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.
Bristol DG.Enterocutaneous fistulae are rare in horses and occur most commonly as a complication of umbilical hernias or their treatment. Horses with enterocutaneous fistulae may be successfully treated by en bloc resection of the body wall and intestine or by allowing second intention healing. Complications associated with surgical intervention include fever, colic, incisional problems, and recurrence of the fistula. Nonsurgical management of two horses with presumptive large colon fistulae resulted in resolution of the fistulae without complications.
Blikslager AT, Bristol DG.A 3-month-old foal was examined because of lameness and fracture of the left lateral trochlear ridge of the femur. Arthroscopy of the left femoropatellar joint was elected. After induction of general anesthesia and placement of the foal in dorsal recumbency, it was noticed that the left hind limb was extended at the tibiotarsal joint and flexed at the femorotibial joint. Avulsion fracture at the origin of the peroneus tertius tendon was diagnosed. Fracture fragments were excised. The horse had mild left hind limb lameness at the time of follow-up evaluation 1 year after discharge.
van der Velden MA, Klein WR.During a 3-year period 21 horses were surgically treated because of large abdominal wall defects. In each case the defect was bridged with a polypropylene mesh, which was placed on the outside of the hernial ring. This was in contrast with the technique for mesh herniorrhaphy generally described in human and veterinary literature, in which the mesh is always implanted on the inside of the hernial ring. One horse was destroyed on the first postoperative day because of postanaesthetic myelomalacia. Surgical repair as described was successful in 18 patients. Recurrence of herniation occurred in t...
Naylor JM.The purpose of this review is to present an up-to-date summary of the signs, diagnosis, treatment, and implications of equine hyperkalemic periodic paralysis. The review encompasses all original articles published between 1986 and early 1993. Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis is the result of a genetic mutation in the skeletal muscle sodium channel gene. It is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait; most affected horses are heterozygotes. The classical signs are muscle fasciculation, spasm, and weakness associated with hyperkalemia. However, these signs are only rarely observed in affected hor...
Ensink JM, Barneveld A, Klein WR, van Miert AS, Vulto AG.The plasma disposition of ampicillin after intravenous administration at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg was studied in six healthy, 1-month-old foals. The oral bioavailability of pivampicillin was determined in the same foals at four ages, ranging from 11 days to 4 months. Pivampicillin was administered orally at a dose rate of 19.9 mg/kg, which is equivalent on a molecular basis to 15 mg/kg ampicillin. Ampicillin concentrations in plasma were determined up to 12 hours after administration. After intravenous administration, the mean distribution and elimination half-lives of ampicillin were 0.121 and...
Sertich PL, Reef VB, Oristaglio-Turner RM, Habecker PL, Maxson AD.A multiparous pregnant Welsh Pony mare was examined because of anorexia, dyspnea, and a large abdomen. Ultrasonography of the uterus revealed an excessive amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus. Transabdominal ultrasonography permitted differentiation of hydrops amnii from hydrops allantois. The mare aborted a 7-month-old fetus with brachygnathia and a large, edematous umbilical cord. Hydrops amnii, an excessive accumulation of amniotic fluid in the amniotic cavity, is most commonly reported in cattle and sheep.
Böse R, Peymann B.From Babesia caballi in vitro cultures a preparation of 100% infected erythrocytes was obtained. From this, B. caballi antigens were extracted with the detergent 3-[(3-Cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propane-sulfonate (CHAPS) and used as ELISA antigens. A control antigen of normal erythrocytes from the same donor horse was prepared in an identical manner. The ELISA and Western blot were validated by testing of sera from horses experimentally infected with B. caballi or B. equi or not infected with Babesia spp. ELISA and Western blot results were compared with those obtained by the immunofl...
Turner AS.Congenital and acquired torsion occur in the limbs of domestic animals. Congenital abnormalities are of clinical significance in foals; they are also seen in calves whose dams have ingested certain toxic plants that contain teratogenic agents. Acquired torsional deformities are most common in foals, but are also observed in adult horses, dogs, and llamas. Acquired rotational deformities are almost always associated with angular limb deformities. The clinical consequence of torsional deformities is the early development of degenerative joint disease.
