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.
Goldberg M, Molon Noblot M, Septier D.The effect of 2 methods of demineralization on the preservation of proteoglycans and glycoproteins was studied in the intertubular and peritubular dentine of the horse. The specimens embedded in Epon were demineralized with a 2% acid formic solution (Bonucci and Gheradi, 1975). Other fragments were treated with an organic solution of EDTA alkylammonium salt (Scott and Kyffin, 1979). These methods preserved in a satisfactory way these labile organic components. In the intertubular dentine, glycoproteins and proteoglycans were also identified, either associated with collagen fibres as a glue and...
Lindsay WA, McDonell W, Bignell W.Intracompartmental muscle pressures were recorded from the right and left forelimbs (extensor carpi radialis, triceps brachii) of healthy horses maintained in left lateral recumbency while under deep halothane anesthesia for 180 to 240 minutes. Cardiac output, blood pressure, blood gases, and acid-base status were monitored throughout the anesthesia, and electrolyte levels (Ca2+, P+, K+, Cl-, Na+) and enzyme activities (aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), and blood lactate) were monitored for 7 days. Postanesthetic forelimb lameness was produced in 5 of the 6 horses...
Dabernat HJ, Delmas CF, Tainturier DJ, Lareng MB.The in vitro susceptibility of recent clinical isolates of Haemophilus equigenitalis to various antimicrobial agents was determined by the disk diffusion test and the World Health Organization-International Collaborative Study agar dilution procedure. Ampicillin and tetracycline were the most active drugs. All strains were susceptible to beta-lactam antibiotics, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin (Furadantin), and bacitracin. All but two strains were resistant to streptomycin, whereas all strains were susceptible to the other aminocyclitol antibodies...
Dutta SK, Myrup A, Bumgardner MK.Six pony foals, experimentally infected with equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1), were studied for their lymphocyte responses to EHV-1 and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulations. Lymphocyte blastic transformation in the presence of EHV-1 appeared as early as 2 days after the foals were inoculated, reached a peak in 7 to 10 days, and subsequently decreased. In contrast, the lymphocyte blastic transformation in the presence of PHA increased sharply, reaching a peak in 2 to 3 days, and then decreased to its lowest level in 10 days after which it returned to its near preinoculation level. As for the mecha...
Clegg GA, Stansfield RF, Bourne PE, Harrison PM.An electron density map of horse spleen apoferritin at 0.28-nm (2.8 A) resolution and its preliminary interpretation have been described previously. Rigorous examination of this and newer maps at the same nominal resolution but calculated from more extensive data sets, including model building in a Richards' comparator, now allows us to report on structural features in more detail. We list inter-helical angles within and between neighbouring subunits, and describe a new short region of inter-subunit anti-parallel pleated sheet. A short section of electron density not properly accounted for in ...
Turner TA, Fessler JF.Eleven horses with rectal prolapses were examined at Purdue University. Nine of the 11 prolapses were corrected by submucosal resection. Four of those were treated by a modified submucosal resection that apposes mucosa as well as submucosa. Follow-up of 8 cases, at intervals ranging from 4 months to 6 years, established that rectal prolapse did not recur following the resection.
Taylor TS, Vaughan JT.A study was conducted in an effort to explain why digital necrosis sometimes follows neurectomy in the horse. Six horses were subjected to unilateral section of the medial and lateral palmar nerves. Arteriography was done on each digit prior to surgery. Terminally, arteriography was repeated. Sections of bone, nerve, artery, skin, coronary band, and deep flexor tendon were examined histologically. Changes in arterial pattern and bone quality were noted. During the study, 2 of the horses had clinical signs of digital necrosis. The composite findings suggested trauma or infection, or both, of th...
Prokop O, Geserick G, Patzelt D, Meier F.The immunological comparison of human and equine Gc proteins showed partial identical reactions between both species. Immunizations of goats and rabbits with horse serum produced antisera able to recognize human Gc proteins.
Ochoa R, Kern SR.Severe abdominal pain, classic colic signs and hemorrhagic gastro-entero-cecocolitis were induced in three conventional Shetland ponies by intravenous injection with Clostridium perfringens Type A enterotoxin. Histological examination showed marked congestion, edema and hemorrhage of the large and small intestine and sloughing of the tips of the intestinal villi. Marked vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes with dilatation of the spaces of Disse also was found. Clinical changes consisted of severe hypoglycemia, markedly increased aspartate aminotransferase levels and leukopenia that occurred ra...
