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.
Schneider RK, Milne DW, Gabel AA, Groom JJ, Bramlage LR.Rosette strain gauges were applied to the equine radius and tibia. Three sites were examined on each bone on separate occasions (proximal metaphysis, middiaphysis, and distal metaphysis). At each site, 4 rosette gauges were applied around the bone (ie, cranial, caudal, medial, and lateral). Strain recordings were made while walking the horse with and without a full-limb plaster cast. The principal axis of tensile strain was on the craniolateral aspect of the radius. Distally, on the radius, the largest strains were torsional. The cast changed the principal axis of tensile strain on the radius ...
Bertram TA, Coignoul FL, Jensen AE.Equine neutrophils were combined with Haemophilus equigenitalis (contagious equine metritis organism; CEMO) or Escherichia coli in low- and high-antibody-titer serum to evaluate the neutrophils ability to phagocytize and kill these bacteria. More E. coli than CEMO were phagocytized at each time period. After 120 min in low-antibody-titer serum, 56.3% of the E. coli and 34.3% of the CEMO were phagocytized. A total of 45% of CEMO and 74.9% of E. coli were phagocytized by 120 min when neutrophils were in high-antibody-titer serum. More than 75% of the ingested E. coli and 90% of the ingested CEMO...
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...
Alexander F.The effect of ethacrynic acid, bumetanide, frusemide, spironolactone and anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) on the urinary and faecal excretion of water and electrolytes by ponies was studied. Ethacrynic acid, bumetanide, and frusemide given intravenously, increased urinary sodium excretion, and, excepting frusemide, decreased faecal sodium excretion. Given by stomach tube ethacrynic acid reduced urinary and faecal sodium. Bumetanide, given intravenously, spironolactone, frusemide and ADH increased urinary sodium and all except frusemide intravenously decreased faecal sodium regardless of route of ad...
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 ...
Kunkle GA, Greiner EC.An episode of dermatitis in 12 horses and many animal handlers in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the University of Florida was attributed to the straw itch mite, Pyemotes tritici. The mite was found in abundance alfalfa hay that recently had been delivered to the hospital. Papules were the most common cutaneous lesions, and these developed on areas of the body to which the mites had easiest access. The clinical course was self-limiting, remitting when the hay supply was depleted.
Raphel CF.A flexible fiberoptic endoscope was used to examine the upper respiratory tract of 479 horses and 41 (8.6%) had abnormalities. Pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia (PLH) was found in 141 horses (29.5%). Statistical analysis showed a relationship between the age of the horse and the prevalence of PLH. Sixteen (3.3%), 10 (2.1%), and 6 (1.3%), of the horses had laryngeal hemiplegia, epiglottic entrapment, and dorsal displacement of the soft palate, respectively. There was no association between the age of the horse and the prevalence of any of these abnormalities; nor was there a positive correlation ...
Suzuki T, Ueda S, Samejima T.An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was elaborated for the detection of specific antibody to equine infectious anemia (EIA) antigen. Sera from horses experimentally infected with EIA virus were assayed by ELISA, complement fixation (CF) and immunodiffusion (ID) tests for antibody to EIA antigen. The ELISA technique was found to be much more sensitive than CF and ID tests. In addition, EIA specific antibody could be detected by ELISA at an earlier stage of infection than by CF or ID techniques. The applicability of the technique to diagnosis of EIA is discussed.
George LW, Divers TJ, Mahaffey EA, Suarez MJ.Ponies given dried red maple (Acer rubrum L.) leaves at a dose of 3.0 gm/kg body weight became ill and died one to five days after administration of the leaves. Two clinical patterns of disease were seen. Ponies given dried leaves collected after September 15 died by 18 hours, while ponies given dried leaves collected before September 15 became ill with a hemolytic syndrome and died by three to five days. Freshly harvested leaves administered immediately after collection did not produce disease in ponies, but when dried, they became toxic and remained so for at least 30 days. Overnight freezin...
Derksen FJ, Robinson NE, Slocombe RF.In awake sensitized ponies, we studied the effect of aerosol ovalbumin challenge on ventilation, pulmonary mechanics, lung volume, and gas exchange before and after vagal blockade. We also challenged the left lung and measured respiratory rate (f) and right and left respiratory system resistance (RrsR, RrsL) before and after both left and bilateral vagal section. Bilateral ovalbumin aerosol challenge increased f, minute ventilation (VE), total respiratory system resistance (Rrs), and minimal volume, decreased dynamic compliance, total lung capacity, and arterial oxygen tension, and was without...
