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.
Inoue Y, Matsui A, Asai Y, Aoki F, Yoshimoto K, Matsui T, Yano H.We studied the response of biochemical markers of bone metabolism to exercise intensity in horses. Four horses were walked on a mechanical walker for one week (pre-exercise). Then they performed low-speed exercise on a high-speed treadmill in the first week and medium-speed exercise in the second week and high-speed exercise in the third week of training. We measured two indices of bone resorption, serum hydroxyproline concentration and the urinary deoxypyridinoline/creatinine ratio, and serum osteocalcin (OC) concentration as an index of bone formation. Both indices of bone resorption gradual...
Darain F, Gan KL, Tjin SC.A simple microfluidic immunoassay card was developed based on polystyrene (PS) substrate for the detection of horse IgG, an inexpensive model analyte using fluorescence microscope. The primary antibody was captured onto the PS based on covalent bonding via a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of thiol to pattern the surface chemistry on a gold-coated PS. The immunosensor chip layers were fabricated from sheets by CO(2) laser ablation. The functionalized PS surfaces after each step were characterized by contact angle measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (...
Brito LF, Kelleman A, Greene LM, Raz T, Barth AD.A 5-year-old Arabian stallion was managed for breeding with fresh/extended semen during a period of 8 months with a resulting per cycle pregnancy rate of 26.3%. The stallion was in good health and no abnormalities of the reproductive tract were observed. Evaluation of several ejaculates revealed that sperm production and semen quality were mostly unchanged during the period of evaluation, that sperm production was normal and that semen quality was extremely poor. The most prevalent sperm defects were abnormal heads and mid-pieces. Most abnormal heads were microcephalic and/or tapered and consi...
Raz T, Amorim MD, Stover BC, Card CE.The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of purified equine- and porcine-FSH treatment regimes in mares in early vernal transition. Mares (n = 22) kept under ambient light were examined ultrasonographically per-rectum, starting January 30th. They were assigned to one of two treatment groups using a sequential alternating treatment design when a follicle >or= 25 mm was detected. In the eFSH group, mares were treated twice daily with equine-FSH, and in the pFSH group mares were treated twice daily with porcine-FSH; treatments were continued until follicle(s) >or= 35 mm, and 24 h l...
Ellis CM, Lynch TM, Slone DE, Hughes FE, Clark CK.To report complications and survival after large colon resection and end-to-end anastomosis in horses with strangulating large colon volvulus. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Horses (n=73) with strangulating large colon volvulus. Methods: Records (January 1995 to December 2005) of horses that had large colon resection and anastomosis for strangulating large colon volvulus were reviewed for complications. Follow-up data were obtained by telephone questionnaire at least 1 year postoperatively. Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate association with survival time. V...
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...
Wong DM, Vo DT, Alcott CJ, Peterson AD, Sponseller BA, Hsu WH.To evaluate baseline plasma cortisol and ACTH concentrations and responses to low-dose ACTH stimulation testing in ill foals. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: 58 ill foals. Methods: Baseline cortisol and ACTH concentrations and cortisol concentrations after administration of a low dose of cosyntropin were determined within 6 hours after admission. Foals were assigned to 4 groups on the basis of age (<or=24 hours vs 1 to 56 days) and presence of septicemia (yes vs no). Values were compared among groups and with values previously reported for healthy foals. Results: Plasma cortisol co...
van Schie HT, Bakker EM, Cherdchutham W, Jonker AM, van de Lest CH, van Weeren PR.To evaluate quantitative ultrasonography for objective monitoring of the healing process and prognostication of repair quality in equine superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendons. Methods: 6 horses with standardized surgical lesions in SDF tendons of both forelimbs. Methods: Healing was monitored for 20 weeks after surgery by use of computerized ultrasonography. Pixels were categorized as C (intact fasciculi), B (incomplete fasciculi), E (accumulations of cells and fibrils), or N (homogenous fluid or cells). Four scars with the best quality of repair (repair group) and 4 scars with the lowest q...
Levionnois OL, Spadavecchia C, Kronen PW, Schatzmann U.To determine the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in Shetland ponies using a sequence of three different supramaximal noxious stimulations at each tested concentration of isoflurane rather than a single stimulation. Methods: Prospective, experimental trial. Methods: Seven 4-year-old, gelding Shetland ponies. Methods: The MAC of isoflurane was determined for each pony. Three different modes of electrical stimulation were applied consecutively (2 minute intervals): two using constant voltage (90 V) on the gingiva via needle- (CVneedle) or surface-electrodes (CVsurface) and one ...
