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Topic:Veterinary Medicine
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.
Chemical immobilization and blood analysis of feral horses (Equus caballus). Combinations of etorphine hydrochloride and xylazine hydrochloride in different dosages were tested for their efficacy as immobilizing agents on 16 recently captured feral mares in corrals. The results of these trials led to the utilization of a standard combination of 5.5 mg of etorphine hydrochloride, 150 mg of xylazine hydrochloride, and 3 mg of atropine sulfate in a 7-ml dart syringe for field capture. This combination was used, administered by dart gun from helicopters, to capture 87 free-ranging feral horses from about 80 bands. Five mares died at the time of capture and the remains of t...
Closed reduction and blind cross-pinning for repair of a proximal tibial fracture in a foal. A 4-day-old foal underwent repair of a proximal metaphyseal fracture of the tibia. After closed reduction, fixation was achieved by use of blind cross-pinning. Thirty-five days after surgery, radiography demonstrated complete healing. The foal was mildly lame 4 months after repair of the fracture. Blind cross-pinning may be considered as a method of repair for certain long bone fractures in small foals.
Pudendal and caudal rectal nerve blocks in the horse – An anesthetic procedure for reproductive surgery. The pudendal and caudal rectal nerves in four male and five female adult crossbred horses were anesthetized with a local solution. The injection site was located at the foramen for the caudal gluteal artery and vein in the sacrosciatic ligament. Twenty milliliters of local anesthetic solution were injected via a 15-cm, 18-gauge needle. Quantitative data on anesthesia were determined from these injections. Dye was injected with the anesthetic in four additional horses so that accurate placement of the solution could be determined at postmortem examination. Satisfactory anesthesia of the anus, p...
Enhanced biliary bilirubin excretion after heparin-induced erythrocyte mass depletion. The effect of large-dose heparin therapy on erythrocyte mass depletion in ponies was investigated to determine whether stimulation of reticuloendothelial cell activity and catabolic function would be evidenced by enhanced catabolism of heme to bilirubin. Ponies with chronic external biliary fistula were used to examine biliary excretion of bilirubin both before and after heparin loading (107 U/kg, IV, plus 320 U/kg, subcutaneously) and at maintenance dosages of 320 U/kg given (subcutaneously) at 12 and 24 hours after initial loading with heparin. Results indicated that by 48 hours after ponies...
Healing of surgically created defects in the equine superficial digital flexor tendon: effects of pulsing electromagnetic field therapy on collagen-type transformation and tissue morphologic reorganization. The effect of pulsing electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy on the healing of surgically created defects in equine superficial digital flexor tendons was evaluated. Defects were created in both front superficial digital flexor tendons of 20 horses. The defect in 1 limb was exposed to a PEMF for 2 hours daily. The other limb served as a control. Histologic and immunofluorescent evaluations were done in horse killed at postsurgical weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24. Therapy with the PEMF significantly (P less than 0.05) delayed the maturation of the tissue formed within the defect at postsurgical weeks 8...
Oral lactose tolerance test in foals: technique and normal values. Oral lactose tolerance tests were evaluated in 25 healthy foals (principals) assigned to 4 groups of approximately 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks of age. Lactose monohydrate (1 g/kg of body weight [in a 20% water solution]) was administered via nasogastric tube after a 4-hour fast. Plasma glucose concentrations were monitored before dosing (0 minutes) and sequentially for 300 minutes. Six control foals were given a volume of water equivalent to the volume of lactose monohydrate administered to principal foals. After oral lactose loading, mean plasma glucose concentrations of all princi...
Healing of surgically created defects in the equine superficial digital flexor tendon: collagen-type transformation and tissue morphologic reorganization. Full-thickness defects were surgically created in the superficial digital flexor tendons of the front limbs of 20 horses. Tissues formed within the defect were evaluated histologically, and the collagen composition of the tissue was determined by immunofluorescence. Transformation occurred from loose fibrillar areas of types I and III collagen and pericellular types IV and V collagen to dense bundles of type I collagen fibers. Loose fibrillar areas of types I and III collagen were present after 24 weeks. Histologically, in horses killed after 2 weeks, the tissue within the defect was a randoml...
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of Corynebacterium (Rhodococcus) equi infection in foals. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to diagnose Corynebacterium (Rhodococcus) equi infection in foals. In tests done with different antigen-extraction procedures (sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium deoxycholate, polyoxy-ethylene [9] p-tert-octylphenol, polyoxy-ethylene [9-10] p-tert-octylphenol, sonification, homogenization, and heat treatment at 121 C), Tween 20 was a satisfactory reactive antigen. Using hyperimmune rabbit sera or infected foal sera, we investigated the specificity and the sensitivity of the ELISA with the Tween 20 antigen of the different serotypes or of the is...
Traumatic gastropericarditis in a horse. An ingested metallic foreign body migrated from the stomach and induced restrictive pericarditis in a horse. Necropsy revealed chronic abdominal and acute thoracic lesions. Although rare, ingested foreign body migration should be considered in the differential diagnosis of body cavity disease in horses.
