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.
Combie J, Blake JW, Ramey BE, Tobin T.Morphine was detected in equine biological fluids by a combination of liquid-liquid extraction and column chromatography, followed by derivatization and gas-liquid chromatographic assay, using electron capture detector. Recovery of morphine from the equine biological samples was poor. However, despite an overall recovery of less than 20%, this method had a detection limit of 0.2 ng/ml. Addition of 5,000 U of bovine liver beta-glucuronidase/ml of urine enabled detection of the drug in urine for up to 144 hours after horses were given 0.1 mg of morphine/kg of body weight. Morphine was found for ...
Rebhun WC, Mirro EJ, Georgi ME, Kern TJ.Habronemic blepharoconjunctivitis was characterized clinically by raised yellow gritty plaques in the palpebral and bulbar conjunctivae. Lid granulomas and blepharitis were observed in some cases. On histologic examination, mast cells, eosinophils, and collagenolysis was found in most sections, but if only one section was examined an erroneous diagnosis of mastocytosis could have been made. Treatment consisted of larvicidal mixtures for lid lesions and organophosphate ophthalmic drops along with corticosteroids for the conjunctivitis. If the cornea was damaged by the gritty conjunctival plaque...
Malan FS, Reinecke RK, Scialdo RC.The entire gastro-intestinal tract and viscera of the abdomen and thorax, including the heart, aorta and its branches to the viscera, are removed from the carcass. All the branches of the aorta, with the exception of the A. gastrica sinistra, are dissected from the intestinal tract, and subsequently each branch is isolated from the mesentery, fat, pancreas, kidneys, etc. Usually, the A. ileocolica is grossly enlarged due to chronic arteritis with thrombus formation caused by 4th stage larvae, 4th moult and 5th stage Strongylus vulgaris. Descriptions of methods to examine the subperitoneal tiss...
Klein L, Hopkins J.4-Aminopyridine was administered in incremental IV doses to healthy horses to evaluate cardiorespiratory and behavioral effects. Doses of 100 micrograms/kg produced apparent sensory discomfort, manifested by wiggling or curling of the lips and tongue, arching or stretching the neck, snorting, squealing, and coughing. At cumulative dosages of 300 to 500 micrograms/kg, muscle tremors, a stilted gait, and signs of excitement occurred. Once signs of excitement occurred, additional administration of 4-aminopyridine resulted in prolonged excitement consisting of severe muscle tremors and exaggerated...
Bochkova NG, Koreshkova GV, Pogodina VV.A total of 5227 serum specimens from humans, horses and swine collected in the seasons of 1968--1976 in 15 administrative areas of the Primorskiy Kray were examined with antigens of a number of mosquito-borne arboviruses: Japanese encephalitis (JE), West Nile (WN), Getah, and Sindbis. Both independent and combined circulation of these viruses in the region was established. Sindbis virus was found to be circulating separately most frequently, West Nile virus the least frequently. According to the results of the serological analysis, the conditions for combined circulation are most closely relat...
Genetzky RM, Schneider EJ, Butler HC, Guffy MM.Arthrodesis of the proximal interphalangeal joint in horses, with 2 screws crisscrossing the joint, was compared with arthrodesis achieved by placement of 3 screws crossing the joint parallel to the long axis of the bone. The comparison was made by means of radiography, gross and histologic examinations, and motion evaluation. Additionally, the fused 1st and 2nd phalanges resulting from each method were subjected to breaking forces. Motion evaluation and direct examination of the fused area demonstrated that either procedure can be used to achieve arthrodesis consistently, and the breaking pro...
Gingerich DA, Mia AS.Thirty adult horses were used to compare the toxicity and cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition of various dosages of a combination anthelmintic, trichlorfon + mebendazole. Single oral doses of up to 5 times the effective dosage (39.7 mg of trichlorfon and 8.8 mg of mebendazole/kg of body weight) did not result in deaths. Horses given a placebo and horses treated at the recommended dosage rate showed few or no side effects, whereas horses given higher dosages showed dosage-related increases in the severity of clinical signs of organophosphate toxicosis. Dosage-related inhibition of erythrocyte ChE a...