Murray RC, Blunden TS, Branch MV, Tranquille CA, Dyson SJ, Parkin TD, Goodship AE.To investigate effects of age on thickness and morphologic characteristics of hyaline cartilage, calcified cartilage, total cartilage, and subchondral bone (SCB) in the equine tarsometatarsal joint. Methods: 23 tarsal joints from cadavers of 23 ponies (11 days to 25 years old); ponies were limited to pasture exercise and euthanatized for reasons not related to this study. Procedures-Tarsi were allocated into several age groups (11 days old [n = 3], 6 to 9 months old [4], 2 to 3 years old [3], 6 to 8 years old [4], 11 to 17 years old [6], and 20 to 25 years old [3]). Histologic examination and ...
Braun C, Trim CM, Eggleston RB.To investigate the impact of a change in body position on blood gases and arterial blood pressures in foals anesthetized with guaifenesin, ketamine, and xylazine. Methods: Prospective, randomized experimental study. Methods: Twelve Quarter Horse foals, age of 5.4 +/-0.9 months and weighing 222 +/- 48 kg. Methods: Foals were anesthetized with guaifenesin, ketamine, and xylazine for 40 minutes in lateral recumbency and then assigned to a change in lateral recumbency after hoisting (Group 1, n = 6), or no change (Group 2, n = 6). Oxygen 15 L minute(-1) was insufflated into the endotracheal tube t...
Leroy G, Callède L, Verrier E, Mériaux JC, Ricard A, Danchin-Burge C, Rognon X.The genetic diversity and structure of horses raised in France were investigated using 11 microsatellite markers and 1679 animals belonging to 34 breeds. Between-breed differences explained about ten per cent of the total genetic diversity (Fst = 0.099). Values of expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.43 to 0.79 depending on the breed. According to genetic relationships, multivariate and structure analyses, breeds could be classified into four genetic differentiated groups: warm-blooded, draught, Nordic and pony breeds. Using complementary maximisation of diversity and aggregate diversity appr...
Koch TG, Berg LC, Betts DH.Stem cells from various tissues hold great promise for their therapeutic use in horses, but so far efficacy or proof-of-principle has not been established. The basic characteristics and properties of various equine stem cells remain largely unknown, despite their increasingly widespread experimental and empirical commercial use. A better understanding of equine stem cell biology and concepts is needed in order to develop and evaluate rational clinical applications in the horse. Controlled, well-designed studies of the basic biologic characteristics and properties of these cells are needed to m...
Wilcox AL, Calise DV, Chapman SE, Edwards JF, Storts RW.Hypoxic/ischemic encephalopathy in a cloned American Quarter horse foal was initially associated with placental insufficiency and exacerbated by protracted hypotension during anesthesia for a surgical procedure. The foal, born at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Center, was diagnosed at birth with neonatal maladjustment syndrome that was accompanied by dysmaturity, muscle contracture of the front limbs, and a blood clot within the lumen of the urinary bladder. Seizures that developed after anesthesia were attributed to hypoxia/ischemia during anesthesia and culminated in death. Macroscopically...
Raz T, Hunter B, Carley S, Card C.The objective was to compare the reproductive performances associated with the first (Cycle-1), second (Cycle-2), and mid-season (MS-Cycle) ovulations of the breeding season in donor mares that were treated with equine-FSH (eFSH) in the early vernal transition. Mares (n=15) kept under ambient light were examined ultrasonographically per-rectum starting January 30. When an ovarian follicle > or =25mm in diameter was detected, twice daily eFSH treatments were initiated. The eFSH treatments ceased when a follicle > or =35mm was detected, and 36h later hCG was administered. Thereafter, mares were ...
Muñoz JA, Marcoux M, Picandet V, Theoret CL, Perron MF, Lepage OM.Palatal sclerotherapy using sodium tetradecyl sulfate has been suggested as a treatment for dorsal displacement of the soft palate in young Standardbred horses. The present study evaluated histological and biomechanical changes in the equine soft palate following trans-endoscopic treatment with a low dose of this compound. Two horses were euthanased and examined at 2 weeks and at 1, 2, 4 and 6 months post-sclerotherapy, while two further horses served as untreated controls. The technique was easily performed in all cases without major complications. On histological examination there was no evi...
