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.
van der Gaag I, van Bruinessen-Kapsenberg EG, Dik KJ, Kroneman J.A two-month-old female foal with duodenal stenosis is described. The foal was in poor condition and showed an abnormal stable behaviour. She stood preferably with her head stretched out and reposing on the mare's back or on the stable ridge. Salivation was an important symptom. Clinical and radiological examination of the oral cavity, the pharynx, and the oesophagus showed no abnormalities, except for the antiperistaltic wave along the oesophagus. Because of her bad condition the filly was euthanized. At post mortem examination, apart from leukoplakia, an erosive ulcerative inflammation was fo...
Tennant B, Dill SG, Glickman LT, Mirro EJ, King JM, Polak DM, Smith MC, Kradel DC.From June 1975 through June 1979, acute hemolytic anemia developed in 11 horses from 7 New York farms. Of the 7 horses that died, 6 had methemoglobinemia. In the 4 horses that recovered, methemoglobinemia was not observed. but Heinz body formation was seen in 3 of the 4. On 2 of the premises involved, frank methemoglobinemia was observed concurrently with Heinz body formation, suggesting a relationship between the pathogenesis of methemoglobinemia and Heinz body formation in the hemolytic process. In addition to the 11 cases described, 22 clinically similar cases were reported to us during the...
Sainsbury DW.The physiological requirements of the horse appear to be reasonably well established and should be adequately provided by ventilation based on straightforward principles, relying largely on natural air flow. On the other hand, there are few objective values for ventilation required to promote good health or alleviate equine respiratory disease. In the absence of such knowledge it is only possible to rely on a logical application of sound principles and experience. Both indicate the satisfactory nature of ventilation by stack effect, aspiration and perflation. Buildings should be well insulated...
Magilton JH, Swift CS, Ghoshal NG.The heads of 5 ponies were embalmed and the vessels were double injected with latex. Dissection of these specimens revealed venous pathways (1) from the nasal area to the cavernous sinus and (2) from the parietofrontal region to the ventral petrosal sinus. Thermistors were chronically implanted near the orbital emissary veins of 3 additional ponies. Hot and cold packs were applied alternately to the parietofrontal regions. The temperature near the orbital emissary veins increased during the 5 trials with cold application and decreased during the 5 trials with hot application. The authors were ...
Smith BP.The practical implications of equine salmonellosis in the light of present knowledge are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the various clinical forms which the disease may take. These include asymptomatic infections, signs of fever, anorexia and depression, severe acute diarrhoea and the septicaemic form. Diagnosis depends on recovery of the organism from the blood or faeces or, at necropsy, from tissues. In asymptomatic infections, it may be necessary to make serial faecal cultures over several days before a negative diagnosis may be made with any degree of certainty. Isolation of salmonellae i...
Shull RM.Hemolytic or blood loss anemia was induce in six ponies and red blood cell concentrations of creatine, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were measured during the ensuing regenerative period. Creatine and G-6-PD levels correlated well and increased concentration of either was good indication of increased erythrogenesis. Erythrocyte LDH levels were of value in assessing the response to hemolytic anemia but not to blood loss anemia. The difference may be, at least in part, the result of differing degrees of regenerative effor...
Boucher JH, Ferguson EW, Wilhelmsen CL, Statham N, McMeekin RR.The erythrocytes of 14 conditioned horses participating in a 157-km endurance ride (requiring 14-21 h) were examined before the ride, immediately upon entering the 44-91-, and 130-km rest stops, and at the finish. At the first rest stop (44 km), the mean erythrocyte count increased 41% (P less than 0.001), the mean hematocrit (Hct) increased 30% (P less than 0.001) and the mean hemoglobin (Hb) increased 33% ( P less than 0.001). Although subsequent mean erythrocyte counts, Hct, and Hb values remained significantly elevated above controls, the values decreased 9-9% from the 4-km values later in...
Clayton HM, Trawford AF.A field study was designed to investigate the re-establishment of patent lungworm infections in donkeys following an anthelmintic treatment regime which was effective against Dictyocaulus arnfieldi. In April 1979 faecal samples from 259 donkeys were examined and each animal classified as a negative, low positive or high positive excretor of lungworm larvae. During the summer the control group of 126 donkeys showed an increase in the number of excretors from 80 per cent in April to 91 per cent in October. At the same time there was a rise in the faecal larval output of individual animals so tha...
Adams LG.Six groups of four adult horses were twice injected intramuscularly at a 24 hour interval with 0, 2, 4, 8, 16 or 32 mg/kg of imidocarb dipropionate (IMDP) and monitored for 21 days. The LD50 of IMDP for 21 days after injection was two doses of 15.99 +/- 1.49 mg/kg with mortalities occurring within six days following the first injection. Increasing levels of IMDP were correlated with increasing rates of morbidity, mortality, local and systemic reactions, increasing levels of blood urea nitrogen, serum aspartate amino transferase, serum sorbitol dehydrogenase, serum creatine phosphokinase, neutr...
