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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.
Prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias in poorly performing horses. Electrocardiogram abnormalities are common in racehorses and can affect performance. Unassigned: This study aimed to analyze the results of electrocardiographic problems and measure the frequencies of various cardiac arrhythmias. Unassigned: This cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2023 and August 2024. Standard electrocardiographic recordings were obtained from all horses, and cardiac troponin levels were measured. Out of the 114 poorly performing adult horses, 10 cases without arrhythmia were considered the control group. Seventy-four horses (64.9%) had at least one type of...
Management of Equine Post-Extraction Cheek Tooth Alveoli: Application of Alveolar Plugs. Preservation of dentition remains the primary goal of equine dentistry; however, cheek tooth extraction is required in cases of severe dental pathology. Following tooth extraction, management of the post-extraction alveolus remains a significant clinical challenge due to its large size and susceptibility to contamination with feed material and bacteria. To mitigate these risks, alveolar plugs are commonly used to protect the alveolus, stabilize the blood clot, and support granulation tissue formation. This review summarizes the current case reports and research articles regarding the use of al...
Miscellaneous Equine Liver Conditions. Miscellaneous equine liver conditions not covered in other chapters include chronic active hepatitis, Tyzzer's disease, seasonal idiopathic hepatitis, neoplasia, and idiopathic persistent hyperbilirubinemia. Chronic active hepatitis refers to inflammatory and fibrotic liver disease with an unknown cause. Treatment is aimed at reducing inflammation. Tyzzer's disease is caused by Clostridium piliforme infection and causes acute necrotizing hepatitis in foals. Successful treatment with antimicrobial therapy and supportive care is rare. Seasonal idiopathic hepatitis is a winter disease of Midweste...
Biliary Disorders in Horses. This review will mainly focus on the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of cholangiohepatitis in adult horses. The condition is often accompanied by some degree of intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic biliary obstruction with "sludgy" bile or actual choleliths. In horses, these calculi are typically composed of calcium bilirubinate, rather than cholesterol. There is a propensity for cholangiohepatitis to become a recurrent, chronic condition and patient management should reflect this. Although much rarer, foreign body obstruction, neoplasia and, in some parts of the world, liver flukes can als...
Topical betulinic acid for treatment of equine melanoma and sarcoid. Betulinic acid, a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties in vitro, including activity against equine melanoma and sarcoid. However, there is limited in vivo evidence evaluating its clinical efficacy. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a compounded 1% betulinic acid cream for the treatment of equine cutaneous melanoma and sarcoid. Unassigned: This prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled client-owned horses with melanoma or sarcoid tumors. Horses received either a...
Equine Liver Histopathology. This review summarizes best practices for equine liver biopsy, including when to perform a biopsy, techniques for sample collection and handling, and strategies to optimize diagnostic yield. It discusses the interpretive framework used by pathologists, common diagnostic challenges, and prognostic scoring systems. Limitations such as sampling error and variability among observers are considered alongside ancillary testing, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. Emphasis is placed on the importance of communication between clinicians and pathologists to maximize diagnostic and prognost...
Feasibility of a hand-held myotonometry device for measuring biomechanical muscle parameters in horses. To evaluate the feasibility of a hand-held myotometry device for measuring the biomechanical parameters (frequency, stiffness, and decrement) of the longissimus dorsi muscle in the thoracolumbar region of healthy horses. Unassigned: Data were obtained from 50 adult horses. The biomechanical parameters were measured using a MyotonPRO device in triple-scan mode. Measurements were recorded on both sides, with the horses standing square. The analysis focused on whether there were differences between the sides and correlations between the variables. Unassigned: The mean muscle frequency (hertz) was...
Integrative and conjugative elements carrying high-level gentamicin resistance genes in Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis from horses. In streptococci, the acquisition of high-level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) abolishes the synergy with beta-lactams, constituting a medical concern for humans and animals. This synergy between gentamicin and beta-lactams is useful to treat severe infections like endocarditis, among others. HLGR has been characterized mostly in roup B Streptococci mediated by the bi-functional gene (6)-(2).HLGR- subsp. () (=27) were isolated from the uterus of mares during a routine screening before fecundation. One HLGR- was isolated from a lymph node of a mare. The mares resided in six different studs locat...