Hassel DM, Smith PA, Nieto JE, Beldomenico P, Spier SJ.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a commercially available di-tri-octahedral (DTO) smectite product on clinical signs and prevalence of post-operative diarrhea in horses with colic associated with disease of the large intestine. Sixty-seven horses with surgical disease of the large intestine were randomly assigned to be treated with DTO smectite (n=37; 0.5 kg via nasogastric intubation every 24 h for 3 days post-operatively) or a placebo (n=30). The effect of treatment on fecal scores and clinical and hematological parameters, including heart rate, mucous membrane color, tem...
Giuliano EA, MacDonald I, McCaw DL, Dougherty TJ, Klauss G, Ota J, Pearce JW, Johnson PJ.Local photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel cancer therapy in veterinary ophthalmology. A prospective pilot study seeking to demonstrate proof of principle and safety for the treatment of equine periocular squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) was therefore conducted. We hypothesized that surgical excision with adjunctive local PDT is an effective and safe treatment for equine PSCC. Methods: Nine horses (10 eyes) with PSCC were treated with surgical resection, local infiltration of resulting wound beds with 2-[1-hexyloxyethyl]-2-devinylpyropheophorbide-a (HPPH) and irradiation with 665-nm wavelength ...
Matthews AG.This paper overviews some recent developments in mammalian corneal immunobiology, and discusses how these may act as pointers towards understanding the immunology underlying some common corneal diseases in the horse, including infectious ulceration and presumptively immune-mediated non-ulcerative disease. Specifically, three aspects of corneal immunobiology are examined: the role of Toll-like receptors in surface immunity and in the etiogenesis of microbial ulceration, the relationship between conjunctiva associated lymphoid tissue (CALT) and immunoprotection of the corneal surface, and the me...
McMullen RJ, Clode AB, Pandiri AK, Malarkey DE, Michau TM, Gilger BC.A case of epibulbar melanoma in a 6-month-old, gelded, chestnut Hanoverian foal is reported. The location and clinical appearance upon initial presentation led to the tentative diagnosis of staphyloma or a congenital mass of unknown origin. An attempt was made to surgically excise the mass under general anesthesia, but due to its infiltrative nature and intraoperative appearance, most, but not all was removed without compromising the integrity of the globe. Histopathological evaluation revealed a multinodular to packeted, poorly demarcated, unencapsulated, infiltrative exophytic melanocytic ne...
Piccione G, Giannetto C, Fazio F, Giudice E.This study was designed to assess the daily rhythm of tear production in clinically healthy horses, to compare left eye and right eye, and to evaluate the influence of time and gender. Methods: For our study 18 horses (nine female and nine male) were subjected to three different light/dark (L/D) schedules: 12/12 L/D cycles, constant light (24/0 L/D) and constant darkness (0/24 L/D). Methods: In all subjects Schirmer tear tests were performed at 4-h intervals over a 24-h period. Results: A circadian rhythm of tear production was found during the 12/12 L/D period and during constant darkness. Al...
Hurcombe SD, Slovis NM, Kohn CW, Oglesbee M.A 2-year-old Thoroughbred filly was evaluated because of hemorrhage from the vulva and suspected hematuria of 5 days' duration. Results: A primary coagulopathy was ruled out on the basis of results of hematologic testing. Vaginoscopy and cystoscopy revealed a large bleeding mass in the bladder that extended into the vagina, causing marked obliteration of normal urogenital structures and difficulty in urination. Histologic examination of endoscopic and surgical biopsy specimens revealed a poorly differentiated neoplasia likely of mesenchymal origin. Chronic suppurative cystitis caused by Strept...
Plummer CE, Kallberg ME, Ollivier FJ, Barrie KP, Brooks DE.To describe and evaluate a surgical technique utilized for the therapy of deep corneal stromal abscesses (DSA) in horses. The DSA is excised and replaced with a partial thickness corneal lamellar allograft. Methods: A retrospective clinical study describing the indications for the surgical technique utilized and the outcomes of this procedure in 10 eyes of 10 horses. Results: Each affected eye had a discrete DSA within the posterior stroma. An initial partial thickness semicircular corneal incision was made at the limbus, followed by anterior stromal lamellar dissection over the lesion. After ...
