Therapeutic intervention for horses encompasses a range of treatments and management strategies aimed at addressing various health conditions and enhancing overall equine well-being. These interventions may include pharmacological treatments, physical therapies, surgical procedures, and alternative therapies such as acupuncture and chiropractic care. The selection of appropriate therapeutic interventions is guided by the specific needs of the horse, the nature of the condition being treated, and evidence-based practices. This topic includes a collection of peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the efficacy, methodology, and outcomes of different therapeutic interventions in equine medicine.
Robinson RC.Most practitioners will have experienced the
frustration encountered in the treatment of sprains
of the flexor tendons and suspensory ligaments
of racehorses. After apparent recovery, the
damaged structure will often break down again
when the horse returns to hard training. Milne
(1960), Reed (1962), Jubb and Kennedy (1963)
and Hickman (1964) have written detailed ac-
counts of the pathology of tendon injuries and the
mechanism of repair of tendon tissue. These
writers substantiate that when a tendon is
sprained, there is a tearing or rupture of some of
the tendon fibres, varying i...
Navarrete F, Wong YS, Cabezas J, Riadi G, Manríquez J, Rojas D, Furlanetto Mançanares AC, Rodriguez-Alvarez L, Saravia F, Castro FO.Equine endometrial and adipose mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs and aMSCs, respectively) were isolated from the same donors of thoroughbred mares. The cells displayed characteristic features of MSCs, including trilineage mesodermal and also neurogenic differentiation. We evaluated the influence of cellular origin on their transcriptome profile. Cellular RNA was isolated and sequenced and extracellular vesicles (EVs) were obtained from conditioned medium of cells cultured in medium depleted of EVs, and their microRNA (miRNA) cargo analyzed by sequencing. Differential expression of mRNAs and EV-miR...
Wijnberg ID, van der Kolk JH.Atrial fibrillation is a disorder of cardiac rhythmicity, and its importance in the horse depends on the underlying cause and the function of the horse. Before the decision is taken to start treatment, it has first to be ascertained whether treatment is worthwhile and whether the horse is an appropriate candidate for treatment. This article gives a short overview of current opinion on the cause and treatment of atrial fibrillation in the horse. The most used treatment at the moment, oral chinidine sulphate, is discussed. The hemodynamic consequences of atrial fibrillation and the response of a...
Zbanyszek M, Procajło A, Stopyra A, Sobiech P, Rajski K.Colic in horses very often induces changes in the coagulation system causing the development of disseminated intravascular clotting. It is promoted by blood concentration and an increase in exposition of coagulation activators with a simultaneous decrease in coagulation inhibitors activity, mainly antithrombin III. Progressing blood platelets aggregation supports production of microthromboses and plugging capillary vessels. The progression of this processes causes complications in basic disease and becomes the reason for therapeutic failure. Determination of coagulation system indexes such as ...
Reilly PT, van Eps A, Stefanovski D, Pfau T.Horseshoes with modified contact surfaces combined with deformable ground substrates are used to change hoof orientation during mid-stance, for example, for therapeutic reasons. Objective: To measure the effect of horseshoes and ground substrates on sagittal and transverse plane hoof orientation at mid-stance using a dorsal hoof wall mounted triaxial accelerometer. Methods: In vivo experiment, randomised crossover design. Methods: Differences in sagittal and transverse plane angles between standing and mid-stance of the left front hoof of six horses walking with regular horseshoes, egg bar, to...
Coomer RPC, Terschuur JA, Pressanto MC, Walker I.To assess the efficacy of commercial intra-articular blood-derived allogeneic-induced mesenchymal stem cells (CIMSCs) to treat tarsometatarsal lameness in horses. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Methods: Records from 167 adult light breed horses with bilateral tarsometatarsal lameness. Methods: Horses with tarsometatarsal lameness were retrospectively selected from medical records. Diagnosis followed subjective graded lameness assessment before and after intra-articular analgesia, with graded radiographic tarsal examination. Horses were excluded if they were diagnosed or treate...
Ritmeester AM, Blevins WE, Ferguson DW, Adams SB.Nuclear scintigraphy was used to assess digital perfusion before and after treatment in 10 horses with clinical and radiographic evidence of chronic laminitis. Horses were evaluated for lameness, degree of distal phalanx rotation, and heel-toe hoof wall growth ratio, and randomly divided into two treatment groups. Group 1 horses received only egg bar-heart bar shoeing; Group 2 underwent egg bar-heart bar shoeing and coronary grooving. Horses were re-evaluated for digital perfusion, lameness, degree of distal phalanx rotation, and hoof wall growth at 6 week intervals over the 18 week follow-up ...
Minshall GJ, Wright IM.To describe the presentation, clinical, ultrasonographic and endoscopic features associated with a defect in the tarsal sheath wall, to define the cavity created and to describe a method of treatment. Objective: So called 'false thoroughpins' can be caused by defects in the tarsal sheath wall creating a one way valve effect, removal of which could be therapeutic. Methods: Case records and diagnostic images of horses with synoviocoeles associated with the tarsal sheath were reviewed retrospectively and follow-up information obtained. Results: Synoviocoeles were diagnosed in 15 horses. All were ...
Zhang L, Franchini M, Wehrli Eser M, Jackson EK, Dip R.Several reports have suggested a role for adenosine in the pathogenesis of chronic airway conditions and this has led to new therapeutic strategies to limit airway inflammation. In this study, detectable levels of adenosine in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from 11 horses with non-infectious lower-airway inflammation and 14 healthy controls are reported, with significantly higher values in horses with airway inflammation. Although these increased levels did not correlate with changes in neutrophil percentage in BAL, a positive association between adenosine levels and signs of lower airwa...
van Dyk E, Immelman A, van Heerden JS.After isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from endometrial biopsies of 6 mares they were treated with amikacin sulphate. Three were treated by intra-uterine application of the drug, in one the drug was given by intramuscular injection, in another the intravenous route was used while in the last mare simultaneous local and intravenous treatment was applied. An intra-uterine Tris-EDTA instillation preceeded the uterine amikacin instillations to aid in the breakdown of the capsule around the bacterium. Serum concentrations of amikacin were determined after intravenous and intramuscular administra...
Ridgway K.Concepts of acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine are presented for clarity and contrast to Western medical concepts. Various acupuncture techniques and methods are discussed including dry needling, electroacupuncture, acupuncture using hypodermic needles, and injecting various solutions into the acupuncture sites. Potential complications and precautions are also presented. A type of chronic back pain is discussed that is possibly associated with a radiculopathically induced, hypersensitivity myofascial syndrome that presents as a fibromyalgia-like syndrome. Effective acupuncture treatme...
Lee DF, Everest DJ, Cooley W, Chambers MA.Equine asthma, previously known as Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO) or Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD), is an often-debilitating condition that may severely affect both performance and quality of life. Research is hindered by the low sample numbers of subjects recruited to studies, a consequence in part of the invasive nature of the sampling methods of bronchial brushing and biopsy. We present an alternative method of sampling equine airway epithelial cells, the 'nasal brush method' (NBM). Obtained by light brushing of the ventral meatus whilst the horse is under standing sedation, these c...