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.
Glaser AL, de Vries AA, Rottier PJ, Horzinek MC, Colenbrander B.Sero-epidemiological surveys have revealed that equine arteritis virus (EAV) is prevalent in most European countries. The virus causes sporadic cases of respiratory disease and abortion in horses, the incidence of which has increased in recent years. Mares and geldings eliminate virus after acute infection, but 30% to 60% of stallions become persistently infected. In these animals, EAV is maintained within the reproductive tract and is shed continuously in the semen. Persistent infection with EAV in stallions has no negative consequences for fertility but mares inseminated with virus-contamina...
Borgsteede FH, Dvojnos GM, Kharchenko VA.The efficacy of treatment with cambendazole was tested in 1-year-old horses on a farm in Dubrovka, Ukraine. Thirty-five horses were treated. Their egg output was compared on the day of treatment and 14 days later with that of 33 untreated horses. Before treatment the mean number of eggs g-1 faeces was 614 in the controls and 766 in horses that had been treated. After 14 days the mean egg output in the controls was 580 and in the treated horses 369. This means a reduction of 54.5%. Only cyathostome larvae could be cultured from faeces collected after treatment. It can be concluded that benzimid...
Whitelock RG.This paper quantifies the extent of the radiation hazard to personnel from horses undergoing scintigraphy using technetium99m methylene diphosphonate (99Tcm-MDP). From the data produced it is possible to derive safe working protocols which are comfortably within the legislated limits for whole body doses as set out in the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985. Measurements were made of the surface and environmental activities which result from individuals undergoing scintigraphic evaluation and also from urine contaminated bedding. The use of both high and low activities in the assessment of th...
Chopin JB, Sigler L, Connole MD, O'Boyle DA, Mackay B, Goldstein L.This report describes an infection of a horse's cornea caused by Cladorrhinum bulbillosum. Minor surgery and treatment with antibiotics successfully resolved the infection. The only previous reported case involving this fungus was an Argentinian boy who was infected while working with horses.
Sellon DC, Levine JF, Palmer K, Millikin E, Grindem C, Covington P.The records of horses presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine between January 1, 1989 and April 30, 1994 were evaluated to determine risk factors associated with thrombocytosis. Of the 2,346 horses for which a CBC was performed, 24 (1.0%) had a platelet count > 400,000/microL. Demographic, diagnostic, physical examination, and clinicopathologic variables from these cases were compared with a reference population consisting of 189 horses with a normal platelet count presenting during the same period. Infectious/ inflamma...
Kaneene JB, Miller R, Ross W, Gilbert L.Data from two 12 month prospective monitoring programs that followed management, economics and animal health from randomly-sampled equine operations in Michigan were used to determine patterns of health maintenance. Health maintenance measures were grouped, and average uses per year were computed for the most-common measures reported: respiratory, Potomac Horse Fever, neurological and multiple-system vaccinations, deworming, and general farrier work. Factors examined for potential association with health maintenance measure use were numbers of equids and horse-days on the operation, average ag...
Platt D, Wright IM.The history, clinical features, radiological findings, treatment and outcome of 15 horses with chronic tenosynovitis of the carpal extensor tendon sheaths are reported. The condition was seen most commonly in horses used for jumping and penetration of the tendon sheaths by thorns was the most common aetiology. Treatment involved surgical resection of the hyperplastic synovial membrane, and adhesions within the tendon sheath, with primary closure. When combined with early postoperative physiotherapy this was found to be an effective method of treatment. All horses in this series were not lame a...
Blackall PJ, Bisgaard M, McKenzie RA.The objective of this work was to perform a comprehensive phenotypic characterisation of 16 isolates of bacteria previously identified as Actinobacillus equuli. Methods: The 16 isolates that had been obtained from Australian animals--15 from horses and one from a rabbit--were compared with reference strains of A equuli, A capsulatus, Pasteurella caballi and Bisgaard Taxa 9 and 11. Results: The characterisation study demonstrated that only nine of the isolates were A equuli. The other isolates were identified as A capsulatus (the isolate from rabbit), P caballi (one isolate), Bisgaard Taxon 11 ...
