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.
Jochle W, Moore JN, Brown J, Baker GJ, Lowe JE, Fubini S, Reeves MJ, Watkins JP, White NA.Detomidine hydrochloride, butorphanol tartrate, flunixin meglumine and xylazine hydrochloride were evaluated in a blind multi-centre clinical trial in 152 horses with abdominal pain. The drugs were administered as follows: detomidine 20 or 40 micrograms/kg bodyweight (bwt); butorphanol 0.1 mg/kg bwt; flunixin meglumine 1.0 mg/kg bwt; xylazine hydrochloride 0.5 mg/kg bwt. Each centre compared responses to the two doses of detomidine with those to one of the other analgesics. The drugs were administered intravenously (i.v.) after clinical assessment of the degree of sweating, kicking, pawing, he...
Archambault D, Wang ZM, Lacal JC, Gazit A, Yaniv A, Dahlberg JE, Tronick SR.To provide more sensitive and convenient methods for the detection of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) employing the EIAV gag precursor (Pr55gag) produced by using recombinant DNA techniques. The antigenic reactivity of the recombinant EIAV Pr55gag was found to be equivalent to that of the virion p24gag and elicited high-titered antiserum in rabbits. When a large number of horse sera were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to EIAV by this ELISA, a radioimmunoassay for EIAV p15gag, or the standard agar gel immunodiffusion test...
Gerring EL, King JN.Cisapride and domperidone were both effective in restoring electrical and mechanical activity, coordination between gastric and small intestinal activity cycles and the stomach to anus transit time in three ponies in which post operative ileus was induced experimentally. Cisapride (0.1 mg/kg bodyweight intramuscularly) for three to eight doses prevented idiopathic post operative ileus in 22 clinical cases requiring colic surgery. The only side effects after cisapride were increased bowel sounds and slight, transient sounds of discomfort. No adverse side effects were seen in 16 cases following ...
Trim CM, Moore JN, Clark ES.An ultrasonic flow probe was implanted around a branch of the left renal artery in five horses. The effects of dopamine were studied in the unsedated horses 10 days after surgery. Three experiments, separated by at least two days, were performed in random order on each horse. In two experiments, dopamine was infused intravenously for 60 mins at either 2.5 and 5.0 micrograms/kg bodyweight (bwt)/min. Saline was infused for 60 mins before and after each infusion, and for 180 mins in the third experiment as a control. Renal blood flow increased during administration of dopamine at both dose rates ...
Klei TR, French DD, Chapman MR, McClure JR, Dennis VA, Taylor HW, Hutchinson GW.The long-term efficacy of an irradiation attenuated larval (L3) vaccine against Strongylus vulgaris was tested in ponies which were reared on pasture. Prior to foaling, mares were divided into two groups. One group of mares and foals received regular (eight weekly) treatment with ivermectin and the second group remained untreated. Half the foals in each pasture group were vaccinated at eight to ten weeks of age. Foals were weaned at three to four months of age and maintained on separate pastures. At eight to ten months of age, ponies were placed in box stalls and half of each treatment group w...
Bertone AL, Cockerell GL, Lee RE, Stashak TS.Light microscopy, morphometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to examine the mucosal morphology of seven intestinal specimens (three from the small intestine and four from the large intestine) from two horses not subjected to surgery and three horses one year after sham-operation for colon resection. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation revealed similar morphology for all horses except that the unoperated horses had significantly (P < 0.05) fewer goblet cells in the crypts of the large intestine. In the small intestine, SEM demonstrated that villus shape varied and range...
Merritt AM, Campbell-Thompson ML, Lowrey S.Six healthy six to eight-month-old horses were surgically prepared with Ag bipolar electrodes sutured to the gastric antrum and duodenum. Leads from the electrodes were exteriorised through a stab incision in the flank. During experimental sessions the horses were lightly restrained in stocks and electrode leads were connected to a physiograph to record antroduodenal myoelectrical activity. Intravenous (i.v.) injection of 0.05 mg/kg bodyweight (bwt) of the opioid agonist/antagonist, butorphanol was followed within 2 to 3 mins by a normal appearing period of repetitive spike activity, or phase ...