Bryans JT.The immunogenic potency and safety of a chemically inactivated equine herpesvirus 1 vaccine with added adjuvant was evaluated by testing serum-neutralizing and complement-fixation antibody responses of pregnant Thoroughbred mares. The vaccinated population comprised 321 pregnant mares on 7 farms; 3 in Normandy, France; 1 in Kildare, Ireland; and 3 in central Kentucky. The pattern of antibody response to vaccination was found qualitatively and quantitatively similar to that of pregnant mares previously vaccinated and determined by challenge exposure to be immune to abortigenic infection under e...
Trommershausen-Smith A.Dead or deformed foals produced by purebred parents represent an economic and emotional loss to the horse breeder. To avoid repeating production of such defective foals, the breeder may seek assistance in identifying the possible environmental or genetic causes for such animals. Only a few genetic diseases of the horse have been rigorously defined. Selected rare genetic diseases that prevent reproduction, cause the natural death or necessitate the humane destruction of a foal before it fulfills its intended purpose serve as examples for the definition of genetics of other deleterious diseases ...
Gunther JD, Foley CW, Gaverick HA, Plotka ED.Progesterone concentrations were measured in milk and blood plasma for 15 mares throughout a normal estrous cycle and early pregnancy to determine the feasibility of utilizing progesterone in milk as an indicator of pregnancy. Samples were obtained daily from foaling until diagnosis of pregnancy by rectal examination at 30 to 35 days of gestation. Progesterone in milk and blood plasma was quantified by radioimmunoassay. Mean progesterone concentrations (+/- SE) in plasma from foaling to foal heat and during estrus, luteal phase and pregnancy were .51 +/- .09 ng/ml, .53 +/- .08 ng/ml, 3.88 +/- ...
Hanák J, Jagos P.In 246 horses of the English Thoroughbred breed of several age categories, divided into four test populations, the influence was studied of age and training on the pulse rate and time intervals of ECG (PQ, QRS, QT and QTc). It was found that with the increasing age and training action slowed down gradually. Duration of the atrioventricular path (PQ) is prolonged, time of ventricular activation (QRS) and time of the electrical systole (QT) including its value corrected according to the actual pulse rate (QTC). In this way the origin of the so called sports electrocardiogram in trained race hors...
Hubbell JA, Muir WW, Sams RA.We determined the cardiopulmonary changes in horses given guaifenesin alone and in the same horses given xylazine (IV) immediately before administration of guaifenesin. In addition, plasma guaifenesin concentrations were determined in horses and 2 pregnant mares and compared with previously published values in ponies. The dose of guaifenesin necessary to produce lateral recumbency in adult horses was 134 +/- 34 mg/kg (mean +/- SD). The administration of guaifenesin caused insignificant (P less than 0.05) changes in heart rate, respiratory rate, right atrial pressure, pulmonary arterial pressur...
Donnelly J, Joyner LP, Frank C.Racehorses imported into Kuwait were tested for serum antibodies to Babesia equi and B. caballi by complement fixation (CF) and indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) tests. The prevalence of B. equi was high (77.1% by IFA) whereas that of B. caballi was much lower (11.4%). Data for B. equi showed that infection was acquired after about 6 months at risk and that in the following 12 months animals had antibody levels detectable by both CF and IFA tests by 24 months the CF reaction was no longer detectable. Estimates of incidence and inoculation rates were calculated and found to be consistent with...
Bowling AT.Dead or deformed foals produced by purebred parents represent an economic and emotional loss to the horse breeder. In order to avoid producing such defective foals in the future, the breeder may seek guidance in determining whether their origin is environmental or genetic. Only a few genetic diseases of horses have been rigorously defined. Selected, rare genetic diseases that prevent reproduction, cause the natural death, or necessitate the humane destruction of a foal before it fulfills its intended purpose serve as examples for collecting evidence to define the genetics of other deleterious ...
