Veterinary care in horses encompasses the medical and preventive measures taken to maintain and improve the health and well-being of equine patients. It includes a wide range of practices such as routine health examinations, vaccinations, dental care, parasite control, and management of injuries and diseases. Veterinary care also involves diagnostic procedures, surgical interventions, and therapeutic treatments tailored to the specific needs of horses. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of equine veterinary care, including advancements in diagnostic techniques, treatment protocols, and health management strategies to support the well-being and performance of horses.
Frisbie DD, Stewart MC.Joint disease is a major cause of wastage in performance horses. Arthritis can be challenging to treat because articular cartilage has little or no capacity for repair, therapeutic options are limited and are largely targeted at ameliorating clinical signs of joint disease. Cell-based therapies have potential to overcome the intrinsic constraints to articular cartilage repair. This article focuses on cell-based therapies for treatment of equine joint disease. Results from experimental model and human clinical studies are presented along with available data from equine studies.
Alves AG, Stewart AA, Dudhia J, Kasashima Y, Goodship AE, Smith RK.Tendon and ligament injuries have proved difficult to treat effectively. Cell-based therapies offer the potential to harness the complex protein synthetic machinery of the cell to induce a regenerative response rather than fibrous scarring. This article reviews the current state of play with respect to the clinically used cell preparations for the treatment of tendon and ligaments overstrain injuries.
Nemoto M, Yamanaka T, Bannai H, Tsujimura K, Kondo T, Matsumura T.Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) was applied to the detection of equine influenza virus (EIV). Because equine influenza is caused currently by EIV of the H3H8 subtype, the RT-LAMP primer set was designed to target the hemagglutinin gene of this subtype. The detection limit of the RT-LAMP assay was a virus dilution of 10(-5); which was 10(3) times more sensitive than the Espline Influenza A&B-N test and 10 times more sensitive than a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. The specificity of the RT-LAMP assay was examined by usin...
Erber R, Wulf M, Rose-Meierhöfer S, Becker-Birck M, Möstl E, Aurich J, Hoffmann G, Aurich C.In this study, effects of weaning on behavioral and physiological stress parameters in young horses (foals) were determined. Foals were weaned either simultaneously without the presence of adult horses (group A, n = 6), or in the presence of two adult females familiar but unrelated to the foals (group B, n = 5), or weaned consecutively by removing two mother horses per day (group C, n = 6). Behavior, locomotion, salivary cortisol concentration, beat-to-beat (RR) interval, heart rate variability (HRV) and weight were determined. Group A foals lost weight for 2 days (mean ± SEM) - 8.3Â...
Carpenter R, Baxter G.Injuries involving the pastern region are a common source of lameness in many types of performance horses. Knowledge of the common breed- and activity-associated injuries can aid veterinarians in making an accurate diagnosis because injuries of the pastern region are often breed- or use-specific. The differential diagnosis for disorders of the pastern region includes osteoarthritis, osteochondrosis, fractures, infection, and soft tissue injuries. In general, soft tissue injuries of the pastern region can be difficult to diagnose, and affected horses have a reasonable chance of returning to the...
Curling A.Equine recurrent uveitis has traditionally been treated with medical management to reduce ocular inflammation and control pain during a single episode. Newer management methods include surgical options such as cyclosporine implantation and vitrectomy. These methods were developed not only to control inflammation but also to eliminate the underlying cause of uveitis in order to prevent recurrence.
Scherzer J.Mares can be artificially inseminated with chilled or frozen semen to increase the revenue from their offspring. Embryo transfer can be used to produce more than one foal from a single mare per season. Recent advances in using equine follicle-stimulating hormone to induce superovulation in mares have stimulated research on preserving equine embryos. Equine embryos are usually collected on day 7 or 8 after ovulation, and younger (day 6.5) embryos are typically cryopreserved. Cryopreservation improves the ability of veterinary clinicians to preserve embryos for implantation in recipient mares an...
Waguespack RW, Taintor J.The paranasal sinus system of horses is complex, comprising six pairs of sinuses. Disease processes that can develop in the sinuses include ethmoid hematomas, cysts, neoplasia, and bacterial and fungal infections. Horses that develop paranasal sinus disease vary widely in age. A significant number of clinical conditions involving the paranasal sinuses require a combination of diagnostic tests to determine the specific pathologic process. Because of the anatomic location of the paranasal sinuses and associated chronic conditions that affect many patients, many disease processes involving the pa...
