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.
Ford TS, Schumacher J, Chaffin MK, Vacek J, Brumbaugh GW, Crossland LE.An intrathoracic esophageal pulsion diverticulum causing repeated episodes of esophageal obstruction in a Morgan weanling colt was diagnosed by endoscopy, positive contrast radiography, and pleuroscopy. Surgical excision of the diverticulum alleviated clinical signs, and the horse was able to resume a normal diet by day 6. After 9 months the colt remains asymptomatic.
Steffey EP, Willits N, Wong P, Hildebrand SV, Wheat JD, Meagher DM, Hodgson D, Pascoe JR, Heath RB, Dunlop C.Fifty-eight foals were divided into two groups for study of aspects of the clinical anesthetic management of foals and to characterize effects of halothane (n = 30) and isoflurane (n = 28) in foals. There were no significant differences (P greater than 0.05) in the demographics of the two groups. Results of hemograms and biochemical analysis of venous blood samples before and after anesthesia were either not influenced or only mildly (clinically unimportant) affected by either agent. Like adult horses, foals have an increased PaCO2 when anesthetized with inhaled anesthetics. We could detect no...
Henninger RW, Bramlage LR, Schneider RK, Gabel AA.Case records of 25 horses with transverse fractures of the proximal sesamoid bone were reviewed to evaluate the success of treatment. All fractures were repaired by use of lag screw fixation and an autogenous cancellous bone graft because the fracture fragments were considered too large for surgical removal and reconstruction of the suspensory apparatus was necessary. Radiography was performed in all cases, and the fractures were classified into 3 types: (1) proximal midbody fractures, which included all fractures in the proximal aspect of the sesamoid bone that resulted in fragments involving...
Oikawa MA, Kamada M, Yoshihara T, Kaneko M, Yoshikawa T.To elucidate the current status of foal diseases in Japan, clinico-pathological analysis was conducted on 237 foal autopsy cases. As a result, bacterial infection was identified as an important cause of foal death. Most of the bacteria isolated from these cases were ubiquitous, opportunistic, environmental organisms, known to be non-pathogenic to mature animals. Most of cases with bacterial infection were diagnosed as having hypogammaglobulinemia, i.e., failure of passive transfer. In addition, the mean weight of thymuses in foals affected by bacterial infection tended to be lower than that of...
Lowis TC, Hyland JH.This project surveys the reproductive performance of 154 foaling Thoroughbred mares on a commercial stud in southern Victoria. Of these, 96 were served on foal heat (FHS) and 58 were served at a subsequent prostaglandin-induced oestrus (PGS). The PGS group of mares performed more favourably in all aspects except the foaling-to-conception interval where there was a 9.4 day advantage to the FHS group. The first service conception rate in the FHS group was 47.9% compared with 55.2% in PGS mares. Second heat period conception rates were 46% vs 57.7% for FHS and PGS mares, respectively. Overall con...
Kohn CW, Knight DA, Yvorchyk-St Jean KE, Scaman PA, Ruey PR.After a three day acclimatization period, six healthy, young (aged 4 to 20 days) orphan foals of mixed breeding were fed 100 per cent of their caloric needs (estimated at 523 kjoules/kg bodyweight [bwt] or 125 kcal/kg bwt/day) as a low residue isotonic feeding solution (LRF) for seven days. The solution provided 4.18 kjoules (1 kcal/ml) and was fortified with minerals and protein to meet estimated foal requirements. The solution was fed through an indwelling 12 French feeding tube. Five of the six foals completed the study; the loss of the sixth foal apparently was unrelated to the feeding pro...
Johnson L, Varner DD, Tatum ME, Scrutchfield WL.To evaluate the effect of age and season on Sertoli cell number per paired testes, ratio of germ cells per Sertoli cell, and daily sperm production, testes were obtained from 184 adult (4-20 yr) stallions at slaughter throughout one year. Numbers of Sertoli cells or germ cells were derived from nuclear volume density, volume of individual nuclei, and parenchymal volume. Germ cell to Sertoli cell ratios were calculated from cell numbers. Regression analysis was used to detect age-related differences in the breeding season (May-Jul) or throughout the year. A two-way analysis of variance was used...
Freeman KP, Todhunter R, Lust G, Erb H, Rakestraw P, Slusher SH, Carroll B.Polychrome-stained equine synovial fluid specimens from 34 normal joints and 129 joints with clinical abnormalities were examined cytologically. The smears from joints with abnormalities were categorized as within normal limits (4.7%), slight abnormality (27.9%), proliferative synovitis (21.7%), neutrophilic pattern (20.2%), elongated cell pattern (10.1%), other moderate to marked abnormality (11.6%) and unsatisfactory (3.9%). Cytologic abnormalities that were not restricted to a single category included spindle cells, crystals, stellate cells and cartilage fragments. Multinucleate cells and m...
