Treatments for horses encompasses a range of medical and therapeutic interventions aimed at maintaining or restoring equine health. This field involves the use of pharmaceuticals, surgical procedures, and alternative therapies to address various conditions affecting horses. Common treatments include the administration of anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and vaccines, as well as physical therapies and nutritional management. Research in this area focuses on evaluating the efficacy, safety, and outcomes of different treatment modalities. This page collects peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methods, advancements, and clinical outcomes associated with equine treatment practices.
Denny HR, Barr AR, Waterman A.A series of 25 horses with olecranon fractures are reviewed. Twenty-one cases were treated surgically by the application of a tension band plate to the caudal aspect of the ulna. Seventy six per cent of these regained full limb function. The results of treatment are compared with two other series of conservatively and surgically treated cases.
Markel MD, Snyder JR, Hornof WJ, Meagher DM.Nuclear scintigraphy was used to evaluate healing of third metacarpal bone (MC III) fractures in 2 horses (horses 1 and 2) and a third metatarsal bone fracture in 1 horse (horse 3) after stabilization of each fracture with 2 broad dynamic compression plates. In horse 1, the fracture had uniform uptake of 99mTc methylene diphosphonate on days 1, 15, and 30 after surgery. The fracture healed, and the horse was discharged from the clinic on day 52. In horse 2, a 6-cm photopenic region (ie, area of low radioactivity) was seen over the diaphysis of MC III on day 3. The region persisted and became m...
Vandermyde CR, DiPietro JA, Todd KS, Lock TF.Fifteen pony foals were inoculated with 1,500 +/- 298.7 infective Parascaris equorum eggs. The foals were assigned to 3 treatment groups. Treatments included 10 mg of fenbendazole/kg given once on postinoculation day (PID) 11, 10 mg of fenbendazole/kg given daily on PID 11 to 15, and no treatment (controls). The foals were euthanatized on PID 25 and examined for P equorum larvae in the small intestine, lungs, and liver. Significantly (P less than 0.05) lower mean numbers of P equorum larvae were found in the small intestine of foals treated on PID 11 to 15 (1.4 [range, 0 to 6]) than in the sma...
Martin BB, Klide AM.Fifteen horses that could not train or perform their sport at an acceptable level because of chronic back pain of 2 to 24 months' duration, and that did not obtain lasting improvement from other previous treatments, were treated with acupuncture. The treatments consisted of injection of 1 ml of sterile saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, with no preservatives, at 9 acupuncture points. The horses were treated once a week for a mean of 9 treatments. The mean number of treatments before obvious improvement was 4. After treatment, 13 of the 15 horses had apparent alleviation of their signs of pain and co...
Caprile KA, Short CR.Rational drug therapy in the foal requires a sound knowledge of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of various drugs as well as a thorough understanding of the physiologic differences that exist between the neonate and the adult and that may serve to alter drug disposition and, therefore, drug response. A summary of these physiologic factors with emphasis on the foal is presented and is followed by recommendations regarding the applied therapeutics of various antimicrobial agents.
Markel MD, Richardson GL, Peterson PR, Meagher DM.Three adult horses were admitted with chronic coronary band avulsions of 2-, 3-, and 46-month durations, respectively. The hoof had a typical appearance in all 3 horses, with a spur of coronary band and associated horn growing at right angles to the hoof wall. Each horse was anesthetized, and the coronary band was reconstructed. Follow-up evaluation of the 3 horses (12, 15, and 23 months after surgery, respectively), revealed healing of all 3 avulsed coronary bands. Mild roughening of the hoof wall distal to the previous avulsion site was observed.
Wilson DG, Peyton LC, Wolf G.Three horses with equine sarcoids were treated with radical surgical excision and immediate split-thickness skin grafts. Graft take ranged from 50 to 100%, and the epithelial coverage attained resulted in an early functional repair. In no instance was there a recurrence of the sarcoid.