Rose RJ, Hartley WJ, Baker W.Bilateral laryngeal paralysis is described in 5 Arabian and part-Arabian foals aged between 23 and 35 days. Tracheotomies resulted in complete relief of dyspnoea. Two cases showed recovery of abductor function of the right arytenoid cartilage after 3 weeks and one of these cases later recovered left abductor function. Four of the foals were autopsied at various times from one week to 6 months after the onset of respiratory obstruction. Histology of the recurrent laryngeal nerves showed active Wallerian degeneration and loss of nerve fibres in many fascicles in cases affected for one to 2 weeks...
Guay P, Rondeau M, Boucher S.The effect of different glycerol concentrations (0 to 5.3 per cent) on motility, viability and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) release of stallion spermatozoa was studied before and after deep-freezing. Addition of glycerol to a TRIS-fructose-egg yolk diluent used to extend stallion semen had no effect on motility and viability of spermatozoa and it did not increase AST release. Inclusion of glycerol in the extender only partially preserved the motility and viability of stallion semen during deep-freezing. A fertility trial revealed that concentrating stallion semen by centrifugation, followe...
Blue MG, Wittkopp RW.Enteroliths were obtained by laparotomy or necropsy of 11 horses, and a collection of smaller concretions was found on pasture. Following analysis by energy-dispersion x-ray analysis and x-ray diffraction, they were found to consist primarily of ammonium magnesium phosphate. Several minor elements were detected, including titanium in some concretions. From a farm with a history of enterolith obstructions, the well water contained a high proportion of magnesium in relation to the other cations.
McCollum WH.Twenty horses that were seronegative for equine arteritis virus antibodies were inoculated IM with live equine arteritis virus vaccine. The inoculation did not cause clinical signs of disease. A mild, transient febrile reaction developed in 6 horses, 3 of which were in poor condition before inoculation. Six horses, 2 of which were in poor condition before inoculation, experienced mild lymphopenia. Necropsy revealed mild lesions in the lymph nodes of 6 horses (3 of which were in poor condition before inoculation). Maximum concentrations of virus were detected in the lymph nodes and were consist...
Attenburrow DP, James ED.URINARY incontinence has been reported in mares suffering
from equid herpesvirus infection (Greenwood and Simson 1980)
and in a foal (Ordidge 1976). Observations on a pony mare (122
cm high) which showed gross urinary incontinence after the
onset of a severe respiratory disorder are described here.
Goldstein MA, Schwark WS, Short CE, White KK.Depression of the cardiopulmonary system of the horse during anesthesia is not an uncommon event. In many situations simple approaches for improving the function of the horse are necessary to avoid loss of life. This study has been completed utilizing an anesthetic approach frequently used in horses and a cardioresuscitative technique which can be utilized by the practicing veterinarian. Severe depression to arrest were produced experimentally and each animal was resuscitated through support of ventilation and circulation.
Kuroda T, Minamijima Y, Niwa H, Mita H, Tamura N, Fukuda K, Kuwano A, Sato F.Cephalothin (CET) concentrations in body fluids (plasma, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, and aqueous humor) and tissue samples (bone, lung, jejunum, hoof, and subcutaneous tissue) were investigated to consider the treatment of infectious diseases in horses. CET 22 mg/kg body weight was intravenously administered to 12 horses. Samples were collected from four different horses at 1, 3, and 5 hr after administration. The CET concentration in body fluids other than aqueous humor was maintained above the MIC90 values of Streptococcus zooepidemicus and Staphylococcus aureus until 5 ...
Le Goff D, Pastier D, Hannan Y, Petit E, Ayrault-Jarrier M, Nouvelot A.1. Equine lipoproteins were isolated from plasma by density gradient ultracentrifugation and apolipoprotein composition determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 2. VLDL and IDL were present at low concentration (0.2 mg/ml). Two apoB components of Mr corresponding to human apoB-100 and one apoB-48-like component were represented in VLDL fraction. 3. LDL-1 and LDL-2 subfractions have displayed an almost equal concentration (0.4 mg/ml). Two apoB-100-like components were the major apolipoproteins in each fraction. Small amounts of apoB-48-like component were detectable in LDL-1 and LD...
Denny HR.Methods of treating fractures of the olecranon in the horse are reviewed. A further 4 cases are recorded in which the fracture was treated by open reduction and fixation with a heavy duty Venable's plate placed on the caudal aspect of the ulna. Three cases had an oblique fracture through the semilunar notch; this was complicated in one by a fracture of the lateral half of the radial head which resulted in subluxation of the radio-humeral joint. The fracture of the radial head was treated by open reduction and fixation with a lag screw. The fourth case had an oblique fracture of the olecranon j...
Jones SL.Treating inflammation in the equine gastrointestinal tract remains a challenge. Our most potent anti-inflammatory drugs, COX inhibitors and glucocorticoids, have unwanted effects on the gastrointestinal tract and host defense that often limit their use. Newer strategies targeting specific cells and molecules that regulate a subset of the events occurring during inflammation are rapidly becoming available and should allow clinicians to reduce the detrimental effects of inflammation without inhibiting the beneficial aspects.