Theodorakis MC, Bermudez AJ, Manning JP, Koritz GD, Hillidge CJ.Six derivatives of ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis (alpha-2-hydroxy phenyl) acetic acid labeled with technetium 99m were prepared and their imaging qualities evaluated in ponies. The 6 agents produced good scintigraphic images of certain structures of the liver in the pony. For each agent, 13 different scans were taken. Dorsal views of the left lateral, right lateral, and quadrate lobe were obtained with dorsal scans. Left lateral and left lateral oblique (45 degrees) scans provided a left lateral view of the left lobe and a medial view of the right lateral lobe. Right lateral scans revealed the righ...
Antczak DF, Bright SM, Remick LH, Bauman BE.A genetic system controlling lymphocyte alloantigens of the horse is described. Alloantisera to paternal histocompatibility antigens induced as a result of pregnancy in mares were used in an antibody-mediated complement-dependent microcytotoxicity assay to define 15 Equine Leukocyte Antigen (ELA) specificities using cluster analysis. In this study 369 sera were screened for alloantibody using lymphocytes from 10 randomly selected, unrelated horses. A high proportion (83%) of these sera were found to be positive for antibody to lymphocyte alloantigens. After initial cluster analysis, 120 of the...
Bertram TA, Coignoul FL.Equine neutrophils were evaluated ultrastructurally and by morphometric analysis. Homogeneous populations of neutrophils were isolated from peripheral blood at 4 degrees and 22 degrees C by centrifugation on two sequential Ficoll-Hypaque density gradients. Isolation procedures at both temperatures resulted in neutrophil degranulation but not cell swelling. Degranulation was more extensive in cells isolated at 22 degrees C. Isolation temperature affected the neutrophil content of secondary granules more than primary granules. A granule similar to immature specific granules of human neutrophils ...
Auer JA, Martens RJ.Valgus deformities were created in 6 pony foals by hemicircumferential transection of the periosteum and periosteal stripping (HCTP and PS) just proximally to the distal physis on the medial side of 1 radius (principal thoracic limb). The opposite thoracic limb served as a control. One month after this surgical procedure was done, the limbs were radiographed and the angle of deviation was determined. All horses developed a valgus deformity of the principal limb. In an effort to correct the acquired valgus deformity, the 2nd surgical procedure was performed--HCTP and PS on the lateral aspect of...
Skok MV, Denisiuk PV, Komissarenko SV.Glutaraldehyde treatment does not change the absorption of cytochrome c either in the visible or in UV spectra. It brings about the formation of dimers, trimers and high-polymeric forms of cytochrome c and shifts the pI of all cytochrome c isoelectric fractions to more acid pH. Polymerization also results in changes of kinetic parameters of cytochrome c benzidine reaction increasing its affinity to 3,3-diaminobenzidine with a simultaneous decrease in the effectiveness of H2O2 binding. These biochemical changes can be related to immunochemical differences of native and glutaraldehyde-treated cy...
Slocombe JO, McCraw BM, Pennock PW, Vasey J.Twelve pony foals were reared worm-free and inoculated with Strongylus vulgaris. Approximately 8 weeks after they were inoculated, 6 foals were given ivermectin IM at a dosage rate of 200 micrograms/kg of body weight and 6 were given a placebo. All foals were necropsied 35 days after treatment. Ivermectin was 98.9% effective in eliminating later 4th-stage S vulgaris larvae located near the origin of major intestinal arteries and in reducing clinical signs and permitting resolution of lesions associated with verminous arteritis. One pony foal reared on pasture and with evidence of arteritis of ...
Dewes HF.Fractures of the central tarsal and/or third tarsal bones involving both limbs of six foals are described. Five of the subjects were born either premature or of twin pregnancies. Fractures occurred in the neonatal period and coincided with disablement. Features of behaviour, posture and gait are described, together with gross radiographic findings, bone ash determination and blood chemistry. Lesions observed on the articular faces of tarsal bones recovered from adult horses may have originated during the neonatal-period.
Clarke LL, Garner HE, Hatfield D.Acute laminitis-hypertension was produced by carbohydrate overloading of the gastrointestinal tract in 12 adult horses. Obel grade 3 (OG3) lameness developed 40 hours (+/- 3.5, SEM) after overfeeding. At OG3 lameness, mean plasma volume was significantly decreased (P less than 0.005) when compared with base-line values. Before OG3 lameness, transient decreases in serum phosphorus and calcium were recorded. Mild hyponatremia also developed before OG3 lameness and persisted. After establishment of OG3 lameness, persistent hypokalemia and increased plasma aldosterone concentration occurred coinci...
