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.
Ramzan PH, Dallas RS, Palmer L.To evaluate a technique for oral extraction of fractured cheek teeth (CT) under oral endoscopic guidance. Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n = 30) with fractured CT. Methods: Medical records (April 2007-August 2010) of horses that had standing oral extraction of fractured CT under endoscopic guidance were reviewed. Results: Thirty horses (median age, 11.5 years; range, 5-23 years) had 31 fractured CT (21 maxillary, 10 mandibular) removed. Midline sagittal fractures of maxillary teeth (n = 13; 42%) were the most common type, followed by buccal or palatal (10; 32%), and transverse or multi...
Yuan Z, Gault EA, Campo MS, Nasir L.Equine sarcoids represent the most common skin tumours in equids worldwide, characterized by extensive invasion and infiltration of lymphatics, rare regression and high recurrence after surgical intervention. Bovine papillomavirus type-1 (BPV-1) and less commonly BPV-2 are the causative agents of the diseases. It has been demonstrated that BPV-1 viral gene expression is necessary for maintaining the transformation phenotype. However, the underlying mechanism for BPV-1 transformation remains largely unknown, and the cellular factors involved in transformation are not fully understood. Previousl...
McPartlin LA, Visconti PE, Bedford-Guaus SJ.Capacitation encompasses the molecular changes sperm undergo to fertilize an oocyte, some of which are postulated to occur via a cAMP-PRKACA (protein kinase A)-mediated pathway. Due to the recent discovery of cAMP-activated guanine nucleotide exchange factors RAPGEF3 and RAPGEF4, we sought to investigate the separate roles of PRKACA and RAPGEF3/RAPGEF4 in modulating capacitation and acrosomal exocytosis. Indirect immunofluorescence localized RAPGEF3 to the acrosome and subacrosomal ring and RAPGEF4 to the midpiece in equine sperm. Addition of the RAPGEF3/RAPGEF4-specific cAMP analogue 8-(p-chl...
Coomer RP, Fowke GS, McKane S.To report the technique and results of cheek teeth repulsion in standing, sedated horses. Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n = 12), ponies (6). Methods: Medical records (2006-2009) of horses that had cheek tooth repulsion while standing were reviewed. Inclusion criteria included: maxillary or mandibular cheek tooth disease diagnosed by clinical and radiographic examination where attempted oral extraction failed necessitating repulsion. Horses were sedated and a local nerve block performed. Intraoperative radiographs facilitated instrument positioning and ensured repulsion of all dental r...
Faramarzi B, Cruz AM, Sears WC.To quantify changes in hoof wall strain distribution associated with exercise and time in Standardbreds. Methods: 18 young adult Standardbreds. Methods: 9 horses were exercised 4 d/wk for 30 to 45 minutes at a medium trot for 4 months; 9 nonexercised horses served as the control group. Rosette strain gauges were used to measure the principal surface strains at the toe, lateral quarter of the hoof wall (LQ), and medial quarter of the hoof wall (MQ) of the right forefoot at the beginning and end of the experiment. Midstance maximal (msϵ1) and minimal (msϵ2) principal and peak minimal principal...
Vekens EV, Bergman EH, Vanderperren K, Raes EV, Puchalski SM, Bree HJ, Saunders JH.To provide a detailed computed tomography (CT) reference of the anatomically normal equine stifle joint. Sample-16 hind limbs from 8 equine cadavers; no horses had evidence of orthopedic disease of the stifle joints. Methods: CT of the stifle joint was performed on 8 hind limbs. In all limbs, CT was also performed after intra-articular injection of 60 mL of contrast material (150 mg of iodine/mL) in the lateral and medial compartments of the femorotibial joint and 80 mL of contrast material in the femoropatellar joint (CT arthrography). Reformatted CT images in the transverse, parasagittal, an...
Löfqvist L, Pinzke S.Most work in horse stables is performed manually in much the same way as a century ago. It is the least mechanized sector dealing with large animals. People working with horses are exposed to several types of risk for developing musculoskeletal problems, but the work tasks and workload have not been investigated in detail. The aim of this study was to estimate the postural load of the work tasks performed around horses to find those that were harmful and required measures to be taken to reduce physical strain. Altogether, 20 subjects (stable attendants and riding instructors) were video record...
