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.
Hubbert WR.1. Better results in the production of diphtheria antitoxin can be obtained with greater experience in the selection of the most suitable type of horses to be used. Young animals are usually to be preferred. Over one-half of all such horses can be made to yield 300-unit serum, while a third will yield (5)oo-unit serum. 2. High-test horses require a shorter time to immunize and will yield a potent serum for a longer period than will low-test horses. 3. The period of usefulness of an antitoxin horse is short, and on an average endures only a few months. 4. A horse having attained a maximal antit...
McPeek JL, Menarim B, Sponseller B, McClendon M, Adam EN, Adams AA, Slone S, Page AE.Subjective lameness evaluations are critical components of equine musculoskeletal health assessments. Objective approaches can supplement diagnosis and may be preferred for specific cases and scientific purposes. Objective: Evaluate agreements between subjective evaluation of two veterinarians and standard clinical interpretations from outputs of an AI-based smartphone application (Sleip; AI-SPA), the inertial measurement unit (IMU) system Equinosis Q Lameness Locator (LL), and the IMU system Equisym (ES). Methods: In vivo experiment. Methods: Twenty-five research horses (10-30 years) were e...
Saberinia A, Ozmaei S, Anoushepour A.Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by infectious or non-infectious factors. Infectious conjunctivitis comes in two forms: viral and bacterial. Bacterial conjunctivitis is commonly caused by organisms such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, with the severity of the disease influenced by the specific bacterial species involved. Because both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are highly contagious, preventive measures are essential to reduce transmission-especially to the unaffected eye. Objective: To evaluate the tear film osmolality in horses with bacterial conjunctiv...
McCrae P, Spong H, Moorehead J, Pearson W.A smart textile device has been developed for the recording of electrocardiograms (ECGs) in horses; however, the utility of this device for long-duration heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring and detection of physiological arrhythmias is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to validate a smart textile device for HRV over long durations (6 h) in resting horses. ECGs were recorded simultaneously via the Myant Skiin Equine textile device and a reference device (Televet 100) in 12 horses. ECGs were evaluated by a blinded observer for arrhythmias, and HRV metrics were calculated. ...
Stokes C, Natalini CC, Wills R, Eddy A, Mochal-King C, O'Shea C, Fontenot RL.To evaluate the analgesic properties and adverse effects of liposomal bupivacaine administered via caudal epidural in horses. Methods: Pharmacodynamic study. Methods: A total of 10 healthy adult horses. Methods: Liposomal bupivacaine (10 mL; 1.3%) was administered into the caudal epidural space via an indwelling epidural catheter inserted to a length of 15 cm. Mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) testing with pressure algometry was used to measure analgesia at four anatomic locations for 72 h following injection. Physical examinations (including rectal temperature, heart rate, respirat...
Lepage H, de Chaisemartin C, Spadaro Rosselo A, Leroy H, Lepage O.To describe and report clinical outcomes after transcutaneous guttural pouch (GP) catheterization (TGPC) in standing horses. Methods: Ex vivo study and case series. Methods: One cadaver head, records of 10 normal horses and 14 horses treated with TGPC. Methods: Relevant anatomical landmarks were determined through dissection of one cadaveric specimen and 10 normal radiographic studies. Records of horses diagnosed with empyema or mycosis and treated with standing TGPC were reviewed for complications that occurred during or after the operation. Results: Ex vivo and radiological studies identifie...
Martin-Pelaez S, Orsolini M, Verstraete M, de la Fuente A, Takahashi K, Meyers S, Dini P.Equine in vitro embryo production (IVP) offers a valuable opportunity to enhance the efficient utilization of genetically and economically valuable horses. In cases of subfertility, sudden death, emergency euthanasia, or limited sperm availability, IVP becomes the only viable option to produce offspring. Due to steadily improving success rates, IVP has become one of the most sought-after assisted reproductive techniques. The rising global demand has created a clear need for veterinarians and stallion owners to provide IVP-suitable sperm, where the selection of intact sperm for intracytoplasmic...
Melanie Catanchin CS, Bell J, Labens R, Quinn CT.Detomidine hydrochloride is an alpha adrenoceptor agonist that is commonly used in equine practice to provide sedation and analgesia for horses undergoing standing procedures. Reported effects following intravenous administration of detomidine in horses include bradycardia, bradyarrhythmias, transient hypertension, sweating, piloerection and dose-dependent sedation, ataxia and analgesia. This case report describes a novel response characterised by tachycardia and profound muscle tremors following the administration of intravenous detomidine to a horse undergoing a standing procedure.
