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.
Carakostas MC, Moore WE, Smith JE.Intravascular granulocyte kinetics in 4 healthy horses were determined with chromium-51 as the cell label. The disappearance rate of labeled granulocytes was an exponential function. Mean total blood granulocyte pool (+/- 1 SD) was 5.65 +/- 1.514 X 10(8) granulocytes/kg of body weight, of which 2.71 +/- 0.715 X 10(8) granulocytes/kg were circulating and 2.94 +/- 0.876 X 10(8) granulocytes/kg were marginated along blood vessel walls. The mean disappearance half-life (T1/2) was 10.5 +/- 1.33 hours and the mean granulocyte turnover rate was 8.84 +/- 1.495 X 10(8) granulocytes/kg/day. A granulokin...
McCullagh KG, Silver IA.The historical development of "firing" as a treatment for various complaints in animals and man is followed from the first surviving written account by Vegetius (approximately AD 500) to the present day. Changing concepts as to the mechanism of action of the actual cautery are examined in relation to physiological understanding at various times and conflicting views and evident fallacies are discussed. It is of particular interest that firing of "sinewes" (tendons and ligaments) was expressly forbidden until the 18th century. It is concluded that "firing" is an outmoded practice for which ther...
McGuire TC, Perryman LE, Banks KL.Following the descriptions of immunodeficiencies in horses beginning in 1973, there has been considerable effort to develop methods for differential diagnosis and to determine the cause and prevalence of the disorders. In addition, the equine immunodeficiencies, especially combined immunodeficiency, have been studied from a comparative viewpoint with the goal of finding information applicable to similar diseases of children. Coincident with the development of knowledge about the immunodeficiencies per se, considerable information about several aspects of immunology has been obtained. It is the...
Noonan NE.Adult female dogs or pony mares were subjected to a nonlethal dose of CCl4 (0.5 ml/kg of body weight). Amounts of several plasma enzymes thought to be indicative of hepatic disease were monitored. Plasma enzymes alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), arginase, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and iditol dehydrogenase (ID), as well as total plasma bilirubin, were determined in these animals before and after the administration of the CCl4. In the dog, GGT was not significantly increased, whereas ALP values were increased during days 1 to 6. In the...
Rowlands IW.The world-wide foaling rate in the mare is low and in the Hannoverian breed has remained asymptotic at about 50 per cent for over 150 years. In an attempt to discover some of the possible reasons for this low fertility rate, the evolutionary history of the perissodactyls, the odd-toed ungulates, is reviewed here. Of the 156 genera of this order, 152 are in the fossil record; this gives them the highest extermination rate of all the mammal groups. Some of the unusual and unique features of the reproductive physiology of the mare and their possible association with low fertility are considered.
Kelly JD, Webster JH, Griffin DL, Whitlock HV, Martin IC, Gunawan M.A survey was conducted to determine whether benzimidazole resistant populations of equine strongyles are present in New South Wales and north central Victoria; what is their frequency and geographical distribution; which species are involved; and whether different methods of parasite control could be related to the occurrence and frequency of anthelmintic resistant populations. Resistant populations of strongyles were found over wide areas of New South Wales and in north central Victoria. There was no relationship between geographical location and the occurrence of benzimidazole resistance. Th...
Carakostas MC, Moore WE, Smith JE, Johnson D.The functional capacity of the marrow granulocyte reserve (MGR) in 4 adult horses was studied, using 51Cr-labeled leukocytes. The mean increase in the peripheral granulocyte count following injections of etiocholanolone (0.3 mg/kg) was 870 granulocytes/mm3, and the mean increase following prednisolone administration (200 mg) was 5,880 granulocytes/mm3. Etiocholanolone failed to mobilize the MGR and decreased the rate of granulocyte egress from the blood. Prednisolone rapidly mobilized the MGR and markedly decreased the granulocyte specific activity during the first 3 hours after injection.
