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.
Sanderson GN, O'Callaghan MW.This article describes the gross radiographic anatomy of the equine thorax observed on the lateral radiographic projection. The descriptions presented were derived from a retrospective study of a large number of thoracic radiographs of cases referred to the Massey University clinic in conjunction with research studies in bronchography, angiography and in vitro contrast techniques. The characteristics of the thoracic bony structures, the vasculature, and the airways are examined separately; followed by a discussion of the relative contribution of the various structures to the overall thoracic r...
Shideler RK, Voss JL, Aufderheide WM, Hessemann CP, Squires EL.Twenty mares were assigned to 1 of 4 groups: no altrenogest; altrenogest at 0.044 mg/kg BW; altrenogest at 0.132 mg/kg BW; or altrenogest at 0.220 mg/kg BW. Treatment was administered daily for 86 days. No signs of illness attributable to feeding altrenogest were observed during the trial. Treatment had no effect (P greater than .05) on the following parameters: WBC, differential WBC, platelet number, creatinine, LDH, CPK, total bilirubin, cholesterol, globulin, BSP, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. When comparing values over time with pretreatment means or among treatment groups, there wer...
Thomas DP, Fregin GF, Gerber NH, Ailes NB.The effects of 5- and 10-wk treadmill exercise training on cardiorespiratory function were evaluated in the horse. Cardiac output (Q), heart rate (HR), and stroke volume (SV), as well as left ventricular (LVP), aortic (AoP), and mean right atrial (RAP) pressures and the peak first time derivative of LVP (LV dP/dtmax), were measured at rest and at five different levels of exercise up to 90% of initial predicted maximal HR (HRmax). Oxygen uptake (VO2) and respiratory exchange ratio (R) were also obtained under the same conditions. At rest, although HR was no different after training, LV dP/dtmax...
Reitsma JF.A report on infection with Dictyocaulus arnfieldi in a number of ponies and one horse in which complete clinical recovery was obtained following treatment with albendazole (Valbazen), administered by oral route at a dosage of 25 mg/kg of body weight twice daily for five days.
Siess W, Lapetina EG.Phospholipase C has been studied in homogenates, total particulate and soluble fractions of horse and human platelets. This enzyme, assayed with exogenous L-3-phosphatidyl[14C]inositol, is predominantly localized in the soluble fraction and its distribution parallels that of lactate dehydrogenase. A small percentage of activity present in the particulate fraction seems to be due to contamination with soluble enzyme. Enzyme from horse and human platelets appears identical, having a Km of 0.10-0.15 mM, acid pH optimum (pH 5.5) and showing Ca2+-dependency and weak inhibition by deoxycholate. Anal...
Rose RJ, Allen JR, Hodgson DR, Kohnke JR.A peripheral vasodilating agent, isoxsuprine hydrochloride, administered as an oral paste, was evaluated to determine its efficacy for the treatment of navicular disease. In a clinical trial, 13 horses with navicular disease were treated at a dose rate of 0.6 mg/kg body weight (bwt) twice daily for periods of six to 14 weeks. Twelve of the horses became completely sound while being treated, although two required a 50 per cent increase in dose. Nine of the horses have remained sound two to 10 months after ceasing therapy. In a controlled randomised double blind clinical trial, 16 horses with na...
Tate LP, Ralston SL, Koch CM, Everitt JI.Small intestinal resection (SIR) is not uncommonly done in surgical treatment of equine colic, but little is known about the long-term effects of SIR on horses and ponies. Twelve ponies, fed maintenance amounts of pelleted feed, were divided randomly into 4 treatment groups. D-Xylose absorption curves were recorded for each pony before surgical treatments were performed. Treatments consisted of control (ileal bypass) and 40%, 60%, or 80% SIR. D-Xylose absorption, serum electrolyte, and enzyme profiles for each animal were recorded once every 30 days for 180 days after surgical treatment, and t...
