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.
Tulamo RM, Bramlage LR, Gabel AA.Infectious arthritis was induced experimentally in one tarsocrural joint of six horses by intra-articular injection of 1 ml Staphylococcus aureus-saline suspension with the addition of 200 mg methylprednisolone acetate. The corresponding contralateral joint was injected with 1 ml of saline with the addition of 200 mg methylprednisolone acetate, and served as a control. The purpose of the experiment was to examine the effect of corticosteroids on the acute clinical signs of infectious arthritis, and the associated changes in synovial fluid, to separate the effects of a steroid injection from th...
Prades M, Grant BD, Turner TA, Nixon AJ, Brown MP.The clinical, radiographic, arthroscopic and pathological findings of 10 horses with injury to the cranial cruciate ligament are presented. The most consistent clinical signs included moderate to severe distension of the femoropatellar joint and a Grade III to a Grade V out of V lameness. Craniocaudal instability could be elicited in five horses under general anaesthesia and in one conscious horse. Radiographic evaluation of the stifles revealed that avulsion fracture of the medial intercondylar eminence was the most common finding in six out of 10 horses. Arthroscopic examination of the affec...
Gibson KT, Curtis CR, Turner AS, McIlwraith CW, Aanes WA, Stashak TS.Medical records of 210 horses that survived ventral midline celiotomy for at least 4 months were examined and owners were queried to determine factors contributing to incisional hernia formation. The incidence rate of incisional hernias within 4 months was 16%. Factors significantly associated with occurrence of incisional hernias were incisional drainage, closure of the linea alba with chromic gut suture material, previous midline celiotomy, excessive incisional edema, castrated male sex, postoperative leukopenia, and postoperative pain (colic). Factors not significantly associated with occur...
Detilleux PG, Cheville NF, Sheahan BJ.Tissues from subcutaneous lymphosarcomas and regional lymph nodes were examined by light and electron microscopy and by lectin histochemistry. Tumors were composed of two major cell types: small lymphocytes with few organelles and pleomorphic histiocytic cells with undulant surfaces, large numbers of cytoplasmic vacuoles, and many mitochondria with large crystalline inclusions. A large gram-positive coryneform bacterium was isolated from tumor nodules but was not identified morphologically in tumor tissues. Evaluation of sections of tumors with lectins as histochemical probes revealed three st...
Adams JG, Trim CM.Five horses were anaesthetised twice with thiopentone sodium, guaifenesin and halothane. The second anaesthesia was 16 days after the first and two days following oral administration of trichlorfon. Heart rate, carotid arterial, pulmonary arterial and right atrial pressures, cardiac output and blood temperature were measured every 15 minutes for 120 minutes. Heart rate, carotid arterial pressure and cardiac output were similar on both occasions. Pulmonary arterial and right atrial pressures were highest during anaesthesia after treatment with trichlorfon when compared with values obtained befo...
Grundy FJ, Baumann RP, O'Callaghan DJ.The immediate early (IE) proteins of herpesviruses are important regulatory factors which control the expression of genes at the transcriptional level. We report the DNA sequence of the immediate early gene of the alphaherpesvirus equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). This sequence is shown to be extremely rich in guanine and cytosine, resulting in a highly biased codon usage. The IE gene region possesses 38 open reading frames (ORFs) greater than 300 bp in length, 11 of which have coding regions of at least 100 amino acids (aa) following potential translation initiator codons. The largest ORF co...
Bertone AL, Schneiter HL, Turner AS, Shoemaker RS.Two mares with multiple carpal bone fractures, malarticulation and degenerative joint disease were successfully treated with unilateral arthrodeses of the antebrachiocarpal, middle carpal, and carpometacarpal joints. Arthrodesis was achieved by removal of articular cartilage, autogenous cancellous bone graft, and double dynamic compression plating. In one horse, wedge ostectomy corrected the severe, acquired angular limb deformity. External coaptation supplemented the internal fixation. Postoperative complications were limited to cast sores that healed with treatment, although protracted in on...
Norman WM, Williams R, Dodman NH, Kraus AE.After surgery, high intramuscular pressures were measured in a horse with clinical signs of postanesthetic myopathy that developed following a 2.25-hour surgical procedure. In the postoperative period, tests for muscular and neurologic integrity were made, including measurement of intracompartmental muscle pressure.
Belknap JK, Moore JN.The records of 71 horses with small intestinal disorders requiring surgical correction were disorders requiring surgical correction were reviewed to compare the prevalence of laminitis in those horses treated prophylactically with heparin and the prevalence of horses not treated with heparin. The prevalence of laminitis was 13% (9/71), and there was no significant difference (P less than 0.05) in the prevalence of laminitis between the 2 groups. The lack of significant benefit after treatment with heparin indicates that further work needs to be done on the equine coagulation system before hepa...
