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.
Brumbaugh GW, Stitzel KA, Zinkl JG, Feldman BF.Myelomonocytic myeloproliferative disease in a horse was diagnosed on the basis of hematologic, enzymatic, and histopathologic findings. It was characterized clinically by depression, weight loss splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, coagulopathy, and bacteremia. Hematologic findings included severe refractory anemia, thrombocytopenia, monocytosis, and pleomorphic leukocytes, with a left shift of the myeloid series. The serum lysozyme concentration was 14.5 microgram/ml (normal, less than 5 microgram/ml). The bone marrow contained many immature cells of the myeloid series and had a myeloid-to-erythro...
Schneider RK, Milne DW, Kohn CW.Twenty-seven cases of acquired inguinal hernia in the horse were reviewed. The history, clinical signs, treatment, and complications were summarized. Mortality was 25.9%. Only 13 or the 27 cases were diagnosed prior to admission. With early diagnosis and treatment, mortality should approach zero. In 24 of these cases, the hernia was strangulated. In each case, the signs were colic, a firm slightly enlarged testicle in the scrotum, and small intestine displacement through the inguinal ring, as determined via rectal palpation. In was concluded that palpation of the scrotum and inguinal rings sho...
Koterba A, Carlson GP.In examination of the acid-base and electrolyte status of 7 horses with acute exertional rhabdomyolysis, the most consistent abnormality was hypochloremia. Metabolic acidosis was not evident in any of the horses. Therefore, the use of sodium bicarbonate in treatment of such disorders may not be indicated in all cases.
Beech J.An 18-month-old male Quarter Horse was referred for evaluation of a tic that had started after injury to the right forelimb 4 weeks earlier. The right forelimb appeared paretic and had constant regular twitches of variable intensity that were usually sufficiently forceful to move the trunk, neck, and head. The horse frequently threw the limb forward. The twitch persisted during sleep but disappeared during general anesthesia and following sedation with xylazine. It was unaffected by acetylpromazine, diphenylhydantoin, diazepam, carbamazepine, trimethadione, procainamide, quinidine, propranolol...
Dill SG, Simoncini DC, Bolton GR, Rendano VT, Crissman JW, King JM, Tennant BC.During a period of 18 months, between July 1978 and January 1980, 4 adult horses were referred to the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine with evidence of congestive heart failure. Characteristic clinical abnormalities included marked muffling of heart sounds, tachycardia, jugular vein distention, and peripheral edema. Treatment with antibiotics, diuretics, and anti-inflammatory drugs was unsuccessful, and all four died or were euthanatized and necropsied. At necropsy, there was marked distention of the pericardial sac with fluid, and thick layers of fibrin were deposited uniformly o...
Grubaugh W, Sharp DC, Berglund LA, McDowell KJ, Kilmer DM, Peck LS, Seamans KW.When mares were pinealectomized in summer or in winter there was no difference in the annual ovulation date of these animals and of pineal-intact controls during the first post-operative breeding season but in the second season the ovulation date of the winter pinealectomized mares was significantly delayed, suggesting a long-term but clear pineal involvement in seasonal reproductive patterns. Exposure of pinealectomized mares to a stimulatory photoperiod failed to advance the average date of first annual ovulation and was similar to that of intact mares receiving no stimulatory lighting. The ...
Jeffcott LB, Kold SE.A radiographic technique is described for the equine stifle joint with the horse in the standing position or under general anaesthesia. The method with the animal anaesthetised in the dorsal recumbency and the leg extended was preferred because it gave greater flexibility with a better range of views and greatly reduced the safety hazards. In the standing position a useful practical tip for the lateral view was to raise and extent the limb caudally. This provides some flexion and ventral movement of the stifle allowing improved access for the cassette, a more accurate lateral view of the joint...
Riemersa DJ, Schamhardt HC.A clamp designed for holding tendons in force/elongation studies is described. No slippage occurred when tensile forces up to 13,800 N were applied to horses digital flexor tendons fixed in this clamp.
Adams SB, Fessler JF, Thacker HL.FIBROMAS arise from connective tissue and occur in all domestic animals (Smith, Jones and Hunt 1972; Stannard and Pulley 1978). They are most frequently noted in the dermis or subcutis, but may be present wherever connective tissue occurs. In the dermis and subcutis of the horse fibromas are grossly similar to sarcoids and may be difficult to differentiate (Baker and Leyland 1975). Fibromas have been described as tumours of the tendon sheath or tendon proper in man (Flynn 1975), but have not been described in this location in the horse.
Wagner AE, Bennett DG.Eighteen clinically normal horses were used to study the characteristics of normal thoracic fluid. Thoracic fluid was obtained from each horse and was found to be similar to equine abdominal fluid. Total leukocytes averaged 3994/ul, total protein 1.8 g/dl, and specific gravity 1.015. Analysis of thoracic fluid from 16 horses with clinical signs of thoracic disease showed abnormalities in every case. Thoracic fluid analysis alone determined a specific diagnosis in 50% of the cases.
