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.
Queiroz AO, Legey AP, Xavier SC, Jansen AM."Mal de Cadeiras", an enzootic disease caused by Trypanosoma evansi, is one of the most important trypanosomiases in the Brazilian Pantanal region. The disease affects mainly horses, which are widely used in extensive cattle production, an activity of greatest economical significance for the region. The parasite also infects sylvan (coatis and capybaras) and domestic (dogs) animals, respectively considered wild and domestic reservoirs of T. evansi. For a better understanding of the interaction of T. evansi with its rodent host, we evaluated the differences in the specific antibody level patter...
Mellor DJ, Love S, Walker R, Gettinby G, Reid SW.Details of the management, feeding, level of activity and routine health care of horses in Scotland and the five northernmost counties in England were recorded through a stratified random sample of horse owners who had responded to a previous survey. Sixty-eight per cent of the horses were kept where their owners resided, and 32 per cent were kept away from the owner's home. More than 99 per cent were turned out to grazing for at least part of the year and 81 per cent were stabled for at least part of the time, most commonly bedded on straw (50 per cent) or shavings (34 per cent). Hay was fed ...
Alvarenga MA, McCue PM, Bruemmer J, Neves Neto JR, Squire EL.Equine pituitary extract (EPE), has been reported to induce multiple ovulation in mares, however ovulation rates are poor in comparison to those obtained in other species. Attempts to improve the effectiveness of EPE for induction of superovulation in cyclic mares has focused on daily frequency of EPE treatment. Two experiments were performed to compare the ovarian response of cyclic mares given EPE once or twice-daily. Mares were assigned to one of two treatment groups 6 to 8 days after ovulation: prostaglandin was given once and EPE (25 mg) was given once daily (Group 1) or twice daily (Grou...
Kearns CF, McKeever KH, Malinowski K, Struck MB, Abe T.The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of therapeutic levels of clenbuterol, with and without exercise training, on body composition. Twenty-three unfit Standardbred mares were divided into four experimental groups: clenbuterol (2.4 microg/kg body wt twice daily) plus exercise (ClenEx; 20 min at 50% maximal oxygen consumption 3 days/wk; n = 6), clenbuterol only (Clen; n = 6), exercise only (Ex; n = 5), and control (Con; n = 6). Rump fat thickness was measured at 2-wk intervals by using B-mode ultrasound, and percent body fat (%fat) was calculated by using previously published meth...
Frees KE, Gaughan EM, Lillich JD, Cox J, Gorondy D, Nietfeld JC, Kennedy GA, Cash W.Formalin was injected into an ethmoidal hematoma in an 18-year-old Arabian gelding. Abnormal neurologic signs were observed within minutes of the injection. The horse did not respond favorably to medical treatment of the neurologic signs and was euthanatized. Postmortem examination revealed erosion and necrosis of the ventral cribriform plate, which appeared to have allowed the injected formalin to reach the rostral portion of the frontal lobe of the brain. Endoscopy and radiography had been performed prior to euthanasia, but neither delineated the cribriform lesion. Before treating large prog...
Textor JA, Goodrich L, Wion L.An 8-hour-old Standardbred filly was evaluated because of an enlarging umbilical mass and stranguria. It was suspected that the mass was the urinary bladder; this was confirmed on surgical exploration of the abdomen. Despite a normal umbilical ring, the bladder had descended and partially everted through its urachal communication with the umbilical stalk. Partial cystectomy and umbilical resection were performed and resulted in an excellent clinical outcome. Evagination of the urinary bladder via the umbilicus has rarely been described in human infants, and, to our knowledge, it has not been r...
Stick JA, Peloso JG, Morehead JP, Lloyd J, Eberhart S, Padungtod P, Derksen FJ.To compare endoscopic findings of the upper portion of the respiratory tract in Thoroughbred yearlings with their subsequent race records to determine whether subjective assessment of airway function may be used as a predictor of future racing performance. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 427 Thoroughbred yearlings. Methods: Endoscopic examination findings were obtained from the medical records and the videoendoscopic repository of the Keeneland 1996 September yearling sales. Racing records were requested for the yearlings through the end of their 4-year-old racing season (1997-2000). Tw...