Kihurani DO, Nantulya VM, Mbiuki SM, Mogoa E, Nguhiu-Mwangi J, Mbithi PM.Equines are particularly susceptible to infection with Trypanosoma evansi and T. brucei, but rarely is natural T. congolense and T. vivax infection seen in horses. An outbreak of trypanosomosis occurred in a herd of horses used for patrolling the pineapple fields on the Del Monte Farm, Thika, Kenya initially involving 6 horses. On subsequent screening of the entire group, T. brucei, T. congolense and T. vivax infections were detected in 16 of the 35 horses. The tests used for diagnosis included microscopic examination of stained blood smears, buffy coat technique, mouse inoculation and antigen...
Hodgson DR, Davis RE, McConaghy FF.Conversion of stored energy into mechanical energy during exercise is relatively inefficient with approximately 80% of the energy being given off as heat. Relative to many species the horse suffers an apparent disadvantage by possessing a high metabolic capacity yet a small surface area for dissipation of heat, particularly as evaporation of sweat is the major method of heat dissipation. Under most conditions of exercise at least two-thirds of the metabolic heat load is dissipated via this means with sweat losses of more than 10 l h-1 reported. The remaining exercise-induced heat load must be ...
Monzon CM, Jara GA, Hoyos CB.The usefulness of the direct agglutination test (DA) to diagnose Mal de Caderas disease was evaluated. Forty four sera samples from two lots of horses with natural T. evansi infection (Lot 1 and Lot 2) were used. Thirteen (81.2%) of sixteen horses in which parasites were isolated gave positive agglutination titres (> or = 1:512) in the DA test. Treatment of these positive sera with 2-mercaptoethanol drops three to eight dilutions the agglutination titres in twelve samples (92%), showing the IgM nature of these antibodies. The DA test was also positive in seventeen of twenty eight horses in ...
Steverink PJ, Salden HJ, Sturk A, Klein WR, van der Velden MA, Németh F.In this study the laboratory and clinical performance of a chromogenic endotoxin assay for equine plasma was evaluated. The assay was sensitive (detection limit 3 ng LPS/L plasma), reproducible (within and between-assay CV at 50 ng LPS/L E. coli O111:B4 LPS standard addition was 5% and 7.5%, respectively), and not substantially affected by enhancement or inhibition phenomena (recovery of an in vitro spike was 75-125% in 80% of the samples). LPS added to whole blood was rapidly inactivated upon incubation at 37 degrees C but not at 0 degrees C. A recently developed blood collection tube for LPS...
Parlevliet JM, Kemp B, Colenbrander B.The semen characteristics and testicular size of 398 3-year-old maiden Dutch Warmblood stallions were studied during February and March. Mean values (+/- SD) of age (1030 +/- 88 days) and testicular size (9.8 +/- 0.9 cm) of the maiden stallions were determined as well as the following semen characteristics (mean of two ejaculates, taken 1 h apart): volume (65 +/- 26 ml), sperm concentration (2.061 +/- 1.685 x 10(8) ml-1), total number of spermatozoa (1.129 +/- 0.71 x 10(10)), percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa (68 +/- 9%), percentage of live spermatozoa with normal morphology (66 +...
Zamos DT, Honnas CM, Hoffman AG.Arthroscopic examination of structures within the plantar pouch of the tarsocrural joint was accomplished via portals in both the plantaromedial and plantarolateral aspects of the joint. Flexion and extension of the tarsus while examining the joint through either portal allowed observation of the proximal and plantar aspects of the lateral and medial trochlear ridges, the trochlear groove, the caudal aspect of the distal tibia, and the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) in its sheath. From a plantarolateral portal, the plantar talocalcaneal ligament and the plantar aspect of the lateral malleol...
Dyson S.Proximal suspensory desmitis of the hindlimb was diagnosed using local analgesic techniques and ultrasonography in 42 horses. Subtarsal analgesia resulted in substantial improvement in lameness in 36 of 41 horses in which local analgesic techniques were used. In the remaining five horses lameness was improved by perineural analgesia of the tibial nerve (three) or the tibial and fibular nerves. Intra-articular analgesia of the tarso-metatarsal joint produced a similar degree of improvement in two of 24 horses in which lameness had been improved by subtarsal analgesia. Ultrasonographic abnormali...
Keg PR, Barneveld A, Schamhardt HC, van den Belt AJ.To answer the question whether it is possible to differentiate, by means of a high plantar nerve block in the hind limb, flexor tendon lameness from a suspensory ligament lameness, mid-plantar tendinitis or desmitis was induced with collagenase in five Standardbred horses in two trials. Before the induction of lameness, and on the fourth (D4) and fourteenth day (D14) after the induction of lameness the horses were evaluated subjectively (clinical lameness score), objectively (ground reaction force (GRF) measurements), and ultrasonographically. Clinical evaluation and GRF measurements were also...
