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.
Saulez MN, Cebra CK, Heidel JR, Walker RD, Singh R, Bird KE.A 17-year-old gelding was evaluated because of dysuria, inappetence, and weight loss. Cystoscopy revealed severe mucosal ecchymoses with luminal hemorrhage and accumulations of crystalloid sludge. Analysis of a urine sample revealed isosthenuria, an alkaline pH, pyuria, hematuria, bacteriuria, and numerous calcium carbonate crystals. Histologic examination of bladder mucosa biopsy specimens revealed severe neutrophilic infiltration with mineralization. A diagnosis of encrusted cystitis exacerbated by sabulous urolithiasis was made. A Corynebacterium sp susceptible to penicillin, sulfonamide, a...
Bradbury LA, Archer DC, Dugdale AH, Senior JM, Edwards GB.A horse which had had a caecal impaction for 10 days was treated by means of an ileocolostomy [corrected] but failed to respond satisfactorily. Before a second laparotomy was performed it was observed to have dislodged the extension set from a jugular catheter and air was heard being sucked into the vein. It became very agitated but was anaesthetised again and the impaction was removed through an incision in the apex of the colon [corrected] After recovering from the anaesthesia it developed severe signs of pruritus which subsided only after 12 hours. These signs were considered most likely to...
Cohen ND, O'Conor MS, Chaffin MK, Martens RJ.To identify farm characteristics and management practices associated with development of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals. Methods: Prospective case-control study. Methods: 5230 foals on 138 breeding farms with 9136 horses. Methods: During 2003, participating veterinarians provided data from 1 or 2 farms with > or =1 foal with R equi pneumonia and unaffected farms. Data from affected and unaffected farms were compared by use of logistic regression analysis. Results: A number of variables relating to farm size and desirable management practices were significantly associated with increased od...
Hu HH, MacAllister CG, Payton ME, Erkert RS.To compare analgesic effects of phenylbutazone administered at a dosage of 4.4 mg/kg/d (2 mg/lb/d) or 8.8 mg/kg/d (4 mg/lb/d) in horses with chronic lameness. Methods: Controlled crossover study. Animals-9 horses with chronic forelimb lameness. Methods: Horses were treated i.v. with phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg/d or 8.8 mg/kg/d) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution once daily for 4 days. All horses received all 3 treatments with a minimum of 14 days between treatments. Mean peak vertical force (mPVF) was measured and clinical lameness scores were assigned before initiation of each treatment and 6, 12, ...
Janicek JC, Dabareiner RM, Honnas CM, Crabill MA.To determine clinical history, structures involved, treatment, and outcome of lacerations of the heel bulb and proximal phalangeal region (pastern) in horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 101 horses. Methods: Medical records of horses with lacerations of the heel bulb and pastern were reviewed, and follow-up information was obtained. Results: 75 horses were Quarter Horses. Most horses were not treated with antimicrobial drugs prior to referral. Mean +/- SD time from injury to referral was 24 +/- 45 hours (range, 1 to 168 hours). Lacerations were most frequently caused by contact with...
Magnarelli L, Fikrig E.Blood samples were collected from 98 horses suspected of having borreliosis or granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Connecticut and New York State, USA during 1985, 1995, and 1996. Serum antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), based on whole-cell and recombinant antigens, in 82 (84%) horses. Of the 181 sera tested, 59% were positive, using whole-cell antigens, compared to 48% with protein (p)37 and 35% with VlsE antigens. An ELISA containing either of these fusion proteins can be used as an adjunct to general screening by an ELISA or immunoblot...
Fischer KD.A number of surgical interventions in ancient veterinary medicine were modelled on the same procedures in human medicine. This is discussed in some detail for the prolapse of the uterus and the couching of the cataract in horses. In the introductory section, the importance of Switzerland and neighbouring areas for the transmission of ancient veterinary medicine is highlighted.
Seco Diaz O, Desrochers A, Hoffmann V, Reef VB.An 8-day-old Arabian-Morgan cross colt underwent cardiac evaluation. The foal was tachycardic, tachypneic, exercise intolerant and had a loud right-sided heart murmur and cyanotic mucous membranes. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection was diagnosed with echocardiography and confirmed at postmortem examination. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection is a very rare congenital cardiac abnormality that has not been reported before in the horse.
