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.
Stewart GA, Fulton LJ, McKellar CD.Atrial fibrillation is described in a champion pacer which earlier had been named Australian Harness Horse of the Year as a 3-year-old in 1986-87. Prior to conversion atrial fibrillation had been present for at least 6 weeks, during which the horse had not raced. Successful treatment was achieved with two 10g doses of quinidine sulphate per oesophageal tube, after slow digitalisation with intravenous digoxin over 4d. Four hours after commencement of quinidine therapy the arrhythmia had regressed to atrial flutter and converted to sinus rhythm 10 min later. Considering his age, standard of raci...
Lees MJ, Bowen CV, Fretz PB, Leach DH.Areas of skin vascularized by large axial vessels potentially suitable for microvascular anastomosis were investigated in 10 horse cadavers. Eleven such areas were dissected, and the skin over the flank region vascularized by the deep circumflex iliac artery was most suitable. The anatomy of this area was further defined, using angiography and latex injection studies on 10 cadavers.
Jones AJ, Bee JA.The digital flexor tendons of the neonate and adult horse have been compared with respect to variation in extracellular matrix composition along their length. Two pepsin-sensitive, acetic acid soluble proteins, molecular weight (Mr) 52 kD (np 52) and Mr 54 kD (np 54), were prominent throughout the length of neonatal tendons. In adult tendon, np 52 and np 54 were less abundant and restricted to the cannon (metacarpal) region. In contrast, a single pepsin- and collagenase-resistant protein of Mr 55 kD (fp 55) was exclusive to the fetlock (metacarpophalangeal joint) region regardless of age, alth...
Wilson DG, Trent AM, Crawford WH.A surgical approach to the ramus of the mandible was developed. Subperiosteal elevation of the masseter muscle from the ramus allowed reduction and plate fixation of ramus fractures in a bull and a horse. Results of follow-up examinations, 2 years after surgery, showed excellent functional and cosmetic results.
Darien BJ, Brown CM, Walker RD, Williams MA, Derksen FJ.Transtracheal aspirate (TTA) aerobic microbiology culture results from 30 ponies were compared to protected catheter brush (PCB) culture results obtained from the same ponies. The PCB procedure resulted in significantly fewer (P less than 0.05) isolates than those obtained by the TTA procedure and the PCB procedure resulted in significantly more samples with no bacteria growth than the TTA procedure. To address the possibility that the volume of tracheobronchial secretion obtained by PCB was insufficient as a microbiological sample, a sterile, double-sheathed, protected aspiration catheter (PA...
Herd RP, Gabel AA.Studies on a Thoroughbred breeding farm in Ohio from 1982 to 1988 demonstrated the value of three anthelmintic pastes (ivermectin, oxibendazole, pyrantel pamoate) in controlling benzimidazole resistant cyathostomes (small strongyles) in adult horses. However, a comparison of drug efficacy in suppressing faecal egg counts for the full period between treatments showed a significant reduction in efficacy of all drugs in yearling horses compared with adults. Mean faecal egg counts of adult horses were generally kept below 100 eggs per gram (epg) of faeces when using oxibendazole or pyrantel pamoat...
Glade MJ.Low molecular weight polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG) stimulated net collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis by normal and arthritic equine fetlock cartilage tissues in organ culture. Arthritic tissues were more sensitive to PSGAG stimulation. The rates of cartilage-specific type-II collagen and chondroitin sulfate-rich glycosaminoglycan synthesis by confluent chondrocyte cell cultures obtained from normal and arthritic equine cartilage tissues were increased by 25 and 50 mg of PSGAG/ml. Cells from arthritic cartilage were also more sensitive to the presence of PSGAG. In addition, conce...
Caron JP, Fretz PB, Bailey JV, Barber SM.Arthrodesis of the proximal interphalangeal joint was used to treat lameness resulting from osteoarthrosis and for closed subluxation in 35 horses. Six horses had bilateral arthrodeses. Several conventional internal fixation techniques and a three converging screw method were used. Criteria for success included the horse performing its previous or intended athletic activity and the owner being satisfied with the outcome. Using these criteria, a successful outcome was obtained in 65% of the 26 animals in which adequate follow-up was available. A successful outcome was observed in four of six ho...