Matthews S, Dart AJ, Dowling BA, Hodgson JL, Hodgson DR.To review the clinical findings, diagnosis and treatment of 51 horses with peritonitis attributed to Actinobacillus equuli. Methods: Retrospective study of clinical cases. Methods: Breed, age and gender of horse, history, physical examination findings, treatment and outcome were determined from the hospital records of 51 horses in which a diagnosis of peritonitis attributed to A. equuli was made between January 1993 and June 1999. Results of abdominal fluid cytology and bacteriology, antimicrobial sensitivity patterns, haematology and faecal egg counts, when performed, were also retrieved. Res...
Busschers E, van Weeren PR.The flexion test of the distal limb is a commonly used clinical tool in both lame and sound horses. In the latter use it is given some predictive value. In recent studies it has been shown that examiner-related factors (force, time) may strongly influence the outcome of the test. In the present study, the possible influences of a number of horse-related factors and short- and long-term repeatability were investigated. Flexion tests were performed by the same researcher in 100 clinically sound horses under standardized conditions. The outcome of the test was scored on a 9-point semiquantitative...
Iba K, Wada T, Kawaguchi S, Fujisaki T, Yamashita T, Ishii S.To investigate the demographic details and patterns of injuries related to horse handling, we reviewed 637 horse-related injuries in 581 stable- or stud-workers in a representative area of thoroughbred stabling in Japan. We found that (1) injuries occurred most frequently in a group of a relatively young workers, with a seasonal variation; (2) the principal mechanism of injury was kicks, which accounted for 39.2% of all injuries, including 11 serious and one lethal visceral injuries; (3) the upper half of the body was more frequently involved than the lower half; and (4) the peripheral bones (...
Murray RC, Birch HL, Lakhani K, Goodship AE.It was hypothesized that cartilage macro-molecular characteristics are influenced by exercise intensity and by location within a joint. Objective: To determine the macromolecular characteristics of carpal articular cartilage at common and uncommon sites of pathology in horses undergoing high or low intensity exercise, and to compare this composition between exercise groups. Methods: Twelve horses (19.3+/-0.9 years) were assigned to exercise groups. Each group underwent 19 weeks high-intensity treadmill training (N=6) or low-intensity exercise (N=6). Dorsal and palmar test sites were identified...
Cherdchutham W, Becker CK, Spek ER, Voorhout WF, van Weeren PR.To determine the effects of exercise on collagen fibril diameter distribution in the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) of foals. Methods: 43 Dutch Warmblood foals. Methods: From 1 week until 5 months of age, group-1 foals (n = 14) were housed in stalls and not exercised, group-2 foals (14) were housed in stalls but were exercised, and group-3 foals (15) were maintained at pasture. Biopsy specimens were collected from the SDFT at 2 months, and 8 foals in each group were euthanatized at 5 months. Remaining foals were housed together in a loose stall and paddock until euthanatized at 11 mo...
Nicolaiewsky TB, Richter MF, Lunge VR, Cunha CW, Delagostin O, Ikuta N, Fonseca AS, da Silva SS, Ozaki LS.We describe a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of Babesia equi in equine infected erythrocytes using oligonucleotides designed on the published sequence of a B. equi merozoite antigen gene (ema-1). A 102bp DNA fragment is specifically amplified from B. equi but not from Babesia caballi, Babesia bovis or Babesia bigemina DNA. In a mock infection we were able to detect down to six infected cells in 10(8) equine erythrocytes or to detect the parasite in blood with an equivalent parasitemia of 0.000006%. Furthermore, gene polymorphism was found by performing a PCR-RFLP (PCR...