Varandas M, Lozano J, Agrícola R, Gomes L, Rosa T, Magalhães M, Lamas L, Rinaldi L, Oliveira M, Paz-Silva A, Madeira de Carvalho L.The diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) strongyle infections in equids is still mainly performed using quantitative coprological techniques, like the McMaster (McM), but more sensitive and precise techniques, like FLOTAC (FL) and Mini-FLOTAC (MF), have been proposed over the past 20 years. The present study aimed to compare the analytical performance of these three methods in the diagnosis of strongyle infections in horses. Between October 2023 and June 2024, 32 fecal samples were processed using the McM, FL and MF techniques to identify strongyles' eggs, estimate their shedding (eggs per gram ...
Tainturier D, Tainturier B, Michaud S, Briand-Amirat L, Topie E, Moreno D.A total of 147 mares of different breeds (110 were sport or race horses, often very valuable) have been monitored over 5 years from 2012 to 2016. When at or near term, the mares were monitored in order to induce foaling, by checking the mammary development by palpation, analysing the colour and consistency of the precolostrum, estimating the calcium and antibodies concentrations in the precolostrum and by measuring the plasmatic progestagens concentration every day at 6 p.m. At the end of gestation, it has been observed that the progestagens rate levelled off (the top concentration varies from...
Derar D, Ali A, Al-Sobayil F, Refaai W.Granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) represent the most common ovarian neoplasms in mares, yet data on their epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical outcomes in Arabian horses are limited. Understanding their prevalence and diagnostic features is crucial for improving fertility management in this breed. Unassigned: Clinical records from 807 Arabian mares housed on 35 stud farms in central Saudi Arabia were retrospectively reviewed to determine the prevalence of GCT and potential risk factors, including age, parity, and anabolic steroid use. Twenty-four confirmed cases were further investigated using ...
Jonkhart M, Serra Bragança FM, Smit IH, Brommer H, Suskens JJM.Flexion tests are commonly used in equine locomotion examinations to identify underlying locomotor issues, yet their neuromuscular effects remain poorly understood. Response variability raises concerns about their clinical value in lameness assessments and pre-purchase evaluations. Objective: Primarily, to investigate the effect of full-limb flexion tests on static (flexed position) and dynamic (subsequent trot-up) muscle activity. Secondarily, to assess their effect on locomotion asymmetry during trotting. Methods: In vivo experiments. Methods: Sixteen warmblood horses were randomly assigned ...
Honnas DH, Fiske-Jackson AR, Fulkerson CV, Wilhite DR.An injury of a tendon or ligament of the equine foot is frequently a cause of lameness. The optimal radiographic projections delineating the entheses of five commonly injured tendons and ligaments of the foot should be described. Methods: The entheses of the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint, the collateral sesamoidean ligaments of the navicular bone, the deep digital flexor tendon, the common digital extensor tendon and the distal sesamoidean impar ligament were isolated from a thoracic foot of three cadavers. Three standard radiographic projections (60-degree, dorsopro...
Willems T, Dias ABM, Dedecker L, Matamalas SS, De Lange L, de Beauregard T.Nephrosplenic space entrapment (NSE) has reported recurrence rates of 8%‒23%, and closure of the nephrosplenic space (NSS) has been shown to lower the incidence. Described techniques for nephrosplenic space closure (NSC) with concurrent left dorsal displacement (LDD) of the colon at the time of surgery consist of reducing the displaced colon prior to closure. Methods: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the medical records of horse undergoing NSC between 2017 and 2024. A total of 18 horses with LDD at time of NSC and 21 without displacement at time of NSC were evaluated. Short- a...
Curry O, Everett A, Pearson G, Dwyer C, Duncan J.Despite the availability of several equine pain assessment tools, their use in equine veterinary practice appears limited compared to small animal practice. This study explores potential barriers to equine pain assessment, as reported by staff at a single UK equine teaching hospital. Methods: Nine hospital staff members were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Key themes were identified through reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Participants acknowledged the importance of pain assessment, yet highlighted limitations in current methods and their inconsistent use. Key challenges inc...
White J, Thompson K, van den Berg D, O'Neill G, Mendez DH, Talwar J, Degeling C, Forsythe R, Durrheim DN.With more than 60% of emerging infectious diseases being zoonotic, we apply a One Health lens that connects human, animal, and environmental dimensions of the response to a Hendra virus (HeV) event. One Health promotes collaboration among health professionals, veterinarians, environmental scientists, and policymakers to strengthen health infrastructure and improve responses to complex health threats. HeV is an uncommon high-consequence and potentially fatal zoonotic disease endemic to parts of Australia. Previous research has largely focused on the uptake of preparedness measures by veterinari...
