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.
Coleman SJ, Gong G, Gaile DP, Chowdhary BP, Bailey E, Liu L, MacLeod JN.Loci for 9322 equine expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were predicted using the Comparative Mapping by Annotation and Sequence Similarity (Compass) strategy in order to evaluate the programme's ability to make accurate locus predictions in species with comparative gene maps. Using human genome sequence information from Build 35 (May 2004) and published marker information from the radiation hybrid (RH) maps for equine chromosomes (ECA) 17 and X, 162 ESTs were predicted to locations on ECA17 and 328 ESTs to locations on ECAX by selection of the 'top blast hit'. The locations of 30 ESTs were assesse...
Koch TG, Heerkens T, Thomsen PD, Betts DH.There are no published studies on stem cells from equine cord blood although commercial storage of equine cord blood for future autologous stem cell transplantations is available. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been isolated from fresh umbilical cord blood of humans collected non-invasively at the time of birth and from sheep cord blood collected invasively by a surgical intrauterine approach. Mesenchymal stem cells isolation percentage from frozen-thawed human cord blood is low and the future isolation percentage of MSCs from cryopreserved equine cord blood is therefore expectedly low. The...
Westermann CM, de Sain-van der Velden MG, van der Kolk JH, Berger R, Wijnberg ID, Koeman JP, Wanders RJ, Lenstra JA, Testerink N, Vaandrager AB....Two horses (a 7-year-old Groninger warmblood gelding and a six-month-old Trakehner mare) with pathologically confirmed rhabdomyolysis were diagnosed as suffering from multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD). This disorder has not been recognised in animals before. Clinical signs of both horses were a stiff, insecure gait, myoglobinuria, and finally recumbency. Urine, plasma, and muscle tissues were investigated. Analysis of plasma showed hyperglycemia, lactic acidemia, increased activity of muscle enzymes (ASAT, LDH, CK), and impaired kidney function (increased urea and creatinine). ...
Lloyd D, Walmsley JP, Greet TR, Payne RJ, Newton JR, Phillips TJ.There is little published clinical evidence on the use of a laparoscopic approach for the removal of pathologically enlarged ovaries in standing mares. Objective: To show the orders of success and complication rates that can be expected if pathologically enlarged ovaries are removed from standing, sedated mares under laparoscopic guidance using only electrosurgical means of haemostasis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was made of 55 mares in which the removal of an enlarged ovary was attempted by applying a standard laparoscopic procedure for routine ovariectomy in standing mares including a...
Smith LJ, Mellor DJ, Marr CM, Reid SW, Mair TS.Post operative complications following exploratory laparotomy can be potentially life-threatening, increase post operative morbidity and result in an increase in the length of hospitalisation of the affected individual. No study has evaluated the efficacy of specific strategies to reduce the incidence of post operative incisional complications. Objective: The use of an abdominal bandage following colic surgery through a celiotomy incision would significantly reduce the prevalence of post operative incisional complications. Methods: A controlled, randomised clinical trial to test the hypothesis...
Bonin SJ, Clayton HM, Lanovaz JL, Johnston T.Previous studies have suggested that temporomandibular joint (TMJ) kinematics depend on the type of food being masticated, but accurate measurements of TMJ motion in horses chewing different feeds have not been published. Objective: The temporomandibular joint has a larger range of motion when horses chew hay compared to pellets. Methods: An optical motion capture system was used to track skin markers on the skull and mandible of 7 horses as they chewed hay and pellets. A virtual marker was created on the midline between the mandibles at the level of the 4th premolar teeth to represent the ove...
Gilliam LL, Holbrook TC, Dechant JE, Johnson BJ.A 6-year-old Quarter Horse stallion was referred to Oklahoma State University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for evaluation of abdominal pain that developed after breeding activity earlier in the day. The horse developed diarrhea and progressively worsening neurologic signs (circling, ataxia, head pressing) within 22 hours of presentation and was subsequently euthanized due to severe self-destructive behavior. Antemortem biochemical and hematologic abnormalities included hypocalcemia but no evidence of hepatic disease. Idiopathic hyperammonemia and encephalopathy were suspected; cerebros...
