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.
Regan PJ, Roberts JO, Feldberg L, Roberts AH.An estimated 3.5 million people ride horses in the United Kingdom (Cannon, 1989). Injuries consequent to falls are common (Edixhoven et al., 1981), but those sustained while leading horses are less well recognized. In eight cases inappropriate grip of the reins or halter rope while leading a horse or pony resulted in an avulsion injury to a finger or thumb. It is suggested that people at risk be informed of such injuries.
Schmotzer WB, Hultgren BD, Huber MJ, Watrous BJ, Riebold TW, Wagner PC, Shires GM.The efficacy of eliminating parotid salivary secretions by retrograde infusion of 10% formalin, 2% chlorhexidine, or 2% or 3% silver nitrate solutions was evaluated in 10 horses. Solutions were kept within the parotid salivary gland for 90 seconds after infusion through parotid duct cannulae and then allowed to drain freely. Severed parotid ducts and surgical incisions were left to heal by second intention. All agents eliminated glandular secretions. There was less necrosis and suppurative inflammation after formalin infusion than after chlorhexidine and silver nitrate. Silver nitrate (2% and ...
Freestone JF, Carlson GR.Case records of horses with muscle disorders presenting to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the University of California, Davis, over a nine year period were evaluated. The objectives of the review were to identify the common myogenic muscle problems and their clinical features. Muscle disease of idiopathic aetiology following exercise was by far the most common condition noted. Other causes of myogenic muscle disorders included congenital, infectious, immune-mediated and nutritional factors.
Reimer JM, Reef VB, Sommer M.Pulmonic valve rupture was determined to be the cause of severe right-sided heart failure in a 20-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. A flail in the intermediate pulmonic valve cusp was detected by 2-dimensional echocardiography. Significant pulmonic and tricuspid valvular regurgitation were confirmed by Doppler echocardiography. Despite treatment, the horse's condition deteriorated, and euthanasia was performed. At necropsy, a tear in the pulmonary artery extending into the right valve cusp and a tear at the base of the intermediate valve cusp were identified at the junction of the right and inter...
Teale P, Houghton E.A screening procedure for anabolic steroid residues in horse urine has been developed based upon solid-phase extraction and gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis in the selected ion mode. For moderate sample throughput the method provides a viable alternative to radioimmunoassay screening and has advantages over the latter technique due to its flexibility, specificity and ability to detect a number of steroids in a single analysis. Full automation of the gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis is an additional feature of the methodology.
Art T, Desmecht D, Amory H, Lekeux P.In order to facilitate lung auscultation, a transitory hyperpnea may be obtained by lobeline administration, use of a rebreathing bag or exercise. The effect of these three methods on the pulmonary function were studied and compared in 5 healthy ponies. Respiratory airflow and tidal volume were measured with a pneumotachograph Nr. 5 and pleural pressure with the esophageal balloon catheter technique. Pulmonary function values were measured before, during and after the hyperpnea induced by (i) lobeline, (ii) rebreathing and (iii) exercise. Lobeline administration induced an hyperpnea due to bot...
Chong YC, Duffus WP, Field HJ, Gray DA, Awan AR, O'Brien MA, Lunn DP.Over a period of two years, a total of 22 full term foals from Welsh Mountain pony mares were raised in conditions that were free from infection by Equid herpesvirus (EHV-1/4). Parturition dates were predicted by monitoring colostrum electrolytes, and the mares allowed to foal naturally under supervision or following induction with intravenous oxytocin. Immediately following birth, foals were separated from their dams and transferred to a specially built, positive pressure isolation unit. They were given antibiotic prophylaxis and fed bovine colostrum during the first 24 h, and then mare's mil...
