Veterinary medicine for horses encompasses the study and application of medical practices to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases in equine species. This field involves a comprehensive understanding of equine anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology. Veterinary practitioners employ a range of diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions to address health issues in horses, including lameness, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory conditions, and infectious diseases. Preventative care, such as vaccination and deworming programs, is also a significant aspect of equine veterinary medicine. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of veterinary medicine as it pertains to horses, including advancements in diagnostic techniques, treatment protocols, and preventive health strategies.
Osborne AC, Carter SD, May SA, Bennett D.An investigation was made into the possible contribution of autoimmune mechanisms to equine arthropathies. Serum and synovial fluid (SF) immune complexes and anti-collagen Type II antibodies were measured, by ELISA, in groups of horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis (OA), osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), bone fracture, traumatised joints, synovitis, infected joints and non-diseased (control) joints. Significantly raised anti-collagen Type II antibodies were found in osteoarthritic (P < 0.02) and traumatised joint synovial fluids (P < 0.01) compared with the control, where ten of...
Campbell AJ, Gasser RB, Chilton NB.In the current study, molecular techniques were evaluated for the species identification of individual strongyle eggs. Adult worms of Strongylus edentatus, S. equinus and S. vulgaris were collected at necropsy from horses from Australia and the U.S.A. Genomic DNA was isolated and a ribosomal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) amplified and sequenced using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The length of the ITS-2 sequence of S. edentatus, S. equinus and S. vulgaris ranged between 217 and 235 nucleotides. Extensive sequence analysis demonstrated a low degree (0-0.9%) of intraspecific variation...
Mueller PO, Hunt RJ, Allen D, Parks AH, Hay WP.The effect of intraperitoneal sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) administration on clinical outcome and survival was evaluated in horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy for acute gastrointestinal disease. Comparison of variables was made retrospectively between 44 horses that had SCMC and 92 horses (controls) not treated with SCMC. Mean age, body weight, heart rate, packed cell volume and plasma total protein of horses at admission, and convalescent period were not significantly different between control and SCMC groups. No significant differences were noted between control horses and SCMC ...
Soraci A, Benoit E, Jaussaud P, Lees P, Delatour P.Carprofen (CPF) enantiomers and their glucuronide conjugates (GLUC) were measured in plasma and bile of horses after IV administration of the racemic compound (0.7 mg/kg of body weight). The CPF was detectable in plasma for up to 72 hours after dosing, whereas GLUC appeared early (time for maximal plasma concentration, 1 hour) and was measurable transiently at low concentration (maximal plasma concentration, 0.5 microgram/ml). The enantiospecific plasma profiles indicated a clear predominance of R-CPF, whereas the stereoselectivity of the glucuronides favored S-GLUC. At 1, 2, and 12 hours afte...
Johansson KE, Pettersson B, Uhlén M, Gunnarsson A, Malmqvist M, Olsson E.Seven Swedish isolates of Ehrlichia species from the blood of four dogs and three horses with clinical granulocytic ehrlichiosis, were identified by direct solid phase DNA sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products from the 16S rRNA gene. The amplified DNA fragments were produced with primers complementary to the universal regions, U1, U2, U5 and U8 of the 16S rRNA molecule. Identical sequences were obtained from all seven isolates. This nucleotide sequence was similar to the sequences deposited in GenBank for Ehrlichia phagocytophila and E equi. The sequence of the Swedish ehrlich...
The Journal of heredityMarch 1, 1995
Volume 86, Issue 2 129-135 doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a111542
Woolf CM.One method of assessing the influence of stochastic events on phenotypic variation is to study morphological differences in paired limbs of the same individual. These limbs have identical genotypes and similar intra-uterine environments and are analogous to monozygotic twins. Common white leg markings have a multifactorial mode of inheritance in the Arabian horse. Asymmetry occurs frequently for these markings. Using computerized registration records obtained from the Arabian Horse Registry of America, Inc., the types of markings were quantified in the left foreleg and left hind leg of bay and...