Bertone AL, McIlwraith CW, Jones RL, Norrdin RW, Radin MJ, Lebel JL.To evaluate the effects of 5 treatments on clinical responses, synovial fluid analysis, radiographic changes, bacteriologic culture results of the synovial fluid and synovial membrane, microscopic characteristics of the synovial membrane, and articular cartilage histochemistry, Staphylococcus aureus organisms (1.6 X 10(6) colony-forming units) were inoculated into the tarsocrural joints of 12 horses (n = 24 joints; 2 joints/horse). Each horse was given phenylbutazone (2 g) orally, every 24 hours, beginning 24 hours after inoculation. Two horses (ie, 4 joints) were not given other treatment (co...
Andersson B, Augustinsson O, Bademo E, Junkergård J, Kvart C, Nyman G, Wiberg M.The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the potential value of intravenous (i.v.) infusion of angiotensin II (AII) for phonocardiographic differential diagnosis of equine valvular insufficiency. Ten-minute AII infusions at 4.5-33 pmol kg-1 min-1 induced clear-cut dose-dependent rises in systemic arterial blood pressure (aBP), whereas the pulmonary aBP remained largely unaffected. It implies that i.v. infusion of AII at about 10 pmol kg-1 min-1 could be a valuable tool for the acoustic differentiation between mitral and tricuspid valvular dysfunction in the horse. The infusion at, and abov...
Schamhardt HC, Merkens HW.A method was developed to quantify the ground reaction force pattern of the horse. A number of selected force amplitudes and peak-time positions in the normalized stance phase of left and right contralateral limbs were used to calculate symmetry indices. Data from each limb were compared with those of a 'standard horse' resulting in limb indices. The combination of amplitude and peak-time symmetry and limb indices yielded one H(orse)INDEX. These indices were useful for comparison of different horses and for the evaluation of lameness and treatment.
Soma LR, Beech J, Gerber NH.The effect of disodium cromoglycate (cromolyn) in preventing the pulmonary dysfunction caused by the inhalation of barn and hay dust was studied in 5 horses with confirmed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The horses were studied before (Con) and after exposure to hay and dust allergens (Expos) and after pretreatment with cromolyn followed by exposure (Cr-Expos). There was a significant reduction in PaO2 from 86.8 +/- 8.3 to 73.1 +/- 8.8 when the horses were exposed to hay and dust allergens. The PaO2 after pretreatment with cromolyn and exposures was 78.1 +/- 5.5. There were no si...
Duchamp G, Bour B, Combarnous Y, Palmer E.Injection of hCG (2000-2500 i.u., i.v.) to mares when a follicle reaches 35 mm induces ovulation between 24 and 48 h. However, repeated injections induce antibodies against hCG. We report attempts to induce ovulation without this inconvenience. We called 'response' an ovulation between 24 and 48 h after treatment. The typical response to hCG was obtained in 73% (N = 145) of treated mares. After immunization against hCG, the response (0%, N = 10) was less than in nonimmunized controls (100%, N = 9). Simultaneous injection of dexamethasone and hCG resulted in induction of ovulation (71%, N = 14)...
O'Callaghan MW, Hornof WJ, Fisher PE, Rabbe OG.This study describes the development of a radioaerosol technique for horses using 99mtechnetium-DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentacetate). In 24 normal, adult horses, very satisfactory ventilation images were obtained with the technique. Four-minute administrations of the aerosol resulted in a mean uptake of radioactivity in the lung fields of 3.02 mCi, with mean maximum counts (+/- sd) of 159,800 +/- 75,000 per camera field. The mean clearance half-time for the 99mtechnetium-DTPA from the lung fields was 55.6 +/- 14.2 mins which is very similar to figures obtained for normal human and dog lungs. T...
Nixon AJ.An arthroscopic technique for examination and surgical treatment of conditions of the shoulder joint was evaluated in eight normal horses and two horses with osteochondrosis lesions. A single arthroscope entry point caudal to the infraspinatus tendon allowed inspection of the cranial, lateral, and caudal surfaces of the shoulder joint. With the humeral head and glenoid cavity distracted by a curved forceps, the entire cartilage surface of the shoulder could be examined. The caudomedial portion of the humeral head was seen better with a 70 degree angled arthroscope. Instruments for intra-articu...
