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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.
Anaemia, diarrhoea and opportunistic infections in Fell ponies. This report summarises clinical and pathological observations on Fell pony foals with a range of signs that included ill thrift, anaemia, respiratory infection, glossal hyperkeratosis and diarrhoea. Some of the foals had normochromic, normocytic anaemia and some had low levels of plasma proteins, including immunoglobulin G. Antibiotic and supportive treatment was ineffective and all affected foals died or were killed on humane grounds. Postmortem examination of 12 foals and tissues from 2 other foals revealed a range of lesions that included glossal hyperkeratosis, typhlocolitis, intestinal cr...
Surgical treatment of 45 horses affected by squamous cell carcinoma of the penis and prepuce. The medical records of 45 horses treated for suspected squamous cell carcinoma of the penis and/or prepuce were reviewed. The age of 40 horses was known, and these had a mean age of 17.4 years. The duration of neoplasia was known for only 3 of the 45 horses. The results of histological evaluation of lesions, available for 35 horses, confirmed that the diseased tissue was squamous cell carcinoma. The location of gross neoplastic lesions was recorded for 43 horses; the glans penis was involved in 24 horses, the body of the penis or the inner lamina of the preputial fold in 27 horses, and the ext...
Equine proliferative enteropathy: a cause of weight loss, colic, diarrhoea and hypoproteinaemia in foals on three breeding farms in Canada. Proliferative enteropathy (PE) is a transmissible enteric disease caused by Lawsonia intracellularis. An outbreak of equine PE was diagnosed in foals from 3 breeding farms. Most foals had been weaned prior to the appearance of clinical signs, which included depression, rapid and marked weight loss, subcutaneous oedema, diarrhoea and colic. Poor body condition with a rough haircoat and a potbellied appearance were common findings in affected foals. Respiratory tract infection, dermatitis and intestinal parasitism were also found in some foals. Haematological and plasma biochemical abnormalities...
Superficial digital flexor tendonitis in the horse. The superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is an elastic structure that during maximal exercise appears to operate close to its functional limits. The biomechanical and biochemical responses to exercise, injury, and healing are still poorly understood but ongoing research is providing valuable new information which is addressed in this review. It appears that the SDFT matures early, after which time it has limited ability to adapt to stress and undergoes progressive degeneration. Focal hypocellularity, collagen fibril degeneration, selective fibril loading and alterations in the noncollageno...
Haemodynamic response to exercise in Standardbred trotters with red cell hypervolaemia. In order to evaluate the haemodynamic response to exercise in Standardbred trotters with red cell hypervolaemia (RCHV), 12 trotters with RCHV were compared with 9 normovolaemic (NV) trotters. Haemodynamic data were recorded during exercise at 4 different speeds on a treadmill. Oxygen uptake was determined with an open bias flow system. Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), systemic artery pressure (SAP), heart rate, packed cell volume (PCV) and plasma lactate and haemoglobin ([Hb]) concentrations were measured. Arteriovenous O2 content difference, cardiac output, stroke volume, pulmonary vascular r...
[The syndrome of external ligament sprain in the horse]. The treatment of acute complete (grade III) tears of the lateral ligaments of the ankle has generated much controversy in the medical literature. Functional treatment has become the standard treatment as it has been shown that there is no significant difference in long term results whatever the treatment (operative repair and cast, cast alone, or early controlled mobilization). Functional treatment includes only a short period of protection by tape bandage or brace and allows early weight-bearing. Major trauma with avulsion of bone and severe ligamentous damage on both medial and lateral sides...
Homogeneity of Trypanosoma evansi isolates from domestic and sylvatic mammals from the Pantanal of Mato Grosso. 'Mal de Cadeiras' is a disease which causes great mortality in horses in the Pantanal Matogrossense region, Brazil. The agent of this disease is Trypanosoma evansi, a kinetoplastid flagellate which belongs to the Trypanosomatidae family, classified into the Salivarian section. Transmission occurs mechanically by haematophagous Diptera, mainly by Stomoxys sp. and Tabanus sp. and vampire bats. Outbreaks of Mal de Cadeiras in horses result in economic losses, thus limiting their use in cattle raising. Ten isolates of T. evansi recently derived from coati (Nasua nasua, Carnivora, Procyonidae), hor...
Differential outcome effect in the horse. Three horses were trained with a discrimination task in which the color (blue or yellow) of a center panel signaled the correct (left or right) response (lever press). Reinforcing outcomes for the two correct color-position combinations (blue-left and yellow-right) were varied across phases. Discrimination performance was better when the combinations were differentially reinforced by two types of food (chopped carrot pieces and a solid food pellet) than when the combinations were randomly reinforced by these outcomes or when there was a common reinforcer for each of the correct combinations. H...
