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.
Foldager C, Bendtsen M, Nygaard JV, Zou X, Bünger C.To investigate the microstructural differences and responsible mechanisms in early bone formation in anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) in the spine using rhBMP-2 (INFUSE), equine bone protein extract (COLLOSS E) or autograft. Methods: Twelve Danish female landrace pigs underwent a 3-level ALIF procedure at L3-6. PEEK interbody cages packed with rhBMP-2, COLLOSS E, or autograft were inserted. The animals were divided into two groups of six, and observed for four and eight weeks postoperatively. MicroCT was performed for evaluation of microstructure of the bone within the cage. A mathemati...
Muravnick KB, Parente EJ, Del Piero F.A 17-year-old, gelded Quarter Horse cross was found to have a large, intra-abdominal mass. Clinical signs included infrequent mild colic, weight loss, and chronic anemia. Surgery revealed a very large, discrete, hemorrhagic, multilobular mass with vascular attachments to the transverse colon, mesocolon, jejunal mesentery, and omentum; the site of origin was the transverse colon. Histologic examination demonstrated dense sheets, fascicles, palisades, and interconnecting streams of neoplastic spindle cells with lesser numbers of admixed multinucleated giant cells. Based on morphology alone, this...
Divers TJ, Kraus MS, Jesty SA, Miller AD, Mohammed HO, Gelzer AR, Mitchell LM, Soderholm LV, Ducharme NG.Six adult horses were administered sodium monensin, 1.0-1.5 mg/kg, via gastric gavage. Anorexia and/or diarrhea occurred within 24 hr after monensin administration in all 6 horses. Cardiac disease and dysfunction were evaluated by both elevations in heart rate, echocardiography, and an increase in serum concentrations of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), occurred in 4 horses. The development and severity of cardiac disease was likely affected by the monensin dose, vehicle (water or corn oil) mixed with monensin, and/or whether the monensin was administered to fed or fasted horses. Initial increases i...
Morgan DD, McClure S, Yaeger MJ, Schumacher J, Evans RB.To evaluate the effects of focused, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on the healing of wounds of the distal portion of the limbs in horses. Methods: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: 6 healthy adult horses. Methods: In each horse, a 4-cm-diameter full-thickness wound that included underlying periosteum was created on the dorsomedial aspect of each metacarpus and two 3-cm-diameter full-thickness wounds that included underlying periosteum were created on the dorsomedial aspect of each metatarsus. One randomly selected metacarpal wound and a randomly selected pair of metatarsal wounds...
Patan B, Budras KD, Licka TF.To establish an ex vivo model of blood perfusion in the distal portion of isolated equine forelimbs that closely represents the in vivo situation in the laminar tissue of the hoof. Methods: 18 forelimbs collected from 9 healthy adult horses following slaughter at a licensed abattoir. Methods: The distal portion of isolated equine forelimbs from 9 horses were perfused under physiologic conditions over a period of 6, 8, and 10 hours with autologous blood. To determine cell viability in perfused tissues, indicators for metabolism (lactate generation and glucose and oxygen consumption) as well as ...
Kalck KA, Frank N, Elliott SB, Boston RC.To ascertain whether laminitis can be induced via administration of oligofructose (OF) at doses of 5.0 and 7.5 g/kg in horses and to assess glucose and insulin dynamics before and after treatment. Methods: 19 adult horses. Methods: Horses were fed OF (1.0 g/kg) mixed with oats for 6 days. Oligofructose at doses of 5.0 and 7.5 g/kg was then mixed with 4 L of water and administered (0 hours) to 8 (group A) and 4 (group B) horses, respectively, via nasogastric intubation; 8 horses received water alone. One horse in group A that did not develop laminitis was subsequently treated again and included...