Effect of upper airway CO2 on breathing in awake ponies. We determined whether the [CO2] in the upper airways (UA) can influence breathing in ponies and whether UA [CO2] contributes to the attenuation of a thermal tachypnea during periods of elevated inspired CO2. Six ponies were studied 1 mo after chronic tracheostomies were created. For one protocol the ponies were breathing room air through a cuffed endotracheal tube. Another smaller tube was placed in the tracheostomy and directed up the airway. By use of this tube, a pump, and prepared gas mixtures, UA [CO2] was altered without affecting alveolar or arterial PCO2. When the ponies were at a neut...
[Periodic uveitis in horses]. The aetiology, clinical symptoms and treatment of equine periodic ophthalmia are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the possible role in aetiology of Onchocerca cervicalis microfilariae. Corticosteroids and atropine are the most important therapeutic drugs.
Treatment of Corynebacterium equi pneumonia of foals: a review. Combined antimicrobial drug treatment was recommended for foals with Corynebacterium equi pneumonia. The preferred combination is orally administered erythromycin estolate (25 mg/kg of body weight, QID) plus rifampin (10 mg/kg, BID). Erythromycin estolate also can be combined for synergistic effect with sodium benzyl penicillin given IV (100,000 IU/kg, QID) or with ampicillin given IV (11 to 15 mg/kg, QID). A third choice is sodium benzyl penicillin IV with gentamicin IM (2.2 mg/kg, TID) or with kanamycin IM (10 mg/kg, QID). Gentamicin should be combined with penicillin G or ampicillin and not...
Studies on the immunogenicity of Streptococcus equi vaccines in foals. The ability of either formalin-treated or heat-inactivated whole Streptococcus equi cell vaccines or partially purified M-protein of S. equi to give rise to protective antibody levels was studied in Standardbred foals by serological means. Two commercial preparations, i.e. a beta-propiolactone killed whole S. equi cell bacterin and a cell-free extract of S. equi cells were included in the study. The mean passive hemagglutination antibody titers (10 X log2) in sera of foals given either four doses of formalin-treated whole cell vaccine or an initial dose of formalin-treated followed by three do...
Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of cephalothin in horse mares. The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of cephalothin given to 6 horse mares at a dosage level of 11 mg/kg of body weight IV or IM were investigated. The disposition of cephalothin given IV was characterized by a rapid disposition phase with a mean half-life of 2.89 minutes and a subsequent slower elimination phase with a mean half-life of only 14.7 minutes. The mean residence time of cephalothin was 10.6 +/- 2.11 minutes. The total plasma clearance of cephalothin averaged 13.6 ml/min/kg and was caused by metabolism and renal elimination. Renal clearance of cephalothin averaged 1.32 ml/min/k...
In vitro phagocytosis and killing of Corynebacterium equi by alveolar macrophages of foals. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed 5 times, sequentially, on 3 healthy foals while each foal was 6 to 63 days of age. Phagocytosis and bactericidal assays were performed on recovered alveolar macrophages. Corynebacterium equi and alveolar macrophages at a ratio of 10:1 were incubated for 1 hour in medium containing 1% heat-inactivated rabbit anti-C equi serum. After incubation, greater than 90% of the alveolar macrophages contained at least 1 ingested bacterium and each alveolar macrophage contained 9.4 +/- 1.0 bacteria (mean +/- SE). After alveolar macrophages and C equi were incubated for ...
Anaerobic bacteria in 21 horses with pleuropneumonia. Anaerobic bacteria are important and overlooked bacterial pathogens of the lower respiratory tract in horses. Twenty-one of 46 horses with pleuropneumonia had anaerobic bacteria isolated from pleural fluid or from tracheobronchial aspirate. Bacteroides oralis and B melaninogenicus were the anaerobes most frequently isolated. Survival was significantly less for horses from which anaerobes were isolated than for horses from which anaerobes were not isolated. Putrid odor was associated with the pleural fluid and/or breath in 62% of the horses from which anaerobes were isolated. In these horses, t...
Effect of intrauterine infusion of Escherichia coli endotoxin in postpartum pony mares. Fifteen pony mares were assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups after foaling: Group 1, 35 ml of sterile saline solution was infused into the uterine lumen within 24 hours after parturition (6 mares); group 2, 300 mg of Escherichia coli endotoxin was infused into the uterine lumen within 24 hours after parturition (6 mares); and group 3, 300 mg of E coli endotoxin was infused into the uterine lumen between 72 and 96 hours after parturition (3 mares). Rectal temperatures were taken at -1, -0.5, 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hours after treatment. Venous blood samples were also taken at these times...
Horse kidney neutral alpha-D-glucosidase: purification of the detergent-solubilized enzyme; comparison with the proteinase-solubilized forms. Neutral alpha-D-glucosidase (alpha-D-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.20) from horse kidney brush-border membranes was solubilized using Emulphogene BC 720 and purified by an affinity chromatography technique. The enzyme preparation (390-fold purified), which was free of other known microvillus hydrolases, exhibited one precipitate line in crossed immunoelectrophoresis and migrated as a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Several criteria (charge-shift crossed immunoelectrophoresis and hydrophobic chromatography) revealed the purified detergent form of t...