Berger J, Kock M, Cunningham C, Dodson N.Twenty-three (9 male, 14 female) wild horses (Equus caballus) in the Great Basin Desert were immobilized by ground techniques with succinylcholine chloride during 1,950 person-hr. Induction (means = 2.09 +/- 0.59 min) and recovery (means = 12.4 +/- 5.0 min) were rapid and most animals were returned in less than 10 min to original bands. Dosages ranged from 0.66-0.77 mg/kg body weight and neither abortions nor band changes in group membership resulted. However, a few concerted efforts up to 24 hr were needed to return some animals to original bands and three non-drug related mortalities occurre...
Spurlock GH, Gabel AA.One-hundred and nine apical fractures of the proximal sesamoid bones were diagnosed in Standardbred racehorses at the Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital during a 5-year period ending December 1978. Lateral sesamoids of the hindlimbs accounted for 61 of the 109 fractures, which was a significantly (P less than 0.05) greater proportion than that for fractures in all other sesamoid bones. Two- and three-year-old horses accounted for 73 of the 109 apical sesamoid fractures. The remaining 36 apical sesamoid fractures were in horses 4 to 9 years old. The apical fragment was removed in 80 of t...
Peyton LC, Connelly MB.Bacterial quantification was evaluated in 15 cases as a means of wound assessment. This study suggests that bacterial quantification may be used as an aid in the evaluation of treatment procedures and wound preparation in veterinary surgery.
Dik KJ, Nemeth F.Six cases of patella fractures are reported. Three horses presented an avulsion fracture of the medial patellar angle. For a precise diagnosis of this fracture a radiographic skyline view was indispensable; lateral views were not diagnostic. One of these horses recovered after three months' rest but radiographically the fracture remained visible. One horse with a comminuted fracture recovered after five months' rest. A case with a contaminated longitudinal patella fracture was destroyed. The sixth horse had a chip fracture of the dorsomedial part of the patella. The outcome of this case is unk...
Haussler KK, Holt TN.There is a growing body of evidence to support the use of spinal mobilization and manipulation techniques in equine practice. Outcome parameters reported across studies include measures of joint motion, nociception, muscle tone, and performance. Spinal examination procedures include static and dynamic assessments of the quantity and the quality of both active and passive movements. Tiered treatment approaches are recommended to stage the application of various therapies based on ease, cost, and efficacy.
McColl HP, Orchard VA.Sir,—A series of happy coincidences (serendipity?) has led us to a simple treatment which seems to have successfully alleviated symptoms of “rye-grass staggers” in a horse, a calf and two badly affected sheep. Although primarily engaged in a search for the causative agent(s) of rye-grass staggers, casual conversations with people having long experience of this disorder revealed many interesting observations. One of these was a racing-stable remedy for rye-grass staggers, which was the administration of “a couple of handfulls” of Epsom salts in a bran mash, with as much puha (Sonchus ...
Gilroy BJ, Lofstedt J, Pack L, McBurney SR.Sinus cysts are epithelium-lined, fluid-filled cavities that can occur in the paranasal sinuses of horses. Extensive damage to the permanent tooth buds was a significant feature in this case. The sequellae of these abnormalities, although not apparent at the time of presentation, remain an important consideration for prognosis.
Murphy J.There is an inherent element of risk associated with "backing" and riding the previously unbroken horse. If training proceeds too quickly, conflict behaviors may result from the simultaneous application of too many cues. Automated horse walkers (AHW) facilitate the exercising of several horses concurrently at walk or trot for warm-up, cool-down, fitness programs, and rehabilitation purposes. The objective of this study was to investigate if backing the horse within the AHW was an appropriate training method. Ten horses (3-year-olds) took part in this study. They began training within the AHW w...
Lloyd KC, Kelly AB, Dunlop CI.A foal born 3 weeks prematurely was treated for respiratory distress, using a combination of oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilatory assistance. Clinical response and arterial blood gas tensions were monitored regularly. Continuous positive-airway pressure and intermittent positive-pressure ventilation administered via a nasotracheal tube were effective in improving arterial oxygenation and ventilatory function.