Milne EM, Woodman MP, Doxey DL.Forty-five cases of chronic grass sickness were given scores for selected clinical measurements when they were first examined, to assess their value in predicting survival. Sixteen cases survived. The clinical scores for the degree of dysphagia, appetite, colic and the degree of reduction in gut sounds were significantly lower in the survivors than in the non-survivors. In addition, only the non-survivors had severe rhinitis. Ponies were significantly less likely to survive than cob types.
Russell AP, Slone DE.Medical records of 70 horses diagnosed with left laryngeal hemiplegia that were treated by use of prosthetic laryngoplasty combined with bilateral ventriculectomy were examined. Degree of arytenoid cartilage abduction that had resulted from the prosthesis had been graded before the horse was discharged from the hospital. Follow-up information through owner/trainer questioning was acquired for 55 horses. Information concerning the type and frequency of complications, if any, was recorded, along with a determination of owner/trainer satisfaction regarding surgical results. Race records were acqu...
Jones SL, Langer DL, Sterner-Kock A, Snyder JR, Carlson GP.A 4-month-old male Trakehner foal with a history of hematuria, poor growth, and abnormal hair was found to have unilateral hydronephrosis and hydroureter, as determined by ultrasonography and surgical exploration. Nephrectomy and ureterectomy were performed as treatment. Gross examination of the ureter and kidney revealed renal pelvic and ureteral polyps causing obstruction and subsequent hydronephrosis. The histologic features were consistent with renal dysplasia. The polyps and renal dysplasia were likely to be congenital, but the etiopathogenesis is not known. The finding that urinary outfl...
Szenci O, Németh F, Stollár Z, Brydl E.Stability of ionized calcium (Ca2+) concentrations and pH values in equine venous samples (n = 12 in each group) stored at 4 C for 3, 9, 24, and 48 hours (blood, plasma, and serum) or for 240 hours (plasma and serum), and at -20 C for 240 hours (plasma and serum), was studied. Storage of equine blood, plasma, and serum samples at 4 C for up to 48 hours and of serum samples at 4 C for up to 240 hours, despite appreciable pH changes, was associated with < 1.5% change in blood, plasma, and serum Ca2+ concentrations. Therefore, Ca2+ concentration in equine blood, plasma, and serum samples store...
Beroza GA.In horses, ventral laryngotomies are typically allowed to heal by second intention. Partial closure of the laryngotomy incision, however, was associated wtih less exudate, less aftercare, shorter hospitalization, and better cosmetic results, compared with the traditional technique. The partial closure technique did not result in complications in the 3 horses in which it was attempted.
Dodman NH, Normile JA, Shuster L, Rand W.Owners who believed they had a horse with self-mutilating behavior were asked to complete a questionnaire to obtain information on the signalment, clinical history, clinical signs, management, and treatment of the condition. Fifty-two owners of 59 horses responded; 2 cases were omitted because an organic cause was determined. Owners also were asked to complete information for unaffected horses on the same farm. Various breeds were affected, and of the 57 horses, 20 were stallions, 31 were geldings, and 6 were mares. Affected horses tended to develop the condition prior to sexual maturity. Clin...
Allen MJ, Jemmerson R, Nall BT.Refolding of surface epitopes on horse cytochrome c has been measured by monoclonal antibody binding. Two antibodies were used to probe re-formation of native-like surface structure: one antibody (2B5) binds to native cytochrome c near a type II turn (residue 44) while the other (5F8) binds to a different epitope on the opposite face of the protein near the amino terminus of an alpha-helical segment (residue 60). The results show that within the first approximately 100 ms of refolding all of the unfolded protein collapses to native-like folding intermediates that contain both antibody binding ...
Pettersson H.A series of 79 fractures of the pedal bone in various types of horses are reported and the clinical features described. The fractures were of 3 types--intra-articular or extra-articular, involving the wing of the pedal bone, and fractures of the extensor process. Forty-five horses with a fractured wing of the pedal bone were treated conservatively and 11 by immobilisation of the bony fragment with a compression screw. Conservative treatment was usually successful in the extra-articular fractures. Intra-articular fractures treated conservatively in animals under 3 years had a good prognosis. Th...