Nyack B, Morgan JP, Pool R, Meagher D.Osteochondrosis of the shoulder joint in the horse was diagnosed radiographically in 54 shoulders of 38 horses. Clinical signs were those of an intermittent lameness characterized as a swinging leg shoulder lameness with pain elicited by extension, flexion or abduction of the limb. Diagnosis of shoulder lameness was supported by blocking the shoulder joint with local anesthetics. Radiographic changes consisted of: (1) alteration in the contour of the humeral head and glenoid cavity, (2) periarticular osteophyte formation, (3) sclerosis of the subchondral bone, and (4) bone cyst formation. The ...
Allen BV.A technique for automating equine differential leucocyte counts by analysis of volume distribution curves using the Coulter Channelyzer has been developed and evaluated. A comparison between the results obtained by this method and standard microscopic techniques showed good agreement in most cases. Blood samples can be analysed for both differential and total leucocyte counts at a rate of 25/h. For each sample an average 16,000 leucocytes are classified by the Channelyzer. The method of volume analysis is suitable for the precise counting of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosin...
Moore JN, Garner HE, Shapland JE, Hatfield DG.Bacterial endotoxin injected intravenously into conscious ponies produced alterations in cardiopulmonary and gastrointestinal function. Specifically, tachypnoea, dyspnoea, hypoxaemia, colic, lactic acidosis and diarrhoea resulted from administration of 10 micrograms/kg Escherichia coli endotoxin. Pretreatment of the ponies with a potent prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, flunixin meglumine, prevented these ill effects of endotoxin.
Mackay RJ, Iverson WO, Merritt AM.A 4-year-old stallion was examined because of a 2-month history of inappetance and weight loss. Diarrhoea had also developed a month before presentation. Abnormal clinical findings were emaciation, diarrhoea, ventral oedema, palpable mesenteric lymph node enlargement and a large mass in the left cranial portion of the abdomen. Significant laboratory findings were anaemia (packed cell volume 0.21 litres/litre), hypoalbuminaemia (16 g/litre) and xylose malabsorption. The horse was euthanased and at necropsy a 10.5 kg pendunculated mass composed of granulation tissue was found within and attached...
Mottironi VD, Perryman LE, Pollara B, Mickey MR, Swift R, McGrath P.Combined immunodeficiency disease (CID) is a genetic disorder of T and B lymphocyte production which results in a nonfunctional immune system. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait and has been reported in humans and in horses of the Arabian breed. Arabian horses known to have the CID gene and horses of unknown carrier status were tested using a microlymphocytotoxicity technique. Computer chi 2 analysis distinguished six serologically defined specificities. The study of unrelated horses and a limited number of families showed that the specificities behave as codominant alleles segreg...
Dixon KE, Kreider JL.Fifty ejaculates, ten from each of 5 mature stallions, were utilized to study the effects of calcium and fatty acids on equine spermatozoa which were isolated in 3% Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA). The ejaculates were evaluated for percent motile spermatozoa, rate of forward movement, debris, primary abnormalities and secondary abnormalities. The isolation procedure consisted of layering 2 ml of diluted semen (100 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml) over 6 ml of 3% BSA in 13 x 125 mm columns in a water bath (37 degrees C). After 30 min., the top semen layer and upper half of the BSA layer were withdrawn from a...
Dietz HH.Diagnostic tests in horses showing signs of gastrointestinal diseases are reviewed. The use of rectal exploration is emphasized, and paracentesis as a diagnostic aid is mentioned. Special attention is given to the absorption tests as they are easy to conduct and give a relative measure of the absorptive capability of the intestinal epithelium. Glucose, D(+)-xylose and carbohydrate digestion-absorption tests are compared, and the D(+)-xylose absorption test is preferred because of the univocal curve of absorption (see Figure 1 and 2). The absorption curve in a horse suffering from alimentary ly...