Dermatitis associated with “hypopodes” in a horse: the first case reported in Italy. The authors report, for the first time in Italy, a case of dermatitis of "hypopodes" origin in a horse. The hypopodes are a particular nymphal stage of mites of the suborder Astigmata. The "hypopus" is non-feeding, lacks a mouth and has a ventral suctorial plate with suckers and conoids for attaching itself to insects as a mode of dispersal. Some of these larval stages can enter into the hair follicles and into the subcutaneous layers causing lesions similar to mange. There are few reports of dermatitis in horses specifically associated with the presence of hypopodes and these have been attrib...
Entrapment of the small colon through a mesocolic rent in a mare. A 6-year-old mare was presented for acute abdominal pain unresponsive to analgesics. Exploratory laparotomy revealed entrapment of the small colon through a 12 cm rent in the mesocolon. The incarcerated small colon was manually reduced and the rent in the mesocolon was sutured closed. The mare made excellent postoperative recovery and was discharged from the hospital 4 days later. The cause of the rent, which was chronic in appearance, is unknown.
Hemithyroidectomy in a horse with confirmed hyperthyroidism. A 23-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was admitted to the hospital because of cachexia and hyperactive behavior of 1 year's duration. At admission the horse was severely emaciated, tachycardic with a grade V/VI diastolic murmur, pyrexic, polydipsic, enophthalmic, and alopecic. The right lobe of the thyroid gland was noticeably larger than typical. The horse was also hyperexcitable and had a ravenous appetite. A presumptive diagnosis of hyperthyroidism was made on the basis of clinical signs and high plasma thyroid hormone concentrations. Confirmation of the diagnosis was made on the basis of res...
Ontogenic and nutritionally induced changes in fetal metabolism in the horse. 1. Using the Fick principle and tracer methodology, the metabolic rates of chronically catheterized fetal foals (n = 24) were measured at different gestational ages during the second half of gestation and in response to maternal fasting for 36 h in late gestation (n = 4, term approximately 335 days). 2. Absolute rates of umbilical blood flow, fetal glucose utilization and umbilical uptake of oxygen (O2) and glucose increased from mid-gestation to 300 days and then plateauxed until term. The absolute rate of umbilical lactate uptake was significant after, but not before, 280 days of gestation. ...
Modelling the spread of a viral infection in equine populations managed in Thoroughbred racehorse training yards. A Monte Carlo model that simulates the management life cycle of a horse population in training on a Thoroughbred flat racing yard (i.e. stable) was developed for computer implementation. Each horse was characterised by several state variables. Discrete events at the horse level were triggered stochastically to reflect uncertainty about some input assumptions and heterogeneity of the horse population in a particular yard. This mathematical model was subsequently used to mimic the spread of equine influenza (EI) within a typical yard following the introduction of one or several infectious horses...
[Veterinarians:’Watch your affairs!’]. The most relevant results of a written questionnaire among veterinarians in the Netherlands are presented and discussed. The inquiry was performed by MarketResponse Nederland BV. The objective was to get an overview of the current perception and the future view of the profession. The response was 37%. Most respondents (66%) were practitioners, 7% were active in research or teaching institutions, 5% were governmental employees, 5% were employed in industry, and 17% did not belong to any of these categories (retired, unemployed etc.). Forty-seven per cent of the veterinarians practised mainly sm...
Isolation of environmental Clostridium difficile from a veterinary teaching hospital. An environmental survey of a veterinary teaching hospital for the presence of Clostridium difficile was performed using contact plates and cycloserine-cefoxitin-fructose with 0.1% sodium taurocholate agar. Clostridium difficile was isolated from 24 of 381 sites (6.3%). Growth was obtained from 4.5% (9/202) of sites sampled in the Large Animal Clinic, from 8.1% (13/160) of sites within the Small Animal Clinic, and from 20% (2/10) of sites sampled elsewhere. Fourteen of 21 strains tested produced toxins in vitro. A geographic association was found with areas in the large animal clinic where noso...
Clinical experiences of treating septic arthritis in the equine by repeated joint lavage: a series of 39 cases. The condition of septic arthritis was treated in 12 foals with 21 affected joints (Group I) and in 27 adult horses. The adult horses were divided into three groups, based on aetiology of the condition: haematogenous (Group II, n = 6), iatrogenic (Group III, n = 6), and perforating trauma (Group IV, n = 15). The treatment consisted of an initial systemic antibiotic that anticipated the microbial agents that were considered most likely per group, repeated through-and-through joint lavages every other day and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The antibiotics were adjusted to the results of b...
[Intoxication with propylene glycol in two horses]. Two horses were accidentally administered propylene glycol instead of mineral oil. After discovery of the mistake intensive medical therapy with intravenous fluids, etc. was started, and both animals recovered fully from their clinical symptoms. Veterinarians use propylene glycol as well as paraffin routinely for the treatment of their patients. Mistakes are likely to be made because both medicines and sometimes their packing have a similar appearance. Several incidents have been reported in other countries. A large amount of propylene glycol given to a horse, but also to other animals, can be...
