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.
Dobrinski I, Jacob JR, Tennant BC, Ball BA.Equine oviductal epithelial cells (OEC) were transformed with simian virus 40 large T antigen (SV 40 T-ag) to create a cell line for the study of the interaction of equine spermatozoa with oviductal epithelium. One cell line was established based on the expression of the SV 40 T-ag and extended lifespan in culture. Immortalized equine OEC retained the characteristics of differentiated OEC such as the formation of monolayers with characteristic epithelial morphology and cell polarization as well as expression of cytokeratin and equine major histocompatibility complex I. Monolayers of immortaliz...
Moczygemba C, Guidry J, Wittung-Stafshede P.Native myoglobin (Mb) consists of two populations which differ in the orientation of the heme by 180 degrees rotation (as verified by nuclear magnetic resonance) but have identical absorption spectra and equilibrium-thermodynamic stability. Here, we report that these two fractions of native oxidized Mb (from horse) both unfold and refold (chemical denaturant, pH 7, 20 degrees C) in two parallel kinetic reactions with rate constants differing 10-fold. In accord, the oxidized heme remains coordinated to unfolded horse Mb in up to 4 M guanidine hydrochloride (pH 7, 20 degrees C).
Rigby S, Love C, Carpenter K, Varner D, Blanchard T.Eleven light-breed pregnant mares (335 to 347 d gestaton) were used to evaluate the use of prostaglandin E2 as a cervical ripening agent prior to induction of parturition during the months of April and May. Six hours prior to induction, each mare's cervix was examined per vagina for softness and dilation. Each mare was then assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups: Group PGE mares (n = 7) received 2.0 to 2.5 mg prostaglandin E2 deposited intracervically; Group SAL mares (n = 4) received 0.5 mL of sterile NaCl deposited intracervically. Six hours later, the mares were readied for parturition by wrap...
Neto FJ, Luna SP, Massone F, Thomassian A, Vargas JL, Junior JR, D'Utra Vaz BB, Crocci AJ.To evaluate the effect of changing the mode of ventilation from spontaneous to controlled on the arterial-to-end-tidal CO2 difference [P(a-ET)CO2] and physiological dead space (VD(phys)/VT) in laterally and dorsally recumbent halothane-anesthetized horses. STUDY DESIGN; Prospective, experimental, nonrandomized trial. Methods: Seven mixed breed adult horses (1 male and 6 female) weighing 320 +/- 11 kg. Methods: Horses were anesthetized in 2 positions-right lateral and dorsal recumbency-with a minimum interval of 1 month. Anesthesia was maintained with halothane in oxygen for 180 minutes. Sponta...
Schumacher J, Dutton DM, Murphy DJ, Hague BA, Taylor TS.To report experience with paranasal sinus surgery through a frontonasal flap in sedated, standing horses. Methods: Treatment of 10 horses with naturally occurring paranasal sinus disease through a frontonasal bone flap created with the horses standing. Methods: Ten adult horses. Methods: After restraint and sedation, local anesthetic was injected subcutaneously along the proposed incision line over the conchofrontal sinus and was instilled into the sinuses through a small hole created in the frontal bone. A 3-sided, rectangular, cutaneous incision that extended through the periosteum was creat...
McD○ LA, Stover SM, Taylor KT.To determine cyclic biomechanical properties of gap osteotomized adult equine tibiae stabilized with an equine interlocking nail (EIN). Methods: In vitro experimental biomechanical investigation. Methods: Thirteen adult equine cadaveric tibiae. Methods: Adult equine tibiae with transverse, midshaft, 1-cm gap osteotomies, stabilized with an equine interlocking nail, underwent cyclic biomechanical testing in vitro under axial compression, 4-point bending, and torsion. Different specimens were subjected to different load levels that represented estimated in vivo loads at 2 Hz for 740,000 cycles. ...
Kinde H, Mathews M, Ash L, St Leger J.Two horses, a 16-year-old male Holsteiner and a 5-year-old male miniature horse, were diagnosed with halicephalobiasis at the California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System, San Bernardino Branch, in April and June of 1998. Over a period of 4 weeks, the Holsteiner horse developed renal dysfunction, blepharospasm, and blindness in the right eye. A 15-cm-diameter mass was detected on ultrasound examination in the right kidney. Terminally, the animal developed seizures and was euthanized. The miniature horse had a 6-week-long illness characterized by testicular enlargement and uveitis. This a...
Hagiwara K, Kamitani W, Takamura S, Taniyama H, Nakaya T, Tanaka H, Kirisawa R, Iwai H, Ikuta K.A pregnant mare showing pyrexia, reduced appetite, ataxia and paresis was euthanized and examined for the presence of Borna disease virus (BDV). Her brain, showing multiple neuronal degeneration and necrosis with hemorrhage, and the histologically normal brain of the fetus were both positive for BDV RNA. The BDV nucleotide sequences were identical in the mare and fetus in the second open reading frame (ORF). This is the first report of the possible vertical transmission of BDV in a horse.