Franken P, van den Hoven R, Sasse HH, Koeman JP, Goedegebuure SD.The case of a three-year-old mare is reported, in which clinical examination revealed the presence of haemorrhagic diathesis as a result of disseminated intravascular coagulation. The animal also showed severe lameness which was due to involvement of the long bones. The diagnosis was only established after death.
Kouba V.This analysis of global veterinary personnel was based on the available quantitative data reported by individual countries to international organisations. The analysis begins with a time series of globally reported numbers of veterinarians, starting in the year 1959 (140,391). In 2000 this number reached 691,379. Of this total, 27.77% of veterinarians were working as government officials, 15.38% were working in laboratories, universities and training institutions and 46.33% were working as private practitioners. The ratio of veterinarians to technicians was 1:0.63. The global average of resour...
van Niekerk HP, Couvaras S.The possibility of including sodium hydroxide-treated lucerne hay as a constituent in rations for horses was investigated by measuring its effect on the performance and certain bloodcomponents of growing foals. As no adverse effects were found it is concluded that further investigation is necessary to see whether the inclusion of low grade-treated roughages in the ration of horses would be of economic significance.
Zhao J, Marghitu DB, Schumacher J.Tranquilization of horses with acepromazine has been used to suppress erratic head movements and increase the accuracy of a lameness examination. Some equine clinicians believe that tranquilization with acepromazine will make lameness more evident by causing the horse to focus on adjusting its gait to avoid limb pain rather than its surroundings. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acepromazine on the Lyapunov exponents of lame horses. Ten lame horses were trotted in a straight line for a minimum of 25 strides. Kinematic data created by head movement were analyzed. Nonlinear...
Foreman JH.Metabolic causes of exercise intolerance can be subtle and difficult to document in horses. Because of increased metabolic rate in exercising muscle, most metabolic causes of exercise intolerance are clinically manifested by muscle abnormalities such as ER. Newer causes of ER are being documented by current research and are summarized in the article on muscular causes of equine exercise intolerance. Endocrine causes of exercise intolerance have been poorly documented, but recent work has shown the detrimental effects of hypothyroidism on exercise tolerance in horses. Many metabolic manifestati...
Fuentealba NA, Sguazza GH, Eöry ML, Valera AR, Pecoraro MR, Galosi CM.Equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) infection has a significant economic impact on equine production, causing abortion, respiratory disease, neonatal death and neurological disorders. The identification of specific EHV-1 genes related to virulence and pathogenicity has been the aim of several research groups. The purpose of the present study was to analyze different genomic regions of Argentinean EHV-1 strains and to determine their possible relationship with virulence or clinical signs. Twenty-five EHV-1 Argentinean isolates recovered from different clinical cases between 1979 and 2007 and two refere...
Mia AS, Koger HD.Serum concentrations of arginase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) in dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep and pigs were determined before and after oral administration of CCl(4) at doses known to cause hepatic necrosis. Following CCl(4) administration, serum concentration of arginase and SGOT increased to a level of diagnostic significance in all animals. SGPT increased markedly in dogs and cats and marginally in 1 of 3 cattle and 2 of 3 pigs. In the surviving animals, the serum concentration of arginase returned to normal range much earlier than ...
Cenani A, Brosnan RJ, Madigan S, Knych HK, Madigan JE.Propranolol has been suggested for anxiolysis in horses, but its sedation efficacy and side effects, both when administered alone and in combination with α-adrenoceptor agonists, remain undetermined. This study aimed to document the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of propranolol, romifidine and their combination. Methods: Randomized, crossover study. Methods: Six adult horses weighing 561 ± 48 kg. Methods: Propranolol (1 mg kg; treatment P), romifidine (0.1 mg kg; treatment R) or their combination (treatment PR) were administered intravenously with a minimum of 1 week between treatment...