Shank BR, Ofner CM.Pergolide mesylate (proprietary name Permax) is used to treat equine Cushing's syndrome. Since pergolide mesylate has been removed from the market, the tablets are no longer available. Therefore, pergolide mesylate preparations have to be compounded for veterinary use. Compounded oral liquid formulations have been given arbitrary beyond-use dates of 14 days (aqueous) to 90 days (oil based). The goal of this study was to determine the stability of a 0.2 mg/mL pergolide oral liquid prepared according to a previousy published formulation and stored at room temperature. The sample preparation and ...
Hopf S, Buchalla R, Elhöft H, Rubarth O, Börm W.We present a rare case of a combined dislocated odontoid dens fracture type II (Anderson/D'Alonzo) and rotational atlantoaxial luxation in a 15-year-old girl who was involved in a riding accident.She fell off her horse after it had stopped suddenly, losing consciousness for a few minutes. At presentation in the hospital, she had no complaints other than limited, painful neck movement. Radiologically, a posterior dislocation of an odontoid type II fracture (Anderson/D'Alonzo) was found. Computed tomography reconstruction demonstrated a rotational, hooklike fixed luxation of the left atlantoaxia...
Hilton H, Puchalski SM, Aleman M.Equine temporohyoid osteoarthropathy is characterized by progressive osseous proliferation of the temporohyoid articulation and surrounding structures. The diagnosis has generally been made using radiography and endoscopy of the guttural pouch. Recently, computed tomography (CT) has been used in the diagnosis of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy. This study was performed to determine the CT imaging characteristics of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy and to compare these to radiographic and endoscopic findings. CT scans from 16 horses with a final diagnosis of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy were review...
Gorgas D, Luder P, Lang J, Doherr MG, Ueltschi G, Kircher P.Nuclear bone scintigraphy is commonly used in the diagnosis of sacroiliac disease in horses. The aim of the present retrospective study was to determine if there was an association between radiopharmaceutical uptake pattern and radiographic appearance of the sacroiliac region in horses. Seventy-nine horses undergoing bone scintigraphy with Tc-99 m-HDP and radiography of the pelvis because of lameness or poor performance were studied. Subjective and semiquantitative methods were used to characterize and compare radiopharmaceutical uptake between horses. Ventrodorsal radiographs of the region we...
Mosing M, Kuemmerle JM, Dadak A, Moens YP.A case of a pony with severe cyanide intoxication as a result of cherry ingestion is presented. General anaesthesia was performed for colic surgery. Severe metabolic lactate acidosis in combination with a high arterial oxygen partial pressure and clinically good peripheral perfusion parameters were the remarkable signs during anaesthesia. Severe hypothermia was obvious during recovery. Ten hours post-surgery the pony was euthanized as a result of neurological signs. The diagnosis of cyanide intoxication was made post-mortem. Conclusions: Cherry ingestion can lead to lethal cyanide intoxication...
Lima-Neto JF, Fernandes CB, Alvarenga MA, Golim MA, Landim-Alvarenga FC.This experiment aimed to study equine fibroblasts in culture analyzing and the cell cycle and viability of cells pre- and post-freezing. Skin fragments were obtained from 6 horses and cultured in DMEM high glucose + 10% FCS in 5% CO(2) until the beginning of confluence. Two passages were performed before freezing. Cells subjected to serum starvation (0.5% FCS) were analyzed for viability and cell cycle at 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144 and 168 h of culture. For the confluent groups, cells were analyzed at the moment they achieved confluence. Cellular viability was assisted with Hoescht 33342 and pro...
Pisseri F, Bertoli A, Nardoni S, Pinto L, Pistelli L, Guidi G, Mancianti F.Dermatophytes are a group of keratinophilic and keratinolytic molds, some of which are responsible for ringworm. Among them Trichophyton equinum, which mostly infects equids, can cause extensive outbreaks in stud farms. The conventional treatment of equine trichophytosis is topic, based upon medicated shampoos to reduce the spread of infection among the animals. Nevertheless the popularity of phytotherapy is at an all-time peak, and the interest for natural alternatives or complements to conventional drug therapy is challenging both in human and veterinary field. Among herbal remedia Tea Tree ...
