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.
Bohanon TC.An 8-cm compressed mass of dry cracked corn was found obstructing the duodenum of a horse with signs of colic. The mass was manipulated aborally and removed through jejunal enterotomy. The horse recovered and the impaction did not recur.
Ross MW, Stephens PR, Reimer JM.A 9-year-old pregnant Standardbred broodmare was evaluated for signs of mild abdominal pain, failure to defecate, and mild abdominal distention. Rectal examination revealed the leading edge of a small colon intussusception, and peritoneal fluid analysis indicated suppurative peritonitis. Surgical management, including reduction of the intussusception and small colon resection with end-to-end anastomosis, resulted in successful outcome (1-year follow-up evaluation). Postoperative complications including dehiscence of the ventral midline surgical incision and simple obstruction at the anastomosi...
McCarthy RN, Hutchins DR.A retrospective analysis of 74 cases that underwent surgery for colic was undertaken to determine short and long term survival rates and the incidence of post-operative complications. In 28 cases colic was related to small intestinal lesions and in 46 cases to large intestinal lesions. Pre-operative packed cell volume and heart rate were found to be inversely related to short-term survival. Twenty-five horses (34%) recovered from surgery and were discharged. Of 18 of these cases with available histories, 6 subsequently had one or more episodes of colic since surgery of which 5 eventually died ...
Humber KA.After becoming entangled in safety lines and being submerged in a chlorinated swimming pool, a 2-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was evaluated and treated successfully. Treatment included antimicrobial agents, anti-inflammatory drugs, bronchodilators, diuretics, humidified oxygen, and surfactant transplant. The results of follow-up examination of the gelding 120 days after hospitalization were normal.
Firth EC, Schamhardt HC, Hartman W.Two to 7 days after birth, 9 foals were anesthetized, and strain gauges were applied to lateral and medial aspects of the third metacarpal bone of the left forelimb. In 5 of these foals, strain gauges also were applied to the radius of the left forelimb. Four to 6 days later, foals were walked (5 sets of 10 to 20 strides), and compressive and tensile strains in the bone beneath strain gauges were recorded on paper and diskette. After recording base-line data, a wedge was fitted to the hoof of the limb with the strain gauges, in such a way that the lateral bearing surface was raised, and strain...
Koblik PD, Hornof WJ, Seeherman HJ.Review of 121 bone scintigrams obtained on racing Thoroughbred horses with clinical histories indicative of forelimb lameness revealed 3 scintigraphic patterns of stress-induced trauma to the dorsal cortex of the third metacarpal bone: (1) focal, intense uptake associated with recent stress fracture; (2) regional uptake of varying intensity or a mixed pattern of uptake associated with chronic stress fracture; and (3) diffuse, mild to moderate uptake associated with periostitis (bucked shins). The latter scintigraphic pattern appeared to be an exaggerated manifestation of the normal remodeling ...
Markel MD, Meagher DM, Richardson DW.Colopexy of the left ventral colon to the abdominal wall was performed in 4 horses with recurrence of large-colon displacement or volvulus. Horses were discharged between 5 and 27 days after surgery. At follow-up evaluation (mean, 10.5 months; range, 7 to 13 months) of the horses, none had recurrence of signs of abdominal pain, and all had normal body weight. Three horses were exercised regularly; signs of abdominal pain were not observed.
Songer JG, Beckenbach K, Marshall MM, Olson GB, Kelley L.Isolates (n = 94) of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis were obtained from sheep, goats, horses, and cattle from various parts of the world. The isolates were characterized biochemically and by restriction endonuclease analysis of DNA. We found near homogeneity in the ability of isolates to ferment carbohydrates and to produce urease. All isolates produced phospholipase D and catalase. The ability of isolates from horses to reduce nitrate, the inability of isolates from sheep and goats to do so, and the correlation of this characteristic with results of restriction endonuclease analyses confir...
Kloppe LH, Varner DD, Elmore RG, Bretzlaff KN, Shull JW.A breeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of insemination timing on the fertility of mares bred with frozen/thawed equine semen. One stallion and 60 reproductively sound, estrous-synchronized mares were included in the study. Mares were assigned to one of three groups (n = 20): 1) insemination with fresh semen every other day during estrus from detection of a 35-mm follicle until ovulation, 2) insemination with frozen/thawed semen every day during estrus from detection of a 35-mm follicle until ovulation or 3) insemination with frozen/thawed semen once, within 6 h after ovulation. ...
Garza F, Thompson DL, Mitchell PS, Wiest JJ.Five lighthorse mares were actively immunized against gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) to study the involvement of GnRH in luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion following ovariectomy (OVX) and after administration of testosterone propionate (TP). Five mares immunized against BSA served as controls. Immunizations were started on November 1, and OVX was performed in June (d 1). All mares were treated with TP from d 50 to 59 after OVX. On the day of OVX, concentrations of LH were lower (P less than .05) in GnRH-immu...