McGorum BC, Dixon PM.VASOMOTOR rhinitis (VR) is a chronic, non-seasonal disease of the nasal mucosa of man with symptoms including profuse bilateral watery nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal airflow obstruction, nasal pruritus and loss of smell. The disease is believed to result from nasal hyper-reactivity to exogenous and endogenous stimuli including temperature and humidity changes, odours and physical or emotional stress (Groves, Gray, Downton and Blau 1985). Although the aetiology of this non-infectious and non-allergic rhinitis is not completely understood, it is believed to be largely due to an imbalance in th...
Fogarty U.The bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) technique described produced no detectable gross or histopathological lesions. Airway fluid accumulation was observed for up to 4 h post lavage. There was good qualitative correlation between BAL cytopathological and diffuse pulmonary pathological changes. The technique provided an accurate assessment of the presence and extent of exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage.
Sweeney CR, Soma LR, Maxson AD, Thompson JE, Holcombe SJ, Spencer PA.The effects of furosemide on the racing times of 79 horses without exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) and 52 horses with EIPH were investigated. Racing times were adjusted to 1-mile equivalent racing times by 2 speed handicapping methods, and analysis of covariance was used to adjust actual racing times by winning time and distance for each race. All 3 methods of determining racing time indicated that geldings without EIPH had significantly faster racing times (P less than 0.05) when given furosemide before racing than when furosemide was not given before racing. Females and colts wi...
Schumacher J, Moll HD, Spano JS, Barone LM, Powers RD.Two horses were presented with lethargy, weight loss, anorexia, and swelling of the limbs and ventral body wall. One horse, a 12-month-old American Paso Fino colt, also had acute abdominal pain. The other horse, a seven-month-old Tennessee Walking Horse (TWH) filly passed diarrheic stools during the initial examination. Each horse had low serum protein, neutropenia, and a normal packed cell volume (3.2 g/dl, 1300 cells/ul, and 38%, respectively, for the colt, and 2.4 g/dl, 696 cells/ul, and 44%, respectively for the filly). After intravenously administering plasma, the colt's PCV dropped to 23...
Wilson DV, Soma LR.To investigate the cardiopulmonary effects of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), values of 10, 20, and 30 cm of H2O, were applied to anesthetized, dorsally recumbent, ventilated ponies. After IV induction of general anesthesia, PEEP was superimposed on controlled ventilation with 100% oxygen, and changes in gas exchange and cardiac function were measured. Increasing values of PEEP in these ponies caused a linear increase in the mean (+/- SEM) functional residual capacity, from a control value (zero end-expiratory pressure) of 1.7 +/- 0.24 L to 2.2 +/- 0.31, 2.9 +/- 0.32 and 3.4 +/- 0.3 L...
Dickson LR, Badcoe LM, Burbidge H, Kannegieter NJ.Forty-eight hours after general anaesthesia was induced by glycerol guaiacolate and thiopentone sodium in 10 horses, the jugular veins were dissected out at post-mortem and examined visually and histologically. All veins showed a marked thrombophlebitis involving the media and intima at the site of injection. The influence of catheter composition, catheter placement and chemical composition on the occurrence of the thrombophlebitis is discussed. It is concluded that the thrombophlebitis was chemically induced.
Lowell FC.Observations in six horses with heaves established a clear relationship between attacks of heaves and the feeding of hay. Severe acute attacks were accompanied by striking changes in the eosinophil count and the sedimentation rate. The variation in the severity of heaves in relation to the feeding and withholding of hay is accounted for by assuming that attacks result from a transient, obstructive lesion in the bronchial tree or lung caused by hypersensitivity to some component of hay. The observations strongly suggest that heaves is a respiratory allergic disease in the horse. The relation of...