Frey K, Perlini M, Reed R.Intravenous (IV) contrast administration during computed tomography (CT) of the equine head is routinely performed to delineate the extent of disease and differentiate between vascular and nonvascular tissue. Current equine scan protocols are extrapolated from human and canine studies. There have been no prospective equine studies describing the optimal time to image the patient after administration of contrast or the optimal site of contrast administration. Therefore, the current postcontrast times to scan and sites of contrast administration may not be appropriate for use in horses. The obje...
Southwood LL, Long A, Perez J, Daniel S, Bittinger K, Aitken M, Redding L.Based on human studies, surgical antimicrobial (AMD) prophylaxis (SAP) beyond 24 h is unnecessary and potentially detrimental. Objective: To compare clinical and microbiological outcomes in patients receiving 24- or 72-h of SAP for colic surgery. Methods: Prospective randomised clinical trial. Methods: Horses that recovered from colic surgery were considered. Exclusion criteria were (1) age <2 years; (2) Miniature Horses, pony, and draught breeds; (3) azotaemia; (4) recent hospitalisation, colic surgery, or AMDs; (5) local AMD administration. Eligible horses were randomly assigned to recei...
van den Broek M, Chan ZYS, De Bruyne C, Garcia-Alamo K, Skotarek Loch S, Pfau T.Increased risk of musculoskeletal injury in galloping racehorses has been linked to decreased stride length and reduced speed over consecutive races prior to the injury. As racetrack curvature influences horses' maximal speed, we hypothesized it also affects stride parameters. During training sessions, twenty-eight wagon-pulling Thoroughbred Chuckwagon horses were equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) loggers, allowing for identification of speed, stride length (SL) and stride frequency (SF), and average speed, SL and SF were calculated for consecutive 100 m sections. Effects...
Bolesławska-Szubartowska J, Kucharczuk M, Skrabska A, Zbysław A, Adamowicz J, Alszko A, Domagalska-Stomska K, Durska M, Dziekcierów A....Pain after giving birth is commonly observed in horses, yet there has not been a specific tool developed for assessing this pain in postpartum mares. The goal was to adapt existing equine pain scales and to preliminarily validate a practical pain scale for use by veterinarians and caregivers after foaling. Methods: The pain scale was developed by adapting items from other pain scales, including established orthopedic and colic equine pain scales, and incorporating caregiver feedback. The final scale includes eight areas for assessing pain: behavior, facial expressions, vital signs, udder exami...
Dantas FTDR, Canisso IF, Feijó LS, de Vasconcelos PMF, Campos ML, Ulanov AV, Li Z, Pizzi GLBL, Nogueira CEW, Curcio BR.Doxycycline is widely used in equine medicine, yet data on its pharmacokinetics and safety during late gestation are scarce. We investigated the pharmacokinetics, fetoplacental diffusion, and safety of compounded oral doxycycline in late-term pregnant mares. In the first experiment, six mares at 300 days of gestation received a single oral dose (10 mg/kg), and plasma concentrations were measured using LC-MS/MS. Pharmacokinetic analysis using non-compartmental and compartmental models showed rapid absorption, with a mean Cmax of about 6000 ng/mL reached within 0.8 h and a terminal half-life ...
Hargitaiova K, Maleas G.To describe outcomes following high-metacarpal deep digital flexor tenotomy (DDFT) combined with Steward clog application in horses and ponies with refractory chronic laminitis. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Methods: Client-owned horses and ponies (7 horses, 8 ponies) with severe refractory laminitis. Methods: Medical records (2018-2019) were reviewed. All underwent standing high-metacarpal DDFT tenotomy proximal to the accessory ligament (AL-DDFT) junction, followed by customized Steward clogs application. Preoperative assessment included radiography and venography. Postoperativ...
A Quarter Horse mare was presented with a history of imidocarb intoxication. During the initial evaluation, the patient presented an initial episode of syncope, in addition to a Grade III/IV diastolic murmur. On the basis of the observed condition, the animal underwent echocardiographic evaluation, in which artifacts were detected and subsequently characterized as air bubbles, restricted to the right cardiac chambers. A diagnosis of venous air embolism resulting from right jugular venocatheterization was made. This is the first reported case of venous air embolism secondary to jugular venocath...
