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.
CLARKE EG.This research article explores the topic of doping racehorses, looking at the history of the practice, the reasons for it, various methods used, and the substances utilized. It also presents […]
Larsen EA, Lack AC, Wassack E.The use of poloxamer 407 gels have been reported in several studies to prolong the release of drugs at the injection site. Oral lesions unrelated to dental disease are rare but may result in ulceration and sequestration of bone. To date, there have been no reports on the use of penicillin G potassium poloxamer 407 gel and its effect on wound healing. The present case report describes the use of a penicillin G potassium poloxamer 407 gel for the treatment of a sublingual abscess involving the mandible in a 20 year old Arabian mare who initially presented with acute onset of dysphagia, hypersali...
Bove AA.Myocardial blood flow is the major determinant of oxygen delivery to the myocardium, since oxygen extraction by the myocardium is near maximum in the resting state. Regulation of flow during exercise depends on local metabolic factors and, to a small extent, on autonomic tone. Maximum flow of 5-6 times resting has been measured in reactive hyperemia experiments. In strenuous exercise, myocardial oxygen delivery appears to be adequate and flow reserve seems capable of handling the increased oxygen demand. No evidence of myocardial failure in normal hearts due to excess exercise has been present...
de Brot S, Junge H, Hilbe M.Two horses were presented with non-specific clinical signs of several weeks' duration and were humanely destroyed due to a poor prognosis. At necropsy examination, both horses had multiple small, white nodules replacing pancreatic tissue and involving the serosal surface of the abdominal cavity, the liver and the lung. Microscopically, neoplastic cells were organized in acini and contained abundant (case 1) or sparse (horse 2) intracytoplasmic zymogen granules. Immunohistochemically, both tumours expressed amylase and pan-cytokeratin, but not insulin or neuron-specific enolase. In case 2, a lo...
Reed SA, Streff LN.The field of equine sports medicine and rehabilitation provides a career opportunity for students interested in remaining in the horse industry but not focused on a career as a veterinarian. However, throughout the United States, there are limited educational opportunities for undergraduate students to prepare for this career. The objective of this work was to determine what skills and theoretical knowledge professionals in the equine rehabilitation industry deemed most useful for employment in the equine rehabilitation industry, and, using that information, develop a curriculum to meet these ...
Gandini M, Giusto G.In jejunocaecal anastomosis leaving a necrotic ileal stump has been implicated in complications and poor outcomes. Elective inversion of the necrotic stump using a nasogastric tube has been previously described, although this procedure can be cumbersome and can cause caecocolic orifice occlusion. Objective: To describe the use of a new device for elective inversion of necrotic ileal stumps. Methods: Case report. Methods: Details of the four horses that underwent intestinal resection and anastomosis with elective inversion of the ileal stump were retrieved from their medical records. For each c...
Martin KH, Redding LE, Boyle AG.Although equine strangles is reportable in all states, synchronous reporting of this disease does not occur across the country. States have variable regulations on reporting (actionable, notifiable, and monitored) and no mandatory comprehensive databases exist for tracking prevalence. In this study, which is a companion to our recent publication on veterinarians' opinions on this topic, we solicited equine affiliates' (including horse owners, horse business owners/trainers, breeders, and barn managers) opinions on reporting of strangles and factors influencing their opinion. A total of 518 equ...
Mueller C, Sroka L, Hass ML, Aboling S, These A, Vervuert I.Extensively used grasslands are frequently utilised for hay production for equines. Especially, extensive meadows have a great variety of plant species, which may include plants that are poisonous for equines such as meadow saffron (Colchicum autumnale L.). To authors' knowledge investigations about horses` avoidance behaviour towards dried meadow saffron in hay are missing. Reports of farmers are contrary to clinical symptoms described in case reports and associated with meadow saffron in hay. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the rejection behaviour of horses for hay contamin...
The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of an equine pericardial patch for repairing full-thickness defects of the stomach wall. Methods: Circular defects, 1.5 cm in diameter, were created on the anterior wall of the stomach of 12 female New Zealand rabbits. The defects were repaired by an equine pericardial patch. After euthanasia at different time intervals (3 days to 8 weeks) a macroscopic evaluation of the abdominal cavity (including adhesion scoring), mechanical testing and a histological examination of the stomach were performed. Results: The animals survived the surgical pr...