Foley GL, Valentine BA, Kincaid AL.In a retrospective study, cutaneous melanocytic tumors from 18 horses, less than 2 years old, were examined histopathologically and clinical follow-up requested. Melanocytomas (benign melanomas) occurred in a variety of breeds and in horses of varied coat color. The age of the horses at the time of biopsy ranged from 3 weeks old to 2 years old. Four melanocytomas were congenital, 11 melanocytomas were acquired by 1 year of age, and three were acquired prior to 2 years of age. Of the 18 horses, five were male, and 13 were female. All tumors were solitary and located on the legs or trunk; none w...
Tekin N, Yurdaydin N, Klug E, Yavas Y, Aksu A, Gülyüz F.Within a German-Turkish university partnership documentation of reproductive data of brood-mares was performed as a part project of the cooperation contract. In the study Arab, Haflinger and cross-breed mares were included. The mares mainly were housed in big studfarms and a smaller part was kept under small private farms. Almost three quarters of both the Arab and Haflinger mares exhibited an estrous length of 1-4 days, whereas the others showed a heat duration of a period of 5-10 days. In the same group of probands a mean length of sexual cycle of 18-24 days could be observed in 38.2% of the...
Harrison LJ, May SA, Richardson JD, Mills G, Dixon P.Four horses with an incomplete fracture of a hindlimb longbone were examined. In two, the tibia had been fractured by external trauma. In the other two horses proximal metatarsal 3 had fractured during normal activity. The diagnoses were made radiographically and the horses were treated conservatively by box rest. The fractures healed satisfactorily and the horses became sound.
Wichtel JJ, Whitlock RH.Botulism was believed to be the cause of progressive symmetric myasthenia in 8 horses on a farm in North Carolina. One horse was found dead, 6 were euthanatized after becoming recumbent, and 1 affected horse recovered. Cecal and colonic contents of 2 horses were determined to contain Clostridium botulinum spores. Alfalfa hay that was fed to the horses contained spores and toxin.
Clabough DL, Roberts MC, Robertson I.Esophageal stenosis was diagnosed in a 7-day-old Thoroughbred foal referred for evaluation of bilateral milky nasal discharge. Double-contrast radiography revealed concentric narrowing of the esophagus at the level of the fifth rib, overlying the base of the heart. Lateral displacement of the esophagus was not apparent. X-ray computed tomography of the cranial portion of the thorax confirmed normal cardiac and great vessel anatomy, ruling out vascular ring anomaly. A nasogastric tube was placed, extending past the stenosis and into the stomach, and the foal was fed mares' milk via this tube. O...
Seeherman HJ.Examination for lameness remains the most important component of the clinical evaluation for poor performance. Although conventional examinations can be used to diagnose many causes of lameness, treadmill video gait analysis and dynamic hoof balance evaluations have proved to be useful not only for evaluating lameness but also for maintenance of long-term soundness. Treadmill lameness evaluations offer a major advantage compared to conventional evaluations because of the stationary position of the exercising horse relative to the people performing the examination. Lameness is suspected if asym...
Manohar M, Hassan AS.The present study was carried out to examine diaphragmatic O2 extraction and lactate and ammonia production during prolonged exhaustive exercise. Experiments were performed on nine healthy exercise-conditioned ponies in which catheters had been implanted in the phrenic vein previously. Blood-gas variables and lactate and ammonia concentrations were determined on simultaneously obtained arterial and phrenic-venous blood samples at rest and during 30 min of exertion at 15 mph + 7% grade (heart rate, 200 beats/min; approximately 90% of maximum). Arterial O2 tension and saturation were maintained ...
Gardner SY, Reef VB, Spencer PA.Medical records of 46 horses with jugular vein thrombophlebitis that were evaluated ultrasonographically were reviewed. The ultrasonographic appearance of the thrombus within the jugular vein was classified as noncavitating if it had uniform low to medium amplitude echoes, or as cavitating if it was heterogenous with anechoic to hypoechoic areas representing fluid or necrotic areas within the thrombus, and/or hyperechoic areas representing gas. Signs of pain on palpation of the affected vein (P less than 0.001), heat over the vein (P = 0.001), and swelling of the vein (P less than 0.05) were s...
Röcken H, Wenz C.A unilateral malformation of the eye of a thoroughbred foal is described. The specific form of the tiny lens we named, "lenticulus". It is correlated with a maximal unchangeable mydriasis. The bulb shows physiological size. A brown-black pigmented mass inhibited (internal) inspection and examination of the middle and rear part of the eye. Special emphasis is laid on the insecure behaviour of the foal. A connection with an iridocyclochoroiditis, which was treated in the mare about a year ago, and the pathological changes in the eye of the foal is not evident.