Medina-Torres CE, Mason SL, Floyd RV, Harris PA, Mobasheri A.The aim of this study was to determine if hypoxia and the hypoxia mimetic cobalt chloride regulate the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 in cultures of equine hoof keratinocytes. These effects were assessed in primary cultures of laminar keratinocytes using gelatin zymography. Incubation of keratinocytes with cobalt chloride significantly increased the levels of active MMP-2 compared to untreated controls. Hypoxia significantly increased the expression of active MMP-2 and -9 in keratinocyte cultures. This up-regulation was observed after 6h and peaked at 24h. The study findin...
Videla R, Sommardahl CS, Elliott SB, Vasili A, Andrews FM.Gastric ulcers are common in horses and treatment of horses that cannot be administered oral medication can be problematic. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of esomeprazole sodium administered intravenously on gastric juice pH and gastric ulcer scores in horses. Methods: Twelve adult female Quarter Horses. Methods: Esomeprazole sodium (0.5 mg/kg IV) was administered once daily to 8 horses (treatment group) and saline (5 mL IV) was administered to 4 horses (control group) for 13 consecutive days. Gastroscopy was performed and gastric juice pH and gastric ulcer score were recorded before and ...
Funk RA, Stewart AJ, Wooldridge AA, Kwessi E, Kemppainen RJ, Behrend EN, Zhong Q, Johnson AK.Results of diagnostic tests for equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), including endogenous ACTH concentration and the overnight dexamethasone suppression test (DST), are affected by season. New and potentially more sensitive diagnostic tests for equine PPID, such as thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-stimulated ACTH response, have been developed, but have had limited evaluation of seasonality. Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate seasonal changes in plasma ACTH and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) responses to TRH administration. Methods: Nine, healthy, aged hors...
Crafford JE, Guthrie AJ, Van Vuuren M, Mertens PP, Burroughs JN, Howell PG, Batten CA, Hamblin C.A polyclonal antibody-based, group-specific, competitive ELISA (C-ELISA) for the detection of antibodies to equine encephalosis virus (EEV) was developed. The assay measures the competition between a specific guinea pig antiserum and a test serum, for a pre-titrated EEV antigen. The C-ELISA detected antibodies to the seven known EEV serotypes. Reference antisera raised against other arboviruses did not cross react with EEV antigen. Negative sera from horses in the United Kingdom were used to establish the baseline for a negative population. Negative and positive populations of South African ho...
Sankey C, Henry S, André N, Richard-Yris MA, Hausberger M.Animals' ability for cross-modal recognition has recently received much interest. Captive or domestic animals seem able to perceive cues of human attention and appear to have a multisensory perception of humans. Results: Here, we used a task where horses have to remain immobile under a vocal order to test whether they are sensitive to the attentional state of the experimenter, but also whether they behave and respond differently to the familiar order when tested by a familiar or an unknown person. Horses' response varied according to the person's attentional state when the order was given by a...
Norton JL, Nolen-Walston RD, Underwood C, Boston R, Slack J, Dallap BL.Central venous pressure (CVP) is a used as an estimation of intravascular volume status in various species. Techniques for measuring CVP in horses have been described, but the repeatability of these readings at a single time point or over time has not been established. Objective: That CVP measurements in healthy adult horses would be repeatable at each time point, that these readings would be reproducible over time, and that alteration in head position relative to the heart would alter CVP. Methods: Ten healthy adult research horses. Methods: In an experimental study, horses were instrumented ...
Watts AE, Johnson AL, Felippe MJ, Divers TJ.A Thoroughbred gelding in North America was evaluated for Actinobacillus peritonitis on three different occasions over a 4-year period. At each presentation, peritoneal fluid had an elevated nucleated cell count (220,000-550,000 cells/µL) characterised by non-degenerate neutrophils, no visible bacteria, an elevated total protein (4.6-5.5 g/dL) and bacterial culture yielding Actinobacillus spp. Actinobacillus peritonitis appears to be a regional disease occurring in Australia and less commonly in New Zealand and North America. Recurrence, other than incomplete resolution, has not been previous...