Anatomical distribution of meconium detected by focused abdominal ultrasound in hospitalized healthy and sick neonatal foals. Meconium impaction is a common cause of neonatal colic in foals, yet its ultrasonographic appearance and distribution remain poorly characterized. Objective: This study aimed to describe the frequency, distribution, and ultrasonographic appearance of meconium in hospitalized neonatal foals using a standardized focused ultrasound (FUS) abdominal protocol. Methods: The FUS protocol included 9 acoustic windows (3 left-sided, 3 ventral, 3 right-sided) and was performed once during hospitalization by a single operator using a curvilinear transducer. Results: Thirty-six foals (16 healthy and 20 sick...
Retained fetal membranes in light breed mares hospitalized for attended parturition. Retention of fetal membranes (RFM) is well described in draft breeds, whereas data on light breed mares remains limited and inconsistent. Objective: This retrospective study aimed to describe the frequency, associated factors, treatments, and consequences of RFM in light breed mares hospitalized for attended parturition. Methods: Medical records of 321 light breed mares hospitalized for attended parturition at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Bologna, were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included: breed, previous history of RFM, age, parity, assisted reproductive techni...
Use of Intraperitoneal Lidocaine in Horses Undergoing Laparotomy for Colic. Perioperative lidocaine is widely used in horses with acute abdomen for its analgesic, prokinetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-endotoxic effects, although evidence of its visceral analgesic efficacy remains inconclusive. Given the potential of alternative routes of administration for local anaesthetics, this prospective, randomised, unblinded clinical trial evaluated whether intraperitoneal (IP) lidocaine improves early postoperative recovery, including recovery from anaesthesia and the first 24 h after laparotomy for colic. A Multifactorial Numerical Rating Composite Pain Scale for equines wa...
Industry Perceptions of Thoroughbred Racehorse Emotions and Quality of Life: Implications for the Development of an Equine Quality of Life Assessment Tool. Understanding how horses experience their lives is essential for improving their welfare, particularly in high-performance industries such as horseracing. Quality of Life (QoL) frameworks highlight the balance between positive and negative experiences over time, yet there is limited evidence on how racing professionals assess horse emotions and QoL, especially positive emotional states. This study reports findings from an international online survey of 230 racing industry participants. It explored confidence in assessing racehorse emotions, the perceived importance of emotional state for perfo...
Near-Term Extrauterine Pregnancy Secondary To Uterine Rupture In A Mare. Uterine rupture is an uncommon but life-threatening complication of equine reproduction, typically associated with dystocia, uterine torsion, fetal manipulation, or hydrops. Tears may occur in either the uterine horns or body, although involvement of the ventral uterine body is rare. This case report describes an 11-year-old Arabian mare at 350 days of gestation that developed abdominal pregnancy secondary to uterine torsion and full-thickness ventral uterine rupture, resulting in fetal death and the free presence of the fetus within the peritoneal cavity. Surgical removal of the fetus and pri...
An epizootic of equine viral arteritis at a Thoroughbred racetrack in Illinois: 223 cases. An epizootic of equine viral arteritis (EVA) occurred over an 8-wk period in the summer of 1993 at a midwestern Thoroughbred (TB) racetrack that ceased operations in 2021. Based on clinical signs, viral isolation, and serology, 223 horses (213 TBs, 10 lead ponies) were affected. Consistent clinical signs included fever (38.3-40.6°C; 101-105°F), depression, inappetence, and diffuse urticaria, including distal limb and preputial edema. Equine arteritis virus (EAV) was cultured from buffy coat samples from 24 of 28 acutely ill horses. Seventeen of 18 convalescent horses and 1 of 92 non-affected...
Owner satisfaction and animal welfare after bilateral enucleation in horses. Bilateral enucleation in horses represents a challenging decision for owners, undertaken to relieve chronic, untreatable ocular pain. Emotional distress and uncertainty regarding postoperative welfare often lead to euthanasia instead of surgery. Objective: To evaluate owner perceptions of equine quality of life before and after bilateral enucleation, and to assess satisfaction with the procedure. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Medical records from 21 horses that underwent bilateral enucleation between 2016 and 2024 were reviewed. Owners completed a structured survey assessing sat...