Ledbetter EC, Irby NL, Teixeira LBC.To describe the in vivo confocal microscopy features of horses with epithelial and subepithelial nonulcerative keratomycosis. Methods: Four horses with a clinical diagnosis of epithelial or subepithelial keratomycosis. Methods: Horses were examined on one or more occasions by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy of the cornea. Confocal microscopic examination characteristics were correlated with clinical, cytological, and histopathological findings for the horses. Results: All horses had an irregular corneal epithelial surface during slit-lamp biomicroscopy examination. Epithelial or s...
Honnas CM, Zamos DT, Ford TS.An arthroscopic procedure for examination of the coxofemoral joint was developed in nine foals (four cadavers, five anesthetized) to determine if access was sufficient for evaluation and surgical treatment of intra-articular lesions. The joint was distended and the arthroscope inserted through the notch (incisura trochanterica) between the cranial and caudal parts of the greater trochanter. This portal allowed examination of the cranial, lateral, and caudal aspects of the joint. Mechanical distraction of the joint through an instrument portal located 2 to 4 cm cranial and 1 to 2 cm ventral to ...
Ferreira JF, Albuquerque ALH, Amorim RM, Ferreira RS, Takahira RK, Borges AS, Oliveira-Filho JP.In this retrospective study, clinical records of nine horses with a diagnosis of Bothrops envenomation were investigated. The accidents were classified as severe (5/9), moderate (2/9), or mild (2/9) according to the adapted bothropic snakebite severity score (BSSS). All snakebites were on the head region. The main clinical signs were local edema, blood coagulation disorders, and respiratory distress. The whole-blood clotting time (WBCT) was prolonged in all horses, and five horses presented with uncoagulable blood. All horses received specific snake antivenom according to the BSSS (six vials f...
Webel SK, Squires EL.The clinical effectiveness of the synthetic progestagen, altrenogest, was evaluated in field trials with 449 mares during the 1980 breeding season. An oral dose of 27 mg altrenogest was administered daily for 15 days. In the first trial treated mares were compared with controls, and in the second trial the effectiveness of treatment for prolonged or erratic spring oestrus was evaluated. Oestrus was suppressed in 94% of the treated mares in the first trial. The post-treatment response was related to the stage during the transition from winter anoestrus to the spring breeding season and degree o...
Grulke S, Gangl M, Deby-Dupont G, Caudron I, Deby C, Serteyn D.Gastrointestinal disorders in horses leading to endotoxic shock could have further consequences on other splanchnic organs such as the pancreas, as can be seen in humans suffering from septic shock. In this study, the range of enzymatically active trypsin (EAT) in healthy horses was established and is similar to the range observed in healthy humans. EAT values were determined in horses with acute abdominal crises on admission as well as during anaesthesia and in the postoperative phase. A significant increase in plasma EAT was found in 59% of the horses with surgical colic when compared to our...
Jarry J, De Raeve Y, Dugdale A, Simon V, Vandeweerd JM.Severe ophthalmic conditions such as trauma, uveitis, corneal damage, or neoplasia can lead to eye removal surgery. Poor cosmetic appearance resulting from the sunken orbit ensues. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of manufacturing a custom-made 3D-printed orbital implant made of biocompatible material for the enucleated horse and usable in conjunction to a corneoscleral shell. Blender, a 3D-image software, was used for prototype design. Twelve cadaver heads of adult Warmbloods were collected from the slaughterhouse. On each head, one eye was removed via a modified trans...
Hunt S, Kuo J, Aristizabal FA, Brown M, Patwardhan A, Hedman T.The mechanical properties of the soft palate can be associated with breathing abnormalities. Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) is a naturally occurring equine soft palate disorder caused by displacement of the caudal edge of the soft palate. Snoring and a more serious, sometimes life-threatening, condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are forms of sleep-related breathing disorders in humans which may involve the soft palate. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of injecting the protein crosslinker genipin into the soft palate to modify its mechanical propert...