Drommer W, Damsch S, Winkelmeyer S, Hertsch B, Kaup FJ.In 25 adult horses the podotrochlea of 49 forelimbs was examined by means of light and electron microscopy in order to correlate clinical and morphological findings. According to the clinical diagnosis the animals were divided into three groups: lameness due to syndrome of podotrochlosis (group 1) or due to tendopathy (group 2) and horses without lameness (group 3). The most striking pathological findings of the navicular bone and the opposite surface of the deep flexor tendon were found in horses with podotrochlosis, consisting of loss of cartilage and tendon matrix with denudation of collage...
Bristol F.Oestrus was synchronized in 220, 300 and 272 mares in 1983, 1984 and 1985 respectively. Mares were given two injections of 250 micrograms fenprostalene 15 days apart except in 1983 and 1984 when 56 and 53 of the synchronized mares were given 1-10 daily injections of 150 mg progesterone and 10 mg oestradiol-17 beta to delay and synchronize post-partum oestrus. At 2 days after the second PG injection or 7 days after the last progesterone + oestradiol treatment, mares were divided into groups of 15-21, and each group was placed in a separate pasture with a stallion for 7 weeks. Pregnancy rates we...
Tovar P, Escabias MI, Santisteban R.A study of electrocardiograms recorded from foals during the first two weeks of life has been made in order to detect any changes of the cardiac activation and recuperation processes during this period. A stepwise discriminant analysis revealed significant differences between the first and second week of age, fundamentally on the basis of the T and P wave amplitudes which gave the lowest values at 14 days, and on the PQ segment duration that showed the highest values at the same age.
Southwood LL, Lindermann J, Zarucco L, Driessen B, Olander H, Habecker P, Birks EK, Frisbie DD.Growth factors (GF) are important for maintenance and repair of intestinal mucosal structure and function, but there have been no studies investigating growth factor (GF) or growth factor receptor (GF-R) mRNA expression in the intestine of horses with large colon volvulus (LCV). Objective: (1) To determine mRNA expression for epidermal growth factor (EGF), EGF receptor (EGF-R), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF), IGF receptor (IGF-R), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor (VEGF-R) in the intestine of horses with an LCV compared to normal intestine. (2) To measure the corr...
Antal V, Antal T, Szabó I, Vajda G, Polner A, Szollár I, Totth B, Laber G, Stipkovits L.The authors examined 585 samples from 92 mares of 2 studs and 346 nasal swabs taken from their foals for the presence of mycoplasmas. The positive rates of mares and foals were 81.5% and 71.7%, respectively, with positivity of samples being variable. Clinical symptoms developed in 2-4 waves and lasted 3-7 days, with intervals of 7-12 days. The disease started in April among foals born in February, at an average age of 88 days. Later on, the average age of the affected foals decreased. There was a correlation between presence of mycoplasmas in nasal cavity and disease of foals.
Sławomirski J, Flieger S, Jastrzebski M, Boratyński Z.The studies carried out on 2 spinal cords of horses showed that cells of the medial motor nucleus (nucleus motorius medialis) are present in all neuromers of the lumbar and sacral segment of the spinal cord. It lies in the medial part of grey matter of the ventral column, neighbouring laterally and ventrally with cells of the lateral motor nucleus, whereas dorsally with cells of the nucleus of the ventral commissural horn. Along the nucleus numerous constrictions and intervals are found, which are connected with various numbers of nerve cells in particular cross-sections.
Joss R, Baschnagel F, Ohlerth S, Piskoty G, Fürst A, Bischofberger AS. The aim of this study was to compare the potential of an unshod and shod hoof to cause an orbital fracture in the event of a kick. Methods: Thirty-four equine cadaveric orbitae were exposed to a steel or horn impactor in a dropping test set-up. An impactor velocity of 7 m/s was used for both materials. Testing was repeated on the same orbit at a velocity of 10 m/s with the horn impactor if no damage occurred. A high-speed camera was used to analyse the impact process. Physical parameters (peak force and impact duration) were calculated based on quantitative video-tracking. Computed tomog...
Firth EC, Goedegebuure SA, Dik KJ, Poulos PW.Nine foals with haematogenous osteomyelitis of the tarsal bones were studied clinically, radiologically and pathologically. Clinical examination, including aspiration of articular or periarticular effusions in the tarsal area, and radiological study provide definitive diagnosis in most cases.