Macieira S, Rivard GE, Champagne J, Lavoie JP, Bédard C.An 18-month-old Oldenbourg filly was presented with a bleeding diathesis. Laboratory testing included platelet count, gingival bleeding time, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), von Willebrand factor (vWf) antigen, clottable fibrinogen, clot retraction time, PFA-100 closure time, platelet aggregometry (on platelet-rich plasma), and thrombelastography (TEG). TEG was performed by using kaolin and tissue factor as coagulation activators. Expression of the platelet receptor for fibrinogen was assessed by flow cytometry by using anti CD41 (alpha(IIb) or glycoprotein...
Roleff S, Arndt G, Bottema B, Junker L, Grabner A, Kohn B.The CA530-VET is a completely automated impedance cell hematology analyzer, which yields a 16-parameter blood count including a 3-part leukocyte differential. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the operational potential of the CA530-VET and its value for use in veterinary practice. Methods: The analyzer was tested for blood carry-over, precision, and accuracy. Comparison methods included the CELL-DYN 3500, microhematocrit centrifugation, manual platelet (PLT) counting for feline and equine species, and a 100-cell manual WBC differential. Blood samples for comparison of the methods...
Carstanjen B, Abitbol M, Desbois C.The following case report describes the diagnosis and surgery of bilateral polydactyly of unknown origin in a colt. A 7-month-old Berber colt was referred for cosmetic and curative excision of supernumerary digits. Radiographic examination revealed bilateral polydactyly and welldeveloped first carpal bones. Surgery consisted of an osteotomy of both second metacarpal bones combined with an amputation of the supernumerary digits. The follow-up at 18 months after surgery revealed a sound horse with an excellent cosmetic outcome.
Lamas LP, Giovagnoli G, Heath MF, Jeffcott LB.Height is the only factor used to differentiate horses and ponies for competitive purposes; any horse without shoes that is less than 148 cm at the highest point of the withers can be classified as a pony. However, variations in height associated with anatomical and other factors can occur. In this study the accuracy of the most commonly used measuring procedure and seven independent factors that might affect apparent height were evaluated in skeletally mature horses that were less than 155 cm in height. The results indicated that there was an improvement of 57 per cent in the accuracy of meas...
Zerpa H, Berhane Y, Elliott J, Bailey SR.The vasculature of the equine digit fulfils an important role in thermoregulation. In other species, it has been found that cooling may enhance the response of cutaneous vessels to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonists. Translocation of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors to the smooth muscle cell membrane, mediated by Rho kinase, is thought to be involved in the cooling-enhanced response in mouse tail arteries. However, little is known about the effect of cooling on 5-HT receptor function. The present investigation compared the response of 5-bromo-6-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino) quinoxa...
Menzies-Gow NJ, Marr CM.The repeatability and sensitivity of Doppler ultrasonographic measurement of lateral digital arterial and venous blood flow has not been previously determined. Doppler ultrasonography was used to measure blood flow within the forelimb lateral digital vessels in one normal adult Thoroughbred horse on six occasions and in six normal adult Thoroughbred horses on three occasions, each occasion being at least 1 h apart, to determine the within- and between-horse variation. The values obtained from the right and left lateral digital vessels did not differ significantly. The within-horse coefficients...
Zhou H, Liu C, Wang W.This study was conducted to reconstruct heterogeneous embryos using equine skin fibroblast cells as donor karyoplasts and the bovine oocytes as recipient cytoplast for investigating the reprogramming of equine somatic cell nuclear in bovine oocyte cytoplasm and the developmental potential of the reconstructed embryos. Adult horse skin fibroblast cells serum-starved were used as donor somatic cells. Bovine oocytes matured in vitro were employed as recipient cytoplasts. The fusion of fibroblast cells into recipient cytoplasm was induced by electofusion. The fused eggs were activated by inomycin ...
Causey RC.Uterine infections are a major cause of infertility, but the role of mucus in equine uterine defense is not well understood. Mucociliary currents play an important role in protecting mucous membranes, including the upper and lower respiratory tracts of mammals, and are required for feeding and oxygenation of many aquatic invertebrates. Although phagocytosis has long been considered the first line of uterine defense in the mare, there are concerns about its efficacy in the uterine lumen. Additional local defenses, such as mucociliary currents, have therefore been proposed. The uterine epitheliu...