Squires EL, McCue PM, Vanderwall D.The use of embryo transfer in the horse has increased steadily over the past two decades. However, several unique biological features as well as technical problems have limited its widespread use in the horse as compared with that in the cattle industry. Factors that affect embryo recovery include the day of recovery, number of ovulations, age of the donor and the quality of sire's semen. Generally, embryo recoveries are performed 7 or 8 d after ovulation unless the embryos are to be frozen, in which case recovery is performed 6 d after ovulation. Most embryos are recovered from single-ovulati...
Sechin A, Deschamps JC, Lucia T, Aleixo JA, Bordignon V.We evaluated the effect of PMSG on the weaning-to-first service interval, total litter size and born alive litter size in swine. Four doses of PMSG (0, 500, 750 and 1,000 IU) were administered intramuscularly after weaning to sows at 3 different farms, grouped by parities (1, 2 and 3 or higher) and 2 distinct time periods. The associations among main effects and response variables were assessed by analysis of variance. Polynomial orthogonal terms were used to adjust the estimates of weaning-to-first service interval, total litter size and born alive litter size for the interaction effect of pa...
Schröer U, Lange A, Glatzel P, Ludwig H, Borchers K.The aim of the present study was to clarify whether an EHV-1 induced abortion can be prognosticated by an increase of antibody titres, virus shedding and/or viraemia and whether the current abortion diagnostic is suitable. In this context the immune response post immunization and a possible reactivation were of great interest. For this purpose blood samples of 32 mares between the ages of 5-21 years were regularly investigated during a period of two years before and after vaccination and pregnancy. Neutralization tests, indirect immunofluorescence tests as well as PCR and virus isolation were ...
Whiting TL, Sauder RA.Horses intended for slaughter in Western Canada are frequently transported in double-deck trailers, where headroom may be restricted. Poll and withers height was estimated from type photographs of various horse breeds. The headroom required by Canadian legislation and codes of practice may not be sufficiently restrictive to protect the welfare of sport type horses when transported.
Groom LJ, Gaughan EM, Lillich JD, Valentino LW.Arthrodesis was performed to treat septic arthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joint of 8 horses. Records of the horses were reviewed to determine outcome and possible factors that influenced success or failure. All horses were female. Seven horses had 1 joint treated and 1 horse was treated for bilateral pelvic limb involvement. The duration of sepsis before surgery ranged from 1 to 66 days. Bone lysis and production was radiographically apparent in 7 horses before surgery. Six horses had multiple bacterial organisms cultured from bone or synovial tissues; 2 horses had single isolates id...
Cheramie HS, Pleasant RS, Dabareiner RM, Carolan RO.An aberrant branch of the internal carotid artery was detected by angiography in a horse with guttural pouch (auditory tube diverticulum) mycosis after the distal portion of the artery had been occluded by use of a detachable latex balloon. A second balloon was placed to eliminate retrograde hemorrhage from the aberrant branch. The horse recovered and returned to its previous activity. Vascular anomalies of the internal carotid artery my be more common than expected, and have resulted in fatal complications during and after surgical treatment in guttural pouch mycosis. Intraoperative identific...
Waller AE, Daniels JL, Weaver NL, Robinson P.In the sport of horse racing, the position of the jockey and speed of the horse predispose the jockey to risk of injury. Objective: To estimate rates of medically treated injuries among professional jockeys and identify patterns of injury events. Methods: Cross-sectional survey from data compiled by an insurance broker. Information on the cause of injury, location on the track, and body part injured was evaluated. Methods: Official races at US professional racing facilities (n = 114) from January 1, 1993, through December 31, 1996. Methods: A licensed jockey population of approximately 2700 pe...
Rosenstein DS, Bowker RM, Bartlett PC.To describe the vascular anatomy of the palmar digital artery and its major branches in the equine foot and to quantify the diameter of these vessels by use of digital angiograms. Sample Population-6 thoracic limbs obtained from 6 horses. Methods: Distal portions of each limb were perfused with aerated Krebs-Henseleit solution. Digital angiograms were acquired in standing and lateral recumbent positions, following an intra-arterial injection of iopamidol. Select vessels were measured on radiographic views, and values were corrected for magnification. Results: The palmar digital artery tapered ...