Goodwin D, McGreevy P, Waran N, McLean A.The long-held belief that human dominance and equine submission are key to successful training and that the horse must be taught to 'respect' the trainer infers that force is often used during training. Many horses respond by trialling unwelcome evasions, resistances and flight responses, which readily become established. When unable to cope with problem behaviours, some handlers in the past might have been encouraged to use harsh methods or devices while others may have called in a so-called 'good horseman' or 'horse whisperer' to remediate the horse. Frequently, the approaches such practitio...
Keeling LJ, Jonare L, Lanneborn L.The heart rates (HR) of horses and the people leading them (10 horses, 20 people), and riding them (17 horses, 17 people), were recorded in an indoor arena. The horses were Swedish leisure horses of mixed ages, sex and breed. All except two of the people were female and all were of mixed age and riding experience. Each horse-human pair walked or rode between points A and B (30m) four times on each test occasion. However, just before the fourth pass, participants were told that an umbrella would be opened as they rode, or led, the horse past the assistant. The umbrella was not opened, so this p...
Piccione G, Assenza A, Borruso M, Fazio F, Caola G.In the sport field, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) are important for the physical performance during the aerobic exercise of short intensity and long duration. In man, rat, goat and in the sedentary horse studies on the chronometabolism showed the presence of a circadian rhythm of the plasmatic concentration of NEFA while data for the athletic horse are lacking. To define a chronogram helpful for a specific planning and the differentiation of the training programmme in the athletic horse, the circadian pattern of some fatty acids (NEFA, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids...
Fennell L, Church S, Tyrell D, Forbes G, Charles J, McCowan C, Savage C.A 10-month-old Friesian filly had a presentation that was consistent with chronic left- and right-sided congestive heart failure. Clinical pathology findings included abnormal haematological and biochemical variables, abnormal blood gas values and increased serum concentration of cardiac troponin I. Echocardiography revealed cardiac chamber dilation and dextropositioning of the aorta. Radiography revealed a generally enlarged heart and pulmonary interstitial infiltration. These findings were supported at necropsy and the diagnosis of double-outlet right ventricle was confirmed. The pathologica...
Clayton HM, Kaiser LJ, Nauwelaerts S.The objective of this study was to compare total force and localised pressure on horses' withers with three blanket styles (straight cut, V-shaped insert, cutback withers). Three pressure recordings, each of 5s duration, were taken in order to determine blanket pressure on the withers during standing and walking in 12 horses. Means+/-SD were calculated for the following variables and compared across blankets: total force, mean pressure, maximal pressure, and area with pressure >4 kPa. For standing trials, the blanket with the V-shaped insert had the lowest total force and smallest area with...
Torfs S, Delesalle C, Dewulf J, Devisscher L, Deprez P.Postoperative ileus (POI) is a frequent and often fatal complication of colic surgery. Reliably effective treatments are not available. Objective: To determine risk factors and protective factors associated with POI, and to assess the effect of lidocaine IV on short-term survival. Methods: One hundred and twenty-six horses that underwent small intestinal colic surgery and that survived for at least 24 hours postoperatively. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study. The association of 31 pre-, intra-, and postoperative variables with POI and the association of lidocaine treatment with short...
Chiocchetti R, Bombardi C, Mongardi-Fantaguzzi C, Venturelli E, Russo D, Spadari A, Montoneri C, Romagnoli N, Grandis A.This paper describes the morphology and distribution of the enteric nervous system (ENS) cells and fibres immunoreactive for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), NF200kDa (NF200), and S100 protein. The percentages of subclasses of enteric neurons in the total neuronal population were investigated by the use of anti-PGP 9.5 or anti-NSE antibodies. ChAT-IR myenteric plexus (MP) and submucosal plexus (SMP) neurons were 66+/-7% and 74+/-15%, respectively, whereas those cells expressing nNOS-IR were 38+/-7...