Causey RC, Paccamonti DL, Todd WJ.A total of 22 clinical streptococcal isolates, predominantly Streptococcus zooepidemicus, associated with endometritis in horses were tested for their ability to withstand the natural bactericidal properties of freshly obtained blood. During a 3-hour incubation in blood from a single horse, 8 of these isolates survived and grew, the remainder were killed. To determine whether this ability to grow extended to blood of other horses, 5 of these growing isolates were tested for their ability to grow in the blood of 5 additional horses. The same 5 horses were used for each isolate. The isolates gre...
Kelley LC, Hill JE, Hafner S, Wortham KJ.Spontaneous equine pulmonary granular cell tumors were diagnosed in six mature horses at slaughter. These tumors were grossly recognized as multiple (5/6) or single (1/6) creamy white, firm nodules. The tumors, located adjacent to bronchi and bronchioles, often invaded airways, resulting in partial to complete occlusion of the lumina. Neoplastic cells were rounded to polyhedral with numerous eosinophilic cytoplasmic granules that reacted uniformly positive with S-100 and neuron-specific enolase antibodies and multifocally with glial fibrillary acidic protein antibodies. These cells were negati...
The Journal of physiologyFebruary 15, 1995
Volume 483 ( Pt 1), Issue Pt 1 201-209 doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1995.sp020578
Hartmann J, Scepek S, Lindau M.1. We have investigated the granule size distributions in human and horse eosinophils by time-resolved patch-clamp capacitance measurements. 2. During exocytosis of single granules the electrical capacitance of the plasma membrane increases in discrete steps. The steps in horse cells are about six times larger than those in human cells in accordance with the difference in granule size. 3. In both species a multimodal capacitance step size distribution is observed with a first peak at 6-7 fF corresponding to granules with a diameter of about 450-500 nm and a surface area of about 0.7 microns2, ...
Breukink HJ, Eysker M.Now and then cases have been reported where horses died suddenly after intravenous application of Ivomec. Lethal anaphylactic reactions in horses are known to occur incidentially after intravenous application of drug dissolved in propyleneglycol or glycerolformol. Since Ivomec is registered for use in cattle, sheep and pig, its use in horses has to be regarded as 'off label use'. It is concluded that in the treatment of inhibited stages of cyathostomes ivermectin has no effect whether or not it is applied intravenously or orally. Since lethal anaphylactic reactions can occur, intravenous appli...
Raidal SL, Love DN, Bailey GD.Confinement of horses with their heads elevated for periods up to 24 hours was used to evaluate the extent and the effects of bacterial contamination of the equine lower respiratory tract. Significant (P < 0.05) increases in bacterial numbers (up to 10(9) colony forming units/mL in transtracheal aspirate derived samples) occurred within 6 or 12 hours in most horses. Pasteurella/Actinobacillus spp and Streptococcus spp were most commonly isolated. Lowering of the head for 30 minutes every 6 hours to facilitate postural drainage did not prevent multiplication of organisms to levels equivalent...
Ladefoged O, Stürup S.A case of copper deficiency or molybdenum toxicosis in cattle, sheep and horses after heavy pollution of a pasture with fly ash is described. If the pastures had not been grazed by cattle and sheep as well as the horses, it would have been difficult to identify the reason for the intoxication in the horses. It is argued that molybdenum intoxication, although seldom seen in non-ruminants, was the cause of the deaths of the horses. It is suggested that the bioavailability of molybdenum in fly ash is high and therefore can cause equine intoxication.
McDowell KJ, Adams MH, Franklin KM, Baker CB.A cDNA library was constructed from poly(A) RNA obtained from Day 14 nonbred equine endometrium. A cDNA probe for porcine retinol-binding protein (RBP) was used to screen the library, and a complete cDNA sequence (1133 bp, excluding the poly(A) tail) was obtained. Endometrial biopsies were obtained from cycling, nonbred mares at Days 0, 1, 4, 8, 10, 11, 13, and 15 and from pregnant mares at Days 11, 13, 15, and 17 after ovulation (n = 2 mares each day). Endometrial biopsies were also taken from 18 noncycling anestrous mares after the following treatments: C (vehicle control for 1 day, n = 3), ...