Corrigan RH, Pierard M, Davies E, Marlin D, Evans S, Williams JM.Human-horse relationships encompass diverse roles, from companion to competition partner. The impact of such bonds informs owner decision-making regarding horse management and veterinary care, yet standardised instruments to measure these unique bonds are limited. Objective: To develop the Human-Equine Attachment Scale (HEAS), a novel instrument to measure the multi-faceted dimensions of human-horse attachment. Methods: Cross-sectional design using a self-administered psychometric instrument. Methods: Initial items were developed through a systematic review of human and animal attachment resea...
Dobbs EC, Acutt EV, Scharf AM, Manzi TJ, Stefanovski D, Bills KW.To investigate the effects of varied feed consistency and administration of xylazine or N-butylscopolammonium bromide on 3 phases of swallowing and characterize esophageal motility following barium administration via nasoesophageal tube. Unassigned: 8 healthy horses were enrolled for 2.5 consecutive weeks. Horses underwent experimental videofluoroscopic swallow studies before and after sedated and anticholinergic interventions. Esophageal motility was assessed with barium administered via nasoesophageal tube and with barium-admixed feedstuffs of 3 consistencies with increasing viscosity. Phase...
Leibeck R, Lehman J, Birmingham S.Whole-body vibrational therapy (WBV) is well-studied in people, but there is a paucity of research regarding its effect on horses. It is suggested that the use of WBV in horses increases performance, aids in recovery, and stimulates nerves, bones, and muscles in ways that normal exercise does not. Objective: The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if frequent WBV therapy sessions affect mechanical nociceptive thresholds based on pressure algometry in horses without clinical signs of lameness or back pain. Methods: The mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) were measured for 5 horses...
Hiblu MA, Ahmed MO.This case report documents the first identified Brucella infection in a 6-year-old male Thoroughbred horse in Libya. The horse exhibited muscle and joint pain, inflammation over the shoulders with a pulpy texture (fistulous withers), stress, fatigue, and potential systemic infection. Its diagnosis was confirmed through serological testing, with agglutination titers of 1/80 for B. melitensis and 1/160 for B. abortus, and a blood culture revealing Gram-negative coccobacilli. After 3 weeks of combination therapy with rifampicin and doxycycline, the inflammation resolved, systemic signs disappeare...
Briefer-Freymond S, Dalla Costa E, Jolivald A, Bruckmaier RM, Atallah E, Giorgia Riva M, Ijichi C.Personality affects both experience and expression of pain and the welfare impact of castration on horses is poorly understood. Therefore, the current study observed 19 horses to determine: the welfare impact of standard castration on horses; whether individuals consistently vary in their behavioural and emotional responses to pain; the influence of personality on behavioural and physiological responses to pain; whether Horse Grimace Scale (HGS) indicates how individuals feel about painful experiences. Eye temperature (IRT), salivary cortisol, HGS and a pain ethogram were measured at intervals...
Raftery AG, Gummery L, Garcia K, Mohite D, Capewell P, Sutton D.Equine trypanosomiasis is a neglected protozoal disease. Objective: To answer the study question: In equines what are the effects of disease management of trypanosomiasis on disease severity (individual level) and disease prevalence (population level) compared to no intervention? Methods: Systematic review. Methods: Studies were identified that described management of naturally occurring equine trypanosomiasis in any country following 'Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses' using eight international databases (1980-2022). Risk of bias was assessed using ROBINS-I. D...
Palmisano MG, Tukdarian CR, Hopster K, Nolen-Walston RD.This report describes an 8-day-old foal diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) successfully managed using a novel approach of intratracheal oxygen delivery. Methods: An 8-day-old Standardbred filly presented for an acute onset of respiratory distress. Given the acute onset, known risk factors, bilateral diffuse infiltrate on thoracic radiographs, and low PaO:FiO ratio of 170.5, the foal was diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Initial treatment consisted of antimicrobial therapy (minocycline and metronidazole), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (flunixin meglum...
Strompfová V, Štempelová L, Bujňáková D, Karahutová L, Gondoľová D, Nagyová M, Siegfried L.In order to develop non-antibiotic therapies to treat dermatological diseases it is urgent to spread knowledge on composition and properties of skin bacteria in healthy animals. Since horses are popular companions of humans, it is necessary to know what risk skin bacteria pose to humans. Therefore the aim of this work was to analyse species composition of staphylococci isolated from skin swabs of 50 healthy horses using MALDI-TOF (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight) spectrometry and to characterize their virulence properties. Swabs were collected from five body areas (n...