Lennox TJ, Wilson JH, Hayden DW, Bouljihad M, Sage AM, Walser MM, Manivel JC.A 2.5-year-old female Thoroughbred was examined because of lethargy, anorexia, and weight loss. Analysis of a CBC revealed erythrocytosis and an increase in PCV. Serum biochemical analysis revealed increases in activities of several hepatic enzymes. Ultrasonography revealed hepatomegaly and a heterogeneous appearance of the hepatic parenchyma. The horse did not improve despite supportive care, and it was euthanatized. Necropsy revealed numerous raised white to gray foci in the liver. Histologically, these foci consisted of neoplastic cells that resembled fetal hepatocytes, embryonal-type cells...
Andrews FM, Sifferman RL, Bernard W, Hughes FE, Holste JE, Daurio CP, Alva R, Cox JL.Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is very common among performance horses, with a reported prevalence of approximately 90% in racehorses, and also > 50% in foals. Omeprazole, an acid pump inhibitor 5 times more potent than ranitidine, has been used with great success to treat EGUS. This multicentre study of Thoroughbred racehorses with endoscopically verified gastric ulcers was designed to demonstrate the efficacy of an equine oral paste formulation of omeprazole in the treatment and prevention of recurrence of EGUS. Of the 100 horses entered into the study, 25 were sham-dosed for the full ...
Pusterla N, Madigan JE, Chae JS, DeRock E, Johnson E, Pusterla JB.We report successful helminthic transmission of Ehrlichia risticii, the causative agent of Potomac horse fever, using trematode stages collected from Juga yrekaensis snails. The ehrlichial agent was isolated from the blood of experimentally infected horses by culture in murine monocytic cells and identified as E. risticii ultrastructurally and by characterization of three different genes.
Vatistas NJ, Snyder JR, Nieto J, Thompson D, Pollmeier M, Holste J.Gastric ulceration has been found to occur in 80-90% of Thoroughbreds in active race training. Previously, variable success has been reported using mucosal surface protectants and H2 receptor antagonist. Omeprazole, a substituted benzimidazole, has been shown to inhibit gastric acid secretion in both man and animals. Fourteen horses, in active race training and with endoscopic evidence of moderated to severe gastric ulceration were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (7 horses) were given placebo paste orally once daily for 28 days; Group 2 (7 horses) received 1.54 g active omeprazole in the placeb...
MacAllister CG, Sifferman RL, McClure SR, White GW, Vatistas NJ, Holste JE, Ericcson GF, Cox JL.A multicentre, blinded, randomised complete-block, field trial was conducted with 140 horses and foals age 4 weeks-28 years to determine if omeprazole paste is effective and safe in promoting healing of spontaneous gastric ulcers under a variety of field conditions and in different breeds and ages of horses. Horses in the study had gastric ulceration as determined by gastroscopy and were divided into replicates of 4 or 5 animals. One horse in each replicate was assigned randomly to receive an empty omeprazole syringe (sham-dosed control) and the remaining horses received omeprazole paste once ...
Haven ML, Dave K, Burrow JA, Merritt AM, Harris D, Zhang D, Hickey GJ.The antisecretory activity of omeprazole on gastric acid when administered i.v., intragastrically or per os, was evaluated in 2 female and 3 castrated male horses. Each horse had been prepared with a chronic indwelling gastric cannula. A single i.v. administration of omeprazole (1.5 mg/kg bwt) was effective in abolishing basal and pentagastrin (PG)-stimulated acid secretion. Once daily, nasogastric administration of omeprazole in acid-stable granules for 5 days inhibited acid secretion in a dose-dependent manner: 57% (1.5 mg/kg bwt) and 98% (5.0 mg/kg bwt) reduction of PG-stimulated acid secre...
Preston SA, Brown MP, Chmielewski TL, Trumble TN, Zimmel DN, Hernandez JA.To determine the effects of yearling sale purchase price, exercise history, lameness, and athletic performance (speed) on purchase price of 2-year-old in-training Thoroughbreds and to compare the distance exercised within 60 days prior to 2-year-old in-training sales between horses with high yearling sale purchase prices versus those with low yearling sale purchase prices and between horses with lameness during training and those without lameness during training. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 51 Thoroughbreds. Methods: Thoroughbreds purchased at a yearling sale were trained prior to res...
Doran RE, White NA, Allen D.Four adult horses and 3 foals with middle phalangeal fractures were treated by arthrodesis of the proximal interphalangeal joint, using a bone plate. Six of the 7 horses survived greater than 2 years; 2 of the 6 horses had intermittent lameness after hard work, and 4 horses didn't have evidence of lameness. The use of a bone plate for arthrodesis of the proximal interphalangeal joint was a successful treatment alternative for middle phalangeal fractures in horses.