Wilson DA.The equine practitioner can positively influence wound healing by dispensing appropriate treatment in the first few hours after injury. Positive actions in the early period include hemostasis, meticulous cleansing and debridement of the wound, the use of effective but nonirritating products to disinfect the wound, closure (if indicated)with minimal tension on the suture line, the judicious use of drains,and ensuring adequate tetanus protection. Furthermore, a thorough assessment of the wound and the patient in the initial period after trauma provides pertinent information on prognosis. Finally...
Dart AJ, Dowling BA, Smith CL.Wound repair is a complex series of coordinated events regulated by a delicately orchestrated cascade of cytokines and growth factors that restore the structural integrity of damaged tissue. Manipulation of the growth factor profile or wound environment through topical application of therapeutic agents could positively influence the rate and quality of wound repair. Transforming growth factor-beta,platelet-rich plasma, activated macrophage supernatant, and growth hormone are sources of mediators that may facilitate wound healing. Solcoseryl, ketanserin, tripeptide- and tetrapeptide-copper comp...
Hendrickson D, Virgin J.The rate and outcome of wound healing are determined by many factors,some of which are already in effect when the horse is first presented to the veterinarian. A thorough understanding of wound healing principles,coupled with clear client communication, should enable the practitioner to minimize the number of additional factors that may exacerbate the initial situation.
Jann H, Pasquini C.The authors describe the clinically relevant structures of the distal limb and the current diagnostic and treatment modalities. Specific problems include tendon laceration, septic tenosynovitis, and sep-tic arthritis of the distal joints. A detailed description of tendon repair, tendon sheath lavage, and postoperative convalescent methodology is provided. This article makes available to the reader information necessary to appropriately diagnose and treat wounds of the distal equine limb involving deep structures. Information on the overall prognosis is also provided.
Benders NA, Dyer J, Wijnberg ID, Shirazi-Beechey SP, van der Kolk JH.To confirm whether the plasma glucose concentration curve obtained during oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) in horses with equine motor neuron disease (EMND) is decreased, compared with that obtained in clinically normal horses, and determine whether that decrease is a result of defective glucose metabolism or intestinal glucose transport dysfunction. Methods: 8 horses with EMND and 44 matched control horses. Methods: Electromyography and OGTTs were performed in all 8 affected horses and 10 control horses. Intravenous GTTs (IVGTTs) were performed in 6 affected horses and another 11 control ...
Gomez JH, Hanson RR.The use and aims of various wound dressings are discussed. Application and indications in the horse vary according to the type and location of the wound as well as the nature and availability of the dressing material. Coaptation and immobilization are essential to promote healing in certain locations. Techniques used for bandage application in horses are described, with special emphasis on problem areas.
Hendrix SM, Baxter GM.Most injuries, including those with significant tissue loss, can be successfully managed with proper therapy. With delayed healing, potential causes for the delay, such as sequestra, foreign bodies, and excessive motion,should be determined and treated to permit complete wound resolution. Horses have the innate ability to heal rapidly; however, minor injuries can quickly turn into complicated wounds, given the severity of the inciting trauma and the less than ideal environment in which the horses are housed. Wound management must focus on a combination of timely surgical and medical interventi...
Jenner F, Edwards RB, Voss JR, Southwood L, Markel MD, Richardson DW.To evaluate the use of hydrothermal ablation of articular cartilage for arthrodesis in horses through investigation of the effects of joint lavage with physiologic saline (0.9% NaCI) solution (80 degrees C) for various treatment times on chondrocyte viability in the articular cartilage of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of cadaveric horse limbs. Sample Population-7 pairs of metacarpophalangeal and 8 pairs of metatarsophalangeal joints from 8 Thoroughbreds. Methods: The horses were euthanatized for reasons unrelated to musculoskeletal disease. On a random basis, 1 joint o...
Bristol DG.Although most equine wounds can be easily treated and heal without consequence, there are many that present special challenges. Skin grafts area valuable part of the veterinarian's armamentarium for treatment of complicated wounds, particularly limb wounds. Attention to preparation of the recipient site and proper aftercare are critical to successful grafting. With better understanding of equine wound and graft physiology and the promise foretold by advances in human skin grafting, the outcome of treatments of difficult equine wounds should continue to improve in the future.
Theoret CL.The equine practitioner who is presented with a wounded horse should fully understand the physiologic mechanisms involved in repair so as to design an appropriate treatment plan. In the following articles of this issue,experienced authors share their thoughts on the management of specific injuries, and the reader should benefit from acquisition of knowledge about the different phases of healing as well as the cytokines that regulate them,because these data dictate the approach to follow, particularly in com-plicated wounds, such as those afflicted by chronic inflammation and/or an excessive pr...