Hoet AE, Johnson A, Nava-Hoet RC, Bateman S, Hillier A, Dyce J, Gebreyes WA, Wittum TE.Concurrent to reports of zoonotic and nosocomial transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in veterinary settings, recent evidence indicates that the environment in veterinary hospitals may be a potential source of MRSA. The present report is a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of MRSA on specific human and animal contact surfaces at a large veterinary hospital during a nonoutbreak period. A total of 156 samples were collected using Swiffers(®) or premoistened swabs from the small animal, equine, and food animal sections. MRSA was isolated and identifi...
Frost AB, Lindegaard C, Larsen F, Østergaard J, Larsen SW, Larsen C.In the area of parenteral depots, a strong need exists for the development of suitable in vitro drug release models that might enable establishment of in vitro-in vivo relations (IVIVRs). Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of establishing an IVIVR between morphine disappearance from the joint cavity and in vitro release data obtained employing the rotating dialysis cell model. Methods: In vitro release experiments were conducted using the rotating dialysis cell model. For establishment of an IVIVR, data from a previous study on pharmacokinetics of intra-a...
Reed SR, Jackson BF, Mc Ilwraith CW, Wright IM, Pilsworth R, Knapp S, Wood JL, Price JS, Verheyen KL.No large scale epidemiological studies have previously quantified the occurrence of carpal, metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) joint injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses. Objective: To develop an objective classification system for carpal and MCP/MTP joint injuries and estimate the incidence of these injuries in young Thoroughbreds in flat race training. Methods: In a prospective cohort study, data on daily exercise and veterinary-diagnosed carpal and MCP/MTP joint injuries were collected from Thoroughbreds monitored since starting training as yearlings, for up to 2 years. Cases were ...
Stubbs NC, Kaiser LJ, Hauptman J, Clayton HM.In human subjects with back pain, the deep spinal stabiliser m. multifidus is inhibited ipsilaterally leading to atrophy, asymmetry and intervertebral instability. Specific physiotherapeutic exercises are required to reactivate m. multifidus. This study assesses the effect of dynamic mobilisation exercises on size and symmetry of m. multifidus in the equine caudal thoracic and lumbar spine. Objective: Regular performance of dynamic mobilisation exercises over a period of 3 months increases cross sectional area (CSA) and left-right symmetry of m. multifidus muscles in the caudal thoracic and lu...
Faramarzi B.Hoof health is a major concern of horse owners as well as the equine industry. However, many questions remain concerning regional variations of laminar junction and its potential to remodel. Objective: To examine regional variations in the morphology of the laminar junction and thickness of the hoof wall in Thoroughbred horses. Methods: The forefeet of 25 Thoroughbred cadavers were examined. Each hoof was divided into 20 blocks through 4 proximodistal slices (below the coronary band, each 1 cm apart) and 5 circumferential positions (toe, medial and lateral quarters and heels). In each block, 2...
Hudgens E, Tompkins D, Boyd P, Lunney JK, Horohov D, Baldwin CL.This report describes the cloning and characterization of expressed gene sequences of bovine, equine, and swine CXCL9 from RNA obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and other tissues. The bovine coding region was 378 nucleotides in length, while the equine and swine coding regions were 381 nucleotides. Mapping showed that all three sequences were coded for in four exons in the genome, as are the human and mouse genes. The bovine, equine, and swine coding regions shared 83%, 86%, and 84% homology with human CXCL9, respectively, and all three were 74% homologous with mouse CXCL...
Sparks HD, Nixon AJ, Boening KJ, Pool RR.To describe the clinical symptoms, treatment, and outcome of meniscal cysts in horses. These structures have not been previously described in the literature as a potential cause of lameness in the horse. Objective: Meniscal cysts are an uncommon condition of the femorotibial joint but can be a significant cause of lameness. Symptoms can be resolved by arthroscopic excision. Methods: Records of horses diagnosed with meniscal cysts and treated by cyst excision and meniscal debridement at 2 surgical practices were reviewed. Clinical outcome was determined by repeat veterinary examination and cont...