Curling A.Equine recurrent uveitis has traditionally been treated with medical management to reduce ocular inflammation and control pain during a single episode. Newer management methods include surgical options such as cyclosporine implantation and vitrectomy. These methods were developed not only to control inflammation but also to eliminate the underlying cause of uveitis in order to prevent recurrence.
Boyle A.Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (strangles) is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection in horses. The infection is transmitted by inhalation or direct contact with mucopurulent discharge from an infective animal, resulting in fever, depression, and submandibular and retropharyngeal lymph node enlargement that can lead to respiratory distress. Complications include purpura hemorrhagica and metastatic abscessation. Control of outbreaks requires strict isolation protocols and hygiene measures. Detection of carriers is essential for preventing disease recurrence on a farm.
Dixon PM, Parkin TD, Collins N, Hawkes C, Townsend NB, Fisher G, Ealey R, Barakzai SZ.The historical and clinical findings in 200 referred cases of equine sinus disease were reviewed retrospectively. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to detect significant differences in historical or clinical features between various categories of sinus disease. The causes of sinus disease were classified as subacute primary (less than two months duration) (n=52), chronic primary (more than two months duration) (n=37), dental (n=40), sinus cyst (n=26), traumatic (n=13) or mycotic sinusitis (n=7), sinus neoplasia (n=10), dental-related oromaxillary fistula (n=8) and intrasinu...
Cocchia N, Paciello O, Auletta L, Uccello V, Silvestro L, Mallardo K, Paraggio G, Pasolini MP.Endometritis is the most important cause of infertility in barren mares. The quick method of endometrial cytology (EC) has a relatively high reliability in diagnosing endometrial inflammation in the mare. For reliable cytological results, a collection technique that yields many well-preserved cells representative of a large uterine surface area without causing harm to the reproductive tract is required. The aim of the study was to compare three usually employed techniques for collection of endometrial and inflammatory cells (guarded cotton swab, uterine lavage, and cytobrush) in chronically in...
Firth EC, Rogers CW, van Weeren PR, Barneveld A, McIlwraith CW, Kawcak CE, Goodship AE, Smith RK.This study recorded the response to training of the diaphysis of the proximal phalangeal bone and the third metacarpal bone (Mc3) and the Mc3 proximal metaphysis. Nineteen 2- and 3-year old horses in training were exposed either to spontaneous exercise at pasture (PASTEX group) or additional imposed exercise (CONDEX group) from a very young age. Quantitative computed tomography scans were analysed for bone mineral content, size, bone mineral density, periosteal and endosteal circumference, cortical thickness and an estimate of bone strength. The bones of the CONDEX horses were bigger and stron...
Wright IM, Minshall GJ.Injuries of the calcaneal insertions of the superficial digital flexor tendon and their relationship to displacement of the tendon from the calcaneus have not previously been reported. Objective: To describe findings made on clinical cases with disruption of the calcaneal insertions of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) including observations on their role in horses with unstable subluxation of the tendon. To describe novel surgical techniques and the results of treatment. Objective: Disruption of the calcaneal insertions of the SDFT is associated with lameness and distension of the ...
Maddox TW, Pinchbeck GL, Clegg PD, Wedley AL, Dawson S, Williams NJ.The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria such as antimicrobial-resistant and extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli represents a significant problem for human and veterinary medicine. Despite this, the risk factors for faecal carriage of such bacteria by horses in the UK, particularly those in the wider community, have not been well described. Objective: To characterise the risk factors for faecal carriage of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli amongst horses in the mainland UK. Methods: A cross-sectional study of horses recruited by 65 randomly selec...
Smith MR, Wright IM.Diagnostic navicular bursoscopy has been described in limited cases. Review of greater numbers is needed to define its contribution to case management and prognostic values. Objective: To report: 1) clinical, diagnostic and endoscopic findings in a series of cases, 2) surgical techniques and case outcomes and 3) prognostic values. The authors hypothesise: 1) lameness localising to the navicular bursa is commonly associated with dorsal border deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) lesions, 2) endoscopy allows extent of injuries to be assessed and treated, 3) case outcome relates to severity of DDFT ...
Upjohn MM, Shipton K, Pfeiffer DU, Lerotholi T, Attwood G, Verheyen KL.To establish baseline parameters of equine health, owner knowledge and husbandry practices and tack against which benefits to local horses arising from an equine charity's training programme in Lesotho could be measured. Objective: To describe and investigate associations between owner knowledge and equine husbandry practices, horse health and tack-related parameters prior to the start of the training programme. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in the catchment area of students attending the first training course. Owners from randomly selected villages were interviewed about ho...