Meier A, Hertzberg H.Small strongyles (cyathostomes) that are resistant against anthelmintics have become a major problem in equine medicine in the recent years. In many European countries benzimidazole-resistant cyathostomes are widespread and are now present in well over 50% of equine populations investigated. In contrast, resistance against ivermectin has not been reported despite its widespread use in the recent years. Optimising the frequency of treatments based on quantitative faecal monitoring is of great importance to preserve remaining anthelmintic efficacy.
Reef VB.Stress echocardiography in the horse is in its infancy, and investigations need to continue to determine the significance and mechanism of postexercise echocardiographic abnormalities detected in horses. This work should be coupled with investigations on the exercise-induced changes in cardiac isoenzymes, cTnI, arterial oxygen content, and cardiac rhythm that may occur concurrently. With continued investigations into the cardiovascular problems that occur in the exercising horse, the sport horse veterinarian should be better able to accurately diagnose and treat problems causing poor performan...
Slovis NM, McEntee MC, Fairley RA, Galuppo LD, Théon AP.Basal cell tumors are rare benign tumors in horses. Over a 15-year period, 6 horses were diagnosed with basal cell tumors. The tumors were well-circumscribed. freely moveable, firm, raised papules, nodules, or masses that ranged from 0.6 to 5 cm in diameter. Five of the 6 tumors were ulcerated. Based on gross appearance, the tumors were diagnosed as sarcoids, and 1 was diagnosed as a melanoma. The range of age of affected horses was 6-26 years. The tumors were identified clinically 1 week to 3 years before excision. In 4 horses for which information was available, complete surgical excision wa...
Palmer S, Gomez AMM, Mohammed HO.A longitudinal retrospective study was carried out to investigate the attrition of Thoroughbred (TB) and Standardbred (SB) horses racing at New York racetracks during the 2016 to 2019 seasons. The data were collected from the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) Equine Breakdown, Death, Injury and Incident (EBDII), The Jockey Club InCompass Solutions, and The United States Trotting Association Pathway databases. Survival analysis was used to compare the predisposing factors by breed of the horse. The study included 431 horses (360 TB and 71 SB). There was a significant difference between t...
Drudge JH, Lyons ET, Tolliver SC.Critical tests were completed on six horses to evaluate the antiparasitic activity of a paste formulation mixture of morantel citrate and trichlorfon, administered intraorally at the dose rate of 6 mg morantel base kg-1 and trichlorfon at 30 mg kg-1. Aggregate average removals were: 78% for two horses infected with 2nd instar Gasterophilus intestinalis; 100% for one infected with 2nd instar G. nasalis; 96% for six infected with 3rd instar G. intestinalis; 100% for four infected with 3rd instar G. nasalis; 100% for five infected with Parascaris equorum; 100% for one infected with mature Oxyuris...
Bevevino KE, Cohen ND, Gordon SG, Navas de Solis C.A point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) protocol for evaluation of the cardiac and respiratory systems in horses does not exist. Objective: (a) Describe the windows of a POCUS protocol for cardiorespiratory assessment of horses (CRASH); (b) Estimate the number of acoustic windows that can be acquired by a sonographer-in-training; (c) Estimate the time required to complete the protocol for specific groups of horses; (d) Describe the sonographic abnormalities detected in horses presented with cardiovascular, respiratory, or systemic disease. Methods: Twenty-seven healthy horses, 14 horses competing i...
Memon MA, McClure JJ, Usenik EA.An 8-year-old Quarter Horse stallion was admitted with a swelling involving the prepuce, dorsal part of the scrotum, and root of the penis. The swelling was first noticed 10 days after breeding, with no evidence that it had resulted from a kick by the mare. The penis was retracted into the prepuce, except for a 10- to 15-cm protrusion of the glans penis. Treatment included warm hydrotherapy, massage, stockinette compression, antidiuretics, antibiotics, penile support, and exercise, without success. At necropsy, a massive preputial hematoma was found extending forward from the root of the penis...
Manohar M, Goetz TE.It has been reported that pulmonary injury (i.e. capillary stress failure) evoked histamine release from airway inflammatory/mast cells contributes to exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia (EIAH) and that pre-exercise inhalation of nedocromil sodium mitigated EIAH in human subjects 'Med. Sci. Sports Exercise 29, (1997) 10-16'. Because exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage due to capillary stress failure is routinely observed in racehorses, we examined whether nedocromil inhalation would similarly benefit EIAH and desaturation of hemoglobin in horses. Two sets of experiments, namely, placebo stud...
Holmberg DL.Four horses with corneal perforations of various etiologies were presented for surgical correction. Pedicle grafts taken from the bulbar or palpebral conjunctiva were used to repair the defects. Two horses regained functional vision in the affected eyes while a third had significant impairment. The fourth eye, which had an intense uveitis pre and postoperative, became phthisic and blind.