Zhang L, Franchini M, Wehrli Eser M, Dip R.Accumulation of extracellular adenosine has been closely associated with human asthmatic responses. However, the relevance of adenosine signalling in equine airways has not previously been investigated. Objective: To determine the expression of adenosine receptors (AR) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells and assess the reactivity of these cells to AR ligands ex vivo, employing IL-6 as readout of adenosinergic inflammatory signalling. Methods: Eight horses with varying degrees of lower airway inflammation and 10 healthy controls were analysed. Expression of AR-subtypes in each BAL sample was ...
Schott HC.Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a rare disorder of horses characterized by profound polyuria and polydipsia (PU/PD), which can be caused by loss of production of arginine vasopressin (AVP). This condition is termed neurogenic or central DI. DI may also develop with absence or loss of AVP receptors or activity on the basolateral membrane of collecting-duct epithelial cells. This condition is termed nephrogenic DI. Equine clinicians may differentiate true DI from more common causes of PU/PD by a systematic diagnostic approach. DI may not be a correctable disorder, and supportive care of affected hors...
Barsnick RJ, Toribio RE.Hormonal control of energy metabolism plays an important role in the peripartum development and health of the equine neonate. The endocrine system is generally functional at birth, but the maturation of the endocrine system and the associated energy metabolism is delayed and continues during the postnatal period. The energy metabolism is susceptible to disturbances, especially when illness occurs. Hormones involved in energy metabolism have recently been studied in healthy and critically ill neonatal foals. Understanding these hormones in the equine neonate will support appropriate therapeutic...
Hart KA, Barton MH.The adrenal cortices produce various steroid hormones that play vital roles in several physiologic processes. Although permanent adrenocortical insufficiency is rare in all species, emerging evidence in both human and equine medicine suggests that transient reversible adrenocortical dysfunction resulting in cortisol insufficiency frequently develops during critical illness. This syndrome is termed relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) or critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) and can contribute substantially to morbidity and mortality associated with the primary disease. ...
Toribio RE.Critical illness challenges many endocrine homeostatic systems to overcome diseases, stress, and hostile conditions that threaten survival. Coordinated and consecutive responses by the autonomic nervous system, endocrine metabolic adaptations to mobilize and conserve energy and electrolytes, cardiovascular adjustments to maintain organ perfusion, and immunomodulation to overcome infections and inflammation are required. Because most admissions to equine intensive care units are related to horses with gastrointestinal disease and septic foals, most endocrine information during critical disease ...
Breuhaus BA.Regulatory control of the thyroid gland in horses is similar to other species. Clinical signs of hypothyroidism in adult horses are minimal. Several drugs and physiologic and pathophysiological states can cause circulating thyroid hormone concentrations to be low without actual pathology of the thyroid gland. Thus, nonthyroidal factors must be ruled out before a diagnosis of hypothyroidism can be made. Thyroid hormone supplementation seems to be well tolerated, even in euthyroid horses. Neonatal foals have very high circulating thyroid hormone concentrations, and deficiencies result in signif...
Galera PD, Brooks DE.Keratomycosis in the horse exists in several unique clinical forms. This paper discusses the diagnosis and clinical management of keratomycosis in the horse associated with tear film instability, epithelial keratopathy, subepithelial infiltrates, superficial and deep ulcers, plaques, melting ulcers, descemetoceles, iris prolapse, and stromal abscesses. Prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment of equine keratomycosis can make a major difference in the maintenance of a cosmetic and visual eye.
Brunner J, Liesegang A, Weiss S, Wichert B.The aim of this study was to compare the nutritional management of show jumping horses in practice with recommendations from the literature. Additionally, the effects of these feeding practices on several blood metabolic parameters before and after exercise were studied. Blood samples were collected in the field from 27 different horses at 71 trials on the level M1 to S2 show jumping competitions in Switzerland and questionnaires on feeding practice of the studied horses were evaluated. The questionnaires revealed that during training and on tournament days horses received on average 3.1 kg o...