Meagher DM, Aldrete AV.Lateral luxation of the superficial digital flexor tendon from the calcaneal tuber occurs in horses as a result of tearing or rupture of the medial retinaculum of the tendon. This report describes the repair of this condition in 2 Thoroughbred race horses, using a surgical technique in which 2 cancellous bone screws were placed in the calcaneus lateral to the tendon, along with suturing the medial retinaculum.
Milne EM, Pogson DM, Else RW, Rowland AC.One case of caecocaecal intussusception (case 1) and one case of caecocolic intussusception (case 2) in ponies are described. Case 1 showed mild abdominal discomfort for seven days followed by sudden death whereas case 2 showed continuous moderate pain for three weeks. At post mortem examination, case 1 showed intussusception of the base of the caecum into the body whereas in case 2, the entire caecum had invaginated into the right ventral colon. Histopathological examination showed that the lesions in both animals had been present for a long time.
Foster CV, Harris RC, Pouret EJ.After an oral dose of 10 g of L-carnitine the plasma concentrations of free and total carnitine increased in five yearling thoroughbred horses, reaching a peak two to four hours after administration, but in two horses there was no increase. In the five which responded, the mean (+/- sd) peak increase in total carnitine concentration was 15.1 +/- 6.9 mumol/litre from a predose mean of 18.8 +/- 3.4 mumol/litre, and the mean peak increase in free carnitine concentration was 13.5 +/- 3.1 mumol/litre from a pre-dose mean concentration of 12.5 +/- 2.2 mumol/litre. These changes were similar to those...
Ornehult L, Eriksson A, Björnstig U.All 58 deaths caused by nonvenomous animals in Sweden 1975-1984 were scrutinized. In 38 cases horses were involved, in 16 cattle and in one case each a moose, a lion, a dog and a ram. In the horse-related fatalities, the most common cause of accident was that the horse bolted or reared, causing the rider to fall off the horse or the cart or sulky. Falls were thus associated with 22 horse-related deaths. In cattle-related accidents, all fatalities where the cause of accident was known occurred due to aggressive behaviour of the animal. In horse-related accidents, head injuries dominated, while ...
Young DR, Divers TJ, Benson CE.Clinical septicemia developed in 2 clinically normal horses after both were administered a portion of an amino acid solution IV. Serratia marcescens was subsequently isolated from blood of both horses. The isolates were shown to be identical on the basis of antibiograms and plasmid biochemistry, incriminating the infusate as the source of bacterial infection. The horses recovered after supportive and antimicrobial treatment.
Rick MC.Diagnosis, evaluation, and management of the various grades of rectal tears is discussed. Surgical techniques, which include direct closure, diverting colostomies, and placement of temporary rectal liners, are detailed. Also, rectal prolapses and various methods of repair are outlined.
Fischer AT.Evaluation of the horse with colic has always been challenging since the patient's large size precludes many of the diagnostic imaging procedures commonly used in human medicine. Diagnostic methods such as radiography, laparoscopy, endoscopy, and peritoneal fluid analysis can serve to increase the accuracy of presurgical evaluation. Prognosis in individual cases can be best predicted by careful analysis of selected clinicopathological data, physical examination findings, and surgical biopsies. However, no predictive model is 100 per cent accurate, and clinicians must continue to rely on clinic...
Slocombe JO, Cote JF, McMillan I.Twenty-eight horses with a residual burden of strongyle eggs in the faces after treatment with mebendazole (MBZ) paste were treated with a suspension of either MBZ or oxibendazole (OBZ). Fecal samples were collected before and 14 days after these treatments. The number of strongyle eggs/g (epg) of feces for each horse was estimated using the Cornell-McMaster dilution and the Cornell-Wisconsin double centrifugation procedures. The epg for each horse was transformed using log (x + 1) and in an analysis of variance of the reduction in egg count for each horse on the logarithmic scale, there was a...
Goddard PJ, Allen WE.Pressures were recorded monthly at two sites in the vagina of each of five pregnant and five nonpregnant pony mares; pressures in five mares were also recorded weekly after foaling. The developing pregnancy did not influence pressure, and after foaling the integrity of the seal formed by the caudal reproductive tract was rapidly restored.
Spier SJ, Meagher DM.Rational perioperative management improves the success rate of abdominal surgery. Important aspects of management are discussed, including principles of fluid therapy, nutrition, intravenous catheterization, antimicrobial prophylaxis, and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication. Current advances in the area of immunotherapy are mentioned.