Uboh CE, Rudy JA, Railing FA, Enright JM, Shoemaker JM, Kahler MC, Shellenberger JM, Kemecsei Z, Das DN.Although urine is the sample of choice for drug tests in racehorses, it is rarely obtained following the sudden death of a racehorse on the track while racing. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the significance of postmortem tissue samples as an alternative to urine and blood samples in equine drug analysis following the sudden death of a racehorse on the track while participating in a competitive race. Postmortem tissue samples were frozen (-80 degrees C) until analyzed. A 30-40-g portion of each organ was homogenized in a 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), deproteinized, hydrolyzed ...
Manohar M, Gustafson R, Nganwa D.Effects of 1.55 minimum alveolar concentration isoflurane O2 anesthesia (2.03% end-tidal isoflurane) on blood flow in the up-(nondependent) and down-(dependent) positioned skeletal muscles were studied at 60, 120, and 180 minutes in 6 healthy isocapnic ponies in right lateral recumbency on a nonpadded hardwood floor. Measurements were made, using 15-micron diameter radionuclide-labeled microspheres injected into the left ventricle, and comparisons were made with data obtained from ponies in the conscious state. Isoflurane administration caused a sharp reduction in cardiac output and systemic p...
Gudehus T, Sod GA, Riggs LM, Mitchell CF, Martin GS.To compare the mean number of cycles to failure under axial compression of equine proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint arthrodesis constructs created by 2 parallel transarticular Acutrak Plus screws (AP-TS) or 2 parallel transarticular 5.5 mm cortical screws inserted in lag fashion (AO-TLS). Methods: Paired in vitro biomechanical testing of 2 methods of stabilizing cadaveric adult equine forelimb PIP joints. Methods: Cadaveric adult equine forelimbs (n=5 pairs). Methods: For each forelimb pair, 1 PIP joint was stabilized with AP-TS and 1 with AP-TLS. The 5 construct pairs were tested for cycli...
Shmalberg J, Xie H, Memon MA.Equine acupuncture and herbal medicine are increasingly popular and have been anecdotally used in the treatment of a number of conditions. There is, however, a lack of data on the most commonly treated conditions in horses. The medical records of 164 horses presented exclusively for acupuncture and herbal therapy over a three-year period from October 2012 to October 2015 were evaluated from a mixed animal integrative medicine service at a veterinary academic teaching hospital. Horses were presented primarily for musculoskeletal conditions (62.0%), gastrointestinal disorders (9.5%), and anhydro...
Halsberghe BT.Hoof problems are commonly seen in veterinary practice and manipulation of hoof growth rate can be practical and beneficial for that matter. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effect of whole body vibration (WBV) on hoof growth rate of front feet in the horse. The study was an experimental, single subject, repeated measure design, with all horses serving as control and treatment. Ten horses were subject to WBV, 30 min, twice daily, five days a week, for 60 days in addition to their regular exercise routine. Hoof growth was measured from the reference hairline down to a horizo...
Eiler H, Oliver JW, Andrews FM, Fecteau KA, Green EM, McCracken M.To evaluate results of a combined dexamethasone suppression/thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test in horses suspected clinically to have a pars intermedia pituitary adenoma (PIPA). Methods: Case-control study. Methods: 7 healthy adult horses and 5 horses suspected to have a PIPA. Methods: A baseline blood sample was collected, and dexamethasone (40 micrograms/kg [18 micrograms/lb] of body weight, IV) was administered; a second blood sample was collected 3 hours later, and TRH (1.1 mg, IV) was administered; serial blood samples were collected 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes and 21...
Erickson BK, Forster HV, Pan LG, Lowry TF, Brown DR, Forster MA, Forster AL.We investigated changes in arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) and pulmonary ventilation (VE) in normal, carotid chemoreceptor-denervated, and hilar nerve-denervated ponies during intravenous lactic acid infusion at rest and treadmill exercise at 1.8 mph-5% grade (mild) and 1.8 mph-15% grade (moderate). Lactic acid, (0.5 M) infusion of 0.10, 0.13, and 0.20 ml.min-1.kg-1 at rest and mild and moderate exercise increased arterial [H+] linearly throughout the 10 min of acid infusion. At 10 min of infusion, arterial [H+] had increased approximately 20 nmol/l (0.2 pH units) for each condition and group. Under mos...