Murphy J.This study investigated the effects of weighted boots on horses (n=6) jumping a 1.25 m oxer fence. The horses had similar training experience and were assigned to two groups of three subjects (groups G1 and G2). All horses performed 10 jumping efforts: G1 horses made attempts 1-5 without boots and 6-10 with boots; G2 made attempts 1-5 with boots and 6-10 without boots. Data were available via sagittal plane S-VHS recordings and t test analyses focussed on limb-placement dimensions. There were no differences among performances of the horses in the horizontal plane, but there were significant di...
Heleski CR, McGreevy PD, Kaiser LJ, Lavagnino M, Tans E, Bello N, Clayton HM.Unsteady hand position can cause discomfort to the horse, potentially leading to conflict behaviours (CB) such as head tossing or tail lashing. Some instructors feel that martingales or elastic rein inserts can reduce discomfort caused by inexperienced and unsteady hands. Others consider these devices to be inappropriate 'crutches'. Four horses and nine riders were tested under three conditions in random order: plain reins, adjustable training martingales (TM), and elasticised rein inserts (RI). Rein-tension data (7s) and behavioural data (30s) were collected in each direction. Rein-tension da...
Verheyen KL, Price JS, Wood JL.This study aimed to determine the effects of exercise on racecourse performance in horses racing on the flat. Daily exercise and race records were obtained over a 2-year period for a cohort of racehorses in training for which injury data were also available. Multivariable regression techniques were used to investigate associations between canter, training gallop and race distances accumulated in the 30 days prior to each race and the odds of winning the race, earning prize money and the amount of prize money won. Higher cumulative high-speed (gallop+race) distances were associated with increas...
McGreevy PD, Oddie C, Burton FL, McLean AN.This article examines the recently completed equid ethogram and shows how analogues of social interactions between horses may occur in various human-horse interactions. It discusses how some specific horse-horse interactions have a corresponding horse-human interaction - some of which may be directly beneficial for the horse while others may be unusual or even abnormal. It also shows how correspondent behaviours sometimes become inappropriate because of their duration, consistency or context. One analogue is unlikely to hold true for all horse-human contexts, so when applying any model from ho...
McGreevy PD, McLean AN, Keay KA, Thomson PC.Trained responses are said to be under stimulus control when they appear reliably and exclusively on cue. The SMART system is a conceptual, three-dimensional graphic that uses four quadrants to chart a horse's responsiveness to various cues from two reins and the trainer's legs and seat. The current plots have been designed for ridden horses. The models assume that the trainer's cues are bilaterally equivalent, unless the intention is to signal a turn or a lateral movement. The extent to which 'go' signals manifest as straight, forward locomotion reflect the bilateral balance of the horse's re...
Barfield JP, McCue PM, Squires EL, Seidel GE.Cryopreservation of equine embryos>300microm in diameter results in low survival rates using protocols that work well for smaller equine embryos. These experiments tested the potential benefit of incorporating a dehydration step prior to standard cryopreservation procedures. Forty-six, day 7-8, grade 1, equine embryos 300-1350microm in diameter were subjected to one of the following treatments: (A) 2 min in 0.6M galactose, 10min in 1.5M glycerol, slow freeze (n=21); (B) 10min in 1.5M glycerol, slow freeze (n=15); (C) 2min in 0.6M galactose, 10min in 1.5M glycerol, followed by exposure to thaw ...
Visser EK, VanDierendonck M, Ellis AD, Rijksen C, Van Reenen CG.In 'sympathetic horsemanship' the importance of the natural behaviour of the horse and the use of body language in communication is emphasised. However, it is unclear what effect sympathetic horsemanship has on the welfare of horses. During a 5-week starting period the effect of a sympathetic (ST) versus a conventional (CT) training method was studied using 28 young Warmblood horses. Behavioural observations during the starting period as well as during a standardised final riding test were performed by trained observers. A Wilcoxon matched-pair test was used to detect differences within groups...