Wolfman EF.Operations for intestinal ischemia are frequently done by veterinarians. In equine surgery those conditions commonly producing ischemia are intussusception, volvulus, bowel obstructions, and incarcerated hernias. In an attempt to predict intraoperative bowel viability after the restoration of circulation, a variety of adjuvant methods have been investigated. There is little question that of the techniques currently available, sodium fluorescein injected intravenously approaches the ideal in predicting nonviability in humans and in most animal models. Furthermore, it is safe, takes little opera...
Bertone AL.With large colon resection and anastomosis, up to 95 per cent of the length of the large colon has been successfully removed. A hand-sewn end-to-end anastomosis is effective for lesions in the left dorsal colon and pelvic flexure. Transection and a side-to-side anastomosis with stapling equipment is most effective for extensive resections (greater than 50 per cent). Horses with extensive colon resection (95 per cent) have permanent deficiencies of water absorption and digestion of cellulose and protein. Fermentative capacity is reduced, owing to decreased particulate matter retention time in t...
Ross MW.Cecal impaction and cecal perforation, the two most common equine cecal diseases, are thought to develop after slowing or interruption of a single progressive motility pattern, which begins in a pacemaker area near the apex, occurs once every 3 minutes, and propels ingesta from the cecum to the right ventral colon. Rectal examination in horses with cecal impaction is the most useful technique to grade the severity of the condition. Medical treatment is undertaken if the impaction is judged to be mild to moderate. Surgical correction of cecal impaction in severe cases requires a ventral midline...
Gerring EL.The control mechanisms of gastrointestinal motility are complex. Extrinsic neurohormonal effects modulate an intrinsic system, often called the "gut brain," composed of nervous and neuropeptide components. To exert pharmacologic influence on GI motility, use is made of agents that mimic the external control system. Agents that stimulate opioid receptors, block adrenoceptors, block or facilitate acetylcholine action, or antagonize the action of prostaglandins are used to effect changes in GI motility. The major indications for pharmacologic intervention are to increase motility in constipation,...
Kudlac E, Grygar J.The frequency of double ovulation and the chances of twin pregnancy in the mare are presented with reference to the relevant literature. A novel manual technique for reducing the embryo number from two to one is introduced and illustrated by ultrasonographic images.
Booth TM, Hainisch EK, Knottenbelt DC, Edwards GB, Clegg PD, Kelly DF.An 11-year-old, eight-months pregnant mare suddenly developed severe respiratory distress. Endoscopic examination identified intralaryngeal granulation tissue obstructing the airway. In order to avoid general anaesthesia and the problems associated with a permanent tracheostomy, the mass was resected electrosurgically while the mare was standing. Patency was restored to the airway and the mare foaled without complication.
Torbeck RL.This article reviews the type of equipment available, the examination techniques, and the interpretation of information derived from ultrasound in broodmare practice. The application of diagnostic ultrasound has found immediate acceptability and clinical usefulness in the genital evaluations of the broodmare.
van Weeren PR.Kinematic gait analysis is a rapidly growing field of veterinary research promising to become even more important in coming years. All modern analytical techniques are based on the use of skin markers and are therefore prone to suffering from a biological error caused by the sliding of the skin over the underlying skeletal structures. To investigate this error skin displacement was quantified at 18 relevant sites using techniques designed to ensure simultaneous visualization of skin and underlying bone. Mathematical models for correction of skin displacement were formulated. Application of the...
of surveillance testing, April to June 2017International disease occurrence in the second quarter of 2017These are among matters discussed in the most recent quarterly equine disease surveillance report, prepared by Defra, the Animal Health Trust and the British Equine Veterinary Association.
Ginther OJ.Uterine filling by the conceptus and uterine constrictions and allantoic-fluid shifts after filling were studied by daily ultrasound examinations on Days 40 to 74 in 10 mares. Allantoic fluid was first detected at the extremities of the uterus on the following days: 1) tip of umbilical-cord horn, Day 60.0 +/-1.9 (mean +/-SEM); 2) tip of noncord horn, Day 64.8 +/-1.3; and 3) near cervix, Day 48.5 +/-1.3. Transient uterine constrictions with expulsion of allantoic fluid were detected in 37% of 271 examinations. Other end points were studied by weekly ultrasound examinations from Day 40 to term. ...
Hansen S, Stephansen MG, Fjeldborg J, van Galen G.Blood glucose concentrations fluctuate with stress, but little is known on how it is influenced by clinical procedures. The objective was to investigate the effect of clinical procedures on blood glucose concentration in healthy horses. Methods: Prospective, experimental study. Seven hospital-owned research horses were included in the study. A total of 4 horses were sampled either during a control sedation trial or during 3 different student workshops (prepurchase, oral, and rectal examination-the latter 2 with sedation). Blood samples were taken every 15 minutes and glucose concentration in w...