Céleste CJ, Szöke MO.Hoof injuries are common in horses. Some wounds can pose diagnostic and treatment challenges because of the rigid nature of horn,the tissue involved, the deeper underlying structures eventually invaded, or the pattern of healing. By combining knowledge about the anatomy and biomechanical properties of the foot and healing characteristics of the hoof with adapted general principles of wound management, satisfactory clinical outcomes usually result.
Bolin DC, Donahue JM, Vickers ML, Harrison L, Sells S, Giles RC, Hong CB, Poonacha KB, Roberts J, Sebastian MM, Swerczek TW, Tramontin R, Williams NM.During the spring and summer of 2001 and in association with the mare reproductive loss syndrome, 22 terminal and 12 clinical cases of equine pericarditis were diagnosed in central Kentucky. Actinobacillus species were the principal isolates from 8 of 10 nontreated, terminally affected and 3 of 10 clinically affected horses. Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus zooepidemicus were cultured from the remaining 2 nontreated terminal cases. No viruses were isolated in tissue culture. Nucleic acid of equine herpesvirus-2 was detected in pericardial and tracheal wash fluids of 3 and 1 individuals,...
Wilson DA.The equine practitioner can positively influence wound healing by dispensing appropriate treatment in the first few hours after injury. Positive actions in the early period include hemostasis, meticulous cleansing and debridement of the wound, the use of effective but nonirritating products to disinfect the wound, closure (if indicated)with minimal tension on the suture line, the judicious use of drains,and ensuring adequate tetanus protection. Furthermore, a thorough assessment of the wound and the patient in the initial period after trauma provides pertinent information on prognosis. Finally...
Hanson RR.Extensive thermal injuries in horses can be difficult to manage. The large surface of the burn dramatically increases the potential for loss of fluids,electrolytes, and calories. Burns are classified by the depth of injury: first-degree burns involve only the most superficial layers of the epidermis;second-degree burns involve the entire epidermis and can be superficial or deep; third-degree burns are characterized by loss of the epidermal and dermal components; and fourth-degree burns involve all the skin and underlying muscle, bone, and ligaments. Burns cause local and systemic effects. Rout...
Wilmink JM, van Weeren PR.Second-intention repair is faster in ponies than in horses and faster in body wounds than in limb wounds. To a large extent, the differences between horses and ponies can be explained by differences in the local inflammatory response, which are a result of the functional capacity of leukocytes. In ponies, leukocytes produce more inflammatory mediators,resulting in better local defense, faster cellular debridement, and a faster transition to the repair phases, with more wound contraction. In horses,leukocytes produce fewer mediators, initiating a weak inflammatory response, which becomes chroni...
Barber SM.The horse, a flight animal that is used extensively by man, frequently receives injuries to its neck or head that result mostly from its management and handling. Better facilities, training of the horse, and horsemanship skills of the handler could prevent many of these injuries. Because many body systems can be involved, with potentially major consequences regarding health, performance, and appearance, early recognition of trauma and competent treatment are crucial. Progress has been made in the treatment of some tracheal and esophageal injuries. Severe tracheal trauma and rupture of the esop...
de Moffarts B, Kirschvink N, Art T, Pincemail J, Lekeux P.The oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium of trained thoroughbred horses (n = 40) was assessed on three occasions during a period of three months under field conditions by blood antioxidant markers analysis, i.e. plasma ascorbic acid (AA), plasma antioxidant capacity of water-soluble components (ACW), whole blood (GSH) and oxidised (GSSG) glutathione, plasma alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene, plasma antioxidant capacity of lipid-soluble components (ACL), red blood cell superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-peroxidase activity (GPx) and plasma trace-elements, i.e. selenium (Se), copper (Cu), zi...
Price J, Eager RA, Welsh EM, Waran NK.This study aimed to characterise current practice relating to equine castration in the UK. A questionnaire was posted to all 655 veterinary practices specified to provide veterinary care for horses, or classified as specialist equine practices. Respondents were asked to cite the number of equine castrations performed annually by the practice, describe techniques used for castration, outline anaesthetic/sedative/analgesic drug protocols used and provide details of post-operative medication. There was a 43% response rate to the questionnaire. Considerable variation in techniques and analgesia pr...
