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.
Willett K, Blackmore DJ.A method is described for the measurement of haptoglobin in equine serum using the peroxidase activity of the haemoglobin-haptoglobin complex. The problems of interference with Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions are described. Normal values for haptoglobin in 629 blood samples from thoroughbreds in training are presented showing a log normal distribution with a 5 per cent to 95 per cent range of 0.42 to 1.7 g/litre. There was no consistent alteration in haptoglobin concentration throughout the season in spite of a change in red cell size and total bilirubin concentration. It is concluded that the measurement ...
Clayton HM, Duncan JL.Following infection with 8000 Parascaris equorum eggs in two- to four-week-old foals reared under worm-free conditions a high percentage of the infective dose completed its tissue migration and returned to the small intestine. Patent infections were establisehd between 81 and 104 days after infection and high faecal egg counts were recorded. A group of six- to 12-month-old foals, which had been either reared under worm-free conditions or exposed to natural ascarid and strongyle infections on pasture, received a similar infection of 8000 P equorum eggs. Compared with the younger foals there was...
Leid RW.The investigation of the mast cell-basophil products has progressed from studies directed solely at implicating histamine or serotonin in allergic diseases to molecular definitions of pathways to target cell activation and mediator release. In addition, within the last several years the detection and molecular characterization of the many other mediators of immediate hypersensitivity have begun. This area should continue to prove a fruitful arena in the future. Identification of the physiologic importance of these mediators in the heaves syndrome or other potential equine allergic syndromes ma...
Willoughby RA, McDonell WN.Pulmonary function tests in horses are in the early stages of development and there will be a limit in the range of tests available since those requiring patient cooperation cannot be conducted in animals. Some tests such as blood gas analysis, A-aDo2 and delta Ppl measurements could presently be used to a greater extent under field conditions. Others that require expensive equipment and considerable technical assistance will be limited to the larger referral type veterinary clinics until the time is reached when there is adequate information to select those procedures that give a reasonable c...
Buntain B, Greig WA, Thompson H.The clinical and pathological features of a case of chronic nephritis in a 17-year-old pony was described. Measurement of fluid intake and laboratory analysis of sequential blood and urine samples helped in establishing an accurate diagnosis. The case demonstrates that although chronic renal disease is not well documented in the horse it should nevertheless be considered in the differential diagnosis of conditions characterised by progressive loss of weight.
Buntain B, Greig WA, Thompson H.The clinical and pathological features of a case of chronic nephritis in a 17-year-old pony was described. Measurement of fluid intake and laboratory analysis of sequential blood and urine samples helped in establishing an accurate diagnosis. The case demonstrates that although chronic renal disease is not well documented in the horse it should nevertheless be considered in the differential diagnosis of conditions characterised by progressive loss of weight.
Cox JE, Edwards GB, Neal PA.The authors analyse data collected over 23 years from 500 cryptorchid horses. They show that left- and right-sided abdominal cases occur with approximately equal frequency in ponies. Approximately half the right-sided unilateral abdominal cases have the epididymal tail descended while only 20 per cent of the left-sided cases do. These findings are briefly discussed. From their analysis of inguinal cryptorchidism the authors conclude that it is a relatively more complex phenomenon with incidence changing with age as well as breed. Right-sided retention predominates in young ponies, probably bei...
Funkquist B, Obel N.Three horses with a chronic wound on the distal part of a leg were treated successfully by grafting. Small split skin grafts were fixed onto pieces of adhesive tape. The tape pieces were spread over and fixed to the granulation surface with stainless steel staples. A tight pressure bandage including strongly compressed cellular rubber was then applied over the wound. The combination of staple fixation and strong pressure proved effective in immobilising the skin graft. It was stressed that a firm covering of granulation tissue was a prerequisite for success and therefore the technique should n...
Ray AC, Tamulinas SH, Reagor JC.Experimental animals (rabbit, rat, goat, sheep, and pony) were given cantharidin or dried preparations of blister beetles (Epicauta lemniscata) to stimulate naturally occurring toxicosis in which beetles were ingested with alfalfa hay. A sensitive high-pressure liquid chromatographic method, involving derivatization of cantharidin with p-nitrobenzyloxyamine, was developed to detect the toxin extracts of ingesta, fluids, and tissues from these severely poisoned animals. Urine and ingesta from the upper portion of the gastrointestinal tract, containing from 1 to 20 ppm of cantharidin, were the m...
White NA, Blackwell RB, Hoffman PE.Salter-Harris type II proximal tibial fractures were repaired in two 1-month-old foals, using a dynamic compression plate. The plate was placed on the medial aspect of the tibia, and a single cancellous bone screw was used to reduce the proximal fragment displacement. The plate provided fixation during healing and functioned as a transphyseal bridge, which induced a disparity in growth and corrected a slight lateral angulation of the limb. Limb growth after plate removal was normal.
Modransky P, Welker B, Ryan J.A fourth tarsal bone fracture was treated conservatively in an adult draft horse. Seven months after the injury, the horse had no evidence of lameness and was able to compete in athletic events. It has been suggested that conservative management of these fractures be considered for brood animals or animals used for less strenuous activities. The outcome of this case suggests that fourth tarsal bone fractures can be successfully treated in athletic animals with conservative management.
Reed SM.Trauma to the nervous system in horses may involve the brain, brainstem, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves. Trauma may occur to any part of the nervous system with or without a fracture.
Smyth DA, Baptiste KE, Cruz AM, Naylor JM.A 6-year-old, 420-kg quarter horse gelding was presented with a 2-month history of difficulty swallowing and dyspnea. The horse was diagnosed with a right guttural pouch empyema with many large chondroids. Two surgeries were required to completely remove all the chondroids from what proved to be a primary distension of the guttural pouch lateral compartment.
Ihrke PJ, Wong A, Stannard AA, Vivrette SL.The fungal flora of the hair and underlying skin from 2 sites was examined qualitatively in 20 horses free of skin or ocular disease. Fungi were isolated from both the hair and the underlying skin of all 20 horses. Twenty-two genera regarded commonly as saprophytes were identified and an additional 2 fungi resembled the perfect state of the cutaneous pathogenic genera Microsporum and Trichophyton. Cladosporium spp, Penicillium spp, and Rhizopus spp were the most frequently isolated saprophytes. In general, similar fungi were isolated from the hair and underlying skin, and differences were not ...
Hallebeek JM, van 't Klooster AT, Beynen AC.In various situations it is desirable to evaluate the diet of horses. Such situations occur when nutrition is considered as the cause of disease or symptoms or and when a diet or diet change raises concern about whether the animal is receiving sufficient nutrients. Ration evaluation consists of translating feed ingredients into nutrients supplied and comparing this with nutrient requirements. The basics of ration evaluation are illustrated by means of four examples of horse diets.
Kauffman VG, Soma L, Divers TJ, Perkons SZ.To provide long-term sedation, a horse was given fluphenazine decanoate, a human antipsychotic drug. The horse was progressively agitated and made unusual repetitive motions. Sedation with barbiturates was an effective treatment. This case is not unusual, and the use of fluphenazine by veterinarians in horses as a mild long-acting tranquilizer is not uncommon.