Meyer PK.The article reviews German anatomical terms applied to longer limb bones and their joints of the horse. The listed terms have been used in German veterinary and special veterinary anatomical hand- and textbooks since 1774; etymological remarks are made on some unusual words.
Matsuda H, Koyama H, Oikawa M, Yoshihara T, Kaneko M.Addition of sera, collected from Thoroughbred horses after sprint exercise, induced significant neurite outgrowth from chick embryo dorsal root ganglia after a 24-hour culture. The nerve growth factor (NGF)-like activity was detected in sera collected immediately, or 1 hour or more, after the exercise. These findings suggest a possible role of serum NGF-like activity under stress conditions (running exercise) of horses.
Kannegieter NJ, Ryan N.The case record, and subsequent racing performance, of 110 horses that had undergone arthroscopic surgery of the carpus, were reviewed. Of these, 87% resumed racing, with 43% able to win at least one race, after surgery. Horses with chip fractures from the distal radius had the best prognosis, while horses with sagittal fractures of the third carpal bone had the poorest. The performance of horses with bilateral lesions was similar to those with unilateral lesions. It was concluded that arthroscopic surgery was a suitable technique for the diagnosis and treatment of carpal lesions in the horse....
Seahorn TL, Schumacher J.Chondroid masses were successfully removed from the guttural pouches of 2 horses, using an endoscope, a snare, and a vacuum pump. This technique is an alternative to surgical removal of chondroid masses in patients when basic lavage of the affected guttural pouch is ineffective. Complications were not encountered. Advantages of this snare technique include avoidance of surgery and its potential complications, minimal recovery time, and minimal expense.
Clayton HM.Time magnification in motion photography allows the observation of events in the stride cycle that normally are beyond the resolution of the human eye. Quantitative analysis goes a stage further by measuring the stride in terms of timing, distance, and angular variables. Motion analysis is a good technique for detecting left-right asymmetries of gait, and the nature of the asymmetries has some value in locating the site of a lameness. Repeated analyses of the same horse allow an objective assessment of the effects of local anesthesia, surgical treatment, or medication. It is anticipated that t...
Seeherman HJ.The use of motorized treadmills has made it possible to evaluate equine poor performance with sophisticated diagnostic techniques during peak exercise. Treadmill exercise tests currently being used for clinical evaluations include treadmill gait analysis, dynamic hoof balancing, endoscopic evaluation of upper airway function, and exercise performance profiling. Large motorized treadmills (1 to 1.5 m in width and 4 to 5 m in length) are best suited for clinical evaluations. Ideally, the treadmill should be installed in-ground using a pit. This type of installation results in the tread surface b...
Bigbie RB, Schumacher J, Swaim SF, Purohit RC, Wright JC.Equine amnion and live yeast cell derivative were evaluated as a biological dressing and as a topical wound medicament respectively, in the treatment of granulating wounds of the distal portion of the limbs of horses. Wounds measuring 2.5 x 2.5 cm were created on the dorsomedial aspect of the metacarpal and metatarsal region of all 4 limbs of 9 horses. Each wound was assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatment groups: group C, treated with a nonadherent bandage as a control; group A, treated with amnion beneath a nonadherent bandage; and group L, treated with live yeast cell derivative beneath a non...
Morris E.Each case of suboptimal equine athletic performance should be evaluated in a comprehensive manner, including physical examination; clinical pathologic analysis; and evaluation of the neurologic system, the musculoskeletal system, and the upper and lower respiratory system. A vital part of this examination is the clinical evaluation of dynamic upper respiratory tract function of the horse during treadmill exercise, which allows the observation of upper respiratory tract function during conditions simulating competitive racing. It generally is agreed that the endoscopic identification of an uppe...
Van Dijk JE, Van der Molen EJ, De Smidt AC.A case of avian tuberculosis in a horse, with fatal course, is reported. The animal was imported from Poland and became ill after some weeks, in the beginning showing non-specific symptoms which became more severe until death supervened. Post-mortem examination showed a generalised form of tuberculosis. The most important lesions were seen in the lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, intestinal tract, bones, bone marrow, and the internal lymph nodes. Beside chronic proliferative tuberculosis of the organs, many exudative foci were found with remarkably abundant acid fast bacilli. Mixed lesions were s...
Giese C, Gerber V, Howald M, Bachmann I, Burger D.In order to investigate stress responses of horses in walkers with and without electricity, 12 horses were trained during 3 weeks in a horse walker with and without the use of electricity (3.7 kV). To evaluate the stress response, cortisol levels in the blood were measured, the heart rate was monitored using the Polar® system and the behaviour was evaluated. Neither the cortisol levels nor the heart rates showed any relevant statistically significant difference between horses moved in the horse walker with or without the use of electricity. The highest cortisol levels and heart rates were rec...