Sedrish SA, Moore RM, Valdes-Vasquez MA, Haynes PF, Vicek T.Pythiosis, caused by Pythium insidiosum, is a common cutaneous granulomatous disease in horses. Surgical removal is the most common treatment; however, high rates of recurrence have been reported. Results of examination of 2 horses with pythiosis granulomas in which a neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser was used to photoablate the bed after removal are reported. The mass had not recurred in either horse 1 year after surgery. Photoablation results in collateral thermal necrosis and may kill organisms that have infiltrated surrounding tissues, thus reducing the risk of recurrence.
Von Wittke P, Lindner A, Deegen E, Sommer H.In this study the effects of training history on the results of a standardized two-speed test in competing Thoroughbreds were investigated during a racing season. For nine Thoroughbreds, 1,755 training days were recorded. Within the observation period each horse completed a two-speed field test at intervals of 6-8 wk to determine its running velocity (v) eliciting blood lactate concentrations of 4 (v4) and 12 mmol/l (v12). Horses performed 29 two-speed tests. Changes of v4 and v12 in a horse between two consecutive tests were used to assess effects of training history variables calculated for ...
Maloufi F.From March to September 1991, horses (n = 1567), donkeys (n = 112) and mules (n = 96) were examined for equine parafilariosis by random sampling from different areas of Iran. The clinical signs of equine parafilariosis were observed in 136 cases of two northern areas (1.4% and 41.3% infection rate) and one northeastern area (6.3% infection rate). Most of the infected cases were confirmed by laboratory findings. All infected cases were followed up to establish the epidemiological features. The results suggest that there is one enzootic area in Iran, the Caspian coast and Persian Turkman steppes...
Szczepanik MP, Wilkołek PM, Adamek ŁR, Pluta M, Gołyński M, Sitkowski W, Kalisz G, Taszkun I, Pomorski ZJ.Non-invasive methods of skin condition assessment include, among others, the evaluation of transepidermal water loss (TEWL). The aim of the study was to examine whether TEWL values depend on horse breed. The study was conducted on four breeds: "Felin" ponies (FP) (n=16), Polish koniks (PK) (n=15), Polish cold-blooded horses (PcbH) (n=11) and Wielkopolska horses (WH) (n=12). It was found that horse breed influences TEWL values. In the neck region, statistically significant differences were found between PK and FP (p=0.006), and PK and WH (p=0.0005). In the lumbar region, there were statisticall...
Piro M, Benjouad A, Tligui NS, El Allali K, El Kohen M, Nabich A, Ouragh L.Severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) of horses is an autosomal, recessive hereditary disease occurring among Arabian or crossbred Arabian horses. The genetic defect responsible was previously identified as a 5-base pair deletion in the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of the DNA dependant protein kinase (DNA-PKcs). This study was carried out to determine the frequency of SCID and identify horses carrying the gene for SCID among Arabian and Arabian crossbred stallions and mares in Morocco using a DNA-based test. Twenty-one horses were SCID carriers: 14 (7%) Arabians, 6 (4%) Arab-B...
Swanson TD.The purpose of this article is to describe the clinical features present in the patient affected with acute laminitis. The variations in the stance and characteristic lameness of the acute disease are described in relation to the disease severity and limb involvement. The elements of establishing a diagnosis including clinical history, physical and radiologic evaluation, and differential diagnosis are discussed. Difficulties and criteria used in establishing a prognosis of the acute phase patient are defined.
Garrett KS.Diagnostic imaging is often an important part of the diagnostic approach to neurologic disease. Advanced imaging techniques such as myelography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide more information than radiography and ultrasonography but are more limited in their availability. The clinician should be cognizant of the findings of the clinical examination when interpreting diagnostic imaging findings.