van der Woerdt A, Gilger BC, Wilkie DA, Strauch SM.Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured, using applanation tonometry, in both eyes of 20 horses after topical application of 0.5% proparacaine to the cornea. Ultrasonic pachymetry was used to measure central, mid-peripheral, and peripheral corneal thickness (CT) in all 4 quadrants of both eyes of 25 horses. All measurements were repeated after auriculopalpebral nerve block, sedation by IV administration of xylazine, or combination of nerve block and sedation. Mean IOP after topical anesthesia of the cornea was 20.6 +/- 4.7 mm of Hg for the left eye and 20.35 +/- 3.7 mm of Hg for the right eye....
Nishita T, Ohohashi T, Asari M.The concentration of carbonic anhydrase III isoenzyme (CA-III) in serum samples from 216 clinically normal Thoroughbreds was determined by use of an enzyme immunoassay. The concentration range of CA-III was from 16.0 to 254.5 ng/ml (mean, 56.5 +/- 11.9 ng/ml). Significant differences were not detected according to age or sex. To confirm whether serum CA-III concentration was high in horses with muscle disease, serum samples of 11 horses with exertional rhabdomyolysis were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay. Their serum CA-III concentration was about 56 times (3,136 +/- 2,610 ng/ml) that of healthy...
Schumacher J, Mullen J, Shelby R, Lenz S, Ruffin DC, Kemppainen BW.Duodenitis/proximal jejunitis syndrome (DPJ) is a small intestinal disease of horses that is associated with depression and copious gastric reflux. Since an infectious cause for DPJ remains unsubstantiated, these studies were designed to investigate the possible role of Fusarium moniliforme toxins in this disease. Fusarium moniliforme was isolated by culturing 2 samples of feed that had been fed to horses with clinical signs of DPJ. These isolates (AU 2/3) were subsequently grown concurrently on autoclaved corn and their toxicity evaluated in a feeding trial utilizing horses. Isolates of F mon...
Bechthold I.Cauterization in horses is a painful method to enable the identification of horses. This method is not allowed (section 17 Nr. 2b Tierschutzgesetz, FRG), because recent findings have found a painless method to identify horses.
McCollum WH, Timoney PJ, Tengelsen LA.The clinical, virological and serological responses of seven female donkeys (Equus asinus) to inoculation with the KY-84 strain of equine arteritis virus (EAV), a strain that causes moderate to severe clinical signs in horses, was investigated. In the donkeys, the only clinical signs observed were fever (mainly 3-9 days after inoculation), mild depression in four animals, and a slight nasal or ocular discharge in three. All of the donkeys became infected with EAV as shown by recovery of the virus for periods of up to 14 days from the nasopharynx and buffy coat and, in three out of four donkeys...
Kikuchi N, Blakeslee JR, Hiramune T.Plasmid profiles of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from horses were examined. Thirty-nine strains of K. pneumoniae capsular type 1 (K1) isolated from cervical swabs of mares suffering from metritis, and from semen of stallions showed similar plasmid profile patterns, and all strains possessed a 125 megadaltons (Md) plasmid. There was no difference in plasmid profiles between the heavily-encapsulated and the less heavily-encapsulated strains of K. pneumoniae K1. Non-capsulated variants derived from the strains of K1 showed the same plasmid profile pattern as the parent strains. Plasmid profiles...
Monahan CM, Chapman MR, French DD, Klei TR.During a series of dose-titration experiments designed to evaluate the efficacy of moxidectin oral gel against equine gastrointestinal parasites, infection with Onchocerca cervicalis was diagnosed in 25 of 82 ponies prior to treatment. Microfilariae were identified in full-thickness skin biopsies taken from the ventral midline. Treatment with moxidectin in single doses of 300, 400, or 500 micrograms/kg of body weight was 100% effective in eliminating microfilariae from 20 skin biopsies taken 14 days posttreatment, whereas 5 microfilaria-positive ponies in 2 control groups remained positive fol...