Fjordbakk CT, Strand E, Milde AK, Ihler CF, Rorvik AM.To determine clinical and diagnostic imaging findings in young horses with osteochondral fragments involving the dorsomedial aspect of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 6 horses. Methods: Medical records were reviewed. Follow-up information was obtained through telephone conversations with owners or trainers or by examining race records. Results: Horses were between 1 and 4 years old. Three had bilateral osteochondral fragments in the forelimbs (n = 2 horses) or hind limbs (1). Radiographically, all but 1 fragment seemed to originate from th...
Carluccio A, Contri A, Tosi U, De Amicis I, De Fanti C.To determine survival rate, complications, and short-term fertility rate after fetotomy in mares. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 72 mares with severe dystocia. Methods: Records from 1991 to 2005 were searched for mares with dystocia in which a fetotomy was performed. Data relating to presentation and position of foals; survival rate, complications, and short-term fertility rate in mares; and 45-day pregnancy rate in mares bred 2 to 3 months after fetotomy were recorded. Results: Anterior fetal presentation was detected for 54 of 72 (75%) mares, posterior presentation was detected for 1...
Wereszka MM, White NA, Furr MO.To identify factors associated with outcome (ie, survival and return to function) following treatment of horses with septic tenosynovitis. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 51 horses with septic tenosynovitis. Methods: Information was obtained from medical records and through follow-up conversations with owners. Factors analyzed for an association with outcome included affected limb, etiology, duration of clinical signs prior to examination, presence of complications, primary treatment, secondary treatments, number of surgical procedures, and hospitalization time. Results: Concurren...
Koenig JB, Rodriguez A, Colquhoun JK, Stämpfli H.During exploratory laparotomy of a foal with colic, a congenital abnormally developed large colon was identified incidentally. Long-term follow-up showed that the colt was more prone to gas-colic with diet and exercise changes than were other horses, due possibly to the short colon. Malformation congénitale du côlon (côlon court) chez un poulain Standardbred âgé de 4 mois. Au cours d’une laparotomie exploratrice chez un poulain atteint de colique, une malformation congénitale du gros côlon a été identifiée de façon fortuite. Un suivi à long terme a montré que le poulain était d...
Cowley S, Bowman B, Lawrance M.There is increasing concern in Australia about safety in the thoroughbred racing industry, but there has been no reported analysis of injury data. This review analyses injury and workers' compensation data recorded in Victoria. On the basis of the results, it is recommended that the injury and incident data collection systems are improved such that they are not only more complete but also accumulate more detailed information about the location of an incident or injury event, the activity at the time of the incident or injury event, and factors that may have influenced the occurrence.
Kvaternick V, Malinski T, Wortmann J, Fischer J.A sensitive reversed-phase HPLC-UV method was developed for the determination of firocoxib, a novel and highly selective COX-2 inhibitor, in plasma. A 1.0 mL dog or horse plasma sample is mixed with water and passed through a hydrophobic-lipophilic copolymer solid-phase extraction column to isolate firocoxib. Quantitation is based on an external standard curve. The method has a validated limit of quantitation of 25 ng/mL and a limit of detection of 10 ng/mL. The validated upper limit of quantitation was 2500 ng/mL for horses and 10,000 ng/mL for dogs. The average recoveries ranged from 88-93% ...
Doherty TJ, Geiser DR, Rohrbach BW.This study determined the effects of epidurally administered morphine, ketamine and butorphanol on halothane minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) in ponies. Seven ponies were anaesthetised with thiopentone and succinylcholine, intubated and anaesthesia maintained with halothane. Ventilation was controlled and blood pressure was maintained within normal limits. Following the determination of baseline halothane MAC for the pelvic and thoracic limbs the ponies were given morphine (0.1 mg/kg bwt), ketamine (0.8 or 1.2 mg/kg bwt), butorphanol (0.05 mg/kg bwt) or saline, epidurally, to a final volum...
Blythe LL, Kitchell RL.The cutaneous innervation of the thoracic limb was investigated in 18 barbiturate-anesthetized horses, using electrophysiologic techniques. The cutaneous area (CA) innervated by each cutaneous nerve was delineated in at least 4 horses by stroking the hairs with a small watercolor brush while recording from the nerve. Mapping of adjacent CA revealed areas of considerable overlap. The part of a CA of a given nerve supplied only by that nerve is referred to as its autonomous zone (AZ). In contrast to the standard textbook illustrations cutaneous branches of the axillary, radial, musculocutaneous,...