Wood JM, Baum HP, Bews JP, Wachsmuth ED, Heusser C, Hofbauer KG.In this study, the hypotensive efficacy of R-3-36-16, a monoclonal antibody against human kidney renin, was investigated during chronic administration to a primate. R-3-36-16 was given by continuous intraperitoneal infusion with osmotic minipumps to normotensive marmosets fed a low-sodium diet in doses of 30 or 300 micrograms/kg/day for 14 days. The lower dose had no effect on blood pressure (BP) or plasma renin activity (PRA). After two days of treatment, the higher dose reduced PRA by 57% and lowered BP by 13 +/- 7 mm Hg. Although the hypotensive response persisted after 14 days of treatment...
Mahaffey EA, Moore JN.In vitro erythrocyte agglutination developed in 3 hospitalized horses receiving heparin treatment. The agglutination caused artifactual decreases in erythrocyte counts and increases in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) values. Treatment of cell suspensions with trypsin eliminated the agglutination and the changes in erythrocyte count and MCV. Similar abnormalities in erythrocyte counts and MCV have been reported in healthy horses treated with heparin and have been cited as evidence of hemolysis and regenerative anemia.
Vachon A, Bramlage LR, Gabel AA, Weisbrode S.To determine the effect of subchondral bone drilling (forage) on the cartilage repair process after injury has occurred, a cartilage defect (1 cm in diameter) was created on the radial facet of the proximal surface of each third carpal bone in 6 adult horses. In one of the third carpal bones (right or left thoracic limb) of each horse, a 1-cm cartilage defect was created, and 5 holes (1 mm in diameter and 10 mm deep) were drilled through the subchondral bone into the cancellous bone. In the other thoracic limb, an identical defect was created, but not drilled. Analyses of cell numbers and type...
Wright IM.The technique of navicular suspensory desmotomy for the treatment of navicular disease is described and the rationale behind its development is discussed. To date 16 horses involved in a clinical evaluation of the technique have been assessed six months after surgery. Thirteen of these horses are able to work without lameness.
Sexton WL, Erickson HH.Cardiopulmonary responses of four ponies were monitored during standard exercise tests (SET), before and after beta-adrenergic receptor blockade with propranolol. The SET consisted of four 5 min increments of increasing speed from 1.0 to 2.8 m/sec on a treadmill at a 7 degrees incline. Data were collected at rest, throughout the SET and recovery. Administration of propranolol to ponies at rest had no effect on cardiopulmonary function. During the SET, increases in heart rate, mean pulmonary artery flow velocity (an index of cardiac output) and right ventricular dP/dt (an index of myocardial co...
Squires EL, Garcia RH, Ginther OJ, Voss JL, Seidel GE.Sixty light-horse, nonlactating mares were used to compare the efficacy of equine pituitary extract versus follicle stimulating hormone (FSH-P) for inducing multiple ovulations. On Day 12 of diestrus, mares were assigned to receive 1) no treatment, controls; 2) subcutaneous injections of 750 Fevold rat units of equine pituitary extract once daily; or 3) intramuscular injection of 150 mg of FSH-P twice daily. Ultrasound was used twice daily to visualize follicular changes and ovulation. For mares in Groups 2 and 3, treatment was initiated when two or more follicles > 20 mm were detected, and...
Chaffin MK, Cohen ND.To determine whether administration of commercially available Escherichia coli antiserum to neonatal foals would affect serum IgG concentration or morbidity and mortality rates during the first 60 days of life. Methods: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: 271 neonatal foals on 4 well-managed farms. Methods: Foals were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. All foals were allowed to suckle colostrum normally. In addition, treatment-group foals were given E coli antiserum (10 micromilligrams) orally between 0 and 8 hours after birth. Serum samples were obtained between 18 and 36 ho...