Schelp C, Böse R, Micha A, Hentrich B.High-titre equine immune sera were used to screen a lambda gt 11 expression library of Babesia equi cDNA fragments. Two cDNA clones which did not cross-hybridize to each other were studied. Both clones hybridized specifically to DNA from B. equi but not to DNA from B. caballi, B. divergens or B. ovis. Recombinant proteins were expressed as glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins with apparent molecular weights of 40 kDa and 75 kDa. Polyclonal antibodies directed against the 40 kDa and 75 kDa recombinant proteins detected native antigens of 55 kDa and 50 kDa respectively in crude lysate...
Daugschies A, Epe C.In Lower Saxony approximately 3500 veterinarians were asked to fill in a questionnaire focused on the prevalence of parasitic infections in cattle, sheep, pigs, and horses, the preferred control measures and the antiparasitic drugs in use. Although the disappointing low number of only 48 veterinarians that participated in this survey prevented any representative conclusions the following trends were remarkable: gastrointestinal strongyles were the most prevalent parasites in cattle (34.8%), sheep (28.0%), and horses (42.3%). In pigs, ascarids were most often diagnosed (41.9%) followed by the s...
Keller H, Grundmann S.X-rays of 205 horses having navicular disease and having been reexamined up to six times are evaluated. For this, the x-rays of each foreleg are evaluated in the dorsopalmar (Oxspring) and lateromedial view. Additionally to changes of the navicular bone, changes of the distal part of the toe are also assessed. Differences can be found in the radiographic process in view of the limitation of vascular foramina and cyst-like lesions. Vascular foramina with sclerotic rim grow less frequent than poorly defined ones and therefore allow for easier prognostication. Cyst-like lesions with sclerotic rim...
Carmalt JL, Carmalt KP, Barber SM.The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of routine dental occlusal equilibration treatment on dressage horse performance. Sixteen horses (11 treated; 5 untreated) ridden by a single rider performed a standardized dressage test twice and were scored by two experienced dressage judges according to recognized movements and rider cues. All horses were sedated and a full-mouth speculum was used to facilitate a complete oral examination. Treated horses had dental equilibration performed using a motorized dental instrument. The horses performed a second test 48-hours after dental eq...
Plummer CE, Kallberg ME, Ollivier FJ, Barrie KP, Brooks DE.To describe and evaluate a surgical technique utilized for the therapy of deep corneal stromal abscesses (DSA) in horses. The DSA is excised and replaced with a partial thickness corneal lamellar allograft. Methods: A retrospective clinical study describing the indications for the surgical technique utilized and the outcomes of this procedure in 10 eyes of 10 horses. Results: Each affected eye had a discrete DSA within the posterior stroma. An initial partial thickness semicircular corneal incision was made at the limbus, followed by anterior stromal lamellar dissection over the lesion. After ...
Abid HN, Walter PA, Litchfield H.A 6-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was examined because it had a sharply circumscribed, firm, brown-black, roughly spherical dermal nodule at the right tuber ischii. After it was excised, the lesion did not recur. Microscopically, the dermis of the excised specimen had multiple pyogranulomas, many of which contained thick-walled, dark brown fungal elements, some with internal septation compatible with chromomycotic fungi. Chromomycosis is a rare skin disease in the horse. It may be included in the differential diagnoses of nodular and/or pigmented skin lesions that include melanoma, pyogranulo...
Martinelli M.Digitization of clinical data is becoming increasingly important in veterinary medicine. Current veterinary applications range from digital cameras to computed radiography. The opportunity for increased productivity and diagnostic capabilities makes the computerization of veterinary medicine especially exciting. Future trends seem to indicate that more veterinarians should have better technology available in their practices and more veterinarians should be connected to experts, clients, and each other.
Benbarek H, Deby-Dupont G, Deby C, Serteyn D.The capacity of the two cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta to directly stimulate the oxidative activity of polymorphonuclear neutrophils remains debated. The purpose of this study was to verify if a direct stimulation of equine neutrophils by TNF-alpha and IL-1beta was possible. Equine neutrophils were isolated from blood by discontinuous density gradient centrifugation. The cell viability after isolation was >98%. The neutrophils were used at 1.25 x 10(6) cells by assay, immediately after isolation. The oxidative activity of neutrophils was measured by luminol- or lucigenin-enhanced chemilumine...