Curcio Bda R, Pereira GR, Antunes LI, Boff AN, dos Santos FC, Lucas T, Nogueira CE, Corcini CD, Liu I, Deschamps JC.In vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures are limited by the inability to mature equine oocytes on in vitro methods. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate structural integrity of equine oocytes subjected to vitrification with a synthetic polymer (PVA). Methods: The effect of eGH and its relationship with IGF-I on in vitro maturation (IVM) were evaluated. Compact cumulus oocytes complexes (n=122) were cultured in TCM-199 with eGH, IGF-I or eGH+IGF-I for 30h at 38.5C in air with 5 % CO2. Oocytes were fixed after IVM or subjected to the vitrification protocol. Cryopreserved oocytes were ...
Hameury L, Delavous P, Leroy C.Hippotherapy uses relationships with horses as a mediation method. The care treatment aims to act on the psychological functioning of children affected by relational disorders, especially in order to help the development of communication and emotions. A partnership has been established between the paedopsychiatric university centre at the CHRU in Tours (37) and a horse-riding centre.
Moore BR, Reed SM, Kowalski JJ, Bertone JJ.A National Show Horse with a mediastinal granuloma was presented with clinical signs which included fever, nasal discharge and cough. The mediastinal mass was identified radiographically and ultrasonographically. A presumptive diagnosis of aspergillosis was made following isolation of Aspergillus spp. from both transtracheal aspirate and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) identification of serum antibody to Aspergillus spp. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic examination of the mediastinal mass obtained at necropsy examination.
Hadlow WJ, Ward JK, Krinsky WL.Acute neurologic disease associated with intracranial migration of a first instar larva of a warble fly, Hypoderma bovis (Linnaeus), was observed in a 14-year-old Quarter Horse gelding in western Montana. The disease was characterized by incoordination of gait, circling to the left, head tilt to the right, partial paralysis of the right side of the face, and impaired vision in the right eye. Two and one-half hours after it was first noticed sick, the horse collapsed and was euthanized. Massive hemorrhage unaccompanied by necrosis or significant cellular response was present in the right side o...
Motton DD, Roser JF.Recent evidence in our laboratory suggests that the cause of idiopathic subfertility/infertility in breeding stallions may originate in the testes at the luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor or postreceptor level. The objective of this research was to determine if LH receptor binding activity is altered in subfertile and infertile stallions. Six fertile, three subfertile, and three infertile stallions, ages 11-23 years, were classified according to normal semen parameters and pregnancy rates and then castrated in the breeding season. Blood was collected prior to castration, and plasma was stored ...
Hurtgen JP, Ganjam VK.Endometrial biopsy or endometrial biopsy and uterine culture taken on Day 4 after oestrus induced lysis of the corpus luteum (CL), resulting in a sharp decline in serum progesterone concentration and shortened the interoestrous interval in 8/12 and 32/33 oestrous cycles, respectively, during 2 experiments. Cervical dilatation 4 days after oestrus shortened the interoestrus interval in 5/10 and 0/5 oestrous cycles. Endometrial biopsy and culture on Days 1 and 3 after oestrus also induced CL lysis during 4 of 7 cycles. Total oestrogen (oestrone plus oestradiol) concentrations increased at the on...
Gummow B, Herr S, Brett OL.A microtitration serum agglutination test, based on that used for brucellosis, has been developed to detect antibodies in the sera of horses exposed to the contagious equine metritis (CEM) organism. Two known positive sera were tested 100 times in 15 separate tests. The results were reproducible to within a twofold range. The test is capable of being carried out within 100 min.
Smanik LE, Stefanovski D, Reilly PT, Richardson DW.Type II distal phalanx (P3) fractures are a well-described cause of lameness in horses. Reports on outcome following internal fixation of type II P3 fractures are lacking, and with little emphasis on complications. Objective: To describe a technique for internal fixation of type II P3 fractures, and evaluate whether specific variables influenced post-operative complications or a horse's ability to return to work. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Medical records of 51 horses with CT-guided internal fixation of type II P3 fractures were reviewed. Outcome data were acquired from race ...
Dodman NH, Lehr JL, Spaulding GL, Gavriely N.Three sheep, a foal, a pony, and a calf were anesthetized and ventilated for short periods, using a high-frequency oscillatory ventilator. The efficiency of CO2 elimination was characterized at various oscillatory frequencies (50 to 30 Hz) and various tidal volumes, although the tidal volume used was always less than the measured dead space of the animal. In general, increasing either the oscillatory frequency or tidal volume increased CO2 elimination, but increasing the tidal volume had more effect. The relationship between these 3 variables was best described by a power law equation. Ventila...