Cogger N, Evans DL, Hodgson DR, Reid SW, Perkins N.To describe the incidence rate of musculoskeletal (MS) injuries and investigate the factors that influence recovery from MS injury in young Thoroughbred horses in Australia. Methods: Training and injury data were collected at fortnightly intervals from 14 trainers in New South Wales. Incidence rates were calculated for initial injuries stratified by age-class and sex. Survival analysis methods were used to investigate the time to recovery after the first MS injury (measured as a start in a race or barrier trial). Results: For the 248 racehorses enrolled, there were 428 injuries recorded; 2-yea...
Schaaf KL, Kannegieter NJ, Lovell DK.Ten horses presented with severe distortion of the facial contour, crepitus on palpation and mild to moderate epistaxis. Individual horses also showed ocular damage, ptosis, severe dyspnoea and movement of the facial bones concurrent with respiration. The fracture fragments were exposed using a large curvilinear incision and elevated using a retractor, periosteal elevator, chisel or Steinmann pin. The fracture fragments were unstable following reduction and fixation was necessary. Stabilisation was achieved with polydioxanone sutures placed through holes drilled in opposing sides of the fractu...
Wilkie DA, Colitz CM.The purpose of this review is not to specifically discuss the techniques of veterinary cataract surgery, but rather to emphasize some of the differences between the veterinary and human cataract patients, procedures and outcomes. Results: In general, veterinary cataract surgery has more similarities than differences when compared to its human counterpart. This is especially true when comparing pediatric cataract patients. Veterinary cataract surgery has changed dramatically in recent years with regards to surgical technique, ocular pharmacology, viscoelastic devices, phacoemulsification, and t...
Sergeant ES, Stone M, Moloney BJ, Arthur R.Simulation models were developed to quantify the likelihood of equine influenza virus infection entering pre-movement isolation, persisting through pre- and post-movement isolation periods without being detected by scheduled laboratory testing, and escaping to infect susceptible horses at a destination. The mean probability of escape ranged from 1 in 1,200,000 to 1 in 600,000 depending on lot size. For 95% of iterations the probability of escape was less than 1 in 200,000, regardless of lot size. For a large group of 600 horses processed as multiple separate lots, the mean probability of escap...
Motie A.An outbreak of suspected equine infectious anaemia (EIA) among a population of 678 horses from 16 farms occurred in the Rupununi Savannahs of Guyana. Clinical signs of EIA were detected in 110 horses. Agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) tests on 92 sera examined showed positive serological evidence of EIA in 67 (72·8%). The mean packed cell volume of 50 horses studied was 0·178
and the mean red blood cell count was 3·7 × 1012/l with the mean white blood cell count 4·1 × 109/l.
The morbidity rate of the disease was 14·0% and the mortality rate 11·1%. The majority (78%) of all seroposi...
Carstanjen B, Boehart S, Cislakova M.Septic arthritis in horses is a serious disease which can become life-threatening. In case the infection can be eliminated before irreversible joint damage occurs, complete recovery is possible. This article gives an overview of the literature concerning etiology, diagnosis and strategies of therapy in cases of septic arthritis in adult horses, with special reference to novel options of treatment.
Thomas HL, Livesey MA, Caswell JL.Multiple aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are previously unreported in horses. An ABC was diagnosed in the left 3rd metacarpal of a Thoroughbred foal, which partially resolved following surgical curettage. A 2nd ABC developed in the left tibia, 7 wk postoperatively, and the foal was euthanized.
Poradowski D, Chrószcz A.Studies of equine stomach prenatal development are very rare, and descriptions usually focus on the processes taking place in the embryonic period. Only general information about gastric organogenesis in the fetal period is available in embryology textbooks on domestic mammals. The material for our study included twenty half-breed horse fetuses divided into three age groups on the basis of known fetal age (verified using the CRL method). Our study consists of the topographical, morphological, and morphometrical description of stomach development between the 4th and 11th months of gestation. Ev...
Williams ZJ, Bertels M, Valberg SJ.Type 1 polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM1) is a glycogen storage disorder of known cause whereas the basis for type 2 PSSM (PSSM2) is unknown. The same diet and exercise regime prescribed for PSSM1 is recommended for PSSM2; however, the benefit of these recommendations for PSSM2 is undocumented. The objectives of this study were to determine traits of PSSM2 Warmblood horses (WB), determine the changes in exercise responses that occur with a recommended low-starch/fat-supplemented diet and exercise regime, and determine if glycogen concentrations correspond to the severity of signs. Owners ...