MacEachern KE, Smith GL, Nolan AM.Hypoxaemia accompanies dorsal recumbency in the horse and frequently complicates general anaesthesia. The physiology associated with this phenomenon is poorly understood. One possible cause of poor tolerance to dorsal recumbency is an absent or reduced response to hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). This study compared the HPV response in isolated pulmonary artery vessels from equivalent regions of equine and bovine lung. Methods: Equine and bovine, in vitro study. Methods: Equine and bovine pulmonary arteries were removed from the lungs of euthanased horses and cattle. Measurements of i...
de Moura AB, da Silva MO, Farias JA, Vieira-Neto A, de Souza AP, Sartor AA, Fonteque JH, Bunn S.The aims of this study were to determine occurrences of Neospora spp. IgG antibodies in horses from two geographical regions of the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, and identify risk factors for infection. Analyses were performed on 615 samples using the immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT ≥ 1:50). Out of the 615 samples, 25 (4.1%) were positive for Neospora spp. The titers for Neospora spp. were distributed as follows: 1:50 (13), 1:100 (eight), 1:200 (three) and 1:400 (one). Out of the 311 samples taken in the mountain region, eight were positive (2.6%). Among the samples from th...
Nout-Lomas YS, Page KM, Kang HG, Aanstoos ME, Greene HM.There is poor agreement between observers of equine neurological gait abnormalities using the modified Mayhew grading scale. Objective: To stimulate a dose-dependent ataxia in horses through xylazine administration and identify quantifiable relevant gait parameters. Methods: Balanced, randomised, 2-way crossover design. Methods: Eight horses were assessed before and after administration of xylazine (low dose and high dose). Gait analyses performed before and after xylazine administration included: 1) kinematic data collected on an equine high-speed treadmill (flat and 10% decline) and from acc...
Sannajust K, Spriet M, Anishchenko S, Beylin D.Maximal standardized uptake values (SUV ) are commonly used for the interpretation of PET studies. Limited information regarding the SUV of F-NaF PET in horses is currently available in the literature. The goals of this retrospective secondary analysis study were to provide reference values for F-NaF SUV in the equine distal extremity and assess the effect of attenuation correction. Nonattenuation corrected (NAC) and CT-based attenuation corrected (CTAC) SUV were obtained from 19 feet and 19 fetlocks. Twenty regions of interest (ROIs) were defined for the foot and 22 for the fetlock. Areas p...
Traub-Dargatz JL, Schultheiss PC, Kiper ML, Stashak TS, Wrigley R, Schlipf J, Applehans FM.Fibrosis of the small intestine led to recurrent colic and weight loss in 2 ponies and 5 horses. There was a reduction in the length of the small intestine to one-half normal in horses 4 to 7. Histologic examination revealed substantial small intestinal submucosal fibrosis and arteriole sclerosis. The cause was not determined, but an environmental factor was suspected because 3 horses were from the same farm and the other animals were from within a 10-mile radius of the farm. The submucosal fibrosis appeared to be secondary to sclerosis of arterioles in the submucosa and mesentery, with low bl...
Swerczek TW.Small but significant numbers of primary and secondary spermatocytes and spermatids have been observed in the semen of some Thoroughbred stallions. Extensive histological examination of the testes of affected animals has not been undertaken but in one young stallion which died as the result of a leg injury, the premature dehiscence of these cells seemed to be related to segmental defects within the seminiferous tubules. The causes of lesions leading to premature shedding of germ cells are discussed.
Gunson DE, Rooney JR.An 8-year-old gelding with a long-standing, streptococcal respiratory infection developed dyspnoea and colic. Laparotomy disclosed numerous, discrete, hemorrhagic, thick areas of necrosis throughout the intestinal tract. At postmortem examination similar lesions were seen in the laryngeal mucosa and in many skeletal muscles. Microscopically these lesions had massive necrosis and hemorrhage with a leucocytoclastic vasculitis in adjacent tissue. This condition resembled anaphylactoid purpura (Henoch-Schönlein disease) in man. Fungal infection was ruled out by special stains which failed to show...