Lees P, May SA, Hooke RE, Silley P.The administration of a single dose of the antibacterial agent cephalexin intramuscularly to six ponies at a dose rate of 7 mg/kg was well tolerated. No reactions at the injection site were apparent. It was absorbed rapidly and reached a mean peak plasma concentration of 6.77 micrograms/ml after a mean of 1.41 hours; plasma concentrations above 2.0 and 0.5 micrograms/ml were maintained for 3.8 and 9.8 hours, respectively.
Maher M, Kuebelbeck L.Nonhealing wounds present a common challenge to the equine practitioner. An underlying source of inflammation and infection is almost always present and needs to be resolved for healing to proceed. Wound débridement is the mainstay for this resolution. In addition, wound closure, wound dressings, and skin grafts can be used to achieve successful wound healing.
Poulsen L, Henriksson FV, Dahl M, Honoré ML, Olsen SN, Leifsson PS, Staerk-Østergaard J, Jacobsen S, Pihl TH.Horses with non-strangulating intestinal infarction (NSII) are often misdiagnosed with idiopathic peritonitis or acute colitis. Early diagnosis is essential to ensure early surgical intervention and improve survival. Clinical and laboratory data from horses admitted to the University of Copenhagen Large Animal Teaching Hospital with NSII, idiopathic peritonitis or acute colitis between 2009 and 2018 were used for univariate comparisons and a multivariable logistic regression model for prediction of NSII. Two hundred and thirty-one horses were included. A multivariable model for the prediction ...
Gareau L.Over the past decade, the cattle industry has experienced practically a full circle. With the promising beef prices in the early 1970s, with the glut of grain and a generous assist from government incentive programs, the forage acreage and cattle population have increased at a record rate. By 1974, the tide began to turn - grain prices went up sharply and beef prices became sluggish - and by 1976 a major crisis faced the producers. The cattle industry which had been developing on a cheap grain economy was now obliged to rely more on forage for its survival. Unfortunately, the forage was not ex...
Pick M.Intensive strain of racing-horses during training and race is not an end in itself but should be understood from the social task to create exceptionally efficient horses. This roughness in sports obliges the responsible associations to issue rigorous regulations for the protection of horses. In this paper, some physical and psychical disorders of racing-horses are described. Improved keeping conditions as well as performance-adapted training methods will help to avoid defects. The aids being used during training and races are critically investigated on their effects according to the regulation...
Slais K, Nielen MW, Brinkman UA, Frei RW.Amphetamine-type drugs with a wide polarity range have been screened in both human and horse urine using on-line pre-concentration on pre-columns packed with hydrophobic and cation-exchange sorbents in series and gradient microbore high-performance liquid chromatography. The underivatized amphetamines were identified by UV detection at 210 nm. The method has potential for the automated liquid chromatographic screening of amphetamines in urine, e.g., for doping control.
Hinrichs K, Betschart RW, McCue PM, Squires EL.Mares with preovulatory follicles >33 mm in diameter were administered hCG and were randomly assigned for aspiration of the dominant follicle at 24 h or 35 h after hCG administration. Oocytes recovered at 24 h were cultured for 12 h before transfer and oocytes recovered at 35 h were cultured for 1 h. Oocytes were transferred by flank laparotomy to the oviduct of the same mare, or to the oviduct of another oocyte donor. Recipient mares were inseminated before and after transfer. The oocyte recovery rates at 24 h and 35 h after hCG administration were not significantly different (10/15 (66%) and...
Littlejohn A.The arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) in clinically normal newborn foals at 1300 m above sea-level is considerably lower (less than 60 mmHg) than in similarly aged foals at lower altitudes. This figure is further reduced to less than 50 mmHg without adverse effect in newborn foals at 1300 m maintained under pentobarbitone anaesthesia for prolonged periods. Measurement of O2 dissociation curves indicates that haemoglobin becomes saturated at a lower blood O2 tension in newborn foals than adult horses.
Miyakoshi D, Higuchi T, Ikeda H, Sato M, Yoshimura S.To report a surgical technique and an outcome for the repair of a displaced, transverse scapular body fracture with locking compression plates (LCPs) in a colt. Methods: One 5 month old Thoroughbred colt. Methods: Case report. Methods: A colt sustained an unstable, comminuted, transverse fracture of the scapular body. Three 4.5/5.0 mm LCPs were used with 6.5 mm cancellous screws, 4.5 mm cortex screws, and 5.0 mm locking head screws. Implants were removed 2 months after surgery. Results: Surgical site infection was identified by purulent discharge at the distal aspect of the suture li...
Blikslager AT, Bristol DG, Bowman KF, Engelbert TA.To determine the feasibility of performing a single-incision loop colostomy for treatment of grade-3 rectal tears in horses. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Seven adult horses with grade-3 rectal tears. Methods: A single-incision loop colostomy was performed with horses under general anesthesia (n = 6) or while restrained in standing stocks (n = 1). The rectal tear was lavaged via an endoscope. The colostomy was resected after the rectal tear healed. Results: Rectal tears ranged from 4 to 10 cm in diameter and were > 25 cm proximal to the anus. All horses survived colostomy surger...