Effect of exercise on the proteoglycan metabolism of articular cartilage in growing foals. In this study, the effect of different exercise regimens on proteoglycan metabolism of articular cartilage was examined in 43 newborn foals randomly divided into 3 groups: a) box-rest, b) box-rest with training and c) free pasture exercise. They were subjected to these exercise regimens from ages 1 week to 5 months and at 5 months, 24 foals (8 from each group) were sacrificed to assess short-term exercise effects. The remaining 19 foals were subjected to the same regimen of light exercise for an additional 6 months before being sacrificed to evaluate possible long-term effects. Articular carti...
Effects of training on the concentration of Na+, K+-ATPase in foal muscle. We investigated the effect of training on the Na+, K+-ATPase concentration in foal skeletal muscle by measurement of [3H]ouabain binding. From the 7th day after birth, 12 foals were divided in 3 groups: a) staying in a box stall (Box); b) staying in a box stall with a training regimen of an increasing number of sprints per day (Training); and c) staying on pasture (Pasture). Euthanasia was performed after 5 months. In semitendinosus muscle, the concentration of [3H]ouabain binding sites (pmol/g wet wt) was 181 +/- 6 in the Box, 220 +/- 15 in the Training, and 197 +/- 8 in the Pasture group (al...
Fibrous tissue of subchondral cystic lesions in horses produce local mediators and neutral metalloproteinases and cause bone resorption in vitro. To define the release of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and the neutral metalloproteinases (NMPs) in horses with subchondral cystic lesions (SCL) and to study bone resorption triggered by conditioned media of fibrous tissue of SCL in vitro. Methods: Equine explant cultures of fibrous tissue of SCL, and synovial membrane and articular cartilage of normal horses and horses affected with moderate and severe osteoarthritis were performed. NO, PGE2, and NMP concentrations of media samples were measured, and osteoclast formation and activation was studied in vitro. Methods: Experiment 1...
Influence of different exercise levels and age on the biochemical characteristics of immature equine articular cartilage. This study aimed to examine whether biochemical characteristics of juvenile articular cartilage are changing during the first year post partum and whether they can be influenced by exercise at young age. Water, glycosaminoglycan (GAG), DNA, total collagen, hydroxylysine and hydroxylysylpyridinoline (HP) content were measured in articular cartilage of 43 foals that were subdivided into 3 groups (n = 15, 14 and 14) which were subjected to different exercise regimens from one week after birth to age 5 months. At the age of 5 months all foals were weaned and 8 foals were selected randomly from eac...
Age-related changes and effect of exercise on the molecular composition of immature equine superficial digital flexor tendons. To test the hypothesis that exercise at very young age may influence the eventual molecular composition (and hence the biomechanical properties) of tendon tissue in the horse, 43 Dutch Warmblood foals were allotted to 3 differently exercised groups (box-rest, box-rest with training and pasture exercise). Twenty-four superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) were collected at age 5 months (8 from each exercise group) and the others were obtained at 11 months after an additional period of light exercise that was equal for all remaining foals and was intended to see if any induced changes would ...
Influence of exercise on bone mineral density of immature cortical and trabecular bone of the equine metacarpus and proximal sesamoid bone. Bone mineral density (BMD) and cross-sectional area (CSA), measured using peripheral quantitative computed tomography, were determined in the left third metacarpal bone (MCIII) and left medial proximal sesamoid bone (psb) in 3 differently exercised groups of foals. Group(box) (n = 14) was confined to a box stall from birth to age 5 months, Group(training) (n = 14) was kept in similar box stalls but additionally given a daily exercise programme consisting of an increasing number of gallop sprints and Group(pasture) (n = 15) remained at pasture. At 5 months of age, 8 foals from each group were r...
Transarterial coil embolization of the internal and external carotid and maxillary arteries for prevention of hemorrhage from guttural pouch mycosis in horses. To develop a transarterial coil embolization technique for occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA), external carotid artery (ECA), and maxillary arteries (MA) in normal horses and to evaluate this technique for prevention of hemorrhage in horses affected with guttural pouch mycosis. Methods: Ten adult, normal horses and 4 horses with guttural pouch mycosis. Methods: All horses had transarterial coil embolization of the rostral and caudal ICA, caudal MA, and rostral ECA. In 1 affected horse, an aberrant actively bleeding branch of the ECA was also occluded. Normal horses had a premortem ...
Idiopathic focal eosinophilic enteritis associated with small intestinal obstruction in 6 horses. To report the history, clinical findings, and outcome of horses with idiopathic focal eosinophilic enteritis associated with acute small intestinal obstruction. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Six horses with idiopathic focal eosinophilic enteritis. Methods: Retrospective review of medical records of horses with idiopathic focal eosinophilic enteritis, with acute abdominal pain and small intestinal obstruction, associated with a focal region of eosinophilic enteritis of unknown cause. Information retrieved from the medical records included signalment, physical examination, laboratory fi...