Clegg PD, Butson RJ.A nine-year-old Shetland pony gelding, with a history of recurrent upward fixation of the patella, suddenly developed severe lameness in its right hindlimb. A luxation of the coxofemoral joint was diagnosed by a clinical and radiographic examination. The initial treatment of the luxation by closed reduction was not maintained, and the limb was placed in an Ehmer sling for four days after a second closed reduction. This allowed the femoral head to remain in the acetabulum, although a persistent subluxation remained, presumably owing to a rupture of the round ligament. The pony remained comforta...
Dengler F, Sternberg F, Grages M, Kästner SB, Verhaar N.Intestinal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is a frequent complication of equine colic. Several mechanisms may be involved in adaptation of the intestinal epithelium to IRI and might infer therapeutic potential, including hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) 1α, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), and induction of autophagy. However, the mechanisms supporting adaptation and thus cellular survival are not completely understood yet. We investigated the activation of specific adaptation mechanisms in both no and low flow ischemia and reperfusion si...
Bonagura JD.Equine heart diseases can be categorized with morphologic, etiologic, and physiologic diagnoses and classified anatomically as diseases of the pericardium, myocardium, valves (endocardium), and great vessels. An appreciation of normal and pathologic physiology is a key to understanding diagnosis and therapy of heart disease. Pathophysiologic diagnoses include arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, and pulmonary hypertension. Heart rhythm disturbances can occur in isolation or with structural disease. Heart failure stems from arterial filling owing to insufficient cardiac output. Pulmonary hype...
van den Hoven R, Franken P.This paper describes the clinical and laboratory findings in 16 horses suffering from lymphosarcoma and the autopsy results in 13 of these cases which were examined at the Large Animal Medicine Clinic, State University of Utrecht, from 1969 to 1981. The cases were classified into four groups, designated multicentric, alimentary, thymic and cutaneous forms, according to the situation of the tumours.
Nemoto M, Niwa H, Kida H, Higuchi T, Orita Y, Sato S, Bannai H, Tsujimura K, Ohta M.A rare genotype G13P[18] group A rotavirus (RVA/Horse-tc/JPN/MK9/2019/G13P[18]) was isolated from a diarrhoeic foal for the first time in 28 years. The genotype constellation of the virus was assigned to G13-P[18]-I6-R9-C9-M6-A6-N9-T12-E14-H11 and was the same as that of the first isolated strain, RVA/Horse-tc/GBR/L338/1991/G13P[18]. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the virus is related to RVA/Horse-tc/GBR/L338/1991/G13P[18] and is distant from typical equine rotaviruses of the G3P[12] and G14P[12] genotypes.
Hjortkjaer RK, Svendsen CK.Experimental closed loop small intestinal volvulus was studied in the anesthetized horse. Volvulus was simulated by ligation of the mesenterial veins to a segment of small intestine. Physical signs and hemodynamic, hematologic, clinical chemical, bacteriologic and peritoneal fluid values were examined. Compared to conscious horses anesthesia highly delayed and modified the clinical signs of shock (changes in mucosal colour, dehydration, decreased skin temperature, elevated pulse rate, low blood pressures) and of small intestinal volvulus (altered peristalsis, gastric dilation). Plasma glucose ...
van den Bogert AJ, Schamhardt HC.Multi-body models of musculoskeletal systems can be used to determine internal forces from measured external forces and movements ('inverse dynamics') and to perform simulations of movements using muscle forces or activations as input ('direct dynamics'). Examples of 'direct' simulations of movements in the horse are presented. With a model of the equine hindlimb, the function of the 'passive stay apparatus' could be explained. A model of the forelimb was used to determine force distributions in the digital flexor tendons, and to experiment with various methods to change the force distribution...
Kamerling S, Wood T, DeQuick D, Weckman TJ, Tai C, Blake JW, Tobin T.Narcotic analgesics produce pharmacological effects by interacting with specific opiate receptors. At least five major types of opiate receptors have been recognised. These include mu (morphine) and kappa (ethylketazocine) receptor types. Narcotic analgesics which interact with mu receptors produce locomotor and autonomic stimulation at doses that produce little or no analgesia. Therefore, use of these drugs as analgesics in equine medicine has not been very satisfactory. Theoretical considerations suggested that the role of kappa agonists in equine analgesia be investigated. Using a pure kapp...