Neil KM, Axon JE, Begg AP, Todhunter PG, Adams PL, Fine AE, Caron JP, Adkins AR.To determine the clinical characteristics, short-term outcome and future athletic performance of foals with septic osteomyelitis. Methods: Retrospective clinical study of 108 Thoroughbred foals with radiographic evidence of bone infection that were presented at the Scone Veterinary Hospital between August 1995 and December 2001. Medical records were reviewed and information concerning signalment, the clinical, laboratory and radiographic findings, treatment and outcome was obtained. Racing records were obtained and evaluated for surviving foals that had reached racing age. Results: Mean age of...
Devick IF, Hendrickson DA.There is risk of dropping an amputated ovary within the abdomen during standing laparoscopic ovariectomies in mares. If the ovary can no longer be directly visualized with the laparoscope, the procedure is then converted to a flank laparotomy for manual retrieval of the ovary which negates the minimally invasive nature of the laparoscopic procedure. The objective was to identify if ovaries left in the abdomen after amputation would atrophy or if they re-vascularize. Standing bilateral ovariectomies were performed in mature mares, but after transection of the ovarian pedicle, the ovaries were i...
Schott HC, Estrada-Coates A, Alva-Trujillo M, Petersen AD, Kinsley MA, Esser MM, Casillas J, Garcia-Seco E, Madariaga-Najera M, Fernando Martínez JA....There is great need for veterinary care for working equids worldwide. Addressing this need provides an opportunity for veterinary students to gain primary care experience. An annual two week collaborative outreach and educational program with Michigan State University (MSU), the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and the Universidad Veracruzana (UV) was developed to provide care for working equids in rural Mexican communities. From 2017 to 2019 24 US veterinary students and 25 Mexican veterinary students, interns and residents examined, vaccinated and dewormed more than 2200 equi...
Haywood L, Spike-Pierce DL, Barr B, Mathys D, Mollenkopf D.Incomplete ossification of the cuboidal bones of the carpus and tarsus in foals has the potential for significant consequences including chronic lameness and decreased athletic ability. Objective: To determine if the degree of ossification of the cuboidal bones is associated with gestational length and if the diagnosis of incomplete ossification is a predictor of performance in Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: The medical records of Thoroughbred foals less than 90 days of age from 1994 to 2011 were examined and records containing tarsal radiographs identif...
Wheat JD, Pascoe JR.Problems involving the management of acute traumatic rupture of the equine suspensory apparatus include loss of blood flow to the foot, proper immobilization, and pressure sores from casts. A technique utilizing a board splinting device attached to the affected limb at the toe and subsequent corrective shoe support provides immobilization, prevents dropping of the fetlock, can be applied to the standing animal, and allows frequent changing of the bandages, if necessary.
Burns JJ, MacMillan KM, John EE.Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most clinically relevant cardiac arrhythmia identified in the Standardbred racehorse. However, there is limited literature regarding athletic ability in Standardbred racehorses following AF conversion. To investigate this issue, the objectives of this review were to: i) determine the success rate in using quinidine sulphate to treat AF in a population of hospitalized equine patients in Atlantic Canada between January 2008 and December 2019; and ii) measure return to athletic ability (using racetrack earnings and top-3 finishes) following cardioversion with quini...
Lyons ET, Drudge JH, Tolliver SC.Two controlled tests (experiments D and E) were done to evaluate a fenbendazole (FBZ) paste dosage regimen (10 mg/kg once a day for 5 days) for activity against naturally occurring infections of migrating Strongylus vulgaris and S edentatus in the mesenteric arteries and ventral abdominal wall, respectively. Data were also obtained on other internal parasites of the gastrointestinal tract and eyes in experiment E. Eight pony yearlings were used in experiment D (4 treated and 4 nontreated) and 6 horse weanlings were used in experiment E (3 treated and 3 nontreated). Intervals, expressed as days...