McIlwraith CW.A condition characterised by osteochondral fragmentation of the distal aspect of the patella in 15 horses is described. The problem was unilateral in six horses and bilateral in nine. There were eight Quarterhorses, three Thoroughbreds, two American Saddlebreds, one American Paint and one Warmblood-Thoroughbred cross. A previous medial patellar desmotomy had been performed on 12 of the 15 horses. The condition manifested as hindlimb lameness and stiffness ranging from mild to severe. There was fibrous thickening in the stifle area in the 12 cases with a previous medial patellar desmotomy, and ...
Palmer JE, Benson CE, Whitlock RH.Fourteen ponies and 3 horses were inoculated with Ehrlichia risticii 2 to 20 months after a similar initial inoculation. Although all 17 had clinical signs of equine ehrlichial colitis after the first inoculation, 16 of 17 remained clinically normal following the second inoculation. The remaining pony had a transient fever and developed signs of depression. Before the initial inoculation, none of the animals had a detectable antibody titer to E risticii. All animals developed titers after the initial infection; however, a significant change of titer did not develop after reinoculation in most ...
Tulleners E, Mann P, Raker CW.Epiglottic augmentation with injectable bovine collagen or an autogenous or allogenous auricular cartilage graft was performed in 12 horses with endoscopically and radiographically normal epiglottises. The grafting procedures were easy to perform and did not cause apparent discomfort. Cartilage graft extrusion or resorption may have occurred, but was not seen by endoscopy and lateral laryngeal radiography. Only collagen implants remained evident endoscopically, as smooth round submucosal bulges ventral to the epiglottic cartilage. Two horses with collagen implants, and all horses with cartilag...
Goetz TE, Manohar M.The heart rate (HR) induced by maximal beta-adrenergic activation, which was elicited by infusion of isoproterenol, was studied in 8 healthy horses before (control) and after hyperthermia was induced by IV administration of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP). Isoproterenol was administered IV at 1.0 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 for 3 minutes, and the HR was determined during the final 30 seconds of the infusion. As the rectal temperature increased (P less than 0.001) from 38.2 +/- 0.1 C (mean +/- SEM; normothermic control) to 40.1 +/- 0.1 C at 60 minutes after DNP administration, the isoproterenol-induced HR al...
von Fellenberg RL, Jordan JC, Ludwig B, Rehm WF.Aditoprim, a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent acting as a reversible dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, was intravenously injected into four 12 to 24-year old horses at a dosage of 5 mg/kg b. w. Blood samples were collected over a 48-hour period after drug injection, and the separated plasma samples were assayed for aditoprim by high performance liquid chromatography. The body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, and behaviour were recorded during the experiment. The bilirubin and urea concentrations were also determined in several plasma samples, and liver function tests were carried ...
McDowell KJ, Sharp DC, Fazleabas AT, Roberts RM.Conceptuses were obtained from pony mares on each day of pregnancy between Days 12 and 28, and on Days 39, 45, 65 and 100. Endometrium was obtained from mares at Days 12, 14, 16, 18, 39, 45, 65 and 100 of pregnancy, and from non-pregnant mares during anoestrus, during transition into the breeding season, at oestrus, or during dioestrus. Tissues were incubated in vitro for 24 h with L-[3H]leucine. Proteins synthesized and released into the culture medium were analysed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) and fluorography. Conceptuses obtained before Day 14 after ovul...
Hamada M, Oyamada T, Yoshikawa H, Yoshikawa T, Itakura C.Keratin expressions in normal equine epidermis and experimentally induced equine papillomas were studied by immunohistochemical methods with three different human cytokeratin monoclonal antibodies, 34 beta B4 (directed against component 1), 34 beta E12 (directed against components 1, 5, 10, 11) and 35 beta H11 (directed against component 8). Staining patterns with 34 beta B4 and 34 beta E12 in the normal equine epidermis did not differ from those in the normal human epidermis. In the early developing papilloma, keratinocytes showed an abnormal suprabasal staining pattern and expressed an addit...
