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.
Geor RJ, McCutcheon LJ.The large metabolic heat load generated as a consequence of muscular work requires activation of thermoregulatory mechanisms in order to prevent an excessive and potentially dangerous rise in body temperature during exercise. Although the horse has highly efficient heat dissipatory mechanisms, there are a number of circumstances in which the thermoregulatory system may be overwhelmed, resulting in the development of critical hyperthermia. The risk for development of life-threatening hyperthermia is greatest when (1) the horse is inadequately conditioned for the required level of physical perfo...
Foreman JH.Exhaustion occurs in most equestrian sports, but it is more frequent in events that require sustained endurance work such as endurance racing, three-day eventing, trial riding, and hunting. Exhaustion is also more likely when an unfit, unacclimatized, or unsound horse is exercised. Mechanisms that contribute to exhaustion include heat retention, fluid and electrolyte loss, acid-base imbalance, and intramuscular glycogen depletion. Clinical signs include elevated temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate; depression; anorexia; unwillingness to continue to exercise; dehydration; weakness; stiffne...
Okumura M, Asano M, Tagami M, Tsukiyama K, Fujinaga T.Serum concentrations of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), calcium (Ca) and inorganic phosphorus (P), as well as antigenic ceruloplasmin (Cp) and oxidase activity as a functional index for copper metabolism, were measured in 10 foals (5 males and 5 females) and their dams. Samples were harvested from the foals within 1 wk after birth and monthly from 1 to 17 mo of age. Samples were collected from their dams in the perinatal period (monthly from 2 mo before delivery to 5 mo postpartum). Serum oxidase activity, antigenic Cp and Cu in foals were extremely low at 1 wk. Serum Cp had the lowest...
Sternberg S.Swab samples were collected from the oral cavity of 174 horses in 10 farms and cultured selectively for Actinobacillus equuli. A. equuli could be isolated from 37% of all samples, varying between 12 and 88% in the different farms. Eight horses were sampled repeatedly for several days, with a variation in isolation frequency between 50 and 88%. Isolates were compared by restriction enzyme digestion and Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis. A high degree of strain variability was found within each horse population as well as some variability over time between strains isolated from the same horse.
Jordana J, Folch P, Cuenca R.Twelve clinical biochemical parameters were determined in 97 animals of all age groups and both sexes of the endangered Catalonian donkey breed. Significant sex differences were observed for phospholipid concentration (P<0.01). Evaluating the effect of management practices on the various parameters showed significant differences for total bilirubin (P<0.001) and creatinine (P<0.05) concentrations and gamma-glutamyltransferase (P<0.05) activity. Moreover, it was observed that inorganic phosphorus concentration decreased with age (P<0.001), whereas albumin and triglyceride concent...
Heitkamp HC, Horstmann T, Hillgeris D.A group of experienced riders who qualified for the German riding badge 9.5 years ago answered a questionnaire pertaining to injuries during jumping, dressage and cross-country riding, as well as handling the horse. During riding 69% of the persons had had 187 injuries and while handling the horse 52% had had 124 injuries. Fractures and contusions were the most-frequent injuries; most riding injuries were located in the upper extremities and shoulder while handling mainly in the hands and feet. The number of injuries was comparable in jumping, dressage or cross-country riding. The time engaged...
Ramirez S, Williams J, Seahorn TL, Blas-Machado U, Partington BP, Valdes M, McClure JR.A 3-month-old foal was presented for correction of bilateral angular limb deformities. Azotemia was detected as an incidental finding. Small, misshapened, hyperechoic kidneys with decreased corticomedullary demarcation were noted with ultrasonography. Additionally, the internal renal architecture was abnormal in that the intrarenal vessels and distant collecting system were not clearly seen in either kidney. Ultrasound-guided renal biopsy was suggestive of congenital renal dysplasia, which was later confirmed at necropsy. Clinical, sonographic, and pathologic features of equine renal dysplasia...