Ishizuka T, Tamura J, Nagaro T, Sudo K, Itami T, Umar MA, Miyoshi K, Sano T, Yamashita K.Effects of intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) on cardiopulmonary function were evaluated in horses anesthetized with total intravenous anesthesia using constant rate infusions of medetomidine (3.5 µg/kg/hr), lidocaine (3 mg/kg/hr), butorphanol (24 µg/kg/hr) and propofol (0.1 mg/kg/min) (MLBP-TIVA). Five horses were anesthetized twice using MLBP-TIVA with or without IPPV at 4-week interval (crossover study). In each occasion, the horses breathed 100% oxygen with spontaneous ventilation (SB-group, n=5) or with IPPV (CV-group, n=5), and changes in cardiopulmonary parameters were ...
Recio P, López PG, Fernández JL, Garcia-Sacristán A.1. The presence and types of alpha and beta-adrenoceptors in the corpus cavernosum of the horse were studied in vitro by using selected ligands of adrenoceptors and isometric tension recording. 2. Noradrenaline and phenylephrine induced concentration-dependent contractions in corpus cavernosum preparations. B-HT 920 had no effect. 3. Phentolamine and prazosin produced a shift to the right of the dose-response curve of noradrenaline, while the alpha(2)-antagonist, rauwolscine had no effect on the response to noradrenaline. Phenylephrine-evoked contractions of corporal strips were significantly ...
Bishop RC, Wilkins PA, Kemper AM, Stewart RM, McCoy AM.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) administration carries risks of gastrointestinal toxicity. Selective COX-2 inhibitors ("coxibs") were designed to reduce risks of adverse effects but are still associated with gastrointestinal complications in humans. The effect of coxibs on colonic inflammation and integrity in horses is unknown. The study objective was to compare the effects of the coxib firocoxib and the nonselective NSAID flunixin meglumine on ultrasonographic indicators of colonic inflammation in healthy horses. Twelve healthy adult horses were administered flunixin meglumine (1...
Possessing high meat and dairy productivity and good reproductive and adaptive qualities to year-round grazing, the Kushum breed plays an exceptional role in the improvement of productive qualities in horse herding in Kazakhstan and the former Soviet republics. The aim of the study was to develop breeding methods for creating new highly productive breeding lines for the Kushum breed horses. The leading method was linebreeding, which is based on the systematic use of remarkable animals, the offspring of which will accumulate and develop all the desired qualities and traits. The practical signif...
Von Zup M, Lassaline M, Kass PH, Miller PE, Thomasy SM.Brimonidine is an α2 -adrenergic agonist that decreases aqueous humour production and may increase uveoscleral outflow. It has not been evaluated in normal or glaucomatous equine eyes. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of brimonidine in lowering intraocular pressure (IOP), alone and in conjunction with timolol, as a treatment for equine glaucoma by comparing IOP in normal equine eyes treated with brimonidine and brimonidine-timolol, respectively, with IOP in control eyes. Methods: A balanced crossover design with 16 horses receiving one of two treatments, brimonidine and brimonid...
Segabinazzi LGTM, Andrade LRP, Alvarenga MA, Dell'Aqua JA, Canisso IF.The objectives of this study were: (1) to assess uterine features and serum progesterone concentrations of acyclic mares synchronized and resynchronized with intravaginal progesterone release device (IPRD), and (2) to compare pregnancy rates and losses of cyclic and acyclic embryo recipient mares treated with different synchronization protocols. In Experiment 1, mares (n = 12) received estradiol for 3 days (E2-3d), and then 24 h after the last injection, an IPRD was inserted and kept in place for 9 days. Three days after IPRD removal, mares were treated with E2-3d, and then a new IPRD was inse...
Koyago M, Nakada K, Tsunoda N, Moriyoshi M, Sawamukai Y.The morphology of spermatozoa of modern Thoroughbred stallions in Japan was investigated during the breeding season. A total of 299 semen samples were collected from the penises of 16 stallions immediately after service. The rate of abnormalities in sperm heads and tails, spermatozoa with cytoplasmic droplets and slides with medusa cells to total observed slides in each stallion were 3.9 +/- 2.1%, 11.5 +/- 5.9%, 2.4 +/- 2.6% and 20.1%, respectively. The values for the area, length, width and aspect ratio of the stallion sperm head were 12.54 +/- 1.34 microm(2), 5.93 +/- 0.40 microm, 2.69 +/- 0...