Shuster R, Traub-Dargatz J, Baxter G.A questionnaire designed to elicit information concerning prevalence, underlying causes, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and complications of endotoxemia in horses was mailed to diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Surgeons who identified themselves as equine practitioners. Gastrointestinal tract compromise, conditions associated with foaling, and grain overload were reported to be the most common clinical conditions that led to endotoxemia. Most of the respondents diagnosed endotoxemia on the basis of the following clinica...
Verschooten F, Verbeeck J.This paper describes the application of a measuring device 'Flextest' to control the effect of traction force and traction time during flexion tests of the distal limb joints of the forelimbs. The optimal force for a flexion test is 100 N, over 1 min. A higher force (150 N) was not harmful. A slightly positive flexion response (100 N/1 min) in a horse with no other clinical signs or radiographic abnormalities is not of clinical significance. Individual left and right flexion and extension angles are almost identical and do not depend on age. Stabled horses which have been rested or horses rest...
Harris P.This review outlines the energy sources available to the horse, from its diet and from its body stores, at rest and while exercising. It looks at the current ways of describing the energy potential of diets fed to horses and discusses the relative advantages and disadvantages of the digestible energy and net energy systems. The more empirical net energy system for calculating the energy available for maintenance and work is compared with a more physiological partitioning system. Finally, the energy requirements for maintenance and exercise are discussed, together with how they may be practical...
Adams MR, Register TC, Golden DL, Wagner JD, Williams JK.Although estrogen replacement therapy is associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease and reduced extent of coronary artery atherosclerosis, the effects of combined (estrogen plus progestin) hormone-replacement therapy are uncertain. Some observational data indicate that users of combined hormone replacement consisting of continuously administered oral conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) and oral sequentially administered (7 to 14 days per month) medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) experience a reduction in risk similar to that of users of CEE alone. However, the effects of combined, con...
Tyler-McGowan CM, Hodgson JL, Hodgson DR.To determine the regional incidence and effectiveness of treatment of failure of passive transfer (FPT) in foals. Methods: A study of disease incidence. Methods: Eighty-eight foals and 57 mares from four studs in the practice area of the Rural Veterinary Centre were tested. Methods: Foals were tested for their serum IgG and total serum protein (TSP) concentration within the first 72 hours of life. Colostrum was collected from mares and specific gravity determined. FPT and partial failure of passive transfer (PFPT) of immunoglobulins was diagnosed when serum IgG concentrations were < 4 g/L and ...
Stanek C.A retrospective study (1984-1994) was made of 10 cases of septic arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint in horses aged 7 months to 17 years. In 6 cases a hind limb was affected, in 4 cases a front limb. The arthritis was caused either by a puncture wound in the sole area (8 cases), by a perforating wound in the coronary region (1) or iatrogenic (1). All horses exhibited a severe lameness at the walk. Radiography showed no typical lesions in fresh cases, whilst later an increasing subluxation of the joint was observed followed by periosteal reactions. Therapy included partial resection o...
Bouré L, Marcoux M, Laverty S.Eleven foals (nine cadavers and two anesthetized) positioned in dorsal recumbency were examined to describe normal abdominal anatomy viewed by laparoscopy. The foals ages ranged from 1 to 150 days. Insertion sites were selected for a Verres needle, laparoscope and instrument portals to avoid trauma to the umbilical structures. The abdominal cavity was insufflated to a pressure of 10 to 12 mm Hg using an automatic carbon dioxide insufflator. Laparoscopic examination allowed excellent observation of the umbilical structures, the bladder, the genital tract, the inguinal area, the liver and segmen...
Meier HP, Gertsch U, Kohler S.Twin pregnancies are a serious problem in stud medicine as they terminate in most cases in abortion, stillbirth or the delivery of dead or weak and deformed foals. In recent years, the introduction of sonography has greatly improved the management of mares with twin conceptuses, in particular monitoring the phenomenon of spontaneous embryo reduction to a single vesicle. This allows supervision of pregnancy with relatively little expenditure and loss of time. We document the spontaneous reduction to single vesicles of unilateral twin pregnancies in a draught- and a warmblood-mare. In both mares...
