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.
Miller RI.Treatment of equine phycomycosis with a vaccine derived from ultrasonicated hyphae of Hyphomyces destruens was attempted in 30 cases of clinical hyphomycosis, 10 cases of hyphomycosis following unsuccessful surgery and 5 cases of basidiobolomycosis. Approximately 53% of animals with clinical hyphomycosis were cured after vaccination, while a further 33% clinically improved. All horses with hyphomycosis treated within 2 weeks of unsuccessful surgery were cured. There was no response to vaccination with a Hyphomyces preparation in horses with basidiobolomyucosis, while surgery alone resulted in ...
Craig TM, Kunde JM.Ivermectin was injected IM into 12 yearling Shetland ponies. The following reactions in percentages of parasites recovered from ponies given 200 microgram/kg or 300 microgram/kg, as compared with the parasitic population in those given the vehicle at 1 week after injection, were as follows: Otobius megnini nymphs--no reduction; Gasterophilus intestinalis--100% and 99.9%; G nasalis--100% and 99.9%; Parascaris equorum adults--100% and 96%; Strongylus vulgaris adults--100% and 100%; S edentatus adults--100% and 100%; cyathostome adults of the genera Gyalocephalus, Cylicocyclus, Cyathostomum, Cyli...
Trout DR, Lohse CL.A foal with a congenital flexure deformity of the right hock was unable to walk because of an abnormally short peroneus tertius (PT) muscle. Tension on the muscle origin and insertions limited the dorsal angle of hock extension to a 70-degrees arc. The intrauterine position of the fetus probably caused the defect. All the PT attachments were dissected in several other limbs, and illustrations made from these dissections were used to study the anatomy and surgical approach. Immediately after resection of the PT muscle, the foal's right hock extended an additional 30 degrees. Two months later, t...
Tennant B, Dill SG, Glickman LT, Mirro EJ, King JM, Polak DM, Smith MC, Kradel DC.From June 1975 through June 1979, acute hemolytic anemia developed in 11 horses from 7 New York farms. Of the 7 horses that died, 6 had methemoglobinemia. In the 4 horses that recovered, methemoglobinemia was not observed. but Heinz body formation was seen in 3 of the 4. On 2 of the premises involved, frank methemoglobinemia was observed concurrently with Heinz body formation, suggesting a relationship between the pathogenesis of methemoglobinemia and Heinz body formation in the hemolytic process. In addition to the 11 cases described, 22 clinically similar cases were reported to us during the...
van der Gaag I, van Bruinessen-Kapsenberg EG, Dik KJ, Kroneman J.A two-month-old female foal with duodenal stenosis is described. The foal was in poor condition and showed an abnormal stable behaviour. She stood preferably with her head stretched out and reposing on the mare's back or on the stable ridge. Salivation was an important symptom. Clinical and radiological examination of the oral cavity, the pharynx, and the oesophagus showed no abnormalities, except for the antiperistaltic wave along the oesophagus. Because of her bad condition the filly was euthanized. At post mortem examination, apart from leukoplakia, an erosive ulcerative inflammation was fo...
Shull RM.Hemolytic or blood loss anemia was induce in six ponies and red blood cell concentrations of creatine, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were measured during the ensuing regenerative period. Creatine and G-6-PD levels correlated well and increased concentration of either was good indication of increased erythrogenesis. Erythrocyte LDH levels were of value in assessing the response to hemolytic anemia but not to blood loss anemia. The difference may be, at least in part, the result of differing degrees of regenerative effor...
Attenburrow DP, James ED.URINARY incontinence has been reported in mares suffering
from equid herpesvirus infection (Greenwood and Simson 1980)
and in a foal (Ordidge 1976). Observations on a pony mare (122
cm high) which showed gross urinary incontinence after the
onset of a severe respiratory disorder are described here.
Guay P, Rondeau M, Boucher S.The effect of different glycerol concentrations (0 to 5.3 per cent) on motility, viability and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) release of stallion spermatozoa was studied before and after deep-freezing. Addition of glycerol to a TRIS-fructose-egg yolk diluent used to extend stallion semen had no effect on motility and viability of spermatozoa and it did not increase AST release. Inclusion of glycerol in the extender only partially preserved the motility and viability of stallion semen during deep-freezing. A fertility trial revealed that concentrating stallion semen by centrifugation, followe...