Ross WA, Kaneene JB, Caron JP, Gallagher KF, Gardiner JC.The objective of this study was to identify factors that may affect recovery from and duration of a case of lameness in a stratified random sample of Michigan horses. This was done using data from Phase-II of the Michigan equine monitoring system (MEMS Phase-II), the equine health-monitoring study [Kaneene et al., Prev. Vet. Med. 29 (1997b) 277-292; Ross and Kaneene, Prev. Vet. Med. 28 (1996a) 209-224; Ross and Kaneene, Prev. Vet. Med. 29 (1996b) 59-75; Ross et al., Am. J. Vet. Res. 59 (1997) 23-29]. In this study, statistical modelling was conducted to evaluate risk factors affecting recovery...
Little D, Keene BW, Bruton C, Smith LJ, Powell S, Jones SL.A 49-kg (107.8-lb) sexually intact male Arabian foal was evaluated at 3 days of age because of profuse watery diarrhea, anorexia, and signs of abdominal pain. Physical examination findings were unremarkable except for evidence of diarrhea. A catheter was placed in the right jugular vein for administration of antimicrobials and lactated Ringer's solution. The foal was discharged with instructions to the owner to continue antimicrobial administration and fluid therapy; at home, the owner inadvertently cut the catheter at the level of the hub during attempted removal, and the catheter fragment mi...
Brokken MT, Schneider RK, Tucker RL.To describe a surgical approach for the removal of nonarticular base sesamoid fragments in performance horses and to report the outcome. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Horses (n=11), 7 months to 10 years of age, with lameness because of nonarticular base sesamoid fragments. Methods: Lameness was localized to the metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal region by clinical examination or response to diagnostic local anesthesia. Radiographs confirmed the diagnosis of a nonarticular base sesamoid fragment. Surgical removal was performed with an incision over the base of the affected sesamoi...
Quinteros DD, García-López JM, Provost PJ.To report the clinical outcome in seven horses following use of a newly described surgical technique for treating caecal impaction. Methods: The medical records of seven horses with caecal impaction treated surgically using a stapling technique to create a complete caecal bypass without ileal transection were reviewed. Data were obtained from the records and through telephone interviews with case-associated personnel. Results: The mean age was 10 years (range 2-22 years) and duration of colic ranged from 24 h to 2 weeks. Five horses had type II motility dysfunction and the remaining two had ty...
Govaere JL, Hoogewijs MK, de Schauwer C, Dewulf J, de Kruif A.Embryo reduction of unilateral twin vesicles is normally successful before fixation of the vesicles. After fixation, however, it becomes a challenge, and the later in the gestation period that the reduction is performed, the greater the challenge. One therapy to reduce a twin into a singleton pregnancy is the transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration (TUGA) of one of the vesicles. The results of 35 unilateral twin reductions by TUGA are discussed in this paper and possible negative influences of age, parity and days pregnant are analysed statistically.
Elzer EJ, Bramlage LR.Outcomes have been reported for a limited number of short frontal plane fractures of the proximal phalanx following nonsurgical treatment and internal fixation. Objective: To describe a new approach, arthroscopic debridement, of short frontal plane fractures of the proximal phalanx in flat-racing Thoroughbreds and post-operative racing outcome. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: Medical records of 81 Thoroughbred racehorses treated with arthroscopic debridement for frontal plane fractures of the proximal phalanx were reviewed. Diagnostic images and operative reports were used ...
Bidwell LA.Equine anesthesia is complicated regardless of the procedure being performed. Anesthesia for the mare experiencing dystocia is complicated by the size of the fetus, positioning of the mare for the procedure, and concern over drug effect on the fetus through the neonatal period. Anesthesia of the neonate is complicated by multiple factors, specifically, sensitivity to the drugs administered. Ventilatory support, minimizing drugs administered, and minimizing anesthesia time are essential for a positive outcome.
Booth AD, Hidalgo FL, Bellezzo F, Young JM, Bianco AW, Hughes LE, Maher M, Trumble TN, Ernst N.To describe outcomes of horses with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) treated with partial ceratohyoidectomy. 10 client-owned horses. Medical records from 2 institutions were examined for records of horses with THO treated with partial ceratohyoidectomy between 2010 and 2021. History, signalment, clinical signs, diagnostics, medications, and surgery-related details were recorded. Horses with a minimum of 6 months follow-up were recruited for neurologic and imaging examinations in the hospital or field where radiography of the basihyoid-ceratohyoid articulation were performed along with CT, w...