Ginther OJ, Siddiqui MA, Beg MA.Responses to intravenous treatment of mares with prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF) 8 d after ovulation were studied in three groups (n=4/group): control (no treatment), bolus (single treatment with 2.5 mg PGF), and infusion (0.1 mg PGF during 2 h). Infusion resulted in a 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2alpha (PGFM) concentration (559+/-44 pg/mL) that was not different from the mean concentration for the major portion of a natural PGFM pulse associated with luteolysis (569+/-45 pg/mL; n=5). Progesterone in the bolus group increased (P<0.03) between 0 (17.8+/-3.5 ng/mL) and 2 min (25.3+/-4.8 ng/mL), peak...
Abraham M, Reef VB, Sweeney RW, Navas de Solís C.Ultrasonographic appearance of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of equine neonates has not been completely described. Objective: To describe (1) sonographic characteristics of the GI segments in normal nonsedated equine neonates, (2) intra- and interobserver variation in wall thickness, and (3) the sonographic appearance of asymptomatic intussusceptions, and (4) to compare age and sonographic findings of foals with and without asymptomatic intussusceptions. Methods: Eighteen healthy Standardbred foals ≤5 days of age. Methods: Prospective, cross-sectional blinded study. Gastrointestinal sonogr...
Back W, van den Bogert AJ, van Weeren PR, Bruin G, Barneveld A.To get an in-depth insight into the ontogeny of the equine locomotor apparatus, the locomotion of 28 Dutch Warmblood foals was recorded at the walk, trot and canter on a treadmill using a CODA-3 apparatus. A great similarity in joint angle-time diagrams was found, although considerable differences in kinematic gait parameters of individual foals could be detected. These results contribute to an objective comparison of the locomotor performance of foals.
White NA, Wheat JD.Proximal tibial epiphyseal fractures in 2 foals were reduced and stabilized by expansion and compression between 2 transversely placed Steinman pins, one on each side of the fracture. A Charnley apparatus or turnbuckles placed between the pins on each side of the fracture provided the mechanical advantage for repositioning the fracture fragments and achieving rigid fixation during healing. A light cast was applied over the fixation apparatus, keeping the limb in an extended position. The cast and fixation apparatus were removed after 4 weeks. The technique allowed rapid healing and adequate am...
Carlson ER, Bramlage LR, Stewart AA, Embertson RM, Ruggles AJ, Hopper SA.Surgical correction of carpal angular limb deformities by growth retardation is commonly undertaken with a screws and tension band wire loop technique (S&W) or a single transphyseal screw (STS). This study compares complications after S&W and STS bridging in the distal radius of Thoroughbred yearlings. Objective: To compare the prevalence of complications serious enough to require follow-up radiographs following either S&W or STS surgery for growth manipulation in the distal radius of Thoroughbred yearlings. Methods: Medical records and radiographs from Thoroughbred yearlings (age ...
Murray MJ, Grodinsky C, Cowles RR, Hawkins WL, Forfa RJ, Luba NK.Gastroendoscopic examinations were conducted on thirty-two 2- to 60-day-old Thoroughbred foals on 5 breeding farms. Repeat gastroendoscopic examinations were performed 35 to 135 days after the initial examination, with the age of foals ranging from 39 to 190 days. On initial endoscopic examination, lesions consisting of ulcers and/or erosions were most prevalent in the stratified squamous epithelial mucosa adjacent to the margo plicatus along the greater curvature of the stomach (15 of 32 foals), and were observed much less frequently at other sites within the stomach. In addition to ulcers an...
Jeffcott LB, Colles CM.The clinical uses and side-effects of phenylbutazone in man, horses, and other animals are reviewed. The blood dyscrasias commonly described in man have not been reported in the horse, although several of the more minor side-effects have occasionally been seen (e.g. water retention, depression, transient staggering and phlebitis). Despite the lack of documented evidence, the toxicity of phenylbutazone in the horse is considered to be lower than that in man. This may be associated with the lower dose rates normally used, the more rapid plasma clearance rate and the comparatively younger age of ...