Hamada M, Oyamada T, Yoshikawa H, Yoshikawa T, Itakura C.The histopathological development of equine cutaneous papillomas was studied in 78 warts naturally occurring in 50 one to 3-year-old Thoroughbred or Arab horses and in 54 warts experimentally induced in three 2-year-old Thoroughbreds. Lesions in the natural cases were categorized into three phases, growth, development and regression. Main lesions of the growing phase were marked hyperplasia of the basal cells and mild to moderate acanthosis, hyper- and parakeratosis with a few intranuclear inclusion bodies (IIB) which were positive with anti-bovine papillomavirus serum. In the developing phase...
Verberne LR, Mirck MH.The toxicity of parbendazole in different doses was investigated with 52 horses and 16 ponies, in twelve groups. Side effects observed with the anthelmintic were laxation (soft dung, diarrhoea), anorexia, and listlessness. The seriousness of these symptoms depended greatly on the dose used. Half the therapeutic dose of parbendazole (2.5 to 3.75 mg/kg) administered on two consecutive days led, as a rule, to only slight toxic symptoms and proved highly effective with regard to gastro-intestinal nematodes occurring in horses and ponies. The utilisation of "standard powders" (not commercially avai...
Silver M.THERE is no shortage of anatomical information on the equine foetus and its placenta, from the early work of Ruini in the 16th century to the recent studies of Steven and colleagues (Steven 1982); by contrast, knowledge of the physiology of the foal in utero is sparse. In other domestic animals there have been considerable ads ances in foetal and neonatal physiology and endocrinology in recent years due mainly to the develop-ment of the chronically catheterised foetal preparation in which sequential observations can he made in the conscious animal (Silver 1981). Some information about the deve...
of surveillance testing, April to June 2017International disease occurrence in the second quarter of 2017These are among matters discussed in the most recent quarterly equine disease surveillance report, prepared by Defra, the Animal Health Trust and the British Equine Veterinary Association.
Bertone AL, Ralston SL, Stashak TS.Each of 3 digestion trials (3 forage diets) was performed on 2 groups of horses 6 to 12 months after sham operation (group 1; n = 3) or large-colon resection (group 2; n = 5). Diets were alfalfa pellets, alfalfa hay, and grass hay. Feed and fecal analyses were performed to determine apparent digestion of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein and true digestion of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, total plant cell wall, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. Additional fecal and metabolic variables determined were percentage of fecal water, total fecal water, metabolic organic m...
Slovis NM, Watson JL, Affolter VK, Stannard AA.Three horses were presented with a history of having developed raised cutaneous nodules, within 24-48 hours, in areas of previous injections using standard silicone-coated hypodermic needles. Skin biopsies were taken from a selected cutaneous nodule from all horses for histopathologic evaluation. Histologically, the nodules were consistent with a diagnosis of equine eosinophilic granuloma. A hypersensitivity reaction to the silicone, or another component of the coating formulation, was hypothesized to be responsible for these lesions. Two horses were experimentally injected using both coated a...
Ignácio FS, Bergfelt DR, Mendes D, Orlandi C, Araújo GH, Oliveira JV, Montechiesi DF, Carvalho LR, Meira C.The primary objective of this study was to examine the follicular and ovulatory responses following treatment with pFSH in association with ablation-induced or spontaneous follicular wave emergence or follicle deviation during diestrus in crossbred (Mangalarga×Arabian) and Brazilian Warmblood mares with a propensity for spontaneous multiple ovulations; secondary considerations were given to the collection of embryos. In Experiment 1, crossbred mares were administered (im) saline (control, n=7) or pFSH (25mg) when the largest follicle of the ablation-induced follicular wave reached ≥13mm (n=...
Martin Giménez T, Aguirre Pascasio CN, de Blas Giral I.Andalusian horses have been proposed as a breed predisposed to equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) phenotype [1] because they are prone to exhibiting regional, generalised adiposity and tendency to laminitis [2]. Insulin dysregulation represents the main pathophysiological cause for all the features of EMS, however there are no epidemiological studies in this breed. Objective: To assess insulin dysregulation through insulin proxies in Andalusian horses with different levels of obesity. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: One hundred and sixty-four Andalusians (78 stallions and 86 mares, 2-15 ...