McCoy AM, Goodrich LR.Annular ligament desmotomy is commonly performed in horses with chronic tenosynovitis. Previously reported tenoscopic techniques have limitations related to haemorrhage and awkward instrumentation. Radiofrequency (RF) energy affords precision and excellent haemostasis and may be a good alternative to sharp transection of the annular ligament in horses. Objective: To describe a technique for using a RF probe for tenoscopic-guided annular ligament desmotomy and to report the clinical outcome of horses in which it was performed. Methods: Cadaver specimens (n = 14) and live horses undergoing unrel...
Major DA.This paper describes a protocol for hygiene practices that was devised by a practice in which all veterinarians were involved on a daily basis in visiting infected premises, including sampling, treatment of clinical cases and general veterinary work. This protocol was strictly followed when attending an infected or at risk property.
Major DA, Jones B.We describe the behaviour of equine influenza (EI) virus infection in a naïve population as observed by equine veterinary practitioners. The clinical signs displayed by infected horses and the highly contagious nature of the disease are discussed, as well as the treatment and management of infected horses.
Minke JM, El-Hage CM, Tazawa P, Homer D, Lemaitre L, Cozette V, Gilkerson JR, Kirkland PD.The results of an accelerated immunisation schedule for horses used as part of the emergency response plan to contain and eradicate equine influenza in Australia in 2007 is described. The horses studied were vaccinated with a recombinant canarypox-vectored vaccine (ProteqFlu®, Merial) with a shorter interdose interval. Vaccinated horses included foals aged less than 4 months.
Chiavaccini L, Hassel DM, Shoemaker ML, Charles JB, Belknap JK, Ehrhart EJ.The black walnut extract (BWE) model of equine laminitis is associated with a systemic inflammatory response manifest by increased expression of inflammatory cytokines in the lungs and liver as well as the laminae. The specific role of the gastrointestinal tract in development of this response is unclear and is of utmost importance, as gastrointestinal disease and laminitis are intimately related. We investigated calprotectin expression and epithelial and endothelial apoptosis in the colon of horses exposed to orally administered BWE. Sections of colon from 19 horses including 7 controls not e...
Barrell EA, Kamm JL, Hendrickson DA.A 7-year-old mixed-breed stallion was admitted because of colic. Results: Entrapment of the left colon in the renosplenic space was diagnosed via rectal palpation and ultrasonographic examination, despite a renosplenic space ablation 6.5 years earlier. Results: The renosplenic entrapment was corrected with a combination of phenylephrine administration, rolling, and ballottement of the horse's abdomen during general anesthesia. The following week, left flank laparoscopic renosplenic space ablation was performed with the horse standing. On examination of the previous surgical site, only 4 bands ...
Labelle AL, Hamor RE, Townsend WM, Mitchell MA, Zarfoss MK, Breaux CB, Thomasy SM, Hall T.To determine types and frequency of ophthalmic lesions detected in neonatal foals evaluated for nonophthalmic disease at 3 veterinary referral hospitals and to investigate associations between systemic and ophthalmic diseases in these foals. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study. Methods: 70 foals < 30 days old. Methods: Complete ophthalmic examinations were performed. Signalment, clinical signs, mentation during ophthalmic examination, results of clinicopathologic tests, and diagnosis of systemic disease were recorded. Descriptive data analysis including a χ(2) test for associations was...
Pearson W, Lindinger M.Nutraceuticals are increasingly applied to the management of equine arthritis and joint disease, particularly those based upon glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate. While the first report of using glucosamine in horses appeared more than 25 years ago, it was not until 1992 that isolated studies began to be reported. Since that time, 15 in vivo papers have been published in the equine literature, usually on products already commercially available and often seeking evidence for efficacy. These studies demonstrate an encouraging trend to manufacturers of these products investing in research, but ...
Bienert A, Bartmann CP, von Oppen T, Poppe C, Schiemann V, Deegen E.Isofluorane is a modern, only slightly depressive inhalation anaesthetic with excellent pharmacologic characteristics in use in equine medicine. In contrast to halothane, isofluorane is hardly broken down in the liver, but is eliminated by the lung. It low solubility in blood permits excellent control of anaesthesia. However, due to its swift elimination from the organism there is heightened risk of premature recovery from isofluorane anaesthesia. In this study the recovery phases of 96 horses were monitored for its duration and the animals' physical coordination. The horses were divided into ...