Gibson VA, Stover SM, Gibeling JC, Hazelwood SJ, Martin RB.We hypothesized that recently formed, incompletely mineralized, and thus, relatively deformable osteons in the equine third metacarpus enhance in vitro load-controlled fatigue life in two ways. Macroscopically, there is a compliance effect, because reduced tissue elastic modulus diminishes the stress required to reach a given strain. Microscopically, there is a cement line effect, in which new osteons and their cement lines more effectively serve as barriers to crack propagation. We studied 18 4 x 10 x 100 mm beams from the medial, lateral, and dorsal cortices of metacarpal bones from 6 thorou...
Weems CW, Weems YS, Randel RD.Prostaglandins impact on ovarian, uterine, placental, and pituitary function to regulate reproduction in female livestock. They play important roles in ovulation, luteal function, maternal recognition of pregnancy, implantation, maintenance of gestation, microbial-induced abortion, parturition, postpartum uterine and ovarian infections, and resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity. Prostaglandins have both positive and negative effects on reproduction; they are used to synchronize oestrus, terminate pseudopregnancy in mares, induce parturition, and treat retained placenta, luteinized cysts, ...
Rendle DI, Woodt JL, Summerhays GE, Walmsley JP, Boswell JC, Phillips TJ.Small intestinal resection and anastomosis is a relatively common procedure in equine surgical practice. This study was designed to test objectively the subjective opinions of surgeons at the Liphook Equine Hospital that an end-to-end jejuno-ileal anastomosis (JIA) is an effective and clinically justifiable procedure, contrary to conventional recommendations. Objective: An end-to-end JIA carries no greater risk of morbidity and mortality than an end-to-end jejunojejunal anastomosis (JJA). Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed on a population of 100 horses that had undergon...
Butler D, Upton L, Mullan S.In March 2020, the World Health Organisation called for countries to take urgent and aggressive action against a global pandemic caused by COVID-19. Restrictions were introduced in many countries to reduce transmission of COVID-19 and ultimately deaths. Such restrictions have been colloquially referred to as "lockdown". Anecdotal evidence of the beneficial practices that facilitated safe veterinary treatment and equine care had been reported together with an increase in the use of electronic communication and information technologies during the first "lockdown". Thus, the aim of this qualitati...
Liu X, Zhang Y, Pu Y, Ma Y, Jiang L.Transposable elements (TEs) are diverse, abundant, and complicated in genomes. They not only can drive the genome evolution process but can also act as special resources for adaptation. However, little is known about the evolutionary processes that shaped horses. In this work, 126 horse assemblages involved in most horse breeds in China were used to investigate the patterns of TE variation for the first time. By using RepeatMasker and melt software, we found that the horse-specific short interspersed repetitive elements family, equine repetitive elements (ERE1), exhibited polymorphisms in hors...
Fielding CL.With advances in technology and owner education, field management in equine veterinary medicine continues to evolve. Equine gastrointestinal disease is one of the most common types of emergencies evaluated by equine practitioners, and many of these patients can be effectively managed in the field. Although the equine veterinarian must make numerous decisions, fluid therapy, pain management, and antimicrobial use are 3 of the major choices that must be addressed when initiating field treatment of equine gastrointestinal disease. This article addresses the practical use of these 3 treatment cate...
Austin SM, DiPietro JA, Foreman JH, Baker GJ, Todd KS.Sixteen helminth-free pony foals were inoculated with a mean (+/- SD) 2,000 (+/- 545.5) infective Parascaris equorum eggs (day 0). Foals were allocated to replicates of 4, and treatments within each replicate were assigned at random. Treatment administered on postinoculation day (PID) 28 included no treatment (control), 0.2 mg of ivermectin/kg of body weight, 10 mg of oxibendazole/kg, or 6.6 mg of pyrantel base (pamoate)/kg. Paste formulations of the anthelmintics were administered orally. The foals were euthanatized 14 days after treatment (PID 42) and examined for P equorum larvae in the sma...
Ireland JL, McGowan CM.Research demonstrating insulin's causal role in endocrinopathic laminitis has greatly advanced understanding of equine laminitis. However, the degree to which this knowledge has been translated into clinical practice has not been assessed. This two-part study aimed to investigate veterinary surgeons' current diagnostic approach to laminitis, whether this had changed over time, and the impact of diagnosing an endocrinopathy on laminitis case management and outcome. Two cross-sectional online surveys of equine veterinary surgeons working within the UK were undertaken. The first study population ...