Roberts ED, Ochoa R, Haynes PF.Dermal and epidermal laminar lesions were correlated with acute intestinal, primary hepatic, septicemic, chronic laminar, and acute laminar diseases. Horses with acute intestinal disease had edema in the secondary dermal laminae. Those with hepatic disease had increased keratinization of the secondary epidermal laminae. Septicemia caused increased keratin formation in the primary and secondary epidermal laminae. Chronic laminitis caused architectural changes of the epidermal laminae characterized by hyperplasia and keratin formation of the basal epidermal layer. Horses with acute laminitis had...
Tamamura-Andoh Y, Niwa H, Kinoshita Y, Uchida-Fujii E, Arai N, Watanabe-Yanai A, Iwata T, Akiba M, Kusumoto M.Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae have become a cause for great concern. Although some studies have reported the prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria and ESBL-encoding genes in horses worldwide, the genetic structure surrounding the ESBL gene has not been analysed in detail. In the present study, we isolated two ESBL-producing Escherichia coli strains from diseased racehorses in Japan and demonstrated the mechanisms underlying the acquisition of their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. Two ESBL-producing E. coli strains (E148 and E189) were isolated from th...
Vandeplassche M.The author reviews 40 years of clinical experience including more than 1000 cases of dystocia in mares of different breeds. The high incidence of stillbirth and perinatal mortality of the foal, severe lesions of the genital tract developing during foaling and in the early post partum period are discussed and suggestions made for their prevention and treatment. The advantages of partial embryotomy to avoid unnecessary caesarean sections are emphasised. Special attention is given to the causes of and approach to cases of prolonged gestation; to dystocia caused by retroversion of preparturient to...
Nixon AJ, Sams AE, Ducharme NG.An endoscopically assisted technique for internally dividing the palmar or plantar annular ligament was developed in six cadaver limb specimens and two anesthetized horses. Under arthroscopic view, a slotted cannula was inserted into the digital sheath through a stab wound proximal to the annular ligament and advanced through the fetlock canal superficial to the flexor tendons with the slot oriented toward the fibers of the annular ligament. Division of the annular ligament by 90-degree tipped open and guarded blades was observed and verified by direct arthroscopic view. At necropsy, complete ...
Lyons ET, Tolliver SC.Fenbendazole (FBZ) suspension was administered intraorally at the dose rate of 7.0-10.3 mg/kg once a day for 5 consecutive days to 58 thoroughbred yearlings on two farms in central Kentucky in April, 2002. The average dose rates of drug given to groups of colts and fillies on each farm were 7.8-8.5 mg/kg. Only 3 of the yearlings had negative counts of strongyle eggs per gram of feces (EPGs) after treatment which was at 8.4, 8.7, or 9.4 mg/kg; the pretreatment EPG counts were low (10-30). Reduction of EPG values at the highest dose rates was 0% (at 9.5 mg/kg) and 78% (at 10.3 mg/kg). This study...
Gottschalk M, Sieme H, Martinsson G, Distl O.A high quality of stallion semen is of particular importance for maximum reproductive efficiency. In the present study, we estimated the relationships among estimated breeding values (EBVs) of semen traits and EBVs for the paternal component of the pregnancy rate per estrus cycle (EBV-PAT) for 100 German Warmblood stallions using correlation and general linear model analyses. The most highly correlated sperm quality trait was total number of progressively motile sperm (r = 0.36). EBV-PAT was considered in three classes with stallions 1 SD below (<80), around (80-120), and above (>120) the popu...
Arfuso F, Giannetto C, Panzera MF, Fazio F, Piccione G.This study aimed to evaluate the possible relationship among UCP1, body weight, rectal temperature and lipid profile in the horse. Thirty clinically healthy Italian Saddle geldings (6-10 years old) were enrolled after the informed owners' consent. All horses were blood sampled and their body weight and rectal temperatures were recorded. On the sera obtained after blood centrifugation the concentration of UCP1, total lipids, phospholipids, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins (HDLs), low density lipoproteins (LDLs) and very low density ...
