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.
Markel MD, Madigan JE, Lichtensteiger CA, Large SM, Hornof WJ.Over a 4-year period, vertebral body abscess was diagnosed in 5 young cattle. The laboratory findings in most of these cases did not suggest a diagnosis of vertebral body abscess. The most important basis for diagnosis of this condition was a thorough neurologic examination. In 4 cases, necropsy revealed abscesses in the lungs or thoracic cavity as well, suggesting that a history of pneumonia preceding paresis may favor the diagnosis of vertebral body abscess.
Meyer EE, Morris PG, Elcock LH, Weil J.Rabies was diagnosed in 2 adult Quarter Horses with hindlimb hyperesthesia and progressive weakness. Microscopic examination of the cord and brain of the first horse revealed nonsuppurative meningomyelitis and ganglioneuritis in the cord extending cranially to the 6th cervical segment. Fluorescent antibody test results of both horses were positive for rabies in hindlimb peripheral nerve specimens, but negative in sections of the upper lip. Salivary gland, cerebrum, cerebellum, hippocampus, musculocutaneous nerve, cornea, and optic nerve specimens were tested for rabies by fluorescent antibody ...
Donahue JM.Eighty-seven of 283 isolates of salmonellae recovered from horses in Kentucky by the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center from July 1, 1980 through June 30, 1984 were Salmonella agona. No isolations of S agona were made from Jan 1, 1972 through June 30, 1980. Salmonella agona was isolated from horses on 56 farms and most of the isolations were made in the spring. All age classes of horses were involved. Clinical forms of salmonellosis observed were diarrhea, septicemia, infertility, and abortion. Antibiotic susceptibilities were determined for 83 of the 87 isolates, and 79 were resistant to mul...
Valentine BA, Ross CE, Bump JL, Eng VM.Intramuscular hemangiosarcoma resulting in severe anemia and thrombocytopenia was diagnosed in a 3-year-old Thoroughbred filly. Necropsy revealed multiple tumors within skeletal muscles and multiple pulmonary metastases.
Robb EJ, Kronfeld DS.A 3-year-old mare repeatedly had clinical signs of rhabdomyolysis on mild exertion. Serum creatine kinase and aspartate transaminase activities were high at rest. Responses to dietary sodium bicarbonate were tested through 7 alternating periods of supplementation of a basal ration of timothy hay and oats. Physical signs; venous blood pH and gases; blood glucose and lactate; serum electrolytes, enzymes, and creatinine; and urine pH were monitored before and after exercise. Dietary sodium bicarbonate raised resting venous blood pH and bicarbonate slightly and significantly increased urine pH fro...
Bertone AL, Stashak TS, Sullins KE.Large colon resection and anastomosis was performed in 11 horses at various levels of the colon, using several surgical methods. The level of resection ranged from the pelvic flexure to the cecocolic ligament. Nine of 11 horses survived and at follow-up (4 months to 7 years) were free of clinical signs referable to disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Seven horses could be evaluated as to athletic or reproductive function and all returned to original potential.
Auer JA, Watkins JP, White NA, Taylor TS, Rooney JR.Fractures of the fourth carpal bone were diagnosed in 5 horses; 3 fractures were associated with fracture of the intermediate carpal bone. The diagnosis was delayed in all 5 horses, apparently because of the moderate nature of the clinical signs. Open surgical reduction with lag screw type fixation was used in all horses. Because of delayed treatment, transfixation of carpal bones (necessary for stability), and surgical trauma, degenerative joint disease with osteophyte formation occurred in all 5 horses. None of the 5 horses was able to begin or return successfully to work, although 4 of the ...
Stover SM, Hornof WJ, Richardson GL, Meagher DM.History, physical examination, and bone scintigraphy were used to diagnose central and/or third tarsal bone trauma in 3 acutely lame horses. In all 3 cases, the results of initial radiographic examination were negative. Bone scintigraphy revealed focal, intense radioisotope uptake at the level of the distal tarsal bones in the 3 horses. Radiographs obtained 4 weeks after injury in one horse demonstrated a slab fracture of the central tarsal bone. Conservative management of the tarsal bone disease resulted in acceptable return to function in all 3 horses.