Dabareiner RM, White NA.A 9-year-old Thoroughbred was evaluated for clinical signs of acute abdominal pain. During laparotomy, a rent in the diaphragm and herniation of the small intestine into the thoracic cavity were detected. Because edges of the rent were smooth and fibrous, which suggested the defect was chronic, the abdomen was closed without repairing the rent. After recurrence of clinical signs, a second laparotomy was performed, during which the intestines were found to have reherniated. The diaphragmatic rent was repaired, using a polypropylene mesh secured with stainless steel staples. The horse recovered ...
Papich MG.Antibiotics will always be needed in horses for many types of infections, but the adverse consequences also must be considered. For the conditions described in this article, there is justification for antibiotic therapy. The intestinal problems that antibiotics can induce are among the risks from their administration to horses. Disruption of the endogenous bacterial population, colitis, and diarrhea are the most common complications from antibiotic therapy.
Wentink GH.The dynamics of the hind limbs of the horse and dog at walk are compared. The kinematics were studied by electromyography of animals walking on a moving belt, and by cinephotography in horses walking on the ground and in dogs walking on a moving belt and on the ground.
This study reveals that: 1) the retraction of the hoof or foot relative to the hip at the end of the support phase is less in the horse than in the dog; 2) the change in the sense of the movements of the hind limb segments at the end of the support phase and at the beginning of the swing phase occurs earlier in the horse (55â...
Smith MRW, Corletto FC, Wright IM.Thirty years have elapsed since the last published review of outcome following fracture of the proximal phalanx in Thoroughbred racehorses in the UK and contemporary results are needed to be able to advise of expected outcome. Objective: Collect and analyse outcome data following repair of fractures of the proximal phalanx in Thoroughbred racehorses in the UK. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Case records of all Thoroughbred racehorses admitted to Newmarket Equine Hospital for evaluation of a parasagittal fracture of the proximal phalanx during a 5 years period were reviewed. Follo...
Bracun A, Ellis AD, Hall C.Ophthalmic examination in the horse is generally limited to crude assessment of vision and screening for ocular lesions. The refractive state of equine eyes and the potential impact on vision and performance requires further investigation. Objective: To assess the refractive state of a large, mixed-breed sample of horses and ponies in the United Kingdom (UK). Methods: The refractive state of both eyes of 333 horses and ponies was determined by streak retinoscopy, and the effect of age, height, gender, breed and management regime on the refractive state assessed. Results: Emmetropia was found i...
Romagnoli N, Zannoni A, Bernardini C, Gobbetti T, Bombardi C, Rambaldi AM, Morini M, Dondi F, Rinnovati R, Lambertini C, Spadari A.Proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor for trypsin and mast cell tryptase; it is highly expressed at the intestinal level with multiple functions, such as epithelial permeability and intestinal motility. The aim of the study was to evaluate the distribution and expression of proteinase-activated receptor 2 in the small intestine during herniation through epiploic foramen. In this prospective clinical study, eight horses admitted for colic and which underwent exploratory laparotomy were considered. During surgery, the jejunum or the ileum was sampled by enterectom...
Bergström K, Grönlund U.Detection of nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in horses in Sweden has increased attention on infection control (IC) in equine hospitals. This study established baseline data on IC programmes within such settings, evaluated compliance with some IC procedures before and after an education intervention, and examined barriers to compliance.The study was carried out between 2008 and 2011 in four Swedish equine hospitals. Data on current IC of each hospital, purchase data on hand sanitisers and disposable gloves per patient, and direct observations of compliance with...
Schumacher J, Honnas C, Smith B.Primary paranasal sinusitis complicated by inspissated exudate within the ventral conchal sinus was diagnosed in five horses. Clinical signs included a unilateral, foul-smelling, mucopurulent nasal exudate of 2 to 7 months' duration. Two of the horses had partial nasal obstruction from distortion of the ventral concha. Radiographs of the skull showed a mass of soft tissue density dorsal to the roots of the superior third and fourth or fourth and fifth cheek teeth. Treatment included bone flap maxillary sinusotomy with exposure of the ventral nasal concha and removal of inspissated exudate. Res...
Taylor M, Agho K, Stevens G, Raphael B.This short report summarises data on the prevalence of high psychological distress in horse industry participants during the 2007 Australian equine influenza (EI) outbreak and the statistical analysis undertaken to identify the factors associated with this high psychological distress. In addition, follow-up data collected 1 year later are reported briefly.