Murray MJ, Ball MM, Parker GA.A 3-month-old foal with a history of persistent fever and leukocytosis was found to have pneumonia, ulceration of the squamous portion of the stomach, and dilatation of the distal portion of the esophagus. The foal was euthanatized and necropsied. The distal portion of the esophagus was severely dilated, and there was severe ulceration and mural thickening of the stomach at the cardia. Because of the severe gastric ulceration and mural thickening, the gastroesophageal junction was fixed in an open position, permitting gastroesophageal reflux. The megaesophagus and pneumonia were considered to ...
Sundquist B, Lövgren K, Morein B.A monovalent experimental ISCOM vaccine has been prepared with the envelope glycoproteins haemagglutinin and neuraminidase of the equine virus strain A/Solvalla/79 (H3N8). In vaccination trials on BALB/c mice the ISCOM vaccine induced more than ten times higher serum antibody titres measured in ELISA than a corresponding experimental micelle vaccine. Similarly, in guinea-pigs the ISCOMs induced about tenfold higher haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and neuraminidase inhibition (NI) titres than a micelle vaccine or a conventional killed influenza whole virus vaccine. Horses vaccinated with a di...
Kobluk CN, Smith DF.An intramural hematoma involving a 40-cm segment of the distal portion of the jejunum caused intestinal obstruction and colic in a mature mare. The involved intestine was resected, and an end-to-end anastomosis was performed. The mare recovered completely, but 4 years later had colic caused by incarceration and volvulus of the distal portion of the jejunum, involving fibrous abdominal adhesions. The cause of hematoma was not identified; however, rupture of an intramural vessel after migration of Strongylus vulgaris larvae was considered a possibility because of the histologic observation of an...
Plenderleith RW.In large animal practice, clinical cases involving deep-seated infections affecting bones, joints, meninges and the larynx are particularly difficult to treat. The antibiotic lincomycin has the ability to penetrate tissue of poor vascularity and is also effective in the presence of pus. Eleven cattle, six sheep and three horses were treated with the drug at various doses and in 75 per cent of the cases there was a positive response.
Harrison IW, Raker CW.Bilateral arytenoidectomy had been performed as treatment for bilateral arytenoid chondritis in 2 horses. After surgery, dorsal mucosal defects were associated with subsequent development of dorsal glottic stenosis in the 2 horses. When performing bilateral arytenoidectomy in the horse, care must be taken to eliminate dorsal mucosal defects that cross the midline. Failure to close these defects may result in glottic stenosis.
Boyd EH, Allen WE.Plasma concentrations of neomycin were measured after intrauterine infusion of 3.3 mg/kg neomycin sulphate. Mares infected two hours previously with an intra-uterine infusion of beta-haemolytic streptococci absorbed approximately 12 per cent of the neomycin in both the oestrous and the luteal phases of the cycle. Normal mares in oestrus absorbed 6 per cent of the neomycin infused and luteal mares absorbed 56 per cent. In infected mares the peak plasma concentrations occurred two hours after neomycin infusion, earlier than in healthy mares. Cervical flushings after neomycin infusion in infected...
Tellhelm B, Fritsch R, Reckels FJ.Requirements for optimal radiography of the horsetoe are described. Examples are given for getting X-rays of high quality under practice conditions, by using special intensifying screens and all the possibilities of radiological technique to guarantee a short exposure time.
Forster HV, Pan LG.In humans alveolar ventilation (VA) is adjusted almost perfectly to the metabolic demands of mild and moderate exercise. For example, in exercise transitions and in the steady state, PaCO2 rarely deviates by more than 1 to 3 mmHg from the value at rest. This near-homeostasis contrasts to most other mammalian species; equines for example, demonstrate a progressive hypocapnia and alkalosis as exercise intensity is increased to moderate levels. In equines, the control systems seem programmed for a specific hyperventilation that contributes to maintenance of PaO2 homeostasis. Generally, during hea...
Gerhards H, Eberhardt C.Different doses of heparin were given to equids SC to establish 0.05 to 0.20 U of heparin/ml of plasma. Plasma heparin values and antithrombin III activities were assayed, using chromogenic substrate methods. Activated partial thromboplastin and thrombin times were determined, using conventional coagulation assays. Tests were run every hour (or every 2 hours for antithrombin III) for 12 hours from 5 groups of 5 equids each after single injection of 40, 60, 80, 100, or 125 U of calcium heparin/kg of body weight and from 11 equids after injection of 150 U of calcium heparin/kg. The smaller dose ...