Markel MD, Dorr TE.Multiple myeloma was diagnosed in a 22-year-old Arabian mare with a history of chronic weight loss. Quantitative immunoglobulin analysis revealed monoclonal gammopathy (IgG(T), 9,800 mg/dl). Due to progressive weight loss, the horse was euthanatized. Microscopy of tissues revealed plasma cell infiltrates in bone marrow, spleen, pituitary gland, adrenal cortex, muscle of the tongue, and bronchial, renal, and mesenteric lymph nodes.
Wand AJ, Englander SW.The 1H resonances of 11 sequential amino acids in the N-terminal helix of horse ferrocytochrome c were studied by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. All the main-chain protons from Lys-5 through Ala-15 and many of the side-chain protons were assigned. J-Correlated spectroscopy (COSY) was used to distinguish protons on neighboring bonds and to recognize amino acid types. Nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) was used to define spatially contiguous protons and to determine amino acid sequence neighbors. The relayed coherence experiment (relay COSY) was used to resolv...
Johnson R.A review of the literature on intestinal atresia of domestic animal species and humans was done. The 5 types of intestinal occlusions described in human infants are atresia type 1, atresia type 2, atresia type 3, stenosis, and the "apple peel" or "Christmas tree" deformity. The intestinal defects described in domestic animal species such as the bovine, equine and porcine are similar to those of human infants. The "T-formation", an intestinal defect of the bovine resembling atresia type 3, and rectal stricture, an acquired intestinal defect of the porcine resembling stenosis, were described rec...
Martin L, Kaswan R, Chapman W.Traumatic optic nerve atrophy is characterised clinically by a unilateral or bilateral sudden onset of blindness. Dilated, fixed pupils and a lack of a menace reflex are the only abnormalities noted soon after the trauma. Within three to four weeks the optic disc becomes paler and the retinal vasculature is markedly decreased. The pathological lesion is a rupture of the nerve axons from stretching forces produced by the posterior movement of the brain against the fixed canalicular portion of the optic nerves. Medical therapy has not been successful.
Reinemeyer CR, Herd RP.Haustral portions of intestine of 6 horses were isolated by excising the taeniae coli from the cecum and the ventral colon. Uniform 5-cm X 5-cm sections were cut from the haustra and were illuminated from the serosal side with a strong light source (mural transillumination). Cyathostome larvae encysted in the mucosa and submucosa were observed at 15 X magnification and counted. Two separate counts of the larvae in 80 replicates of tissue by the mural transillumination technique (MTT) revealed no significant (P less than 0.05) difference between sample means. Larvae in tissue sections were coun...
Crans WJ, McNelly J, Schulze TL, Main A.Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE) was isolated from the salt marsh mosquito, Aedes sollicitans, collected from coastal areas of New Jersey on 3 occasions during the late summer and fall of 1982. The isolations were made at a time when local Culiseta melanura were either undergoing a population increase or exhibiting high levels of EEE virus. Although no human cases were reported during the epizootic period, the data lend support to the hypothesis that Ae. sollicitans is capable of functioning as an epidemic vector in the coastal areas of New Jersey where human cases of EEE have been most...
Jeffcott LB, Field JR, McLean JG, O'Dea K.The existence of an innate insulin insensitivity in ponies was investigated and compared with the situation in larger breeds of horse. Ponies that were fat or had previously suffered laminitis were found to be far more intolerant to oral glucose loading (1 g/kg bodyweight [bwt]) than normal ponies or Standardbreds. These ponies also exhibited a far greater response in plasma insulin levels after glucose loading. Insulin response tests (0.4 iu/kg bwt insulin intravenously) showed only a minimal and very protracted response in both the fat and laminitic groups. The relevance of these findings in...