Warmerdam EP.Ultrasonography of the femoral artery in the horse, including color, power and spectral Doppler, provides morphologic and dynamic information. This paper describes the use of the techniques in six clinically normal horses and three with femoral artery thrombosis. Useful landmarks for orientation are the saphenous artery and the medial saphenous vein. The lateral circumflex femoral artery can not be visualized. Recognition of the genus descendens artery is complicated due to the presence of multiple distal caudal femoral arteries. The femoral artery feeds a high resistance bed. In normal horses...
Widmer WR, Blevins WE, Jakovljevic S, Levy M, Teclaw RF, Han CM, Hurd CD.A prospective clinical trial comparing adverse postmyelographic effects and myelographic quality of metrizamide and iohexol was conducted. Using a predetermined, randomized assignment, 24 horses exhibiting neurologic signs were administered either metrizamide (180 mgl/ml) or iohexol (180 mgl/ml) via cerebellomedullary puncture. Each horse was evaluated postmyelographically for adverse effects. Myelographic quality was assessed by a numerical scoring method. Adverse effects were observed more frequently with metrizamide (21) compared with iohexol (6) myelography (p < 0.05). Seizures, intensific...
Young LE, Scott GR.In order to assess the reliability and repeatability of transthoracic echocardiography for detecting serial changes in cardiac function in horses, day to day variability of a number of echocardiographic indices of ventricular function were studied. The variables investigated were, from 2-dimensional (2-D) and M-mode echocardiography - aortic diameter in systole (Aos), pulmonary artery diameter in systole (Pas), left ventricular internal diameter in systole (LLVIDs) and diastole (LLVIDd), and left ventricular fractional shortening (%FS) and estimated ejection fraction (EF). From pulsed Doppler ...
Higuchi T, Taharaguchi S, Hashikura S, Hagiwara S, Gojo C, Satoh S, Yoshida M, Takai S.To evaluate results of physical and serologic examinations of foals at 30 and 45 days of age on 3 types of farms with various prevalences of clinical disease (endemic, sporadic, none) caused by Rhodococcus equi and to determine whether evaluations were helpful in early diagnosis and control of the disease. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Methods: 144 foals at 30 and 45 days of age. Methods: During a 2-year period, 36 foals on farms at which R equi infection was endemic, 71 foals on farms at which the disease was sporadically detected, and 37 foals on farms without the disease were examined ...
Haouz A, Glandieres JM, Zentz C, Pin S, Ramstein J, Tauc P, Brochon JC, Alpert B.The effects of the solvent conditions (buffer pH 9, 8, or 7 or buffer pH 6.5 alone or mixed with 3.2% ethanol or 6.2% formamide) on the protein dynamics of horse apomyoglobin were investigated through tryptophan fluorescence quenching, spectra, and decay properties. Raising the pH (which induces discontinuous protein conformation changes) increases the structural fluctuations inside the hydrophobic A, G, and H helix core. Mixed solutions containing either 3.2% ethanol or 6.2% formamide (which redistribute water molecules on the protein surface) produce protein dynamics changes in the vicinity ...
La Perle KM, Piercy RJ, Long JF, Blomme EA.Multisystemic, eosinophilic, epitheliotropic disease and intestinal lymphosarcoma were diagnosed in a Paso Fino mare that presented with anorexia and weight loss. The stomach, ileum, cecum, colon, pancreas, and lungs were infiltrated by large numbers of eosinophils forming prominent eosinophilic granulomas, as well as lymphocytes and plasma cells. Two jejunal masses composed of solid sheets of neoplastic lymphocytes were present. In contrast to the regions of inflammation, the infiltrates in these masses did not contain plasma cells, eosinophils, and eosinophilic granulomas. Immunohistochemica...