Savage CJ, Jeffcott LB, Melsen F, Ostblom LC.Two hundred and five bone biopsies from the wing of ilium were taken from 52 growing and 70 older horses. The method was initially evaluated in 4 horses at post mortem and then performed in 26 horses under general anaesthesia. The technique was later developed for biopsying horses in the standing position under local anaesthesia (n = 70 adults; n = 22 foals). The core of the bone biopsy consisted of a central cancellous portion between two cortices. This type of sample allowed a complete histomorphometrical analysis. An integral part of the procedure was intravital bone labelling using fluoroc...
O'Neill HD, Bladon BM.There is limited information on the treatment of lateral malleolus (LM) fractures in the horse, with no previously published case series for the outcome following arthroscopic removal of such fractures. This report reviews and evaluates findings of a retrospective study of 13 horses admitted to a private equine referral hospital over a 10 year period (1999-2009) that underwent arthroscopic removal of fractures of the LM. Hospital records were reviewed and details including patient history, aetiology of the fracture and limb affected, results of all diagnostic tests and surgical reports were do...
Cooper MJ.Fluprostenol (ICI 81,008) is a 16-aryloxyprostaglandin, structurally related to PGF2alpha. It is a highly potent luteolytic agent, being effective in thoroughbred mares at a single intramuscular dose of 250 mug and having a wide margin of safety in this species. A total of 941 mares have been treated with fluprostenol in an international trial, for various forms of infertility associated with abnormal persistence of luteal function. These mares were selected for treatment on the basis of clinical examination and 760 (approximately 80 per cent) responded fluprostenol by showing oestrus within s...
Velloso Álvarez A, Sandow CB, Rodgerson DH, Spirito MA.To evaluate the short and long-term outcomes of foals treated surgically for fractured ribs and variables that may affect outcome. Methods: Retrospective. Methods: Seventy-three equine neonates with surgically repaired fractured ribs. Methods: Medical records were reviewed to include sex, breed, the side of thorax affected, number of ribs fractured, co-morbidities directly associated with rib fracture, and surgical technique used. Short-term outcome was defined as survival to discharge. Long-term outcome was whether or not they started a race. Race records of maternal siblings were obtained fo...
Squires EL, Garcia RH, Ginther OJ, Voss JL, Seidel GE.Sixty light-horse, nonlactating mares were used to compare the efficacy of equine pituitary extract versus follicle stimulating hormone (FSH-P) for inducing multiple ovulations. On Day 12 of diestrus, mares were assigned to receive 1) no treatment, controls; 2) subcutaneous injections of 750 Fevold rat units of equine pituitary extract once daily; or 3) intramuscular injection of 150 mg of FSH-P twice daily. Ultrasound was used twice daily to visualize follicular changes and ovulation. For mares in Groups 2 and 3, treatment was initiated when two or more follicles > 20 mm were detected, and...
Lammers TW, Roussel AJ, Boothe DM, Cohen ND.To evaluate the effect of an indwelling nasogastric tube on gastric emptying of liquids in horses. Methods: 9 healthy adult horses. Methods: A randomized block crossover design was used. For treatment group horses, a nasogastric tube was placed and 18 hours later, acetaminophen was administered; the nasogastric tube remained in place until the experiment was complete. For control group horses, a nasogastric tube was passed into t stomach, acetaminophen was administered, and the nasogastric tube was removed immediately. Serial blood samples were collected 15 minutes before and after administrat...
Bülow A, Bülow T, Mill J, Dietz O.Painful interventions can be performed on horse in standing position by means of sedative analgesia, also called standing-position anaesthesia. Combinations of anaesthetics are quite often used, in that context, for the purpose of producing analgetic effects stronger and more reliable than those that would be obtainable from one anaesthetic alone. The following combinations were comparatively tested for their analgetic and sedative effects and their effects upon the organism: Chloralhydrate with Ursonarkon (oxazolidone), Chloralhydrate with Rompun (xylazine), Chloralhydrate with morphine hydro...