Pezzanite LM, Chow L, Strumpf A, Johnson V, Dow SW.Antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation both present challenges to treatment of bacterial infections with conventional antibiotic therapy and serve as the impetus for development of improved therapeutic approaches. Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy exerts an antimicrobial effect as demonstrated in multiple acute bacterial infection models. This effect can be enhanced by pre-conditioning the MSC with Toll or Nod-like receptor stimulation, termed activated cellular therapy (ACT). The purpose of this review is to summarize the current literature on mechanisms of antimicrobial activity...
Schumacher J, Hanselka DV.Free autogenous skin grafting of the horse is indicated for wounds too large to heal by contraction and epithelization. Techniques of pinch, punch, tunnel, and sheet grafting are described. Allografting and storage of skin for delayed grafting are discussed.
Finno CJ, Kaese HJ, Miller AD, Gianino G, Divers T, Valberg SJ.A pigment retinopathy has been reported in adult horses with equine motor neuron disease (EMND) arising from chronic α-tocopherol (α-TP) deficiency. A pigment retinopathy has not been identified in horses with neuroaxonal dystrophy/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (NAD/EDM) that affects genetically susceptible young horses with α-TP deficiency. The objective of this report is to describe, for the first time, a pigment retinopathy in a family of α-TP-deficient Warmbloods (WB) with clinically apparent NAD/EDM or EMND. Unassigned: Twenty-five WB horses from one farm underwent complete ...
Bassarak B, Moser I, Menge C.A modified Baltz's in vitro cultivation system for the propagation of Trypanosoma equiperdum strain OVI was established to develop a replacement for the conventional production procedure of dourine diagnostic antigen in rats. To increase trypanosome yields we designed an optimized culture medium by addition of supplemental compounds. Trypanosomes were adapted to this medium by two succeeding cultivation steps which led to a substantial proliferation rate and an increased cell density tolerance, respectively. As a result, adapted parasites could be propagated to maximum cell densities of >2Ã...
Vanderperren K, Raes E, Bree HV, Saunders JH.This is the second part of a two-part review of the structures and disorders of the equine tarsus. In this part the bones of the tarsal region are considered and the technical aspects of taking radiographic, ultrasonographic and scintigraphic images of the different lesions are addressed. The diagnostic use of arthroscopy, computed tomography and magnetic resonance are discussed. In current clinical practice the most frequently used combination to arrive at a diagnosis is still radiography and ultrasonography.
Sweeney RW, Divers TJ, Rossier Y.Plasma concentration of gentamicin was measured 1, 4, and 6 hours after IV administration in 35 hospitalized adult horses on days 1, 3, 5, and 10 of treatment. The mean apparent elimination rate constant beta was 0.53 +/- 0.10 h-1 on day 1 for horses with normal plasma creatinine concentration and 0.41 +/- 0.13 h-1 for horses with abnormally high plasma creatinine concentration. There was no significant difference between beta of the hospitalized horses and of 6 healthy horses treated with gentamicin, but total clearance for the hospitalized horses with normal plasma creatinine concentration w...
Bettembourg V, Dulgheriu D, Haga HA.To determine dexmedetomidine plasma concentrations at two infusion rates in isoflurane anaesthetized horses and compare cardiovascular effects and anaesthetic recovery between treatments. Methods: Prospective, randomized, masked clinical study. Methods: Healthy, adult, client-owned, non-food producing horses presented for castration. Methods: Premedication consisted of acepromazine, romifidine and morphine, and anaesthesia was induced with ketamine and midazolam. The horses were randomized to receive dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg kg hour (treatment DL, n = 7) or 1.75 μg kg hour (treatment DH, n =...
Sprayberry KA, Madigan J, LeCouteur RA, Valentine BA.A Thoroughbred-Percheron crossbred gelding developed a fulminant cascade of sequelae following a severe episode of rhabdomyolysis. Complications may occur with rhabdomyolysis of any etiology. In warmblood horses with Percheron bloodlines, rhabdomyolysis may be secondary to polysaccharide storage disease, and aggressive therapy should be undertaken promptly to avoid the complications.