Takai S, Ohashi M, Suzuki Y, Sasaki Y, Kakuda T, Broens EM, Wagenaar JA, van Duijkeren E.Clinical samples from 123 foals with suspected rhodococcosis submitted to the Veterinary Microbiological Diagnostic Centre of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine between 1993 and 2006 were tested for the presence of the virulence gene vapA. Of the 123 samples, 120 were vapA-positive and 3 vapA-negative Rhodococcus equi were isolated. The 120 vapA-positive R. equi were isolated from 70 tracheal wash, 19 lung tissues, 7 lymph nodes, 6 synovial fluids, 13 abscesses or pus and single isolates from the uterus, gut, cerebrospinal fluid, abdomen fluid and faeces. Of the 120 isolates, 46 were from Dutc...
McClure SR, Watkins JP, Ashman RB.To evaluate an intramedullary interlocking nail for stabilization of transverse femoral osteotomies in foals. Methods: A transverse osteotomy and restabilization with an intramedullary interlocking nail was performed on the right femur in three foals and the left femur in three foals. Methods: Six foals weighing 149 to 207 kg. Methods: The femur was destabilized with a transverse middiaphyseal osteotomy and repaired with a 0.5-in (12.7 mm) interlocking nail. The implanted femurs were radiographed monthly until completion of the study 6 months after surgery. At the completion of the study, all ...
Fitzgerald AH, Magnin G, Pace E, Bischoff K, Pinn-Woodcock T, Vin R, Myhre M, Comstock E, Ensley S, Coetzee JF.Marijuana toxicosis is typically seen by companion animal veterinarians. However, with increased marijuana availability, there is a greater potential for toxicosis in other species. Herein we describe a case of suspected marijuana toxicosis in a female and a male American Mammoth donkey, aged 8 y and 20 y, respectively, fed cannabis buds. Both cases were presented because of depression and lethargy. However, the jenny had ataxia, mild colic, tachycardia, tachypnea, and decreased tongue tone. Plasma samples from the jenny on presentation and 3 d following hospitalization were submitted to...
Alef M, Oechtering G.Capnography measures carbon dioxide concentration or partial pressure of the respiratory gas continuously and non-invasively. The endtidal value is of great diagnostic value, it corresponds approximately to the arterial value, except for ventilation-perfusion-mismatching (horse), shunting (horse), or increased dead-space-ventilation (panting in the dog). Capnography primarily serves for monitoring of spontaneous and artificial ventilation, it is a reliable method for detecting hypo- and hyperventilation. Because metabolism and circulation influence the amount of carbon dioxide eliminated in th...
Delbeke FT, Debackere M.The prototype of a commercial ELISA test kit designed for fentanyl determination in human urine has been evaluated for screening fentanyl in horse urine and plasma. The measurement of fentanyl after intravenous (2 mg) and intramuscular (0.25 mg) administration in undiluted plasma was not reproducible while accurate quantification of fentanyl in urine greatly depends on the composition of the horse urine. The ELISA assay, however, is simple and could be successfully used for quantitative measurements in diluted urine and for rapid qualitative screening for fentanyl in large numbers of urine sam...
Palozzo A, Celani G, Varasano V, Marruchella G, Petrizzi L.Equine sinonasal myxomas (SNM) are very rare; only a few cases/small case series are reported in veterinary literature. The purpose of this report is to describe the diagnostic and surgical procedure adopted to approach the neoplastic mass in a case of equine SNM. A 5 year old, Murgese gelding was presented with mild serous nasal discharge, minimal facial swelling, decreased airflow from the right nostril, and dull frontal sinus percussion. Diagnostic imaging, including endoscopy, revealed a pale mass in the caudal portion of the right middle meatus, which developed inside the right conchofron...
Lindsey AC, Varner DD, Seidel GE, Bruemmer JE, Squires EL.Practical application of sex-selected spermatozoa in the horse industry would be greatly improved by the ability to develop simplified methods for shipping, storing, and inseminating sex-selected spermatozoa. Acceptable pregnancy rates have been achieved using fresh sex-sorted stallion sperm, however many stallion owners are reluctant to send their stallions to the sorter location for collection during the breeding season. Furthermore, the technology would be more applicable if the hysteroscopic insemination technique was not necessary for adequate pregnancy rates. Hysteroscopic insemination r...