Evaluation of Circadian Variations of Central Corneal Thickness and Its Correlation With Intraocular Pressures in Healthy Horses. Circadian variations in central corneal thickness (CCT) and their correlation with intraocular pressure (IOP) have not been reported in horses. This information may be clinically relevant when interpreting IOP readings. Methods: Twenty-four eyes of 6 healthy adult gelded males and 6 healthy adult intact mares were evaluated. Rebound tonometry (TonoVet, Jorgensen Laboratories) followed by ultrasonic pachymetry (iPac Pachymeter, Reichert technologies) was performed in both eyes every 3 h over 24 h during the natural 14-h daylight summer photoperiod. Results: Central corneal thickness varied ...
Bronchoalveolar lavage changes the ultrasonographic and radiographic appearances of lungs in adult horses. To describe the effect of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) on the ultrasonographic and radiographic appearances of lungs of horses being evaluated for equine asthma syndrome (EAS). Unassigned: Prospective observational study enrolling 32 adult horses evaluated for EAS. Ultrasonographic and radiographic examinations of the thorax were performed before and within 3 hours following BAL and scored using previously validated systems. The differences in scores between groups (normal, mild EAS, moderate/severe EAS) were evaluated through the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the differences in scores before and f...
Venous blood lactate concentration as a predictor of intestinal viability in horses with acquired indirect inguinal hernia. Background: Acquired indirect inguinal hernia represents a life-threatening emergency. Therapeutic decision-making largely depends on intestinal viability, for which specific predictive parameters (such as venous lactate) have not been evaluated.Objectives: Investigating the predictive performance of venous blood lactate and other laboratory results on intestinal viability in horses with acquired indirect inguinal hernias.Study designRetrospective multicentre observational study.Methods: Seventy-four horses diagnosed with acquired indirect inguinal hernia (treated surgically) at two referral h...
Effects of acupuncture on stride, speed, and heart rate variability in Thoroughbred racehorses. Thoroughbred racehorses are at increased risk of injury during race preparations and trials, primarily due to intensive workloads that predispose them to musculoskeletal injuries. Evaluating clinical interventions to improve health and prevent injury is essential for addressing animal welfare concerns. This study investigated the medium-term effects of acupuncture on stride, speed and cardiac autonomic regulation (assessed via heart rate variability [HRV]), in Thoroughbred flat racehorses. This prospective, randomised, parallel-group study included an intervention and a control group. Thirty T...
Verminous mastitis caused by Cephalobus cubaensis infection in a mare. A 7-y-old American Quarter Horse mare was presented to a veterinary hospital for ongoing reproductive monitoring and management of endometritis. During physical evaluation, several nodular lesions of unknown origin and duration were discovered in the mammae. Histologically, biopsies from the lesions were confirmed as severe granulomatous mastitis with intralesional rhabditid nematodes. A putative diagnosis of or infection was assigned, and ivermectin (1.2 mg/kg PO) treatment was given every 2 wk. When lesions persisted after the initial dose of ivermectin, PCR testing of and gene targe...
Establishment and evaluation of hematological and serum biochemical reference intervals in Chinese local donkey populations. Background: Reliable interpretation of hematological and serum biochemical test results in donkeys benefits from the use of population- and management-system-adapted reference intervals (RIs). However, standardized and CLSI-compliant RIs for Chinese local donkeys are still unavailable, limiting their clinical and epidemiological application. This study aimed to establish hematological and serum biochemical RIs for Chinese local donkeys using a large, multi-farm dataset, and to evaluate the effects of farm origin, age, and sex on these parameters. Blood samples were collected from healthy donke...
The effect of dynamic mobilization exercises and therapeutic trunk exercises on superficial epaxial and hypaxial muscle activity in horses. Equine back rehabilitation commonly integrates dynamic mobilization exercises (DME), including DME to the chest (DMEChest) and DME to the hip (DMEHip), and therapeutic trunk (TTE) exercises, including pelvic rounding (Rounding), and lateral tail pulls (LatTail). However, limited evidence supports their use for selectively activating trunk muscles. Objective: To quantify and compare superficial epaxial and hypaxial muscle activity during selected DMEs and TTEs using surface electromyography (sEMG). Increased muscle activity was hypothesized across exercises, specifically in external abdominal o...
Functional and feasibility aspects of orthopedic exoprostheses in quadruped domestic animals: a systematic review. The use of prostheses in animals with partial limb amputation has emerged as an alternative to euthanasia, aiming to improve their quality of life. However, the fabrication and adaptation remain challenging in Veterinary Medicine. This study aims to evaluate, through a systematic review, the determinants of viability, outcomes, and limitations of exoprostheses in domestic animals of varying sizes. A literature search was conducted in ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using structure search terms related to prosthesis, veterinary, amputation. After screening and ...