Kirker-Head CA, Kerwin PJ, Steckel RR, Rubin CT.Liquid metal strain gauges (LMSG) were implanted surgically at three locations on the intact linea alba (LA) in eight horses. LA strain, strain rate, change in strain and stress were recorded during general anaesthesia, recovery from anaesthesia, standing, vocalisation, rectal palpation and at the walk, trot and canter. LA stress was quantitated using an in vitro tensiometric technique. Stress-strain responses differed significantly (P < 0.05) with location, but each described a characteristic relationship for viscoelastic tissues. Maximum peak stress, peak strain and change in strain occurred...
Palmer JE, Benson CE, Lotz GW.Ten healthy, mature ponies were orally infected with Ehrlichia risticii using Ehrlichia-infected P388D1 mouse monocyte tissue culture cells. Seven developed signs of equine ehrlichial colitis including fever, depression, anorexia, reduced borborygmi, increased abdominal hyperresonance, and diarrhoea. Three remained clinically normal apart from early fever in one. Indirect fluorescent antibody titres were detected in the clinically affected ponies by Days 12 to 17 post infection and increased rapidly to high levels (1:640 to 1:5120) which were maintained until the end of the observation period ...
Geary RT, Weber JA, Woods GL.The purposes of this experiment were 1) to test the hypothesis that placing rabbit embryos into the mare's uterus would hasten oviduct transport and 2) to determine if placing fluid into the uterus of bred mares on Day 4 and/or Day 5 would subsequently disrupt the mare's pregnancy. The hypothesis that placing rabbit embryos into the mare's uterus would hasten oviduct transport was not supported, since the uterine recovery rate of equine embryos on Day 5 was not significantly higher (P>0.05) for mares receiving rabbit embryos on Day 4 than for mares receiving no uterine infusion on Day 4 (1 10 ...
Ross MW, Bernard WV, Orsini PG, Ford TS.A 3-year-old Standardbred stallion was admitted for treatment of acute enterocolitis. The horse improved in response to empiric treatment, but subsequently developed ventral edema, scrotal abscessation, and severe laminitis. Improvement again was seen, but on day 29 of hospitalization, the horse developed rapid heart rate and signs of abdominal pain. Exploratory celiotomy revealed complete obstruction of the descending portion of the duodenum, 20 cm caudal to the duodenal sigmoidal flexure. Three-tier duodenojejunostomy and jejunojejunostomy were performed to bypass the duodenal obstruction.
Parks AH, Scott EA, Cox JE, Stick JA.Six horses with monorchidism, identified at surgery for cryptorchidectomy, are reported. All six presented with a single scrotal testis. Following surgical removal of one testis, they were either hormonally, anatomically or behaviourally determined to be geldings. Three other horses reported in the literature are reviewed. Of these nine cases of monorchidism, eight were thought to be caused by testicular degeneration and one by testicular agenesis. The vaginal process was present in all of the former and absent in the latter. The left side was involved in five of these eight horses. In seven, ...
Kirker-Head CA, Fackelman GE.Four long bone fractures with a short distal fragment were repaired with a cobra head bone plate alone (2 cattle) or in combination with a straight, broad dynamic compression plate (2 horses). Three fractures were of the distal femur (1 horse, 2 cattle) and one was of the distal radius (1 horse). The long-term outcome of the three femoral fractures was soundness in one case and mild lameness in two. Although satisfactory bone healing progressed in the horse with the radial fracture, laminitis in the contralateral forelimb necessitated euthanasia at week 6.
Homburg-van den Broek FT, Rutgers LJ.It was found that wound infections may be considerably reduced when castration is carried out under strictly aseptic conditions. In this clinical review, healing of the wound following castration with and without closure of the scrotal wounds is compared. All castrations were performed under similar aseptic conditions, general anaesthesia having been produced in the recumbent stallion. The results do not show that there is a significant difference in the appearance of wound infections in scrotal wounds which are closed and those which are left completely open. On the basis of both papers and t...