Schott HC, Bayly WM, Reed SM, Brobst DF.Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus was diagnosed in two full sibling Thoroughbred colts. Each colt had a history of excessive urination. Extreme polydipsia (greater than 80 L per day) was documented in both colts. Inability to concentrate urine in response to water deprivation, infusion of hypertonic saline, or exogenous vasopressin administration indicated insensitivity of the collecting duct epithelial cells to vasopressin. A diagnosis of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus was further supported by a normal increase in plasma vasopressin concentration after water deprivation in the one colt in which ...
Beintema JJ.Parts of the amino acid sequences of horse and dromedary pancreatic ribonuclease were reinvestigated. The sequence of residues 21-25 in horse ribonuclease is Ser-Asn-Pro-Thr-Tyr or Ser-Asn-Ser-Thr-Tyr. The asparagine in the latter sequence is glycosylated. Horse ribonuclease possesses four additional amino acid residues at the C-terminus, like a number of other ribonucleases. Position 39 in horse and dromedary ribonuclease is not deleted but is occupied by tryptophan.
Ramzan PH, Palmer L.Fissures of the occlusal surface of the equine cheek tooth are poorly understood and their association with dental disease is unknown. Objective: To describe the prevalence and location of occlusal fissures in the cheek teeth (CT) of a group of horses referred for dental investigation/treatment, and determine association with intercurrent dental disease. Methods: Digital video recordings of oral endoscopic examinations for all horses referred to the Rossdales Equine Hospital for dental investigation from November 2006 to June 2009 were reviewed. Location of occlusal fissures in relation to bot...
Lindegaard C, Husted L, Ullum H, Fjeldborg J.Endoscopy of the upper airways of horses is used as a diagnostic tool and at purchase examinations. On some occasions it is necessary to use sedation during the procedure and it is often speculated that the result of the examination might be influenced due to the muscle-relaxing properties of the most commonly used sedatives. Objective: To evaluate the effect of detomidine (0.01 mg/kg bwt) and acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg bwt) on the appearance of symmetry of rima glottidis, ability to abduct maximally the arytenoid cartilages and the effect on recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) grade. Methods: ...
Cox JE.A simple technique for castration of adult horses which results in first intention healing was devised. The technique involves a 'closed' castration with or without a transfixed ligature on the spermatic sac and suturing the scrotal skin with polyglycolic acid suture material. The postoperative course was characterised by mild oedema only and by rapid recovery. The results obtained during the course of removing 311 scrotal testes from horses and donkeys of all ages are described and discussed. The technique is readily applicable in the field.
Golenz MR, Wilson WD, Carlson GP, Craychee TJ, Mihalyi JE, Knox L.The suitability of the intraosseous (i.o.) route for drug administration to equine neonates was evaluated in a study comparing the pharmacokinetics of amikacin administered by the i.o. and intravenous (i.v.) routes. Using a cross-over study design amikacin sulphate (7 mg/kg bwt) was administered i.o. or i.v. to 6 healthy foals at 3 and 5 days of age. Amikacin was instantaneously and completely absorbed after i.o. administration, achieving a mean +/- sd peak concentration (34.17 +/- 3.54 micrograms/ml) in the first sample collected 3 min after administration which was not significantly differen...
Macpherson ML.Equine placentitis is a complex disease that has devastating consequences for horse owners. Placentitis is a significant cause of foal loss annually. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of the disease are paramount for survival of the affected neonate. This article discusses current information on pathogenesis of the disease as well as diagnostic and therapeutic options.
Du Cheyne C, Chen Y, De Craene J, Thas O, De Spiegelaere W.Accurate tools to measure RNA integrity are essential to obtain reliable gene expression data. The reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) based 3':5' assay permits a direct determination of messenger RNA (mRNA) integrity. However, the use of standard curves and the possible effect of PCR inhibitors make this method cumbersome and prone to variation, especially in small samples. Here we developed a triplex digital PCR (dPCR) 3':5' assay for assessing RNA integrity in equine samples as rapid and simple alternative to RT-qPCR. This dPCR assay not only provides a straight forward analysi...