Manohar M, Goetz TE, Sullivan E, Griffin R.The present study was carried out to examine the effects of phenylbutazone treatment on the pulmonary haemodynamic effects of frusemide in strenuously exercising horses. Using catheter mounted manometers, whose in vivo signals were referenced at the point of the shoulder, heart rate, right atrial, right ventricular and pulmonary vascular pressures were measured in 3 different sets of experiments. Seven Thoroughbreds were subjected to 1) control (no medications), 2) frusemide control and 3) phenylbutazone + frusemide. The experiments were carried out in random order and were separated by 7 days...
van Schaik AM, van der Pol BA, van der Linde-Sipman JS.A healthy, 10-day-old Welsh A pony colt was totally blind 1 day after arrival at a studfarm. Both eyes appeared normal on external inspection. The young animal had been very distressed during the 40-km journey to the studfarm. Intravenous corticosteroids were administered for 2 days, but did not result in any observable improvement. The animal was euthanized at the owner's request. Both eyes with the optic nerves were removed for histological examination. Both optic nerves showed Wallerian degeneration, a well-known response of peripheral nerves to trauma. The foal, which was not tethered duri...
Johnson KG, Tyrrell J, Rowe JB, Pethick DW.Abnormal behaviour commonly develops in intensively managed horses. A possible cause is the change in diet occurring when the horse is stabled. An experiment was performed to examine this possibility by manipulating the diet with the feed supplement virginiamycin, as Founderguard. During 4 weeks, 18 horses were fed diets ranging from hay alone to concentrate plus hay in the ratio of 3:1. The rations of half the horses given concentrate were supplemented with Founderguard. Horses eating high concentrate rations displayed abnormal oral behaviours at a higher frequency than those eating only hay....
Doxey DL, Milne EM, Ellison J, Curry PJ.Responses to questionnaires were received from 31 owners of horses or ponies treated for chronic grass sickness (dysautonomia). Contrary to previous opinions the respondents indicated that the majority of the animals were capable of strenuous work, had regained the weight they had lost and, apart from a few residual problems such as difficulty in coping with dry fibrous food, had returned to a normal life. They had recovered slowly and had involved the owners in considerable extra work, but all the owners indicated that they considered the effort to have been worthwhile.
Poore LA, Le Roux C, Carstens A.A definitive diagnosis of extensive suture line exostoses affecting the nasofrontal, nasolacrimal, nasomaxillary, frontolacrimal, lacrimozygomatic and lacrimomaxillary suture lines in a 7-year-old Thoroughbred mare with chronic bilateral epiphora and facial deformation was achieved using standing computed tomography (CT) examinations. Positive contrast dacryocystorhinography using CT revealed partial bilateral obstruction of the nasolacrimal ducts. Minimally displaced depression fractures of the right nasal bone, the right maxillary bone and right frontal bone were also demonstrated. The cosme...
Shoemaker RS, Martin GS, Hillmann DJ, Haynes PF, McClure JR, Schneiter HL.Two horses became acutely lame following a fall during strenuous exercise and were diagnosed as having disruption of the caudal component of the reciprocal apparatus. Clinical signs consisted of lameness of the right pelvic limb, characterized by flexion of the hock and simultaneous extension of the stifle. Radiography revealed an avulsion fracture from the supracondylar tuberosity and fossa of the distal portion of the femur in one horse. Clinical and radiographic findings indicated avulsion of the lateral origin of the gastrocnemius and superficial digital flexor muscles. Treatment consisted...
Farahi S, Shishehbor P, Nemati A, Witaliński W.A new mite species, Trachygamasus karuni sp. nov. is described from buffalo, sheep and horse manure at several locations north of Ahvaz city, Khuzestan, Iran. A key to 14 world species of Trachygamasus with described adults is also provided.
Mair TS, Lane JG, Lucke VM.The clinical and post mortem features of 11 cases of lymphosarcoma involving the thoracic cavity are reviewed. The clinical findings included inappetence, weight loss, pectoral oedema, dyspnoea, pleural effusion and distension of the jugular veins. Dysphagia was present in three cases. At post mortem examination lesions were found in the abdomen as well as the chest in eight cases; clinical signs of abdominal disease were present in two cases. The features of nine other similar cases recorded in the literature are reviewed.