Light GS, Hellyer PW.We investigated the influence of parasympathetic tone on the arrhythmogenic dose of dobutamine in horses premedicated with xylazine, anesthetized with guaifenesin and thiamylal, and maintained on halothane in oxygen. Six horses were used in 12 randomized trials. In each trial, after end-tidal halothane concentration was stabilized at 1.1% (1.25 times minimum alveolar concentration [MAC]) in oxygen, either saline solution (0.02 ml/kg of body weight) or atropine (0.04 mg/kg) was administered IV. Five minutes later, dobutamine infusion was started at dosage of 2.5 micrograms/kg/min, IV. The dobut...
Blikslager AT, Tate LP, Weinstock D.Effects of neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser irradiation on equine endometrium were evaluated in vitro and in six mares with endometrial cysts. The Nd:YAG laser was applied to six endometrial sites, in each of five uterine specimens, with power densities of 5659 to 33,954 J/cm2. Depth of tissue ablation was measured and graded on histologic sections of the tissue lesions. Power density had a significant effect on the depth of tissue ablation (p < .001). Grade 3 lesions (full-thickness ablation of the endometrium) were created with energy densities of 16,977 to 33,954 J/cm2. Six ...
Andersson B, Augustinsson O, Bademo E, Junkergård J, Kvart C, Nyman G, Wiberg M.The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the potential value of intravenous (i.v.) infusion of angiotensin II (AII) for phonocardiographic differential diagnosis of equine valvular insufficiency. Ten-minute AII infusions at 4.5-33 pmol kg-1 min-1 induced clear-cut dose-dependent rises in systemic arterial blood pressure (aBP), whereas the pulmonary aBP remained largely unaffected. It implies that i.v. infusion of AII at about 10 pmol kg-1 min-1 could be a valuable tool for the acoustic differentiation between mitral and tricuspid valvular dysfunction in the horse. The infusion at, and abov...
Ratajczak K, Kiełbowicz Z.Prolonged operation or a current need to improve intraoperative conditions, while anaesthesia is still on, may require applying controlled ventilation (CV). The purpose of this study was to evaluate cardiovascular effects of such a decision. Seven halothane-anaesthetized horses were the subject of our investigation, at first kept spontaneous ventilation (SV), then they were connected to respirator. After 30' CV, SV was restored and anaesthesia was continued. In those three stages of experiment haemodynamic parameters and gasometry were measured. It was found that during CV period both optimal ...
Stevens KA, Caruso JC, Fallahi AKM, Patiño JM.Since initial reports suggesting primary tendon repair as possible and even desirable emerged in the 1960s, significant advancements in the understanding of flexor tendon anatomy, biology, mechanisms of response to injury, and methods of repair, have been made. Recent research highlights enhanced improvements in operative techniques and rehabilitative care that have made primary flexor tendon repair a preferred operative approach for lacerations and can successfully achieve a reliable flexor tendon repair site, optimizing digital motion. The formative goals of surgical treatment for lacerated ...
Busschers E, Richardson DW, Hogan PM, Leitch M.To describe the characteristics of unilateral mid-body proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) fractures, to determine factors associated with the outcome of horses after surgical repair, and to describe a technique for arthroscopically assisted screw fixation in lag fashion. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Horses (n=25) with unilateral mid-body PSB fracture. Methods: Medical records (1996-2006), radiographs, and arthroscopic videos of horses with surgically repaired unilateral mid-body PSB fractures were reviewed. Retrieved data included signalment, affected limb and PSB, fracture character...
Hoffman AM, Viel L, Staempfli HR, Muckle CA, Yager JA.One indication for referral of horses to veterinary hospitals is for diagnosis of the microbiologic cause of pneumonia, particularly when the initial treatment fails. Although endoscopic methods have long been available for microbiologic sample collection, accuracy of these methods under these conditions have not been studied in detail. We compared the bacteria isolated from samples obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) with those obtained by protected catheter brush (PCB) from foals with unilateral pneumonia induced by inoculation with Klebsiella pneumoniae. As part of previously described...
