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Topic:Veterinary Care
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.
[Anatomy of the splint bones and their surrounding area particularly in consideration of fascial attachments]. This study concerns the vestigial metacarpal and metatarsal bones, so called splint bones. The soft tissues, which stabilize the splint bones were carefully examined. The palmar metacarpal/plantar metatarsal fascia, the metacarpal/metatarsal interosseous ligaments and the fibres, which exit distally from the splint bone, were examined in depth. Cadaveric distal limbs were collected from 5 slaughtered or euthanized horses. The legs were examined both, microscopically and macroscopically. The palmar metacarpal/plantar metatarsal fascia is a very stable structure, which connects the splint bone w...
Musculoskeletal problems associated with lameness and poor performance among horses used for barrel racing: 118 cases (2000-2003). To identify types of musculoskeletal problems associated with lameness or poor performance in horses used for barrel racing. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 118 horses. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for information on signalment, history, physical and lameness examination findings, diagnostic tests performed, diagnosis, and treatment. Results: Most horses were examined because of lameness (n = 72 [61%]) rather than poor performance (46 [39%]), but owner complaint was not significantly associated with age or body weight of the horse. The most common performance change was ...
Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for specific equine neutrophil myeloperoxidase measurement in blood. Equine inflammatory disease is accompanied by a neutrophil activation resulting in the release of granulocytic enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO). To measure MPO in horse plasma as marker of neutrophil activation, the authors purified equine neutrophil MPO and developed a specific enzyme immunoassay using 2 specific polyclonal antibodies obtained from rabbit (primary antibody) and guinea pig (secondary antibody). The sandwich complex "primary antibody-MPO-secondary antibody" was detected using a goat anti-guinea pig immunoglobulin antibody conjugated to alkaline phosphatase. The enzyme-linked immuno...
Evaluation of five commercially available assays and measurement of serum total protein concentration via refractometry for the diagnosis of failure of passive transfer of immunity in foals. To determine and compare sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and predictive values of measurement of serum total protein concentration by refractometry as well as 5 commercially available kits for the diagnosis of failure of passive transfer (FPT) of immunity in foals. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 65 foals with various medical problems and 35 clinically normal foals. Methods: IgG concentration in serum was assessed by use of zinc sulfate turbidity (assay C), glutaraldehyde coagulation (assay D), 2 semiquantitative immunoassays (assays F and G), and a quantitative immunoassay (assay H)....
Investigation of falsely reported resistance of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolates from horses to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The objective of this study was to investigate the perceived increase in resistance of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) isolated from the lower respiratory tract of horses to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT). The recorded SXT-susceptibility results of 50 S. zooepidemicus isolates from the tracheal wash fluid of equine patients examined at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital from each of 2 time periods (1987-1990 and 1997-2001) were compared and statistically analyzed using a cross-sectional study design. There was a statistically significant diff...
Prescription-only anthelmintics–a questionnaire survey of strategies for surveillance and control of equine strongyles in Denmark. In 1999, legislation in Denmark made anthelmintic drugs available only by prescription, and prohibited their use for routine, prophylactic treatment. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 2004 to determine current strategies for surveillance and control of equine strongyles used in Danish equine veterinary practices. Eighty-seven of 170 (51.2%) registered equine veterinary practices responded. Ninety seven percent of the respondents used faecal egg counts for diagnosis and surveillance, and 41% used larval cultures. Logistic regression revealed that the use of larval cultures was positively ...
Skeletal muscle blood flow in anaesthetized horses. Part II: effects of anaesthetics and vasoactive agents. This review aims at evaluating studies investigating the effects of anaesthesia on skeletal muscle blood flow and associated cardiovascular function in anaesthetized horses and discusses how the results of these studies contribute to our understanding of the pathogenesis and prevention of post-anaesthetic myopathy. Methods: Pubmed & personal files. Conclusions: There is little published information on the effects of anaesthesia on skeletal muscle blood flow in horses. Available reports predominantly refer to halothane and isoflurane. The effects of vasoactive drugs have mainly been studied...
Supernumerary cheek teeth (n = 24): clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and outcome in 15 horses. There are few reports of case series of horses with supernumerary cheek teeth (SCT) that document clinical findings, treatment and long-term outcome. Objective: To review the clinical and ancillary diagnostic findings and responses to different treatments in horses with SCT. Methods: The case records of 15 horses were reviewed and long-term outcomes obtained by telephone interview. Results: Fifteen horses with a total of 24 SCT were identified. Two SCT were incidental findings and were not treated. Clinical signs were improved or resolved in 11 of 13 of the teeth treated conservatively and all...