Inui T, Yamada K, Itoh M, Yanagawa M, Higuchi T, Watanabe A, Imamura Y, Urabe M, Sasaki N.Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) is characterized by progressive osseous proliferation of the stylohyoid and petrous temporal bones. Generally, diagnosis is confirmed by guttural pouch endoscopy and skull radiography. In the present case, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed in a 6-month-old Thoroughbred foal showing signs of head tilt and unilateral ear droop, consistent with the presence of a vestibular disease and unilateral facial paralysis. CT revealed bony fusion and proliferation of the right temporohyoid joint, while MRI revealed that otitis m...
Schryver HF, Hintz HF, Craig PH, Hogue DE, Lowe JE.The site of phosphorus absorption was studied by comparing the absorption of 32P placed directly into the cecum of fistulated ponies, with that absorbed from an intragastric dose and by estimating apparent absorption in different areas of the intestinal tract of ponies using Cr2O3 as an unabsorbable marker. There was no difference in the absorption of 32P following gastric or cecal administration indicating that phosphorus may be absorbed from the large intestine. The Cr2O3/nutrient ratio technique indicated that phosphorus was secreted into the upper half of the small bowel and that a nearly ...
Braim AE, Macdonald MH, Bruss ML, Stanley SD, Giri JK, Giri SN.To characterize the plasma pharmacokinetics and clinical effects of pirfenidone administered IV in healthy horses. Methods: 6 adult horses. Methods: A 15 mg/kg dose of pirfenidone was administered IV over 5 minutes. Physical variables were recorded and blood samples collected prior to infusion; 2.5 minutes after beginning infusion; at the end of infusion; and at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 75, and 90 minutes and 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours after completion of infusion. Plasma concentrations of pirfenidone and its metabolites were determined. Results: Mild clinical effects...
Marlin DJ, Scott CM, Mills PC, Louwes H, Vaarten J.The effects of administering (1) 6L isotonic oral rehydration solution (ORS), similar in composition to plasma (except for an elevated potassium concentration) and with an osmotic skeleton and (2) 6L water (no osmotic skeleton), were evaluated in five thoroughbred horses following exercise-induced dehydration. The horses were exercised on a treadmill for 10 min at walk (1.7 m.s-1; approximately 15% VO2max), 40 min at trot (3.7 m.s-1; approximately 25% VO2max) and 10 min at walk (1.7 m.s-1; approximately 15% VO2max). Exercise was undertaken on a 3 degrees incline at 30 degrees C/80% RH. Solutio...
Ross MW, Cullen KK, Rutkowski JA.Myoelectric activity of the ileum, cecum, and right ventral colon (RVC) was studied in 4 mature ponies. Eight Ag-AgCl bipolar recording electrodes were sutured to the seromuscular layer of the ileum (2 electrodes), cecum (4 electrodes), and RVC (2 electrodes). Myoelectric activity was studied beginning 10 days after surgery. Eight, 60-minute recording sessions were performed in each pony during the interdigestive period, which was the period 3 to 7 hours after the morning feeding. On separate days, food was withheld for 24 hours, and 90-minute recordings were obtained during the nonfeeding per...
Lu KG, Morresey PR.Diagnosis, treatment, and, ultimately, prevention of reproductive disease are vital components of equine veterinary medicine. A thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology is necessary to reconcile the pathologic findings of disease. Only then can a rational treatment plan be formulated. Many recent advances in knowledge about the reproductive system of multiple species have application to the mare and stallion.
Escande F, Vallee E, Aubart F.The isolation of Pasteurella caballi from an horse-bite wound in a 56-year-old man is reported. Biochemical characteristics are described and compared with the other species representing the genus Pasteurella. This strain probably represents the first human isolate of P. caballi in France.
Mair TS, de Westerlaken LV, Cripps PJ, Love S.Samples of faeces and blood were obtained from 66 adult horses with diarrhoea. The results of routine bacteriological, parasitological, haematological and biochemical tests were correlated with the outcome of the cases. Twenty-two (33 per cent) of the horses died or were destroyed as a consequence of the diarrhoea. A diagnosis was reached in only 23 cases (35 per cent), and in nine of them only at post mortem examination. Salmonella typhimurium was isolated from five cases. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the horses which survived and those which died in their pac...