Blue MG, Wittkopp RW.Enteroliths were obtained by laparotomy or necropsy of 11 horses, and a collection of smaller concretions was found on pasture. Following analysis by energy-dispersion x-ray analysis and x-ray diffraction, they were found to consist primarily of ammonium magnesium phosphate. Several minor elements were detected, including titanium in some concretions. From a farm with a history of enterolith obstructions, the well water contained a high proportion of magnesium in relation to the other cations.
Sainsbury DW.The physiological requirements of the horse appear to be reasonably well established and should be adequately provided by ventilation based on straightforward principles, relying largely on natural air flow. On the other hand, there are few objective values for ventilation required to promote good health or alleviate equine respiratory disease. In the absence of such knowledge it is only possible to rely on a logical application of sound principles and experience. Both indicate the satisfactory nature of ventilation by stack effect, aspiration and perflation. Buildings should be well insulated...
Goldstein MA, Schwark WS, Short CE, White KK.Depression of the cardiopulmonary system of the horse during anesthesia is not an uncommon event. In many situations simple approaches for improving the function of the horse are necessary to avoid loss of life. This study has been completed utilizing an anesthetic approach frequently used in horses and a cardioresuscitative technique which can be utilized by the practicing veterinarian. Severe depression to arrest were produced experimentally and each animal was resuscitated through support of ventilation and circulation.
Hendrix SM, Baxter GM.Most injuries, including those with significant tissue loss, can be successfully managed with proper therapy. With delayed healing, potential causes for the delay, such as sequestra, foreign bodies, and excessive motion,should be determined and treated to permit complete wound resolution. Horses have the innate ability to heal rapidly; however, minor injuries can quickly turn into complicated wounds, given the severity of the inciting trauma and the less than ideal environment in which the horses are housed. Wound management must focus on a combination of timely surgical and medical interventi...
Schüle E.Because of the growing interest in animal health and welfare in breeding and sport--specially in the horse--the regulation of the German Riding Association (FN) was updated. The result--the LPO 2000--refer more functions to the veterinarian. At first the permanent presence of the vet is necessary, at second he controls the correct, new installed vaccination against influenza-virus. The functions of vet-check, general horse-control and doping are wide up in number and consultation. For this the veterinarian must decree about much experience and good preparation. The organisations of the veterin...
Dart A, Perkins N, Dowling , Batterham T, Livingston C, Hodgson D.To evaluate the effects of three different doses of sodium pentosan polysulphate (PPS) on haematological and haemostatic variables in adult horses. Methods: Eight adult standardbred horses were used. All horses received a single injection of 0, 3, 6, and 10 mg/kg of PPS at the beginning of each treatment week for 4 weeks so that by the end of the study all horses had received all four doses of PPS. Blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 168 h after each weekly injection of PPS. Variables measured were packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell count, mean cor...
Nixon AJ, Spencer CP.Techniques and normal radiographic anatomy for positive and double contrast shoulder arthrography in horses were evaluated. General anaesthesia was used for most radiographic projections of the shoulder. The mediolateral projection provided the most information during arthrography, although the supinated mediolateral view occasionally allowed better definition of the cartilage surfaces on the medial aspects of the humeral head. The craniocaudal mediolateral oblique and caudocranial projections provided limited additional information. Water soluble non-ionic contrast agents, such as metrizamide...
Bailey JV, Barber SM, Fretz PB, Jacobs KA.The records of 13 horses of various breeds with subluxation of the radiocarpal, intercarpal or carpometacarpal joint, or combinations of these were reviewed. Subluxation was most common at the carpometacarpal joint (n = 10) and concomitant fractures of individual carpal bones or metacarpus II and IV were seen (n = 12).Treatment comprised of immobilization in a full leg plaster cast for from four to 18 weeks. Three animals were euthanized, two because of cast complications and one because of a request by the owner. The remaining ten were saved to function as breeding animals.
Wismann ES, Jacobsen S, Thøfner M, Ladefoged S, Ekstrøm C, Lindegaard C.Outcome after desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (AL-DDFT) to treat flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal joint has been reported to be excellent. However, no studies have compared long-term athletic performance of sport horses exposed to desmotomy of the AL-DDFT to that of matched controls. Objective: The objective of this study is to compare long-term athletic performance in sports horses subjected to desmotomy of the AL-DDFT with the performance of matched controls. Methods: This is an observational multicentre retrospective matched cohort study...