Retropharyngeal infections in five horses. Five horses with retropharyngeal (RP) infections had clinical signs of dysphagia and/or dyspnea. Diagnosis was confirmed, using pharyngeal endoscopy and lateral radiography of the pharynx. One horse responded to surgical drainage of a RP abscess and was sound at light work. One horse responded to medical management after the site of infection was surgically explored. Two horses recovered after medical management; the RP abscess of 1 of these 2 horses ruptured spontaneously into the pharynx and the other horse became racing sound. The fifth horse remained dysphagic and had left laryngeal hemipl...
Youth Accidents With Horses. In brief: In a two-year study of the estimated 13,428,000 hours of horse activities by 18,408 US Pony Clubs (USPC) members aged 6 to 21 in scheduled supervised programs, there were 64 accidents resulting in 88 injuries in 16 areas of the body. The head/face was the area most often injured (27.27%), and bruise/abrasion was the most common type of injury (28.26%). Cross-country riding was the most dangerous event (42.31%). Unexpected actions of the horse caused many accidents-25% occurred when the horse bucked and threw the rider, 23.08% when the horse refused a jump, and 17.31% when the horse f...
Total intravenous anaesthesia in the horse with propofol. The use of propofol, solubilised in a non-ionic emulsifying agent, for the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia in experimental ponies was assessed. Pilot studies revealed that premedication with xylazine (0.5 mg/kg bodyweight [bwt]) intravenously (iv) followed by propofol (2.0 mg/kg bwt) iv provided a satisfactory smooth induction. Two infusion rates (0.15 mg/kg bwt/min and 0.2 mg/kg bwt/min) were compared for maintenance of anaesthesia. An infusion rate of 0.2 mg/kg/min produced adequate anaesthesia in these ponies. Cardiovascular changes included a decrease in arterial pressure and card...
Activities of key enzymes of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in middle gluteal muscle from trained and untrained horses. The effect of physical training on the in vitro activities of key enzymes that provide quantitative information on the maximum capacities of anaerobic and aerobic metabolism has been investigated in the gluteal muscle of the horse. Training had no effect on the activities of 6-phosphofructokinase or creatine kinase, suggesting that there was no effect on the capacity of anaerobic metabolism in this muscle. However, the activities of hexokinase and citrate synthase were increased, indicating that training increased the capacity of aerobic metabolism. For comparative purposes, muscle fibre compo...
Arbovirus investigations in Argentina, 1977-1980. IV. Serologic surveys and sentinel equine program. Serologic surveys of wild and domestic birds, wild mammals, and horses were conducted during arbovirus field studies in Argentina from 1977 through 1980, a non-epizootic interval. The prevalence of neutralizing antibodies to eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) was consistently higher than to western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus in all species and all areas. The presence of antibodies in short-lived avian species and in young unvaccinated horses and the demonstration of seroconversions in horses during the period, indicated that these viruses are either enzootic in, or annually reintroduced in...
Cell synchronization and dynamic G-banding of equine chromosomes by bromodeoxyuridine. Both dynamic G-banding and cell synchronization produced by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), were applied to equine chromosomes. BrdU incorporated during the first half of the S-phase is taken up into the R-bands that are early replicating. These bands, which have incorporated BrdU, cannot contract as usual and remain elongated; only the other regions of the chromosome, i.e., the G-bands, contract normally and are sharply defined. BrdU also can be used for cell synchronization. The addition of BrdU in a high concentration, 15 hours before harvest, and its removal 11 hours later, has two effects: init...
Perirectal abscesses in six horses. Perirectal abscesses were diagnosed retrospectively in 6 horses treated for colic. The abscesses caused colic in the horses by producing an extraluminal obstruction that led to fecal impaction. The abscesses were diagnosed by rectal palpation and aspiration of exudate from the masses and were drained surgically. In horses in which the abscess involved abdominal organs, peritonitis developed.
Periosteal transection of the proximal phalanx in foals with angular limb deformities of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal area. Bilateral angular limb deformities of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal regions in 2 foals are discussed. Periosteal transection was used to correct the deformity in both foals. In one foal, only the right forelimb was treated because the deformity in the left forelimb did not appear to warrant surgery. Subsequently, an angular limb deformity, which could have been prevented, developed in the left forelimb. A third foal developed a deformity in the proximal phalanx after periosteal transection of the distal third metatarsal bone.
Hormonal response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in healthy horses and in horses with pituitary adenoma. Cortisol, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), insulin, and glucose responses to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) were evaluated in 12 healthy, mature horses and in 7 horses and 4 ponies with clinical signs of pituitary adenoma (PA). Within 1 hour after TRH administration, the increase in T3 and T4 was similar in healthy horses and animals with PA. Plasma cortisol in the group with PA increased (P less than 0.05) within 0.25 hours after TRH administration, and remained increased for 1.5 hours. In the control group, a significant increase in plasma cortisol concentrations did not develop a...