Hamond C, Martins G, Bremont S, Medeiros MA, Bourhy P, Lilenbaum W.The purpose of the present study was to detect the presence of DNA of pathogenic Leptospira sp. in vaginal fluids of mares regarding a possible role of the sexual transmission. A total of 134 breeding mares from four troops were studied and sampling was conducted from vaginal fluids and urine for culture and PCR; and blood for serology. From the 134 serum samples tested, 59 (44%) were seroreactive, and serovar Bratislava was the most frequent (54.2%). None positive culture was obtained, but leptospiral DNA was detected by PCR (lipL32 gene) in 45 (33.5%) urine samples and 43 (32%) vaginal fluid...
Simpson DJ, Greenwood RE, Ricketts SW, Rossdale PD, Sanderson M, Allen WR.In 1981 a trial was conducted on 6 Newmarket Thoroughbred stud farms into the use of real-time ultrasound echography (scanning) as an aid to the early diagnosis of pregnancy in the mare. The procedure was found to be practicable and interpretation of the findings was relatively straightforward. Pregnancy was positively diagnosed from as early as 14 days after ovulation and a number of twin pregnancies were recognized, some in which the conceptuses were situated in separate horns of the uterus but an almost equal number in which the conceptuses were together in the same horn. It was concluded t...
Van Wyk JA, Van Wijk EF.This paper is apparently the first report of resistance of helminths of equids to anthelmintics in South Africa. While a strain of Cyathostominae from an Arab horse stud near Pretoria showed greatly reduced susceptibility to benzimidazoles in faecal egg reduction tests, ivermectin was apparently still unaffected. It is suggested that integrated methods of control such as alternation of horses and ruminants on pasture and mechanical removal of faeces should be used in addition to anthelmintics.
Walker VA, Dyson SJ, Murray RC.Development of core muscle strength is important for training and during rehabilitation following injury. A Pessoa training aid (PTA) is a system of ropes and pulleys which is commonly used during equine training and rehabilitation, but there is limited information on its effectiveness. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of the PTA on the temporal, linear and angular kinematics of the working trot. Influence of testing order on effect of a PTA was assessed in four horses. Twelve riding horses were lunged at working trot on a 16 m diameter circle without (WO) and with a PTA ...
Varner DD.Subfertility can be a confusing term because some semen of good quality can have reduced fertility following cooled transport if the semen is processed in an improper manner. General procedures aimed at processing stallion semen for cooled transport are well described. An array of factors could exist in reduced fertility of cool-transported semen. This article focuses on centrifugation techniques that can be used to maximize sperm quality of stallions whose semen is intended for cooled transport. Clinical cases are also provided for practical application of techniques.
Grimes JA, Wallace ML, Schmiedt CW, Parks AH.To compare surgical models for teaching enterotomies to students. Methods: Prospective, randomized study. Methods: Second-year veterinary students (n = 59) and faculty surgeons/surgery residents (n = 19). Methods: Participants performed an enterotomy on each of 3 models (equine cadaver intestine, SurgiReal small intestine simulator, and SynDaver canine bowel) and completed a survey comparing them to either an enterotomy on an anesthetized pig (students) or intestinal surgery experience (faculty/residents). Surveys results were compiled and analyzed. Results: Both student and faculty/resident g...
Costa MHDS, Medeiros PR, Melo UP, de Souza RF, da Silva GEL, Ferreira C, de Assis DB, da Silva LP, de Brito EL.Horse owners are crucial in recognizing colic because they are responsible for identifying the signs of colic and deciding whether to seek veterinary intervention. Common reasons for delayed response to clinical issues include lack of understanding or knowledge of the subject and difficulty in recognizing subtle clinical signs of abdominal pain. Examining horse owners' basic knowledge of colic, their motivations, obstacles in seeking veterinary care, and their responses to the various clinical symptoms manifested during colic will identify current knowledge gaps and decision-making barriers. T...
Davies M, Jackson KA, Mackinnon AL, Turner A, Kuznik K, Hill J, Newton JL, Sanchez Santos M.There are limited injury data in professional horse racing, particularly by sex. To describe injury incidence, characteristics and falls in male and female, flat and jump jockeys in Great Britain. Retrospective cohort study of professional jockeys in Britain. 245 jockeys licensed between 2007 and 2017. The primary outcome measure was injury on a race day. Injury incidence (per 1000 rides; per 1000 falls) was derived. Incidence-rate ratios (IRR) were calculated to compare incidence between flat and jump racing, male and female jockeys, and male flat and male jump jockeys for: (i) injury inciden...