Galloway SS, Earley ET.Oral extraction has become the most popular extraction technique owing to its high rate of success with minimal major complication. Repulsion continues to produce unacceptably high iatrogenic complication rates. To avoid tooth repulsion, veterinary dentists have introduced procedures to facilitate difficult intraoral extractions and surgical extraction techniques. Minimizing complications is best achieved preoperatively. A comprehensive preoperative evaluation and treatment plan allows the dentist to predict intraoperative complication and prepare for procedures to produce the best outcome. Wi...
Freeman DE, Donawick WJ, Klein LV.The effect of a single ligature on back pressure in the internal carotid artery was studied in nine horses. In six anesthetized horses, one internal carotid artery was catheterized 2 cm from its origin and blood pressure was recorded continuously. Then the artery was ligated, pressure was recorded again, and the horses were euthanatized. In another three anesthetized horses, indwelling catheters were placed in both internal carotid arteries and a loose ligature was placed proximal to one catheter. After horses recovered from anesthesia, the ligature was tied and blood pressure was recorded in ...
Gudev Kh, Kovachev G.Alantoamnion vascularization was studied on clarified preparations from three mares in advanced pregnancy. Two large blood vessels (artery and vein) beginning from the umbilical vessels were found in the alantoamnion wall. Numerous anastomoses were observed at the passage between the arterial and the vein section. The large arteries had a thick, jely-like vascular wall and snake-like folded lumen. In separate sections of the alantoamnion wall a well developed capillary net was observed consisting of individual particles, polygonal in shape. Vast avascular zones surrounded by numerous vascular ...
Graves MT, Anderson DE, DeNovo RC.Large animal teaching hospitals often struggle to maintain consistent teaching caseloads, which are affected by seasonal variations, economic pressures, increased abilities of local large animal practices to hospitalize large animals, and client intolerance for the operational needs of an academic mission. Non-academic large animal practices enjoy a more consistent caseload but suffer from a lack of emergency relief and a limited ability to share emergency duties, which may have adverse effects on work-life balance. An academic, on-farm, large animal emergency relief service can combine multip...
Hinrichs K.A research study is a product of not only a question and its pursuit but also the people, places, and facilities available at the time. My work in equine assisted reproduction has progressed from embryo transfer to oocyte maturation, oocyte transfer, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryo biopsy, embryo vitrification, and cloning, as a result of collaborations with an array of remarkable people. This is a summary of some of the stories behind the studies.
McGavin MD, Fadok VA.Skin biopsy for histologic, immunofluorescent, parasitologic, and bacteriologic examination is a common procedure, but for maximum effectiveness the clinician must realize the importance of precautions to select the correct stage of lesion of different diseases; avoiding creating artifacts during removal and fixation; and give full details of history, clinical diagnosis, and differential diagnoses on the laboratory request sheet. Pathology reports describing the subtleties of histologic changes are difficult to write, particularly if the lesions are not specific. Overly long histologic reports...
Heffron B, Bash J, Larsen AK.The use of alkinizing agents by trainers to counteract the accumulation of lactic acid in racehorses has been well documented. A by-product of this administration is elevated total carbon dioxide (tCO2) concentrations. Most regulatory authorities have set the threshold for tCO2 in plasma at 37 mM. The quantification of tCO2 often presents a challenge to laboratories due to the instrumentation required, which can be expensive to use and maintain. The Beckman DxC 600 (Brea, CA) is currently used in our laboratory for tCO2 quantification. The goal of this research was to determine if another anal...
Snyder JR, Pascoe JR, Hietala SK, Holland M, Baggot DJ.Gentamicin sulfate (2.2 mg/kg of body weight, IV) was given to anesthetized horses. Jejunal and large colon tissue samples (1 g), serum, and urine were collected over a 4-hour period. Maximum gentamicin concentrations in serum (10.06 +/- 2.85 micrograms/ml) occurred at 0.25 hours after injection. Maximum gentamicin concentrations in the large colon (4.13 +/- 1.80 micrograms/ml) and jejunum (2.26 +/- 1.35 micrograms/ml) occurred in horses at 0.5 and 0.33 hours, respectively. Tissue concentrations decreased in parallel with serum concentrations and were still detectable at the end of the 4-hour ...