Galey FD, Beasley VR, Schaeffer DJ, Davis LE.Prazosin, isoxsuprine, and nifedipine were screened for ability to reverse contraction of isolated equine digital vascular strips produced by epinephrine (Epi) in the presence of hydrocortisone (Hc) and an aqueous extract of black walnut (Juglans nigra) (BW). Two arteries and two veins from each of three horses for each drug (n = 9) were maintained in isolated tissue baths in Krebs' bicarbonate buffer with 95% oxygen at 37 degrees C. Six-point Epi concentration-response (C-R) curves were obtained for each vessel in the presence of Hc, BW, and the appropriate vehicle. This was repeated for each...
Sellon DC, Russell KE, Monroe VL, Walker KM.Seven ponies were infected with the virulent wild-type Wyoming strain of equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV). Infection status was monitored by serum reverse transcriptase activity, rectal temperature, and complete blood count. Preinfection serum and serum obtained during the initial febrile episode following infection were assayed for interleukin 6 (IL-6) activity. Postinfection IL-6 activity was significantly increased as compared to preinfection values. The magnitude of increase in IL-6 was positively correlated with reverse transcriptase activity (an indirect measure of viraemia) but wa...
Cermák O.The paper describes the relation of citric acid to other chemical and biological indices of the fertility of stallion sperm. A positive relation was found between citric acid and the density and motility of spermatozoa, to the concentration of ergothioneine, and hemolytic activity, and a negative relation to pH and to the polarographic activity of proteins. Attention is drawn to the important nutritional function of citric acid.
Koenig JB, Silveira A, Cribb NC, Piat P, Laverty S, Sorge US.The main objective of this retrospective study was to describe clinical findings, management, and short- and long-term outcome in 27 horses that underwent various surgical techniques for esophageal disease. Surgical techniques (sometimes concurrently) performed were: esophagostomy ( = 14), esophagotomy with primary closure ( = 6), esophagomyotomy ( = 3), and esophagoplasty ( = 2). Esophageal perforation in 5 horses was treated by ventral drainage; 3 horses had the esophageal defect sutured ( = 3). Feeding tubes were placed in 15 horses. Postoperative complications occurred in 52% (14/27) with ...
Dhar AK, Thompson MS, Paradis MR, Alcivar-Warren A.To determine the complementary DNA (cDNA) sequence of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in horses and compare messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of IL-1ra among horses of various breeds. Methods: Blood samples from neonatal and adult horses examined for a variety of diseases. Methods: A polymerase chain reaction procedure was used to amplify a 220 base pair (bp) portion of the genomic DNA. The upstream and downstream regions of the cDNA sequence were determined by means of 5' and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) procedures. Northern blot hybridization was used to examine steady...
Camacho CA, Estradé MJ, Cazales N, Caballeros JE, Fiala-Rechsteiner SM, Neves AP, Mattos RC.This experiment aimed to verify if the proteins present in a 13 day conceptus induce changes in the equine endometrial ultra-structure, histology, and vascularization, two days after its infusion. Ten healthy cyclic mares were used. Once estrus was confirmed, mares were examined daily to detect ovulation (day 0). After ovulation, mares were examined daily until day seven by transrectal palpation and B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography. In this first cycle, intrauterine biopsies were collected at day seven after ovulation, constituting the Cyclic group (n = 10). In the second cycle, the same mar...
May-Davis S, Minowa F, Brown WY.The Yonaguni pony is a rare breed of pony that has remained isolated on the westernmost island of Japan and may well retain normal morphological traits currently lost in most domestic horses (Equus caballus), such as the attachment of the nuchal ligament lamellae (NLL) from C2-C7. Recent research has found that NLL attachments are no longer present at C6 and C7 in most modern domesticated horses. This study investigated the attachments of the NLL in three Yonaguni ponies; 2 were examined in situ(deceased), and 1 was examined in vivo via ultrasound. The aim was to verify the attachments and com...
Andrews FM, Robertson JT.Functional obstruction of the right dorsal colon was found at surgery in a 6-year-old American Saddlebred gelding with a history of anorexia, depression, weight loss, and intermittent colic. Side-to-side anastomosis of the right dorsal colon to the small colon was done to bypass the obstruction. Histopathologic findings of the right dorsal colon and regional colonic lymph nodes were unremarkable. Surgical treatment was successful.