Martin-Downum K, Yazwinski T, Tucker C, Fincher M, Ralph J, Hamilton J.Commercial preparations of fenbendazole (Safe-Guard, Intervet), ivermectin (Eqvalan, Merial) or moxidectin (Quest, Fort Dodge) were administered once to horses scheduled for routine parasiticide treatment. In total, 93 horses from six cooperating farms were used in the study. Computer generated, random allocation of horses to treatment group was conducted at each farm. Fecal egg counts were determined for all horses on trial days 0, 56, 84 and 112, with corresponding calendar dates that were unique to each farm. Only strongyle egg counts from animals which were positive at day 0 were used for ...
Johnson DJ, Ostlund EN, Pedersen DD, Schmitt BJ.A traditional single-stage reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) procedure is effective in determining West Nile (WN) virus in avian tissue and infected cell cultures. However, the procedure lacks the sensitivity to detect WN virus in equine tissue. We describe an RT-nested PCR (RT-nPCR) procedure that identifies the North American strain of WN virus directly in equine and avian tissues.
Dutra F, Schuch LF, Delucchi E, Curcio BR, Coimbra H, Raffi MB, Dellagostin O, Riet-Correa F.A disease named locally as churrío or churrido equino (i.e., equine scours) has occurred for at least 100 years in Uruguay and southern Brazil in farms along both shores of the Merín lake. This report describes cases of churrido equino and provides serologic, pathologic, and DNA-based evidence indicating that the disease is in fact equine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Potomac horse fever). Results of an epidemiological investigation conducted on an endemic farm are also presented. Clinical signs in 12 horses were fever, depression, diarrhea, dehydration, and sometimes colic and distal hind limb ed...
Patterson-Kane JC, Sanchez LC, Uhl EW, Edens LM.A 12-year-old grey Warmblood stallion presented with fever of unknown origin, and anaemia. Five days later it had developed ataxia and become recumbent, and was humanely killed. At necropsy, malignant melanomas were identified in the perineal subcutis, spleen, and thoracic vertebral canal (T10-11). Populations of malignant melanoma cells were scattered throughout medullary cavities of the axial and appendicular skeleton, and were identified grossly as irregular areas of black to grey discoloration. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of disseminated intramedullary melanoma in a...
Nappert G, Johnson PJ.The purpose of the present study was to investigate the acid-base status and the concentration of organic acids in horses with colic caused by various disorders. Blood samples were collected from 50 horses with colic and from 20 controls. No intravenous fluids had been given prior to sample collection. Identified causes of colic included gastric ulceration, small intestinal volvulus, cecal intussusception, cecal rupture, colonic impaction, left dorsal colon displacement, right dorsal colon displacement, colonic volvulus, colitis, peritonitis, and uterine torsion. Thirty-seven horses recovered ...
Wells D, Krecek RC.Structured interviews using a questionnaire were conducted to gather information on socioeconomic aspects, health, nutrition, breeding and management of working equids in 3 study areas of Moretele 1 near Hammanskraal, North West Province, South Africa. The questionnaire addressed questions about the role of animals with a focus on donkeys used for work in these areas. Extension and animal health officers and donkey owners participated. The analysis highlights the use of donkeys for transport of water, wood and people; that ticks, wounds and harness sores are the conditions reported most freque...
Dahlgren AR, Tablin F, Finno CJ.Genetic bleeding disorders can have a profound impact on a horse's health and athletic career. As such, it is important to understand the mechanisms of these diseases and how they are diagnosed. These diseases include haemophilia A, von Willebrand disease, prekallikrein deficiency, Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia and Atypical Equine Thrombasthenia. Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage also has a proposed genetic component. Genetic mutations have been identified for haemophilia A and Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia in the horse. Mutations are known for von Willebrand disease and prekallikrein deficienc...