Respondek F, Lallemand A, Julliand V, Bonnaire Y.Presence of drugs is completely prohibited in post racing urine samples by most of racing and competition authorities, even if environmental contamination might occur. Objective: To assess the daily dose of several contaminants absorbed through the diet that would result in detectable concentrations in urine. Methods: Caffeine, theobromine, theophylline, atropine, scopolamine, bufotenine, DMT or morphine were administered orally to 6 horses, in different dosages, for 3 days before their urine was sampled for regular anti-doping tests. Results: Theobromine, theophylline, bufotenine and morphine...
Cassotis NJ, Stick JA, Arnoczky SP.A 4-month-old Quarter Horse colt was admitted for repair of an open, comminuted fracture of the proximal portions of the diaphyses of the left second, third, and fourth metatarsal bones. Initial repair included internal fixation and cancellous bone graft. However, the third metatarsal bone became infected and failed to heal. After removal of infected portions of the bone, a 5-cm, fullthickness cortical allograft was placed in the defect. Rigid internal fixation provided stability for the allograft and remaining fracture fragments so that the horse was able to bear weight on the second and four...
Breukink HJ, Németh F, van Dieten JS.The clinical examination, anaesthesia and surgery in a gelding with an incarcerated scrotal hernia are described. The results of examination of the blood at regular intervals are shown in a table. Surgery was performed without enterectomy. The postoperation course was uneventful. It is concluded that the possibility of scrotal hernia should be borne in mind, even in geldings with colic. The incarcerated portion of the small intestine is usually found to be the jejuno-ileal junction. The anaesthesiological and surgical features of equine scrotal hernia are discussed.
Gudmundsson G, Olafsson L, Nikulásson S, Jónsdóttir B.A young woman was admitted to Akranes Regional Hospital because of dyspnea, fatigue and fever. She was found to have bilateral pneumonia but etiology was not found. She was treated with antibiotics with good resolution and was discharged after eight days from the hospital. Four weeks later she noticed rapidly progressive dyspnea and was found to be hypoxemic, and to have restrictive spirometry and diffuse interstitial changes on chest radiography. Computerized tomography of the lungs showed diffuse ground glass changes. Transbronchial biopsies from the lungs showed numerous small granulomas. S...
Goulden BE.Any condition which leads to a diminution in the size or alteration of the shape of the lumen of the respiratory tract in the horse may result in the production of abnormal respiratory noises at exercise.
Schamhardt HC, Hartman W, Lammertink JL, Badoux DM.Strain tracings obtained from the tibial cortex of walking ponies reveal peaks in the principal tension and compression strains occurring immediately before and after the support phase. Evidence is presented that the presupport peak is caused by inertial forces.
Hawkes CS, Easley J, Barakzai SZ, Dixon PM.There is minimal published information on equine oromaxillary fistulae that are unrelated to cheek teeth (CT) repulsion or on the conservative treatment of these atypical fistulae. Objective: To report equine oromaxillary fistulae unrelated to CT extraction and describe their management in standing horses. Methods: Case details of oromaxillary fistulae of atypical aetiology occurring at 2 referral centres between 2002-2006, including their treatment and response to treatment were examined. Results: Nine cases of oromaxillary fistula were recorded, mainly in aged horses (median 22 years). Fistu...
Escabias MI, Santisteban R, Rubio MD, Tovar P.The correlations between different electrocardiographic variables and plasma concentrations of K, Na and Ca ions were studied in foals of 1 to 14 days of age. The results obtained are only significant in neonate individuals of 1 day of age. Whilst the PQ segment and R wave duration showed a positive linear correlation (p less than or equal to 0.05) with plasma concentrations of Na and Ca ions respectively, the amplitude of the T wave showed a negative linear correlation (p less than or equal to 0.05) with the K ion. Moreover, the variability in duration of the QT and ST intervals can be explai...