Nansen P, Grønvold J, Henriksen SA, Wolstrup J.Interactions between the predacious hyphomycete Arthrobotrys oligospora and third-stage larvae of nine animal-parasitic nematodes were tested in vitro. The trap-inducing capabilities of the ruminant trichostrongylus Cooperia oncophora, C. curticei, Haemonchus contortus and Ostertagia ostertagi and of equine cyathostomes were almost comparable to those of free-living soil nematodes, and significantly higher than those of the porcine Oesophagostomum dentatum and Oe. quadrispinulatum and of the murine Nematospiroides dubius. The trap-forming potential of Dictyocaulus viviparus was poor. All anima...
Silver IA, Eisinger M.We have examined the possible regulatory role of epidermal cell extract(s) (ECE) on skin cells, namely fibroblasts and keratinocytes, both in vivo and in vitro with particular reference to modification of scar formation. In an experimental wound model in pigs, it was found that extracts of cultured human and pig keratinocytes stimulated replication of epidermal cells and their migration from wound edges and remnants of hair follicles and sebaceous glands, together with hair growth, but at the same time suppressed fibroblast proliferation in the dermis. Sections of healing skin wounds that had ...
Bell K, Pollitt CC, Patterson SD.Subdivision of equine TfH into two variants, designated H1 (faster) and H2 (slower), has been accomplished by high voltage, thin layer polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 7.9. Transferrin H1 and H2 have been shown to be controlled by codominant alleles and gene frequencies of the Tf alleles have been determined in the Australian Thoroughbred, Standardbred. Quarter Horse and Arabian Horse breeds.
MacCluer JW, Bailey E, Weitkamp LR, Blangero J.We have analysed the effects of ELA alleles and sire-dam ELA incompatibility on two measures of fertility, gestation length and foaling rate, in American Standardbred horses. Using multivariate statistical methods, we corrected for the effects of confounding factors such as dam and sire age, parity, inbreeding, and sire-dam kinship. These analyses revealed substantial differences between Standardbred trotters and pacers in the effects of several confounding factors. There appear to be no ELA effects on gestation length in either trotters or pacers. However our results suggest that there may be...
Evans DL, Rose RJ.Six detrained Thoroughbred horses performed incremental treadmill tests. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was measured during exercise by analysis of expired gas. The relationships between oxygen consumption (VO2) and work rate, heart rate (HR), cardiac output (Q), stroke volume (SV) and arteriovenous oxygen content difference [C(a-v)O2] were examined during submaximal and maximal exercise. The relative contributions of blood flow and extraction of oxygen from muscle capillaries were assessed during exercise at VO2max. Mean VO2max was 129.7 +/- 2.9 (mean +/- S.E.M.) ml kg-1 min-1, which occurred...
Horohov DW, Keadle TL, Pourciau SS, Littlefield-Chabaud MA, Kamerling SG, Keowen ML, French DD, Melrose PA.Intense exercise affects various parameters of the immune system. The overall effect of exercise on immune function is dependent upon the physical condition of the subject, the intensity and duration of the exercise period, and the immune parameter assessed. Unconditioned horses subjected to a single bout of intensive exercise exhibit multiple alterations in immune function, including an augmentation of lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cell function. This increase in LAK cell activity is not due to an increase in circulating LAK precursors. While peripheral blood mononuclear cells from exerci...
Montgomery JB, Duckett WM, Bourque AC.A 6-year-old mare was presented for evaluation of dysuria and pollakiuria. A pelvic mass, which caused obstruction of urinary outflow, was identified. Evidence of renal failure was also present. Due to poor prognosis the mare was euthanized. A postmortem examination revealed a pelvic lymphoma that surrounded and compressed the urethra. Lymphome pelvien comme cause de compression urétrale chez une jument. Une jument âgée de 6 ans est présentée pour évaluation de dysurie et de pollakiurie. Une masse pelvienne qui causait l’obstruction de l’écoulement d’urine a été identifiée. Des...
Matthews NS, Lindsay SL.Minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) for halothane was measured before and after administration of intravenous butorphanol (0.022 and 0.044 mg/kg in bodyweight in nine yearling Shetland ponies. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, expired CO2 and rectal temperature was also measured. Even though mean MAC values decreased 10 and 9 per cent after the low and high doses respectively, they were not statistically different from those measured prior to butorphanol. Halothane MAC values increased after butorphanol in two ponies, both animals increasing locomotor activity and demonst...
Richardson DW, Dodge GR.The complete nucleotide sequence of equine type II procollagen has not been previously reported, and equine-specific probes have not been available. We report the complete sequence and discuss the molecular characteristics of equine type II procollagen mRNA which was cloned from a cDNA library prepared from mRNA isolated from equine articular chondrocytes. The coding sequence (4257 bp) was 92.4% homologous to the cDNA of the human sequence, and the propeptide was 97% identical to the human sequence. We demonstrated that when equine chondrocytes are grown in phenotypically-maintained cultures, ...