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for treatment of osteoarthritis in the horse: clinical applications. Veterinarians have begun using extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) in horses, although relatively little information has been published about its efficacy or mechanism of action. As a clinician, it can be difficult to know if and when ESWT should be recommended. Case studies in which ESWT is used to treat advanced OA in horses are discussed. ESWTseems to be a valuable adjunct for management of equine OA. It is the purpose of this article to discuss indications and techniques as well as to share clinical experiences using ESWT in the treatment of OA in ...
New surgical treatments for osteochondritis dissecans and subchondral bone cysts. Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and subchondral bone cysts (SBCs) occur commonly and at many different locations in equine limbs and can lead to secondary osteoarthritis when left untreated. Depending on the location and extent of the lesion, arthroscopic surgical debridement may be an effective treatment for returning a horse to athletic soundness. In many cases, however, additional techniques to improve the healing response in bone and cartilage are needed so as to preserve articular function. Methods for improving cartilage repair (ie, restoration of damaged cartilage)or regeneration (ie, r...
Equine rehabilitation therapy for joint disease. The principles of physical rehabilitation therapy can be applied to the horse to provide a reduction in discomfort and dysfunction associated with the various forms of joint disease. Physical agents,such as ice, heat, electricity, sound, light, magnetic fields, compression, and movement, can be used by the rehabilitation therapist to attempt to control pain, reduce swelling, and restore optimal movement and function in the affected joint. The equine therapist's attention is focused not only on the affected joint but on the body as a whole to manage secondary or compensatory problems.
Scintigraphic, radiographic, and thermographic appearance of the metacarpal and metatarsal regions of adult healthy horses treated with nonfocused extracorporeal shock wave therapy–a pilot study. Nonfocused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) treatment protocol is commonly used in veterinary practice. This study investigated the effects of four nonfocused ESWT treatments, given 2 weeks apart, on bone radiopharmaceutical uptake and radiographic and thermographic appearance in the metacarpal and metatarsal regions in six adult untrained horses. There were no measurable treatment effects determined by thermography (daily), scintigraphy (at 2-week intervals), and radiography (before study initiation and at study completion) between treated and control limbs. It was concluded that no g...
Intra-articular injections for joint disease in horses. Lameness remains an important source of reduced performance in many types of horses. Pain referable to joints is among the most common causes, and intra-articular injections remain a common and important means of addressing lameness referable to joints in horses.
Cross-sectional anatomy and comparative ultrasonography of the equine medial femorotibial joint and its related structures. Injuries of the equine stifle are frequent causes of hindlimb lameness. Ultrasonography is useful for the diagnosis of many soft tissue lesions but, until recently, its application to the equine stifle has been limited to a description of normal and abnormal structures. A comparative study using gross anatomical sections to identify all structures visible on ultrasonographic images of the equine stifle has not previously been reported. Objective: To provide a comprehensive comparative cross-sectional atlas of the normal equine medial femorotibial (MFT) joint and its related structures using ul...
Attempted eradication of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus colonisation in horses on two farms. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an emerging equine and zoonotic pathogen. Infection control protocols can be used to control MRSA in human hospitals, but measures to eradicate MRSA on horse farms have not been evaluated. Objective: To describe an MRSA eradication programme that was used to attempt to eliminate MRSA colonisation among horses and horse personnel on 2 equine farms. Methods: Active surveillance cultures and infection control protocols were implemented on 2 farms with endemic MRSA. Results: Active screening and strict implementation of infection control protoc...
Arthrodesis techniques in horses. When medical therapy and surgical treatments of an injured joint fail to return the animal to athletic performance or comfortable use of the limb, arthrodes is is a final option for some joints. Arthrodesis refers to the surgical fusion of a joint, resulting in bony ankylosis. Successful arthrodesis requires debridement of the articular cartilage through the calcified cartilage layer, exposing the subchondral bone; alignment of the joint into a weight-bearing position; and stabilization. The methods by which these steps are accomplished are variable, depending on the individual joint. There ar...