Krzak WE, Gonyou HW, Lawrence LM.Nine yearling horses, stabled in individual stalls, were used in a trial to determine the diurnal pattern of wood chewing and the effects of exercise on this behavior. The trial was a Latin square design conducted over three 2-wk periods during which each horse was exposed to each of the three following treatments: 1) no exercise (NE), 2) exercise after the morning feeding (AM), and 3) exercise in the afternoon (PM). Horses were fed a complete pelleted feed in the morning and both pelleted feed and long-stemmed hay in the afternoon. Exercise consisted of 45 min on a mechanical walker followed ...
Pereira MC, Kohek Júnior I, Campos R, Lima SB, Foz RP.The anthelmintic efficacy of ivermectin (IVM), piperazine citrate (PPZ) and fenbendazole (FBZ) alone, and combinations of FBZ with varying dosages of PPZ, was evaluated for the control of strongyles of Mangalarga equids. In all cases of positive strongly egg counts per gram of faeces (EPG) before and after treatment, pure populations of cyathostome larvae with eight gut cells were consistently observed in faecal cultures. The faecal egg count reductions (FECR) were evaluated between Day 7 and Day 56 post-treatment. Significant differences (P less than or equal to 0.05) were found between Day 7...
Payne RC, Sukanto IP, Djauhari D, Partoutomo S, Wilson AJ, Jones TW, Boid R, Luckins AG.Cattle, buffaloes and horses in several areas of Indonesia were examined for evidence of infection with Trypanosoma evansi by the microhaematocrit centrifugation technique (MHCT) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of antibodies to T. evansi. Evidence of infection was found in animals at each sampling site although differences were seen in prevalence rates between sites. Prevalence rates in buffalo were usually higher than in cattle in the same area while in horses they were much lower than in cattle or buffalo. An age-dependent prevalence rate was seen in buffalo an...
Young DR, Richardson DW, Markel MD, Nunamaker DM.The third carpal bone (C3) was collected from both forelimbs of 27 Thoroughbreds. On the basis of age, training, and history, specimens were assigned to 1 of 5 groups: yearling, untrained horses (group 1, n = 4); 2- to 3-year-old, untrained horses (group 2, n = 7); trained 2-year-old horses (group 3, n = 6); trained 3-year-old horses (group 4, n = 6); and 3-year-old, trained horses with carpal pathologic features (group 5, n = 4). A transverse section of subchondral bone 5-mm thick was cut in a precise fashion 10 mm below the proximal articular surface of all specimens. After high-detail radio...
Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Wensing T, Barneveld A, Breukink HJ.To determine whether a clinical examination was adequate to assess the fitness of horses in an endurance ride, and to characterise the relationship between a clinical assessment of the horse's fitness and its blood biochemistry, 23 horses were monitored before, during and after an 87 to 100 km endurance ride. Blood samples were taken before the ride, at three checkpoints on the ride, immediately after the ride and one day later for the determination of packed cell volume, total protein, lactate, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, creatine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransferase and plasma ...
Baxter GM, Humphries GB.A large abscess in the lateral neck region of a horse was treated with percutaneous drainage. The abscess was localized with ultrasonography and aspirated by use of a 7.7-cm spinal needle. A stainless-steel guide wire was passed through the needle, and tissue dilators were used to enlarge the percutaneous hole. A multiperforated polyvinylchloride catheter that was placed within the abscess cavity permitted aspiration and lavage of the abscess. The abscess resolved over the next 10 days with no complications. Percutaneous abscess drainage is commonly performed in people and may have application...
Perdue BD, Collier MA, Dzata GK, Mosier DA.A one-year-old Thoroughbred filly was examined because of poor body condition and reluctance to move its neck. Complete blood count revealed leukocytosis (15,700 WBC/microliters) and hyperproteinemia (8 g/dl). Radiography of the cervical vertebrae revealed multifocal lesions of bone lysis surrounded by zones of sclerosis. The horse was euthanatized and necropsied. Granulomatous lesions were identified in the heart, spleen, lungs, bones, and lymph nodes. The multifocal granulomatous inflammatory lesions in this horse were suggestive of mycobacteriosis.