Dieckmann HG, Costa LRR, MartÃnez-López B, Madigan JE.To describe an animal health database used to facilitate effective disaster response and retrospective analysis of data concerning animals other than cats and dogs affected by the 2018 California Camp Fire. Methods: Veterinary medical entries (n = 206) for evacuated or rescued animals (151) of various species, including avian, bovine, camelid, caprine, equine, ovine, and porcine species, temporarily housed at the Butte County fairgrounds in Gridley, Calif. Methods: Case data were collected via a standardized form by volunteers with the University of California-Davis Veterinary Emergency Respon...
Geisshüsler H, Marti E, Stoffel MH, Kühni K, Stojiljkovic A, von Tscharner C, Vidondo B, Gerber V, Koch C.Sarcoids are the most frequently observed skin tumours in equids and consist of cutaneous accumulations of transformed fibroblasts. Their aetiopathogenesis is closely linked to a presumably abortive infection by bovine papillomavirus (BPV) types 1 and 2. In cattle, dermal fibropapillomas induced by BPV1/2 usually regress spontaneously due to a local, cell-mediated, immune response; however, equids appear to lack an effective immune response to BPV1/2 and mechanisms of immune evasion have been postulated. As a consequence, equine sarcoids tend to persist and are prone to recur. In this study, c...
Aitken RJ, Lambourne S, Medica AJ.A capacity to predict the likelihood of pregnancy following natural matings would be of considerable benefit to the Thoroughbred horse breeding industry. In this article, we describe a strategy for achieving this outcome through the analysis of dismount samples, that achieved an overall accuracy of 94.6%. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the analysis of dismount semen samples from Thoroughbred stallions could be used to predict whether a given mating would result in a pregnancy. The analysis was based on 143 matings of 141 mares by a cohort of 7 Thoroughbred stallions over a ...
Röcken M, Stehle C, Mosel G, Rass J, Litzke LF.To describe a technique for laparoscopic-assisted removal of cystic calculi in geldings and report outcome. Methods: Clinical report. Methods: Four geldings with cystic calculi. Methods: Laparoscopic-assisted cystotomy and urolith retrieval was performed in 4 anesthetized geldings positioned in dorsal recumbency. With a laparoscope portal located at the umbilicus, the abdomen was insufflated and then the surgical table was tilted (30 degrees head-down position) before an instrumental portal was created parallel and 2-3 cm medial to the left external inguinal ring. Laparoscopic grasping forceps...
Maly IP, Eppler E, Müller-Gerbl M.Tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) is playing a key role in bone calcification, as has been demonstrated in different mammalian species including human and rodents. However, to investigate age-related changes during life history, histochemical demonstration of TNAP is severely hampered, particularly in the elderly, by technical difficulties associated with sectioning calcified tissue. Sufficient fixation must precede decalcification since poorly fixed bone tissue is exposed to the deleterious effects of decalcification reagents. In order to find a method that would allow cryosectio...
Goetz TE, Manohar M, Magid JH.The objective of the present study was to ascertain whether administration of a second dose of frusemide would attenuate exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension more than a single dose. Right atrial, right ventricular and pulmonary vascular pressures were determined in 7 healthy, sound, exercise-trained Thoroughbred horses at rest and during exercise (14.2 m/s + a 3.5% uphill grade) performed at maximal heart rate (217 +/- 3 beats/min [mean +/- s.e.]). Horses were studied during the following 3 treatments in random order 7 days apart: control (no medication), frusemide single dose (250 mg i.v....
Kummer LL, Govaere J, Egri B.Twenty-eight warmblood mares were monitored during their late pregnancy in the Teaching Hospital of Ghent University. The reliability of two commercial assays (enzyme immunoassay and glutaraldehyde coagulation test) used for determining the IgG concentrations of their newborn foals was tested. Mammary secretions were examined at the time of foaling (T0), and then 4 (T1) and 8 (T2) hours after foaling by refractometry and electrophoresis. The foals' blood IgG levels were measured at T1 and T2 as a routine clinical diagnostic examination using two different commercial test kits (SNAP Foal Ig and...