Long JR, Mitchell L.Aspergillosis, caused by species of Aspergillus, is primarily a respiratory infection but may
occasionally be generalized (1). This genus is
distributed widely in nature and almost any
substrate supplying organic matter and moisture will support growth of the fungus. It grows
especially well on damp hay, straw and grain
that has heated during storage. Aspergillus
fumigatus is responsible for the majority of
cases of aspergillosis in animals and birds.
This organism causes acute respiratory infection
when susceptible animals are exposed to heavy
concentrations of airbqrne conidia. Alt...
Best C, Coe JB, Hewson J, Meehan M, Kelton D.Little is known about the veterinary referral process and factors that contribute to positive outcomes. Objective: To investigate equine referring veterinarians' (rDVMs') satisfaction with their most recent referral experience and compare rDVM and specialist perspectives. Methods: 187 rDVMs and 92 specialists (referral care providers). Methods: Cross-sectional observational study. An online survey was administered to both rDVMs and specialists. Referring veterinarian satisfaction with their most recent referral experience was evaluated. Both rDVMs and specialists were asked to identify factors...
Brooks SA, Bailey E.Inflammatory damage to the digital laminae, a structure responsible for suspension of the distal skeleton within the hoof capsule, results in a painful and often life-threatening disease in horses called laminitis. There can be many diverse causes of laminitis; however, previous work in the horse has suggested that in each case, the inflammation and resulting tissue damage is consistent with the action of mediators released from mast cells (MC), as well as the downstream consequences of their activation. The recent development of molecular genetics tools to characterize cells based on their tr...
Scott EA, Todhunter R.In 2 cases of chronic intestinal intussusception in horses, one involved jejunum and the other, ileum. The only clinical signs observed were intermittent colic. Surgery was performed on both horses, with successful outcomes.
Gomez DE, Radtke CL, Russell LA, Lopez A, Wichtel MW.Acute pancreatitis is a rare disease in horses and is often associated with gastrointestinal disorders. Accurate diagnosis is challenging due to the presence of nonspecific clinical signs. This case represents the first documentation of acute pancreatitis in a horse following surgery of the reproductive tract. La pancréatite aiguë est une maladie rare chez les chevaux et est souvent associée aux troubles gastro-intestinaux. Un diagnostic exact est difficile en raison de la présence de signes cliniques non spécifiques. Ce cas représente la première fois qu’une pancréatite aiguë est ...
Regnier A, Martin C, Semin MO, Lienard E, Geffre A, Douet JY, Raymond-Letron I.An 18-month-old Arabian-English filly resident in southwest France was referred for evaluation of a conjunctival mass in the right eye (OD). A pink, solid, and mobile nodular formation, measuring approximately 1.2 × 0.8 cm was found under the superior nasal bulbar conjunctiva during an ophthalmic examination that was otherwise normal. The mass was surgically removed using a standing procedure. Cytological examination of fine-needle aspirates from the mass revealed a mixed eosinophilic-lymphocytic inflammation. Histological examination confirmed the dense and diffuse eosinophilic-lymphocyti...
Dalin G, Jeffcott LB.Gait analysis can play an important role in exercise physiology, racetrack ergonomics, lameness prophylaxis, and assessment of performance potential in racehorses. This article concentrates on the methods used for gait analysis and considers some basic data on the different gaits of the horse.
Whelchel DD, Tennent-Brown BS, Coleman AE, Rapoport GS, Blas-Machado U, Maisenbacher HW, Credille BC, Giguère S.To describe the treatment of persistent supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in a young horse in endurance training. Methods: A 6-year-old Arab gelding in endurance training presented for a dysrhythmia and decreased performance. SVT was diagnosed and conversion to a normal sinus rhythm was achieved following administration of a constant rate infusion of amiodarone. However, reversion to SVT occurred shortly after initiation of ridden exercise. A second attempt to convert the dysrhythmia with amiodarone failed, but normal sinus rhythm was achieved with transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC)....
Klei TR.This article will focus on current information available on the equine immune response to helminth parasites as it relates to acquired resistance, hypersensitivity reactions, and vaccine development.