Tulleners E, Mann P, Raker CW.Epiglottic augmentation with injectable bovine collagen or an autogenous or allogenous auricular cartilage graft was performed in 12 horses with endoscopically and radiographically normal epiglottises. The grafting procedures were easy to perform and did not cause apparent discomfort. Cartilage graft extrusion or resorption may have occurred, but was not seen by endoscopy and lateral laryngeal radiography. Only collagen implants remained evident endoscopically, as smooth round submucosal bulges ventral to the epiglottic cartilage. Two horses with collagen implants, and all horses with cartilag...
Vaid RK, Shanmugasundaram K, Anand T, Bera BC, Tigga M, Dedar R, Riyesh T, Bardwaj S, Virmani N, Tripathi BN, Singh R. is a well-known Gram-negative bacterial pathogen causing a plethora of diseases in different animals. Although its infection has been reported from pigs and dogs in India, no report of B. bronchiseptica from horses is described. We report for the first time, isolation, identification and characterization of strains of B. bronchiseptica from respiratory infection in horses from different states in India. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed resistance to penicillins, ceftazidime, and chloramphanicol. The virulence capability of the strains was confirmed by sequencing genes such as a...
Fortier LA.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 ...
MacMillan AP, Baskerville A, Hambleton P, Corbel MJ.Five mares, one stallion and a colt foal were inoculated intraconjunctivally with Brucella abortus strain 544. No clinical signs of disease developed except mild pyrexia. Intermittent bacteraemia was detected in the mares but not in the stallion or foal. Antibodies to B abortus became detectable from the second week after inoculation. Titres in the serum agglutination and complement fixation tests declined substantially after six to eight weeks but reactions to the Coombs antiglobulin, 2-mercaptoethanol and immunodiffusion tests were maintained. No consistent changes in biochemical or haematol...
Kreider JL, Ogg WL, Turner JW.Six mature stallions were used to test the effect of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha ) on sperm production and seminal characteristics. Semen was collected from each stallion twice weekly 1 hr following a 10 mg intramuscular injection of PGF2 alpha or a sham injection. A switchback design was used so that three stallions received PGF2 alpha and three served as controls during the first 9 weeks (period 1). Treatment regimens were reversed during the second 9 weeks (period 2). Treatment of stallions with PGF2 alpha resulted in an increase (P less than .05) in gel free seminal volume and a dec...
Huthmann S, Gasse H, Jacob HG, Rohn K, Staszyk C.The equine cheek tooth battery is part of a very dynamic system. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the curvature and position of the teeth are also involved in such dynamical processes. The alveolar crest was labelled with a radiodense marker (48 cadaver heads, 15 skulls) and laterolateral radiographs were taken. Then a geometrical method was elaborated to determine a cheek tooth's curvature and its position by means of specific angles. This method respects the remarkable changes of the equine dentition throughout life by considering two items: (1) the alveolar crest was taken a...
Barnes AJ, Slone DE, Lynch TM.To examine the effect of partial arytenoidectomy without mucosal closure on postoperative racing performance and long-term complications in Thoroughbred racehorses treated for laryngeal hemiplegia, arytenoid chondropathy, or failed laryngoplasty. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Twenty-seven Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: Medical records of Thoroughbred racehorses that had partial arytenoidectomy without mucosal closure between 1992 and 2002 were reviewed. Horses were divided into groups: horses that had not raced (Group 1) and those that had raced (Group 2) before surgery. Lifetime r...
Squires EL.Equine oocytes obtained either by transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration or from slaughterhouse ovaries can be matured in vitro. This generally requires culture in TCM-199 containing serum and hormones for 30 to 36 hours. With this protocol, approximately 50% to 60% of the oocytes are at metaphase-II at the end of the culture period. At least some of these oocytes appear viable based on production of fertilized eggs either through in vitro fertilization or fertilization in vivo of a recipient mare. The success of producing equine embryos in vitro is still extremely low. More than...
Jaqueth AL, Turner TR, Iwaniuk ME, McIntosh BJ, Burk AO.Warm season wear-tolerant turfgrasses, such as those used on golf courses and athletic fields, may be valuable forages on equine operations because of their potential to remain viable during heavy hoof traffic. Crabgrass may also be suitable as it thrives in conditions where other grasses have limited success. The objective of this study was to assess the relative traffic tolerance and nutritional composition of five warm-season (WS) turfgrass cultivars of bermudagrass and zoysiagrass and one WS forage-type crabgrass. All cultivars were established by seed in replicated monoculture plots. Simu...