Doreau M, Dussap G.Female milk production was related to offspring water turnover, estimated by a tracer method (fig. 1). After deuterium oxide was injected into the blood of the offspring, we measured the decrease of its concentration in time. Milk intake was calculated by equations taking into account the weight gain of the offspring. The reliability of this method was checked in 28 bottle-fed lambs with known milk intake; the correlation between the actual intakes and our estimates was 0.98 with an error means of 5.6 p. 100. The error on the mean of 28 lambs was 0.5 p. 100 (table 1). The milk production of 6 ...
Merkt H, Klug E.The rules for the minimal requirements in health and genital potency for stallions formulated by GOTZE (1950) are reformulated, taking into consideration the results achieved by KLUG (1982) and KENNEY (1983). A stallion must be free of phenotypic hereditary faults. Furthermore he has to be in general and genital health and must be fit in both, potentia coeundi and generandi. The figures are based on the examination of thoroughbred and so called "warmblood" stallions. However, they can be adapted to other breeds like draughthorses and ponys.
Grünig G, Von Fellenberg R, Maier R, Corboz L.Seventeen out of 21 horses had pulmonary microbial organisms which reached considerable numbers in seven cases. Elastase-producing microorganisms from the environment (Streptomyces species and to a lesser extent Bacillus species) constituted 22 per cent to 99 per cent (mean 79 per cent) of the total growth. There was a considerable number of microorganisms with in vitro-produced elastases which were not or only slightly affected by horse serum. There was no correlation between numbers of organisms and pulmonary histopathological findings thus the significance of these microorganisms in the pat...
Dvoĭnos GM, Kharchenko VA, Zviagnitsova NS.The helminth fauna of 24 kulans from Askaniya-Nova and Badkhyz was studied. 42 species of helminths were found, 34 of which belong to strongylids. The helminth species composition of kulan is similar to that of other species of horses. This is a result of an intensive parasite exchange in the historical past when numerous populations of different Equidae species made long seasonal migrations over steppe inter-river lands of Asia and grazed for some time on common pastures.
Bowman SG, Marshall JF, Blikslager AT.To determine demographic characteristics of horses donated to the North Carolina State University Equine Health Center (EHC) between 1996 and 2008. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: 122 horses donated to the EHC between January 1996 and December 2008, and 246 horses offered for donation to the EHC between January 2007 and December 2008. Methods: Telephone and medical records were examined. Data were collected in 5 categories: age, sex, breed, reason for donation, and use prior to donation. Results: From January 1996 through December 2008, 122 horses were donated to the EHC (median,...
Grubb TL, Constable PD, Benson GJ, Foreman JH, Olson WO, Thurmon JC, Tranquilli WJ, Davis LE.To determine the most repeatable method for evaluating right ventricular relaxation rate in horses and to determine and compare effects of isoflurane or halothane with and without the added influence of intravenously administered calcium gluconate on right ventricular relaxation rates in horses. Methods: 6 Thoroughbred horses from 2 to 4 years old. Methods: 6 models (2 for monoexponential decay with zero asymptote, 3 for monoexponential decay with variable asymptote, and 1 for biexponential decay) for determining right ventricular relaxation rate were assessed in conscious and anesthetized hor...
Braun JP, Carstensen CA.Potassium concentrations were measured in the plasma of 336 animals with a new reagent carrier (Reflotron; Boehringer Mannheim) K+ and with an ion-specific electrode system: results were highly correlated (r = 0.991; y = 0.993 x + 0.02) and day-to-day coefficient of variation of the new reagent measurements was lower than 2.5 per cent. This system offers a good alternative to the ion-selective electrode system for plasma potassium measurement in veterinary practice.
McKenzie EC, Firshman AM.Chronic exertional rhabdomyolysis represents a syndrome of recurrent exercise-associated muscle damage in horses that arises from a variety of etiologies. Major advances have been made in the understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease, and causative genetic defects have been recently identified for two conditions-polysaccharide storage myopathy of quarter horses, paints, warm bloods, and draft breeds. Dietary management in combination with a regular exercise regimen comprises the most effective means for control of clinical signs.
