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.
Hurlimann J, Darling H.The synthesis of immunoglobulins by the salivary glands from eight different species was studied. It has been demonstrated that salivary glands from the cow, horse, sheep, pig, rat and guinea-pig preferentially synthesize a fast migrating immunoglobulin which seems to be analogous to IgA. In three of the species, the cow, sheep and pig, the IgA-like component cross-reacts with human IgA. The IgA synthesized by the salivary glands from the rat cross-reacts with the mouse IgA. When one compares the salivary IgA from the cow, horse, sheep, pig and rat with the IgA synthesized by the lymph nodes,...
Hildebrand S.In summary, neuromuscular blocking agents can be used safely and to advantage in equine anesthesia. Muscle-relaxant use in equine anesthesia has been helped by the development of new relaxants such as atracurium, which has a reliable and reproducible duration of action. There are certain cases that benefit particularly by the use of relaxants but their use is not limited to these cases. These cases involve horses that experience persistent movement and hypotension during anesthesia, are undergoing ophthalmic or abdominal surgery or fracture repair, or are severely ill. Horses receiving muscle ...
Hoffman AM, Viel L, Prescott JF.Despite the high incidence of distal respiratory tract infection of undetermined cause on farms, to our knowledge, the microbiologic effects of conventional antimicrobial treatment for this condition have not been studied. We evaluated the possible pathogenic role of bacterial isolates from the distal airways of foals with clinical respiratory tract disease, by correlating changes in their numbers (increase or decrease) with clinical, endoscopic, and pulmonary cytologic signs of disease resolution during treatment with antimicrobial drugs. We also determined qualitative changes in in vitro ant...
van Suntum M, Hartung K.Subchondral bone cysts or cyst like lesions are an important hint in the radiographic diagnosis of degenerative joint disease. In this study we set artificial lesions of different size in the subchondral bone of different joint surfaces of horses, and we then tried to determine from which size on these lesions could be made visible on radiographs in different projections. It shows that the possibility of visualization of such lesions is frequently overestimated, cyst like lesions have to be quite large, before they can be seen on routine radiographs.
Dordel HJ.Since November 1973 a riding course has been carried out with six blind adults. Due to the instructional methods the participants were able to ride independently, without an attendant, after only 30 hours. The effects of riding on the blind encompass coordination training and development of muscle strength. Furthermore, riding has a pronounced influence on the circulatory system. This attractive reaction activity provides the person who, as a result of his specific handicapping condition is limited in both the spatial and social fields, with an expansion of his living space and sphere of exper...
Boersema JH.A horse with foot-mange failed to recover following a number of courses of treatment with coumaphos. Mites isolated from this horse were tested in vitro for their sensitivity to coumaphos and lindane. The mites were resistant to coumaphos and sensitive to lindane. Following treatment with lindane, the horse recovered within four weeks.
Proudman C, Pinchbeck G, Clegg P, French N.As in other competitive sports, the famous Grand National steeplechase, which is held at Aintree in the United Kingdom and is watched by 600 million people worldwide, sometimes results in injury. By analysing data from the past 15 Grand National races (consisting of 560 starts by horses), we are able to identify several factors that are significantly associated with failure to complete the race: no previous experience of the course and its unique obstacles, unfavourable ground conditions (too soft or too hard), a large number of runners, and the length of the odds ('starting price'). We also f...
Silva ESM, Newcombe JR, Cuervo-Arango J.Oestrogens treatment is often used to induce oestrus behaviour in anoestrous mares to aid in the collection of stallion semen and as recipient mares to receive embryos when combined with progesterone. However, there are no studies to describe the effect of dose and individual mare on the intensity and duration of the response, in both anoestrous and cyclic mares. In Experiment 1, 13 anoestrous mares were treated with one of five doses of oestradiol benzoate (OB) (1, 1.5, 2, 3 and 4 mg) per mare in five consecutive treatment periods (n = 65), to determine the response in terms of endometrial oe...
Herholz C, Zink N, Laska H, Gumpendobler M, Trolliet C, Probst S.Horse feed material of Swiss and foreign production available on the Swiss market was tested with regard to possible contamination with 7 different alkaloids, atropine and colchicine. Twenty-eight feed samples as well as 2 poppy seed samples were analyzed. Out of 28 feed samples 18 were positive for prohibited substances in Equestrian sports. The concentration of prohibited substances was in none of the samples high enough to cause an effect on the body of the horse. The poppy seed sample, which was obtained by conventional harvesting and cleaning methods, contained a very high Morphine concen...
Frankeny RL, Johnson PJ, Messer NT, Keegan KG, Corwin LA.A 7-month-old Appaloosa foal had bilateral hind limb lameness and was unable to rise from recumbency without assistance. Lameness could be exacerbated by tarsal flexion and a firm swelling at the distomedial aspect of the tibias was associated with a marked pain response when palpated. Radiography revealed enlargement of the distal tibial metaphysis physis (compared with normal), and radiolucent fissure lines extending proximally from the physis into the metaphysis at its medial aspect. Treatment included rest and dietary adjustment. Although clinical signs initially resolved following treatme...
Rapp HJ.During the combination of oral and intravenous application of saline solution for treatment of the COPD of horses the level of hydraemia basing on the total protein concentration in the serum, the urine production and the specific weight of urine was determined. Additionally the development of serum concentration and of renal excretion rates of potassium, calcium and magnesium were ascertained. The level of hydraemia resulting from the combined method is almost identical with the solely intravenous performed hyperinfusion therapy. Due to the excessive application of fluid an extremely high lev...
Freeman DE.Wounds of the esophagus and trachea are uncommon, but closed wounds can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Esophageal wounds are the more serious and can be life-threatening; however, appropriate surgical and medical treatment applied without delay can be successful in some cases, especially in full-thickness longitudinal wounds. Tracheal wounds are usually less severe, but the high risk of iatrogenic injuries to the trachea should be recognized. Also, tracheal injuries can limit the athletic potential of a horse.