Southwood LL.Horses with colic caused by intestinal strangulation can have an excellent outcome with early surgical correction of the obstruction. The expense associated with surgery is typically less with early lesion correction. The challenge is making an early diagnosis of intestinal strangulation. Although for some horses with a strangulating obstruction, the need for surgery is made based on severe colic signs or lack of response to analgesia, in other horses, it is less obvious. Signalment, history, and meticulous physical examination, combined with some targeted diagnostic procedures can help with e...
Haase F, Siewert C, von Rautenfeld DB, Fischbach JU, Seifert H.Measuring the leg volume of horses is useful for diagnostic and treatment of different diseases in relation to swollen legs. In the present study different methods to quantify the limb volume are compared, the water displacement method, an optoelectronic 2-dimensional body scanner, the so-called perometer and calculation of volume by applying the disc model. As reference method the golden standard of human medicine - the water displacement method was used. We took volume measurements from different tall horses in a defined section of the forelegs between the coronary band and the carpal joint....
Colborne GR, Heaps LA, Franklin SH.Joint congruity and ligaments restrain the distal limb joints from excessive motion in the transverse and frontal planes, but the magnitudes and direction of the horizontal twisting moments around the hoof's centre of pressure (CoP) that induce these motions are unknown. Objective: To quantify the horizontal moment around the vertical axis through the hoof's CoP at walk, and to determine whether these are symmetric. Methods: Nine sound Thoroughbred horses (mean age 53 years; mean mass 502 kg) were led at walk in a straight line across a Kistler force platform. Five trials were collected for ea...
Ishigami N, Horiba K.A 41-year-old woman presented with symptoms of cardiac tamponade. Diagnosis of a primary malignant tumor in the right atrium without distant metastasis was made by echocardiography, computed tomography and coronary angiography. Aggressive surgery consisting of resection of the tumor including the right atrial wall together with the right coronary artery and sinus node was performed. This was followed by coronary artery bypass grafting with myocardial electrode implantation for reconstruction of the right atrial wall using an equine pericardium. Final diagnosis was of angiosarcoma by pathologic...
Matera MG, Calzetta L, Sanduzzi A, Page CP, Cazzola M.It has been demonstrated in mammals that the airway hyper-responsiveness, which accompanies viral infections, is the result of increased reflex bronchoconstriction due to inhibition of muscarinic prejunctional receptors, which belong to M2 subtypes. Multiple mechanisms account for virus-induced M2 receptor dysfunction. Viral neuraminidase may deglycosylate the M2 receptor, decreasing acetylcholine affinity. Equine influenza remains a common viral respiratory disease of horses worldwide, which results in loss to the equine industry, by decreasing performance, convalescence time and loss of peak...
Briant C, Ottogalli M, Morel M, Guillaume D.The GnRH antagonist antarelix (Teverelix) was administered to mares (0.01 mg/kg, i.v., twice a day) during the periovulatory period. In Experiment 1, 20 mares were divided into a treated (A3d-) and a control (Control-) group. A3d- mares received antarelix for 3 days from the day when the dominant follicle (F1) reached 32 mm (D0). In Experiment 2, 10 mares were divided into a treated (A6d+) and a control (Control+) group. A6d+ mares received antarelix for 6 days from D0 and hCG was injected in all animals (1600 IU, i.v.) on D1. Pregnancies were determined 13 days after ovulation. In both experi...
Adam-Castrillo D, White NA, Donaldson LL, Furr MO.To determine effects on anal pressure of horses after local injection of the external anal sphincter with Clostridium botulinum toxin type B. Methods: 11 healthy adult horses. Methods: Peak and resting anal sphincter pressures were measured with a custom-made rectal probe that was connected to a pressure transducer. Pressures were measured before treatment and after injection with botulinum toxin type B (BTB) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution. Dose titration with 500, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,500 U of BTB was completed. Physical changes, behavior, and anal pressure were recorded for each horse. Result...