Jakovljevic S, Gibbs C, Yeats JJ.The clinical features, radiographic findings, management and outcome in 13 cases of traumatic fracture of the hock joint are reported. The principal fracture sites were the distal tibial malleoli (5 cases), the fibular tarsal bone (4 cases), the tibial tarsal bone (3 cases) and the proximal end of metatarsal IV (one case). An additional small chip fracture of the central tarsal was noted in 2 cases. Three horses were destroyed immediately after diagnosis, 2 failed to recover following surgical intervention and one remained lame and was destroyed after 3 months' rest. Seven horses recovered com...
Carakostas MC, Moore WE, Smith JE.A procedure with chromium-51 (51Cr) as the cell label that maintains high-cell viability for studying granulocyte kinetics in horses is described. The procedure combines and modifies several methods for isolating leukocytes and granulocytes for use in the horse when a large volume of labeled cells is required. Also described is an improved technique for measuring granulocyte specific activity in large serial blood samples, using a Ficoll-sedimentation method. The procedure should be useful for determining granulocyte kinetics in the horse, the only major domestic species for which such data ar...
Hennessy SE, Muurlink MA, Anderson GA, Puksmann TN, Whitton RC.To evaluate the long-term racing prognosis for Thoroughbred racehorses with displaced versus non-displaced fractures of the pelvis identified by scintigraphy. Methods: Retrospective case analysis. Methods: Medical records of 31 Thoroughbred racehorses presenting to the University of Melbourne Equine Centre with fractures of the pelvis that were identified by scintigraphy were reviewed. Pelvic fracture site was determined and defined as displaced or non-displaced based on ultrasound and/or radiographic findings. Race records were analysed for each horse, with a minimum of 24 months' follow-up, ...
Bohanon TC, Gabel AA.A heat-vulcanized silicone implant was used for cosmetic repair of a facial deformity in a horse. The deformity had resulted from fracture of the frontal bone into the frontal sinus 6 months earlier. Normal facial contour was restored by suturing the sculpted implant to the periosteum over the defect. Results 1 year after surgery were excellent.
Pauli BU, Rossi Straub R.A trabecular adenoma of the pars intermedia of the hypophysis was seen in a 13-year-old half-bred mare that presented symptoms corresponding to Cushing's disease of man. The spindle-shaped tumor cells were for the most part ‘light’, seldom ‘dark’. Both of them were characterized by well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, small Golgi apparatus, and typical secretory granules with a diameter of about 200 μm. The pituitary tumor and the symptoms were accompanied by increased plasma adenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and by bilateral hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex. The tumor cells ...
Ross DH, Heird C, Byrd JW, Beauchemin V, Kiess W.The safety of a feed-thru pellet formulation containing the insect growth regulator diflubenzuron (0.24%) for control of manure-breeding flies (Musca domestica L. and Stomoxys calcitrans L.) in horses was evaluated. Pellets were administered orally at 0, 1, 3, and 5 times the clinical dosage (0.12 to 0.20 mg/kg) on a daily basis for 31 consecutive days. Variables examined included daily clinical observations, hematology, coagulation, serum chemistry, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, body weights, and physical examinations. Horses remained healthy throughout the study, and no adverse reactions ...
Quirk KS.There are myriad problems that can arise when training the novice stallion for natural service. Many problems can be avoided by proper early training of the novice stallion. In the final analysis, common sense should prevail. The major ally of common sense is patience. One should keep in mind that the goal is to have a stallion behave in a disciplined manner, allowing for his expression of libido and effective mounting, intromission, and ejaculation. This is accomplished through judicious training and, as with any training process, takes some time and work. Proper training will help circumvent...
Weber A, Ligthelm AJ, Verstraete FJ.An 8-year-old Hannoverian horse developed a swelling of the maxilla caused by a tumour of the hard palate. On histological examination the tumour was diagnosed as a primary intra-osseous carcinoma of the maxilla, a rare odontogenic tumour not previously described in the horse.
Boorman S, Boone L, Weatherall K, Caldwell F.A 7-year-old American Quarter Horse gelding was referred to the JT Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital at Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine, for an investigation of a recurrent swelling of the nasofrontal region. Computed tomography examination of the skull was most consistent with a sequestrum of the left nasofrontal suture with associated focal osteomyelitis and left conchofrontal sinusitis. Surgery to remove the sequestrum, debride the devitalized bone, and flush the left conchofrontal sinus was performed. A microbial culture was obtained at the time of surgery, which yie...
Robertson TP, Peroni JF, Lewis SJ, Moore JN.To determine the effects of induction of capacitative Ca2+ entry on tone in equine laminar arteries and veins. Methods: Laminar arteries and veins from 6 adult mixed-breed horses. Methods: Arteries and veins were isolated and mounted on small vessel myographs for the measurement of isometric tension. Capacitative Ca2+ entry was induced by incubating the vessels with the specific Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin (100nM) in a Ca2+-free physiologic salt solution. Capacitative Ca2+ entry-associated contractile responses were determined by the subsequent addition of 2mM Ca2+ to the solution bathi...