Hanafi AL, Reed RA, Trenholme HN, Sakai DM, Ryan CA, Barletta M, Quandt JE, Knych HK.To describe the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of meperidine after IM and subcutaneous administration in horses. Methods: prospective, randomized, blinded, crossover trial. Methods: Six adult horses weighing 494 ± 33 kg. Methods: Treatments included meperidine 1 mg/kg IM with saline 6 mL subcutaneously, meperidine 1 mg/kg subcutaneously with saline 6 mL IM, and saline 6 mL subcutaneously and 6 mL IM, with a 7-day washout between treatments. Plasma meperidine concentrations and pharmacodynamic values (thermal and mechanical thresholds, physiological variables, fecal production) were c...
Newcombe JR, Cuervo-Arango J.It is believed that during the spring transition, the developing follicle tends to grow more slowly, persist longer and grow to a larger diameter prior to ovulation than at subsequent oestrus periods. A general suspicion, that the first ovulation of the year is less fertile than subsequent ovulations could be explained by a slower growth rate of the ovulatory follicle during transition with the consequent production of a subfertile oocyte. By detailed serial examination of the same group of Irish Draught mares over three winter/spring periods, no significant difference was found in either grow...
Green P, Tong JM.Although wood chewing by horses is recognised as a common vice, there are few reports of specific disease associated with the habit. Two cases of acute obstruction of the small intestine by solid aggregations of wood splinters are described in horses which were both habitual wood chewers. Details are presented of the clinical findings in these cases, including the surgical treatment of acute colic. Both horses returned to full working fitness. The authors review the syndrome of enterolithiasis in horses, and discuss the causes and significance of wood chewing as a stable vice.
Grubb TL, Benson GJ, Foreman JH, Constable PD, Thurmon JC, Olson WO, Tranquilli WJ, Davis LE.To evaluate the effects of halothane and isoflurane on cardiovascular function and serum total and ionized calcium concentrations in horses, and to determine whether administration of calcium gluconate would attenuate these effects. Methods: 6 clinically normal adult Thoroughbreds. Methods: Catheters were inserted for measurement of arterial blood pressures, pulmonary arterial blood pressures, right ventricular pressure (for determination of myocardial contractility), right atrial pressure, and cardiac output and for collection of arterial blood samples. Anesthesia was then induced with xylazi...
Welch RD, Auer JA, Watkins JP, Baird AN.A 2-year-old Thoroughbred colt was referred for evaluation of effusion within the tarsal sheath and associated lameness of the right hind limb. Conservative treatment consisting of needle aspiration and pressure bandaging had been unsuccessful. Radiography of the right tarsus revealed proliferative periosteal reaction along the distal caudal border of the sustentaculum tali and medial aspect of the calcaneus. The owners elected conservative treatment, using a local injection of corticosteroid and pressure bandaging the tarsus. Five months later, the severity of the effusion and lameness had in...
Hubert JD, Seahorn TL, Klei TR, Hosgood G, Horohov DW, Moore RM.The objective of this study was to determine the effect of infection with Strongylus vulgaris on serum cytokines and plasma nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in helminth-naive ponies. Group 1 (n = 21) was given 500 S. vulgaris L3 larvae and group 2 (n = 7) received a saline control. Ponies were monitored daily for clinical signs, and blood was collected for complete blood cell counts and serum cytokines (TNF, IL-1, IL-6) quantification. Group 1 ponies were depressed, anorexic, and febrile for variable periods of time. Plasma NO was increased on day 21 in group 1 and on days 9 and 21 in group 2....
Diesterbeck U, Distl O.Navicular disease or podotrochlosis has long been known to cause forelimb lameness in horses. It had been proposed that the development of podotrochlosis has similarities to the human osteoarthritis (OA) complex. Alterations of the navicular bone can be made visible early in life only on the basis of radiographs. Reports on the prevalences of navicular disease indicate that radiological alterations in the navicular bone are present in different warmblood populations at frequencies of between 14.9% and 87.6%. Genetic factors play an important role in the development of the radiological signs. E...