Cittadini A, Domínguez R, Sarriés MV, Pateiro M, Lorenzo JM.This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the total or partial replacement of NaCl by a commercial low-salt mixture Pansalt® (T1) or Kombu (L. ochroleuca) seaweed powder (T2), respectively, on the quality properties of dry-cured foal "cecina". Salt reformulation unaffected fat percentages, decreased (P < 0.001) moisture and ash contents, while protein amounts increased (P < 0.001) in the T2 batch. Considering the physicochemical variables, any significant differences were observed among batches, except for a*, water activity, and springiness values. T1 and T2 samples presented a si...
Thomas J, Narkowicz C, Peterson GM, Jacobson GA, Narayana A.The efficacy of an ointment containing kunzea oil for the treatment of horses with localised acute or chronic pastern dermatitis was assessed. Thirty-seven horses were randomly allocated to treatment with an ointment containing either 20 per cent kunzea oil (test) or 2 per cent ketoconazole (control). Only 21 of the horses completed the study. The severity of the lesions was assessed before and after seven days of treatment. The kunzea oil formulation resulted in a significant decrease in the median total area of the lesions from 40 cm(2) (range 3 to 252 cm(2)) to 0 cm(2) (range 0 to 34 cm(2))...
Vaden MF, Purohit RC, McCoy MD, Vaughan JT.Thermographic and radiographic evaluations of the tarsus (hock) were done on 20 Standardbred racehorses before and after exercise at three consecutive 6-week intervals. All horses were from the same stable and given the same care and training under identical schedules and conditions. Normal thermographic patterns were established before and after exercise. These patterns corresponded to the underlying tarsal vasculature. Postexercise thermal patterns indicated a warming trend, and the increases were uniform. Abnormal thermal patterns were more localized and did not conform to the normal underl...
Sundra T, Kelty E, Rendle D.An extended-release injectable omeprazole formulation (ERIO) has become a popular treatment for equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) and equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) where it is available; however, published data are limited and optimal treatment regimens have not been determined. Objective: To compare effects of treatment on ESGD and EGGD when an ERIO formulation is administered at either 5- or 7-day intervals. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: Case records and gastroscopy images of horses with ESGD or EGGD treated with ERIO were reviewed. Images were anonymised and...
Wilkes EJA, Woodgate RG, Raidal SL, Hughes KJ.This study investigated the impact of variability in Parascaris spp. and strongyle faecal egg counts (FEC) from foals on treatment decision-making and detection of a patent infection. A single faecal sample was collected once daily for three days from 53 foals and a FEC was performed on three separate portions of each sample (total of nine egg counts per foal). Differences in the decision to administer an anthelmintic using the results of a single count (C), the mean of three (X¯) or nine counts (X¯) and the upper 5% confidence limit of the gamma confidence interval (CI) of the estimate of t...
Dahl S, Cotrel C, Leleu C.A retrospective study concerning spontaneous active recovery intensity, i.e. at a freely chosen speed, after a submaximal exercise in trotters showed that the mean intensity demanded by trainers corresponds to 40-50% of maximal heart rate (max HR; unpublished data). However, in human athletes, optimal active recovery intensity was found to be about 60-70% of max HR. Is the spontaneous recovery optimal after a submaximal exercise in trotters? Objective: To compare different recovery intensities and define the most efficient one. Methods: Thirty-seven trotters performed a standardised exercise t...
Kuhnert-Paul Y, Schmäschke R, Daugschies A.Results of parasitological examination of faecal aliquots may vary between diagnostic laboratories. To examine whether inhomogeneous distribution of worm eggs in faecal samples is responsible for this observation, horse faeces provided for routine diagnosis of helminth infection were examined. Distribution of worm eggs was assessed by examining aliquots taken from different locations of the faecal sample by a combined sedimentation-flotation method (KSFV). In addition, it was tested, whether the homogenization of a larger amount (minimum of 40 g) of faeces before performing KSFV improved repro...
Francisco I, Sánchez JA, Cortiñas FJ, Francisco R, Mochales E, Arias M, Mula P, Suárez JL, Morrondo P, Díez-Baños P, Sánchez-Andrade R....The aim of this study was to assess, by a clinical trial, the efficacy of an ivermectin-based pour-on treatment against gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes in naturally infected horses using 2 groups of mature indigenous Pura Raza Galega grazing mares. Faecal and blood samples were collected individually over a 21 week period. Faeces were analysed by the coprological flotation, sedimentation and migration techniques. Changes in circulating blood cells were monitored over the study period. The administration of the ivermectin suppressed the egg-elimination of ascarids and pinworms throughout t...