Hoffman AM, Baird JD, Kloeze HJ, Rosendal S, Bell M.Mycoplasma felis was identified as the cause of acute pleuritis in 2 show-jumping horses. The pleural exudate was proteinaceous, contained large numbers of neutrophils, and had a markedly increased lactate concentration. M. felis was isolated in pure culture from pleural fluid. Rising serum antibody titers to M. felis as well as a precipitous decline in titers to equine influenza virus were demonstrated in both horses. Pleural effusion in both horses and a pneumothorax detected in one of the horses resolved following a single drainage of pleural fluid and intravenous fluid, antibiotic, and ana...
Carpenter RS, Galuppo LD, Simpson EL, Dowd JP.To report use of a locking compression plate (LCP) for fetlock arthrodesis in Thoroughbred racehorses after catastrophic disruption of the suspensory apparatus. Methods: Retrospective case study. Methods: Racing Thoroughbreds (n=6) with a catastrophic breakdown injury of the suspensory apparatus. Methods: Medical records (2004-2006) of horses that had fetlock arthrodesis using an LCP were reviewed. Preoperative recorded variables were: age, gender, affected limb, injury type and occurrence, limb support used and time to surgery. Recorded surgical variables were: implants used and cost, surgery...
Giuliano EA, Maggs DJ, Moore CP, Boland LA, Champagne ES, Galle LE.The objective of this study was to describe method of placement, and frequency and severity of complications associated with a subpalpebral lavage system placed in the medial aspect of the equine inferior eyelid. The inferomedial subpalpebral lavage (ISPL) tube is positioned deep in the medial aspect of the inferior conjunctival fornix so that the footplate lies flat between the lower eyelid and the anterior surface of the nictitans. Retrospective data from the placement of 92 ISPL systems placed in 86 horses during a 31-month period were examined. Tube placement was performed using sedation a...
Arias KD, Cervantes I, Gutiérrez JP.In genetic evaluation of horses, the genetic trend does not correspond into a phenotypic trend when using ranking as a phenotype due to its uniform distribution, and some other effects might be absorbing that trend. From a founder population, a further four discrete generations of 100 individuals were simulated under random mating. Then, ten additional discrete generations were simulated by selecting the best 10% of the animals. Likewise, an underlying variable with heritability 0.1 or 0.2, affected by an event environmental influence, generation and permanent environment, was simulated to est...
Ruggles AJ, Freeman DE, Acland HM, FitzSimmons M.In 6 anesthetized ponies, 3 segments of jejunum and 3 segments of small colon were isolated from the peritoneal cavity in plastic bags filled with Hanks' balanced salt solution. One jejunal and 1 small colon segment were subjected to venous strangulation obstruction for 3 hours (VSO-3), venous strangulation obstruction for 6 hours (VSO-6), or a 6-hour sham procedure to control for changes induced by isolation in a plastic bag. Additional segments of jejunum and colon that were not placed in bags served as controls for histologic examination and collagenase measurements. Samples of fluid surrou...
Faramarzi B, Nelson S, Dong F.Imbalances and altered kinetics of the hoof result in lameness in horses. Previously, studies have focused on the midstance phase of a gait, hence, available information on the impact phase is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the effect of hoof trimming on the fore and hindhooves at the impact phase of the walk. Our objective was to compare the kinetic variables of force (N), contact area (cm), contact pressure (kPa), and peak contact pressure (kPa) before and after hoof trimming. Nine Arabian horses were walked straight over a pressure plate to collect the above kinetic variables for b...
Schönfelder AM, Sobiraj A.To describe the use of a vaginal mucosal pedicle flap for repair of rectovaginal fistulae (RVF) in mares. Methods: Clinical case report. Methods: Three mares with RVF. Methods: After debriding the RVF, a dorsally based U-shaped mucosal and submucosal pedicle flap (2-4 mm thick) was dissected from the vaginal wall, rotated approximately 90 degrees angle to close the ventral aspect of the fistula and sutured in position with 10-13 single sutures that did not penetrate the rectal mucosa. This positioned the vaginal mucosa so that it was continuous with the rectal mucosa. Results: Two RVF healed b...
Olitsky PK, Long PH.The virus of vesicular stomatitis is not readily killed by formalin. This chemical is one of a group which coagulates the proteins of the medium in which the virus is usually contained. It has already been found(7) that other reagents of the protein-coagulating group are not actively virucidal) and the effect of formalin in this instance is therefore characteristic of the group. The so called formalinized vaccines which give rise to immunity can be shown to have done so because of the presence of living virus. A single injection of such so called "vaccine," or of other material containing livi...