Wyn-Jones G, Jones RS, Church S.One of the major obstacles to successful intranasal surgery in the horse is haemorrhage, even minor interferences causing profuse bleeding. Conventional techniques for haemostasis are ineffective or inhibit the progress of the surgery. Temporary bilateral occlusion of the common carotid artery resulted in a substantial reduction in haemorrhage during intranasal surgery in five horses, with much improved visibility and facility of operation. The large contribution to the circle of Willis by the ventral spinal artery is believed to prevent cerebral ischaemia during this procedure. This paper des...
Hago BE, Vaughan LC.Contrast radiography was used to determine the position, shape, relationship and capacity of a number of tendon sheaths and bursae which have clinical significance in the horse. It was possible to establish the normal range of radiographic anatomy for these structures. Some variation in the extent and form of tendon sheaths were found between individual horses and between foals and adults.
Hardee MM, Moore JN, Hardee GE.The efficacy of three agents which alter the metabolism of arachidonic acid was investigated in normal, conscious horses. A dose response evaluation was made of flunixin meglumine and phenylbutazone, two cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors, and of a selective thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, UK-38,485. Radioimmunoassay of thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha (PGF1 alpha) was used to assess the concentrations of thromboxane A2 (TxA2) and prostacyclin (PGI2) respectively, in serum. Flunixin was the most potent inhibitor of serum TxB2 and 6-keto PGF1 alpha production. UK-38,485 also de...
Emmerich IU.In 2014, no new active pharmaceutical ingredients were released on the German market for horses and food producing animals. One established veterinary active pharmaceutical ingredient is avaibable for an additional species. The analgetic buprenorphine (Buprenodale® Multidose) has additionally been authorized for horses. Furthermore, four new preparations with a new pharmaceutical form, one drug with a new formulation, new galenics and a new indication, respectively, have recently been released to the market. Furthermore, the prostaglandin F2α analoque luprostiol is available again.
Furniss C, Carstens A, Cilliers I.A 12-year-old, grey, crossbred pony mare was presented with a swelling in the neck over the area of the 2nd cervical vertebra (C2), which was found to be painful on palpation. The neck was held stiffly. Radiography of the cervical region showed a focal area of increased radio-opacity over the dorsal, caudal and lateral aspect of the dorsal spinous process of C2. Ultrasound confirmed the presence of a hypoechoic area approximately 15 cm in diameter superimposed over the dorsal spinous process of C2. An aspirate was taken of the mass, which revealed purulent exudate confirming the diagnosis of a...
Galey FD, Twardock AR, Goetz TE, Schaeffer DJ, Hall JO, Beasley VR.Twelve horses, with acute laminitis (primarily in the forefeet) at 12 hours after intragastric dosing with an aqueous extract of black walnut (Juglans nigra) heart-wood, were studied. The distribution of perfusion of blood to the foot and to outlined regions within the foot was quantified, using gamma scintigraphy of regionally infused 99mTc-labeled macroaggregated albumin, before and 12 hours after extract administration. Horses 1 to 3 were not studied further. Perfusion was quantified again for horses 4 to 12 at 84 hours after extract administration. At the onset of acute laminitis, horses 7...
Krumrych W, Danek J, Markiewicz H, Gołyński M.The aim of this study was to analyze the chemiluminescence (CL) of peripheral blood in clinically healthy horses of different sexes and ages. The tests were carried out on 119 half- -breed horses, representing various forms of use (66 recreational horses and 53 sport horses). The test material was peripheral blood, which was collected under resting conditions, i.e. before physical activity related to the use of these animals. In the blood samples, spontaneous and stimulated CL with zymosan and phorbol myristate acetate were determined. It has been found that regular training effort increases t...
Drudge JH, Lyons ET, Tolliver SC.In 1973-1974, 4 controlled tests were performed in pony foals (n = 17) raised parasite-free and experimentally infected with Strongyloides westeri. Administration of infective larvae by stomach tube in 1 test resulted in low-grade infections and tended to invalidate the test. Intraoral and percutaneous (intra-aural) administration of larvae resulted in suitable test infections for 1 and 2 tests, respectively. A paste formulation of dichlorvos at 36.3 mg/kg of body weight removal from 4 ponies. Treatment of 4 the dosage rate of 44 mg/kg was consistently effective (greater than 99% to 100%) for ...