Short-Term Daily Oral Administration of Cannabidiol Does Not Impact Rebound Tonometry Intraocular Pressure or Schirmer Tear Test Values in Healthy Adult Horses. To assess the effect of orally administered cannabidiol (CBD) on TonoVet measured intraocular pressure (IOP) and Schirmer tear test I (STT) in horses. Methods: Horse. Methods: This was a masked, randomized, balanced cross-over study of six healthy adult horses. Horses were randomly assigned and received 3 mg/kg CBD in sesame oil or volume matched placebo by mouth once daily for three days. Baseline and daily 4-, 12-, and 24-h post treatment IOPs were measured in triplicate without sedation or eyelid akinesia. Baseline and 24-h post final (day 3) treatment STTs were measured without sedation ...
Clinical audit on antimicrobial stewardship effectiveness in reducing antimicrobial-resistant bacterial colonisation in hospitalised horses. International guidelines support the One Health approach and recommend antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) in veterinary medicine. National data on antimicrobial-resistant bacterial colonisation rates (AMRb CR) in horses remain limited. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an ASP in reducing AMRb CR in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital using a clinical audit. Methods: Clinical audit. Methods: In Autumn 2021 active AMR surveillance in Perinatology/Reproduction and Internal Medicine Units planned; January-July 2022-first audit cycle (A1); Autumn 2022-review and implementation of anti...
Owner-Reported Cohort Study of Causes, Management and Outcome of Traumatic Wounds in 219 Horses. Current evidence on traumatic equine wounds are predominantly from expert opinion reviews or referral hospital studies. This study aimed to describe the owner-reported causes, management and outcome of equine wounds. An owner-reported cohort approach was used. Owners of horses with recent traumatic wounds were recruited through snowball sampling. Data were collected from initial injury to final healing and outcome, including horse demographics, wound cause and location, owner- and veterinary-administered treatment, and outcome. Descriptive statistics included frequency percentages (%, x/y) and...
Lacrimal caruncula thermography overestimates rectal temperature in horses: Influence of camera type and measurement distance. Rectal temperature (RT) is the gold standard for assessing body temperature in horses, but handling and welfare concerns limit its use. Thermography of the lacrimal caruncula (LC) has been proposed as a noncontact alternative, although its accuracy may be influenced by device characteristics and measurement distance. Objective: To evaluate agreement between LC thermography and RT in horses, compare two infrared thermal cameras and determine the effect of camera-to-subject distance on measurement bias and variability. Methods: LC temperature was recorded at 0.5, 1 and 2 using two cameras (IR Fl...
The anterograde tarsal venography enhances vessel visualization compared to the retrograde approach in horses. The objective of this study was to compare the number of vessels of the proximal venous access (ramus cranialis of vena saphena medialis) and the distal venous access (vena digitalis dorsalis communis II) for venography and, consequently, intravenous regional limb perfusion of the tarsal region. Seven horses underwent venographic examination of both hind limbs, divided into two groups: proximal venous access (PG) and distal venous access (DG). Rubber tourniquets were applied to the middle third of the tibia and the proximal third of the III metatarsal bone. Thirty mL of contrast was injected (...
Welfare Assessment in Equine-Assisted Service (EAS) Horses. Equine-Assisted Service (EAS) horses can be exposed to stressors that affect their behavior and welfare. Previous studies investigated behavioral and physiological indicators (PI) only during therapy sessions. This study evaluated the frequency of stress and pain behaviors (FSPB) in horses with different riders, while assessing welfare through housing, management, and PI. Ten horses were observed during EAS sessions with three rider groups: able-bodied, clients with significant physical impairment, and clients with no significant physical impairment, totaling twenty-six riders. Behavioral data...
Sensitive and selective quantification of elcatonin in equine plasma and urine using LC-FAIMS-MS/MS. The use of drugs for enhancing bone strength is prohibited under international regulations governing horse racing and equestrian sports. Elcatonin, a synthetic peptide with analgesic and bone-strengthening properties, is routinely monitored for compliance. However, its cyclic structure and high molecular weight hinder reliable detection. In this study, we developed and validated a sensitive liquid chromatography-high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry-tandem mass spectrometry method for quantifying elcatonin in equine plasma and urine. Sample preparation was optimised via weak...