Changes in location of centre of pressure and hoof-unrollment pattern in relation to an 8-week shoeing interval in the horse. In order to optimise shoeing and shoeing conditions, it is essential to know how the horse adapts to a common shoeing interval. Objective: To measure changes in location of the centre of pressure (CoP) and hoof-unrollment pattern during a shoeing interval and to assess whether these changes in CoP result directly from changes in hoof conformation or are also influenced by compensatory mechanisms. Methods: Eighteen horses were trotted over a pressure-force measurement system shortly after shoeing and 8 weeks later. The position of the CoP was measured and also predicted using calculations based...
Role of transcranial magnetic stimulation in differentiating motor nervous tract disorders from other causes of recumbency in four horses and one donkey. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and measurement of the magnetic motor-evoked potentials (MMEPs) in the thoracic and pelvic limbs of four recumbent horses and one recumbent donkey were used to assess the integrity of the descending motor pathways, in order to confirm or exclude a descending motor tract lesion as the cause of the recumbency. In two of the animals abnormal MMEPs were recorded; in one of the horses a lesion along the cervical spinal cord due to a fracture of the fifth cervical vertebra was diagnosed and confirmed by radiography and postmortem examination; in another horse, damag...
Diagnosis and treatment of ligamentous and meniscal injuries in the equine stifle. The accuracy of the diagnosis of ligamentous and meniscal injuries in the equine stifle has improved significantly in the last 20 years. There are, however, significant limitations in the diagnosis of stifle injuries because of the size and anatomy of the equine stifle. Treatment of soft tissue injuries to the equine stifle has been empirical,with only a few large case studies for specific conditions of stifle ligaments and menisci and only retrospective case studies of the outcome of treatment. This article describes the diagnosis and treatment of ligamentous and meniscal injuries in the equi...
Diagnosis and treatment of septic arthritis. Septic arthritis (SA) is a common orthopedic condition encountered in horses that are presented to equine veterinarians. Successful out-come is dependent on prompt and thorough evaluation and treatment. This article briefly reviews the pathophysiology, outlines diagnostics, describes treatment options and prognostics, and discusses current research in diagnosis and treatment of SA.
Two clinical manifestations of desmopathy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon in the hindlimb of 23 horses. Desmopathy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (ALDDFT) in the hindlimb is an unusual cause of lameness in horses, and reports of the condition are sparse. Objective: To describe the clinical and ultrasonographic findings, therapy and outcome of 23 horses treated for desmopathy of the ALDDFT in the hindlimb. Methods: Records of 23 horses with ultrasonographic evidence of desmopathy of the ALDDFT in one or both hindlimbs from 3 referral centres were reviewed retrospectively. Age, breed, sex, duration and nature of clinical signs, results of clinical and lameness examinat...
The use of nutraceuticals for osteoarthritis in horses. In horses, lameness is often attributable to some degree of osteoarthritis (OA), a complex disease process that is highlighted by eventual degradation of articular cartilage. Conventional therapies for OA in horses are designed to relieve pain and discomfort and often include pharmacologic intervention with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or intra-articular steroids. Oral administration of nutraceutical products to the horse is common and easy and is perceived to be a benign treatment for OA in horses. The main goal for use of nutraceuticals is to use them in OA cases to attempt to lower ...
Future directions in treatment of joint disease in horses. Osteoarthritis is one of the most economically important diseases facing equine practitioners. The loss of use associated with joint disease is a leading problem in the equine industry. Although osteoarthritis in all species is believed to be a multifactorial disease that is not well understood, significant advances are being made. This article presents areas of research that are relatively well developed but have not made it to commercialization or routine clinical practice and looks at new applications being investigated for peo-ple that may have an equine application.
Radiographic anatomy of the soft tissue attachments of the equine stifle. Radiography is a very important aspect of equine stifle imaging. The precise radiographic anatomy of the soft tissue structures of the equine stifle has not been described previously. Objective: To describe the anatomical relationship between sites of attachment of soft tissue structures of the equine stifle and their locations on standard radiographic views. Methods: The sites of bony attachments of the tendons, ligaments and fibrous portion of the joint capsules of equine stifles were determined by gross dissection. These sites of attachment were transposed onto one set of bones deprived of ...
Systemic therapies for joint disease in horses. Systemic therapies for joint disease may be prescribed when a single joint is involved or when multiple sites are affected. The precise therapeutic regimen recommended depends on the duration,cause, and site(s) of injury and is often an adjunct to intra-articular or supportive therapies. If the clinical signs of joint disease are acute and moderate in severity, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often administered to alleviate pain and inflammation. When aiming for more of a generalized maintenance or chondro-protective regimen, an alternative medication, such as hyaluronan,polysulfated ...