Busechian S, Conti MB, Sgorbini M, Conte G, Marchesi MC, Pieramati C, Zappulla F, Vitale V, Rueca F.Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is the most common disease of the stomach in horses and treatment is based on the oral administration of omeprazole for at least 28 days. Aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of two formulations of oral omeprazole-powder paste and gastro-enteric resistant granules-in the treatment of naturally occurring gastric ulcers in racehorses. Thirty-two adult racehorses, aged between 2 and 10 years old, with clinical signs of EGUS were included in this blinded, randomized clinical trial. Two gastroscopies were performed to evaluate gastric lesions in the squ...
Metzger N, Hinchcliff KW, Hardy J, Schwarzwald CC, Wittum T.Detection of failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) is important in reducing morbidity and mortality in neonatal foals. We investigated the performance of a commercial equine IgG test (SNAP Foal IgG Test Kit) to diagnose FTPI in hospitalized foals. Furthermore, we evaluated the usefulness of serum total protein (STP) and serum globulin (SG) concentrations as indicators of FTPI. Serum IgG concentration was measured by means of the SNAP test and single radial immunodiffusion, and SG and STP concentrations were determined by means of a clinical chemistry analyzer. Subjects were 67 hospita...
Glass K, Barnes B.When novel disease outbreaks occur in livestock, policy makers must respond promptly to eliminate disease, and are typically called on to make control decisions before detailed analysis of disease parameters can be undertaken. We present a flexible metapopulation model of disease spread that incorporates variation in livestock density and includes occasional high-mixing locations or events, such as markets or race meetings. Using probability generating functions derived from this branching process model, we compare the likely success of reactive control strategies in eliminating disease spread...
Prescott JF.Fifty-one isolates of Corynebacterium equi recovered from pigs and horses belonging to two capsular serotypes were tested for susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. No clear differences were detected in sensitivity between isolates of different sources or serotypes. All isolates were sensitive to less than 0.25 micrograms/ml of erythromycin and gentamicin. The following minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antimicrobial agents were determined for greater than or equal to 90% of isolates: methicillin greater than 16 micrograms/ml, clindamycin 1-2 micrograms/ml, tobramycin less than or e...
Katz LM, Stallard J, Holtby A, Hill EW, Allen K, Sweeney J.Although inspiratory muscle training (IMT) is reported to improve inspiratory muscle strength in humans little has been reported for horses. We tested the hypothesis that IMT would maintain and/or improve inspiratory muscle strength variables measured in Thoroughbreds during detraining. Thoroughbreds from one training yard were placed into a control (Con, n = 3 males n = 7 females; median age 2.2±0.4 years) or treatment group (Tr, n = 5 males, n = 5 females; median age 2.1±0.3 years) as they entered a detraining period at the end of the racing/training season. The Tr group underwent eight we...
Keg PR, Barneveld A, Schamhardt HC, van den Belt AJ.To answer the question whether it is possible to differentiate, by means of a high plantar nerve block in the hind limb, flexor tendon lameness from a suspensory ligament lameness, mid-plantar tendinitis or desmitis was induced with collagenase in five Standardbred horses in two trials. Before the induction of lameness, and on the fourth (D4) and fourteenth day (D14) after the induction of lameness the horses were evaluated subjectively (clinical lameness score), objectively (ground reaction force (GRF) measurements), and ultrasonographically. Clinical evaluation and GRF measurements were also...
Foley JE, Norris CR, Jang SS.We reviewed 14 cases of paecilomycosis in a tertiary care veterinary hospital and all reports of the disease in the veterinary literature. Paecilomycosis is a rare disease primarily of dogs, horses, reptiles, and humans. Clinical manifestations in veterinary patients vary but include disseminated disease and diskospondylitis, particularly in dogs: pneumonia in dogs, horses, and reptiles; keratitis in horses; and miscellaneous local infections. It is important to have an appropriate index of suspicion because the diagnosis can be difficult, particularly in localized disease where it is difficul...