Eule JC, Wagner B, Leibold W, Deegen E.We investigated 30 healthy eyes and 41 eyes with ERU from 57 horses. The total immunoglobulin titers and titers of IgGa, IgGb, IgM were measured in aqueous humour, vitreous and serum using different ELISA techniques. Every sample investigated contained detectable amounts of immunoglobulins. Compared to control eyes significantly increased titers were found in the aqueous humour and vitreous of the ERU eyes for all immunoglobulin isotypes studied (p < or = 0.01). While IgM was detected in only 2 out of thirty aqueous humour and in none of the thirty vitreous samples of healthy eyes, 79.6% of sa...
Murphy CJ, Lavoie JP, Groff J, Hacker D, Pryor P, Bellhorn RW.Bilateral swelling of upper and lower eyelids was caused by lymphocytic infiltration in an 8-year-old Thoroughbred mare. The condition worsened with pregnancy and became associated with subcutaneous dissemination of lymphosarcoma at distant sites.
Anderson SL, Panizzi L, Bracamonte J.An 8-month-old Andalusian filly was treated for jejunal perforations due to ingestion of a porcupine quill. During exploratory laparotomy, 2 separate stapled side-to-side jejunojejunal resection and anastomoses were performed. Post-operative complications after 2 years follow-up included mild incisional herniation following incisional infection and chronic intermittent colic. Perforation jéjunale causée par l’ingestion d’une aiguille de porc-épic chez un cheval. Une pouliche d’Andalousie âgée de 8 mois a été traitée pour des perforations jéjunales causées par l’ingestion d’...
Littlewood KE, Beausoleil NJ, Stafford KJ, Stephens C, Collins T, Fawcett A, Hazel S, Lloyd J, Mallia C, Richards L, Wedler NK, Zito S.Veterinarians have an important role in supporting and understanding their clients' grief. Veterinary schools have a duty to teach students how best to manage grief - both that of the students/future veterinarians and the clients. This study explores how grief management, associated with ending the life of an animal, was taught to students in eight Australasian veterinary schools. Methods: A questionnaire-style interview guide was used by a representative at each university to conduct structured interviews with educators in a snowball sampling approach. Educators were interviewed about the tea...
Camus AC, Burba DJ, Valdes MA, Taylor HW.A 21-year-old female American Saddle Horse with a prominent swelling on the ventral aspect of the right hemimandible and radiographic evidence of a bone cyst was examined. The cyst cavity was surgically explored and was found to contain mucinous fluid and sheets of keratin. Microscopically, the cyst was lined by well-differentiated squamous epithelium characterized by various degrees of hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis. The stromal component varied from scant areas in which epithelium was closely apposed to bone to wide regions of dense connective tissue that contained fragments of keratin sur...
Dutton DM, Watkins JP, Honnas CM, Hague BA.To evaluate the response to various treatments and long-term outcome of foals with tarsal valgus deformities. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 39 foals with tarsal valgus deformities. Methods: Data collected from medical records, included signalment, history, reason for admission, and clinical findings. Radiographic views of the tarsus were evaluated for incomplete ossification of tarsal bones and were classified as normal in appearance, type-I incomplete ossification, or type-II incomplete ossification. Treatment and athletic outcome were documented for each foal. Results: Radiographic ...
Hubbell JA, Saville WJ, Bednarski RM.To determine the sedative, analgesic and anaesthetic drugs and techniques that are used by equine veterinarians. HYPOTHESIS OR OBJECTIVES: To provide equine veterinarians with information concerning veterinary use of anaesthetic techniques, a reflection of the collective experiences of the profession. Methods: A survey was conducted of those members of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) with an electronic mail address on file with the organisation using proprietary, web-based software. The survey was comprised of 30 questions divided into 8 sections: nonsteroidal anti-infl...
Golding E, Al Ansari ASA, Sutton GA, Walshe N, Duggan V.Equine obesity is a significant health and welfare concern. The proportion of domestic horse populations that are overweight are as high as 45%. As the primary decision-makers for their horses' care, owners are theoretically ideally placed to identify whether their horses are appropriately conditioned, however, research in other countries has shown that many owners are unable to accurately judge their horse's body condition. In this study, through the comparison of body condition scoring (BCS) performed by an expert and the horse owners and interviews with owners, we aimed to identify the prop...