Gelberg HB, Smetzer DL, Foreman JH.Four young horses of various breeds and suffering from atrial fibrillation died of heart failure. All had markedly high pulmonary arterial pressure, right-sided cardiomegaly, and lack of histologic lesions in the right atrium or pulmonary parenchyma. Three horses had hypertrophy and/or necrosis of the tunica media of the pulmonary vasculature. Clinical signs of disease, physiologic data, and pathologic findings indicated that these horses had primary pulmonary hypertension with secondary right-sided cardiac ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure.
Clanton C, Kobluk C, Robinson RA, Gordon B.During a pilot study at a Thoroughbred racetrack, information was collected to include weather conditions and track surface properties (moisture content, composition, strength, and coefficient of friction between surface and hoof). Measured weather variables did not correlate to any pattern of horse injuries of breakdowns. Surface moisture content was variable, whereas the moisture content of the compacted cushion was constant. Track surfaces around the starting chutes were more compacted than were other areas of the track. Next to the rail, track surface was softer than the surface toward the...
Wright JD, Kelly WR, Waddell AH, Hamilton J.Verminous encephalomyelitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae was diagnosed in 2 foals at necropsy. The principal clinical feature was tetraparesis, although history and neurological examination revealed progressive and multifocal neurological disease. At presentation, a tentative diagnosis of parasitic larval migration involving the central nervous system (CNS), presumably due to Strongylus vulgaris, was proposed. Dissection of the spinal cord in one case resulted in recovery of intact larvae of both sexes of A. cantonensis. In both foals, histopathology of the brain and spinal cord r...
Madison JB, Dreyfuss DJ, Charlton C.A 4-year-old Thoroughbred gelding with a history of chronic colic was referred for evaluation of signs of abdominal pain. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a diverticulum of the distal portion of the ileum located between the layers of the mesentery. The diverticulum was similar in location and appearance to acquired ileal diverticula described in human beings. Complete bypass of the diverticulum by ileocecostomy resulted in apparent resolution of the chronic colic in this horse.
Madison JB, Young D, Richardson D.Shoulder luxation in a 3-year-old Thoroughbred filly was treated by closed reduction, using a calf jack to provide traction on the limb. Arthroscopic examination of the shoulder allowed removal of soft tissue and bony debris. After surgery, the filly was confined to a box stall for 6 months. Eight months after surgery, the filly was doing light work and was not lame. Muscular atrophy present before surgery had resolved. Use of a calf jack may allow reduction of shoulder luxation under field conditions.
Mayr A, Thein P.At the moment, horse praxis is confronted by two disease complexes which are difficult to fight against as well in prophylaxis as in therapy, but which get an increasing importance. First they concern virus infections of the foals and second primary virus-caused respiratory diseases. Foals get infected during the embryonal/fetal development, in the perinatal or postnatal period. Normally the infection is caused by latent infected, clinical healthy mares, or in the postnatal period by ubiquitous, normally opportunistic socalled problem-viruses, i.e. equine herpes-viruses 1 and 2, rota-, corona-...
Haluska GJ, Lowe JE, Currie WB.A complete set of electromyographic recordings, plasma samples and behavioural observations were collected from 2 mares beginning 7 days pre partum, through parturition and into the early post-partum period. During the week pre partum, EMG activity was elevated, occurring 26-73% of the time. Activity was least during the day and greatest at night with no significant difference for the hours of the day or between days pre partum. During the 24 h before delivery, EMG activity was increased for 7-13 h (55-80%) during the daylight hours. EMG activity decreased 2-4 h immediately preceding delivery ...
This supplement contains a diverse selection of abstracts addressing clinical research from many disciplines. Topics that are particularly well represented this year include endocrinology, laminitis, critical care and spinal disease. The only consistent feature is the very high standard.
This year, BEVA has devoted an extra two sessions to abstracts, but despite this increased time, the selection process was difficult due to the large number of excellent submissions. Over the last 10 years or so, Clinical Research Abstracts have progressively risen in stature and it is now the go-to place f...