Lee OJ, Koch TG.Inflammation-associated disorders are significant causes of morbidity in horses. Equine single-donor mesenchymal stromal cells (sdMSCs) hold promise as cell-therapy candidates due to their secretory nonprogenitor functions. This has been demonstrated by mononuclear cell suppression assays (MSAs) showing that sdMSCs are blood mononuclear cell (BMC) suppressive in vitro. sdMSCs derived from umbilical cord blood are of clinical interest due to their ease of procurement, multipotency, and immunomodulatory ability. Due to the inherent donor-to-donor heterogeneity of MSCs, the development of robust ...
Foerner JJ, McIlwraith CW.This article attempts to address what the authors consider to be the major orthopedic problems in the racehorse, with particular attention to their treatment and prognosis. These problems include fractures, osteochondral fragments, synovitis, degenerative joint disease, tendinitis, desmitis, osteochondritis dissecans, and subchondral cystic lesions of the joints.
Sander J, Terhardt M, Janzen N.In horses, congenital defects of energy production from long-chain fatty acids have not been described so far. In contrast, inhibition of fatty acid degradation caused by the toxins hypoglycin A and methylenecyclopropylglycine from various maple species are observed frequently. These non-proteinogenic aminoacids are passed on placentally to fetuses or with collostrum or milk to newborn foals. Nevertheless, newborn foals become very rarely symptomatic. Vertical transmission apparently is not sufficient to induce clinical disease without a particular genetic constellation being present. One of t...
Suzuki K, Yamaya Y, Asano K, Chiba M, Sera K, Matsumoto T, Sakai T, Asano R.The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between the mean concentrations of trace elements and the severity of the second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block in the mane hair of horses. Electrocardiographs of horses were continually recorded for 6 h using a holter cardiac monitor to determine dropped ventricular beats (DVBs) which can be used as an indicator of the severity of the AV block. Mane hair Ca, Cu, Mg, and Zn concentrations were measured by the particle-induced X-ray emission method. The Zn/Cu ratio and Ca concentration in mane hair were significantly and positively ...
Stampfli HR, Misiaszek S, Lumsden JH, Carlson GP, Heigenhauser GJ.The plasma proteins are a significant contributor to the total weak acid concentration as a net anionic charge. Due to potential species difference, species-specific values must be confirmed for the weak acid anionic concentrations of proteins (Atot) and the effective dissociation constant for plasma weak acids (Ka). We studied the net anion load Atot of equine plasma protein in 10 clinically healthy mature Standardbred horses. A multi-step titration procedure, using a tonometer covering a titration range of PCO2 from 25 to 145 mmHg at 37 degrees C, was applied on the plasma of these 10 horses...
Knezevic PF, Fessl L.Thrombosis of the aorta as the cause of intermittent claudication in the horse appears to be rare. Two cases out of about 10 000 horses 1973-1984 are discussed. There are various views on its aetiology, whereby haemodynamic factors and disturbances of coagulation have been mentioned as well as parasites. For treatment surgical methods should be explored in addition to medical procedures. History, diagnosis and the attempt of an aortic thrombectomy in a 12 year old thoroughbred mare are described in this paper. A standardbred stallion was left untreated on owners wish.
Pilsworth RC, Holmes MA, Shepherd M.A fracture of the pelvis in a horse can be detected scintigraphically by probe point counting. However, the pelvis is covered by a large and variable muscle mass, and is close to the urinary bladder, both of which can introduce errors. This paper describes an improved technique which uses a larger set of sampling points and analyses the data with a small computer to construct a three dimensional graph of the gamma-ray output across the pelvis, thus helping to improve the interpretation of the data. The scintigraphic plot from a normal horse, three cases of fracture (confirmed by radiography, u...