Lloyd KC, Wheat JD, Ryan AM, Matthews M.Sudden onset of hematuria was associated with mucosal ulceration of the proximal portion of the urethra in 1 stallion and 3 geldings. Hematuria was observed characteristically and consistently at the end of urination. Mucosal ulceration was identified endoscopically in the proximal portion of the urethra at the level of the ischial arch. Biopsy of an ulcerated area of the proximal urethra in one gelding revealed transitional cell carcinoma. Treatment regimens varied from systemic antimicrobial and/or vasoactive therapy to diversion of urinary flow via a temporary perineal urethrostomy. Hematur...
Zaugg JL, Lane VM.We evaluated the efficacy of buparvaquone in eliminating Babesia equi of European origin in carrier horses and in experimentally infected splenectomized ponies. When administered at the rate of 2.5 mg/kg of body weight, IM, 4 times at 96-hour intervals, buparvaquone was effective in eliminating B equi carrier infection in 1 horse. Such results could not be repeated at the same dosage or at 3.5 or 5 mg/kg, IM. Buparvaquone given at the rate of 4 to 6 mg/kg IV and/or IM was therapeutically effective in 4 of 5 acute B equi infections in splenectomized ponies. The treated ponies became carriers.
Sigler DH, Ericson DE, Gibbs PG, Kiracofe GH, Stevenson JS.Lactating mares were assigned as controls or fed altrenogest (.044 mg.kg body wt-1.d-1) for 15 d after foaling. Mares (n = 6) fed altrenogest were inseminated during the first estrus after treatment and mares (n = 6) in the control group were inseminated during the second postpartum estrus. Ovulation during the estrus in which mares were inseminated occurred 26 +/- 1 d postpartum for treated mares and 36 +/- 1 d postpartum for control mares. The percentage of mares conceiving was not different for control (67%) and alternogest-treated (100%) mares. No differences were observed in tone and size...
Foreman JH, Potter KA, Bayly WM, Liggitt HD.A 7-month-old male Quarter Horse was examined because of severe cachexia, which had begun 2 months earlier. The foal was emaciated and weak despite an excellent appetite. Percutaneous biopsy revealed multiple areas of subcutaneous steatitis with mineralization. Radiography demonstrated calcification of the nuchal ligament. The foal died 9 days after admission. Necropsy revealed mineralized lesions throughout the fascial planes and adipose tissues of the thorax, abdomen, and skeletal muscles, with little to no involvement of muscular tissue. Serum magnesium, copper, and thyroxine concentrations...
Tkachev AV, Sheremeta VI, Tkacheva OL, Rossokha VI.The possible presence of the physiological relationship of erythrocyte antigens of the A, C, D, K alleles of the blood group systems in the examined horses of the Ukrainian selection with the spermogram major parameters has been demonstrated. It has been found that when investigating ad/bcm and dg/cgm alleles of the blood group system D in the stallions, there was the physiological tendency of the decrease in the semen activity on average less than 5 points; at the presence of ad/cgm, ad/d, ad/ de, ad/dk, bcm/d, bcm/de, bcm/dg bcm/dk cegm/cgm, cegm/d, cegm/dg, cegm/dk cgm/ceg, cgm/cgm, cgm/dg,...
Kornas S, Skalska M, Nowosad B, Gawor J.The objective of this study was to evaluate the strongyles species in 34 Pure Blood Arabian Horses: one-year-old mares (n = 12) and two-year old mares (n = 22) from the horse stud in 2005, kept under housed-pastured system and dewormed systematically, twice a year using the ivermectin compounds. Methods: The practical method of in vivo determination of strongyles species in horses is collection of these nematodes from the feaces after treatment. Nematodes were collected 24 hours after deworming from 1000 g sample of feaces, then were classified to appropriate species and relative abundance of ...