Landolt G, Feige K, Schöberl M.The present study describes the poisoning due to Robinia pseudoacacia in two horses. One of the horses showed mainly intestinal symptoms such as decreased intestinal motility and obstipation of the pelvic flexure. In the second animal central nervous symptoms were predominant. It showed intermittent phases of somnolence alternating with phases of excitation and head pressing. In addition mydriasis and a lacking menace response could be observed. Sensation to the head and the spinal reflexes were reduced. Symptomatic treatment was initiated in both animals and recovery occurred within 2 days.
Tetens J, Ross MW, Lloyd JW.To assess the effect of incomplete, midsagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx (P1) on racing performance in Standardbreds. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: 49 Standardbred horses admitted to the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals between July 1986 and December 1992 with a definitive radiographic diagnosis of an incomplete, midsagittal fracture of P1 and a known method of treatment. Methods: Performance index and racing time were compared before and after diagnosis and treatment of fracture, using ANOVA that controlled for the effects of horse, gender, age, track leng...
Cirak VY, Hermosilla C, Bauer C.Quantitative faecal and post-mortem examinations of 16 ponies, 1 to 2 1/2 years of age, originating from 3 farms in northern Germany were performed in February 1995 to determine the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in these animals. A total of 33 species of metazoan parasites was recovered: three tapeworm species (Anoplocephala perfoliata, A. magna, Paranoplocephala mamillana), Strongylus vulgaris, S. edentatus, small strongyles (including four Triodontophorus spp., Craterostomum acuticaudatum and 19 cyathostome species), Oxyuris equi, Parascaris equorum, Habronema majus ...
Izumisawa Y, Yamaguchi M, Bertone AL, Tangkawattana P, Masty J, Yamashita K, Kotani T.The structural arrangement and cellular distribution of endothelial and lining cells of the synovial villi were studied in the equine palmar/plantar recess of the metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal joints by light microscopy and electron microscopy. The extent and distribution of blood vessels varied with villous shape and length. The majority of vessels formed concentric circles in cross and longitudinal sections and probably are arranged in a convoluted, spiral or helical pattern. The villi do not contain smooth muscle cells or typical capillaries as observed in other organs. Under the elect...
Martin GS, Strand E, Kearney MT.To develop a statistical model to evaluate the influence of specific parameters on racing performance in Thoroughbreds. Methods: Survey. Methods: Racing records of Thoroughbreds performing in Louisiana from 1981 to 1985. Methods: Race results for 20 randomly selected days from 5 racetracks during 5 years were analyzed, using regression analysis. Results: The most influential parameter was distance raced. There were significant differences in racing performance among horses at different tracks. At the tracks examined, fast racing surfaces resulted in significantly faster finish times than good ...
Hendrickson DA.The determination of poor performance in the young or unproven horse can be a difficult experience for the practitioner. This article describes an incremental exercise test that may be helpful in determining the cause of poor performance in horses when a complete physical examination and a lameness examination fail to elucidate the causes of poor performance. Included are values from normal yearling and 2-year-old horses that have undergone the incremental exercise test.
Bonnaire Y, Plou P, Pages N, Boudene C, Jouany JM.A highly sensitive procedure for GC/MS determination of etorphine in horse urine is described. This assay provides both specificity and reliability and is particularly well suited for the confirmation of radioimmunoassay screening procedures usually used for etorphine. After solvent extraction and purifications, the etorphine is characterized as a pentafluoroacetic derivative (PFAA) by using mass fragmentography. The detection limit is 0.1 ng/mL in urine; the coefficient of variation of the estimations is 10.9%. The procedure has been validated after on-field administration of 5 to 90 microgra...
Taylor SD.Potomac horse fever (PHF) is a common cause of equine colitis in endemic areas. Until recently, the only causative agent known to cause PHF was Neorickettsia risticii. However, N. findlayensis has been isolated from affected horses. Horses typically become infected upon ingestion of Neorickettsia spp.-infected trematodes within aquatic insects. The most common clinical signs include diarrhea, fever, anorexia, lethargy and colic. The diagnostic test of choice for PHF is PCR of blood and feces. Tetracyclines remain an effective treatment. Supportive care, including fluid therapy, colloid ad...