Malan FS, Reinecke RK, Scialdo RC.The tongue, pharynx, oesophagus and gums are examined for larvae of gasterophilus spp., and the nose and sinuses for oestrid larvae. The gastro-intestinal tract is divided into separate specimens-stomach, small intestine, caecum, ventral colon, dorsal colon, descending colon and rectum- and each is examined separately. Aliquots of ingesta of 1/4 by mass of the stomach and 1/10 by mass of the small intestine, caecum, ventral colon and dorsal colon are collected for microscopic examination. Each part of the wall of the caecum, ventral and dorsal colon is washed and specimens are collected for su...
Terblanche HM, Maree L.Plasma progesterone was determined with the aid of a competitive protein-binding assay in mares during the oestrous cycle, early pregnancy (45--60 days) and later pregnancy (2--10 months). Progesterone levels were low during oestrus (less than 1 ng per ml) (3,18 nmol/l) and reached high levels (often in excess of 10 ng per ml) (31.8 nmol/l) within 3--4 days after ovulation. The high luteal levels were maintained for approximately 5--8 days and then declined sharply over a period of approximately 24--48 hours to reach low levels at the subsequent oestrus period. In mares conceiving after servic...
Laitinen J, Remes E, Hänninen O, Alanko M, Simanainen V.The milk progesterone profiles of four mares were followed daily for four to five weeks after foaling. Progesterone was determined by direct radioimmunoassay using iodinated progesterone as the labelled antigen. The milk progesterone concentration varied from 1 to 5 nmol/1 (0·3 to 1·6 μg/1) during the first 10 days after foaling. The first ovulation took place at about the tenth day. During the luteal phase milk progesterone levels rose dramatically, reaching a maximum level of 30 to 45 nmol/1 (9·4 to 14·2 μg/1) within five to 10 days, and then fell to low levels unless pregnancy followe...
Stewart GA.During the last three decades in Australia and New Zealand the heart score theory has been used in the cardiovascular assessment of racehorses in training (Steel 1957, 1963, 1966-67; Irvine 1964, 1966; Stewart and Steel 1970; Steel and Stewart 1972, 1974). In particular the heart score has been of value as one of several factors employed in assessing the potential of the horse for different types of racing. More recently, studies indicating the heritability of heart score and its possible sex-linkage (Steel et al 1977) have suggested its use also as one of several criteria for selection in rac...
Dibb WL, Digranes A, Tønjum S.Perforation is the most serious complication of fibreoptic endoscopy.1
The commonest site of perforation during upper gastrointestinal
endoscopy is the oesophagus,' but predisposing factors have not been
fully documented. We report a retrospective survey of major endoscopy
units in the United Kingdom and attempt to identify the factors associated with oesophageal perforation.
Sack WO, Orsini PG.One hundred three equine hocks, obtained from the postmortem room, were used to study the communication and injection of material into the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints. Excluding the hocks with fused central and 3rd tarsal bones, in 8.3% of hocks injected with low (clinical) pressure and in 23.8% injected with high pressure, the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints communicated by dissection of the material through 2 internal spaces: the tarsal canal and the space between the combined tarsal bones 1 and 2 tarsal bone 3. A "pop" sometimes felt when high pressure was us...
Pascoe JR, Meagher DM, Wheat JD.Uterine torsion was diagnosed in 26 mares of various breeds. The mean duration of gestation was 9.6 months. The most common clinical history was intermittent unresponsive colic of varying duration. Diagnosis of uterine torsion was confirmed by rectal palpation, and surgical correction was achieved in most cases by standing flank laparotomy and manual repositioning of the gravid uterus. Recumbent laparotomy was used only if the mare was intractable, the uterus was ruptured, or hysterotomy was indicated. Of 20 foals determined to be alive during surgery, 14 (70%) were subsequently born alive.
Johnson JE, Ryan GD.Soft tissue lesions are often secondary to equine carpal injury. The clinical and pathological nature of soft tissue changes following carpal trauma are varied. This report describes a case of intersynovial fistula between the radial carpal joint and the common digital extensor tendon sheath. The differential diagnosis and pathological features of equine soft tissue carpal injuries are discussed.
Martens P.An ossicle associated with the palmar aspect of the carpus is described in five horses. The size of the ossicle varied from 3 x 4 mm to approximately 12 x 10 mm. The ossicles were located at the junction of the proximal and distal rows of carpal bones, between the palmaromedial aspect of the fourth carpal bone and the ulnar carpal bone. In 3 horses they were bilateral, in one horse unilateral, and only one limb was examined in the remaining horse. In all horses it was an incidental finding and not regarded to be a pathologic entity.
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...