douleurs abdominales. Une coel...
Pucket JD, Allbaugh RA, Rankin AJ, Ou Z, Bello NM.To compare efficacy and duration of effect on corneal sensitivity of 0.5% proparacaine hydrochloride, 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride, 2% lidocaine hydrochloride, and 2% mepivacaine hydrochloride solutions following ocular administration in clinically normal horses. Methods: 68 clinically normal horses. Methods: 60 horses were assigned to receive 1 anesthetic agent in 1 eye. For each of another 8 horses, 1 eye was treated with each of the anesthetic agents in random order with a 1-week washout period between treatments. Corneal sensitivity was assessed via corneal touch threshold (CTT) measurem...
Sammut EB, Kannegieter NJ.Intra-articular injection of sodium monoiodoacetate (MIA) was investigated as an agent for chemical arthrodesis of the distal hock joints in the horse. Five horses diagnosed with either spavin (three horses), a small tarsal bone fracture or a failed surgical arthrodesis, had 150 mg of MIA injected into the tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint of the affected hock(s). Eight joints were treated in the five horses. Follow-up evaluation by clinical and radiological examination took place over 9 to 14 months. Two of the five horses were sound at the conclusion of the study and one horse, although lame after...
Thomsen LN, Berg LC, Markussen B, Thomsen PD.Cervical synovial folds have been suggested as a potential cause of neck pain in humans. Little is known about the extent and characteristics of cervical synovial folds in horses. Objective: The objective of this explorative study was to determine the frequency of synovial folds in equine cervical articular process joints and to provide a characterisation of the size and morphology of the synovial folds. Methods: Equine cervical articular process joints from 6 horses were included in the study, ranging from cervical vertebra 2 (C2) to cervical vertebra 7 (C7) bilaterally. The articular process...
Kim HT, Gim TJ, Lee JH.A 53-year-old man had chronic low back and leg pain for four years without any history of trauma or neurological manifestations. There was a reduction in symptoms after a lumbar epidural block. Two hours later after the procedure, the patient complained of perineal numbness and lower extremity weakness. The neurological evaluation revealed loss of sensation in the saddle area and the posterior aspect of the leg. The deep-tendon reflexes were decreased in the leg. The patient was unable to urinate. The MRI revealed a schwannoma at the S3 level of the sacral spine with cauda equina compression. ...
Bonilla AG, Smith KJ.A 4-month-old Standardbred colt was examined because of a fractured right calcaneus of 8 days' duration with increased distraction of the fracture fragment evident on sequential radiographs. Results: The foal was severely lame with diffuse periarticular tarsal swelling. Radiographically, a complete, displaced long oblique fracture of the right calcaneal body was evident. Because the fracture gap was increasing with time and lameness remained severe, despite medical management, surgical repair was recommended. Results: The foal was anesthetized, and minimally invasive fracture reduction and int...
Anderson K, Morrice-West AV, Walmsley EA, Fisher AD, Whitton RC, Hitchens PL.Musculoskeletal injuries are observed in Thoroughbred racehorses and may become catastrophic. Currently, there are limited methods for early detection of such injuries. Most injuries develop gradually due to accumulated damage, providing the opportunity for early detection. Horses experiencing pain or lameness may exhibit changes in behaviour so the development of an objective, real-time system monitoring horse behaviour may enable detection of bone injuries before catastrophic failure. Objective: To determine whether intensive observational methods of assessing horse behaviour can be replaced...
Reed RA, Knych HK, Barletta M, Sakai DM, Ruch MM, Smyth CA, Ryan CA.To compare the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of hydromorphone in horses after intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) administration. Methods: Randomized, masked, crossover design. Methods: A total of six adult horses weighing [mean ± standard deviation (SD))] 447 ± 61 kg. Methods: Horses were administered three treatments with a 7 day washout. Treatments were hydromorphone 0.04 mg kg IV with saline administered IM (H-IV), hydromorphone 0.04 mg kg IM with saline IV (H-IM), or saline IV and IM (P). Blood was collected for hydromorphone plasma concentration at multiple time points for ...
Tofflemire K, Whitley EM, Allbaugh R, Ben-Shlomo G, Griggs A, Strong T, Whitley RD.To evaluate the effect of topical ophthalmic 0.005% latanoprost alone and in combination with 0.1% diclofenac on healthy horses. Methods: Twelve healthy adult horses. Methods: A randomized, masked crossover design was used with horses divided into three groups for once daily treatment in one randomly selected eye. For arm 1 of the study, Group D (n = 3) received 0.1% diclofenac, Group L (n = 3) received 0.005% latanoprost, and Group DL (n = 6) received 0.005% latanoprost and 0.2 ml of 0.1% diclofenac. For arm 2 of the study, horses from Group D and L were placed into Group DL and horses from G...
Skarda RT, Muir WW.Six adult horses were used to compare the effects of segmental epidural analgesia (SEA) and segmental subarachnoid analgesia (SSA). A 17-gauge Huber point directional needle was used to place a catheter with stylet into the epidural space or the subarachnoid space at the lumbosacral intervertebral junction and to catheterize the thoracolumbar epidural or subarachnoid space. The position of the catheter was confirmed radiographically. A 2% solution of mepivacaine hydrochloride was used at average doses of 80 mg (4 ml) to produce SEA and 30 mg (1.5 ml) to produce SSA. Onset of analgesia in respo...
Swaab ME, Mendez-Angulo JL, Groschen DM, Ernst NS, Brown MP, Trumble TN.A circumferential hoof clamp method to induce controlled and reversible lameness in the forelimbs of eight horses was assessed. Peak vertical forces and vertical impulses were recorded using a force plate to verify induced lameness. Video recordings were used by blinded observers to determine subjective lameness using a 0-5 scale and any residual lameness following clamp loosening. Tightening of clamps resulted in consistent, visible lameness in the selected limbs in all horses. Lameness was confirmed by significant decreases from baseline in the peak vertical force (P <0.01). Lameness wa...
van Zadelhoff C, Ehrle A, Merle R, Jahn W, Lischer C.Impinging processi spinosi in the equine thoracic spine are a common cause of poor performance in the horse. A modified semiquantitative scintigraphic image analysis has been proposed for the evaluation of equine processi spinosi. This technique showed a high inter- and intraobserver agreement when compared to subjective and semiquantitative image analysis. The aim of this retrospective, method comparison study was to evaluate the agreement of the modified semiquantitative scintigraphic image assessment with previous methods of interpretation and to compare these scintigraphic evaluation techn...
McKibbin LS, Cheng RS.This study showed that subcutaneous injection of a solution of D-amino acids produced effective analgesia in horses. It is postulated that systemic D-phenylalanine and D-leucine may become one of the safe, effective and nonaddictive drugs for acute and chronic pain treatment. These D-amino acids cause analgesia by presumably preserving brain endorphins. They may bind reversibly to enkephalinases and prevent enzymatic degradation of enkephalins.