Thirumalapura NR, Livengood J, Beeby J, Wang W, Goodrich EL, Goodman LB, Erol E, Tewari D.Neorickettsia risticii, an obligate intracellular bacterium, is the causative agent of Potomac horse fever (PHF). Diagnosis of PHF is based on demonstration of serum antibodies, isolation of N. risticii, and/or detection of nucleic acid by a PCR assay. An existing real-time PCR assay targeting the N. risticii 16S rRNA has been validated using blood samples from horses with colitis, and snails; to our knowledge, the performance of the assay for other sample types has not been reported. We describe here a modification of the 16S rRNA gene assay by the addition of a set of primers and probe targe...
Petzoldt K, Merkt H, Müller E, Kirpal G.Over the last years the percentage of foals lost by EHV at term or close to term seems to be higher than in former years. Furthermore, the pathological findings seem to shift from liver to lung. So far there has been no explanation for this phenomenon.
Sullins KE.Common equine upper respiratory conditions are diagnosed via endoscopy. Endoscopic surgery facilitates correction of many conditions without general anesthesia or laryngotomy, reducing the morbidity and cost of the procedures. Modalities of endoscopic surgery include the Nd-YAG laser or electrosurgery, which may be complementary. The least expensive method is electrosurgery, and instruments are available that can be passed through the biopsy channel of the endoscope. Conditions amenable to such procedures include entrapped epiglottis, rostral displacement of the palatopharyngeal arch, pharynge...
Berghuis GA, Wesselink HG.Twenty nine mares with retained fetal membranes were treated IV with an oxytocine infusion. Within two hours the placenta released in 24 mares (83%). Twenty six (90%) mares got pregnant during the same season.
Physick-Sheard PW, Morris WI, Genner D.To evaluate the clinical application of a semiorthogonal lead system for use in the horse, an inexpensive means of recording and storing the ECG was required which would allow the subsequent vectorcardiographic analysis to be computerized. In investigating the various options for the system the basic requirements for the digitization of analogue data were reviewed and previous studies examined. The system subsequently developed used an 8080 microprocessor and a multichannel 8-bit analogue to digital converter. This unit was signal-level compatible with the laboratory recorder used in the study...
Nash RA, Nunamaker DM, Boston R.To evaluate stiffness and bone-pin interface stress for a transcortical tapered-sleeve pin (TSP) that incorporates bilateral tapered sleeves over a transcortical pin. Methods: 14 third metacarpal bones (MCIII) collected from adult horses of various breeds. Methods: Each MCIII was cut in half to provide 2 test specimens. Pins (conventional and TSP) of 3 diameters (6.35, 7.94, and 9.50 mm) were inserted in specimens (3 specimens for each diameter and each type of pin). The test fixture simulated a typical sidebar-span skeletal fixation device for horses. Single cycle load-deflection tests were p...
Haussler KK.Integrative medicine is based on a model of being proactive and promoting health and wellness, rather than being reactive and solely focusing on episodic disease processes. Integrative medicine incorporates a holistic approach to clinical practice that encourages owner involvement with a focus on individualized care, maintained wellness, optimized performance, and disease prevention. Health promotion and preventative care require a different set of clinical skills and perspectives than is typically provided by a traditional veterinary education. Productive interprofessional collaborations are ...
Simpson CF, Buergelt CD.The alveoli of the lungs of 2 aborted foals contained elongated, dense bodies when examined histologically and by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. By light microscopy, the bodies (10 to 40 micrometers in size) stained intensely with the Gram stain, and up to 10 were present within an alveolus. Electron microscopy determined that such bodies were not cellular in origin but appeared to be a congealed fluid product composed of layers of fibrillar-like material. From the human literature, it was concluded that these intraalveolar bodies were probably congealed amniotic fluid.
Morrell JM, Johannisson A.The effect on sperm motility and chromatin integrity of adding homologous or heterologous equine seminal plasma (SP) to fresh stallion spermatozoa selected by single layer centrifugation (SLC) was studied. No statistical difference in mean progressive motility was seen after adding SP at time 0 h, although there were differences for individual stallions. The proportion of spermatozoa with high velocity was increased compared to untreated SLC-selected spermatozoa (P < 0.05), with significant differences between individuals (P < 0.01). When the SLC samples were stored for 24 h before a...
Nagatomo H, Tokita Y, Shimizu T.Although it is known that commercialized bovine serum is sometimes contaminated with mycoplasmas, it is not clear whether mycoplasmas can survive in horse serum. In this study, as a preliminary examination of the survival of mycoplasmas inoculated in horse sera, the survivability of 8 strains of 7 mycoplasmas was tested. The results obtained reveal that two strains of M. bovis and M. gallisepticum were found to survive in non-heated and inactivated sera for 94 to 330 days at 30 or 37 degrees C. Three strains of M. bovirhinis, M. gateae and A. laidlawii lived for 7 to 330 days depending upon th...