Gaughan EM, Gift LJ, DeBowes RM, Frank RK, Veatch JK.An 8-year-old Quarter Horse mare was examined for chronic nasal discharge and obstruction of both nasal passages. A solid mass lesion was identified in the maxillary sinuses, soft palate, nasal and pharyngeal cavities. Palliative surgery was used to debulk the lesion and facilitate nasal airflow. Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed from surgical biopsies. Approximately 7-8 weeks after surgery, the mare was observed to be acutely blind. Ophthalmologic examination revealed central origin blindness and active retinitis. The squamous cell carcinoma had reobstructed the nasal passages. Pressure b...
Cudmore LA, Groenendyk JC, Hodge P, Church S.This case report describes neurological signs associated with a pyogranulomatous lesion within the sacral vertebral canal of a horse. The clinical findings included urinary overflow incontinence and reduced anal, perianal and tail tone. The horse failed to respond to medical management and a guarded prognosis for return to athletic performance initiated the decision for euthanasia.
Dunn HO, Smiley D, Duncan JR, McEntee K.The karyotypes of a Welsh pony and a Standardbred were 64,XX/64,XY and 63,XO/64,XY respectively. Both intersexes were true hermaphrodites with bilateral ovotestes. Neither intersex showed stallion-like behaviour. Each one had an underdeveloped penis, bilateral seminal vesicles and uterine tissue. It would appear that the chimerism in these equine intersexes resulted from double fertilization or fusion of blastocysts. Mosaicism in the Standardbred is a possibility, resulting from loss of a Y chromosome by anaphase lag in an early embryonic XY cell.
Fielding CL, Mayer JR, Dechant JE, Epstein KL, Magdesian KG.Trauma from dog attacks has been associated with mortality rates as high as 23% in some species. However, the prognosis and clinical features of this type of injury have not been described in equids. Objective: To describe survival rate, signalment, clinical features, and biochemical results in equids presented for emergency care after presumed dog attacks. We hypothesized there would be differences between survivors and nonsurvivors. Methods: A total of 28 equids presented for presumed dog attacks from 3 referral centers. Methods: A retrospective study was performed using data from 3 hospital...
Merchan A, Barrett EJ, Rodgerson DH.A technique for hand-assisted laparoscopic removal of cystic calculi in male horses is described. Three cystic calculi ranging from 5 to 10 cm in diameter were removed successfully using bilateral para-inguinal laparoscopic portals assisted by a human hand within the abdomen, effectively sealing the midline incision. Long-term follow-up information obtained from referring veterinarians and owners indicated that the patients returned to their previous activity level and had no recurrence of clinical signs in the following 6 to 12 months. Key clinical message: Hand-assisted recumbent laparoscopy...
Wilson DV.Heavily pregnant mares requiring anesthesia present special problems and challenges. The use of short-acting anesthetic agents, combined with inhalational anesthesia, mechanical ventilation, and blood pressure support, will ensure an optimal outcome by maintaining both maternal and fetal homeostasis. The provision of oxygen during recovery to the still gravid mare also is important for fetal survival.
Rossano MG, Kaneene JB, Schott HC, Sheline KD, Mansfield LS.Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a neurological disease of equids that is caused by infection of the central nervous system with Sarcocystis neurona. Veterinarians diagnose EPM by performing a neurological examination and by ordering Western blot tests for antibodies to S. neurona in the blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The negative predictive value of the Western blot test is generally accepted to be high for both serum and CSF. If the agreement between serum and CSF test results is strong, serum tests could be used to substitute for CSF tests in some cases. The purpose of t...
Harrison IW, Raker CW.Bilateral arytenoidectomy had been performed as treatment for bilateral arytenoid chondritis in 2 horses. After surgery, dorsal mucosal defects were associated with subsequent development of dorsal glottic stenosis in the 2 horses. When performing bilateral arytenoidectomy in the horse, care must be taken to eliminate dorsal mucosal defects that cross the midline. Failure to close these defects may result in glottic stenosis.
Mason TA.Seven cases of chronic tenosynovitis affecting the extensor carpi radialis or lateral digital extensor tendon and their sheaths are described. All cases were chronic and in 4 of the cases previous treatment by drainage and local corticosteroid injection had been ineffective. Surgical exploration of 6 cases demonstrated a distinct lesion and specific surgical treatment was carried out.