Zetterström SM, Boone LH, Farag R, Weimar WH, Caldwell FJ.To evaluate a double hemitenotomy (DHT) technique as an alternative to complete deep digital flexor (DDFT) tenotomy. Methods: Experimental ex vivo study. Methods: Isolated DDFTs (n = 30) and cadaveric forelimbs (n = 16). Methods: In part 1, 15 isolated DDFT pairs were used. Two hemitenotomies were created in 1 DDFT while the other served as reference. Monotonic tensile load was applied. Tendon lengthening, load reduction, and load at failure were recorded. In part 2, 16 cadaveric forelimb pairs were subjected to DHT followed by complete tenotomy (CT) under monotonic compressive load. Diffe...
Richardson DW, Loinaz R.There is an enormous volume of published material about most of the agents used to treat or prevent arthritis in horses. Unfortunately, most of the claims made by nearly all purveyors of arthritis medications in such media are largely unsubstantiated. In addition, the quality of the available information is highly inconsistent, making evidence-based recommendations difficult. This article concentrates on injectable polysulfated glycosaminoglycan, injectable hyaluronan, and the common oral "nutraceuticals".
Arighi M, Miller CR, Pennock PW.Scapulohumeral arthrodesis was performed successfully as treatment for severe degenerative arthritis in a 62-kg miniature horse. Using an approach similar to that used for a dog, this horse's scapulohumeral joint was opened, the cartilage was removed, and the site was stabilized, using an 11-hole narrow dynamic compression plate. Fusion was uncomplicated. The stallion became a successful pasture-breeding animal.
Uhlinger C, Johnstone C.A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of benzimidazole (BZ)-resistant small strongyles in horses in a southeastern Pennsylvania practice. Resistant parasites were found in 291 of 342 horses surveyed. Anthelmintic practices and pasture management factors in use for 3 to 6 years did not correlate with the presence of resistant small strongyles. Benzimidazole-resistant small strongyles were recovered in horses that had been treated alternately with BZ and non-BZ products and in horses receiving BZ products as infrequently as twice a year. However, inasmuch as the horses may have been...
Hazard GH, Hughes KL, Penson PJ.Contagious equine metritis (CEM) was first diagnosed in Australia in August 1977 and it has since been found on 6 farms in 3 states, having been isolated from about 24 mares and 2 stallions. Details are given of the epidemiology and control procedures used to combat CEM on one farm. Difficulty was experience in successfully treating one infected stallion; this was thought to be associated with inadequate cleaning and treating of the diverticulum of the urethral fossa. Introduction of the disease has had far-reaching consequences and may well result in the adoption of routine bacteriological te...
Takahashi Y, Takahashi T.Domesticated horses adapt to environmental conditions through seasonal fluctuations in their metabolic rate. The seasonal change of metabolic rates of domesticated horses in pastures is documented. However, there are few investigations on seasonal body weight change of domesticated horses housed in stables, which are provided constant energy intake throughout the year. Both seasonal changes and gain in body weight of racehorses during their athletic career is known to a lesser extent because their body weight are not measured in most countries. Here, we used a seasonal-trend decomposition meth...
Matassa LC, Woodard D, Leavitt RK, Firby P, Beaumier P.Glycopyrrolate (Robinul) is a quaternary ammonium salt which serves as a respiratory enhancing drug. It is reportedly used in horse racing to improve breathing. Extraction of glycopyrrolate from equine urine employing unique solid-phase extraction techniques gave a residue suitable for liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). LC-MS-MS analysis employed an extract derived from 5 ml of urine subjected to cation-exchange chromatography. The daughter ion of m/z 318 monitored in the positive-ion mode was m/z 116. Recovery of glycopy...
Leadbeater JC, Gutierrez-Nibeyro SD, Brown JA.A 13-year-old Morgan gelding was examined for right forelimb lameness and tenosynovitis of the right common carpal sheath of the digital flexor tendons. The horse had moderate right forelimb lameness at the trot and marked effusion of the right common carpal sheath of the digital flexor tendons. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a soft tissue mass within the proximal pouch of the affected tendon sheath, located adjacent to the distal physis of the radius. Cytology and culture of the fluid revealed a sterile, eosinophilic tenosynovitis. Tenoscopic exploration confirmed the presence of a cap...