O'Callaghan MW, Sanderson GN.A method for performing bronchography in standing nonanaesthetized horses was developed. Bronchography was performed by insufflating the previously intubated trachea with a mixture of 120 to 200 g of finely powdered barium sulphate mixed with 3 to 7 g of powdered methyl cellulose. The mixture was delivered from an ether vaporiser into which compressed air was blown. Premedication with atropine sulphate immediately before insufflation minimised bronchoconstriction. Satisfactory bronchograms with contrast visible down to the seventh and eighth bronchial divisions were obtained in 80 per cent of ...
Furniss C, Carstens A, Cilliers I.A 12-year-old, grey, crossbred pony mare was presented with a swelling in the neck over the area of the 2nd cervical vertebra (C2), which was found to be painful on palpation. The neck was held stiffly. Radiography of the cervical region showed a focal area of increased radio-opacity over the dorsal, caudal and lateral aspect of the dorsal spinous process of C2. Ultrasound confirmed the presence of a hypoechoic area approximately 15 cm in diameter superimposed over the dorsal spinous process of C2. An aspirate was taken of the mass, which revealed purulent exudate confirming the diagnosis of a...
Galey FD, Twardock AR, Goetz TE, Schaeffer DJ, Hall JO, Beasley VR.Twelve horses, with acute laminitis (primarily in the forefeet) at 12 hours after intragastric dosing with an aqueous extract of black walnut (Juglans nigra) heart-wood, were studied. The distribution of perfusion of blood to the foot and to outlined regions within the foot was quantified, using gamma scintigraphy of regionally infused 99mTc-labeled macroaggregated albumin, before and 12 hours after extract administration. Horses 1 to 3 were not studied further. Perfusion was quantified again for horses 4 to 12 at 84 hours after extract administration. At the onset of acute laminitis, horses 7...
Pilsworth RC, Holmes MA, Shepherd M.A fracture of the pelvis in a horse can be detected scintigraphically by probe point counting. However, the pelvis is covered by a large and variable muscle mass, and is close to the urinary bladder, both of which can introduce errors. This paper describes an improved technique which uses a larger set of sampling points and analyses the data with a small computer to construct a three dimensional graph of the gamma-ray output across the pelvis, thus helping to improve the interpretation of the data. The scintigraphic plot from a normal horse, three cases of fracture (confirmed by radiography, u...
Moore RM, Couto CG, Muir WW, Moore BR, Kociba GJ.Twenty-four horses were randomly allocated to 3 groups. All horses underwent a ventral midline celiotomy, and the large colon was exteriorized and instrumented. Group-1 horses served as sham-operated controls, group-2 horses underwent 6 hours of colonic ischemia, and group-3 horses were subjected to 3 hours of ischemia and 3 hours of reperfusion. Baseline blood samples were collected, then low-flow colonic ischemia was induced in horses of groups 2 and 3 by reducing colonic arterial blood flow to 20% of baseline. All horses were monitored for 6 hours. Citrated systemic venous (SV) blood sample...
Denny HR.The current trends in equine fracture treatment are reviewed. Surgical approach, method of fixation, the advantages of Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (ASIF) implants and the complications of treatment are discussed with reference to 21 fracture cases. Normal limb function was restored in four horses with fractures of the olecranon and one with a mid shaft fracture of the tibia following stabilisation of the fracture with plates. A horse with a chip fracture of the distal radius and three other animals with fractures of the lateral condyle of the third metacarpal bone were also ...
Bacon Miller C, Wilson DA, Martin DD, Pace LW, Constantinescu GM.A 3-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was treated for left guttural pouch mycosis by ligation and balloon catheterization of the left internal carotid artery. Catheter advancement was shorter (10 cm) than the normally reported distance (13-15 cm), but was observed endoscopically during placement as it coursed within the internal carotid artery through the guttural pouch. The horse developed a persistently abnormal respiratory pattern after catheter placement, failed to gain consciousness, developed pulmonary edema, and died 5.5 hours postoperatively. Postmortem examination revealed an aberrant le...