Hill FW, Knottenbelt DC, van Laeren K.One month after falling heavily a four-year-old horse developed acute colic while being exercised. A tentative diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia was reached on the basis of the clinical findings and confirmed at laparotomy. The defect was repaired and the horse made an uneventful recovery.
Bain FT.Cytology can be a rewarding diagnostic technique in equine practice. The respiratory tract readily lends itself to sampling for cytologic evaluation from the upper to lower regions of the system. This article discusses preservation and staining techniques that will allow the practitioner to present satisfactory samples to the laboratory. General considerations for cytologic analysis are discussed as well as the specific findings for individual disorders of the respiratory tract. The proper use of cytologic findings in conjunction with other diagnostic techniques for the respiratory tract are a...
Brown JA, Holcombe SJ, Southwood LL, Byron CR, Embertson RM, Hauptmann JG.To determine factors associated with postoperative reflux, postoperative colic, repeat celiotomy, and survival in horses after end-to-side (E2S) or side-to-side (S2S) jejunocecostomy. Methods: Retrospective, multicenter study. Methods: Horses (n = 150). Methods: Admissions, intra- and postoperative data were collected from medical records of horses that had E2S or S2S jejunocecostomy. Descriptive statistics were calculated and data were analyzed using parametric and nonparametric tests, linear and multivariate logistic regression with significance set at P < .05. Kaplan-Meier estimate ...
Pearson H, Weaver BM.The paper reports 6 cases of priapism with subsequent protrusion and paresis after neuroleptanalgesia and anaesthesia in horses. Five were ultimately treated by amputation of the penis but the sixth horse is responding satisfactorily to conservative treatment at the time of writing. Causative factors, preventive measures and possible methods of treatment are discussed.
Boussauw BH, Domingo R, Wilderjans H, Picavet T.Six of eight horses with caecocolic intussusception were treated successfully by jejuno- or ileocolostomy. The other two horses were euthanased during surgery. Four of the six horses survived long term, but two died within two-and-a-half months, of problems related to the surgery. Compared with other techniques for treating caecocolic intussusception, jejuno- or ileocolostomy reduces surgical time and decreases the risk of abdominal contamination.
Buffa EA, Van Den Berg SS, Verstraete FJ, Swart NG.Over a 10-month period, 24 randomly selected riding horses were fed various amounts of biotin. Statistically significant improvements in growth rates and hardness of hooves were produced by biotin supplementation. Greater growth rates and hardness were achieved at a daily dose of 15 mg than at 7.5 mg. Increased hoof hardness was greatest in the hoof quarters and toe. No ring formation occurred in hooves of horses fed biotin intermittently.
You Y, Proctor RM, Haughan J, Missanelli JR, Robinson MA.Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic mu opioid receptor agonist, is banned in equine sports by the Association of Racing Commissioners International and the Fédération Équestre Internationale. The presence of fentanyl in equine blood has been confirmed during routine post-race screening for doping substances in the authors' laboratory. While fentanyl can be detected and confirmed in blood, it is rapidly metabolized, and screening for the metabolite N-[1-(2-phenethy-4-piperidinyl)] maloanilinic acid (PMA) in equine urine is expected to allow for a longer detection time. In this study, a quantitati...
Jönsson L, Näsholm A, Roepstorff L, Egenvall A, Dalin G, Philipsson J.Soundness is important for welfare and utility of the riding horse. Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common causes of interruption in training and of culling. Despite great importance, heritability of a majority of health traits in horses has previously not been estimated. The objective was to perform genetic analyses of medical and orthopaedic health traits in young riding horses, including estimates of heritability and genetic correlations between health traits, and to reveal possibilities for genetic evaluation of stallions for progeny health. Results: The heritability of health trait...
Aitken MR.The following article provides an overview of the last 5 years of research and innovation within the field of equine colic surgery, focusing on new techniques, new or recently described lesions, prevention of lesion recurrence or postoperative complications, and updates in prognoses. Early surgical intervention is an important factor in horse survival.
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...